National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a nonprofit organization founded in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. Through this program, scholastically talented high school students are identified through a national competition. About half of those so identified, who meet additional academic and other requirements, win Merit Scholarships for college undergraduate study.
Initially, about one million high school students enter the nationwide competition for the scholarships each year by taking the Preliminary SATNational Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, usually in their junior year. At the beginning of their senior year, about 15,000 students—representing less than 1 per cent of those who will graduate from high schools in each state—are named semifinalists by the NMSC. Of this number, most qualify as finalists, considered for an award of a $2,500 scholarship. In addition, special scholarships are available for students who are not finalists.
Scholarships are underwritten by grants largely from corporations, foundations, and colleges and universities. Since 1964 NMSC has also administered the National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students. Approximately 800 awards are given each year.
The corporation's headquarters are in Evanston, Illinois.