Scholarships
Scholarships are financial awards given to students to help them pay for their education. They can be based on academic merit, talent in specific areas (like sports or music), financial need, or other criteria set by the organization offering the scholarship.
Essentially, scholarships are free money that doesn't have to be repaid, this makes them an invaluable resource when looking to reduce the cost of college or other educational pursuits.
Some major scholarships here in Florida include:
- Bright Futures
- FAFSA
More about bright Futures
The Bright Futures Scholarship is a merit-based program in Florida that rewards high school graduates for their academic achievements.
There are 2 major types: FAS which covers (100% tuition) and FMS covering (75% tuition)
For more information see Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program PDF
| Type | Unweighted GPA Required | ACT/CLT/SAT | Volunteer Service Hours | Paid Work (Volunteer) Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) | 3.50 - 4.00 |
2024-25 Graduates:
29/96/1340 2025-26 Graduates: 29/95/1330 |
100 | None |
| Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) | 3.00 - 3.50 |
2024-25 Graduates:
25/84/1210 2025-26 Graduates: 24/82/1190 |
75 | None |
FAFSA
FAFSA stands for "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" it is a program by the United States Department of Education allowing students to apply for financial aid like grants, loans, and work study programs
FAFSA Eligibility
To be eligible for financial aid from FAFSA you must be either a U.S. Citizen or eligible noncitizen, have a high school diploma / GED, and show a need through your finances for financial aid
Because of these relativeley low requirements, often FAFSA is an invaluable tool to help get financial aid when going into college. Though note that a major requirement is showing a need through your finances / tax reports for a need for financial aid.
List of FIU Scholarships
Bellow is a full list of FIU specific scholarships that apply specifically to first year minority students in computer science. To find more about any of them, follow the link attached to each one.