The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) - a test which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year-and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements. For fiscal year 05/31/25 the National Merit Scholarship Program included:Four-Year Renewable Scholarships: 20,076 recipients One-Time Awards: 2,654 recipients
