Anonymous
12/02/2025 20:08
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Anonymous wrote:Three most talked-about colleges (not on DCUM) with full-ride for NMSF/NMF regardless of instate or OOS:
Alabama (NMF only)
UT Dallas (NMF only)
Tulsa (NMSF is enough)
It is difficult to have a comprehensive list because, first, the scholarship amount and conditions can change from year to year, such as Oklahoma which until a few years ago had full-ride for instate/OOS but is now only a big chunk off, and USC which until last year had half-tuition off but is now only $20k off. Second, some full-ride are available for instate but not OOS such as Florida, while some full-tution are available for instate but not OOS such as Iowa State.
If you really want a complete, latest picture of which school offers how much and whether it is for NMSF or NMF and whether it is for instate or OOS or both, you need to do some work. First, google "colleges with national merit scholarships". For each of the first 20 or so hits returned by Google, you make a note of the names of the schools. After you go over several hits, you will see start to see "familiar names," at which point you may stop and visit the school website one-by-one for the latest scholarship details.
I did this a few years ago when I was on a mission to uncover every school out there that offers generous scholarships for one of my children who made NMSF but not NMF due to being immature/lazy (1570 SAT one-time but only 3.4 GPA at a grade-inflated public). I needed the careful distinction between NMSF and NMF and distinction between full-ride and full-tuition. Took me a while to finish the process but we felt like we made informed decisions on where to apply.
Where did your kid end up?
Anonymous
12/02/2025 19:45
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
DC was NMF from a magnet school, in state got $0 merit from UMD. This fall attending a private T20 with full ride.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 14:09
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
My NMF got a full ride from Alabama, Ole Miss, and Miss State. He chose a smaller private school that just gave him an additional $2,500 a year for being a NMF.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 13:55
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Anonymous wrote:Hopping on to say how absolutely insane it is to give substantial scholarships based on a test given after only 2 years of high school.
You should communicate that to the schools.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 13:37
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Anonymous wrote:Hopping on to say how absolutely insane it is to give substantial scholarships based on a test given after only 2 years of high school.
Schools like Alabama and Oklahoma have significant statistical justification for giving ample scholarship funds. These students perform well. In one sense it is not sensible to make a decision on a single test but these schools find the outcomes from these students very desirable.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 13:31
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Hopping on to say how absolutely insane it is to give substantial scholarships based on a test given after only 2 years of high school.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 12:45
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My high stat UMC kid applied in-state to UMD. He was given full tuition (merit scholarship) + 2K a year for four years as NMS. So, UMD sponsored his NMF scholarship.
Wow. Does anyone know if this is common for NMF at UMD?
My three kids all won NMF/NMS and went to UMD. Two out of three were B/K winners. UMD gave extra 1000 a year for spending money.
* just wanted to add (even though I don't know for sure) that I don't think NMF/NMS were a huge factor in winning B/K awards
Anonymous
12/02/2025 12:44
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My high stat UMC kid applied in-state to UMD. He was given full tuition (merit scholarship) + 2K a year for four years as NMS. So, UMD sponsored his NMF scholarship.
Wow. Does anyone know if this is common for NMF at UMD?
My three kids all won NMF/NMS and went to UMD. Two out of three were B/K winners. UMD gave extra 1000 a year for spending money.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 12:44
Subject: National Merit Finalists and impact on tuition
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: At Duke, DS received onetime $2500 (1250 over 2 semesters).
Equivalent to throwing a chair off the Titanic.
