National Merit Scholarship (UF-sponsored)
ListedCollege program
- Award
- $500 per year National Merit Scholarship from UF. Florida residents who receive it also qualify for the state Benacquisto Scholarship, which covers remaining cost of attendance after Bright Futures and the National Merit award.
- Timeline
- May 31, 2027Name UF as first choice with NMSC by, the final deadline in the 2027 NMSC instructions
- Mar 1, 2027First referral group is reported before .
- How to apply
- Be a National Merit Finalist and list UF as first choice with NMSC by May 31.
- What you'll need
- No separate application: you are considered when you apply for admission
- Who can apply
- National Merit Finalists enrolling at UF. Benacquisto additionally requires Florida residency, U.S. citizenship or eligible-noncitizen status, a qualifying Florida high school diploma or permitted equivalent, National Merit Scholar status, and full-time first enrollment in a bachelor's program in the fall after high school. NMSC citizenship requirements apply to entrants attending high school outside the U.S.; individual award rules still apply.
- Good to know
- UF awards $500 annually as a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. NMSC college awards are renewable for up to four undergraduate years, subject to full-time enrollment, good standing and the recipient’s specific offer terms. No universal numeric GPA is claimed for the UF $500 award. Benacquisto renews with full-time enrollment, all enrolled credits earned and at least a 3.0 GPA, up to the first bachelor's degree credit requirement and five years/ten semesters. Summer funding depends on legislative appropriation.