Bright Futures Requirements 2028: New SAT & ACT Scores

Last updated August 2026 · Verified against the 2026-27 Bright Futures Student Handbook

There was no press release. No email home from the district. No dramatic music.

In mid-August, the Florida Department of Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance posted the 2026-27 Bright Futures Student Handbook, and sitting in a table on page 3 were higher test score requirements for every student graduating in 2028 and after.

If your kid is a junior right now, that's them. The target moved, and nobody told you.

So here's what changed, why it changed, what it's worth in actual dollars, and — the part I haven't seen anyone else write about — which test your kid should now be taking to clear the bar.

On this page

• The new Bright Futures SAT and ACT requirements
• Why Florida raised the scores
• How much Bright Futures is worth
• SAT or ACT for Bright Futures?
• Six testing rules that work in your favor
• The rest of the requirements
• Qualifying without a test score
• A testing timeline for the Class of 2028
• Bright Futures tutoring for Florida families
• FAQ

The new Bright Futures SAT and ACT requirements (Class of 2028)

Bright Futures test score requirements by graduation year

Award	Exam	Class of 2027	Class of 2028
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) — 100% of tuition	SAT	1330	1350
	ACT	29	29 (unchanged)
	CLT	95	96
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) — 75% of tuition	SAT	1190	1200
	ACT	24	25
	CLT	82	83

Nothing else moved. GPA is still 3.50 weighted for FAS and 3.00 weighted for FMS, calculated on the 16 required college-prep credits. Service hours are still 100 for FAS, and still 75 volunteer hours (or 100 paid, or 100 combined) for FMS.

Just the test scores. And the changes are sneakier than they look.

Why Florida raised the Bright Futures score requirements — and why they'll rise again

This is the part your school counselor probably won't mention, and it's the single most useful thing for a parent to understand.

Florida's Bright Futures cutoffs aren't numbers somebody picked. They're percentiles.

Under Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-20.028, the Florida Academic Scholars threshold is pegged to the 89th percentile of SAT users nationally. Medallion is pegged to the 75th percentile. The rule then says, in plain language, that the required scores "may be adjusted annually based on the test score distribution report provided by the College Board."

Translation: Florida doesn't decide what a 1350 is worth. The rest of the country does. When students nationally score better, the line moves up on its own. No legislative debate, no headline, no notification to you.

And the ACT and CLT numbers aren't set independently at all. They're just the concordant scores — whatever the official concordance tables say lines up with that SAT percentile. Hold that thought, because it's about to matter a lot.

The same rule also explains the weird timing. It requires the state to publish score requirements for "students graduating in the next two years" before each school year starts. That's why the Class of 2028 numbers showed up this August and not sooner. It's also why the Class of 2029 numbers don't exist yet. They'll appear around August 2027, and if recent history is any guide, they'll be higher again.

So if you've got a sophomore or a freshman: don't aim at 1350. Aim at 1380 or 1400 and treat the published number as a floor you clear comfortably, not a ledge you cling to.

How much is Bright Futures actually worth?

Bright Futures pays per credit hour, at a rate set every year in Florida's General Appropriations Act. It varies a little by school, but in recent years:

• Florida Academic Scholars: roughly $206–$215 per credit hour. At a normal 30-credit year, that's about $6,200–$6,400 annually, and somewhere around $25,000 across a bachelor's degree.
• Florida Medallion Scholars: 75% of that, so roughly $4,600–$4,800 a year.

The gap between the two awards is about $1,600 a year, or roughly $6,400 over four years.

Which means: the difference between a 1190 and a 1200 — ten points, one or two questions — is about six grand. The difference between missing Medallion entirely and landing Academic Scholars is closer to twenty-five.

I've been doing this a long time and I can't think of many other things a 16-year-old can do with twenty focused hours that pay that well.

SAT or ACT for Bright Futures? The answer changed for 2028

Here's where it gets genuinely weird, and where a lot of Florida families are going to leave money on the table without ever knowing it.

Because Florida sets the SAT number by percentile and then derives the ACT number by concordance, the two don't move together. The SAT threshold can drift 10 or 20 points at a time. The ACT threshold can only move in whole composite points — so it either sits still or jumps a full point.

For the Class of 2028, that produced two completely different situations.

For the full ride, the ACT is now the softer path

The official ACT/SAT concordance puts an ACT 29 at an SAT equivalent of about 1340, covering an SAT band of roughly 1330–1350.

Florida's FAS requirement is now 1350 SAT or 29 ACT.

Read that again. An ACT 29 — which concords to about 1340 — gets you the full ride. An SAT 1340 does not. The SAT threshold went up 20 points; the ACT threshold went up zero.

It's not an enormous edge. But these awards are won and lost by one or two questions, and at that margin it's real.

For Medallion, the ACT kids got clobbered

Look closely at this one, because the headline numbers lie to you.

SAT went from 1190 to 1200. Ten points. One question, maybe two.

ACT went from 24 to 25. In concordance terms, an ACT 24 sits around an SAT 1180 and an ACT 25 sits around an SAT 1210. That's an effective jump of roughly 30 SAT points — three times the size of the SAT's own increase.

And notice what that does: at the Medallion level, the SAT (1200) is now slightly easier than the ACT (concordant 1210). The advantage flips between the two award levels. Full ride favors the ACT. Medallion favors the SAT.

One honest caveat: the official concordance tables were published back in 2018, and the ACT changed its format in 2025. So treat all of this as a good approximation rather than a law of physics. But since Florida itself uses concordance to set the ACT number, the logic holds regardless of how precise the tables are.

So which test should your student take?

Not the one this article says. The one your kid is actually better at.

Concordance describes populations, not people. Plenty of students score meaningfully better on one test than the other. Kids who read fast and like a quick, data-heavy format often prefer the ACT; kids who want more time per question and don't mind longer reading passages often prefer the SAT. A 30-point concordance edge is worth exactly nothing if your kid is 60 points stronger on the other exam.

The right sequence is boring and it works:

1. Take one full, timed, realistic practice SAT and one full, timed, realistic practice ACT.
2. Convert both to a common scale.
3. Then apply the Bright Futures math above to whichever test your kid is genuinely better at.

If the two come back close, the concordance edge becomes your tiebreaker. And for FAS students specifically, that tiebreaker currently points at the ACT.

Six Bright Futures testing rules that work in your favor

Bright Futures has some surprisingly generous provisions, and most families never find out about them.

1. You can superscore across test dates

Florida uses the sum of the best Reading and Math section scores from any timely SAT sitting. Best Math from March plus best Reading and Writing from June combine into one qualifying composite. The ACT works the same way — the composite uses the highest score in each individual subject across sittings.

2. But you can't mix tests

SAT sections can't be combined with ACT sections. Pick one and commit.

3. Unlimited retakes

The SAT, ACT, and CLT can be taken as many times as you want through August 31 of the graduation year. A bad sitting costs you nothing but a Saturday.

4. The ACT rounds up

Composite scores ending in .5 or higher round up to the next whole number. A 24.5 becomes a 25 — which for the Class of 2028 is the difference between Medallion and nothing at all.

5. ACT Science is optional now

Starting with the 2025-26 graduating class, Florida computes the ACT composite from English, Math, and Reading if Science wasn't taken. If Science was reported, the state calculates it both ways and uses whichever is higher. If your kid's weak spot is Science, this is a real gift.

6. You can test through August 31 after graduation

Scores from tests taken on or before August 31 of the graduation year still count. A rising senior who comes up 10 points short in the spring has June, July, and August to fix it. (Mid-year graduates are the exception — their cutoff is January 31.)

The rest of the Bright Futures requirements

Test scores get all the attention because they're the most fixable part. But there are four other gates, and blowing one is fatal.

Coursework — 16 credits. Four English (three with substantial writing), four math at or above Algebra I, three natural science (two with substantial lab), three social science, and two sequential credits in the same world language. It lines up with State University System admission requirements, so most college-track kids clear it. The world language sequence is the one that trips people up.

GPA — weighted, unrounded, and only on those 16 credits. Not the GPA printed on the transcript. Florida recalculates it, weighting AP, IB, AICE, Pre-IB, Pre-AICE, Honors, and academic dual enrollment at +0.25 per semester course. Students can use up to two extra academic credits (or AP/IB/AICE fine arts credits) to pull it up.

Service or work hours. 100 for FAS. For FMS: 75 volunteer, or 100 paid, or a combination totaling 100. Documented in writing, signed by the student, a parent or guardian, and someone from the organization. Your district sets its own deadline and it's often earlier than you'd expect.

The FFAA. The Florida Financial Aid Application opens October 1 of senior year and closes August 31 after graduation. No exceptions, ever. The state's own advice is to submit it early — even before requirements are met, even if your kid is thinking about an out-of-state school. It's free and takes fifteen minutes.

And the sneaky one: when you register for the test, request that official scores go to a Florida public college or state university, so they land in the FDOE score repository. ACT and CLT also let you send scores straight to the state by selecting "Bright Futures" on their websites. Make sure the name and demographic info on the test registration matches the high school transcript exactly — families lose awards over mismatched records.

How to qualify for Bright Futures without a test score

Worth knowing before you build a whole testing plan:

• National Merit Finalists and Scholars — no test score required
• AP Capstone Diploma — no test score required, qualifies for FAS
• AICE Diploma and IB Diploma — no test score required
• AICE Curriculum and IB Curriculum without the full diploma — still need the standard scores

If your kid is one exam away from an AP Capstone or AICE Diploma, that's probably a better use of their fall than a fourth SAT sitting. And if they're on the PSAT track, a high enough score there can put National Merit in play, which skips the test requirement altogether. More on getting merit aid from test scores here.

A Bright Futures testing timeline for the Class of 2028

Your kid is a junior this year. Here's what a well-run plan looks like from here.

Fall of junior year — right now. One timed practice SAT, one timed practice ACT. Convert both. Pick the test. Then measure the actual gap to the Bright Futures line and be honest about it, because a 40-point gap and a 200-point gap are completely different projects with completely different timelines.

Winter and spring of junior year. Prep, then sit for the real thing. Two spring administrations is a reasonable target. Superscoring means one bad section on one date costs you nothing.

The summer before senior year. This is the highest-leverage window in the whole process and the one families waste most reliably. No school, no APs, no season. A kid who puts twenty focused hours into their weak section in July often moves more than they did across all of junior year.

Fall of senior year. File the FFAA on October 1. Confirm the service hours are actually logged with the school. Test again if you're still short.

Spring and summer of senior year. The safety net: testing runs through August 31, early (7th semester) evaluations start posting in March, and final (8th semester) evaluations start posting in July.

Bright Futures SAT and ACT tutoring for Florida families

Not every kid needs a tutor. If your student is sitting at 1420 and wants 1450 for admissions, that's a different game with a different urgency.

But Bright Futures creates a very specific situation that's almost designed for targeted prep: a hard, published, binary line. There's no partial credit at 1345. And an enormous number of Florida students land within 40 points of one of these cutoffs — close enough that it's fixable, far enough that it won't fix itself.

Here's the thing about that gap: closing it isn't about doing more questions. It's about finding the three or four recurring mistakes that are costing those 40 points and actually fixing them. Most prep is built around volume, and a kid can grind through a thousand problems while making the same error every single time. We wrote about the usual traps in 5 Bad Ideas For Your Kid's SAT or ACT Prep.

That's why we don't hire a rotating cast of 23-year-olds and hand them a rigid curriculum, the way a lot of test prep companies do. Just because someone is smart and went to a great school does not mean they can teach — your hairdresser doesn't do your taxes, right? Blake, Matt, and I each have 15+ years of experience, and we completely customize every session to the individual kid.

For Florida families, the guy to talk to is Blake Jensen. Outrageously tall, outrageously dedicated to refining his craft (test prep is his full-time job), former college basketball player, 15 years of tutoring experience on the SAT and ACT. He works online via Zoom, which is how we work with students all over the U.S. and around the world.

A couple of things parents have said about him:

"SAT SCORE RAISED 260 POINTS!!! My daughter tutored with Blake for 3 months to improve her SAT score. He is extremely patient, kind and understanding. He pushed her when he knew she could do better or if she got a bit lazy. She really enjoyed his style of teaching. He taught her good study habits and test taking skills. Blake was even able to ease her test anxiety. I will be recommending Blake to every parent I know. He is worth every penny!!"

— Jennifer Murdoch

"We have had an excellent experience working with Blake. He worked with our son last year, and he scored a 34 on his first ACT exam. This year he has brought our daughter from a 24 to 31 after her first group of sessions. Easy to communicate with & really cares about our children's personal as well as academic success. Very highly recommend!"

— Karen Hallinan

You can read the rest of our reviews here.

Start with a free 15-minute consultation. Tell us where your kid is scoring now and which Bright Futures line you're chasing, and we'll tell you honestly whether tutoring is the right call, which test to take, and roughly how long the gap should take to close. We publish our tutors' full names and phone numbers, so you can contact Blake directly — no call center, no sales pitch.

Contact us →

Bright Futures requirements FAQ

Did Florida really change the Bright Futures requirements in August 2026?

Yes. The 2026-27 Bright Futures Student Handbook, published by the Florida Department of Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance, lists higher test scores for 2027-28 graduates (the Class of 2028): 1350 SAT / 29 ACT / 96 CLT for Florida Academic Scholars, and 1200 SAT / 25 ACT / 83 CLT for Florida Medallion Scholars.

What SAT score do you need for the full Bright Futures scholarship?

For the Class of 2028, Florida Academic Scholars requires a 1350 SAT (Reading and Writing plus Math, no essay), a 29 ACT composite, or a 96 CLT. For the Class of 2027 it's still 1330 / 29 / 95.

Does the Class of 2027 have to hit the new numbers?

No. Requirements apply by graduation year. The Class of 2027 is held to 1330 / 29 / 95 for FAS and 1190 / 24 / 82 for FMS.

Will the Bright Futures requirements go up again for the Class of 2029?

Probably, though the numbers aren't out yet. Florida pegs these thresholds to the 89th and 75th percentiles of the national SAT-taking population and adjusts them annually. Expect the Class of 2029 requirements around August 2027.

Can you combine SAT and ACT scores for Bright Futures?

No. Sections from different dates of the same test can be combined. SAT and ACT can't be mixed with each other.

When is the last day to take the SAT or ACT for Bright Futures?

Tests taken on or before August 31 of the graduation year count. Mid-year graduates have to test by January 31 and file the FFAA by December 31 of senior year.

How much is Bright Futures actually worth?

Florida Academic Scholars covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees at a Florida public university — roughly $6,200–$6,400 a year, or somewhere around $25,000 across a degree. Medallion covers 75%, so roughly $4,600–$4,800 a year. Rates are set annually in the General Appropriations Act and vary slightly by school.

Do you work with students in Florida?

Yes. We meet clients in person in San Diego and work online via Zoom with students throughout the U.S. and around the world. For Florida families, everything is online.

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Requirements here reflect the 2026-27 Bright Futures Student Handbook and Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-20.028. Eligibility requirements are subject to change with each legislative session and with the annual percentile recalculation, so always verify the current numbers at floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org before making decisions. SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Neither endorses nor is affiliated with these products and services.