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    Colleges that offer National Merit Scholarships to Finalists

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is the Director of Content at Scholarships360. He has written over 300 articles on college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships, in addition to spearheading research projects for Scholarships360's Top Colleges resource. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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    Updated: June 6th, 2024
    If you scored exceptionally on the PSAT/NMSQT, you may have been named a National Merit Finalist. The award itself does not come with a cash prize, but some colleges sponsor National Merit Finalist scholarships for admitted students. The colleges on this list all award scholarships to National Merit Finalists who gain admission. Scroll down to check out your options for cashing in on your great PSAT/NMSQT performance!
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    54 colleges
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    N

    Northwestern University

    Evanston, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, is a private research university known for its strong programs in journalism, performing arts, and engineering. The university is also noted for its extensive…Read More

    Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, is a private research…Read More

    7% acceptance
    97% graduation rate
    8,837 undergrads
    $25,057 net price
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    Washington and Lee University

    Lexington, VA • Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Washington and Lee University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lexington, Virginia. There are currently 1,861 undergraduates at Washington and Lee and the school’s acceptance rate is 17%.…Read More

    Washington and Lee University is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    17% acceptance
    95% graduation rate
    1,861 undergrads
    $29,479 net price

    Tufts University

    Medford, MA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Situated just outside Boston, Tufts University is known for its strong emphasis on internationalism, active citizenship, and interdisciplinary research. The university comprises several schools, including the School of Arts and…Read More

    Situated just outside Boston, Tufts University is known for its…Read More

    11% acceptance
    93% graduation rate
    6,747 undergrads
    $35,123 net price

    Grinnell College

    Grinnell, IA • Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Grinnell College, located in Grinnell, Iowa, is known for its open curriculum, which allows students to design their own course of study with guidance from faculty advisors. Grinnell also offers…Read More

    Grinnell College, located in Grinnell, Iowa, is known for its…Read More

    11% acceptance
    88% graduation rate
    1,709 undergrads
    $17,772 net price

    Oberlin College

    Oberlin, OH • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Located in Oberlin, Ohio, Oberlin College is renowned for its Conservatory of Music, one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in the country. The college is also known…Read More

    Located in Oberlin, Ohio, Oberlin College is renowned for its…Read More

    35% acceptance
    83% graduation rate
    2,986 undergrads
    $37,377 net price
    H

    Harvey Mudd College

    Claremont, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Located in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd College is known for its rigorous STEM programs and interdisciplinary approach to education. The college is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium and offers…Read More

    Located in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd College is known for…Read More

    13% acceptance
    94% graduation rate
    915 undergrads
    $32,492 net price
    V

    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville, TN • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University is known for its strong programs in law, medicine, and education. The university emphasizes research and interdisciplinary studies, and notable alumni include Al Gore…Read More

    Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University is known for its…Read More

    6% acceptance
    93% graduation rate
    7,143 undergrads
    $19,040 net price
    B

    Bowdoin College

    Brunswick, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Widely considered one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Bowdoin College is located in the coastal town of Brunswick, Maine. Bowdoin boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning…Read More

    Widely considered one of the top liberal arts colleges in…Read More

    8% acceptance
    96% graduation rate
    1,846 undergrads
    $20,786 net price
    C

    Colby College

    Waterville, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Located in Waterville, Maine, Colby College boasts a unique academic schedule called the Jan Plan, which gives students all of January to focus on one specific class, internship, or project.…Read More

    Located in Waterville, Maine, Colby College boasts a unique academic…Read More

    7% acceptance
    90% graduation rate
    2,282 undergrads
    $23,939 net price
    S

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles, CA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university in Los Angeles, known for its programs in film, business, engineering, and the arts. USC has a diverse student…Read More

    The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research…Read More

    10% acceptance
    92% graduation rate
    20,817 undergrads
    $31,927 net price
    M

    University of Maryland-College Park

    College Park, MD • Public, Suburb

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of Maryland-College Park is a public 4-year college located in College Park, Maryland. There are currently 30,246 undergraduates at Maryland-College Park and the school’s acceptance rate is 45%. The…Read More

    University of Maryland-College Park is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    45% acceptance
    89% graduation rate
    30,246 undergrads
    $15,590 net price
    W

    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Madison, WI • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public 4-year college located in Madison, Wisconsin. There are currently 35,665 undergraduates at Wisconsin-Madison and the school’s acceptance rate is 43%. The tuition at Wisconsin-Madison…Read More

    University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    43% acceptance
    89% graduation rate
    35,665 undergrads
    $16,928 net price
    M

    Michigan State University

    East Lansing, MI • Public, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Michigan State University is a public 4-year college located in East Lansing, Michigan. There are currently 40,243 undergraduates at Michigan State and the school’s acceptance rate is 84%. The tuition…Read More

    Michigan State University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    84% acceptance
    82% graduation rate
    40,243 undergrads
    $20,751 net price
    V

    Villanova University

    Villanova, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. There are currently 7,005 undergraduates at Villanova and the school’s acceptance rate is 25%. The tuition at Villanova…Read More

    Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    25% acceptance
    92% graduation rate
    7,005 undergrads
    $44,876 net price
    R

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick

    New Brunswick, NJ • Public, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public 4-year college located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. There are currently 36,357 undergraduates at Rutgers and the school’s acceptance rate is 65%. The tuition…Read More

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    65% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    36,357 undergrads
    $23,519 net price
    D

    Dickinson College

    Carlisle, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There are currently 2,157 undergraduates at Dickinson and the school’s acceptance rate is 43%. The tuition at Dickinson…Read More

    Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    43% acceptance
    83% graduation rate
    2,157 undergrads
    $32,191 net price
    B

    Brigham Young University

    Provo, UT • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability, Top Accessibility
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and located in Provo, Utah, BYU is noted for its strong emphasis on an affordable undergraduate education and religious values.…Read More

    Owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…Read More

    69% acceptance
    82% graduation rate
    32,221 undergrads
    $14,487 net price
    N

    Northeastern University

    Boston, MA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Northeastern University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is known for its cooperative education (co-op) program, which integrates classroom study with professional work experience. Northeastern offers a wide range of academic programs…Read More

    Northeastern University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is known for its…Read More

    6% acceptance
    90% graduation rate
    15,719 undergrads
    $32,116 net price
    R

    University of Richmond

    University of Richmond, VA • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    University of Richmond is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in University of Richmond, Virginia. There are currently 3,002 undergraduates at Richmond and the school’s acceptance rate is 23%. The…Read More

    University of Richmond is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    23% acceptance
    88% graduation rate
    3,002 undergrads
    $33,417 net price
    M

    University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

    Minneapolis, MN • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public 4-year college located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are currently 30,469 undergraduates at Minnesota-Twin Cities and the school’s acceptance rate is 77%. The tuition…Read More

    University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    77% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    30,469 undergrads
    $17,139 net price
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    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

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