The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). 

About 90 percent of the semifinalists will attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

The National Hispanic Recognition Program is a College Board program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies academically well-prepared Hispanic high school seniors for postsecondary institutions.

(New 2024): National First-Generation Recognition Program. If a student’s parent(s) does not have a bachelor's degree, the student qualifies as a first-generation student. 

The introduction of the National First-Generation Recognition Program ensures even more high school students are celebrated for their achievements and can be found by colleges during recruitment to pursue a path forward after high school. 

Eligible students qualify based on strong academic performance reflected by PSAT/NMSQT® or PSAT™ 10 scores within the top 10% of test takers for each award program in each state or a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade. 

Students considered for the Indigenous Recognition Program must identify as Alaska Native, Native American, or Native Hawaiian.

The College Board’s National African American Recognition Program is an academic honor for academically exceptional African American students who have scored in the top 10 percent of the state on the PSAT or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams by their junior year.

Students are considered for the Rural and Small-Town Recognition Program based on the location of their high school.