The short answer: Florida Medallion Scholars (1190 SAT) pays 75% of tuition and fees — about $19,100 over four years. Florida Academic Scholars (1330 SAT) pays 100% — about $25,500. The 140 extra points are worth roughly $6,400 in direct scholarship money… and considerably more than that in admissions leverage.
The two tiers, side by side
- FMS: 1190 SAT · 3.00 weighted GPA · 75 service hours → 75% of tuition & fees (~$4,786/yr)
- FAS: 1330 SAT · 3.50 weighted GPA · 100 service hours → 100% of tuition & fees (~$6,381/yr)
The honest math (because some sites inflate this)
You may see claims that jumping tiers is “worth $50,000.” It isn't — and we'd rather you trust our numbers. At 2025-26 rates, the FMS→FAS jump is worth about $1,600 a year, ~$6,400 over a degree. The bigger money is qualifying at all: a student who misses 1190 leaves ~$19,100 on the table.
Why 1330 is still the most valuable number in Florida
The FAS score isn't just a scholarship tier — it's an admissions signal. FSU's admitted range starts at 1340; UF's at 1380. A 1330 student is ten points from FSU's floor with tuition fully covered. The same training that earns the money earns the acceptance — that's the real return on those 140 points.
Which target is right for your teen?
It depends on their current score, grade, and remaining test dates. A sophomore at 1080 should build toward 1330 in stages; a senior at 1150 in October may need to lock 1190 first. This staircase — 1190, then 1330, then the college range — is exactly what we map in the free Florida Acceptance Strategy Session: your teen's number, their gap, and a 6–12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
Sources: FLDOE FAS/FMS award chart; UF Student Financial Aid Bright Futures rates, 2025-26. Reviewed July 2026.