A National Merit Scholar is a high school senior who wins one of the scholarships the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) offers each spring. For the 2028 program, NMSC plans to offer 7,320 scholarships. You enter by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October of your junior year. Out of more than 1.2 million entrants, about 34,000 become Commended Students and more than 16,000 become Semifinalists. About 95% of Semifinalists reach Finalist, and only Finalists can win a scholarship.
The path, in one table
| Stage | Who | When (2028 program) |
|---|---|---|
| Entrant | Over 1.2 million students who take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet entry rules | October 2026 |
| Commended Student | About 34,000 high scorers (national cutoff) | September 2027 |
| Semifinalist | More than 16,000 students, less than 1% of seniors (state cutoffs) | September 2027 |
| Finalist | About 95% of Semifinalists (over 15,000) | Senior year, after the application |
| Scholar | Finalists chosen for one of 7,320 scholarships | Spring 2028 |
Numbers from NMSC's Program Recognition and Scholarship Program pages for the 2028 competition.
Who can enter
NMSC lists three entry rules for the 2028 program. You must be a high school student (traditional or homeschooled) on track to finish by 2028 and start college by fall 2028. You must attend high school in the United States, D.C. or a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or meet the citizenship rules if you study abroad. And you must take the 2026 PSAT/NMSQT in the right year of high school, no later than your third year in grades 9 through 12.
The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 do not count. NMSC says so directly. (See what each PSAT is.) If you are in 9th or 10th grade, your PSAT is practice for the one that counts.
How the qualifying score works
NMSC does not use your 320 to 1520 total. It uses the Selection Index printed on your score report: double your Reading and Writing score, add your Math score, and divide by 10. The highest possible index is 228.
Reading and Writing counts twice, so two students with the same total can land in different places. A 700 Reading and Writing with a 760 Math gives 216. A 730 and 730 gives 219. Our free PSAT score calculator does the math for you.
Commended Students are named with one national cutoff. Semifinalists are named state by state: NMSC gives each state a share of Semifinalists based on its share of graduating seniors, then sets the cutoff where that share fills. That is why New Jersey's cutoff for the class of 2027 was 223 while several states sat at 208, per Compass Prep's table. See every state in our October 2026 PSAT cutoff guide.
From Semifinalist to Finalist
Semifinalists get the application through their high school in September of senior year. To become a Finalist, NMSC says you must:
- keep meeting the entry rules;
- be in your last year of high school and plan to start college full time the next fall;
- be endorsed and recommended by your principal;
- have a record of very high grades in all of grades 9 through 12 and in any college courses;
- complete the application, including an essay;
- take the SAT or ACT and earn scores that confirm your PSAT/NMSQT performance;
- send any other documents NMSC asks for.
Two of these trip students up most. Grades count all the way back to 9th grade, and your SAT or ACT score has to back up your PSAT. If you are a Semifinalist-in-waiting, plan a strong SAT before the application is due. Our December 2026 SAT guide has the next dates.
How much a National Merit Scholarship pays
NMSC offers three kinds of awards. National Merit $2500 Scholarships are the ones NMSC funds itself. Corporate-sponsored scholarships are paid for by companies on NMSC's sponsor list. College-sponsored scholarships come from the college you attend: NMSC says these pay between $500 and $2,000 a year for up to four years, and in its 2026 announcement more than 2,500 Finalists won one.
Some colleges also give their own merit aid to National Merit Finalists or Semifinalists, separate from NMSC. Those offers change each year, so check each college's financial aid page.
Reading and Writing moves your index twice as fast.
The PSAT and SAT test the same skills. Practice real Digital SAT Reading and Writing questions by skill, free.
A plan by grade
9th and 10th grade
Your PSAT does not count, so use it as a map. Look at which skills cost you points and work on those. Keep your grades high from the start, because Finalists need strong grades across all four years.
Fall of 11th grade
This is the PSAT/NMSQT that counts. Weeks before the test, focus on Reading and Writing, since it doubles in the index. Our 200-word PSAT vocabulary list is a good start.
Spring of 11th grade
Take the SAT. You need a confirming SAT or ACT score as a Semifinalist, and a score in hand early takes pressure off senior fall.
Fall of 12th grade
If you are named a Semifinalist in September, finish the application and essay on time and ask your counselor about the school's part.
Frequently asked questions
What is a National Merit Scholar?
A Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program who wins one of NMSC's scholarships: a National Merit $2500 Scholarship, a corporate-sponsored award or a college-sponsored award. For 2028, NMSC plans to offer 7,320.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit?
It depends on your state's Semifinalist cutoff, which uses the Selection Index (48 to 228). For the class of 2027, Commended was 208 and state Semifinalist cutoffs ran from 208 to 223.
Does the PSAT 10 count for National Merit?
No. Only the PSAT/NMSQT counts, taken in the right year and no later than your third year of high school.
Is a National Merit Finalist the same as a Scholar?
No. Over 15,000 students become Finalists. Scholars are the Finalists who win one of the 7,320 scholarships.
Is National Merit a full ride?
The NMSC scholarships themselves are not full rides: the $2500 award is a set amount, and college-sponsored awards pay $500 to $2,000 a year. Some colleges add their own aid for Finalists, so check each college.
Sources
- NMSC, Program Recognition (Selection Index, 1.2 million entrants, about 34,000 Commended, more than 16,000 Semifinalists, about 95% Finalists, Finalist requirements).
- NMSC, National Merit Scholarship Program (7,320 scholarships to be offered in 2028).
- NMSC, Entry Requirements.
- NMSC, College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Winners announcement ($500 to $2,000 a year, over 2,500 winners).
- Compass Prep, National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs Class of 2027 and Beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a National Merit Scholar?
A Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program who wins one of NMSC's scholarships: a National Merit $2500 Scholarship, a corporate-sponsored award or a college-sponsored award. NMSC plans to offer 7,320 for 2028.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit?
It depends on your state's Semifinalist cutoff on the Selection Index (48 to 228). For the class of 2027, Commended was 208 and state cutoffs ran from 208 to 223.
Does the PSAT 10 count for National Merit?
No. Only the PSAT/NMSQT counts, taken no later than your third year of high school.
Is a National Merit Finalist the same as a Scholar?
No. Over 15,000 students become Finalists; Scholars are the Finalists who win one of the 7,320 scholarships.
Is National Merit a full ride?
NMSC's own scholarships are not full rides: the National Merit $2500 Scholarship is a set amount and college-sponsored awards pay $500 to $2,000 a year. Some colleges add their own aid for Finalists.