Class of 2025: National Merit Scholarship Cutoff Results Are In!
What Is the National Merit Scholar Competition/Test (NMSQT) and How Does It Relate to the PSAT?
Junior year PSAT test takers are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholar competition, so the PSAT for juniors is officially known as the National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test or “NMSQT/PSAT.” Each scaled score is assigned to a national selection index score out of a maximum 228 points.
Trends in the National Merit Cutoff Scores for the Class of 2025
After a covid/post-covid dip, this year Semifinalist cutoffs bounced upward in the majority of states– 37– and stayed flat in some of the highest scoring states, like New Jersey (223 this year and last). Massachusetts joined New Jersey, Washington D.C., and “studying abroad” students with the highest Semifinalist cutoff scores for 2025 (223). Students scoring at or above a 208 index (one point higher than last year’s standard) will be Commended scholars. This represents roughly the top 2-3% of PSAT/NMSQT takers.
How Do I Become a National Merit Scholar, a Finalist, or a Semifinalist?
To qualify as a Semifinalist, a student must score at or above the selection index for the state, which is roughly the top 1% of test takers in the state. It is a state-relevant index: students in certain states score on average higher than students in other states. Thus, the top 1% of scorers in New Jersey will have a higher index score than the top 1% of scorers in, for example, New Mexico. For the Class of 2025, New Jersey and D.C. once again had the highest score cutoff in the country– 223– and were joined by Massachusetts and international test takers for the top cutoff score. By means of comparison, Montana, West Virginia, and Wyoming all ended up with a 209 cutoff.
What Should I Do Next if I Have Been Recognized as a Semifinalist?
If a test taker qualifies as a Semifinalist, there is then a finalist round that requires submission of the National Merit Scholarship application, including supporting documents and an essay, by October 9, 2024. Finalists are notified in February of their senior year. About 95% of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists. Read more about the selection process for becoming a National Merit Scholar Finalist.
Do I Win Scholarships for Being a National Merit Scholar?
Scholarships of $2,500 are awarded to NMS winners (approximately 50% of finalists). But the big money doesn’t come from the National Merit Scholar Foundation; rather, many colleges provide merit aid to winners that can be extremely generous, including full tuition and even some full ride scholarships. Note that these institutional awards are not usually automatic: at many schools, students must compete for a limited number of awards. Finally, colleges update their award policies from year to year, so award recipients should check directly with the institutions to understand the current policy.
Colleges that offer merit awards to National Merit Finalists
I Scored Below the Semifinalist Cutoff. Now What? Will I Qualify for Commended Scholar?
Commended scholars are assessed on a national, not state, basis. The National Merit Scholarship Program provides this designation to the top 2-3% of PSAT takers nationally. The Commended Scholar cutoff for the class of 2025 is 208 (up one point from the 207 cutoff for the last two years). This is also a huge honor, and Commended scholars should be proud!
What if I Missed the PSAT-- Is There Any Other Way to Qualify for National Merit?
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation always offers the option to apply through an alternate method if a student has missed the PSAT because of illness or other extenuating circumstances. In that case, the student must write to National Merit no later than April 1 after the missed PSAT, and National Merit will then determine whether the student qualifies for alternate entry.
See which colleges offer discounts to National Merit Finalists
