Golden Scholars

Golden Scholars move into the residence halls on the weekend of June 19-21st, before Summer B classes begin. Classes begin Monday, June 22, 2026 and end Friday, July 31, 2026.

Students must register for Freshman Orientation as well as an Advising and Registration Day. Students will meet with an academic advisor and select their classes at this time.

Golden Scholars who begin their undergraduate studies as exploratory learn about all the major options here at FIU. Scholars will engage in workshops, success coaching sessions, and academic advising meetings to determine what major will work best for them.

Yes, residing on campus during the summer is mandatory, as this is a residential program.

Students may reside on or off campus after the summer term of entry is complete. If students wish to reside on campus, they must submit their housing agreement to the Housing Office for placement. Students must also review their yearly FAFSA awards to determine the cost of residing on campus. The Golden Scholars Program does not cover the cost of housing after the summer program. More information can be found at housing.fiu.edu.

All requests to be reconsidered for the admission after submitting must be submitted in writing to the Office of Student Access & Success as well as the Office of Admissions. Please be advised that admission consideration into any term outside of the Golden Scholars bridge program, is solely determined by the Office of Admissions.

Yes, students admitted to the university through another pathway may still participate in the Golden Scholars Bridge Program. However, in order to be considered for the program, students must submit a separate Golden Scholars application and be willing to change their entry term to the summer, if necessary. Once the completed application has been received, students will be reviewed for participation in the Golden Scholars Bridge Program.

Students who do not meet the program’s target academic profile are still encouraged to apply and will be reviewed by the Golden Scholars committee on a case-by-case basis.

Students will enroll in six to seven credits during the summer. All class schedules will be verified and approved by academic advisors, as student coursework may vary according to each student’s level of college readiness.

The Office of Financial Aid will consider all FAFSA applications and will award based on the FAFSA information provided by the student. Students can submit an online application at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students may all visit www.onestop.fiu.edu/financial-aid.

Students that are not eligible for Pell grant funding may be required to cover a portion of their cost of attendance based on their Student Aid Index (SAI), and other FAFSA related information. Participants may have other funding sources, (Florida Pre-Paid, Scholarships, etc.), to help supplement their cost of attendance for the Summer Term. Participants are encouraged to communicate with their parents or legal guardians regarding these options to decide if participating in the program is the best option for them.

During the summer term, the cost of attendance for each Golden Scholars Bridge Program participant will vary based on each participant’s Student Aid Index (SAI), and other FAFSA related information. Any financial aid that is awarded will be applied towards any outstanding balance related to the cost of attendance for the Summer term. It is important that all students submit their 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 FAFSA applications as soon as possible to have a complete application. Students must also check their to-do lists on their my.fiu.edu student portal for any financial aid documentation requests/updates.

In addition to any financial aid, scholarships, and other funding students may receive to assist with their costs of attendance for the summer, students may be eligible for additional assistance based on their FAFSA and other FAFSA related information. Priority will be given to Pell eligible students. This assistance may include, but is not limited to, housing, meals, tuition, and books. Student meal plans will cover 9 swipes per week. Any changes will be the responsibility of the student.

Upon successful completion of the summer program, students who are Pell-eligible and in good academic standing may qualify for a four-year scholarship, with funds available for the fall and spring semester each academic year. However, students are encouraged to also apply for scholarships. More information regarding scholarships can be found at www.scholarships.fiu.edu.

Students who have been extended an invitation to participate in the Golden Scholars bridge program must submit their agreement in order to secure their place for the summer. Any students that declines the invitation or does not submit their agreement by the date specified on the agreement, will not be allowed to participate.

Students admitted to FIU through any other first-year pathway (for which Golden Scholars was not a condition of their admission) and do not fulfill all the requirements of the summer bridge program, will be dismissed from the Golden Scholars program but retain their standing as an FIU undergraduate student.