The National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) is an academic competition for high school students in the United States. Each year, about 16,000 high school juniors enter the NMSP by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Of those 16,000 students, about 16,000 are named National Merit Semifinalists. The National Merit Semifinalists are the highest-scoring participants on the PSAT/NMSQT in each state, representing less than 1% of all high school juniors. National Merit Semifinalists are eligible to apply for National Merit Scholarships, which are awarded based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and leadership qualities. National Merit Semifinalists are also eligible to apply for Special Scholarships, which are awarded by colleges and corporations to students who have demonstrated exceptional talent in specific fields of study.
The National Merit Scholarship Program was founded in 1955 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization. The NMSP is funded by a consortium of colleges and corporations. The NMSP is designed to honor and support academically talented high school students. The NMSP has awarded more than $3 billion in scholarships to more than 3 million students since its inception. The NMSP is a prestigious academic competition, and National Merit Semifinalists are among the most academically talented students in the United States.
