National Merit Scholarship Program
Offered by National Merit Scholarship Corporation
About this scholarship
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an 18-month academic competition run by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Entry to the 2027 competition occurred through the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT; qualifying students are notified through their high schools as Semifinalists in September 2026 and receive credentials for the official Online Scholarship Application. This is not a general October 31 application for any high-school junior, and the directory’s flat $10,000 description does not represent every award. NMSC expects approximately 6,930 Merit Scholarships and 660 Special Scholarships in 2027. Every Finalist is considered for one of 2,500 one-time National Merit $2500 Scholarships. Corporate-sponsored awards may provide $2,500 to $10,000 once or $1,000 to $10,000 annually, while college-sponsored awards generally provide $500 to $2,000 per year and are renewable at the sponsoring institution. To advance, a Semifinalist and school official complete the OSA, document a consistently strong academic record, submit an essay and recommendation, meet citizenship and college-enrollment rules, and fulfill the specific deadlines supplied by NMSC. Selection also considers course rigor, grades, leadership, school and community contributions, and the school’s endorsement. Awards support full-time undergraduate study toward a traditional bachelor’s degree at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Eligibility
- Have entered the 2027 competition through the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT under NMSC’s specified grade-year rules
- Be progressing normally toward high-school completion by 2027 and plan to enter college no later than fall 2027
- Attend high school in the United States, District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or meet the overseas-student citizenship rules
- Be named a 2027 Semifinalist or receive separate Special Scholarship application materials from NMSC
- Use the temporary credentials supplied through the high school to complete the Online Scholarship Application
- Submit the required essay, academic information, and other materials by the NMSC deadlines supplied to the applicant
- Receive the high-school official’s recommendation and have the school submit its required portions
- Meet NMSC citizenship or lawful-permanent-resident requirements where applicable
- For scholarship payment, enroll full time in a traditional bachelor’s program at an accredited U.S. college or university