National Merit Scholar awards
ListedCollege programFull tuition
- Award
- Iowa residents named National Merit Scholars receive full tuition for four years or eight undergraduate fall/spring semesters. Nonresidents can be selected for the $500-per-year Iowa State college-sponsored NMSC award and may qualify for other college scholarships.
- Deadline
- Name Iowa State as first choice with NMSC by its final receipt deadline of May 31, 2027. Choices received before March 1, 2027 enter the first referral group.
- How to apply
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT, become a Semifinalist and Finalist, be admitted, name Iowa State first choice with NMSC, submit a FAFSA, and be named a National Merit Scholar.
- What you'll need
- No separate application: you are considered when you apply for admission
- Who can apply
- Incoming first-year National Merit Finalists and Scholars admitted to Iowa State, naming it first choice and submitting a FAFSA. The full-tuition award requires Iowa residency. NMSC entry rules allow students attending high school in the United States, D.C. or U.S. territories without a universal citizenship requirement. Students attending high school abroad must meet the separate citizenship or permanent-residence requirements.
- Good to know
- Iowa full-tuition renewal requires continuous full-time Iowa State enrollment as an Iowa resident, good academic standing and 3.00 cumulative GPA; summer and concurrent Loyal, Forever or True awards are excluded. The resident awards page covers Fall 2027. Nonresident $500 award selection is competitive; as a college-sponsored NMSC award, it is renewable for up to four undergraduate years under full-time, good-standing and individual offer conditions.