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Are you an undergraduate student and you think you are intellectually buoyant enough to meet the requirements and compete for the national merit scholarship program? Then you need to know the scholarship requirements and other eligibility criteria.
Globally, organizations are now aiding students who academically are doing great but may struggle to continue their education. More scholarship opportunities are available today to financially support students through college.
In this article, you will get full information about the national merit scholarship requirements and eligibility criteria, so that you can equip yourself with all the necessary things needed to win this scholarship. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students who have shown excellence in their academic journey.
What is the National Merit Scholarship?
The National Merit Scholarship Program was initiated in 1955 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a platform that is a privately funded and not-for-profit organization located in Evanston Illinois.
This is an annual scholarship initiated to recognize excellent students. The NMSC Corporation sponsors this scholarship. The platform is also the sponsor of the National Achievement Scholarship Program established in 1964, which was offered to only African-American students.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is open to any student in any study program who are citizen of the United States or a legal resident.
Host Platform
The National Merit Scholarship program is hosted in the United States and taken in the same country.
The organizations responsible for sponsoring the scholarship yearly include academic and non-academic organizations that are committed to making sure that the National Merit Scholarship continues to exist.
The link below contains the full list of the current sponsors of the scholarship.
Eligibility Study Level/Field
The scholarship is hosted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the United States of America. The opportunity is open to any student who is an undergraduate student and interested in the scholarship.
The scholarship does not specify being offered to any particular field of study.
It is open to every field of study so long as the applicant meets the requirements of the scholarship which includes being a citizen of the United States of America or a legal resident
Eligible Group
The eligible group of people for the scholarship are students who are legal residents or citizens of the United States by birth.
If you are not in this category, then there’s no need to apply for the scholarship as no other nationality would be considered.
If you are studying outside the U.S. you are eligible to apply so long as you are a citizen of the irrespective of your study destination.
National Merit Scholarship Requirements
The National Merit Scholarship as with other scholarships has its unique requirements.
If you must apply, then you should take note of the following National Merit Scholarship Program requirements:
- Applicant must take PSAT / NMSQT in the appropriate year of the high school studies and no later than the 3rd year of grades 9-12, regardless of classification or academic grade.
- Applicants must be admitted as high school students, progressing towards graduation, and plan to accept college admission no later than the fall of high school graduation;
- Applicant must be attending high school in the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Territory of the Commonwealth of the United States.
- Applicants must meet the citizenship requirements even for attending high schools outside of the United States.
National Merit Scholarship Requirements for High School Outside the United States
To be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program, students attending high school outside of the United States must be citizens of the U.S. or legal residents of the country. They must have applied for permanent residence and the application was not denied.
How Much Are National Merit Scholarships Worth?
If you are selected from among the 76,000 winners, you will receive one of the following scholarships worth at least $2,500:
- National Merit Scholarships
- Company-sponsored Merit Scholarships
- College Sponsored Merit Scholarships
National Merit Scholarships awards are scholarships available to all the winners. They are worth $2,500 and are only valid for one year.
Company-sponsored merit scholarships are for winners who:
- They are children of employees or members of a participating company.
- Live in the community of the participating company
Unlike the National Merit Scholarship, some company-funded Merit Scholarships are worth more than $2,500 and are renewable.
The exact amount of these scholarships depends on the sponsor of that particular merit scholarship award.
The college-funded Merit Scholarships are renewable four-year scholarships awarded to the university at the winner’s choice, provided the university participates in the program.
The sponsoring university selects the $2,500 scholarship winners and may award additional scholarships.
How to Apply and Enter the National Merit Scholarship
Students who meet and participate in the published requirements for entry into the program will enroll in the National Merit® Scholarship Program by taking the SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). This test should be taken in the specified period at the high school level. It is mostly taken during the junior years.
Every year the PSAT / NMSQT is the established qualification test for participation in a competition of a certain year. For example, the PSAT/NMSQT 2024 is the qualification test for participation in the scholarship competition, which will be awarded in 2024.
Registration for the test is done by the high school and not by individual students. Interested students should contact their advisor at the beginning of the school year to make arrangements to bring the PSAT/NMSQT to school in the fall.
National Merit Scholarship Timeline
As you may have noticed, there are several steps involved in becoming a recipient of the award. From participating in the PSAT/NMSQT to being selected as a winner, here is the schedule:
- In October the applicant should take the PSAT/NMSQT (usually in your junior year).
- In May of the next year, NMSC announced 50,000 recommended students
- In September the NMSC announces 16,000 semi-finalists who will then complete the
- National Merit Semi-Finalist Application
- Then in February of the next year, NMSC announces the 15,000 finalists.
- during the month of March-May NSMC announced 7,600 National Merit Scholarship winners
Scholarship Link
If you have read all that is written in this article, and you think you can compete and win the National Merit Scholarship program then the link below is an official application link you need to follow to officially apply for the scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions on National Merit Scholarship
What is the National Merit Scholarship Program?
The National Merit Scholarship Program was initiated in 1955 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a platform that is a privately funded and not-for-profit organization located in Evanston Illinois.
This is an annual scholarship initiated to recognize excellent students. The NMSC Corporation sponsors this scholarship. The platform is also the sponsor of the National Achievement Scholarship Program established in 1964, which was offered to only African-American students.
How can I qualify for the National Merit Scholarship?
To be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship, applicants must take the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year. Students must also meet important eligibility criteria regarding citizenship and enrolment status. Applicants are expected to achieve a qualifying score based on the selection index.
When do I take the PSAT/NMSQT?
The PSAT/NMSQT is administered in the fall of every year and most students take it in their junior year of high school. Sophomores can also take the PSAT/NMSQT.
What is the PSAT/NMSQT selection index?
The selection index is simply the sum of a student’s score on the PSAT/NMSQT Math, Reading, and Writing & Language sections. Each section has its specific cut-off score for qualification.
When are the National Merit Scholarship results announced?
For commended students, the announcement is in September same as for semi-finalists. Finalists are announced in February then the scholarship offer commences from March to June.
