Scholarships offered by the Office of Admissions are typically awarded at the time of acceptance as a first-year student. All accepted students are automatically considered for a scholarship. The scholarship criteria can vary from year-to-year depending on the quality of the incoming class and the funds available. Students will only receive one merit scholarship from the Office of Admissions but may be eligible for additional financial assistance by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This prestigious scholarship is available to National Merit Finalists that are graduating with a standard high school diploma. This award equals the institutional cost of attendance (minus the sum of Bright Futures and the National Merit scholarship). The total value of this scholarship is over $80,000 over four years and guarantees admission into FSU's University Honors Program. Detailed information about this scholarship can be found here.
Accepted freshmen that have received the University Freshman Scholarship, the Benacquisto Scholarship, or a Tuition Reduction Scholarship are also eligible to apply for the Presidential Scholars Program. The total value of this scholarship is $31,200 over four years. Out-of-state applicants will also receive a full out-of-state tuition waiver. Detailed information about this scholarship can be found here.
The Office of Admissions will automatically consider accepted freshmen for our University Freshman Scholarship. A separate application is not required. Scholarships are competitive and awarded based on academic merit (combination of academic weighted grade point average AND test scores). The award is $2,400 per year distributed over four years, for a total of $9,600. Scholarship funds are limited, so students are encouraged to apply for admission by December 1. Scholarship recipients must take a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher at Florida State.
Accepted first-year students graduating from one of our partner schools* are automatically considered for this scholarship. A separate scholarship application is not required. The award is $3,000 per year distributed over four years, for a total of $12,000. Scholarship funds are limited, so students are encouraged to apply for admission by December 1. Scholarship recipients must take a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher at Florida State.
*Our Partner Schools are: Duval County: Andrew Jackson High School, Robert E. Lee High School, Jean Ribault High School, William M. Raines High School, Westside High School, Edward White High School. Leon County: Amos P. Godby High School. Gadsden County: Gadsden County High School.
Awarded to a limited number of non-Florida freshmen based on academic merit. The total amount of this award is a 100% reduction (waiver) of the out-of-state portion of tuition, valued at approximately $481 per semester hour ($14,444 based on 30 semester hours for the academic year). The waiver amount is only applied toward tuition and does not include other fees, nor does it apply toward study-abroad programs.
Q: How can I apply for a scholarship?
All accepted applicants are automatically considered for the Office of Admissions' merit-based academic scholarships. Students who are awarded the University Freshman Scholarship may apply for the Presidential Scholars Program.
Q: I have received a merit-based scholarship from FSU. How does that affect my Bright Futures?
An admission scholarship is in addition to any other scholarship(s) you may be receiving.
Q: What can I use my scholarship for?
The admission scholarship may be used to pay any expenses you have at FSU (tuition, housing, dining, books, etc.). If you have excess funding for a particular term because of financial aid, Bright Futures, your admission scholarship, etc., the balance will be directly deposited in your bank account.
Q: When will my scholarship be disbursed?
Disbursement of admission scholarship funds occurs up to 10 days prior to the start of each academic term.
Q: How is my scholarship disbursed?
Your scholarship is first used to pay for any outstanding balance you have at FSU. If you have excess funding, the remaining balance will be directly deposited in your bank account.
Q: Do I need a bank account in order to receive my scholarship?
No, but in order to receive any excess funds, you will need to have a bank account.
To ensure the greatest likelihood of receiving financial support to attend Florida State University, you should apply early for admission and financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid awards assistance each year to eligible students in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. Additionally, Florida State has resources that can help you find private sources of aid to attend college. In order to apply for need-based financial aid, applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year. To begin researching scholarships, you might start in your own school or community library or with your guidance counselor at your present school. Check out local civic organizations and businesses to see if they currently offer any scholarships. Beyond the local level, you can search through several Internet scholarship search programs.
Below are other avenues to consider when researching scholarship opportunities at Florida State University.