National Merit cutoffs by state (class of 2027)
National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs for the class of 2027 were announced in September 2026. Every state's cutoff fell from the year before, by a little more than 3 points on average. Below is every state's cutoff, what changed and what this year's juniors should aim for.
These are the class of 2027 cutoffs, for students who took the PSAT/NMSQT as juniors in October 2025. Cutoffs for juniors taking the test this fall will be set after their scores come in and may be higher or lower.
How the Semifinalist cutoff works
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) doesn't rank students by total PSAT score. It uses the Selection Index: two times the Reading and Writing score plus the Math score, divided by 10. The index runs from 48 to 228. Enter your section scores in our Selection Index calculator to see your index and how it compares with your state's cutoff.
NMSC gives each state a share of about 16,000 Semifinalist spots based on its number of graduating high school seniors. Within each state, the cutoff is the lowest Selection Index that fits inside that allocation. That's why cutoffs vary so much: a 216 makes the cut in Florida or Ohio, but falls well short in New Jersey. We cover the full path from PSAT to Finalist in our explainer on how National Merit works.
National Merit cutoffs by state, class of 2027
| State | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 210 | 214 | -4 |
| Alaska | 208 | 215 | -7 |
| Arizona | 215 | 218 | -3 |
| Arkansas | 210 | 215 | -5 |
| California | 220 | 224 | -4 |
| Colorado | 217 | 219 | -2 |
| Connecticut | 220 | 223 | -3 |
| Delaware | 219 | 220 | -1 |
| District of Columbia | 223 | 225 | -2 |
| Florida | 216 | 219 | -3 |
| Georgia | 217 | 220 | -3 |
| Hawaii | 218 | 219 | -1 |
| Idaho | 211 | 215 | -4 |
| Illinois | 218 | 222 | -4 |
| Indiana | 215 | 218 | -3 |
| Iowa | 210 | 214 | -4 |
| Kansas | 212 | 216 | -4 |
| Kentucky | 211 | 214 | -3 |
| Louisiana | 211 | 216 | -5 |
| Maine | 214 | 217 | -3 |
| Maryland | 221 | 224 | -3 |
| Massachusetts | 221 | 225 | -4 |
| Michigan | 216 | 220 | -4 |
| Minnesota | 214 | 219 | -5 |
| Mississippi | 211 | 213 | -2 |
| Missouri | 214 | 217 | -3 |
| Montana | 208 | 213 | -5 |
| Nebraska | 212 | 214 | -2 |
| Nevada | 211 | 214 | -3 |
| New Hampshire | 215 | 219 | -4 |
| New Jersey | 223 | 225 | -2 |
| New Mexico | 209 | 210 | -1 |
| New York | 220 | 223 | -3 |
| North Carolina | 217 | 220 | -3 |
| North Dakota | 208 | 210 | -2 |
| Ohio | 216 | 219 | -3 |
| Oklahoma | 210 | 212 | -2 |
| Oregon | 216 | 219 | -3 |
| Pennsylvania | 219 | 221 | -2 |
| Rhode Island | 213 | 219 | -6 |
| South Carolina | 212 | 215 | -3 |
| South Dakota | 210 | 211 | -1 |
| Tennessee | 214 | 219 | -5 |
| Texas | 219 | 222 | -3 |
| Utah | 209 | 213 | -4 |
| Vermont | 212 | 216 | -4 |
| Virginia | 221 | 224 | -3 |
| Washington | 221 | 224 | -3 |
| West Virginia | 208 | 210 | -2 |
| Wisconsin | 212 | 215 | -3 |
| Wyoming | 208 | 210 | -2 |
| Studying abroad | 223 | 225 | -2 |
| U.S. territories | 208 | 210 | -2 |
The national Commended cutoff for the class of 2027 is 208, down from 210 for the class of 2026. Commended Students score in roughly the top 3 to 4% nationally but below their state's Semifinalist cutoff.
What changed for the class of 2027
The drop was broad. Alaska fell the most, 7 points, from 215 to 208. New Jersey and the District of Columbia remain the highest at 223, down from 225. Six jurisdictions now sit at the floor of 208, the same as the Commended level.
When every large state moves the same direction by a similar amount, the likely cause is the test's scale rather than a change in students. Compass Education Group's analysis points to Reading and Writing scoring on the digital PSAT: high Reading and Writing scores were less common this cycle, and because the Selection Index counts Reading and Writing twice, the cutoffs fell with them.
What this means if you're taking the PSAT this fall
Juniors taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2026 are in the class of 2028. Their cutoffs won't be announced until September 2027. Until then, the most useful guide is the last two years. The class of 2026 cutoffs are the higher of the two, so treat them as a safe target and the class of 2027 cutoffs as the floor.
Because Reading and Writing counts twice, 10 more points there adds 2 to the Selection Index, while 10 more points in Math adds 1. For a student a few points short, Reading and Writing is usually the faster path. Estimate your section scores with our PSAT/NMSQT score calculator, and see how to read a PSAT score report once results arrive.
Semifinalist status can also lead to large awards at some schools. We list colleges with automatic merit scholarships for National Merit students.
If your child is aiming for a specific cutoff, Sharp helps parents track exactly which skills to work on before the PSAT.
SAT Tutor & Co-founder
Kim scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth, and founded Sharp after years of tutoring students into top colleges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Merit cutoff for California?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in California is a Selection Index of 220, down from 224 for the class of 2026. California has more Semifinalists than any other state, and its cutoff is among the highest. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Texas?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Texas is a Selection Index of 219, down from 222 for the class of 2026. Texas has the second-largest number of Semifinalists, after California. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for New York?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in New York is a Selection Index of 220, down from 223 for the class of 2026. New York is consistently among the more competitive states. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Florida?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Florida is a Selection Index of 216, down from 219 for the class of 2026. Florida sits in the middle of the pack nationally. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Illinois?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Illinois is a Selection Index of 218, down from 222 for the class of 2026. Illinois is one of the more competitive Midwestern states. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for New Jersey?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in New Jersey is a Selection Index of 223, down from 225 for the class of 2026. New Jersey is tied with the District of Columbia for the highest state cutoff in the country. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Pennsylvania?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Pennsylvania is a Selection Index of 219, down from 221 for the class of 2026. Pennsylvania is above the national middle but below the most competitive states. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Massachusetts?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Massachusetts is a Selection Index of 221, down from 225 for the class of 2026. Massachusetts is consistently one of the most competitive states. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Virginia?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Virginia is a Selection Index of 221, down from 224 for the class of 2026. Virginia is among the most competitive states, alongside Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the National Merit cutoff for Georgia?
For the class of 2027, the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff in Georgia is a Selection Index of 217, down from 220 for the class of 2026. Georgia sits a little above the national middle. Cutoffs for the class of 2028 will be announced in September 2027.
What is the lowest National Merit cutoff?
For the class of 2027, the lowest cutoff is 208, shared by Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming and U.S. territories. That matches the national Commended level, so no state's cutoff can go lower.
Will the class of 2028 cutoffs be the same?
Probably not exactly. Cutoffs move a few points most years, and the class of 2027 cutoffs fell in every state. Students taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2026 won't know their state's cutoff until September 2027, so aiming for the higher of the last two years is the safest target.
