National Merit Scholarship

This is a real program, but some details for the current cycle are not published or not yet confirmed. Check the official source before you plan around it.

Award

2026-27: approximately $22,000 per year for Idaho residents covering basic registration fees/tuition and the university-defined room and board; non-residents also receive a full non-resident tuition waiver (about $20,000). Over $85,000 in cash scholarships over four years plus the waiver for non-residents.

Timeline

1. May 31, 2027Name Idaho as first choice with NMSC by, its final receipt deadline
2. Mar 1, 2027First referral group is reported before .

How to apply

Be admitted as a first-year student directly from high school or home school, become a National Merit Finalist, send the Finalist letter to the Financial Aid Office, and name Idaho first choice with NMSC by May 31.

Who can apply

First-year National Merit Finalists entering directly from high school or home school. NMSC citizenship requirements apply to entrants attending high school outside the U.S.; individual award rules still apply.

Good to know

Published value is for 2026–27. Covers fall and spring only, basic tuition/registration fees, and university-defined double-room and all-access meal-plan costs. Special course/lab fees and housing or meal upgrades are paid by the student. Specific college GPA/credit renewal requirements are not stated.