The starting point
Public flagship where the merit-aid story is dominated by Florida's state programs (Bright Futures + Benacquisto), not by UF-administered automatic merit. UF Merit Scholarships are limited, in-state-only, and committee-selected — the headline value comes from stacking state aid with the Lombardi/Stamps honors awards.
More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 10 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Florida Bright Futures — Florida Academic Scholars
100% of tuition and applicable fees (calculated at $212.71 per registered credit hour for 2025-26) · Published coverage or package
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
Eligibility: Florida high school graduate meeting Florida Academic Scholar criteria (state-administered eligibility). FAFSA is NOT required for initial or renewal eligibility.
Renewal: Maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA and earn 24 semester hours per academic year (full-time enrollment). Florida Academic Scholars with 2.75-2.99 GPA renew as Florida Medallion Scholars. Repayment of dropped-or-withdrawn courses is required to renew.
Other terms: State-funded by the Florida Department of Education. Recipients are eligible for summer awards. Apply via the Florida Bright Futures program before high school graduation.
https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/bright-futures/florida-bright-futures-program-details/
Florida Bright Futures — Florida Medallion Scholars
75% of tuition and applicable fees (calculated at $159.53 per registered credit hour for 2025-26) · Published coverage or package
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
Eligibility: Florida high school graduate meeting Florida Medallion criteria (state-administered eligibility).
Renewal: Maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and earn 24 semester hours per academic year (full-time enrollment).
Other terms: The lower-tier Bright Futures award. Medallion recipients are also eligible for summer awards.
https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/bright-futures/florida-bright-futures-program-details/
Benacquisto Scholarship
Standard institutional COA for in-state students minus the sum of Bright Futures + National Merit Scholarship awards · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
Eligibility: Florida resident, U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, standard Florida high school diploma, confirmed National Merit® Scholar, full-time enrollment in a baccalaureate program at an eligible Florida institution, initial enrollment the fall after graduation.
Renewal: Recorded as renewable. Full renewal conditions are not recorded here; request them from the school.
Other terms: State-funded merit award designed to gap-fill to in-state COA when stacked with Bright Futures and the National Merit Scholarship. Funded annually by the Florida legislature; verify current year funding.
https://admissions.ufl.edu/afford/scholarships
