Undergraduate Student Grants and Scholarships

Type of Aid

State-of-Florida merit scholarship for Florida high school graduates who achieved the National Merit® or National Achievement® Scholar designation. This award does not have to be repaid.

Enrollment Requirements

• Be a National Merit® Finalist
• Have received a:

• • National Merit® $2,500 Scholarship
  • A Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship
    Note: “Special” Corporate Scholarships do not qualify a student for the Benacquisto Scholarship.

• Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. Must complete the NSU State Aid Application.
• Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalency (unless the student completes a home education program or earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida high school while living with a parent who is on military or public service assignment away from Florida), 
• Enroll full-time (minimum of 12 credit hours per term) in a baccalaureate degree program.
• Initially enroll during the fall academic term following high school graduation.

Scholarship Length

• The program provides funds for 100 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete a baccalaureate degree program, or until completion of the baccalaureate degree program, whichever comes first.
• A student is eligible to receive an award for a maximum of 10 semesters.
• A student must maintain enrollment at the institution where the student was initially funded in order to maintain scholarship eligibility.

Award Amounts

• Eligible students will receive an annual award equal to the institutional cost of attendance (COA), minus the sum of the Bright Futures (BF) award and National Merit/Achievement Award® (NM). [Florida Incentive Scholarship Award = COA – (BF+NM)].
• The award may not be used to pay for remedial coursework or developmental education. The award is not available to fund summer coursework.

Renewal Requirements

The award will be renewed automatically, provided the following renewal requirements are met:

• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Earn all credits for which the student is registered at the end of the drop/add period.

A student who does not earn all required credits and/or does not maintain the minimum required GPA will no longer be eligible to receive the award. If the renewal requirements are not met, the award will be lost and cannot be restored.

Type of Aid

Scholarship. Does not have to be repaid.

Program Details

Available to dependent children or unremarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans who died as a result of service-connected injuries, diseases, or disabilities sustained while on active duty or who have been certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having service-connected 100% permanent and total disabilities. CSDDV also provides funds for dependent children whose parent is classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the Armed Forces of the United States or as civilian personnel captured while serving with the consent or authorization of the United States Government during wartime service.

Eligibility Requirements

• submit a completed, error-free Florida Financial Aid Application by April 1 for priority consideration of an initial award.
• General eligibility requirements for a child:
  • Must be between the ages of 16 and 22
  • Must be eligible prior to his or her 23^rd birthday
  • Must be a dependent child of a qualified veteran whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Must receive educational opportunity until such a time as the parent classified as prisoner of war or missing in action is returned alive or otherwise classified
• General eligibility requirements for a spouse:
  • Must be married to a qualified veteran whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Must have been a Florida resident for one year immediately preceding the occurrence of the veteran’s disability
  • Must be married to the disabled veteran for one or more years
  • Must accept scholarship funding only during the duration of the marriage and up to the point of termination of the marriage by dissolution or annulment
  • As certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, the spouse of a deceased veteran will:
    • Be unremarried
    • Have been the spouse of a qualified veteran whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
    • Apply for the scholarship within 5 years after the veteran’s death

For additional qualified veteran requirements and requirements to receive funding, visit the Florida Department of Education.

Formerly known as the "Florida Resident Access Grant" (FRAG)

Type of Aid

• State of Florida private institution grant: non-need based grant
• Must meet Florida residency, citizenship, and academic requirements

Program Details

• Awarded to undergraduate students who have not received a first bachelor's degree.
• Must complete the NSU State Aid Application (unless completed in prior academic year, except if there was a 12-month enrollment break).
• Students enrolled in a program that indicates the student is considered a graduate after 90 credits will not be eligible for the EASE Grant.
• Students must be enrolled for at least 12 degree-applicable credits (9 credits for nursing students) by the end of the drop/add period for the first part of each term. 
• A renewal applicant must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 and earned 12 credit hours for each term the award was received. Credit hours earned during the previous summer can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required.
• Must not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.

Annual Award Amounts

• Award amounts are based on legislative allocations and subject to change. Award amounts for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years are $3,500 ($1,750 for fall, and $1,750 for winter semester)

For detailed information, visit the Florida Department of Education. 

Florida EASE Accountability Report

NSU’s EASE Grant Performance Measures on Access Rate, Affordability Rate, Graduation Rate, Retention Rate and Postgraduate Employment Rate are specifically listed on the ICUF Dashboard at this link: ICUF (Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida) Dashboard.

Type of Aid

• State of Florida private institution grant: non-need based grant
• Must meet Florida residency, citizenship, and academic requirements

Program Details

• Must meet EASE Grant eligibility requirements
• Must not have earned a degree previously
• Must be enrolled in one of the following majors:
  • Allied Health
  • Cyber Security
  • Digital Arts/Computer Graphics
  • Nursing
  • Teaching
• Must be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits or 9 credits for nursing students) prior to the end of the first part of term drop/add period
• Must be enrolled in at least one upper-level course (CRN level 3000 or higher)
• Available for the first time in the 2024-25 aid year. Future awards are contingent upon legislative approval.

 Annual Award Amount

• $850 per year

Type of Aid

State-of-Florida Scholarship which does not have to be repaid (unless student drops or withdraws from classes for which funds were received after the drop/add period).

Program Details

Requirements: Students must apply during their last year in high school by completing a Florida Financial Aid Application (after December 1 and prior to graduation) or forfeit all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.

In addition, students must

• complete the NSU State Aid Application, and
• select NSU as their postsecondary institution on their Florida Financial Aid Application.

Eligibility: Florida high school graduates who demonstrate high academic achievement, enroll in an eligible Florida postsecondary institution, and have not received their first bachelor's degree.

There are three levels of this scholarship program:

• Florida Academic Scholars Award
• Florida Medallion Scholars Award
• Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (offered only at vocational schools, not NSU)

Transfer Students: Awarded students may receive Bright Futures funding only at eligible Florida postsecondary institutions. A student may login to access the online system or call the Florida Department of Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance Customer Service at 888- 827-2004 to transfer the scholarship to NSU.

Annual Award Amounts

Award amounts are disbursed based on the number of credits a student is enrolled for by the end of the drop/add period for the first eight weeks of both fall and winter terms. The per credit-hour rates established by the Florida Department of Education for the 2023-2024 academic year are as follows:

Florida Academic Scholars: $212 per credit (also available for attendance in the summer semester)

Florida Medallion Scholars: $159 per credit 

Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars earning a bachelor's degree in 7 semesters or fewer (or the equivalent in credit hours) may receive funding for 1 term of graduate study, not to exceed 15 semester hours, paid at the undergraduate rate.

Renewal Requirements

• Earn at least 24 credits (or the equivalent in the last academic year in which the student earned a scholarship if the student was enrolled full time, or a prorated number of credit hours as determined by the Department of Education if the student was enrolled less than full time for any part of the academic year.)
• Reimburse or make satisfactory arrangements to reimburse NSU for the award amount received for courses dropped after the drop/add period or for courses from which the student withdrew after the drop/add period
• Maintain a cumulative GPA as defined below:

*Florida Academic Scholars with 2.75-2.99 will renew as Florida Medallion Scholars.

**Or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours.

Repayment Requirements

Students who drop or withdraw from any class(es) for which Florida Bright Futures funds were received, must return the Bright Futures funds for those classes. Please Note: NSU President's Scholarship funds may not be applied toward the repayment of these funds once the add/drop period has passed.

If the Bright Futures funds for which the student has become ineligible by dropping or withdrawing from classes are not returned by the end of the current academic year, the student will become ineligible for renewal of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship award or any other state aid (e.g., Florida Resident Access Grant, Florida Student Assistance Grant) in the subsequent year.

Extenuating Circumstances

Students who can prove extenuating circumstances regarding their drop or withdrawal (e.g., illness, emergency, or any other situation beyond the student's control) may request an exception by submitting a completed Bright Futures Scholarship Repayment Form along with supporting documentation to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by May 1 of the academic year in which the drop/withdrawal occurred. If an exception is approved, the student will not be required to repay the balance owed. However, students will still be required to meet the credit hours/GPA renewal requirement which will be reviewed at the end of the winter semester.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the Florida Department of Education website.

Type of Aid

• State-of-Florida Grant
• Must complete the FAFSA and all documents required
• Must meet Florida residency, citizenship, highest financial need and academic requirements.
• Limited funding available from the state

Program Details

• Awarded to undergraduate students in the fall semester/term after the add/drop period, who have not received a first bachelor's degree, and based on exhibiting the highest financial need until state funds are exhausted.
• Must have completed financial aid file with no pending documents
• Must complete the NSU State Aid Application (unless completed in prior academic year, except if there was a 12-month enrollment break).
• Students enrolled in a program that indicates the student is considered a graduate after 90 credits will not be eligible for the FSAG.
• Students must be enrolled for at least 12 degree-applicable credits (9 credits for nursing students) by the end of the drop/add period for the first part of term.
• A renewal applicant must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 and earned 12 credit hours for each term the award was received. Credit hours earned during the previous summer can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required.
• Must not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made. 

Annual Award Amounts

• Award amounts are based on legislative allocations and are subject to change. Award amount is $2,000 ($1,000 for fall, and $1,000 for winter term)

For detailed information, visit the Florida Department of Education.

Type of Aid

Need-based merit scholarship. Does not have to be repaid.

Program Details

Available to eligible students of Hispanic origin. Applicants must apply during their senior year of high school.  

Eligibility Requirements

• Must submit a fully completed error-free Florida Financial Aid Application during the last year in high school by April 1. Applicants will be ranked by their application submission date, if necessary.  Applicant must ensure that either the high school principal or designee certifies online the student’s 7th semester unweighted cumulative GPA (min. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) to the Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance by a date established by the Florida Department of Education.
• Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before May 15 and demonstrate a minimum of $2,000 in financial need.
• Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
• Be of Spanish culture, born in or having a natural parent who was born in either Mexico, or a Hispanic country of the Caribbean, Central or South America, regardless of race. Students of the Portuguese culture of Brazil are not considered for evaluation of a scholarship.
• Enroll as a degree-seeking student for a minimum of 12 credit each semester

Annual Award Amounts

• Up to $2,000

 For detailed information, visit the Florida Department of Education.

Type of Aid

Scholarship does not have to be repaid. Available for qualifying students through the 2023-24 aid year only.

Program Details

A Pell-eligible student with a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) during the 2023-24 aid year whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer may be eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year and have all federal financial aid awarded based on an EFC of zero regardless of the calculated EFC.

For purposes of this scholarship, a public safety officer is defined as:

• A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with state or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.
  
  
• As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b):
  • an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, as a chaplain, or as a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew;
  • an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who is performing official duties of the agency in an area, if those official duties are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and are determined by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be hazardous duties;
  • an employee of a state, local, or tribal emergency management or civil defense agency who is performing official duties in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an area if those official duties are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and are determined by the head of the agency to be hazardous duties. The IASG is available to eligible students whose parents or guardians died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who are not eligible for the Pell Grant. If your parent(s) or guardian(s) died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and you are eligible for the Pell Grant, you may qualify for an increase.

Eligibility Requirements

• Complete the 2023-24 FAFSA at studentaid.gov and have a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

• Must have been younger than 24 years of age or enrolled at a higher education institution at the time the parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer

• Student must meet all Title IV student eligibility requirements.

• Must provide proof of eligibility (documentation as indicated on the application form)

• This grant is being phased out due to a special rule for Pell Grants as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act beginning with the 2024-25 aid year. Instead of this grant, students who meet eligibility requirements will receive a maximum Pell Grant regardless of their Student Aid Index.

Award Amounts

• Eligible students’ Pell Grant award will be increased to the maximum annual Pell Grant amount, and other awards will be calculated as if the student has an EFC of zero. Pell-eligible students with an EFC of zero will not receive an increase as they are already awarded the maximum amount of Pell Grant.  

Locate the Children of Fall Heroes Scholarship Application on our Financial Aid Documents page.

Type of Aid

Grant does not have to be repaid.

Program Details

Available to undergraduates who have not earned a degree an have financial need as determined by the FAFSA. All eligible students will receive the Federal Pell Grant amount they qualify for.

Eligibility Requirements

• Complete the FAFSA.
• Based on family size, adjusted gross income (AGI) limits, federal poverty guidelines, and calculated Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be an undergraduate student enrolled in a degree-seeking program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Not have defaulted on or owe a refund to any previous aid program

Duration

Eligible students may receive the Pell grant for a maximum award duration of 12 full-time semesters (or part time equivalent) which is equal to six annual scheduled awards or 600 percent of lifetime eligibility. Students may track their lifetime Pell grant eligibility by logging into studentaid.gov.

Year-Round Pell 

Beginning with the 2017-2018 award year, the “Year Round Pell” provision allows Pell-eligible students to receive a Pell grant disbursement above the standard Pell grant amount for an additional semester. For example, undergraduate students on a standard fall, winter, summer schedule who used all of their Pell award during the fall and winter semesters may be eligible for an additional award for the summer semester, enabling students to continue taking classes and finish their degrees faster.

To be eligible for a “Year-Round Pell” disbursement, a student must be enrolled at least half time during the extra semester for the 2023-24 aid year. Starting in 2024-25, this is no longer a requirement.

Pell awards are adjusted based on enrollment, up to a full-time equivalent disbursement. Note that Pell awards granted under this provision are counted toward the maximum award duration.  

2023-24 Academic Year

Pell Grant eligible students who were less than 24 years old or enrolled in a postsecondary program when a parent or guardian died due to combat in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/2001 may be eligible for a maximum Pell Grant. Please contact the Office of  Financial Aid for more information.

If your parent(s) or guardian(s) died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, and you are not eligible for the Pell Grant, you may qualify for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) Program. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Annual Amounts

• $767 to $7,395 for full-time enrollment during the 2023-2024 academic year. Awards for part-time enrollment and enrollment over the summer are also available.

2024-25 Academic Year

Pell Grant eligible students who were less than 33 years old as of the first January 1 of the FAFSA award year and whose parent or guardian died in line of duty while actively serving as a member of the Armed Forces on or after 9/11/2001, or actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer, may be eligible for a maximum Pell Grant. 

Annual Amounts

• Up to $7,395 for full time enrollment. Pell Grant amounts are pro-rated for students enrolled less than full time. Awards for summer enrollment are also available.

Type of Aid

Grant does not have to be repaid. Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov as well as any additional financial aid requirements (such as verification, conflicts in citizenship documentation or records, etc.) as applicable.

Program Details

Available to Pell Grant eligible students based on need, the order in which the student's FAFSA is received, and the completion of all financial aid requirements. Students must complete all financial aid requirements before the FSEOG can be awarded; however completion of all requirements does not guarantee an award as funds are limited.

Annual Award Limits

• $100 to $4,000
• At NSU, the award amount is $1,500 for in-state students and $3,000 for out-of-state students who are enrolled full-time. Students enrolled in less than 6 credits receive half the award amount.

Deadline

• Priority deadline: March 15 - FAFSA completion by this date does not guarantee an award.

Type of Aid

Grant does not have to be repaid. Available for qualifying students through the 2023-24 aid year only.

Program Details

The IASG is available to eligible students whose parents or guardians died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who are not eligible for the Pell Grant. If your parent(s) or guardian(s) died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and you are eligible for the Pell Grant, you may qualify for an increase. Click for details on the Pell Grant.

Eligibility Requirements

• Complete the 2023-24 FAFSA at studentaid.gov
• Student must have been 23 years of age or younger when the parent or guardian died, OR must have been enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian's death, if over the age of 23.
• Students must meet all Title IV student eligibility requirements.

Award Amounts

• Applicants with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) that is not Pell-eligible may be eligible to receive an award under the IASG program. The original statutory award amount was up to $5,500 per award year, adjusted for the student's enrollment status and cost of attendance. Due to sequestration required changes to this program, the following award amounts apply:

2023-2024 Award Year

2024-2025 Award Year

This grant is being phased out due to a special rule for Pell Grants as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act beginning with the 2024-25 aid year. Instead of this grant, students who meet eligibility requirements will receive a maximum Pell Grant regardless of their Student Aid Index.

Type of Aid

Grant does not have to be repaid provided that the service commitment is fulfilled.

Program Details

Eligibility Requirements:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate or a graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that participates in the TEACH Grant program.
• Be enrolled in coursework necessary to begin in a career in teaching.
• Be enrolled in an eligible, state-approved program.
• Meet specific academic achievement requirements (e.g., score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve as well as complete initial, annual subsequent, and exit counseling at studentaid.gov.

• Students enrolled in the following state-approved NSU programs may be eligible to receive the TEACH Grant:

  • Bachelor of Science Programs:

    • Exceptional Student Education

    • Elementary Education with ESOL/Reading Endorsement

    • Secondary Biology Education
    • Secondary Mathematics Education

For more information, review the TEACH Grant information on the Department of Education's website. 

Annual Award Amounts

• The original statutory TEACH Grant amount provides up to $2,000 per semester to students who are enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program and intend to teach full-time in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. Due to sequestration required changes to this program, the following award amounts apply: 

Aggregate (Lifetime) Limit

$16,000

Fulfilling the Agreement to Serve Requirements

Within 120 days of ceasing enrollment in the program for which TEACH Grant funds were received, students must notify the Direct Loan Servicing Center in writing that they are either employed as full-time teachers in accordance with the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation or that they are not yet employed, but intend to meet the terms and conditions of the service obligation.

After ceasing enrollment, TEACH Grant Certification must be completed annually unless a subsequent TEACH Grant is received, the TEACH Grant is discharged, or a temporary suspension for completing the service obligation is granted. If this is not completed, all TEACH Grants funds received will convert to Direct Unsubsidized Loans with interest charged from the date of each initial disbursement.