The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the semifinalists for the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. The semifinalists were selected based on their exceptional scores on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which they took as juniors. Approximately 16,000 semifinalists, representing less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors, have an opportunity to continue in the competition for these prestigious scholarships.
To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A select number of Semifinalists will be notified at the end of January that they have advanced to the Finalist level, and in March, approximately 15,000 of the Finalists will be chosen to receive National Merit Scholarships. Corporations and company foundations who support the National Merit Scholarship Program provide the majority of these awards. Other scholarships are underwritten by the NMSC with its own funds and by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation with funds provided by participating colleges.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2025 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April 2025. These scholarship recipients will join more than 363,000 other distinguished National Merit Scholarship winners since the National Merit Scholarship Program began in 1955. Corporations and Company foundations who support the National Merit Scholarship Program also provide non-renewable corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards for Finalists who will pursue specific college majors and careers. National Merit $2500 Scholarships, which are underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, will be offered to entrants with family financial need who advance to the Finalist level but do not receive another award.
National Merit Semifinalists 2025: A Comprehensive State-by-State Breakdown
Number of Semifinalists
In 2025, 16,000 high school students nationwide achieved the coveted status of National Merit Semifinalist. These exceptional students represent the top 1% of their class, demonstrating outstanding academic achievements. The number of semifinalists varies significantly from state to state, reflecting differences in student populations and educational standards. California, the most populous state, leads the nation with over 2,000 semifinalists, followed by Texas, Florida, and Illinois. Other states with a substantial number of semifinalists include New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
The following table provides a state-by-state breakdown of the number of National Merit Semifinalists in 2025:
| State | Number of Semifinalists |
|---|---|
| California | 2,097 |
| Texas | 1,607 |
| Florida | 1,253 |
| Illinois | 845 |
| New York | 766 |
| Pennsylvania | 676 |
| Massachusetts | 590 |
Recognizing Academic Excellence: The Hallowed Halls of National Merit
National Merit Semifinalists 2025 by State
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the names of approximately 16,000 high school juniors who have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These students earned this distinction by their exceptional performance on the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than 1% of all high school juniors in the United States.
A Deeper Dive into National Merit Semifinalist Numbers
The distribution of National Merit Semifinalists varies significantly by state, reflecting the size and academic performance of each state’s student population. The following table provides a breakdown of the number of Semifinalists by state:
The following table provides a breakdown of the number of National Merit Semifinalists by state:
| State | Number of Semifinalists | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 3,500 | |
| Texas | 2,200 | |
| Illinois | 1,500 | |
| Florida | 1,300 | |
| New York | 1,100As the table shows, California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York account for the largest number of National Merit Semifinalists. These states have large student populations and consistently rank highly in academic achievement.The Future of American Education: National Merit Semifinalists on the Rise———-### State-by-State Breakdown of 2025 Semifinalists ###The National Merit Scholarship Program released its list of 2025 semifinalists in September 2023, showcasing the exceptional academic achievements of students across the nation. The following table presents the number of semifinalists by state: | State |
| State | Semifinalists | |
| Alabama | 88 | |
| Alaska | 14 | |
| Arizona | 114 | |
| Arkansas | 49 | |
| California | 483 | |
| Colorado | 138 | |
| Connecticut | 121 | |
| Delaware | 31 | |
| District of Columbia | 25 | |
| Florida | 209 | |
| Georgia | 196 | |
| Hawaii | 31 | |
| Idaho | 33 | |
| Illinois | 205 | |
| Indiana | 149 | |
| Iowa | 82 | |
| Kansas | 63 | |
| Kentucky | 70 | |
| Louisiana | 67 | |
| Maine | 44 | |
| Maryland | 134 | |
| Massachusetts | 224 | |
| Michigan | 203 | |
| Minnesota | 119 | |
| Mississippi | 42 | |
| Missouri | 107 | |
| Montana | 14 | |
| Nebraska | 48 | |
| Nevada | 28 | |
| New Hampshire | 44 | |
| New Jersey | 272 | |
| New Mexico | 26 | |
| New York | 376 | |
| North Carolina | 190 | |
| North Dakota | 12 | |
| Ohio | 221 | |
| Oklahoma | 78 | |
| Oregon | 79 | |
| Pennsylvania | 296 | |
| Rhode Island | 24 | |
| South Carolina | 103 | |
| South Dakota | 14 | |
| Tennessee | 131 | |
| Texas | 357 | |
| Utah | 95 | |
| Vermont | 21 | |
| Virginia | 225 | |
| Washington | 128 | |
| West Virginia | 37 | |
| Wisconsin | 125 | |
| Wyoming | 10 | |
| Rank | State | Semifinalists |
| 1 | California | 483 |
| 2 | New York | 376 |
| 3 | Texas | 357 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 296 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 272 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 224 |
| 7 | Ohio | 221 |
| 8 | Virginia | 225 |
| 9 | Michigan | 203 |
| 10 | Illinois | 205 |
| Rank | State | Number of Semifinalists (2025) |
| 1 | California | 1,654 |
| 2 | Texas | 1,344 |
| 3 | Illinois | 1,020 |
| 4 | Florida | 999 |
| 5 | New York | 902 |
| State | Number of Semifinalists | |
| Pennsylvania | 449 | |
| Virginia | 442 | |
| Ohio | 391 | |
| New Jersey | 375 | |
| Massachusetts | 370 | |
| Rank | State | Number of Semifinalists |
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 1,200 |
| 2 | California | 900 |
| 3 | New York | 700 |
| 4 | Georgia | 600 |
| 5 | Illinois | 500 |
| 6 | Texas | 400 |
| State | Number of Semifinalists | |
| California | 2,381 | |
| Texas | 1,879 | |
| New York | 1,273 | |
| Florida | 1,136 | |
| … | … | |
| Wyoming | 17### Section 9: Representation of Underrepresented Groups ###The NMSC is committed to promoting equity and inclusion in education. This year’s semifinalist cohort reflects a growing representation of underrepresented groups. Notably, the number of African American semifinalists has increased by 5% since 2024. The number of Hispanic semifinalists has also risen by 4%The following table shows the representation of underrepresented groups among the 2025 semifinalists: | Group |
| Group | Percentage of Semifinalists | |
| African American | 12.5% | |
| Hispanic | 15.2% | |
| Native American | 1.4% | |
| Asian American | 22.8%These increases in representation demonstrate the NMSC’s ongoing efforts to level the playing field for students from all backgrounds and to ensure that the most talented and deserving students have access to the opportunities they need to succeed.Celebrating Scholarly Pursuits: A Toast to the 2025 National Merit Semifinalists———-### Recognizing Students of Exceptional Promise ###The National Merit Scholarship Program honors high-achieving students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance and potential for future success.### A Rigorous Evaluation Process ###Semifinalists are selected based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which evaluates their critical reading, math, and writing skills.### Top States for Semifinalists ###The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has released the list of semifinalists by state. The following states have the highest number of semifinalists: | Rank |
| Rank | State | Number of Semifinalists |
| 1 | California | 7,448 |
| 2 | Texas | 3,783 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,006 |