North Dakota National Merit Cutoff 2027: 208
Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff for North Dakota, announced September 9, 2026, with five years of history and the official 2027 Semifinalist list.
North Dakota Class of 2027: a Selection Index of 208 or higher on the October 2025 PSAT/NMSQT qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist. The national Commended Student cutoff is 208. North Dakota shares this cutoff with Alaska, Montana, West Virginia and Wyoming.
North Dakota National Merit Cutoff History (2023–2027)
| Year | North Dakota cutoff | Change | vs Commended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 | 208 | -2 | +0 |
| Class of 2026 | 210 | 0 | +0 |
| Class of 2025 | 210 | +3 | +2 |
| Class of 2024 | 207 | -2 | +0 |
| Class of 2023 | 209 | — | +2 |
Sources: NMSC announcements via Compass Education Group, McElroy Tutoring and r/psat. "vs Commended" is the gap between North Dakota's cutoff and that year's national Commended cutoff.
North Dakota Class of 2027 Semifinalist List
No public North Dakota list has surfaced yet. NMSC mails the list to North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Take your PSAT/NMSQT section scores and compute (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10. If the result is 208 or higher and you took the test in October 2025 as a junior in North Dakota, 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).
North Dakota FAQ
What is the National Merit cutoff for North Dakota for the Class of 2027?
The North Dakota Semifinalist cutoff is a Selection Index of 208, announced by NMSC on September 9, 2026. That is -2 from the Class of 2026 cutoff of 210.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit in North Dakota?
A Selection Index of 208 or higher for the Class of 2027. Selection Index is (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10, so a 720 Reading & Writing with 640 Math, or a 700 Reading & Writing with 680 Math would reach 208.
Is 208 a hard cutoff in North Dakota?
Meeting it is enough: a 208 qualified. North Dakota ranks #47 of 51 (50 states plus DC) for the Class of 2027, tied with Alaska, Montana, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Class of 2027 North Dakota cutoff is 0 points above the national Commended cutoff of 208.
What will the North Dakota National Merit cutoff be for the Class of 2028?
NMSC announces it in September 2027. Over the last five years North Dakota has ranged from 207 to 210. Students taking the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT should aim for the top of that range to be safe.