National Merit Scores
National Merit Scores: NMS Estimated Qualifying Scores by State, Class of 2026
Your child’s junior-year PSAT is not only an excellent opportunity to practice for the SAT—it also allows your child the chance to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. Students will take the PSAT in October of their junior year. The following April, approximately 50,000 juniors with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (or total PSAT scores)—roughly the top 3% of junior testers—are notified that they qualify for NMSP recognition. The Selection Index qualifying scores vary from year to year and state to state. Each state’s qualifying score varies based on that state’s percentage of the national total of high school graduating seniors. Students are selected for NMSP recognition from each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
If your child took the PSAT/NMSQT in October of 2024 and received a very high score, he or she may be entered in the 2026 competition for National Merit Scholarships. In September, about 34,000 students will receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their high PSAT scores, though they will not continue in the competition.
About 16,000 of the highest scoring students will qualify as semifinalists. These students represent approximately the top 1% of testers in each state. In February, those semifinalists who meet academic and other requirements will advance to Finalist standing. In April, scholarship winners will be notified.
To see how your child’s score ranks in your state, you can compare his or her scores to the estimated qualifying score range.
National Merit Scores:
Estimated Qualifying Score Range by State for the Class of 2026
State
Estimated Qualifying Score Range
Alabama
210-216
Alaska
210-216
Arizona
215-220
Arkansas
210-215
California
220-223
Colorado
216-221
Connecticut
220-222
Delaware
218-221
District of Columbia
222-224
Florida
216-220
Georgia
217-221
Hawaii
215-220
Idaho
212-217
Illinois
218-222
Indiana
214-219
Iowa
211-217
Kansas
213-219
Kentucky
211-217
Louisiana
212-217
Maine
212-217
Maryland
221-224
Massachusetts
221-224
Michigan
216-220
Minnesota
216-220
Mississippi
210-215
State
Estimated Qualifying Score Range
Missouri
214-218
Montana
208-213
Nebraska
210-216
Nevada
211-218
New Hampshire
214-219
New Jersey
222-224
New Mexico
209-215
New York
219-221
North Carolina
216-220
North Dakota
209-213
Ohio
215-219
Oklahoma
209-215
Oregon
215-220
Pennsylvania
217-221
Rhode Island
213-220
South Carolina
210-217
South Dakota
209-214
Tennessee
215-219
Texas
218-221
Utah
210-216
Vermont
211-217
Virginia
220-223
Washington
220-223
West Virginia
209-211
Wisconsin
213-217
Wyoming
209-211
Related Topics
For more information on National Merit Scholarship Qualifications, visit our National Merit Scholarship Qualifications page
Want to learn more about the PSAT? Visit our PSAT Test page for information about the test format, question types and scoring.
Curious as to how PSAT scoring works? Visit our PSAT Scores page to learn more.
Frequently asked questions
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