Rosewood Family Scholarship
Offered by Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance · Free to apply
Created as part of Florida's 1994 reparations for the January 1923 destruction of Rosewood, this scholarship pays up to a set amount per year toward tuition and fees at Florida public institutions for documented direct descendants of the Rosewood families. Eligibility is strictly lineage-based under current law, proven with genealogical records like birth, marriage and death certificates, church records and obituaries, uploaded to the Department of Education alongside the aid application. The programme is small by statute, capped at a fixed number of awards each year with renewals taking priority, and awards are ranked by financial need. Unusually for a state programme, Florida residency is not a statutory requirement, so descendants living out of state can hold it while attending a Florida public institution.
How hard is the Rosewood Family Scholarship to win?
This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome.
- Estimated odds
- most eligible students who file early receive it
- Paperwork
- ~4 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Florida residents
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Rosewood Family Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Florida
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- You must be a documented direct descendant of a Rosewood family affected by the January 1923 incidents, proven with genealogical records uploaded to the Department of Education by the April 1 deadline. This lineage requirement is the entire gate; current law has no racial criterion.
- Full-time enrollment at a Florida public institution (state university, Florida College System, or public technical center), no prior bachelor's degree. Florida residency is NOT statutorily required, so out-of-state descendants may apply.
- File the Florida Financial Aid Application by April 1 (opens October 1) and have an error-free FAFSA processed by May 15; awards are ranked by need.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is April 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around April 1 each year. Applications open October 1.
- Applications open
- October 1, 2026
- Applications close
- April 1, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Rosewood Family Scholarship
How much is the Rosewood Family Scholarship worth?
The Rosewood Family Scholarship awards up to $6,100 per year, never exceeding tuition and registration fees and is renewable in later years.
When is the Rosewood Family Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is April 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around April 1 each year. Applications open October 1.
When do Rosewood Family Scholarship applications open?
Applications open October 1, and close April 1, 2027.
Who is eligible for the Rosewood Family Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Florida; Open to high school seniors and current college students.
Does the Rosewood Family Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 4 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Rosewood Family Scholarship?
This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning most eligible students who file early receive it. Plan on about 4 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Rosewood Family Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Rosewood Family Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.