MDC Presidential Scholars

The scholarship covers up to 60 credits toward the completion of an A.A. or A.S. degree, or whichever comes first.

• Students must be entering college for the first time or be a graduating dual enrollee and graduate High School in 2025 (May-July).
• Have a cumulative high school weighted GPA of 3.50 or above.
• Complete MDC Student application
• Complete the Presidential Scholars Program Application
• Students must be admitted to MDC and registered for 12 or more credits for the Fall semester.
• Be enrolled in an A.A. or A.S. degree program.
• Complete the 2025-2026 Federal Financial Aid Application (FAFSA). Students do not need to be eligible for federal financial aid, but the application must be completed. If unable to complete a FAFSA application, please complete the Student Aid Index Calculator (SAI) and then upload the results via the 2025-2026 SAI Document Upload form.
• Miami-Dade County residents who have earned a standard high school diploma in the county during the current academic school year.
• Students obtaining a standard high school diploma through Florida Virtual School will be accepted if they reside in Miami-Dade County.

• The stipend will be disbursed after the 100% refund deadline of each semester (main session).
• Students must enroll full time for at least 12 credits each fall and spring semester. For the summer term, students must enroll in a minimum of 6 credits.
• Out-of-state students are responsible for any additional out-of-state costs per credit, not covered by the scholarship.
• Special fees for the Aviation or Culinary Arts programs are not covered.
• Failed or withdrawn courses count toward the 60-credit limit of the scholarship.
• If your total financial aid and scholarships package exceeds the school’s Cost of Attendance (COA), some of your other awards may be reduced or removed. If you receive a scholarship, you are responsible for checking with your campus Financial Aid Office to determine how it may affect your total aid package.

Before you apply for this program, you must first apply for admission

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In order to maintain eligibility, all Presidential Scholars must meet the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 by the end of each term.
• Be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits every fall and spring semester.
• Be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits during the summer term.
• Be enrolled in an A.A. or A.S. degree program.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. The application for the following aid year opens on Oct. 1st of each year. You do not need to be eligible for federal financial aid but you must complete the FAFSA application. If unable to complete a FAFSA application, please complete the Student Aid Index Calculator (SAI) and then upload the results via the 2025-2026 SAI Document Upload form.

Failure to meet these requirements may result in loss of status as a Presidential Scholar and any program funds. There are no provisions for reinstatement in the program.