Which costs are covered?
Books
The SF Achieve scholarship provides all SF Achieve Scholars with a book stipend valued at $400 per semester, based on a student enrolling in 12 credits. Enrollment in less than 12 credits will result in a pro-rated book stipend.
Tuition
The SF Achieve scholarship works in combination with federal, state and local funding. First, your SF Achieve specialists will help you and your family fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that you get the most aid possible – including Pell Grants, Bright Futures, SF Foundation scholarships, etc. Then, the SF Achieve scholarship will cover whatever cost of tuition remains for students from lower income families. See below to learn more about eligible incomes.
The SF Achieve scholarship can be used towards earning up to 60 credit hours towards a student's degree track, or 1800 clock hours, if they are on a certificate track. This includes developmental education courses, lower division courses, and upper division courses for those students who earn college credit in high school by taking dual enrollment classes, and then choose to earn a bachelor's degree at SF.
Eligibility
The SF Achieve Scholarship will be granted to all persons who meet the following criteria:
- Attended for least one year and received a standard high school diploma from a public high school located in Alachua or Bradford County, which includes standard high schools, charter schools, the Alachua and Bradford County e-Schools, and the PK Yonge Laboratory School.
- Completion of the Florida Residency declaration and submitted any required documents
Note: SF Achieve Scholars are required to apply for Florida residency. (Your SF Achieve specialist can help you with this process). However, students who cannot prove Florida residency due to citizenship status or because they are unable to obtain required documents from their parents or legal guardians are still eligible. - Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or – if unable to do so due to citizenship status, completion of other forms provided by SF and submission of requested documentation to determine financial need. See below to learn more about eligible incomes.
- Satisfactory participation in the SF Achieve P.I.C.T.(U)R.E. Yourself in College curriculum in high school
- Signature on the SF Achieve Commitment
- Enrolled in a degree or certificate-seeking program at Santa Fe College within one year of graduating high school.
There is no application for the SF Achieve scholarship. Eligible students who complete the steps listed above will automatically be awarded the scholarship. Once awarded, recipients will keep their scholarship until they use it for 60 credits or until:
- They enroll in less than six credits (or the clock hour equivalent) for two consecutive semesters,
- Their SF cumulative GPA drops below a 2.0, or
- They are unsuccessful in more than one third of all attempts at SF.
Achieve Scholars who lose their scholarship for one of these reasons may file a petition for reinstatement, to be processed by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Students who wait longer than one year to enroll in classes at SF will no longer be eligible for the SF Achieve scholarship, though they are still welcome to enroll and apply for Financial Aid and other scholarships.
What income levels are eligible?
SF awards the Achieve scholarship to fill any gaps between financial aid and tuition for families at lower income levels. There is standard process for calculating a student's "estimated family contribution," or the amount of money that the federal government has determined a family should be able to contribute to send their student to college. If that dollar amount is less than $5,847, the student will be eligible for the scholarship. The estimated contribution will vary depending on the number of people in the household and other factors. Typically, a family of four with a household income under $63,000 a year will be eligible for the Achieve scholarship. While tuition is based on income eligibility, all SF Achieve Scholars receive the free book stipend, regardless of income.
If you have questions about your eligibility, contact your SF Achieve specialist.