What scholarships do National Merit Scholars get?

In the National Merit® Scholarship Program, three types of Merit Scholarship® awards are offered to Finalists: National Merit $2500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards.

How many finalists are there for the National Merit Scholarship?

Although all students who become Finalists are outstanding, not all Finalists receive a Merit Scholarship award. Of the 15,000 Finalists in the 2022 program, about half will win an award, and no student will receive more than one scholarship offer from NMSC.

Who gives out the National Merit Scholarship?

Merit Scholarship awards are supported by some 400 independent sponsors and by NMSC’s own funds. Sponsor organizations include corporations and businesses, company foundations, professional associations, and colleges and universities.

How much money do national merit finalists get?

National Merit Scholarships are awarded to only 2,500 Finalists, or about one in six Finalists. They’re a one-time award of $2,500 and are not renewable throughout college.

Is being a National Merit Scholar a big deal?

I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, but they say National Merit makes a huge difference in college applications. But, in reality, National Merit honors provide only a minimal admissions-odds boost and, often, little or no money.

What percent of students are National Merit finalists?

About 90 percent of Semifinalists become Finalists, and the highest scorers receive a $2,500 scholarship. Many colleges also provide additional scholarships based on National Merit status.

Is it hard to be a National Merit finalist?

Becoming a National Merit Finalist is competitive and requires a top score on the PSAT. Although it varies from state to state, most students must score above 1400 (out of 1520) to qualify as a Semifinalist, which means they can compete to move on to Finalist standing.

What universities offer National Merit Scholarships?

Auburn University, the University of Alabama and UAB all offer National Merit and National Achievement finalists scholarships that include tuition, housing and some kind of stipend for an internship, research or study abroad.

How do you become a National Merit Scholar?

The first step to becoming a National Merit scholar is to achieve a top score on the PSAT, which is also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). You must take the PSAT in October of your junior year of high school. So, in order to qualify as a National Merit scholar, you must be enrolled as a high school student.

What is a good NMSC score?

A good score is places you around the 75th percentile, which is a composite score around 1050. An excellent score will place you in the 90th percentile, which equates with a composite score of around 1180.

What are the requirements for National Merit?

Academic Record and SAT Scores. The National Merit Corporation is first and foremost looking to award academic achievement. There is no strict cutoff, but a competitive GPA (3.5 and above) and high SAT scores (approximately 1400 and above) are recommended.