Florida Academic Scholars: FAS Eligibility & Renewal

At a glance

Free if eligible

What it covers: For 2026–27, FAS covers 100% of tuition and the listed applicable fees at Florida public institutions; private institutions receive a comparable scheduled amount, not necessarily their full bill.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
Income / financial rules: This record describes the named academic-merit route, not a need-based grant or a household-income threshold. Academic qualification, residency and enrollment conditions still apply.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
Who to check first: Be a Florida resident and U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined by the college. Complete the applicable Florida diploma/equivalent, home-education, GED or qualifying out-of-state-school route.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
Application timing: For the 2027 high-school graduating cohort: FFAA from October 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. Finish other initial conditions by graduation, with the handbook’s test-date exceptions. This initial deadline is not a renewal filing deadline.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

Read official guidanceYou’ll leave FreeCheapEdu. The program makes the eligibility decision.

Check your eligibility

Some items describe alternative routes rather than requirements for everyone. Use the route that applies to you as a preparation checklist; the program makes the eligibility decision.

Be a Florida resident and U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined by the college. Complete the applicable Florida diploma/equivalent, home-education, GED or qualifying out-of-state-school route.Standard FAS route for 2026–27 high-school graduates seeking 2027–28 college funding: weighted Bright Futures GPA 3.50 in the required 16 college-preparatory credits; ACT/CLT/SAT 29 / 95 / 1330. These are not the thresholds for the next graduating class.Standard service/work route: 100 volunteer-service hours, or 100 paid-work hours, or a combination totaling 100 hours. School-approved activities, documentation and completion rules apply.National Merit, AP Capstone, AICE and IB merit-recognition routes can waive one or more standard requirements. GED, home-education and out-of-state applicants should use their own handbook section; do not reject yourself solely from the standard table.Enroll in a degree/certificate at an eligible Florida institution, normally at least six non-remedial semester hours per term. A final degree/scholarship balance of fewer than six hours has a specified exception.The handbook excludes an applicant found guilty of or pleading nolo contendere to a felony unless granted the specified Governor-and-Cabinet clemency.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

How to apply

1
Submit the FFAA during the named senior-year window, even if you are still finishing qualification. For a 2027 high-school graduate, the handbook defines graduation as September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
2
Have your school document coursework and approved service/work. Send official test results through a listed Florida public college/university or the handbook’s direct ACT/CLT route, and track eligibility in your OSFA account.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
3
Update the institution in your online profile if it changes. Ask the financial-aid office to confirm your award type, funded hours, applicable fees and private-school schedule before budgeting.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗
4
Renewal is normally evaluated automatically after spring; UF spring/summer cohorts have a summer exception. FAS renewal requires unrounded, unweighted cumulative GPA 3.0 plus earned hours appropriate to your funded load; no annual FFAA is needed.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

What to watch for

This is the FAS/FMS academic award route, not a review of Gold Seal Vocational or Gold Seal CAPE. The named applicable-fee schedule is not a promise that books, housing or every college charge is covered.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

Normally limited to five years from high-school graduation and 120 semester hours toward a certificate or first bachelor’s degree. Extended-hours programmes and approved deferments have separate procedures.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

Dropping/withdrawing after drop/add can require repayment. First-year GPA failure may allow one-time restoration; later GPA failure or inadequate earned hours does not have that standard restoration opportunity. Check documented-emergency appeals with the college.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

Common questions

What is the main benefit?

For 2026–27, FAS covers 100% of tuition and the listed applicable fees at Florida public institutions; private institutions receive a comparable scheduled amount, not necessarily their full bill.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

Is there an income limit?

This record describes the named academic-merit route, not a need-based grant or a household-income threshold. Academic qualification, residency and enrollment conditions still apply.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗

When should I apply?

For the 2027 high-school graduating cohort: FFAA from October 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. Finish other initial conditions by graduation, with the handbook’s test-date exceptions. This initial deadline is not a renewal filing deadline.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance ↗