2027 National Merit Scholarship Program

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships that began in 1955. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. United States high school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineNot Specified
• Study Level
• SponsorNational Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
• Eligible CountryUnited States

Benefits

• National Merit $2500 Scholarships
• Corporate-sponsored scholarships
• College-sponsored Merit Scholarships

Requirements

To be eligible for the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, a student attending high school outside the United States must be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

To enter the 2027 National Merit Program, a student needs to meet all of the following requirements. A student must:

1. be enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school by 2027, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall of 2027;
2. attend high school in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. commonwealths and territories; or meet the citizenship requirements for students attending high school outside the United States; and
3. take the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern

Application Deadline

How To Apply

For more information, kindly visit NSMC scholarship webpage.