Finding a low-cost college diploma is never easy. Fortunately, Florida offers a large number of excellent schools that have passed our cost-effectiveness criteria.
Check to see whether you qualify for any state financial aid packages (and don’t forget to fill out your Florida Financial Aid Application!) once you’ve looked over the information on college scholarships and tuition assistance. Scholarships for top achievers, need-based grants for Floridians, and aid for certain minority groups are all available in the Sunshine State.
Keep reading this post to see more details on universities with free application fee for international students, florida colleges, apply to colleges for free, and florida southern college application.
How do you qualify for free tuition in Florida?
To qualify, a student would have to be Florida resident with a high school diploma or equivalent and come from a family whose income is $50,000 or less.
Do Florida residents go to State college for free?
To be eligible for in-state tuition, you or your parents must have been a Florida resident, as defined by state law for tuition purposes, for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of the term.
Can I go to college for free?
While there are lots of ways to get a free college education, you should be ready to put in the time and effort required. Start your search early and apply to as many scholarships, grants and work programs as you can find. If you cast a wide net, you have the best chance of attending college for free.
free colleges in florida
These nine Florida schools include Florida Online, Florida International University, the University of Central Florida, Miami Dade College, Hillsborough Community College, Polk State College, Valencia College and Florida State College at Jacksonville.
1
New College of Florida
- Sarasota, Florida
The New College of Florida was founded in 1960 as a public honors college, and if you’re a straight-A student you’ll be among your peers here – the average GPA of incoming freshmen is above 4.0. Ninety percent of New College students receive some sort of financial aid, including most admitted freshmen. Depending upon their high school GPA and test scores, freshmen can qualify for annual scholarships up to $3,500. There are also academic scholarships for National Merit Scholars and state science fair winners. Florida residents may also be eligible for a lottery-funded grant. The school’s low in-state tuition rate helps; New College grads have an average college debt that’s $4,000 under the average for all Florida schools.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 96.2
861 Students2
University of Florida
- Gainesville, Florida
A 2,000-acre campus established in 1853, the University of Florida is the state’s oldest university and home to 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students. There are 135 scholarships, grants and fellowships available to the student population of UF. Over half (54 percent) of full-time undergraduates receive need-based financial assistance. The average first-year financial aid package is $11,875. This typically consists of grants, loans and work-study options. The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program supports students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who have been admitted to the university and who are the first in their families to attend college. Recipients are given a full grant and scholarship package towards a bachelor degree.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 95.9
50,645 Students3
University of Central Florida
- Orlando, Florida
Established in 1963 and now the second largest university in the country, the University of Central Florida has more than 60,000 students from 50 states and 140 countries now calling its Orlando campus home. Incoming qualified freshmen are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships within the Pegasus Scholarship Program. Admitted non-resident students who qualify for scholarships will receive a portion of their scholarship in the form of a waiver. The value of this waiver depends on the number of credits the student takes each term and so may vary from year to year. UCF has several scholarships available for transfer students as well. All students must apply or reapply yearly for financial assistance.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 94.5
62,953 Students4
University of South Florida-Main Campus
As a global research university, the University of South Florida offers its student population (31,000 strong as of the academic year 2014-2015) 180 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and specialty levels. The USF Foundation awards over $5 million in scholarships every year. Incoming USF students with at least two more undergraduate years to go for the completion of a degree can apply for the A. Harrison and Ruth Kosove Undergraduate Scholarship. The amount of the award varies but may be enough to cover the cost of attendance at USF. The First Generation Brad and Terry Holcombe Scholarship supports USF freshmen with financial need who are the first in their family to attend college.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 94.3
42,067 Students5
Florida State University
- Tallahassee, Florida
Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida has an eclectic list of notable alumni that includes Jim Morrison, Richard Simmons and Burt Reynolds. Almost all (95%) of full-time beginning undergraduates at FSU receive financial aid; 38% of these students receive institutional grants or scholarships. The University Freshman Scholarship provides awards of $9,600 distributed over four-years to the most outstanding freshman students. The premier undergraduate merit scholarship program at FSU is the Presidential Scholarship, which provides students with a $2,400 University Freshman Scholarship combined with an additional $2,400. The school’s Tuition Reduction Scholarships provide full and partial tuition waivers to out-of-state students.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 93.9
40,830 Students6
University of North Florida
- Jacksonville, Florida
Initially designated as an upper division college for juniors and seniors, the University of Northern Florida started admitting freshmen in 1984, and now has five colleges, offering 53 undergraduate degree programs and 28 graduate degree programs. The Presidential Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship for academically outstanding incoming freshmen. There are four award levels – Diamond ($24,000), Platinum ($16,000), Gold ($8,000) and Silver ($4,000). UNF has a First Generation Scholarship Program for students who are the first in their family to go to college. Additionally, there are a number of need-based scholarships such as the AT&T Florida Scholarship ($10,000 over four-years) and the Bank of America Community Scholarship ($8,000 over four-years).
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 93.4
15,675 Students7
Florida Atlantic University
- Boca Raton, Florida
Founded in 1964, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton was the first public university in Southeastern Florida. FAU gives out over $154 million a year in financial aid and provides institutional grants and scholarships to 66% of full-time beginning undergraduates. The FAU Presidential Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that provides $6,000 awards to incoming freshmen and is renewable for up to four-years. The Spirit of FAU Grant is another institutional scholarship available to incoming freshmen and it offers renewable, merit-based awards of $5,000 per year. The university also offers two institutional need-based grants: the FAU Grant and the FAU Academic Achievement Grant.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 92.8
30,380 Students8
Florida Gulf Coast University
- Fort Myers, Florida
Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers is a relatively young institution that was founded in 1991 and held its first classes in 1997. Just over 80% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive financial aid; 17% of these students receive institutional grants or scholarships. Freshman students can apply to be National Merit Scholars, National Achievement Scholars or National Hispanic Scholars and receive $5,000 per year for up to four-years. Florida residents can also apply for the merit-based President’s Gold Scholarship, which offers $5,000 per year, and the President’s Silver Scholarship, which offers $3,000 per year. Non-Florida residents can apply for the Blue & Green Scholars Award, which offers $15,000 per year, and the Blue & Green Directors Award, which offers $10,000 per year.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
CAG Score 92.4
14,833 Students
How to Transfer College Credits in Florida
College students in Florida often find that transferring college credits is easy. Florida has a college credit transfer system that clearly maps out how students can expect to earn and transfer credits between institutions. The state offers articulation agreements, a 2+2 program with guaranteed admission, statewide course numbering, and common prerequisites.
Most state universities participate in the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System. Under this system, institutions use common categorization and numbering of courses. When two institutions offer the same course, course prefix, and number, the credit will be accepted. To learn more about articulation and course transfer, visit the Florida Virtual Campus.
In Florida, educational institutions also use common prerequisites. These courses make it possible to transfer lower level academic credit within the state university system. However, it is important to note that for some university degree programs, additional lower level courses may be required, and not all courses are offered at every postsecondary educational institution in Florida.
With the 2+2 Florida Plan, students can rely on guaranteed admission and credit transfer. Students are required to earn an associate’s degree, and then are able to transfer lower level courses to a state university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Under this plan, students are guaranteed admission to a state university.
State Financial Aid for Florida Students
To get the cheapest Florida college education possible, you’re probably going to have to pull together funds from lots of places—federal aid, state aid, private grants & scholarships and loans. For info on state financial aid, visit Florida’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). It’s not the slickest of websites, but it does have a comprehensive list of state-funded scholarship and grant programs, info on student loans and sundry financial aid resources.
OSFA also administers the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), which—like the FAFSA—we recommend you complete. If you want to be considered for a Bright Futures Scholarship, José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant, Rosewood Family Scholarship or Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (see our descriptions below), you must fill out a FFAA. You can talk to an OSFA representative at 1-888-827-2004.
Once you’ve explored your state options, head over to FloridaShines, a student-focused guide to earning and completing a college degree in Florida. There are resources for high school, college and returning students, as well as tools for planning a career. The section on how to Pay for College clearly explains Florida residency requirements (you must be a FL resident to qualify for in-state tuition and most state grants).
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