National Merit Semifinalist Cutoff Calculator
Calculate your PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index and see how it compares with your state's most recent National Merit Semifinalist cutoff. Free, no sign-up.
Last checked October 7, 2026
Calculate your Selection Index
Enter your two section scores to see your Selection Index.
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State Semifinalist cutoffs: Class of 2027 and Class of 2026
The Class of 2027 cutoffs were released on September 9, 2026, for students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in fall 2025. They're shown here as reference points. Cutoffs for students taking the PSAT/NMSQT in fall 2026 (the Class of 2028) aren't expected until about mid-September 2027.
| State | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 210 | 214 |
| Alaska | 208 | 215 |
| Arizona | 215 | 218 |
| Arkansas | 210 | 215 |
| California | 220 | 224 |
| Colorado | 217 | 219 |
| Connecticut | 220 | 223 |
| Delaware | 219 | 220 |
| Florida | 216 | 219 |
| Georgia | 217 | 220 |
| Hawaii | 218 | 219 |
| Idaho | 211 | 215 |
| Illinois | 218 | 222 |
| Indiana | 215 | 218 |
| Iowa | 210 | 214 |
| Kansas | 212 | 216 |
| Kentucky | 211 | 214 |
| Louisiana | 211 | 216 |
| Maine | 214 | 217 |
| Maryland | 221 | 224 |
| Massachusetts | 221 | 225 |
| Michigan | 216 | 220 |
| Minnesota | 214 | 219 |
| Mississippi | 211 | 213 |
| Missouri | 214 | 217 |
| Montana | 208 | 213 |
| Nebraska | 212 | 214 |
| Nevada | 211 | 214 |
| New Hampshire | 215 | 219 |
| New Jersey | 223 | 225 |
| New Mexico | 209 | 210 |
| New York | 220 | 223 |
| North Carolina | 217 | 220 |
| North Dakota | 208 | 210 |
| Ohio | 216 | 219 |
| Oklahoma | 210 | 212 |
| Oregon | 216 | 219 |
| Pennsylvania | 219 | 221 |
| Rhode Island | 213 | 219 |
| South Carolina | 212 | 215 |
| South Dakota | 210 | 211 |
| Tennessee | 214 | 219 |
| Texas | 219 | 222 |
| Utah | 209 | 213 |
| Vermont | 212 | 216 |
| Virginia | 221 | 224 |
| Washington | 221 | 224 |
| West Virginia | 208 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | 212 | 215 |
| Wyoming | 208 | 210 |
| District of Columbia | 223 | 225 |
| Studying Abroad | 223 | 225 |
| U.S. Territories | 208 | 210 |
How it works
- Enter your Reading and Writing and Math scores from your PSAT/NMSQT score report.
- The Selection Index doubles Reading and Writing, adds Math, and divides by 10. It runs from 48 to 228 (College Board).
- Pick your state to compare the index with that state's Class of 2027 cutoff, the Class of 2026 cutoff, and the Commended level.
Worked example. Reading and Writing 720 and Math 700: 2 × 720 = 1440, plus 700 = 2140, divided by 10 = 214. In Arizona that's 1 point below the Class of 2027 cutoff of 215, and above that year's Commended level of 208.
Things to know
- Cutoffs change every year. Last year's number is a reference point, not this year's cutoff.
- For the Class of 2027, state cutoffs ranged from 208 to 223 in the compiled table.
- Semifinalists are named in early September of senior year, and becoming a Finalist has more steps, including SAT or ACT scores that confirm your PSAT/NMSQT performance (PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide). In the 2024 program, 16,579 of 1,304,412 entrants became Semifinalists.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate my National Merit Selection Index?
Multiply your PSAT/NMSQT Reading and Writing score by 2, add your Math score, and divide by 10. For example, 720 and 700 give 214. The index ranges from 48 to 228 (College Board).
What was the lowest state cutoff for the Class of 2027?
In the compiled Class of 2027 table, the lowest state cutoff was 208 and the highest was 223 (Compass Education Group). The Commended level that year was 208.
When are National Merit cutoffs released?
Semifinalists are designated in early September of their senior year (PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide), and state cutoffs become public around then. The Class of 2027 cutoffs came out on September 9, 2026.
Do SAT scores matter for National Merit Finalist?
Yes. One of the Finalist requirements is to take the SAT or ACT and earn scores that confirm the PSAT/NMSQT performance that resulted in Semifinalist standing (PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide).
How many students become Semifinalists?
About 16,000. Of roughly 1.3 million entrants, about 50,000 high scorers are recognized: about 34,000 Commended Students and about 16,000 Semifinalists (PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide). In the 2024 program the exact count was 16,579, or 1.27% of entrants (National Merit statistics).
Related tools and guides
Sources
- Compass Education Group, National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs. https://www.compassprep.com/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/
- College Board, PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores (PDF). https://k12.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/psat-nmsqt-understanding-scores.pdf
- College Board, PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide (PDF). https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pdf
The National Merit Semifinalist cutoff calculator on TutoringForSat.com was built by Cedrick Reese. The formula and score ranges come from College Board's PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores guide, and the program details from the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide. State cutoffs come from Compass Education Group's compilation of National Merit Scholarship Corporation releases. All 53 rows for both years were compared with that list on October 7, 2026, and the full table was cross-checked against two more published copies. The table is replaced every September when the new class's cutoffs come out.