National Merit Scholarship Program

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college scholarships that began in 1955. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 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, which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

To enter the National Merit Scholarship Program and compete for recognition and 7,320 scholarships to be offered in 2028:

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2026.
• Meet other program entry requirements.

The 2026 PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for entry to the 2028 program. Program entrants must take the test in the specified year of the high school program. 

Entry Requirements

To enter the 2028 National Merit Program, you need to meet all of the following requirements.

You must:

1. be enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school by 2028, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall of 2028;
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 (see the box at the bottom of the page); and
3. take the 2026 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.

During the student readiness check, you will be asked the following three questions to determine entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program:

1. 1. Are you enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled)?

   A. Yes B. No

2. When will you complete or leave high school and enroll full-time in college?
   1.  2027
   2.  2028
   3.  2029
   4.  After 2029
   5.  Not planning to attend college
3. How many total years will you spend in grades 9–12?
   1. 1 year
   2. 2 years
   3. 3 years
   4. 4 years
   5. 5 or more years