National Merit Scholar package
ListedCollege program
- Award
- Florida residents: State of Florida Benacquisto Scholarship covering 100% of cost of attendance in fall and spring (reduced by Bright Futures and any NMSC award), plus USF National Merit Tradition of Excellence Award ($20,000; $5,000 per year) and a $2,000 Passport study abroad scholarship. Non-Florida residents: USF Golden Achievement Program scholarship covering 100% of cost of attendance in fall and spring (reduced by any NMSC award), plus the $2,000 Passport Scholarship.
- Deadline
- Name USF as first choice with NMSC by May 31, 2027, its final receipt deadline. First referral group is reported before March 1, 2027.
- How to apply
- Apply to USF, become a National Merit Finalist, and designate USF as your first-choice school with NMSC by May 31.
- What you'll need
- No separate application: you are considered when you apply for admission
- Who can apply
- High school graduates who are National Merit Finalists and name USF first choice. Residency is determined by USF. Florida Benacquisto also has state diploma and US citizen or eligible noncitizen requirements. Students attending high school outside the US must satisfy NMSC citizenship or permanent-residence rules.
- Good to know
- The benefits page does not date the entry cycle and its linked guide remains 2026. Current 2026-27 aid terms require 12 USF credits each term, 30 annually and 3.0 USF GPA for institutional renewal; Benacquisto requires credit for every enrolled course and 3.0 cumulative GPA. Golden Achievement and Tradition of Excellence normally run up to eight fall/spring terms; Benacquisto up to ten. Passport requires a USF-sponsored full semester abroad. These packages replace other admissions awards, except Florida recipients retain Tradition of Excellence. Fall 2027 semifinalists/finalists receive automatic Honors College admission.