Florida Bright FuturesGPA & Score Tracker
Grade-by-grade benchmarks and a self-assessment tool for Florida families — covering FAS, FMS, and GSV tiers. Bilingual English/Spanish.
100% tuition + $300 stipend/year
GPA 3.5 · SAT 1290 · 100h
75% tuition at public universities
GPA 3 · SAT 1170 · 75h
75% tuition at technical colleges
GPA 3 · Vocational · 30h
Check Your Student's Progress
Enter your student's current numbers to see which Bright Futures tier they're on track for.
Grade-by-Grade Benchmarks
These are the targets your student should be hitting at each grade level to stay on track for FAS (the highest award).
9th Grade (entering)
Weighted GPA
3.5+
Unweighted GPA
3+
Service Hours by end of grade
15 hrs
10th Grade (on track)
Weighted GPA
3.5+
Unweighted GPA
3+
SAT / ACT Target
1000 / 20
Service Hours by end of grade
35 hrs
11th Grade (target)
Weighted GPA
3.5+
Unweighted GPA
3+
SAT / ACT Target
1150 / 25
Service Hours by end of grade
65 hrs
12th Grade (final)
Weighted GPA
3.5+
Unweighted GPA
3+
SAT / ACT Target
1290 / 29
Service Hours by end of grade
100 hrs
Bright Futures Tiers Explained
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
100% tuition + $300 stipend/year
Weighted GPA
3.5
Unweighted GPA
3
SAT / ACT
1290/29
Service Hours
100
Critical Warnings Most Families Miss
Community service hours must be pre-approved
Hours earned through school-sponsored activities are easiest to document. Volunteering through religious organizations counts. Paid work does not count. Hours must be logged before the scholarship application deadline.
Weighted vs. unweighted GPA — both are required
Bright Futures checks BOTH your weighted AND unweighted GPA. A student can have a 4.2 weighted GPA from AP classes but still not qualify if their unweighted GPA is below the threshold.
Test scores cannot be used from before 8th grade
SAT and ACT scores must be earned in 9th grade or later. Scores from middle school talent searches (Duke TIP, etc.) do not count for Bright Futures.
Private university award is capped
If your student attends a private Florida university, Bright Futures is capped at the average public university rate — not the private school's actual tuition. Plan for the gap.
The scholarship must be renewed each year
Bright Futures doesn't automatically renew. Students must maintain college GPA requirements (3.0 for FAS, 2.75 for FMS) and complete required hours each year to keep the award.
Does NOT cover study abroad or out-of-state schools
Bright Futures only applies to eligible Florida institutions. If your student attends an out-of-state school, the scholarship is forfeited — and cannot be reinstated when they return to Florida.
A Note From Sarah
"Bright Futures is one of the best scholarship programs in the country — but it only works if you understand the rules before senior year, not during it. The families I work with who start tracking in 9th grade almost always qualify. The ones who come to me in 12th grade asking how to get Bright Futures are often too late. The rules are specific, the documentation requirements are strict, and the deadlines are unforgiving. Start now."
Sarah Jiménez
Bilingual College Counselor · Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need for Bright Futures?
Does Bright Futures cover room and board?
Can first-generation students get Bright Futures?
What if my student goes to a private Florida university?
When should my student start tracking community service hours?
Work with Sarah
Need Help Navigating Bright Futures + Financial Aid?
Sarah helps Florida families combine Bright Futures, FAFSA, and institutional scholarships to maximize college funding — in English and Spanish.