Benacquisto Scholarship Program

Benacquisto is a state merit scholarship for high-school graduates recognized as National Merit Scholars. The 2026–27 fact sheet does not list a flat award: it calculates aid each term from the institution’s cost of attendance for an in-state student and subtracts applicable Florida Bright Futures and National Merit awards. The cost-of-attendance budget may include tuition, housing, books, and other official components, but that does not mean students automatically receive unrestricted cash or that every individual expense is covered.

For the 2026 cohort, OSFA requires Florida residency, a standard state diploma or a listed exception, National Merit Scholar recognition, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, and full-time enrollment—at least 12 credits per term or quarter equivalent—in a bachelor’s program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or independent institution. A finalist becomes a Scholar through a National Merit $2,500, corporate-sponsored, or college-sponsored award; certain special corporate and Presidential awards do not qualify. The fact sheet lists nine college sponsors for that cohort.

The fact sheet says no separate initial application is required, but that does not remove the decisive steps: correctly selecting the sponsoring college as the first choice with the National Merit Corporation, gaining admission, confirming the campus reports eligibility to OSFA, and enrolling. Since July 2026, state law allows the initial award to be deferred for up to one year; the agency describes enrolling in the immediate fall or deferring, at the latest, until the second fall after graduation. Renewal requires earning credit for all enrolled hours and maintaining a cumulative 3.0 GPA. The fact sheet reviewed is for 2026–27; students graduating in 2027 should wait for and verify their own cycle’s document.

Who it serves and what it can cover: Benacquisto is a state merit scholarship for high-school graduates recognized as National Merit Scholars. The 2026–27 fact sheet does not list a flat award: it calculates aid each term from the institution’s cost of attendance for an in-state student and subtracts applicable Florida Bright Futures and National Merit awards. The cost-of-attendance budget may include tuition, housing, books, and other official components, but that does not mean students automatically receive unrestricted cash or that every individual expense is covered. For the 2026 cohort, OSFA requires Florida residency, a standard state diploma or a listed exception, National Merit Scholar recognition, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, and full-time enrollment—at least 12 credits per term or quarter equivalent—in a bachelor’s program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or independent institution. A finalist becomes a Scholar through a National Merit $2,500, corporate-sponsored, or college-sponsored award; certain special corporate and Presidential awards do not qualify. The fact sheet lists nine college sponsors for that cohort.

How to apply or get help: The fact sheet says no separate initial application is required, but that does not remove the decisive steps: correctly selecting the sponsoring college as the first choice with the National Merit Corporation, gaining admission, confirming the campus reports eligibility to OSFA, and enrolling. Since July 2026, state law allows the initial award to be deferred for up to one year; the agency describes enrolling in the immediate fall or deferring, at the latest, until the second fall after graduation. Renewal requires earning credit for all enrolled hours and maintaining a cumulative 3.0 GPA. The fact sheet reviewed is for 2026–27; students graduating in 2027 should wait for and verify their own cycle’s document. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information