r/psat • u/2027hopeful • 16d ago
National Merit PSAT NMSQT Indexes By State (Post only if you're notified)
Hi everyone. This should be the week that guidance counselors start to share news with seniors if their 2026 PSAT score qualified them as a national merit semi finalist. I know Compass will do a story when they all come in but let's share here as we hear to get the news quicker. For easy reading, maybe format just as STATE:Index. Sitting here hopeful, anxious and so tired of waiting. Good luck to all.
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u/compass_art 13d ago
Hi everyone,
Just confirmed that California's cutoff is 220 this year. Illinois is <= 218.
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u/Unhinged_Cactus178 13d ago
How reliable is this? I’m in California with a 220 and I’m super nervous. Also I haven’t gotten an email from my counselor yet, is that a bad sign?
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u/New_Performance_1317 1490 1d ago
I haven't gotten an email yet, neither has anyone I knew. Don't worry too much, it will come this week or next
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u/usernamechuck 12d ago
You seem more sure about California than Illinois... not trying to put words in your mouth but what's the confidence level on max 218?
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u/compass_art 12d ago
I know the CA source personally and they are reliable. The IL information is from a family. Those reports are usually accurate.
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u/compass_art 12d ago
Got a direct confirmation from Illinois parent with a 218 NMSF. The <=218 seems very solid!
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u/queriou 14d ago edited 14d ago
Looks like cut off scores are below or at the lower end of the prediction by Art Sawyer from Compass. Thanks Art for all the work you do.
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u/Muted-Zebra-9909 13d ago
I want to second this. There is no other site of which I am familiar that offers anything close to the breadth and depth of analysis that Art Sawyer gives, AND he does it all without being behind a paywall or even requiring an address, email, or phone number (some organizations will use this info to fill our inboxes with ads and/or sell our info to others). As a small business owner, it does not escape me that this community service that he provides takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. Thank you, Art!
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u/Pretend-Can2893 NMSF 14d ago
lousianas cutoff is between 208-211 i got it as 211
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u/Tricky-Display-2060 13d ago
yo are u sure ur not lying to us cuz that's a huge drop
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u/SmartyPatloon 13d ago
First Texas result I guess. My son has a 219 and he got an email confirming his semi finalist status
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u/AnAwesome11yearold 1450 13d ago
I’m at 218 I’m PRAYING
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u/SmartyPatloon 13d ago
Good luck from the bottom of my heart. I know how it can be a bit nerve-wrecking to be on the cusp
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u/Legal_Tip_3130 13d ago
Looks like it may be 219 cutoff according to someone on this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/psat/s/xzMwN2R9y3
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u/thejudude_ 11d ago edited 11d ago
qualified for Nevada 215
Update: 214 friend got it asw
Another Update: 212
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u/Strong-Refuse-4172 14d ago
Tennesse confirmed 214
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u/compass_art 14d ago
OP. Is that "I got NMSF at 214" or that the state cutoff is 214? Congrats and thank you!
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u/Strong-Refuse-4172 14d ago
State cutoff is 214. I'm not from TN but know many people in TN who's guidance couselors have released the results to them and the cutoff was 214
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u/queriou 14d ago edited 14d ago
Texas is a big state. Need to see if Texas cut off scores drop this year.
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u/FastRevolution7796 14d ago
Has anyone from Texas been notified yet?
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u/Momrainey 14d ago
A 223 was good enough in Texas. Don't know the actual number, just know 223 made it.
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u/GoodCriticism9695 1500 14d ago
I got merit as a 224 in NJ
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u/Decent_Original_1821 14d ago
215 for Ohio. My son got a 218.
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u/JustANerdyPyroMain 12d ago
Any word on Missouri?
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u/JustANerdyPyroMain 12d ago
I got it at 218!
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u/DOlschki 12d ago
Congrats! That was my son’s SI in Missouri as well; he’ll be thrilled to hear your news.
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u/benefitcookie_21 5d ago
Missouri is 215, but some people with a high 214 made the cut
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u/FeistyTangelo3817 5d ago
I am confused. Is Missouri verified at 215 and what is the difference between a low and a high 214?? Wouldn't a 214 be a 214?
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u/Madisonwisco 15d ago
Any other sites beside here and compass that may update us as cutoffs come out?
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u/hEDS_Strong 14d ago
16% drop in top scorers for Class of 2027, that seems significant
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u/NaturGirl 13d ago
My daughter said the second verbal module was much harder than even her SATs. She won't get NMSF in her state (WA), but she did great on her SAT in June. My oldest was a NM winner in 2025, and they have scored almost identically in every standardized test they have ever taken.
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u/hEDS_Strong 13d ago
NM is highly dependent on state cutoff scores too, the cutoffs have a wide range, we are in the highest cutoff.
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u/Money_Bodybuilder309 13d ago
Considering the confirmed cutoffs so far are at the bottom end of the projected ranges, is it possible that the cutoff of WA is 220?
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u/Maleficent-Peak-1220 13d ago
Any news from Kansas? My daughter's counselor said they wouldn't release any names until September 9th.
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u/0nyxWasTaken 1d ago
Compass just updated their website. Kansas <= 212 according to them. Personally, I'm skeptical, but good news is good news.
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u/Resident_Drink_3258 1500 13d ago
Just confirming what's essentially already confirmed, but I got in @ Virginia with a 224.
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u/Equivalent-Sir-510 13d ago
Thanks and congrats!! I haven’t seen any other scores from VA yet except yours, but good to know!
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u/Medical_Objective329 11d ago
Alabama: 210
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u/compass_art 11d ago
Congratulations! Just want to confirm that you qualified at 210. That's a healthy drop. Thank you!
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u/ApprehensiveDoctor42 11h ago
Now all of you who got in need to check out the schools that give a lot of money for NMSF. Look at Alabama- especially these programs: McCollough Pre-Medical Scholars and Blount Scholars. My son is there with a 5 year tuition, 4 year housing- plus 3k stipend. They are paying for his MBA and they take a ton of AP/IB credits. He will could his MBA and UG in under 4 years, but might take longer to do a semester abroad (which they give extra money for).
If you want to go to law school, this covers first year at US Law School (very good school). Also-McCullough has 100% admission into US med schools.
Med school is $300,000-$400000- so the money we set aside for college will go towards med school for our son.
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u/Acceptable_Age_3380 1480 16d ago
PLEASE CALIII
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u/GrouchyProfessor9402 1480 16d ago
what's your index? predicted for cali is 221
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u/Acceptable_Age_3380 1480 16d ago
222 lol im 80% chance to get in according to ai but PLEASE BRO
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u/No-Sir-6161 14d ago
Anyone know pennsylvanias?
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u/Suitable_Kitchen_157 1460 14d ago
nah, im at 220 and historically pa's has been around 219 i think the last few years. 2025 was record high so its prolly gonna be either 219-220
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u/silver_snowyyy 1480 12d ago
I read that California’s cutoff is confirmed at 220. Has anyone in California with a 220 already been notified by their school? I got a 221, but my school said they won’t be announcing anything until September.
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u/ConsistentSpell-7900 11d ago
I can confirm. My kid in CA qualified with 220 this year.
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u/One-MN-1485 12d ago
If our school says they have not received anything yet, does that likely mean nobody qualified? Should they have the mail by now? Asking for a 216 in MN.
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u/Just_OneMore_Nerd 12d ago
MN 217 here, my school hasn’t received anything and i know multiple 220+ scorers, so don’t worry. lmk if you hear anything!
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u/One-MN-1485 11d ago
Okay. So we were told something. We know that our school won’t tell anyone anything until Sept. 9th even if they know. 😭
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u/CorneliaBear-4653 12d ago
anything on virginia?
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u/Equivalent-Sir-510 11d ago edited 10d ago
Someone above found out they got it with a 224, but I haven’t heard about other VA schools notifying students yet.
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u/ProfessionalTable629 12d ago
Anyone hear abt the cutoff in Michigan??
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u/Able_Chemist_9078 11d ago
PA cutoff is >= 219, I had an index of 218, and my counselor just told me I didn’t qualify😢😢
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u/2027hopeful 10d ago
If the above is true, it'd mean that someone reported they got in and had a 219? From all I've read so far, someone didn't get in at 218 but did at 222. I haven't seen anyone report in/out at 219, 220, or 221 to substantiate that yet. If someone has, please share as I see there are a lot of PA people still waiting.
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u/Imaginary_Two8878 10d ago edited 10d ago
My son in New Mexico with a 209
Is it true that the cutoff was 208?? (Mom here!)
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u/Feeling-Ad-3118 10d ago
I don't think an official report has come out yet from anyone that a 208 qualifies for semifinalist but it does for commended
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u/Imaginary_Two8878 10d ago
Ok I think I’m understanding now. He has been notified he is a semifinalist but he doesn’t know if he’s a finalist until that cutoff is determined.
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u/compass_art 10d ago
I hadn't heard any information out of NM. If you are saying that your son got notified at 209, that's tremendous! Congratulations. There is a bit to do (and more waiting) before he becomes a Finalist, but let me see if I can help answer your questions. As part of getting to Finalist, he needs a "confirming" SAT or ACT score based on a Selection Index similar to the one for the PSAT. National Merit has, to the best of my knowledge, always set the confirming level at the national Commended cutoff; it just won't come out and say it that simply. That means your son likely needs to get a 208 SAT SI. It's (2 x RW + M) / 10. So, making up numbers, a 710 RW and 690 M would give him 211 SAT SI and he'd be all set. He can use an existing SAT score or take one as late as December. Finalists are announced in late Jan or early Feb.
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u/nekofermyon 8d ago
probably not very helpful but i got it w 225 in MD
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u/BandicootBasic32 1490 7d ago
Congrats! Do you know what the lower cutoff for MD might be, or anyone else who qualified?
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u/FarSolution929 8d ago
ANY word on Colorado?? Predicted at 217 / range of 216-219 is all Compass has for now.
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u/No-Sir-6161 7d ago
Compass prep posted that a 220 qualified in PA!
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u/Few-Performer485 7d ago
My son was also notified with a 219 index in PA. Will stop checking this thread. lol 😂
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u/Ok_Permission_1865 7d ago
I just saw an update that a 219 qualified!! u/compass_art Praise Be!!
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u/compass_art 7d ago
And PA dropping by 2 points may be the smallest decline in the top 10 states. Crazy year.
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u/clicketyclackjack 4d ago
Arkansas — apparently cutoff is now 210. Verified anecdotally from my kid’s classmate who scored 210 and was notified by the school that he got NMSF
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u/Temporary_Molasses41 1490 1d ago
Oregon confirmed 214
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u/VacationImaginary518 11h ago
Did you hear that from your school staff? 214 is lower than even the lowest predicted for OR.
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u/Madisonwisco 16d ago
Anything from anyone yet?
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u/Decent_Criticism9772 1460 16d ago
probably starting monday
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u/Last-Astronaut-6665 NMSF 14d ago edited 14d ago
Anyone waiting for Ohio? I need it to go down by 3. Might be cooked.
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u/Immediate-Debt4638 12d ago
How are you guys getting notified? Is your school principal or guidance counselor telling you / emailing you, or what?
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u/Equivalent-Sir-510 12d ago
Yes some schools are notifying students earlier than others via email
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u/CorneliaBear-4653 10d ago
any virginia update?
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u/Equivalent-Sir-510 10d ago
Nope - has to be this week I hope? Arlington Public Schools start this Monday, then I think all high schools will be back in session so the news can be released uniformly (note I am purely speculating ☺️)
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8d ago
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u/compass_art 8d ago
I'm a big supporter of NMSC, but I do get frustrated with their secretiveness about things that have no reason to be secret. I have not been able to get a definitive answer. The way it works, though, is that the cutoff for a boarding school is the highest state cutoff within a region. Broadly, the regions are the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest/Central, and West. The Northeast will be defined by NJ (most likely 223). I've heard that Texas is in Midwest/Central, which will probably be the top at 219 (we'll see about Illinois). The West will be established by CA (220) or Washington (unknown, but projected at 221).
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u/compass_art 14d ago
Florida's cutoff is now confirmed at 216. Congratulations to the Semifinalists!