South Carolina National Merit Cutoff 2027: 212
Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff for South Carolina, announced September 9, 2026, with five years of history and the official 2027 Semifinalist list.
South Carolina Class of 2027: a Selection Index of 212 or higher on the October 2025 PSAT/NMSQT qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist. The national Commended Student cutoff is 208. South Carolina shares this cutoff with Kansas, Nebraska, Vermont and Wisconsin.
South Carolina National Merit Cutoff History (2023–2027)
| Year | South Carolina cutoff | Change | vs Commended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 | 212 | -3 | +4 |
| Class of 2026 | 215 | +1 | +5 |
| Class of 2025 | 214 | +5 | +6 |
| Class of 2024 | 209 | -4 | +2 |
| Class of 2023 | 213 | — | +6 |
Sources: NMSC announcements via Compass Education Group, McElroy Tutoring and r/psat. "vs Commended" is the gap between South Carolina's cutoff and that year's national Commended cutoff.
South Carolina Class of 2027 Semifinalist List
No public South Carolina list has surfaced yet. NMSC mails the list to South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
Take your PSAT/NMSQT section scores and compute (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10. If the result is 212 or higher and you took the test in October 2025 as a junior in South Carolina, 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).
South Carolina FAQ
What is the National Merit cutoff for South Carolina for the Class of 2027?
The South Carolina Semifinalist cutoff is a Selection Index of 212, announced by NMSC on September 9, 2026. That is -3 from the Class of 2026 cutoff of 215.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit in South Carolina?
A Selection Index of 212 or higher for the Class of 2027. Selection Index is (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10, so a 720 Reading & Writing with 680 Math, or a 700 Reading & Writing with 720 Math would reach 212.
Is 212 a hard cutoff in South Carolina?
Meeting it is enough: a 212 qualified. South Carolina ranks #30 of 51 (50 states plus DC) for the Class of 2027, tied with Kansas, Nebraska, Vermont and Wisconsin. The Class of 2027 South Carolina cutoff is 4 points above the national Commended cutoff of 208.
What will the South Carolina National Merit cutoff be for the Class of 2028?
NMSC announces it in September 2027. Over the last five years South Carolina has ranged from 209 to 215. Students taking the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT should aim for the top of that range to be safe.