National Merit Scholarship
The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that high school students enter by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
See Requirements HERE.
Start by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of your junior year!
In late September of their senior year, approximately 34,000 of the 1.5 million entrants will receive "letters of commendation." These students will not continue in the competition, but they might become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by some corporations and businesses. However, about 16,000 of the entrants are notified that they have qualified as "Semifinalists." Here are the Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists.
Types of National Merit Scholarship Awards
Approximately 7,500 Finalists are selected to receive one of three types of Merit Scholarships®:
College-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards
In order to be eligible, the student MUST name the college as their first choice by the reporting deadline. The published deadlines for reporting a sponsor college as first choice can be viewed on page 3 of the Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. Be sure to review the website of your first choice college for any other requirements or deadlines.
Full Ride Scholarships
A limited number of universities offer full tuition scholarships for National Merit Scholars. This list includes schools that offer full or significant scholarships to National Merit Scholarship Finalists and Semi-Finalists.
Partial Scholarships
Some colleges and universities sponsor awards each year, which typically range from $500-2,000 per year.
National Merit® $2500 Scholarships
Every Finalist competes for these one-time awards, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans. Generally, these awards are transferable from one regionally accredited US institution to another.
Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships Awards
Finalists who meet criteria specified by a corporate sponsor are usually children of employees, residents of specific communities, or students with certain college majors or career plans. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.
Approximately 1,200 National Merit® Program participants, who are outstanding but not Finalists, are awarded Special Scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations:
Special Scholarships
To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and 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.
See the National Merit website for most up-to-date, complete information on types of National Merit awards.