Bright Futures Renewal Eligibility

Renewal eligibility is an automatic process that occurs at the end of the spring term for those students who received funding during the previous year.

The institution(s) where the student received funding reports the overall cumulative GPA or UCF GPA, whichever is higher, and hours completed for the year to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) of the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee.

Renewal Requirements

Renewal students must earn the GPA and the required hours indicated below on all college coursework attempted, including transient enrollment hours. The student may request the exclusion of dual enrollment courses completed while attending high school from the GPA if needed to meet requirements.

Full-time students are required to earn at least 24 credit hours (prorated for half-time or three-quarter students), in order to renew their award at the end of the spring term. The chart below outlines the credit hour requirement.

Renewal Requirements Florida Academic Scholars Award Florida Medallion Scholars Award
Minimum Cumulative GPA (unrounded & unweighted) 3.0* 2.75
Minimum Hours Required Per Term, if funded Full Time (12+ hours) 12 semester earned hours 12 semester earned hours
Minimum Hours Required Per Term, if funded Three-quarter Time (9-11 hours) 9 semester earned hours 9 semester earned hours
Minimum Hours Required Per Term, if funded Half Time (6-8 hours) 6 semester earned hours 6 semester earned hours

Credit Hours Earned Criteria for All Bright Futures Programs

In order for the credit hours to be counted as “Earned Hours”, the Bright Futures Scholarship requires the student to earn successful grades for all credit hours funded by the program. Successful grades are: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C- and D+, D, D-.

*NOTE: Grades of I, NC, U and F do not result in earned credit hours. Credit hours in which these grades are received will not count toward meeting the required number of hours for renewal of Bright Futures.

NC (No Credit) Grades

UCF will require the repayment of NC grades. Repaying for course(s) with an NC grade will reduce your “earned hours” renewal requirement. An award adjustment for the NC grade will occur after grades are posted. This will result in you owing an outstanding balance to the university.

Dates Fall 2023 Spring 2024
Grades Posted 12/15/2023 05/05/2024
Date of Award Adjusted 12/15/2023 05/06/2024
Deadline to complete Request to Reinstate Award Form 1/12/2024 05/17/2024

Download our Excel Bright Futures Hours Calculator if you need help calculating the required hours needed to meet the Bright Futures renewal requirement.

If you determine the NC grade will not negatively impact your ability to renew your Bright Futures award for the following academic year or if you are graduating this academic year you may complete the Request to Reinstate Bright Futures Award for NC Grade Form.

Other Special Grades and Hours Situations

If you are not meeting the Bright Futures renewal requirements at the end of the spring term, and your record with OSFA needs to be updated to reflect the correct grades and hours, please complete the Bright Futures/ Benacquisto – Renewal Re-Evaluation Form found on our Forms page.

Below are the reasons that will require a new evaluation: