Understanding National Merit Scholar Requirements

Hey people, I've heard about the National Merit Scholarship and how it can really help with college costs. But I'm not clear about the requirements to qualify as a National Merit Scholar. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Certainly! To enter the 2026 National Merit Program, a student must first be enrolled as a United States high school student (traditional or homeschooled in the U.S., D.C., or U.S. commonwealths and territories), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school by 2026, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall of 2026.

To become a National Merit Scholar, one of the most important steps is taking the PSAT/NMSQT no later than your junior year of high school. The exact qualifying score, or Selection Index, varies from state to state and year to year, but it is typically quite high (think 99th percentile).

The Selection Index is calculated using the Reading, Writing Language, and Math scores from the PSAT/NMSQT. Each section is scored on a range of 8 –38. The Selection Index is calculated by doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing Language, and Math scores.

Notably, approximately the top 3% to 4% of test-takers are chosen as "Commended Students" nationwide based on their Selection Indexes. These students don’t continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, but they may qualify for other scholarships. The National Merit Scholarship website mentioned that in September 2025, more than two-thirds of the high scorers will be designated Commended Students.

The top 1% of test-takers, about 16,000 students, are recognized as "Semifinalists." They are the highest-scoring entrants from each state. The exact cutoff varies by state because it is calculated to ensure representation from all parts of the United States.

Semifinalists are then invited to complete a detailed application to become a "Finalist." This application requires an excellent academic record, an endorsement from your high school principal, SAT scores that confirm the PSAT/NMSQT performance, and a collectively impactful student essay.

From the Finalists, about 7,500 winners are selected to receive the National Merit Scholarships, which come in three types: a $2,500 scholarship awarded on a state-representational basis, corporate-sponsored scholarships awarded based on criteria established by the sponsor, and college-sponsored scholarships for Finalists who have been admitted to and plan to attend the sponsoring college.

Keep in mind, that these are high-level requirements. The whole process takes over a year, from taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of your junior year to getting awarded in the spring of your senior year. Good luck!