Florida Need-Based Financial Aid Programs

Transcription

1 Florida Need-Based Financial Aid Programs Florida Scholarships & Grants Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance

2 Who Qualifies for Need- Based Financial Aid? Florida offers several need-based scholarships and grants to students who demonstrate substantial financial need and are enrolled in participating postsecondary institutions. Eligibility requirements vary with each individual program. State need-based program awards do not require repayment. How Does a Student Qualify? Each need-based program has its own specific requirements and award amounts. For all need-based scholarships and grants students must: Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the required institutional deadline. The following two programs require an Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) processed error free by April 1 and an error free FAFSA by May 15. Rosewood Family Scholarship Program José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund Meet Florida s residency requirements for receipt of state student financial aid. A student s residency status is determined by the postsecondary institution. Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Be enrolled in a degree or certificate program of study. Meet Florida s general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid. Note: Although some programs require full-time attendance, students with documented disabilities may be able to qualify for funding while attending part-time. See a financial aid administrator at participating postsecondary institutions for additional information.

3 How Does a Student Apply? For initial and renewal awards, complete an error free FAFSA, processed by May 15, each academic year online at For the Rosewood Family Scholarship Program and the José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund initial applicants should also complete an error free FFAA, by April 1, online at by selecting State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, and then Apply Here. To check application deadlines for the specific programs, select Programs Offered instead of Apply Here from the menu bar. Note: There is no fee for filing these applications. Apply Early Timing is Critical! The FAFSA may be filed as early as January for the following academic year. A student should: Have all necessary documentation at hand, such as tax returns. Allow time to complete the application correctly. If the FAFSA is incomplete, it will not be accepted as submitted. A student is responsible for verifying the error free submission. If filing online, remember to electronically sign or send in the signature page! The application will not be considered submitted until the United States Department of Education receives a student s signature, as well as a parent signature if required. The FAFSA must be processed error free by May 15 for the Rosewood Family Scholarship Program and the José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund.

4 What Need-Based Grants and Scholarships are Available? The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) website at provides detailed information and a list of participating institutions for each state financial aid program. Select the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, and then Programs Offered from the menu bar. (The eligible postsecondary institutions are listed, and it is anticipated that they will continue to participate for the academic year subject to annual review, evaluation, and legislative funding.) The following state financial aid need-based programs are available for , but are dependent upon legislative funding: First Generation Matching Grant Program Florida Student Assistance Grant Programs (which include): Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Florida Work Experience Program José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship Program Rosewood Family Scholarship Program

5 The Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) administers a variety of state-funded scholarships and grants to assist students with the cost of postsecondary education. Availability of these programs is subject to annual review, evaluation, and legislative funding. Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance Questions? Call OSFA Customer Service toll-free at