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Class of 2024 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Selection Index Cutoffs for the PSAT and SAT

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September 2023: The class of 2024 statewide SI cutoffs have officially been leaked!  This year's National Merit Scholarship Selection Index cutoffs range from 207 (Commended, New Mexico, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming) to 223 (Washington D.C, New Jersey).

If you missed out becoming a on National Merit semifinalist, then don’t fret: studies have suggested that fewer than 40% of Ivy Leaguers are National Merit semifinalists, finalists, or scholarship winners.  To state the obvious, some of the 50 U.S. states are obviously far more competitive than others—and colleges will keep this in mind during the admission process.


The main qualification for National Merit is a high PSAT score (out of 1520), unless you utilize the little-known / controversial Alternate Entry process for students who are unable to take the 11th-grade PSAT.  Thus, a high SAT score (out of 1600) in one's junior or senior year will in most cases serve the same purpose. 


You can also rest assured that, unlike SAT and ACT scores, PSAT scores are not an official part of the college admissions process. In other words, including your PSAT score on your college applications is 100% optional. 

Best of luck on your PSATs, SATs, college applications, and beyond. 

-Brian

Alabama 210
Alaska 209
Arizona 216
Arkansas 210
California 221
Colorado 216
Connecticut 221
Delaware 219
Florida 216
Georgia 217
Hawaii 217
Idaho 211
Illinois 219
Indiana 216
Iowa 210
Kansas 214
Kentucky 211
Louisiana 214
Maine 213
Maryland 221
Massachusetts 222
Michigan 217
Minnesota 216
Mississippi 209
Missouri 214
Montana 209
Nebraska 210
Nevada 211
New Hampshire 215
New Jersey 223
New Mexico 207
New York 220
North Carolina 217
North Dakota 207
Ohio 216
Oklahoma 208
Oregon 216
Pennsylvania 219
Rhode Island 215
South Carolina 209
South Dakota 209
Tennessee 217
Texas 219
Utah 209
Vermont 212
Virginia 219
Washington 220
Washington, DC aka District of Colombia 223
West Virginia 207
Wisconsin 213
Wyoming 207
U.S. Territories / Commended 207
U.S. Abroad 223

Finally, to give you a sense of historical trends, here are the statewide National Merit Selection Index cutoffs for the past 3 years.

 

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