District of Columbia National Merit Cutoff 2027: 223
Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff for District of Columbia, announced September 9, 2026, with five years of history and the official 2027 Semifinalist list.
District of Columbia Class of 2027: a Selection Index of 223 or higher on the October 2025 PSAT/NMSQT qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist. The national Commended Student cutoff is 208. District of Columbia shares this cutoff with New Jersey.
District of Columbia National Merit Cutoff History (2023–2027)
| Year | District of Columbia cutoff | Change | vs Commended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 | 223 | -2 | +15 |
| Class of 2026 | 225 | +2 | +15 |
| Class of 2025 | 223 | 0 | +15 |
| Class of 2024 | 223 | 0 | +16 |
| Class of 2023 | 223 | — | +16 |
Sources: NMSC announcements via Compass Education Group, McElroy Tutoring and r/psat. "vs Commended" is the gap between District of Columbia's cutoff and that year's national Commended cutoff.
District of Columbia Class of 2027 Semifinalist List
No public District of Columbia list has surfaced yet. NMSC mails the list to District of Columbia news outlets and to high school principals; check with your school counselor. We will post it here when it is published.
See Semifinalist lists for every state.
Am I a National Merit Semifinalist in District of Columbia?
Take your PSAT/NMSQT section scores and compute (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10. If the result is 223 or higher and you took the test in October 2025 as a junior in District of Columbia, you meet the Class of 2027 cutoff. Use the Selection Index calculator to check instantly, then read what happens next (the Finalist application is due in early October).
District of Columbia FAQ
What is the National Merit cutoff for District of Columbia for the Class of 2027?
The District of Columbia Semifinalist cutoff is a Selection Index of 223, announced by NMSC on September 9, 2026. That is -2 from the Class of 2026 cutoff of 225.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit in District of Columbia?
A Selection Index of 223 or higher for the Class of 2027. Selection Index is (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10, so a 720 Reading & Writing with 790 Math, or a 700 Reading & Writing with 830 Math would reach 223.
Is 223 a hard cutoff in District of Columbia?
Meeting it is enough: a 223 qualified. District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 (50 states plus DC) for the Class of 2027, tied with New Jersey. The Class of 2027 District of Columbia cutoff is 15 points above the national Commended cutoff of 208.
What will the District of Columbia National Merit cutoff be for the Class of 2028?
NMSC announces it in September 2027. Over the last five years District of Columbia has ranged from 223 to 225. Students taking the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT should aim for the top of that range to be safe.