South Dakota National Merit Cutoff 2027: 210
Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff for South Dakota, announced September 9, 2026, with five years of history and the official 2027 Semifinalist list.
South Dakota Class of 2027: a Selection Index of 210 or higher on the October 2025 PSAT/NMSQT qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist. The national Commended Student cutoff is 208. South Dakota shares this cutoff with Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma.
South Dakota National Merit Cutoff History (2023–2027)
| Year | South Dakota cutoff | Change | vs Commended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2027 | 210 | -1 | +2 |
| Class of 2026 | 211 | +3 | +1 |
| Class of 2025 | 208 | -1 | +0 |
| Class of 2024 | 209 | -3 | +2 |
| Class of 2023 | 212 | — | +5 |
Sources: NMSC announcements via Compass Education Group, McElroy Tutoring and r/psat. "vs Commended" is the gap between South Dakota's cutoff and that year's national Commended cutoff.
South Dakota Class of 2027 Semifinalist List
No public South Dakota list has surfaced yet. NMSC mails the list to South 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 South Dakota?
Take your PSAT/NMSQT section scores and compute (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10. If the result is 210 or higher and you took the test in October 2025 as a junior in South 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).
South Dakota FAQ
What is the National Merit cutoff for South Dakota for the Class of 2027?
The South Dakota Semifinalist cutoff is a Selection Index of 210, announced by NMSC on September 9, 2026. That is -1 from the Class of 2026 cutoff of 211.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit in South Dakota?
A Selection Index of 210 or higher for the Class of 2027. Selection Index is (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10, so a 720 Reading & Writing with 660 Math, or a 700 Reading & Writing with 700 Math would reach 210.
Is 210 a hard cutoff in South Dakota?
Meeting it is enough: a 210 qualified. South Dakota ranks #40 of 51 (50 states plus DC) for the Class of 2027, tied with Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma. The Class of 2027 South Dakota cutoff is 2 points above the national Commended cutoff of 208.
What will the South Dakota National Merit cutoff be for the Class of 2028?
NMSC announces it in September 2027. Over the last five years South Dakota has ranged from 208 to 212. Students taking the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT should aim for the top of that range to be safe.