Blog/Bright Futures ACT Score Requirements: What You Need for FMS and FAS (2026)
General·7 min read
Bright Futures ACT Score Requirements: What You Need for FMS and FAS (2026)
Florida Bright Futures ACT score requirements for the Class of 2026. FAS requires a 29 composite, FMS requires a 24, with GPA and service hour minimums.
Larry Learns
Bright Futures ACT scores at a glance
Florida's Bright Futures scholarship pays out tens of thousands of dollars in tuition for in-state students, and your ACT composite score is one of the levers that decides which tier you land in. The short version for Class of 2026 graduates: a 29 ACT composite gets you Florida Academic Scholars (FAS, the full-tuition tier), and a 24 ACT composite gets you Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS, 75% tuition). Both come with a GPA and service-hour floor, and both have one important update for 2026.
Florida publishes the same ACT thresholds across the SAT and CLT alternatives, so the easiest way to think about Bright Futures is by tier. Here is what the Class of 2026 needs:
Award tier
ACT composite
Equivalent SAT
Weighted GPA
Service hours
Tuition coverage
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
29
1330
3.5
100
100%
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
24
1190
3.0
75
75%
Florida Gold Seal Vocational (GSVS)
17 English / 19 Reading / 19 Math
EBRW 490 / Math 480
3.0 (non-elective)
75
Varies by program
You only need to hit one of the test paths (ACT, SAT, or CLT). A 29 ACT and a 1330 SAT both qualify you for FAS. You do not need both, and the highest score from any single sitting counts.
Loading practice questions...
Florida Academic Scholars: the 29 ACT tier
FAS is the full-tuition tier. To qualify with an ACT, you need:
ACT composite of 29 or higher. Florida superscores the ACT by combining your highest section scores across multiple test dates
3.5 weighted GPA in the 16 core academic credits required for state university admission
100 hours of community service, or 100 paid work hours, or a combination totaling 100 hours
Florida residency and graduation from an eligible Florida high school or homeschool
Submission of the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by August 31 of your graduation year
A 29 ACT places you around the 91st percentile nationally, which is competitive but reachable with focused prep. Most students who hit a 29 do so by junior spring after taking the test once or twice, then optionally retaking senior fall to lock in the score.
Florida Medallion Scholars: the 24 ACT tier
FMS is the broader and more accessible tier, and the 24 ACT cutoff is within reach for the average Florida high school junior:
ACT composite of 24 or higher. Florida superscores the ACT, so your best section scores across multiple test dates combine into your qualifying composite
3.0 weighted GPA in core academic credits
75 hours of community service, or 100 paid work hours, or a combination totaling 100 hours
Same Florida residency and FFAA application requirements as FAS
FMS covers 75% of tuition and applicable fees. At a Florida public university, that translates to about $159 per credit hour, or roughly $2,385 per 15-credit semester (the UF Office of Student Financial Aid publishes the current per-credit-hour rates each year). A 24 ACT sits at the 73rd percentile nationally, well above the national mean. If you are scoring 22 or 23 on practice tests, a few weeks of focused review on your weakest section is usually enough to push past the 24 cutoff.
The 2026 ACT Science change you need to know
Starting with the Class of 2025-26, the ACT Science section is no longer required for Bright Futures. Florida now calculates your composite using English, Math, and Reading only, the same way the redesigned ACT does. This matters for two reasons:
You no longer need to grind Science prep specifically for Bright Futures purposes. If you take the optional Science section anyway, your Bright Futures composite ignores it.
If you took an earlier ACT that included Science as part of the composite, your scoring is reported the way the test was administered. Florida's calculation pulls from the new three-section composite for current graduates.
If you are deciding between SAT and ACT, this change tilts the ACT slightly more student-friendly than it was for the Class of 2025 and earlier. One fewer section means less material to prep and less fatigue on test day.
SAT vs ACT for Bright Futures: which to take
You can use whichever score is highest, so the smart move is to take a timed practice test of each before committing to one path:
Test
FAS cutoff
FMS cutoff
Best for
ACT
29
24
Strong reading speed, comfortable with timed sections, no Science required for Bright Futures composite
SAT
1330
1190
Stronger algebra and slower-paced reading, want the digital adaptive format
CLT
95
82
Classical Christian schools and homeschool students familiar with the CLT format
Most Florida students stick with the SAT because it is more familiar, but the ACT is just as valid for Bright Futures purposes. If your practice ACT score is 1-2 points higher in concordance terms than your practice SAT, switch.
How to hit your ACT cutoff
If you are sitting at a 22, 23, or 25 on practice tests and need a few more points to land your tier, the highest-leverage moves are usually the same:
Diagnose your weakest section. A 22 composite with a 19 in Math and a 25 in English is fundamentally a math problem. Spend the first two weeks targeting the weak section instead of doing balanced review.
Drill timing on full sections. The ACT rewards fast and accurate students more than the SAT does. A timed 35-minute Reading section twice a week is worth more than 50 untimed practice questions.
Master ACT Math fundamentals. Most ACT Math questions test pre-algebra, algebra 1, and geometry rather than advanced topics. Strategy-level ACT Math tips tend to add 2-4 points faster than learning new content.
Take the test twice. Florida superscores the ACT, so your best section scores across multiple test dates combine into one qualifying composite. Most students improve 1-3 composite points between their first and second attempt.
What if you barely miss the cutoff
If you end up with a 28 ACT and a 3.5 GPA, you do not get FAS. You get FMS instead. That is still 75% of tuition, which at a Florida public university is roughly $2,385 per semester or $4,770 per year. You also keep the option to retake the ACT senior fall if you want one more shot at the FAS cutoff.
If you score a 23 with a 3.0 GPA, you fall short of FMS. Options: retake the ACT, take the SAT (a 1190 SAT is the FMS cutoff), or check whether you qualify for Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars through a CTE program. There is no "rounding up" or appeals process for missing a cutoff by one point. The thresholds are firm.
Application timeline
Hitting the ACT score is only half the battle. The application has its own deadlines:
When
Action
Junior spring
Take the ACT for the first time, ideally April or June
Senior fall
Retake the ACT in September or October if needed
October 1, senior year
Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) opens
Spring senior year
High school sends transcript and ACT scores to the state
August 31, post-graduation
Final FFAA deadline
Fall, college year 1
Award disbursed once enrolled at an eligible Florida institution
The ACT registration deadline is typically four weeks before the test date with late registration available for an extra fee. Send your scores directly to Florida by listing the state's score recipient code when you register, or have your high school upload them after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bright Futures ACT Requirements
What ACT score do I need for Bright Futures in 2026?
Florida Academic Scholars requires a 29 ACT composite. Florida Medallion Scholars requires a 24 ACT composite. Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars uses section minimums instead: 17 English, 19 Reading, and 19 Math. All scores must come from a single test date.
Do I need to take the ACT Science section for Bright Futures?
No. Starting with the Class of 2025-26, the ACT Science section is optional for Bright Futures. Florida calculates your composite using English, Math, and Reading only. If you take Science anyway, the Bright Futures composite ignores it.
Can I superscore my ACT for Bright Futures?
Yes. Florida superscores the ACT for Bright Futures by combining your highest section scores across multiple test dates into one qualifying composite. The same rule applies to the SAT. You cannot mix test types (ACT Math with SAT Reading, for example), but multiple sittings of the same test combine.
What if I get a 28 ACT instead of 29?
You qualify for Florida Medallion Scholars (75% tuition) instead of Florida Academic Scholars (100%) provided you also meet the 3.0 GPA and 75 service hour requirements. You can retake the ACT senior fall to try for the FAS cutoff. There is no appeals process for missing a cutoff by a single point.
Is the ACT or SAT better for Bright Futures?
Whichever you score higher on. The cutoffs are concorded so that a 29 ACT and a 1330 SAT both qualify you for FAS. Take a timed practice test of each, then commit to the test where your practice score is closer to the cutoff. The 2026 ACT change (Science now optional) tilts the comparison slightly toward the ACT.
How many community service hours are required for the ACT path?
FAS requires 100 volunteer service hours, or 100 paid work hours, or a combination totaling 100 hours. FMS and GSVS require 75 volunteer service hours with the same 100-hour paid-work or combined alternative. The requirement does not depend on which test you take. Hours must be approved by your school district and logged before you submit the FFAA.
