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Types of Aid

State of Florida Programs

The Florida Department of Education offers various student financial assistance programs which are administered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) in Tallahassee. This section includes descriptions of State of Florida scholarship programs offered by the Florida Department of Education.

Applications for and information about these and other programs offered by the The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) can be obtained from high school guidance offices and from the Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1314, Tallahassee, FL, 32399-0400; State Programs Toll Free Customer Service Line: 1 (888) 827-2004. You may e-mail the Office of Student Financial Assistance at: osfa@fldoe.org.

State of Florida grant and scholarship programs administered by OSFA are listed on the OSFA website.

Programs

The OSFA Web site includes complete eligibility requirements, application procedures, award amounts, and renewal requirements. Partial descriptions of some of these programs are provided below.

General eligibility requirements for all programs are:

  1. Meet Florida residency requirements for receipt of state student financial aid by maintaining residency in Florida for purposes other than education for a minimum of 12 consecutive months before the first day of class of the academic term for which funds are requested. Whether an individual meets residency requirements is determined by the post-secondary institution at which he or she enrolls. Applicants with questions about residency status should contact the University of Florida Admissions Office.
  2. Do not owe a repayment under any state or federal grant or scholarship programs, unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
  3. Are not in default on any federal Title IV or state student loan program, unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.

Apply for OSFA scholarships by completing the Florida Financial Aid Application online at: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org, or by submitting a paper application available through your high school guidance counselor.
Some programs listed here, including Florida Bright Futures, also require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at studentaid.gov and from high school guidance offices.

Due to changes to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program implemented by the Florida State Legislature, students are no longer required to complete the FAFSA in order to receive their Florida Bright Futures award.

Submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not required; however, students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA to learn of potential eligibility for additional state and federal aid.