BackScholarships for Freshmen
Scholarships Awarded based on the Application
The Admissions Office awards a limited number of scholarships for admitted freshmen who apply by the priority deadlines and receive their decision on our February Decision Day. No separate application is needed, and no additional materials or updated information can be submitted for review.
The review process incorporates the same holistic approach used in admissions decisions. Scholarships are awarded based on grades and standardized test scores, as well as extracurricular involvement, leadership, community service, and your personal essay. Our incoming freshman class is always outstanding in all of the above-mentioned areas, which makes awarding scholarships challenging!
With scholarships limited and no pre-set criteria, students with similar test scores, grades, extracurricular activities, and more may receive different scholarship decisions. Each year approximately 10 percent of admitted freshman are awarded a merit scholarship.
If selected for one of our merit-based scholarships, students will be notified via email and status page update by mid-March.
UF does not send notifications to students not selected for scholarships. If you do not hear from us, this means we were not able to offer you a scholarship.
Presidential Scholarships
UF currently offers a limited number of merit-based Presidential scholarships designed for high-achieving students:
- Presidential Scholarship: $5,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total $20,000 over 4 years)
- Presidential Gold Scholarship: $8,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total $32,000 over 4 years)
- Presidential Platinum Scholarship: $10,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total $40,000 over 4 years)
UF's Presidential scholarships can be combined with Bright Futures and the Benacquisto Scholarship offered by the Florida Department of Education.
Out-of-State Tuition Waiver
UF currently offers a limited number of merit-based tuition waivers designed to reduce the out-of-state tuition for selected students:
- Alumni Scholarship - up to $8,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total up to $32,000 over 4 years)
- Sunshine Scholarship - up to $16,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total up to $64,000 over 4 years)
- Gator Nation Scholarship - up to $20,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total up to $80,000 over 4 years)
If a student's residency is updated to in-state for tuition purposes after being awarded a merit-based tuition waiver, they will no longer be eligible, and the award will be cancelled.
The out-of-state fee waiver cannot be combined with another tuition-wavier scholarship (offered by the School of Music, for example) since both scholarships waive the same portion of non-resident tuition.
Admissions Honors Scholarship
For students offered the opportunity to join the University Research Scholars Program, a $2,000 residential tuition waiver will be awarded ($500 waived each fall and spring term). No separate application is needed, and no additional materials or updated information can be submitted for review.
This residential tuition waiver applies to tuition for both Florida residents and non-Florida residents alike, so residency for tuition purposes classification is not considered. This award can combine with the merit-based scholarships listed above (Presidential and Out-of-State Tuition Waivers) but would reduce the amount billed to any Florida PrePaid account.
Other Scholarships Available at UF
Bright Futures Scholarships
The Florida Department of Education offers the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships for high school graduates. For more information, refer to Florida Student Financial Aid or call (888) 827-2004 prior to your high school graduation. Additional questions can be directed to the UF's Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships (SFA).
National Merit Finalists/Benacquisto Scholarship
UF offers a $500 annual National Merit Scholarship to National Merit Finalists who indicate UF as their first-choice institution with the National Merit Corporation by their deadline of May 31. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation sends periodic rosters of finalists who have indicated UF as first choice beginning in early March and continuing monthly through the beginning of June.
UF's National Merit Scholarship qualifies as a college-sponsored scholarship under the requirements for the Benacquisto Scholarship, which is offered by the Florida Department of Education and covers the remaining institutionally posted cost of attendance (minus Bright Futures and the qualifying National Merit Scholarship) for in-state residents.
The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is a state-funded program that is appropriated by the legislature each year, so funding is subject to change. For more information, view the Benacquisto Scholarship requirements.
Lombardi and Stamps Scholarships
The Honors Program offers the John V. Lombardi Scholarship and the Stamps Family Scholarship for incoming students who rank at the top of their class and demonstrate service to the community, extracurricular involvement, leadership and high moral character. The application cycle for these awards begins in the fall of each year; students should apply during their senior year in high school. High schools may nominate up to two graduating seniors for these awards, and home schooled students may be nominated by their advisor. See this page for links to application and nomination instructions.
Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars
The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program provides financial resources and individual support with the primary goal of graduating first generation, low-income undergraduate students. By addressing systemic barriers and challenges, the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program provides a full grant and scholarship financial aid package as well as a comprehensive support program to ensure students thrive at UF. To be eligible, students must first be admitted into the University of Florida as a first-year student. Upon completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students are invited to complete the MFOS Supplemental Form if they meet the initial eligibility criteria. Specifically, the program supports students whose annual family income is less than $55,000 and assets are less than $35,000.
Grandparent Waiver of Out-of-State Tuition and Fees
Out-of-State students who have a grandparent who is a resident of Florida may qualify for a waiver of out-of-state tuition and fees. Visit the residency section of our website for more information on this waiver and application process.
Scholarships for Currently Enrolled Students
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (SFA) offers an online search engine that provides information about both UF college-awarded and private scholarships. www.sfa.ufl.edu/search.
Colleges & Academic Departments
Multiple colleges and academic departments on campus have scholarships to offer currently enrolled students. Contact your advisor or the dean's office in your college for more information.
Third-party Scholarships
Here are some helpful, third-party scholarship searches online:
Scholarships for Transfer Students
Information for the two scholarships offered by the Office of Undergraduate Affairs is available online: http://undergrad.aa.ufl.edu/scholarships/transfer-scholarships/ .
Florida College Transfer Academic Scholarship
UF offers two scholarships to in-state Florida college transfer students selected to the All-Florida Academic First Team. Applicants must have a lower-division GPA of at least 3.8 and submit an application.
Florida College Transfer Scholarship
UF offers up to ten scholarships to students transferring to UF from Florida colleges. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit and other factors, including financial need. Applicants must submit an application for consideration and have a completed FAFSA on file with the UF Office for Student Financial Affairs.
Scholarships for International Students
The Office of Admissions will consider admitted international freshmen for one of our out-of-state tuition waivers. The International Student Services division of the UF International Center has additional resources and contact information online: https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu. Phone: (352) 392-5323 .
Scholarships for Graduate Students
Multiple colleges and academic departments on campus offer scholarships to graduate students. Contact your advisor or the dean's office in your college for more information.
Military Programs
The university offers scholarships in three military reserve programs; please contact your branch for more information.
- Air Force ROTC - Detachment 150 (352) 392-1355
- Army ROTC Fightin' Gator Battalion (352) 392-1395
- Navy/Marine Corps ROTC (352) 392-0973
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no separate application for our merit-based scholarships, as all admitted freshman students who apply by the priority deadline and receive their decision on our February Decision Day are considered for these scholarships. The criteria used are the same holistic criteria used in our admissions decisions.
There are no minimum criteria for these, as students are evaluated based on the strength of that year's applicant pool. Generally, recipients are above the middle fifty percent of our admitted student profile. If selected for a merit-based scholarship, the offer will arrive via email in early March.
Scholarships at UF are very limited in availability. Because there are no pre-set criteria, students with similar test scores, grades, extracurricular activities, etc. may receive different scholarship decisions. In 2021, we were able to award scholarships to approximately ten percent of our admitted freshmen.
No, UF cannot match offers made by other colleges or universities and there is no scholarship appeal process. Our freshman class is comprised of outstanding scholars with involvement in various activities.
UF will send you an email notification if you are awarded one of our limited merit-based scholarships. The notification will also be posted to your online be posted to your online Check Status page as a "Scholarship Offer" link which will bring you to an online form to review the details of the award and indicate if you accept or decline the offer. Scholarships that are not accepted by the posted deadline will be cancelled.
Congratulations! Our guidelines for sending additional scholarships are posted online at https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/pdf/DonorGuidelines.pdf.
Mailing Address for Scholarship Checks:
Office for Student Financial Aid & Scholarships
Attn: Disbursements
P. O. Box 114025
Gainesville, FL 32611-4025
*For FedEx or overnight delivery address, omit the PO Box number and add our physical address of S-317 Criser.
Florida PrePaid will apply first to tuition due. Then, any other funds awarded (Presidential Scholarship, grants, loans) apply to the student's account balance with the Bursar's office, followed by final qualifying Bright Futures award amounts. Students should follow up with the University Bursar to ensure the process runs smoothly.
Students must apply for the Bright Futures scholarship during their senior year in high school. Contact your school or the Office of Student Financial Assistance at the Florida Department of Education if you have any questions.
No, scholarships are predicted awards based on enrollment for the upcoming year. You will need to submit the tuition deposit to confirm your enrollment. The deposit will be credited to your account and possibly reimbursed by your scholarship when it is disbursed in the Fall.
