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®).
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 (traditional or
homeschooled), 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.
The student's responses to items on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet
that are specific to NMSC program entry determine whether the individual
meets requirements to participate in the National Merit Scholarship
Program. Click
here to see NMSC program entry items on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet.
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 September, these high scorers are notified
through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended
Student or Semifinalist. back to top 
Commended Students
In late September, more than two-thirds (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 typically 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.
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Semifinalists
In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately
one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have
qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young
people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent
pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis.
They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. NMSC provides
scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high
schools. To be considered for a National Merit
® Scholarship,
Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by
meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in
the information provided to each Semifinalist. Click
here to learn about requirements for becoming a Finalist in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. (
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.)
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Finalists
In February, some 15,000 Semifinalists are notified by mail at
their home addresses that they have advanced to Finalist standing. High
school principals are notified and provided with a certificate to
present to each Finalist.
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Winner Selection
All winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar®
designees) are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities,
skills, and accomplishments—without regard to gender, race, ethnic
origin, or religious preference. A variety of information is available
for NMSC selectors to evaluate: the Finalist's academic record,
information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of
test scores, the high school official's written recommendation,
information about the student's activities and leadership, and the
Finalist's own essay.
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Types of Merit Scholarship® Awards
Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies
approximately 7,600 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
Corporate sponsors 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.
Special Scholarships
Every year some 1,300 National Merit
® Program
participants, who are outstanding but not Finalists, are awarded Special
Scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations. To
be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the
sponsor's criteria and the entry requirements of the National Merit
Scholarship Program. They also must submit an entry form to the sponsor
organization. Subsequently, NMSC contacts a pool of high-scoring
candidates through their respective high schools. These students and
their school officials submit detailed scholarship applications. A
committee of NMSC professional staff evaluates information about
candidates' abilities, skills, and accomplishments and chooses winners
of the sponsor's Special Scholarships. These scholarships may either be
renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.
