Florida Scholarships and Financial Aid: 2026 Student Guide

Attending college in the Sunshine State offers a world-class education paired with some of the nation's most competitive tuition rates. However, tuition is only one part of the equation: living costs, textbooks, and fees can add up quickly. Florida scholarships provide high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students the opportunity to cover these expenses without accumulating costly student loan debt. Whether you plan to attend a research institution like the University of Florida or Florida State University, a private university like the University of Miami, or a local community college, Florida offers a robust network of state-funded aid, institutional aid, and private regional scholarships. By creating a free Fastweb profile, you can instantly match with Florida-specific awards alongside national opportunities tailored to your major, GPA, and background.

Regional, Community & College Scholarships in Florida

Local scholarship awards include community foundation scholarships and industry aid, such as Florida Engineering Society Scholarships, Florida nursing grants, and coastal or environmental research awards.

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest

Award Amount: Up to $8,000 The Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest is open to students who are at least 16 years old and reside in, or attend school in, states with Regions Bank full-service branches. To be considered, you must submit a video or essay on an individual you know personally who has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

Florida Supervisors of Elections Scholarship

Award Amount: Up to $1,200 The Florida Supervisors of Elections Scholarship is available to junior and senior students majoring in political science, public/business administration, or journalism/mass communications at an institution in Florida. You must be a resident of Florida for two years, be a registered voter, and have at least a "C" average to be eligible for this award.

Florida Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans Scholarship

Award Amount: Full-Tuition The Florida Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans Scholarship is open to dependent children and spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected disability or who are 100 percent service-connected permanent and total disabled veterans. Dependent children of service members Missing in Action or Prisoners of War may also be eligible for tuition benefits. Children must be between the ages of 16 and 22 to be eligible.

Florida First Generation Matching Grant

Award Amount: Varies The Florida First Generation Matching Grant is available to undergraduate students who are Florida residents. To be considered for this award, you must be a first-generation college student and enroll in a postsecondary public institution within Florida.

Congressman C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver

Award Amount: Varies The Congressman C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver requires a state university, Florida College System institution, charter technical career center, or career center to waive out-of-state tuition and fees for an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Reserve Forces, or the National Guard who physically resides in Florida while enrolled in the institution.

Myra McDaniel Endowed Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies The Myra McDaniel Endowed Scholarship is available to students majoring in occupational therapy. You must be attending school in Florida and be a member of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association to be eligible for this award.

Judge John M. McNatt Memorial Scholarship

Award Amount: Varies The Judge John M. McNatt Memorial Scholarship is available to students at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. You must have graduated from college in the Southeast United States, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award.

Academic Scholarship - Florida College

Award Amount: $1,000 The Academic Scholarship is available to entering freshmen students at Florida College. You must be a National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist, or have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a minimum 23 ACT/1060 SAT score to be considered.

How to Apply for Florida Scholarships

1. Complete the FAFSA. While students still need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the FFAA grants access to unique financial aid opportunities exclusive to Florida students, such as the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) or the First Generation Matching Grant Program (FGMG) .
2. Submit the FFAA. Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application through the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) before state deadlines.
3. Leverage Florida’s 2+2 Pathway Program . This program allows Florida students to complete lower-division requirements at lower-cost community and state colleges without losing credits when pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree.
4. Update Your Fastweb Profile. Match with private local awards year-round. Update your profile at least twice a year with your latest activities, grades, interests, and more. A complete profile saves time as it matches you to the scholarships that fit you–the scholarship awards YOU should be applying for.