Before each year of college, students should apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Your college uses your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility. Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to award their own aid. After submission, you’ll receive your Student Aid Report.

FAFSA Free Application For Federal Student Aid

After The FAFSA

Visit navigatingyourfinancialfuture.org for more information.

Click on the Resources tab and then select the “Hot Topics” link to find valuable information for homeless students, foster youth, as well as adopted students.

The Bright Futures Scholarship is a scholarship program in the state of Florida that is awarded as one of four scholarships: Florida Academic Scholars (FAS), Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS), Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV), and Gold Seal Cape Scholars (GSC).

All eligibility requirements must be met by high school graduation, but scores of ACT / SAT / P.E.R.T. tests taken through June 30 of the senior year are accepted for evaluation purposes. Students must apply for the scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation. The FFAA opens October 1 of the senior year. All seniors are encouraged to submit the FFAA application. View the Bright Futures Scholarship Application Instructions for more information regarding how to apply.

Students and parents should make an appointment with their student’s counselor to review and understand Bright Futures requirements and the student’s individual Bright Futures Report prior to the senior year. Bright Futures Reports are initiated through student academic data in the spring of the freshman year.

For detailed eligibility requirements and other information, view the Bright Futures Handbook.