Miami-Dade County Community Services Department — becas universitarias locales

The Miami-Dade County Community Services Department lists local scholarships for young people preparing for college, university, or technical training. This is not a Florida state grant and it is not open year-round: selection depends on the individual programme, neighbourhood, income rules, and available funds. For the 2026 cycle, the department announced 16 Community Advisory Committee (CAC) awards of $2,000 each.

For that scholarship, applicants had to be ages 16–25, be high-school seniors or hold a diploma/GED, and either be enrolled in college or plan to start in fall 2026. Applicants had to live in one of the county-listed areas: Allapattah, Brownsville, Coconut Grove, Culmer/Overtown, Edison/Little River, Florida City, Goulds, Hialeah, Liberty City, Little Havana, Naranja, Opa-Locka, Perrine, South Beach, South Miami, or Wynwood. The county also requires at least a 2.0 GPA and household income within 200% of the CSBG poverty guidelines.

The 2026 application required proof of household income and address, age, transcript and class schedule, two recommendation letters, and an essay. Prompts asked about community, leadership, barriers faced, and career choice. The address matters: living elsewhere in Miami-Dade does not meet this particular neighbourhood rule, although MDC or Florida aid may be available separately.

The extended deadline was Friday, May 1, 2026, so that round is closed as of this review. The county has not yet posted another date for 2027. Do not reuse last year’s form automatically: confirm that a new call has been published, which areas qualify, and whether documents have changed. For process questions, Miami-Dade lists 305-755-6237.

The same department lists a separate award for young people who recently completed its Diversion or Prevention programme: 13 scholarships of $1,500 for attendance at an accredited college, university, technical, vocational, or trade school. It has different rules: applicants must be ages 16–20, have completed a county diversion or prevention programme within the prior year, and be high-school seniors or recent graduates. The county says application dates will be posted on the same page.

Prepare a diploma or transcript, proof of residence, an acceptance letter when required, income documents, and recommendations. Before sharing Social Security numbers or financial records, make sure the link is on the county website and ask how to submit files securely. <a data-profile="miami-csd">Miami-Dade’s Community Services scholarship supports residents of specified areas</a>; <a data-profile="miami-diversion">the Diversion and Prevention award requires participation in a county programme</a>. Neither award promises full tuition: both are limited awards tied to a published application round.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Community Services Scholarship: 16 awards of $2,000 for applicants ages 16–25 with at least a 2.0 GPA, living in one of 16 Miami-Dade neighborhoods or areas and within the CSBG income limit. The official page set the extended 2026 deadline at May 1, 2026; it has not yet posted a date for the next round.

How to apply or get help: The process and application rounds are posted on the official Miami-Dade County Community Services site. The scholarship page lists 305-755-6237 for questions. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information