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Bright Futures

Over 1,000,000 scholarships and counting

At the Florida Lottery, we believe all students deserve a bright future. So we’re helping students all over Florida access the funds they need to make their dreams a reality with a college education.

How to Apply for Bright Futures

Get started with a brighter future today

For a brief overview of the requirements, take a look at our roadmap. For full details, please download the Bright Futures Handbook below.

Roadmap to Success

  1. Make sure that you're eligible.

    • Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
    • Graduate from a Florida high school (public, private, or home education program)
    • Be accepted to a Florida-eligible college or university
    • Be enrolled for at least 6 non-remedial semester credit hours per term
    • Enroll in college within 5 years of high school graduation
    • Have no felony convictions
    • Check the student handbook for more eligibility requirements

  2. Create a Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) student account. Click here to Create Account.

  3. Check for an email from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and follow instructions to submit your FFAA.

  4. Complete the required high school courses to be eligible for a scholarship.

    • Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars (FAS and FMS): You must complete 16 college‑prep credits:

      • 4 English (3 with substantial writing)

      • 4 Math (Algebra I or higher)

      • 3 Science (2 with labs)

      • 3 Social Science

      • 2 Foreign/World Language (same language)

    • Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC): Earn a minimum of 5 postsecondary credit hours through CAPE industry certifications that count toward college credit
    • Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV): Complete at least 3 full Career and Technical Education credits

  5. Earn the required GPA.

    • Florida Academic Scholars (FAS): 3.50 weighted GPA
    • Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS): 3.00 weighted GPA
    • Gold Seal Cape Scholarship (GSC): No GPA requirement
    • Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship (GSV): 3.00 weighted GPA in non-elective courses, and 3.50 unweighted GPA in the Career and Technical Education credits

  6. Complete the required number of service/paid work hours. Hours must be documented and approved by your school.

    Click here for volunteer opportunities: Volunteer Florida

    Florida Academic Scholars (FAS):  100 hours of volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination of both for 100 total hours.

    Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS):  75 hours of volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination of both for 100 total hours.

    Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC):  30 hours of volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination of both for 100 total hours.  

    • Note: Effective school year 2024-2025 going forward, students entering 9th grade must obtain 75 volunteer service hours.

    Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV):  30 hours of volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination of both for 100 total hours. 

    • Note: Effective school year 2024-2025 going forward, students entering 9th grade must obtain 75 volunteer service hours.  

     

  7. You must earn a qualifying standardized test score if the scholarship requires it*.

    Minimum scores (Class of 2025–2026):

    • FAS: ACT: 29 | SAT: 1330 | CLT: 95
    • FMS: ACT: 24 | SAT: 1190 | CLT: 82
    • *GSC: No required test scores for the GSC Scholarship
    • GSV: Sub‑scores required (ACT/SAT/PERT)
      •  ACT®
        • Reading: 19 
        • English: 17 
        • Mathematics: 19  
      • SAT®  (March 1, 2024, and thereafter)  
        • Critical Reading or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 490  
        • Mathematics: 480 
      • SAT®  (Prior to March 1, 2024) 
        • Reading Test: 24 
        • Writing and Language Test: 25 
        • Math Test: 24 
      • PERT (Only applies to the GSV Scholarship) 
        • Reading: 106 
        • Writing: 103 
        • Mathematics: 114     

     

    Remember!

    • Request that scores be sent to a Florida public college/university, or
    • Use Bright Futures CEEB code 0095 when registering

  8. Check your account regularly for notifications about program eligibility and awards.

 *This checklist is intended as a general guide. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about Bright Futures requirements and applications, please visit the official Bright Futures website.

Bright Futures

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Making Education our Biggest Winner

 The Florida Lottery has contributed billions to the Bright Futures Scholarship program, enabling over one million students to attend college.

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