The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is a merit scholarship for high school graduates who receive recognition as a National Merit Scholar. Eligible scholars will receive an award equal to the institutional cost of attendance for an in-state student minus the sum of Bright Futures and the National Merit award. An initial application is not required. Students must earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalency (unless the student completes a home education program or earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida high school while living with a parent who is on military or public service assignment away from Florida). They must enroll at an eligible postsecondary institution during the 2025-2026 fall academic term following high school graduation. This program will provide funds for 100 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete a baccalaureate degree program, or until completion of a baccalaureate degree program, whichever comes first. A student may receive an award for up to 5 years following high school graduation and may not receive the award for more than 10 semesters. Students who received a college-sponsored Merit Scholarship must maintain enrollment at the institution where the student was initially funded to maintain scholarship eligibility. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Florida State Department of Education for more information.