Higher Education Opportunity

About the HEO

We are excited to announce The University of Florida’s Higher Education Opportunity (HEO) program expansion to include out-of-unit faculty for the 2026 HEO Drawing cycle! 

As of the 2026 HEO Drawing cycle, HEO program provides children of full-time staff and *out-of-unit faculty employees with the opportunity of tuition assistance for undergraduate education at the University of Florida. The 2026 HEO Drawing will continue to select up to 150 eligible staff applicants and, up to 100 eligible faculty applicants to receive the HEO scholarship for their child.

For each selected child, the university will pay the in-state matriculation fees, for a maximum of 132 credit hours toward an undergraduate degree at the University of Florida or a Florida public college (i.e., SF College or equivalent), in the event the child is not admitted to the University of Florida. Please visit the HEO policy page for more information about program eligibility and coverage.

* Note: This benefit is not currently available to in-unit faculty. “In-unit” is defined as faculty participating in UFF. Bargaining unit contracts are under negotiation for future participation in this scholarship benefit. 

Bright Futures Scholarship

For children receiving the Bright Futures scholarship, the full amount of the Bright Futures scholarship award will be subtracted from the amount the student can receive from the HEO. If your child is, or you expect your child to be, a Bright Futures scholar, please visit the HEO policy page, Financial Obligations section and FAQ.

Program Coverage

HEO Eligible Institutions

• This program only covers at University of Florida and  Florida public colleges. 
• The HEO does not cover private institutions, out-of-state institutions, or other Florida universities (i.e., UCF, UNF, FSU, etc.).

Fee Coverage

The HEO covers the in-state matriculation fees (the actual instruction portion of tuition fees). Student responsibility fees include housing, books, activities, transportation, health, services, athletic fees, late registration, late payment, materials, lab fees, supplies, etc. Please visit the HEO policy page, Financial Obligations for more program coverage detail.

Continued Eligibility

To maintain eligibility in the program each semester:

1. The student’s parent or legal guardian must be a full-time UF eligible staff or faculty employee on the first day of classes each semester.
2. The student must be no older than 26 years of age. 
3. The student’s cumulative GPA (for all college work attempted) must be 2.75 or higher.
4. The student provides evidence (upon request by the HEO) of their most recent GPA performance (for all college work attempted) by the HEO GPA performance reporting deadline.

UF and SF College student GPA is reported internally. UF and SF College students do not need to report GPA performance, unless a direct email request is made to the student by the HEO.

See the HEO Policy page for more detail about continued eligibility requirements.

HEO FERPA Release

HEO FERPA release forms are included in the HEO student’s semesterly HEO Status Verification forms and are required to allow the HEO office to share HEO records (including funding status) with HEO parents.

• Parents are not permitted to complete status verification forms or the FERPA release on their child’s behalf.
• Students must use their official school issued student email address from their institution. No personal emails can be accepted.
• Students must complete parental FERPA related information, if they elect to grant permission for HEO to share records with their HEO parent.
• SF College students (only) must complete parental and GPA FERPA information, if they elect to grant permission to parents and/or SF College for GPA reporting.

Requesting Funding 

New semester deadline reminders are sent to HEO students (only) approximately 4-6 weeks before the start of each semester using the email on file with the HEO office. As an additional reference for students and parents, upcoming semester deadlines will be published to this page.

HEO funding requests are a two-step process and contingent upon the student’s GPA performance. To request and receive HEO funding in each future semester, students must:

1. Submit the HEO Status Verification form by the established deadline. This form communicates to the HEO office, the student’s contact information, fee deadline, school of attendance, and if the student grants relevant FERPA permission to the HEO office to share records and receive records for the student.
2. Report their (all college) cumulative GPA performance, using the Report Grades (GPA) form by the established deadline  This form provides evidence to the HEO office, the student has met a minimum GPA of 2.75 and is eligible to receive funding for the requested semester. 

HEO Payment Processing:

• UF students after UF’s drop/add period ends and before the UF fee deadline expires.
• SF College students by SF’s fee payment deadline for the semester term.  
• Other Florida colleges by the fee deadline indicated on the student’s HEO Status Verification form. 

If your institution’s fee deadline falls on or before the HEO established semester deadline, please alert the HEO Coordinator at heo@admin.ufl.edu at least 2 business days prior to your institution’s fee deadline, so payment arrangements can be made before your institution’s fee deadline expires.

GPA Reporting  

• SF College students are not required to report GPA performance (unless a direct email request is made to the student by HEO).
• UF students are not required to report GPA performance (unless a direct email request is made to the student by HEO).
• For all other Florida colleges, students must report GPA performance by the requested semester deadline.

SF College (SF) Students

SF College requires GPA FERPA approval from SF students (included in the HEO Status Verification form) to internally report the student’s GPA to UF. SF students who elect not to grant GPA FERPA permission to SF College, must report GPA performance to the HEO by the requested semester deadline.

GPA Performance Reporting

Is required by the established deadline to retain HEO funding in each new semester. If the child is attending a Florida public college (other than SF College or UF), they must provide UFHR with a current unofficial transcript or other HEO approved image from the school’s official website showing the student’s most recent cumulative GPA (for all college coursework attempted), name, school name, and semester/year. 

If the HEO needs GPA performance reported by UF or SF College students, a direct request will be made to the UF or SF student by the HEO.

 HEO funding is removed by the HEO office if the student:

1. Fails to report their (all college) cumulative GPA by the semester’s established GPA reporting deadline.
2. Does not meet the minimum (all college) cumulative of 2.75. HEO students (and parents with HEO FERPA approval) will be copied on funding removal email notifications.

 HEO Contact Information

Program Coordinator heo@admin.ufl.edu or 352-273-0149