• More than 300,000 students receive state-granted financial aid in Florida, including monies from scholarships, grants and various need-based aid programs.
• Nearly all undergraduate students (more than 85%) receive financial aid from federal or state sources (or both).
• In Florida, you need to fill out both the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and FFAA (Florida Financial Aid Application) each year in order to receive all of the funding for which you qualify.
• Starting in 2026, the minimum test scores for Bright Futures scholarships have changed in order to increase the number of eligible students.
• Florida Academic Scholars, which pays 100% of tuition and fees, requires a 1330 on the SAT (down from 1340).
• Florida Medallion Scholars, which pays 75% of tuition, requires a 1190 on the SAT (down from 1210) or a 24 on the ACT (down from 25).
• If you qualify for a Bright Futures scholarship, you can apply the monetary equivalent of the award to tuition at a private college or university.
• Bright Futures also has two programs that fund workforce training:
• Gold Seal Vocational Scholars may be awarded for students enrolled in career education or certification programs.
• Gold Seal CAPE Scholars may be awarded to students in career education or certification programs that lead directly into Bachelor of Science degree programs.
• Homeschooled students are also eligible for Bright Futures, provided their programs are registered with the state and all requirements are met.

The earning gap between those with a diploma and those with a college degree continues to widen; according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates earn, on average, $22,000 more per year. Just twenty years ago, the gap was around $12,000. So if you’re worried about taking on otherwise manageable student loan debt to cover the gap between financial aid and total costs, keep in mind that a college degree will almost certainly help you recoup that expense. It’s worth it!