New Future Ready Scholarship Program to Open Doors to Higher Education in Miami-Dade County

Today, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami Dade College (MDC) President Madeline Pumariega announced the launch of the Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship, a groundbreaking initiative that will provide Miami-Dade County residents the opportunity to complete an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree at MDC with zero cost. Miami-Dade County is committing nearly $3 million to fund this multi-year initiative, and recently approved the first $750,000 in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget. In addition, CareerSource South Florida has pledged to fund wrap-around services for scholarship recipients.  

“Investing in education today is investing in the future of Miami-Dade County,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “This scholarship is a win-win-win for our youth, our community and our economy. By investing in making an associate degree cost-free for more families, this scholarship will open doors to opportunity to our residents and grow our talent pool, enabling our businesses to keep hiring local. I encourage eligible students to apply for these scholarships to prepare for the opportunities that tomorrow will bring and to become future ready for the new economy.”  

High school graduates with a GPA of at least 2.0 who have earned a standard high school diploma, GED or home school diploma in Miami-Dade County are eligible for this program. The scholarship will cover expenses that are not addressed by other grants, financial aid and scholarships, making it possible for a broader range of students to access higher education.   

“We are excited to partner with Miami-Dade County on this important initiative and open MDC’s doors to many more students,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “As the workforce engine of the community, MDC remains committed to helping individuals obtain a college degree and achieve economic mobility.”   

Nearly 2,000 students are expected to benefit from this scholarship each year, based on the number of students that met the eligibility criteria at MDC for the fall semester in 2022.   

"We are immensely proud to provide support to the 'Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship' this year,” said Rick Beasley, Executive Director of CareerSource South Florida. “At CareerSource South Florida, we recognize both the profound impact of financial aid and the indispensable value of holistic support services. Our goal is to empower students with comprehensive opportunities that go beyond the classroom and strengthen their path to their future success within our community.” 

The Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship will launch with the entering Class of 2023. To apply and for more information, visit www.mdc.edu/future-ready/. 

Miami-Dade County media contacts: Natalia Jaramillo at [email protected] and Jennie Lopez at [email protected].   

MDC Media Contacts: Irene Muñoz, interim director of communications, 305-237-3030, [email protected]; Sue Arrowsmith, director of media relations, 305-237-3710, [email protected]; or Norma Ardila, 305-237-3607, [email protected].