Enrollment Requirements to Receive Bright Futures Funds

• A student must be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, as determined by the student's postsecondary institution.
• A student must enroll in a degree or certificate program of study.
• A student must enroll at an eligible Florida postsecondary institution.  Out-of-state institutions are not eligible to receive funds for State of Florida financial aid programs.
• A student must enroll for a minimum of 6 non-remedial semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) per term by the end of the drop/add period.  However, if a student has fewer than six total hours remaining on the scholarship or needs fewer than six hours to complete up to the first associate or baccalaureate degree, the student may enroll and receive funding for less than six hours.
• NEW - Eligibility for the award begins in the fall term of each academic year for a student graduating from high school after spring term.  Eligibility for mid-year graduates begins in the spring after high school graduation.
• If an initially eligible student did not receive award funding in the academic year following his/her graduation from high school, the student must apply to reinstate the award and receive funding within two years or three years (depending on the high school graduation year) of high school graduation.  Students graduating from high school in the 2012-13 academic year and thereafter must apply to reinstate within two years.
• NEW - An initially eligible student who enlists in the military immediately after high school graduation begins the two-year or three-year (depending on the high school graduation year) period upon date of separation from active duty.
• The submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now an annual requirement for Bright Futures eligibility.  Note:  The student’s FAFSA does not have to indicate need; however, must be complete and processed error free prior to a student’s first disbursement of an award.  (The Florida State Programs May 15 deadline does not apply to Bright Futures.)

• A student enrolled three-quarter time (9-11 semester hours or the equivalent) for a term must earn at least 9 semester hours for that term.
• A student enrolled half-time (6-8 semester hours or the equivalent) for a term must earn at least 6 semester hours for that term.