National Merit Scholarship Program

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

Student Entry Requirements

To participate in the National Merit® Scholarship Program, a student must:

  • take the PSAT/NMSQT® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12,regardless of grade classification or educational pattern;
  • be enrolled as a high school student, progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school, and planning to enroll full time in college no later than the fall following completion of high school; and
  • be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

Program Recognition

Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT®Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. In April following the fall test administration, high-scoring participants from every state are invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by NMSC. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.

Commended Students

In late September, more than two-thirds or about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Types of Merit Scholarship® Awards

Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 8,200 Finalists at their home addresses that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award. Merit Scholarship awards are of three types:

  • National Merit® $2500 Scholarships
    Every Finalist competes for these single payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans.
  • Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards
    Corporatesponsors designate their awards for children of their employees or members, for residents of a community where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.
  • College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards
    Officials of each sponsor college select winners of their awards from Finalists who have been accepted for admission and have informed NMSC by the published deadlines that the sponsor college or university is their first choice. These awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.

High school juniors may qualify for National Merit Scholarships by receiving a high score on the PSAT taken in October of the junior year. Each state has a different cut off for the selection of National Merit Semifinalists. The score is obtained from the total of three sections on the PSAT: the critical reading, math and writing scores. The highest score would be 240 (80+80+80=240) since each section of the PSAT ranges from 20 to 80 points.
If a student receives a high PSAT score as a sophomore, the student will not be considered for a National Merit Scholarship. The PSAT must be taken in the junior year in order to be considered for National Merit status.

Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2012 National Merit Semifinalists:

Alabama 209
Alaska 204
Arizona 212
Arkansas 202
California 220
Colorado 212
Connecticut 218
Delaware 215
District of Columbia 221
Florida 211 / Georgia 214
Hawaii 211
Idaho 207
Illinois 213
Indiana 211
Iowa 207
Kansas 212
Kentucky 208
Louisiana 209
Maine 210 / Maryland 219
Massachusetts 221
Michigan 207
Minnesota 213
Mississippi 204
Missouri 210
Montana 203
Nebraska 207
Nevada 208
New Hampshire 211 / New Jersey 221
New Mexico 208
New York 215
North Carolina 213
North Dakota 200
Ohio 212
Oklahoma 206
Oregon 213
Pennsylvania 214
Rhode Island 211 / South Carolina 208
South Dakota 204
Tennessee 210
Texas 216
Utah 205
Vermont 214
Virginia 217
Washington 216
West Virginia 200
Wisconsin 207
Wyoming 200

About PSAT/NMSQT

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for

the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

  • Critical reading skills
  • Math problem-solving skills
  • Writing skills

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

According to AP Central, the most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:

  • Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus

your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.

  • See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
  • Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11).
  • Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will

see on the SAT.

National Achievement Scholarship Program

Black American students who meet entry requirements and request consideration when they take the PSAT/NMSQT can enter the National Achievement Scholarship Program as well as the National Merit Program. The two programs are conducted concurrently; however, a student's standing in each program is determined independently. Black students can qualify for recognition, become candidates for awards, and be honored as Scholars in both competitions, but they can receive only one monetary award from NMSC. Students who are chosen as both National Achievement and National Merit Scholars receive the monetary award that is most advantageous to them and are recognized as Honorary Scholars in the other program.

Steps in the Achievement Scholarship competition are parallel to those in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Of 130,000 entrants, some 3,000 students are referred to colleges for their academic potential and an additional 1,600 students are designated Semifinalists on a regional representation basis. Semifinalists are the highest scorers in the states that make up each region and have an opportunity to continue in the competition for scholarships.

Around 1,500 Semifinalists go on to be named Finalists and about 800 receive scholarships. These include 700 National Achievement $2500 Scholarships, most of which are provided by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and about 100 corporate-sponsored Achievement Scholarships awards. Students can register to take the PSAT through the Guidance Office – test will be given onWednesday, October 15th,starting 1st period, at Kell. Check websites for info:

For more information, send an email to: or call: 800-626-9795,extension 5849. - check this guide to the program;