State Financial Aid

Merit-Based Aid

The state lottery funds the merit-based Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program, which provides financial aid to Arkansas residents pursuing a postsecondary degree or certificate. Students who graduated from an Arkansas public high school and earned an ACT composite score of 19 or higher or a qualifying score on an equivalent exam are eligible for the scholarship. Unconditional admission to more selective public universities requires completion of the Smart Core.

Recent graduates may qualify with a cumulative high school grade-point average of 2.5 or an ACT Composite score of at least 19. Full-time college students may earn the merit scholarship if they successfully complete 27 semester credits with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Academic Challenge Scholarship recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA and earn 30 semester credits each year to continue receiving aid.

Students will receive scholarship renewals until they reach one of the following milestones: attempting 120 credits, earning a baccalaureate degree or receiving eight semesters of funding. Recipients may regain the scholarship if they meet the GPA and credit completion requirements within the same academic year that they became ineligible.

The Arkansas General Assembly revised award amounts beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year. Freshmen at all eligible four-year postsecondary institutions now receive $1,000 per academic year. The award increases to $4,000 for sophomores and juniors. Seniors who maintain the award for three academic years receive a $5,000 award during their final year. Second-year students at community and technical colleges receive a $3,000 award. Act 834 (2019) allows Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship recipients who have earned at least 87 semester credits to receive a part-time award under certain circumstances.

The Arkansas’ Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship — the most academically rigorous scholarship program in the state — requires graduating seniors to score either a 32 on the ACT or a 1410 on the SAT and earn a 3.5 grade-point average to be eligible. Students who are named National Merit Finalists or National Achievement Scholars may qualify without meeting the GPA requirements. The scholarship covers tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board up to $10,000 per year.

Need-Based Aid

The Arkansas Future Grant Program, or ARFuture, provides grants for students enrolled in qualifying certificate and associate degree programs. Recipients receive funding for five semesters or until they attain an associate degree. While in their program, recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress, meet each semester with a mentor and complete at least 10 hours of community service per semester.

Graduates must work in the state for at least three years and be employed within six months after receiving an associate degree or a certification. The grant converts into an interest-bearing loan if recipients fail to meet the job requirement or leave the state. Act 618 (2019) adds eight career fields to the eligibility list, including nursing, education and information technology. 

The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship, funded by lottery revenues, helps support students interested in high-demand industry workforce training programs, including in healthcare and information technology.

Hybrid

Arkansas also provides financial assistance to students seeking training and education in specific areas of study and to support specific student groups. These include the Health Education Grant that supports graduate students seeking further training in areas including dentistry, podiatry and veterinary medicine and helps these students attend out-of-state institutions.

State Policy Overview

Florida provides predominantly non-need-based financial aid for undergraduates.

Merit-Based Aid

The state lottery funds the merit-based Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Recent high school graduates must complete the Florida Financial Aid Application to qualify for one of four awards.

For the Academic, Medallion, and Gold Seal Vocational awards, students must earn a standard Florida high school diploma, complete the required high school courses with a minimum qualifying grade-point average, enroll for at least six semester credits, and complete the community service requirement.

Applicants for the Academic and Medallion scholarships may use two additional high school units drawn from core academic areas and world languages, as well as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education courses, to raise their GPAs to meet the initial eligibility requirements.   

The Florida Academic Scholarship covers 100% of tuition and required fees, plus $300 per semester for applicable expenses. The Florida Medallion Scholarship covers 75% of tuition and required fees. The state sets a per-credit aid amount for recipients of both scholarships who attend nonpublic institutions. The minimum GPAs to renew the Academic and Medallion grants are 3.0 and 2.75, respectively.

The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship provides financial aid to students who take at least three credits in one career and technical education program in high school and meet other GPA, college entrance exam and community service requirements.

The Florida Legislature created the Gold Seal CAPE Vocational Scholars award in 2016. The grant provides funding for students who earn a minimum of five postsecondary credits through industry certifications and complete 30 service hours.

Gold Seal Vocational and CAPE scholars must use their award to enroll in a certificate or career education program. Gold Seal Cape Scholarship recipients may receive additional aid to pursue a baccalaureate degree if they complete an Associate in Applied Science program.       

The Benacquisto Scholarship Program provides aid to National Merit Scholars who attend one of nine public postsecondary institutions. The last-dollar scholarship covers the cost of attendance after deducting the student’s Bright Futures and National Achievement scholarships. Aid is renewable if students meet minimum credit completion requirements and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Program provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students attending an eligible private, non-profit Florida college or university. Each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines and student eligibility. A renewal applicant must have earned a minimum institutional cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and earned the equivalent of 12 credit hours for each term an award was received during the academic year.

Need-Based Aid

The Florida Student Assistance Grant Program provides need-based aid to resident students attending eligible postsecondary institutions. Students must enroll in a minimum of six credit hours per term to participate in the FSAG Public (community college) program, and 12 hours for the FSAG Private and Postsecondary programs. Aid is renewable if students maintain a 2.0 GPA and meet credit requirements for enrollment. Florida Statutes Section 1009.286 allows first-time college students enrolled in a state university who complete a baccalaureate degree within four years of initial enrollment to apply for a refund of excess credit hour surcharges.

Hybrid

The Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate students who meet scholastic requirements, demonstrate financial need, and attend Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University or Florida Memorial University. Each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines and student eligibility.

Chapter 119 (2019) creates the Last Mile College Completion Program beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year. The program pays the tuition and required fees for students who are within 12 credit hours of completing an associate or baccalaureate degree.

Merit-Based Aid

The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority administers the lottery-funded Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, a merit aid program. The program provides financial support for state residents based on their academic performance throughout high school. The value of the award increases for each year of high school in which a student maintains a 2.5 or higher grade-point average in the Pre-College Curriculum.

Students may earn Bonus Awards based on their ACT or SAT composite scores and test scores in advanced courses including AP, IB, and Cambridge Advanced International courses. Students who were eligible for free or reduced-priced meals at any time during high school may earn Supplemental Awards based on their performance on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge Advanced International exams. 

First-time recipients receive a scholarship equivalent to the base, bonus, and supplement award amounts.  Students may renew their full scholarship award if they maintain a 3.0 GPA and are “on track to graduate” — determined by completing a specified number of course hours. Students can receive half of the award amount if they fall below the 3.0 GPA threshold but maintain at least a 2.5 GPA or if they fall below the course hours required to be on track to graduate. Students may regain the scholarship if they meet renewal criteria by the end of the spring semester.

Act 186 (2019) authorizes the use of Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship funds for qualified workforce training programs providing instruction in one of Kentucky’s five high-demand work sectors. Students enrolled in these programs are eligible to receive reimbursement for tuition and other approved educational expenses.

Need-Based Aid

The College Access Program Grant provides need-based aid to residents enrolling in eligible public, nonpublic, proprietary, and technical institutions. The maximum award is $2,500 for two-year institutions and $5,300 for four-year institutions.

The Kentucky Tuition Grant provides need-based aid to residents enrolling in eligible nonpublic colleges. The maximum award amount is $3,300.

Act 102 (2019) creates the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, which will provide financial aid to residents enrolled in certain industry-recognized certificate, diploma, or associate of applied science degree programs. The award will cover tuition and required fees.

Hybrid

The Early Childhood Development Scholarship provides financial aid to Kentucky students pursuing one of the following: child development associate credential, associate degree in early childhood education, bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education or a related program approved by the Early Childhood Development Authority, or Kentucky Early Childhood Development Director’s Certificate. Students must be enrolled in no more than 9 credit hours per term and be employed at least 20 hours per week in a participating early childhood facility or be employed as a preschool associate teacher in a state-funded pre-school program. Participants must not be eligible for state or federal training funds through Head Start, a public preschool program, or First Steps and must agree to a service commitment based on the credential pursued. Awards may be up to $1,800 per year.

The Teacher Scholarship Program provides financial aid to Kentucky students pursuing teacher certification at participating Kentucky colleges. Students must demonstrate financial need and teach for one semester at a Kentucky public or certified non-public school for each semester the scholarship is received. Awards may be up to $2,500 per semester.

Merit-Based Aid

The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship is awarded to students who pledge to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in Maryland upon completion of their degree. The award covers 100% of annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board of resident undergraduate student at a public higher education institution. For private nonprivate institutions, the award is equal to the lesser of the annual tuition, fees, and room and board of a undergraduate at UMCP or 50% of the annual tuition and fees and 100% of the room and board at the institution. To be eligible, students must have a 3.3 grade-point average and either a SAT score of 1100 (with no score less than 500 in either subsection) or ACT composite score of 25.

Need-Based Aid

The Guaranteed Access and Educational Assistance Grants require applicants to enroll as degree-seeking, full-time students at public postsecondary institutions. Both grants are last-dollar scholarships, which calculate financial need by taking the cost of attendance and subtracting aid from other sources (Expected Family Contribution, Pell Grants and other state aid).

Guaranteed Access grant recipients may qualify for a matching award if they attend an eligible nonpublic Maryland institution. Students may not receive the Guaranteed Access and Educational Assistance Grants simultaneously. Students who do not meet the March 1 deadline for filing the FAFSA may apply for the Campus-Based Educational Assistance Grant. The requirements are identical to the Educational Assistance grant.

Recipients of the Guaranteed and Educational Access grants must complete at least 24 credits by the end of their second enrollment year and each academic year thereafter. Any combination of multiple state awards may not exceed the cost of attendance or $28,000, whichever is less.

Hybrid

Community college students who earn an associate degree and have an Expected Family Contribution of less than $10,000 qualify for the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship. The base award amount is $1,000, but recipients enrolled in science, teaching, engineering, computer science, mathematics or nursing programs receive annual awards of $2,000.

The Maryland Part-Time Grant provides awards ranging from $200 to $2,000 per year for students enrolled in three to 11 credits per semester at a two- or four-year institution.

The Near Completer Grant reimburses students who have completed 45 credits at a community college or 90 credits at a public, four-year institution and plan to re-enroll to finish their degree. The award reduces tuition by up to one-third after all non-loan aid is applied.

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarships is a “last-dollar” scholarship to help eligible students cover the cost of earning a vocational certificate, certificate or associate degree, or to cover the cost of a series of courses that lead to licensure or certification. In the 2021-2022 year, the scholarship can also be used by students in a registered apprenticeship program at a Maryland community college. To be considered eligible, students must meet income requirements and must have had at least a 2.3 high school GPA. Scholarship recipients will need to maintain a 2.5 GPA and complete 12 credits per semester. Students may receive the scholarship for no more than three years, or until they earn an associate degree. The maximum Promise award is $5,000 a year after applying all non-loan aid.

The Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program supports students who are pursuing education in programs identified by the Secretary of Higher Education as being directly relevant to cybersecurity. Award amounts are prescribed by MHEC.

The Workforce Development Sequence Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to students enrolling in an approved non-credited certificate program leading to apprenticeships, employment, licensure, or job skill enhancement only at a participating Maryland Community College. The scholarship has a maximum award amount of $2,000 annually.

The Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG) program is for students who plan on working in specific career/occupational programs upon graduation.  Eligible fields include: child care, human services, teaching, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work and public service. Award amounts vary based on student’s enrollment status and institution type.

Merit-Based Aid

N/A

Need-Based Aid

The state funds four need-based grant programs. Award amounts vary based on the level of financial need and the type of institution. All programs calculate financial need using income data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The Education Lottery Scholarship provides grants up to $3,768 to students who attend public institutions, enroll in at least six credits per semester and meet the requirement for a Federal Pell Grant with the exception of the Expected Family Contribution.

The Community College Grant provides grants up to $2,200 to students who enroll in at least six credits per semester and have a qualifying EFC of $8,500 or less.

The UNC Need-Based Grant provides grants up to $4,200 to students who enroll in at least six credits per semester at one of the 16 institutions in the University of North Carolina system and have a qualifying EFC.

The North Carolina Need-Based Scholarship for Private College Students provides grants to students attending nonpublic institutions who enroll in at least nine credits per semester and have a qualifying EFC.

Hybrid

N/A

Merit-Based Aid

The state funds five financial aid programs. The three largest programs provide merit-based aid. Students may accept only one of the merit-based scholarships, even if they meet eligibility requirements for multiple awards.

Students may qualify for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship by meeting one of the following set of criteria: (1) 1200 SAT or 27 ACT, 3.5 grade-point average and Top 6% Class Rank or (2) 1400 SAT or 32 ACT and 4.0 GPA. Freshmen may receive annual awards up to $6,700. In future years, college students may receive annual awards up to $7,500 if they maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Students graduating in the Class of 2021 and beyond who meet the eligibility criteria may also use a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship at a two-year institution or technical college.

Students may qualify for the Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence or LIFE Scholarship by meeting two of these three criteria: (1) 1100 SAT or 24 ACT, (2) 3.0 GPA (3) and Top 30% Class Rank. Students may receive a maximum award of $4,700 award and a $300 book stipend if they maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and meet credit completion requirements. Beginning in the Fall 2021 term, students who are enrolled in identified associates degree programs that exceed 68 credit hours to completion, at eligible institutions, may receive a LIFE Scholarship for up to six consecutive terms.

Students who do not qualify for the Palmetto or LIFE Scholarships may receive the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship with a high school GPA of 3.0.

The state’s Uniform Grading Policy calculates high school GPA based on a 0.0 to 6.0-point scale.

Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholars must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and earn at least 30 credit hours at the end of each academic year to remain eligible. Palmetto Fellows and LIFE Scholars may receive an additional $2,500 enhancement in their second, third or fourth year if they enroll in certain math and science majors (computer science, engineering, nursing, pharmacy). Freshmen must complete at least fourteen credits in math and science subjects to receive the enhancement. 

The HOPE Scholarship is a freshmen-only award. Recipients may qualify to receive the LIFE scholarship in subsequent years if they maintain a 3.0 college GPA. Students may receive a maximum award of $2,800.

Need-Based Aid

The South Carolina Need-Based Grant program provides annual awards up to $2,500 for full-time students (or $1,250 for part-time students) with demonstrated financial need. Students remain eligible if they maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of each academic year.

Hybrid

The Lottery Tuition Assistance Program provides supplemental aid for students enrolled at the University of South Carolina’s two-year campuses and Spartanburg Methodist College. The maximum annual award is $1,140 per term for full-time students or $95 per credit hour for part-time students. The program does not award grants based on merit or need. Institutions must apply all federal grants and the South Carolina Need-Based Grant before awarding financial aid from this program.

The SC WINS Scholarship is a statewide technical college scholarship program designed to address workforce shortages in South Carolina. The Scholarship supplements Lottery Tuition Assistance program funding to help cover any tuition and mandatory fees left after applying all other scholarships or grants. Students must be receiving a LTAP scholarship and meet the USAD income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and must be majoring in a critical workforce area as defined by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education

Merit-Based Aid

The Texas Tuition Equalization Grant provides financial aid to students attending nonpublic institutions. Eligible students may receive an annual award of up to $3,497 if they earn 24 credits per year and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5. The state authorizes institutions to award additional funds to students with exceptional financial need, defined as an Expected Family Contribution less than $1,000.

Need-Based Aid

The state funds three need-based grant programs. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine financial need. To retain their award, recipients must complete 75% of credits hours attempted and maintain minimum grade-point averages. 

The Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success or TEXAS Grant provides need-based aid to eligible students who enroll at Texas public universities within sixteen months of high school graduation and have a qualifying Expected Family Contribution.

Students also may qualify for the TEXAS Grant through one of three alternative routes:

• Earn an associate degree from an in-state college and enroll in an eligible institution within 12 months.
• Enlist in the military within 12 months of high school graduation and enroll in an eligible institution within 12 months of honorable discharge.
• Transfer to a public university after earning at least 24 semester credits with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Eligible students must hold the initial Texas Education Opportunity Grant.

Students receive priority consideration for TEXAS Grant awards if they meet the basic requirements, apply before the state priority deadline, and satisfy at least two of the following requirements:

• Advanced Math: Earn course credit in a math course beyond Algebra II or at least one advanced career and technical course.
• Advanced Programs: Complete 12 hours of college credit, the Recommended or Advanced High School Program, or the International Baccalaureate Program.
• Class Standing: Graduate in top third of high school class or graduate with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Readiness Benchmarks: Demonstrate readiness by meeting the Texas Success Initiative assessment thresholds or qualify for TSI exemption through another qualifying test (ACT, SAT, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills).

To receive the first renewal TEXAS award, students must meet the institution’s satisfactory academic progress requirements. Subsequent awards require students to maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA and complete at least 24 credit hours per year.

The maximum annual TEXAS award is $10,078.

The Texas Educational Opportunity Grant provides need-based aid to students enrolled in associate degree or certificate programs at public two-year institutions who have earned less than 30 college credits and have a qualifying Expected Family Contribution.

Recipients of the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant remain eligible for aid for four years, until they complete 75 semester credits or earn an associate degree, whichever comes first. Award amounts vary by institutional category and credit-hour enrollment. The maximum annual award for full-time enrollment is $1,707 per semester at public community colleges, $1,533 per semester at public state colleges and $3,979 per semester at technical institutions.

The award amounts for the TEXAS and Education Opportunity Grants vary by institution type.

Hybrid

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