Zina Kumok Image Written By: Zina Kumok | Updated: December 3, 2024

Florida Scholarships

Key takeaways:

  • Scholarships are provided by state programs, private foundations, corporations, and individual colleges and universities within Florida.
  • The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a well-known state-funded scholarship program that rewards Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement with funding for post-secondary education in Florida.
  • Florida scholarships often cater to diverse student populations, including minority students, first-generation college students, and those pursuing specific career paths such as education or healthcare.

As the third-largest state in the country, the state of Florida is packed with promising college students looking to expand their futures. And there’s no better way to do that than by winning a Florida scholarship. Interested in a Florida scholarship? Keep reading to learn how to apply, where to find Florida grants and scholarships and how to pick the best ones.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 Florida Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines

What are Florida scholarships?

For qualified students around the state, Florida provides an extensive array of scholarship opportunities. Both undergraduate and graduate students seeking a college degree are eligible for these scholarships. A certain grade point average, a certain amount of credit hours completed, and proof of financial need are just a few of the eligibility conditions. Meritorious students can apply for scholarships based on their extracurricular activities, social action, community service, academic standing, and other criteria.

Scholarship programs are available at both public and private universities in Florida, including the esteemed Florida State University. For those who achieve exceptionally well, there are also merit-based and national scholarships available. These scholarships can help students fulfill their desire of attending college by offering financial support for additional costs such as tuition.

A portion of Florida scholarships are awarded to students who either now reside in Florida or want to do so in the future. For instance, a jazz musician from or enrolled in school in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, or Volusia counties gets awarded the CFJS Scholarship.

Others, on the other hand, will demand that students live in Florida and attend classes there. For instance, the University of Floria offers the Armando J. de Moya Scholarship to a resident of Florida who is majoring in civil engineering.

Certain Florida scholarships are intended for certain majors or interests, while others are available to most kinds of students. One scholarship that is awarded to students pursuing a bachelor's degree in welding engineering or welding engineering technology is the AWS Airgas Terry Jarvis Memorial Scholarship.

How to apply for a Florida scholarship

The process of applying for a scholarship in Florida is very similar to that of applying for any other type of award. The most important thing to think about is if you qualify. Knowing if you must dwell in or be enrolled in school in that state is crucial for any type of geographic scholarship. When looking for scholarships in Florida, keep in mind that some are restricted to students from particular counties or regions.

If there is an essay component, start working on it sooner rather than later. If you're having trouble, you can ask a teacher to help brainstorm ideas or read a first draft. If the scholarship requires a letter of recommendation, make a list of possible candidates and ask them as soon as possible. Most adults need at least a few weeks’ notice so they can craft a compelling letter.

University-Based Scholarships at Florida State University (FSU)

To qualified students, Florida State University (FSU) provides a variety of university-based scholarships. These scholarships support worthy students financially so they can continue their college studies.

The requirements for these scholarships differ based on the program, but generally speaking they take into account things like Grade Point Average (GPA), academic standing, extracurricular activity, and community service. Certain scholarships could come with extra conditions or considerations, such studying in a certain degree program or being a first-generation college student.

Undergraduate students must submit both the FSU general scholarship application and the Florida Financial Aid Application in order to be eligible for these scholarships. For information about scholarships, or eligibility requirements graduate students should get in touch with the relevant department or institution.

At FSU, university-based scholarships have award values ranging from few hundred dollars to full tuition reimbursement. Certain scholarships are renewable, so if the recipient maintains their eligibility over time, they may continue to get the money.

Students can look for more scholarships based on their unique requirements by visiting the Scholarship Search Engines area of FSU's website. Finding national scholarships and other chances to augment university-based aid can be done with the help of this useful website.

All things considered, FSU's university-based scholarships offer worthy and high-achieving students significant financial assistance. These scholarships, which are available to both new and returning students, can lower your tuition costs and support your academic performance at FSU.

Community College and Public University Scholarships Across the State of Florida

Numerous scholarships are available at community colleges and public institutions throughout the state of Florida in addition to those granted by universities. These scholarships offer worthy students pursuing college educations financial support.

The University of South Florida (USF) offers a scholarship program for community college education. Merit scholarships from USF are awarded to individuals with outstanding academic standing who exhibit remarkable achievement. These scholarships take into account things like community service, extracurricular activity, and grade point average.

Numerous school-specific scholarships are also available at public universities including Florida State University (FSU) and University of Florida (UF). Scholarships are offered by UF to both new freshman and transfer students. Some of these scholarships cover the entire cost of tuition, while others have different qualifying standards and grant amounts.

The university and the particular program determine the deadlines for these awards. It is imperative that students conduct study and maintain a record of application deadlines to guarantee they don't pass up any chances.

By lessening the financial load of their college fees, these scholarships can greatly assist students in attaining their educational objectives. Students who are interested in these scholarships may visit the website of the relevant institution or get in touch with the financial aid office to learn more about the conditions for eligibility and application processes.

Private Organizations Offering Local and Regional Scholarships in Florida

Apart from university and college scholarship programs, there are several private organizations in Florida that grant local and regional scholarships to qualified students. For those seeking a college education, these scholarships are an invaluable source of funding.

In Florida, private groups typically establish particular qualifications for their scholarship offerings. These prerequisites could take into account things like extracurricular activity participation, financial necessity, community service, and academic achievement. Before submitting an application, students should thoroughly research and fulfill the conditions of each organization since they will vary.

Usually, to apply for these scholarships, one must submit an application form and any other supporting materials, including an essay, recommendation letters, and transcripts. Scholarship application deadlines could differ, therefore it's important for students to know the precise dates and times that each organization has established.

Scholarships awarded by private organizations vary greatly in amount. While some scholarships offer one-time financial support, others may cover a sizable amount of tuition costs. It is crucial that students thoroughly go over the scholarship information in order to ascertain the possible cash rewards.

Well-known private groups in Florida that provide regional and local scholarships are the Foundation for Excellence in Education, the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, and the Florida Student Scholarship Corporation. These organizations offer a range of scholarship programs designed to assist worthy students in their endeavors to further their education.

Frequently asked questions about Florida scholarships

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program can cover up to 100% of tuition if you qualify. The scholarship is open to students with a 2.75 GPA, but you can receive more funding if you have a 3.0 GPA. Students must complete the Florida Financial Aid Application to be considered.

Depending on the organization sponsoring a scholarship, you may not have to stay and attend school in Florida to win a Florida scholarship. For example, the Arts for Life! Scholarship is a $1,000 prize given to 25 Florida high school seniors with a special talent for creative writing, dance, drama, music or visual art. Students are not required to attend an in-state institution to qualify.

There are some scholarships that are only given to current Florida residents. For example, the Minority Teacher Education Scholarship is available for Florida residents who are either African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander or American Indian/Alaskan Native.

Applicants must also be attending one of 40 possible colleges within the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers network. These include the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Miami and more.

Finding potential Florida scholarships is the first step to receiving an award. You can find an exhaustive list of Florida scholarships in our Scholarship Directory.

The Florida Department of Education also has a list of scholarships and grants. The schools you apply for may also have their own list of scholarships, including both internal and external awards. If you’re still in high school, ask your teachers if they know of any scholarship opportunities. Also, it never hurts to do a Google search for specific scholarship categories. For example, if you’re interested in music, type in “music scholarship” and “Florida” to see what you find.