Northwestern University National Merit Scholarship

The National Merit Scholarship program is headed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The sponsors include Colleges and universities, Corporate and business organizations, The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) itself. The University awarded $144 million to undergraduate students in 2016-17, and approximately 45% of undergraduates received a Northwestern University Scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria/ Scholarship Guidelines

To be examined for a Northwestern University sponsored National Merit Scholarship, students must be National Merit Finalists, list Northwestern University as his/her first choice school by the NMSC published deadline and must not be preferred by another sponsor.  

Students cannot secure more than one type of National Merit award. Students designated for any corporate National Merit award or a direct NMSC award will not be examined for a Northwestern University sponsored National Merit award. Students must meet all National Merit deadlines in order to be considered for the scholarship. Students must be enrolled full-time to hold National Merit eligibility.