Complete list of universities that offer scholarships for National Merit finalists

This report summarizes 2024–2026 scholarship offerings at U.S. colleges and universities that explicitly tie institutional aid to National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist status. It focuses on award value, benefits, and eligibility conditions, as well as notable restrictions based on official scholarship and admissions pages plus recent state program documentation.

Awards are grouped into four tiers:

• Tier 1: Full ride or near–full-cost packages (typically covering at least tuition and housing, often more).
• Tier 2: Full tuition (or close equivalent) but not full cost of attendance.
• Tier 3: Significant partial awards (roughly 10,000 USD per year or more, but below full tuition / housing).
• Tier 4: Minimal or symbolic awards (small fixed stipends or recognition-level awards).

Because institutional offerings change frequently and some programs have limited seats, applicants should always confirm details directly with each university or a state agency before relying on these packages.

Tier 1 – Full Ride or Near-Full Ride Offers

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Package.
• Award value:
  • Value of tuition for up to five years or 10 semesters, usable for undergraduate plus graduate or law study.
  • Four years of on‑campus housing at the regular room rate.
  • 4,000 USD per year supplemental undergraduate scholarship for four years (16,000 USD total).
  • 2,000 USD one‑time allowance for research or international study after one year at UA.
• Additional benefits: Can apply unused tuition benefit to graduate or professional study at UA; housing is pegged to the largest room type in the assigned residence hall.
• Eligibility: Must be a National Merit Finalist, be admitted to UA, and list UA as first choice with National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) by its deadline.
• Restrictions/notes: Housing award covers the regular room rate only; upgrades or more expensive options are at the student’s expense.

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) – Huntsville, Alabama

• Scholarship name: National Merit UAH Platinum Scholarship.
• Award value:
  • Full tuition for up to 18 credit hours per semester for eight semesters of undergraduate coursework.
  • One year of on‑campus housing at the regular room rate.
  • Course fees up to 500 USD per academic year.
  • One‑time 3,000 USD summer study‑abroad allowance, usable in a summer term.
• Additional benefits: Aligns with UAH’s honors and research‑intensive environment; study‑abroad stipend is specifically UAH‑led.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist, admitted to UAH before May 31 and listing UAH as first choice with NMSC by May 31.
• Restrictions/notes: Scholarship is limited to eight undergraduate semesters; housing benefit applies only for one year and only in approved campus housing.

Texas Tech University – Lubbock, Texas

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Scholarship / National Merit Scholars Program.
• Award value:
  • “100% of the approved cost of attendance” guaranteed for qualifying National Merit Finalists (four years of undergraduate study).
  • Example annual breakdown: about 11,852 USD tuition and fees (30 credit hours), 6,694 USD housing, 3,652 USD meals, 1,200 USD books and supplies, 2,384 USD transportation, and 2,000 USD miscellaneous, totaling ~27,782 USD per year.
• Additional benefits: Funding is entirely grants and scholarships (no loans) drawn from federal, state, and institutional gift aid; non‑resident Finalists also qualify for the National Merit Scholars Program for out‑of‑state tuition treatment.
• Eligibility: Must achieve Finalist standing, designate Texas Tech as first‑choice institution with NMSC (recommended by May 31), and enroll full time.
• Restrictions/notes: Renewable for four years with minimum 3.5 GPA and 30 credit hours per year; award covers approved cost of attendance but will be coordinated with other aid so that overall aid does not exceed cost of attendance.

University of South Florida (USF) – Tampa, Florida

• Scholarship name: Benacquisto Scholarship (Florida residents) plus USF National Merit Tradition of Excellence Award; USF Golden Achievement Scholarship (non‑residents).
• Award value (Florida residents):
  • Scholarship covering full in‑state cost of attendance during fall and spring terms via Florida’s Benacquisto Scholarship Program (COA minus Bright Futures and NM award).
  • Additional USF National Merit Tradition of Excellence Award of 20,000 USD total (5,000 USD per year for four years).
  • 2,000 USD USF Passport Scholarship for study abroad.
• Award value (non‑residents):
  • Scholarship covering full cost of attendance during fall and spring for four years through USF’s Golden Achievement Program for National Merit Finalists who list USF as first choice.
  • 2,000 USD USF Passport study‑abroad scholarship.
• Additional benefits: Access to individualized advising, exclusive workshops, funding for conferences and research, and other National Merit Scholar support services.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist who selects USF as first‑choice institution with NMSC; Benacquisto is only for Florida residents and requires a Scholar‑level NM award.
• Restrictions/notes: Benacquisto is state‑funded and non-Florida residents no longer enter the program starting 2022–23; awards are adjusted so the total does not exceed institutional COA.

University of Central Florida (UCF) – Orlando, Florida

• Scholarship name: UCF National Merit Finalist Scholarship plus state Benacquisto for Florida residents.
• Award value (Florida residents):
  • Benacquisto Scholarship plus Florida Bright Futures and NM award stacked to equal UCF’s published cost of attendance for in‑state students (effectively a full ride for fall and spring).
• Award value (non‑residents):
  • UCF Merit Scholarship valued at 80,000 USD total (approximately 20,000 USD per year) plus a waiver of the non‑resident fee for tuition; marketing materials often frame the package as covering or nearly covering typical COA.
• Additional benefits: Priority admission processing, dedicated honors opportunities through the Burnett Honors College, and structured National Merit programming; non‑residents are limited to roughly 30 National Merit Finalist scholarships per cohort.
• Eligibility: Must achieve Finalist status, be admitted to UCF, and designate UCF as first‑choice institution with NMSC by its deadline; Florida residents must meet Benacquisto eligibility rules.
• Restrictions/notes: Non‑resident Finalist awards are limited in number and competitive; Florida residents benefit from an automatic Benacquisto package once they become National Merit Scholars and enroll at a participating Florida institution.

Florida State University (FSU) – Tallahassee, Florida

• Scholarship name: Benacquisto Scholarship (Florida resident National Merit Finalists) and FSU college‑sponsored National Merit award.
• Award value:
  • Benacquisto provides an award equal to FSU’s institutional in‑state cost of attendance minus Bright Futures and NM award, always equaling the full in‑state COA; FSU estimates about 16,000–25,000 USD per year depending on enrollment pattern.
  • National Merit Finalists also receive a small college‑sponsored scholarship from FSU that qualifies them for Benacquisto.
• Additional benefits: Guaranteed admission into FSU’s University Honors Program for Benacquisto recipients.
• Eligibility: Florida resident National Merit Finalist graduating with a standard Florida high school diploma, receiving a qualifying NM scholarship, listing FSU as first choice with NMSC by May 1, and enrolling full‑time at FSU in the fall after graduation.
• Restrictions/notes: Benacquisto is state‑funded and subject to legislative appropriation; the program is now limited to Florida residents.

University of Florida (UF) – Gainesville, Florida

• Scholarship name: UF National Merit Scholarship plus Florida Benacquisto Scholarship.
• Award value:
  • UF provides a $500 annual college‑sponsored National Merit Scholarship to Finalists who indicate UF as first choice with NMSC by May 31.
  • That college‑sponsored scholarship qualifies the student for the Benacquisto Scholarship, which covers the remaining institutional cost of attendance (minus Bright Futures and the NM award) for in‑state residents, effectively a full ride.
• Additional benefits: Benacquisto awards at UF function as a broad COA stipend; UF notes that funding is subject to legislative appropriations.
• Eligibility: Florida resident National Merit Finalist with a qualifying NM scholarship, listing UF as first choice with NMSC and meeting Benacquisto residency and enrollment conditions.
• Restrictions/notes: Non‑Florida residents cannot newly enter the Benacquisto program from 2022–23 onward; UF’s own NM stipend is comparatively small but acts as the qualifying college‑sponsored award.

New College of Florida – Sarasota, Florida

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist award plus Benacquisto (for eligible Florida residents).
• Award value (institutional table):
  • Scholarship table for first‑year students lists National Merit Finalists as receiving full coverage of tuition and fees plus on‑campus room up to 9,000 USD, plus 6,000 USD per year for four years (24,000 USD total).
• Benacquisto overlay:
  • As a participating Florida public institution, New College National Merit Finalists who are Florida residents can also receive Benacquisto funding that covers full in‑state cost of attendance (minus Bright Futures and NM award), effectively creating a full‑ride structure similar to UF/FSU/USF/UCF.
• Additional benefits: Small public honors college environment with intensive undergraduate research and close faculty contact; NM awards interact with other institutional merit scholarships in the published table.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist status plus standard admission and GPA thresholds; Florida residency plus qualifying NM scholarship for Benacquisto.
• Restrictions/notes: Scholarship table shows specific dollar caps for room coverage; Benacquisto eligibility is limited to Florida residents and subject to state funding.

University of New Mexico (UNM) – Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Scholarship.
• Award value:
  • Approximately 15,500 USD per year, described as covering base tuition, mandatory fees, and housing; renewable for up to four years.
• Additional benefits: Can be combined with state lottery and Opportunity Scholarships according to UNM’s general scholarship notes, though the National Merit package itself explicitly covers tuition, fees, and housing.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist admitted by December 1; must enroll as a first‑time, full‑time degree‑seeking freshman and complete at least 15 new credit hours with at least 3.3 GPA each semester to renew.
• Restrictions/notes: Described as a “top institutional scholarship” with limited new awards; stacking with other major institutional merit awards may be restricted.

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – University, Mississippi

• Scholarship name: Academic Excellence National Merit Finalist/Semifinalist Scholarship (major package) plus smaller National Merit Finalist Scholarship.
• Award value (Academic Excellence NM Finalist/Semifinalist Scholarship):
  • Includes a full tuition scholarship plus the standard cost of a double‑occupancy room in a campus residence hall, and covers the full non‑resident fee if applicable, renewable up to four years subject to conditions.
• Award value (separate NM Finalist Scholarship):
  • 4,000 USD total (1,000 USD per year) for Finalists who select Ole Miss as first choice and are not receiving a corporate National Merit award.
• Additional benefits: Academic Excellence award cannot be stacked with Academic Merit awards; the package effectively functions as a near‑full ride for non‑residents when combined with the non‑resident fee waiver and housing.
• Eligibility: Entering freshmen with National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist status (for the Academic Excellence package) or Finalist status with Ole Miss as first‑choice school (for the 4,000 USD award); admission and GPA requirements apply.
• Restrictions/notes: Academic Excellence NM award replaces other merit scholarships; recipients must meet renewal GPA and enrollment conditions (terms and conditions section specifies four‑year renewability subject to maintaining criteria).

Mississippi State University (MSU) – Starkville, Mississippi

• Scholarship name: National Merit Semi‑Finalist Scholarship Package and National Merit Finalist add‑on housing benefits.
• Award value (Semi‑Finalist / base package):
  • Approximately 48,000 USD over four years for resident students (about 12,000 USD per year).
  • For non‑residents, the package value is approximately 117,000 USD over four years, which includes covering 100% of the out‑of‑state portion of tuition.
• Award value (Finalist housing component):
  • Finalists who list MSU as first choice receive a housing scholarship covering the cost of on‑campus double‑occupancy housing for four years, including the option for College View apartments in later years.
• Additional benefits: Eligible students in the Shackouls Honors College may receive an additional 2,000 USD scholarship for research, internships, or study abroad.
• Eligibility: National Merit Semi‑Finalist or Finalist status, first‑time freshman standing, and listing MSU as first choice for the housing component.
• Restrictions/notes: These awards are given in lieu of freshman academic scholarships and are renewable for up to eight semesters based on GPA and enrollment requirements.

University of Southern Mississippi (USM) – Hattiesburg, Mississippi

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Scholarship (Freshman National Merit packages).
• Award value:
  • USM’s National Merit scholarship page describes a package for Finalists including a full tuition scholarship for four years plus campus housing, meal plan, and additional support, though the detailed dollar breakdown is presented in the internal Golden Opportunities (GO) system rather than on the public page.
• Additional benefits: Scholarship administration is centralized through the GO system, allowing students to combine National Merit with other designation‑based awards where permitted; USM emphasizes completion of the GO application steps to access all NM‑related opportunities.
• Eligibility: National Merit Semi‑Finalist or Finalist who is an incoming first‑year full‑time freshman; Finalists must list USM as first‑choice institution with NMSC and accept the scholarship through the GO system.
• Restrictions/notes: Page notes that awards are designated for specific entering classes (e.g., 2026 high school graduates) and subject to availability; stacking rules and precise COA coverage are defined per cohort within GO.

University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) – Richardson, Texas

• Scholarship name: National Merit Scholars Program – Scholarship Package & Benefits.
• Award value:
  • Complete coverage of UT Dallas tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters (four academic years) for National Merit Scholars.
  • Housing: University Commons (first‑year dorms) or a 4×2 University Village on‑campus apartment; upgrades possible at student’s expense.
  • Additional cash stipend amounts are referenced in UT Dallas materials (varies by year), often used for books or personal expenses.
• Additional benefits: Scholarship may be used toward graduate study at UTD if any tuition benefit remains after the undergraduate degree; National Merit Scholars also receive specialized honors programming and advising through the Honors College.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist who designates UT Dallas as first‑choice institution with NMSC and enrolls full time at UTD; must maintain stated GPA and credit‑hour requirements for renewal.
• Restrictions/notes: Tuition and housing coverage extend for up to eight long semesters; summer usage and graduate‑school application of remaining funding are subject to UT Dallas rules.

University of Tulsa (UTulsa) – Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Scholarship name: National Merit Semifinalist Package (UTulsa’s highest academic scholarship) with integrated National Merit Finalist stipend.
• Award value:
  • Full tuition for four years (excluding summers), with the possibility to petition for a fifth year if needed to complete the undergraduate degree.
  • Tier I housing included in the package.
  • UTulsa estimates its investment at more than 240,000 USD per student over four years.
  • Incorporates at least a 750 USD university‑sponsored National Merit Finalist Scholarship applied toward the room portion if the student receives a university‑sponsored NM award.
• Additional benefits: The package is positioned as UTulsa’s highest academic scholarship and includes strong advising support and campus engagement expectations.
• Eligibility: Admitted National Merit Semifinalists who submit all required materials by the deadline (typically February for the visit and interview phase), attend an on‑campus National Merit interview, and later advance to Finalist status with UTulsa as first choice.
• Restrictions/notes: Package cannot be combined with other UTulsa funding; renewal requires full‑time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours) and satisfactory academic progress.

University of Houston (UH) – Houston, Texas

• Scholarship name: University of Houston National Merit Scholarship (Honors College program).
• Award value:
  • Scholarship support automatically awarded to cover the full cost of tuition and required fees for four years (five years for architecture majors) for National Merit Finalists selecting UH as first choice.
  • One‑time 1,000 USD undergraduate research stipend.
  • One‑time 2,000 USD study‑abroad stipend.
• Additional benefits: National Merit students are served through the Honors College, with access to enriched coursework, advising, and research opportunities.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist who lists University of Houston as first choice institution in accordance with NMSC deadlines; must enroll full time and remain in good standing.
• Restrictions/notes: UH’s contribution is coordinated with any NM or corporate‑sponsored awards; candidates completing the FAFSA may qualify for additional aid beyond the NM package.

Tier 2 – Full Tuition or Equivalent Awards

Iowa State University – Ames, Iowa

• Scholarship name: Iowa Resident National Merit Full Tuition Scholarship.
• Award value:
  • Full in‑state tuition for four years (eight semesters) of undergraduate coursework for Iowa resident National Merit Scholars.
• Additional benefits: Renewable based on maintaining at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and continuous full‑time enrollment as an Iowa resident.
• Eligibility: Must be an Iowa resident, named a National Merit Finalist and Scholar, and list Iowa State as first‑choice college with NMSC; FAFSA submission is required.
• Restrictions/notes: Award covers tuition but not fees, housing, or meals; students may stack with other aid up to cost of attendance.

University of Arizona (UA) – Tucson, Arizona

• Scholarship name: National Scholar Tuition Award / National Merit Finalist award (National Scholar).
• Award value:
  • UA’s scholarship terms describe National Scholar awards, including a package noted as “full tuition + 12,500 USD per year” for certain National Merit‑linked awards for 2026–2027; full tuition refers to base tuition only.
• Additional benefits: National Scholars awards supersede and replace other Arizona merit tuition scholarships a student may have been offered; they may be combined with Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) but are capped so total tuition awards do not exceed base tuition.
• Eligibility: Domestic students who are National Merit Finalists and designate UA as first‑choice institution by NMSC’s deadline; must enroll as first‑time, full‑time, degree‑seeking freshmen.
• Restrictions/notes: Award is limited to four years and only covers base tuition plus specified stipend; it does not pay college or mandatory fees or other charges.

Arizona State University (ASU) – Tempe, Arizona

• Scholarship name: New American University National Scholar award – Arizona National Merit Finalist track.
• Award value:
  • National Merit Finalists who select ASU as first‑choice institution receive the New American University National Scholar award of 15,000 USD per year, renewable for up to four years (60,000 USD total).
• Additional benefits: Award replaces other New American University merit scholarships; National Scholars are encouraged to join Barrett, The Honors College, for additional honors opportunities.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist who applies to ASU, activates ASURITE ID, and lists ASU as first‑choice institution with NMSC by May 1.
• Restrictions/notes: Award size is fixed rather than explicitly pegged to tuition; for in‑state students, 15,000 USD is often comparable to or larger than base tuition but does not guarantee full COA coverage.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) – Stillwater, Oklahoma

• Scholarship name: National Merit Scholarship (In‑State and Out‑of‑State National Merit Scholars).
• Award value:
  • Described as a five‑year full tuition waiver plus a combination of state, university, and National Merit funding; awards can total up to about 149,700 USD over five years according to OSU scholarship materials.
• Additional benefits: OSU National Merit awards are structured so that overall NM scholarship funding cannot exceed the cost of attendance; OSU also markets special programming and community for NM Scholars.
• Eligibility: National Merit Finalist who selects OSU as first‑choice institution with NMSC and enrolls full time; separate in‑state and out‑of‑state tracks exist.
• Restrictions/notes: OSU’s pages emphasize that NM scholarship recipients’ funding packages cannot exceed COA; specific annual amounts and stacking rules vary and are outlined in OSU’s in‑state and out‑of‑state scholarship pages.

University of Oklahoma (OU) – Norman, Oklahoma

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Package (resident and non‑resident variants).
• Award value (non‑resident example):
  • OU outlines a National Merit Finalist package valued at approximately 132,900 USD over five years, including an 87,900 USD non‑resident tuition waiver (covering 100% of the non-resident portion).
  • Package includes a 6,000 USD first‑year housing scholarship and a multi‑year National Merit cash stipend; residents receive a partial resident‑tuition waiver of 2,000 USD per year (10,000 USD total).
• Additional benefits: Remaining tuition waiver can be applied toward OU graduate or professional programs if funds remain after undergraduate completion, provided the student is admitted to a graduate program.
• Eligibility: National Merit Semifinalists with at least 3.5 GPA may initially receive a Semifinalist scholarship; students who advance to Finalist status and list OU as first choice by April 30 are upgraded to the Finalist package.
• Restrictions/notes: OU explicitly notes the package does not cover the full cost of attendance; students may stack outside scholarships, but total aid cannot exceed COA. Consistent GPA and credit‑hour requirements apply for renewal.

Brigham Young University (BYU) – Provo, Utah

• Scholarship name: BYU‑sponsored National Merit Scholarship; Presidential Scholarship with National Merit recognition.
• Award value (BYU‑sponsored National Merit):
  • Pays full Latter‑day Saint tuition for up to eight semesters; the 500 USD basic National Merit stipend is folded into the full‑tuition award rather than paid as an extra cash stipend.
• Award value (Presidential Scholarship with NM recognition):
  • Presidential Scholarship covers 150% of Latter‑day Saint tuition for up to eight semesters and incorporates the 500 USD NM stipend.
• Additional benefits:
  • NM recipients may see their Heritage Scholarship replaced by the BYU National Merit Scholarship.
  • Students can defer their scholarship for a mission by completing the Mission Deferment form; scholarships are reactivated upon return.
• Eligibility:
  • National Merit Finalists who list BYU as their first‑choice school and qualify for a Russell M. Nelson or Heritage Scholarship.
  • Must maintain a 3.7 cumulative GPA for renewal (for awards started fall 2024 or later).
• Restrictions/notes:
  • Awards are tied to “Latter‑day Saint tuition” ($3,444 per semester for 2025–2026); non‑LDS students are charged double ($6,888), meaning the scholarship may not cover the full cost for non‑members.
  • BYU evaluates the NMSC list and selects students for sponsorship; it is not guaranteed for all Finalists.

Tier 3 – Significant Partial Scholarships

Texas State University – San Marcos, Texas

• Scholarship name: National Distinction Scholarship (National Merit Finalists).
• Award value:
  • 40,000 USD total, distributed as 10,000 USD per year over four years.
• Additional benefits:
  • Non-resident tuition waiver: Out-of-state recipients may qualify to pay the in-state tuition rate for the duration of the scholarship.
  • Part of a broader National Scholarships portfolio; can be paired with other institutional awards subject to university stacking policies.
• Eligibility: - Must be a National Merit Finalist.
  • Must select Texas State as first college of choice with NMSC on or before May 31 prior to the first semester.
  • Required to email a copy of the National Merit certificate to Admissions (processing@txstate.edu).
• Restrictions/notes: - Renewal requires a 3.5 cumulative Texas State GPA and completion of 28 passing hours per academic year (fall/spring).
  • Must maintain undergraduate status and not have already earned a bachelor’s degree.

Arizona State University – Tempe, Arizona (National Recognition Awardees)

• Scholarship name: New American University National Scholar award for College Board National Recognition Program Awardees.
• Award value:
  • For National Recognition (includes African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, Rural/Small Town, or First-Generation recognition), ASU offers 10,000 USD per year for four years (40,000 USD total).
  • Note: This is a specific tier of the New American University system; the National Merit Finalist award is higher at 15,000 USD per year.
• Additional benefits:
  • This award replaces prior lower-level New American University merit awards (e.g., Dean’s or Provost’s).
  • Awardees are eligible and encouraged to apply to Barrett, The Honors College, which provides a specialized living-learning community.
• Eligibility:
  • Must be a College Board National Recognition Program recipient.
  • Must be admitted to ASU as a first-time, first-year student for the fall semester immediately following high school graduation.
  • Must select ASU as the first-choice institution (if applicable to the specific recognition type) or provide proof of the award to ASU Admissions.
• Restrictions/notes:
  • Does not apply to ASU Online majors; recipients must be enrolled in an on-campus program.
  • Renewal requires maintaining full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours) and meeting specific GPA requirements set by the New American University scholarship terms.
  • Coverage is a fixed dollar amount and is not pegged to full tuition or the total Cost of Attendance (COA).

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Additional National Merit Awards

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Scholarship (supplemental) and the Barnard Scholarship.
• Award value:
  • National Merit Finalist Scholarship: 4,000 USD total (1,000 USD per year) for Finalists who select Ole Miss as first choice and do not receive a corporate or NMSC-sponsored award.
  • Barnard Scholarship: 20,000 USD total (5,000 USD per year) specifically for National Merit Finalists; often utilized for Mississippi residents or as a stackable component for high-achieving out-of-state students.
• Additional benefits:
  • Unlike the “Academic Excellence” full-tuition package, these awards are often stackable with other merit and need-based aid, provided the total does not exceed the cost of attendance (COA).
  • Recipients still gain access to the Honors College community and associated perks.
• Eligibility:
  • Must be an entering freshman named a National Merit Finalist.
  • Must maintain a 3.0 or higher high school GPA.
  • For the 1,000 USD stipend, the student must list Ole Miss as their first-choice institution with NMSC.
• Restrictions/notes:
  • These awards typically function as “gap-fillers” or supplements for students who may not qualify for the top-tier “Academic Excellence” package (which replaces most other merit aid).
  • Renewal is subject to maintaining continuous full-time enrollment and a 3.0 college GPA.

University of New Mexico Branch Campuses – Taos, Los Alamos, Valencia

• Scholarship name: National Merit Scholarship (Branch Campus Designation).
• Award value:
  • Up to 2,500 USD per year, renewable for up to four years. This amount is designed to offset tuition costs specifically at smaller branch locations, where tuition rates are significantly lower than the UNM main campus.
• Additional benefits:
  • Recipients at branch campuses may also qualify for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship starting their second semester, which covers a significant portion of tuition and fees (approximately 4,294 USD per semester for the 2026 academic year).
  • Can be combined with Opportunity Scholarships and other local donor-funded awards.
• Eligibility:
  • Must be a National Merit Finalist who designates the specific branch campus (Taos, Los Alamos, or Valencia) as their first-choice institution with the NMSC.
  • Must be admitted and enrolled as a full-time, degree-seeking student (minimum 12–15 credit hours depending on the specific branch policy).
• Restrictions/notes:
  • The award amount is fixed and does not cover the full cost of attendance; it is notably smaller than the main campus “National Merit Finalist Scholarship” which covers housing.
  • Students must apply through the Online Scholarship Application (OSA) system to be considered for all available branch-specific and institutional aid.
  • Renewal Requirements: Typically requires maintaining a 3.3 cumulative GPA and successfully completing the required credit hours each semester.

Tier 4 – Minimal or Symbolic National Merit Awards

Many U.S. institutions participate as National Merit college sponsors, offering relatively small annual stipends to Finalists who enroll and list the institution as first‑choice with NMSC.

While individually modest, these college‑sponsored scholarships may qualify students for larger state programs (e.g., Benacquisto in Florida) or stack with other institutional awards.

Auburn University – Auburn, Alabama

• Scholarship name: National Merit Finalist Scholarship (and National Achievement Finalists).
• Award value:
  • Base Stipend: National Merit Finalists receive a stipend of 4,000 USD over four years (1,000 USD per year).
  • FAFSA Supplement: Depending on financial need as determined by the FAFSA, students may receive an additional 1,000 USD annually.
  • Stacking: Crucially, this award is typically added to Auburn’s Spirit of Auburn or Academic Heritage scholarships. For example, a Finalist with a 3.5+ GPA and 35+ ACT could receive Full Tuition plus the National Merit stipend.
• Additional benefits:
  • Housing & Technology: Historic/competitive tiers for Finalists have included a one-year on-campus housing scholarship and a one-time 1,000 USD technology stipend.
  • Experiential Learning: Eligibility for a one-time 2,000 USD stipend for research, internships, or study abroad.
• Eligibility:
  • Must be a National Merit Finalist and list Auburn as your first-choice institution with the NMSC by May 1.
  • No separate application is required for the NM stipend, but students must complete the AUSOM application for other institutional awards.
• Restrictions/notes:
  • Renewal requires maintaining a 3.0 unadjusted Auburn GPA and completing at least 24 credit hours per academic year.
  • While the standalone National Merit stipend is modest, its value comes from being “stackable” on top of the university’s highest automatic merit awards.

University of Florida (UF) – Gainesville, Florida

• Scholarship name: UF National Merit Scholarship.
• Award value:
  • 500 USD per year college‑sponsored scholarship for National Merit Finalists.
  • While this amount is small, its primary value is that it designates the student as a “National Merit Scholar,” which is the mandatory trigger for the high-value Benacquisto Scholarship.
• Additional benefits:
  • Benacquisto Scholarship: Florida residents receive an award equal to the full institutional Cost of Attendance (COA) minus the sum of their Bright Futures award and the National Merit award. This effectively creates a full ride covering tuition, fees, room, board, books, and miscellaneous expenses.
  • Recipients are often eligible for the Honors Program and early registration.
• Eligibility:
  • Must be a National Merit Finalist and a Florida resident.
  • Must earn a standard Florida high school diploma.
  • Must list UF as your first-choice institution with the NMSC by their May 31 deadline.
  • Must be a National Merit Scholar (requires receiving the UF-sponsored award, a $2,500 NMSC award, or a Corporate-sponsored award). Note: “Special” corporate awards do not qualify.
• Restrictions/notes:
  • The Benacquisto Scholarship is only available for the fall and spring terms and does not typically cover summer courses.
  • Renewal requires maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA and earning credit for all hours enrolled by the end of the drop/add period each term.
  • The award is limited to 10 semesters or until the completion of a baccalaureate degree.