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National Merit Scholarship Program
High school juniors may qualify for National Merit Scholarships by receiving
a high score on the PSAT taken in October of the junior year.
Juniors need a high selectivity index score in the 99 percentile range. Not
all students in the 99 percentile range will be National Merit Semifinalists.
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.
Not all colleges participate in the National Merit scholarship program.
However, it is a great honor to be a National Merit Semifinalist and to
compete for National Merit Scholarships. Colleges are very interested in
students who are National Merit Semifinalists.
Student who are National Merit Semifinalists have an opportunity to
compete for National Merit Scholarships. The student must take a SAT test
and send a letter of recommendation from their counselor. This information
will be mailed to qualified student.
National Merit Scholarships can come from college or corporate sponsors.
The Ivies, Stanford and other highly selective colleges do not participate in
the program.
See the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT for a list of college merit
scholarship sponsors. This booklet is available from you high school or at
the NMSC website at: www.nationalmerit.org
PSAT results are mailed to the high school in December.
In April of the junior year, a total of 50,000 high scorers from the
PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index (math, critical reading and writing)
will be contacted to determine qualification for program recognition.
Qualification means the following: a full-time high school student, a junior
in high school, and a citizen of the United States. Student who do not meet
these qualifications will have an asterisk by their score. For example: a
sophomore or a non U.S. Citizen will not qualify. Among the 50,000, only
students who will be commended or national merit semifinalists will be
invited to name two colleges for the competition. Other students in this
group will be able to name two colleges through the College Plans
Reporting Service. Their information will be sent to the colleges but these
students will not compete for scholarships. The selectivity number for
commended students will not be revealed at this time.
Students will be notified if they receive National Merit status in
September of their senior year. Some students who receive a score below
the semifinalist cutoff may receive commended status. The semifinalist
scores vary for each state. There is only one commended score for the
entire country. Each high school principal will receive notification of
National Merit Semifinalists and Commended students in August. Current
juniors need to look at last year's scores on this website for their state
cutoff scores.
2014 National Merit Scholarship Competition
If you take the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2012, you will receive your results in
December 2012. The scores and your test booklet will be mailed to your
high school early in December.
2013 National Merit Scholarship Competition
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2011 of your junior year and you
received a very high score, you may be entered in the 2013 competition for
National Merit Scholarships. In September, 2012, 34,000 commended
students will receive Letters of Commendation. These students will not
continue in the competition.
In September 2012, 16,000 high scorers will qualify as semifinalists.
In February 2013, semifinalists who meet academic and other
requirements will advance to Finalist standing.
Scholarship Notification:
April, 2013, winners of corporate sponsored merit scholarships.
May, 2013, winners of National Merit $2500 scholarships.
May, 2013, winners of college-sponsored merit scholarships.
July, 2013 winner of additional college sponsored merit scholarships.
Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2013 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
Commended 200
International 221
Boarding Schools 214-221
New England Boarding Schools 221
U.S. Territories 200
Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2012 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 211
Alaska 212
Arizona 213
Arkansas 205
California 221
Colorado 215
Connecticut 220
Delaware 217
District of Columbia 223
Florida 214
Georgia 218
Hawaii 216
Idaho 211
Illinois 216
Indiana 214
Iowa 210
Kansas 214
Kentucky 212
Louisiana 209
Maine 212
Maryland 221
Massachusetts 223
Michigan 210
Minnesota 215
Mississippi 205
Missouri 213
Montana 209
Nebraska 209
Nevada 209
New Hampshire 216
New Jersey 223
New Mexico 210
New York 219
North Carolina 217
North Dakota 204
Ohio 214
Oklahoma 209
Oregon 216
Pennsylvania 215
Rhode Island 213
South Carolina 211
South Dakota 206
Tennessee 214
Texas 219
Utah 208
Vermont 217
Virginia 220
Washington 220
West Virginia 204
Wisconsin 209
Wyoming 204
Commended 202
International 223
New England Boarding Schools 223
Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2011 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 210
Alaska 214
Arizona 209
Arkansas 203
California 219
Colorado 212
Connecticut 219
Delaware 215
District of Columbia 223
Florida 210
Georgia 215
Hawaii 215
Idaho 208
Illinois 214
Indiana 212
Iowa 209
Kansas 211
Kentucky 208
Louisiana 210
Maine 213
Maryland 220
Massachusetts 223
Michigan 209
Minnesota 213
Mississippi 205
Missouri 210
Montana 208
Nebraska 210
Nevada 208
New Hampshire 214
New Jersey 221
New Mexico 206
New York 217
North Carolina 214
North Dakota 202
Ohio 212
Oklahoma 206
Oregon 215
Pennsylvania 216
Rhode Island 211
South Carolina 208
South Dakota 205
Tennessee 212
Texas 215
Utah 203
Vermont 212
Virginia 218
Washington 218
West Virginia 202
Wisconsin 209
Wyoming 202
Commended 201
International 223
New England Boarding Schools 223
Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2010 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 208
Alaska 211
Arizona 210
Arkansas 203
California 218
Colorado 213
Connecticut 218
Delaware 219
District of Columbia 221
Florida 211
Georgia 214
Hawaii 214
Idaho 209
Illinois 214
Indiana 211
Iowa 209
Kansas 211
Kentucky 209
Louisiana 207
Maine 213
Maryland 221
Massachusetts 221
Michigan 209
Minnesota 215
Mississippi 203
Missouri 211
Montana 204
Nebraska 207
Nevada 202
New Hampshire 213
New Jersey 221
New Mexico 208
New York 218
North Carolina 214
North Dakota 202
Ohio 211
Oklahoma 207
Oregon 213
Pennsylvania 214
Rhode Island 217
South Carolina 211
South Dakota 205
Tennessee 213
Texas 216
Utah 206
Vermont 213
Virginia 218
Washington 217
West Virginia 203
Wisconsin 207
Wyoming 201
New England/Mid Atlantic Boarding Schools 221
Commended 201
International 221
National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP)
This program provides recognition for outstanding Hispanic/Latino high
school students. You must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino, meet
the minimum PSAT/NMSQT cutoff score for your state which varies each
year. Honorable Mention Finalists need a GPA between 3.0 to 3.49 and
Scholar Finalists need a minimum GPA of 3.5 and a 30 ACT or 1330 SAT.
Each year, the NHRP identifies nearly 5,000 students from the United
States and U.S. Territories who take the PSAT/NMSQT and designate
themselves as Hispanic/Latino. The NHRP does not provide a financial
reward. Being named is an important academic recognition and the
colleges participating in the program will receive this information.
2013 National Hispanic Recognition Program Cutoff Scores
New England
Mid Atlantic
South 199
Southwest 183
Midwest
West 186
If you failed to identify yourself as Hispanic/Latino when you took the PSAT,
you can ask your high school counselor to request a nomination form from
College Board.
For more information, send an email to: nhrp@collegeboard.org or call:
800-626-9795, extension 5849.
National Achievement Scholarship Program
This program provides recognition for outstanding Black American high
school students. Black students may enter the National Merit Program and
the National Achievement Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October. Information on entry
requirements and program recognition is available at:
http://www.nationalmerit.org/prn_nasp.php
For more information:
Contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897
847-866-5100
www.nationalmerit.org
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Why do the semifinalist qualifying scores for each state change every
year?
A. According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, the qualifying score
is based on the state's percentage of the national total of high school
graduating seniors.
Q. What do I do if I cannot take the PSAT on the date my school offers it?
A. Contact your high school counselor. You may be able to take the PSAT at
another school on a different date.
Q. I missed the PSAT in October. Can I still take the test?
A. If you missed the PSAT because of illness, an emergency, or other
extenuating circumstances, you may be able to enter the competition. Write
to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite
200, Evanston, IL 60201-4897 as soon as possible but no later than March
1. The phone number is: 847-866-5100.
Q. When will Semifinalists be notified that they have advanced to Finalist
standing?
A. In February. The information will be mailed to the high school principal on
February 2 and mailed to the student's home a few days later.
If you plan to study in another country when the test is given, you need to
contact the PSAT Office at: PSAT/NMSQT, PO Box 6720, Princeton, NJ
08541-6720 or email: psat@info.collegeboard.org or call: 609-771-7070 or
FAX: 609-530-0482.
Q. I live in Massachusetts and attend high school in New York. Which state
score will be used to determine National Merit semifinalist status?
A. The score will be determined by the state where your are enrolled in high
school.
Q. I took the PSAT in New Jersey and shortly after the test my family moved
to California. Which state score will be used?
A. The state where you took the PSAT will determine your score for National
Merit.
Q. Are there any special opportunities for African American or Black
Juniors?
A. A free college advisory and referral service is available for student who
plan to attend a two-year or four-year college. You need to indicate you are
African American or Black.
For more information:
National Scholarship Service
230 Peachtree Street, Suite 530
Atlanta, CA 30303
404-522-7260
Q. Are there any special opportunities for Hispanic or Latino Juniors?
A. The National Hispanic Recognition Program provides information to
colleges for academically talented students. You need to indicate that you
are Hispanic or Latino.
For more information:
The College Board National Hispanic Recognition Programs
11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA 20190-5602
800-626-9795
Q. Are there any special opportunities for Juniors with talent in the
humanities and social sciences?
A. Telluride Association offers scholarships for summer seminars to highly
gifted juniors.
For more information:
Telluride Association
217 West Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-273-5011
Q. How do I contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to make a
change in my school choice? (For Finalists)
A. Go to: www.nationalmerit.org and select FAQ. You can print the form to
change your college choice and sign and FAX the form back. May 31 is the
deadline to change your college choice. Be aware that many colleges do
not participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Since colleges
have a limited number of National Merit Scholarships to offer students, it is
possible to select a college and not be picked for a National Merit
Scholarship. Students who score high enough to achieve National Merit
status have many other scholarship options. Check with the college
scholarship office as well as the scholarship page on this website.
National Merit Scholarships
