The 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) has announced the names of approximately 16,000 high school juniors who have been named semifinalists in the 68th annual competition for National Merit Scholarships. These academically talented students, who represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, were selected from a pool of more than 1.5 million entrants taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). To become a finalist, the semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application, provide information about their academic record, activities, and leadership abilities, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test. From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and up to 7,600 will receive National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.
The NMSP is a highly respected and prestigious scholarship program that recognizes and rewards exceptional academic achievement. The scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership abilities, and a commitment to community service. The program has helped to support the education of some of the nation’s most talented students, and many past recipients have gone on to become leaders in their fields. The 2025 NMSP semifinalists represent the best and brightest of the nation’s high school juniors, and they are poised to make significant contributions to their communities and the world.
