What stats do I need for a FAMU merit scholarship?

The published minimum is a 3.50 unweighted GPA plus EITHER an SAT of 1320 with a 670+ Math score OR an ACT of 28 with a 28+ Math score. Actual recipients have run higher — the 2021 Distinguished Scholars Award profile averaged a 4.32 GPA and 1460 SAT.

Is there a transfer scholarship?

Yes — the Florida Community College (Ignite) Scholarship, for recipients of an AA degree from a Florida state or community college who have been Ignite Program members for at least a year and have a 3.3 FAMU-recalculated GPA at degree conferral. It runs four semesters, applies toward tuition and fees, requires 15 credit hours per semester, and renews only with a 3.3 cumulative GPA and a 'C' or better in every course.

Does FAMU handle Florida Bright Futures?

Bright Futures (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, and Gold Seal Vocational) is a Florida Department of Education program for Florida residents; renewal depends on GPAs set by the FDOE. FAMU's aid page directs students to floridastudentfinancialaid.org or 1-888-827-2004 for award status. Note that CAFS scholarships are reduced by any Bright Futures amount received.

Is FAMU test optional?

No. 'Florida A&M is not Test Optional and standardized SAT/ACT/CLT scores are required.' The Fall 2025 admitted-student middle 50% was a 3.69–4.24 weighted core GPA, 1080–1230 SAT, 22–27 ACT, 61–73 CLT.

FAMU· Renewal Rules

Keeping FAMU’s Merit Aid for Four Years

What the financial-aid office actually requires after freshman year: minimum GPA, credit-hour pace, and the cliffs that quietly downgrade families mid-degree.

Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK

At a glance

Renewable tiers: 7 of 7
One-time tiers: 0
Tiers with published renewal terms: 7
Renewal risk profile: low

Renewal risk profile

FAMU's published renewal rules cluster around a 3.0 floor with no major-GPA gating, which is survivable for the typical freshman with steady study habits. The risk is non-renewal due to enrollment status (dropping below full-time), not GPA.

University Scholarship Program — freshman merit minimum criteria: See notes
Distinguished Scholars Award: See notes
Presidential Special Scholarship: See notes
George W. Gore Award: See notes
Florida Community College (Ignite) Scholarship: See notes
CAFS 1890 Scholarships (College of Agriculture and Food Sciences): See notes
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program (state award, described on FAMU aid pages): See notes

Renewal terms by tier

University Scholarship Program — freshman merit minimum criteria
Amount not published
Entry requirements: 3.50 Unweighted GPA GPA · 1320 with a 670 Math SAT or greater SAT · 28 with a 28 Math ACT or greater ACT
To keep it: Renewal terms for the university-wide freshman merit awards are not published on the pages fetched; only CAFS and Ignite program renewal terms are published (see those tiers).
Source: https://www.famu.edu/students/scholarships/index.php
Distinguished Scholars Award
Amount not published
To keep it: Renewal terms not published on the pages fetched.
Source: https://www.famu.edu/students/scholarships/recipient-profile.php
Presidential Special Scholarship
Amount not published
To keep it: Renewal terms not published on the pages fetched.
Source: https://www.famu.edu/students/scholarships/recipient-profile.php
George W. Gore Award
Amount not published
To keep it: Renewal terms not published on the pages fetched.
Source: https://www.famu.edu/students/scholarships/recipient-profile.php
Florida Community College (Ignite) Scholarship
Amount not published
Entry requirements: 3.3 FAMU recalculated GPA at the time of AA degree conferral; 3.3 cumulative for renewal GPA
To keep it: Eligibility for renewal is determined at the end of each semester. Must enroll in a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester; cannot drop or withdraw after drop/add; must earn a 'C' or better in all courses each semester or the scholarship terminates; must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better at the end of each semester; cannot change major or degree program; must earn 22 hours of community service each semester; terminated scholarships will not be reinstated.
Source: https://www.famu.edu/academics/transfer-student-services/ignite-transfer-program.php
CAFS 1890 Scholarships (College of Agriculture and Food Sciences)
Partial-Full award (dollar amount not published)
Entry requirements: At least a 3.00 recalculated (by FAMU Admissions) Core Academic GPA on a 4.00 scale (high school), or cumulative 3.0+ for college/transfer students GPA · 1,080 or higher (for incoming FTICs only) SAT · 21 or higher composite (for incoming FTICs only) ACT
To keep it: Renewable up to eight (8) consecutive semesters for FTIC freshmen or four (4) for transfers. For automatic renewal: must enroll in and pass a minimum of 30 credit hours per academic year; must not drop or withdraw after drop/add; must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better at the end of each semester (freshmen reviewed at end of spring); must earn a 'C' or better in every course; must maintain the CAFS major; must complete 20 hours of community service each semester; lost/terminated scholarships will not be reinstated.
Source: https://cafs.famu.edu/about-cafs/scholarships.php
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program (state award, described on FAMU aid pages)
Amount not published on FAMU pages (paid as a flat cost per credit hour)
Entry requirements: Specific coursework and minimum grade point average (GPA) per Florida DOE — figures not published on FAMU's page GPA
To keep it: Renewal is contingent upon meeting certain grade point averages as required by the Florida Department of Education.
Source: https://www.famu.edu/students/office-of-financial-aid/types-of-aid/index.php

How families lose this aid

Assuming the published 3.50 GPA / 1320 SAT / 28 ACT minimum guarantees a scholarship or a specific dollar amount.
FAMU publishes only minimum criteria — no dollar amounts and no award grid for the Distinguished Scholars, Presidential Special, or George W. Gore awards. The most recent published recipient profile (2021) shows DSA recipients averaged a 4.32 GPA and 1460 SAT, well above the minimums. Awards are competitive, not automatic on stats.
Underestimating renewal requirements, which go far beyond GPA.
CAFS renewal requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA, passing 30 credit hours per year, a 'C' or better in EVERY course, no drops/withdrawals after drop-add, 20 hours of documented community service per semester, and keeping the same major. The Ignite scholarship requires a 3.3 cumulative GPA, 15 credit hours per semester, a 'C' or better in all courses, 22 service hours per semester, and no major changes. Both programs state lost/terminated scholarships 'will not be reinstated.'
Forgetting the FAFSA even for merit awards.
The CAFS program requires a validated, completed FAFSA on file prior to February 1 (and again each year for renewal), and the Ignite scholarship requires a validated FAFSA on file prior to January 1. FAMU's general FAFSA priority filing date is January 1.
Assuming Honors Program admission criteria equal scholarship criteria.
Honors admission requires a 3.500 GPA and 1200 SAT / 25 ACT / 83 CLT, but the university scholarship minimum is higher: 3.50 unweighted GPA plus 1320 SAT (with 670 Math) or 28 ACT (with 28 Math). Honors members must also maintain a 3.200 cumulative GPA to remain in the program.

Renewal questions families ask

What stats do I need for a FAMU merit scholarship?: The published minimum is a 3.50 unweighted GPA plus EITHER an SAT of 1320 with a 670+ Math score OR an ACT of 28 with a 28+ Math score. Actual recipients have run higher — the 2021 Distinguished Scholars Award profile averaged a 4.32 GPA and 1460 SAT.
Is there a transfer scholarship?: Yes — the Florida Community College (Ignite) Scholarship, for recipients of an AA degree from a Florida state or community college who have been Ignite Program members for at least a year and have a 3.3 FAMU-recalculated GPA at degree conferral. It runs four semesters, applies toward tuition and fees, requires 15 credit hours per semester, and renews only with a 3.3 cumulative GPA and a 'C' or better in every course.
Does FAMU handle Florida Bright Futures?: Bright Futures (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, and Gold Seal Vocational) is a Florida Department of Education program for Florida residents; renewal depends on GPAs set by the FDOE. FAMU's aid page directs students to floridastudentfinancialaid.org or 1-888-827-2004 for award status. Note that CAFS scholarships are reduced by any Bright Futures amount received.
Is FAMU test optional?: No. 'Florida A&M is not Test Optional and standardized SAT/ACT/CLT scores are required.' The Fall 2025 admitted-student middle 50% was a 3.69–4.24 weighted core GPA, 1080–1230 SAT, 22–27 ACT, 61–73 CLT.

How FAMU compares across our verified dataset

669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
FAMU is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
133 of 751 verified schools publish a dedicated National Merit Finalist package.
FAMU is one of them. NMF packages typically carry their own stacking and renewal carve-outs separate from the standard automatic merit ladder; confirm those before assuming the headline NMF value is final.

Sources used on this page

Every renewal claim is checked against FAMU’s own published materials.