Are you a college student looking for a scholarship to pay for your education? One of the most distinguished possibilities available to students is the National Merit Scholarship program. It is an annual academic contest for high school pupils seeking college undergraduate scholarships and recognition.
Everything you need to know about this scholarship, which includes the complete details of the eligibility, benefits, and the application process, as well as the required documents will be covered in this article. Without further delay, let’s get started!
National Merit Scholarship Abstract/Summary
Host: The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®)
Location: United States
Degree Scholarships: Undergraduates | College degree
Benefits: Financial Support
Scholarship Value: $2,500 to full tuition coverage, depending on the type of scholarship award.
Eligible Countries: United States (High school students)
Application Status: Ongoing
Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
Types of The National Merit Scholarships
For the 2027 National Merit Scholarships, three different categories of scholarship will be given out to eligible candidates. These include the National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, the Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships, and the Colleges-Sponsored Merit Scholarships
1. National Merit $2,500 Scholarships
These National Merit scholarships offer a single payment of $2,500. awards that include grants they provide to NMSC instead of paying administrative fees. The National Merit $2500 Scholarship awards are also supported by gifts to the President’s Fund of the NMSC.
2 Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships
Through the National Merit Program, there are around 150 organizations, business foundations, and companies funded scholarships. These sponsors pledged close to $13 million to fund about 830 Merit Scholarship awards. Students who are successful and satisfy the sponsor’s requirements such as skills, talents, and achievements are chosen for the opportunity.
3. Colleges-sponsored Merit Scholarships
At the sponsoring institution, a college-sponsored scholarship is renewable for a maximum of four years of undergraduate study. If a winner does not enroll in the institution that supports the prize, it is null and void since it cannot be given.
Award winners are selected by the authorities of each sponsoring institution from among the Finalists who have been admitted and have notified NMSC that the sponsor college has accepted them. or their first choice is a college.
The annual stipend that each college sponsor gives to award recipients is between $500 and $2,000. The college will set the stipend amount that every student who gets a scholarship supported by the institution will get.
National Merit Scholarship – Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for the 2027 National Merit Program, student must satisfy the following criteria:
Be enrolled in high school (whether a traditional or homeschooling program), and make regular progress toward finishing or graduating by 2027.
Must be intending to enroll into college by the fall of 2027 at the latest.
Fulfill the citizenship criteria for students who attend high school outside the United States, or enroll in high school in the United States, the District of Columbia, or U.S. commonwealths and territories.
Take the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT during the designated year of the high school curriculum, but no later than the third year of grades 9 through 12, irrespective of the kind of education or grade classification.
Meet the eligibility criteria for the National Merit Scholarship Program for 2027.
How To Apply For The National Merit Scholarship Award
Enroll in and take the PSAT/NMSQT before the deadline in October.
Verify that you meet all the program entry and eligibility requirements.
Get your Selection Index score, which will determine your eligibility for recognition levels.
High scorers will be informed of their status as a Commended Student or Semifinalist.
Semifinalists need to submit an additional application in order to move on to Finalist status.
Finalists are eligible to receive one of 7,590 scholarships from NMSC®, businesses, or universities.
Visit official site for details
Required Documents for National Merit Scholarship
High school academic transcript
SAT or ACT scores (to confirm PSAT performance)
A personal statement or Essay
A recommendation letter from a school official (usually from high school Principals)
The National Merit Scholarship Programs – Overview
The National Merit Scholarship Program, which began in 1955, is an academic scholarship contest in the United States for university scholarships and recognition. It is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) – a nonprofit organization that functions independently without governmental funding.
Each year, the NMSC holds a competition that is open to all students who fulfill the eligibility criteria. Statistically, over 1.3 million students are screened at the early stage, but approximately 16,000 of them are chosen as Semifinalists.
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) exam is used to assess applicants, focusing on their critical reading, mathematical problem-solving, and writing abilities. Students are then selected as Semifinalists based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. Only qualified participants have the chance to move to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships.
Note that semifinalists must meet several criteria in order to be eligible for a National Merit Scholarship and move up to Finalist status. This includes completing a comprehensive scholarship application, which includes details on extracurricular activities, honors, and leadership roles in addition to essays.
Additionally, applicants must have a solid academic background, as well as a recommendation and endorsement. and receive SAT scores that support their performance on the qualifying exam. At the event, finalists are selected to be awarded National Merit Scholarships worth $2,500.
Keep in mind that the 2027 National Merit Scholarship contest begins in 2025. The contest will last about 18 months, beginning in the fall of 2025 and continuing until the spring of 2027, when college undergraduate scholarships will be given out.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I become a finalist?
Prior to being eligible for a National Merit Scholarship, a Semifinalist must complete a number of other conditions and proceed to the Finalist stage of the competition. These include:
You must continue to satisfy all program entry criteria
You must be enrolled in your final year of high school and intending to attend college full-time the following fall, or be enrolled in your first if grades 9 through 12 were finished in three years or less, the year of college
Be recommended by the high school principal for a National Merit Scholarship and be fully endorsed for Finalist status;
Have a track record of consistent outstanding academic performance in all courses in grades 9 through 12 and in any college coursework.
Submit the complete National Merit Scholarship Application, which requires writing an essay and providing all the data asked for.
Achieve a score on the SAT® or ACT that validates the PSAT/NMSQT performance that led to Semifinalist status; and
Give any further paperwork or details that the NMSC requests.
2. Misspelled my name. What should I do?
On the PSAT/NMSQT Score Report, if the student’s name, high school enrollment, or any other data is incorrect, please get in touch with the NMSC right away. Submit your request to the organization via email to [email protected].
3 What is the NMSC Selection Index?
The NMSC Selection Index scores are used by the NMSC to conduct an initial screen of about 1.3 million program applicants. The Selection Index scores of all students who satisfy the entrance criteria for the 2027 program will be taken into account. In the spring of 2026, NMSC will request high school headmasters to point out any inaccuracies or modifications in the reported eligibility of their top students. (students whose Selection Index scores will make them eligible for recognition in the fall of 2026).
4. Can’t sit the PSAT/NMSQT?
You may be eligible for the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) if you were unable to sit for it due to sickness, an emergency, or other compelling reason. Visit the National Merit Scholarship Program page for details