The College Assistance Program (CAP) is a scholarship managed with The Miami Foundation for Miami-Dade County Public Schools graduates who need funding after federal, state, and institutional avenues have been used. It is not an open merit award for all Florida residents or a substitute for FAFSA; it is intended to close a remaining financial gap after other aid is calculated.
The application determines unmet need and the student’s academic situation. CAP advisors based in Miami-Dade public high schools help students choose a postsecondary institution, apply for admission, and find resources; scholarship review happens through the foundation’s portal. Confirm that you graduated from an eligible district school and keep records of Pell, state, and college aid offers.
The 2026–27 cycle deadline was May 24, 2026, and it is closed as of October 12. The foundation page says the next 2027–28 cycle opens December 1, 2026. Do not use award ranges from prior-year guidelines as a promise for a new cohort: the foundation may change amounts, documents, and priorities. The current application must support any figure quoted.
While the next round opens, file FAFSA, request each college’s aid letter, and calculate the remaining cost after grants without counting loans as free money. Keep bills, a family budget, and enrollment dates. For questions, contact the CAP advisor at your high school or The Miami Foundation; ask how the gap is calculated and when the campus is notified. The linked profiles identify the program and foundation, but awards depend on official review.
Do not compare programs by the phrase “free tuition” alone. Ask the college for a written budget separating tuition, mandatory fees, books, transportation, housing, and meals, and ask which other grants are deducted before this award is calculated. A last-dollar scholarship may cover only eligible charges left after Pell and institutional aid.
Keep confirmation for every application and check your student portal: FAFSA/CADAA, residency verification, a transcript, education plan, or data-release consent may still be missing. If the current cycle deadline has passed, ask whether an appeal or late list exists, but prepare for the next cycle without assuming late documents will be accepted. Use the linked profiles to identify the administrator and official channel.
Aid can affect other awards and renewals. Before dropping credits, changing campuses, taking a break, or accepting a loan, ask in writing how your award would be recalculated and what academic progress is required. A published maximum is not an individual offer: the final amount depends on funding, eligible charges, other aid, and your file.
College Assistance Program, Inc. (CAP) — The Miami Foundation.
Scholarships — The Miami Foundation.
CAP Guidelines — College Assistance Program.
Information checked on October 12, 2026 against official sources. Past deadlines are identified as such; eligibility does not guarantee an award. Before enrolling, confirm the current cycle, available funding, and covered charges with the program and your college financial-aid office.
Gather aid letters and calculate remaining need; CAP 2026–27 is closed, with the next cycle expected to open December 1.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
College Assistance Program (CAP)
Individual support based on unmet need after other aid; 2026–27 cycle is closed.
Gap scholarship for county public-school graduates
The Miami Foundation Scholarships
Administers CAP, Venture Miami, and other programs with separate criteria and timelines.
Community foundation and local scholarship administrator
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
The Miami Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
The Miami Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
College Assistance Program · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
The Miami Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of College Assistance Program (CAP) ↗
Primary source
The Miami Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
The Miami Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of The Miami Foundation Scholarships ↗
Primary source
The Miami Foundation · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.