Understanding USF National Merit Scholarship Requirements

The University of Sioux Falls (USF) recognizes and rewards academic excellence through various scholarship programs, including those for National Merit Scholars. Understanding the requirements and deadlines associated with these scholarships is crucial for prospective students aiming to maximize their financial aid opportunities. USF offers a range of merit-based, educational, and performance scholarships, making it easier for students to access financial support.

Merit Scholarships for Freshmen

USF automatically considers new, full-time freshmen for Merit Scholarships upon admission. These scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, and no separate application is required unless otherwise specified. For the 2026-27 academic year, the following annual scholarship amounts are available:

$8,500 ($4,250 per semester)
$7,500 ($3,750 per semester)
$6,500 ($3,250 per semester)
$4,500 ($2,250 per semester)

Scholarships for Transfer Students

USF also provides merit-based scholarships for full-time transfer students pursuing their first bachelor's degree. These scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and, for the 2025-26 academic year, offer the following annual amounts:

$5,000 ($2,500 per semester)
$4,000 ($2,000 per semester)
$3,000 ($1,500 per semester)
$2,000 ($1,000 per semester)

National Merit Scholarship Program at USF

The University of Sioux Falls offers a full-tuition scholarship to National Merit Finalists. The scholarship amount received in a student's freshman year will be renewed for the next 3 years. Students must submit documentation of their achievement from the National Merit Scholarship Program.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national competition for high school students based on academic merit. You qualify for the program by taking the PSAT or NMSQT and scoring in the top 1% of your state. Students recognized, whether as commended students, semifinalists or finalists, are eligible for a significant amount of financial aid. Finalists earning the title of National Merit Scholar, are rewarded $2,500 from the National Merit Scholar Corporation (NMSC). However, universities also provide scholarships based on National Merit status.

Importance of Early Application

For National Merit Scholars, paying attention to deadlines is essential. Many students believe they need to wait until their finalist status is confirmed before submitting college applications, which often occurs in January or February. At universities like USF, applying early is crucial to securing the full benefits of National Merit recognition. For example, USF's internal scholarship deadline is January 15th, and National Merit students are encouraged to apply by early November for priority consideration, regardless of their National Merit status. Missing these deadlines could mean missing out on valuable financial aid, significantly reducing the affordability of attending college. Additionally, some universities have caps on the number of National Merit scholarships they offer. Schools with limited scholarships may fill those spots early, meaning late applicants may miss out entirely. “Some schools will determine that they are sponsoring maybe 25 students because that's their budgetary restriction.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a College

When selecting colleges to apply to as a National Merit Scholar, students should consider more than just financial aid. Nisbett highlights this sentiment as well: “While National Merit is a component and the scholarship is a component, again we always want students to attend the college or university that they think is going to be the place where they can find a sense of belonging,” Nisbett said. Students should look into the academic offerings of each institution. National Merit Scholars tend to be high-achieving students with ambitious academic goals, so they should prioritize schools that offer strong programs in their areas of interest. Whether it's engineering, medicine, or politics, the availability and strength of specialized programs should play a key role in the decision-making process. Location is another factor to consider. Some students may prefer certain regions or climates, while others might be drawn to campuses in major cities or near key industries related to their field of study. Finances, of course, play a big part in your consideration. Each university offers different levels of support for National Merit Scholars. Understanding the scholarship packages offered, and how long the awards last, is essential in making an informed decision. It also is helpful to visit campuses, if possible, to help students gauge whether they feel a sense of belonging.

Notifying the University of Your Semifinalist Status

Once you’ve been notified of your National Merit semifinalist status, inform your university that you are a National Merit Scholar. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation provides a list of National Merit semifinalists to universities. When universities receive the list, they need to verify this information with their own admissions and student records systems. This process involves confirming that the students on the list are either applying to or have been admitted to the university.

Scholarship Duration and Renewal Conditions

Check the duration of the scholarship and any renewal conditions. Some scholarships are renewable for all four years, while others might be limited to one or two years or require maintaining certain academic standards or reapplication for renewal.

Campus Visits

As you weigh your options and compare financial aid packages, one of the most important steps is to visit the campuses of the universities you're considering. A campus visit provides invaluable insight into the academic environment, campus culture, and can put you in touch with advisors who can answer your questions. Contact the Office of Admissions to schedule a student-led tour at any of USF’s three campuses.

Other Scholarship Opportunities at USF

In addition to merit scholarships, USF offers a variety of other scholarships that students can apply for. These include:

Criminal Justice and Psychology Scholarships: Students must complete an application and major in Criminal Justice or Psychology to be eligible. These scholarships can amount to $18,000 a year for tuition and fees and may require an ACT composite score of 26 or a 1240 SAT score.
Art Scholarships: Available to full-time students majoring or minoring in Art. To be considered, students must submit an art portfolio to the USF Art Department.
Athletic Scholarships: Full-time undergraduate students admitted to USF as degree-seeking and meeting NCAA Division II eligibility criteria may be approved by the Head Coach based on talent and participation. Students who are offered Athletic Scholarships may be eligible for ONE Merit Scholarship but are ineligible for most other University Scholarships, like Cougar Grant.
Black Hills Home Builders Association Scholarships: The Black Hills Home Builders Association sponsors three $1000 and four $500 continuing education scholarships each year. The student's area of interest may be in any field.
Avera Employee Scholarships: These scholarships are offered to full-time or part-time Avera employees and their dependent children and spouses who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Verification of employment must be completed each year. The scholarship amount is $2,000 for undergraduate full-time students.
Citi Youth Leadership Award: Each year, the Citi Youth Leadership award recognizes young people for their outstanding community service. Individuals must complete a minimum of 100 hours of service to be considered.
Need-Based Scholarships: This scholarship is awarded to full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students based on financial need, as determined by the FAFSA and academic achievement. This scholarship may be impacted by other scholarships and grants the student receives. Scholarship amount totals may be divided out and distributed per semester.

Full Tuition Scholarship

USF is thrilled to announce that prospective students can now receive full tuition! To qualify, a student must meet all requirements:

Enroll as a first-time, full-time freshman
Be a resident of South Dakota or surrounding counties*
Have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Submit the FAFSA, qualify for Pell Grant, and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7,000 or less
Live on campus & have a meal plan

*The following counties from Minnesota: Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Rock and Nobles.

Overarching Scholarship Philosophy

The overarching scholarship philosophy for the University of Sioux Falls is designed to provide a residential experience for all students. For that reason, institutional aid is awarded to assist with direct costs for tuition, fees, on-campus room and board.

National Merit Semifinalist: Next Steps

If you’ve been named a National Merit Semifinalist, you passed the first hurdle to becoming a finalist. But with all the next steps for National Merit Semifinalists, you may feel like earning a great PSAT score was the easy part. NSMC will tell you if you’ve been selected as a finalist in February of your senior year. That’s a lot of information about the next steps for National Merit Semifinalists.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a competitive opportunity with big dollars at stake. With available benefits like those, it’s vital you hit all the deadlines and provide all the required documents as soon as possible.
You don’t need to indicate a college choice to qualify as a National Merit Scholar Finalist. that hold accredited status with a regional accrediting commission on higher education. If you’re not sure where you’d like to attend, you can mark “undecided.” However, to qualify for a college-sponsored Merit Scholarship award, you must have named that school your first choice. Don’t worry if you named a school as your first choice but you’re unsure.
You must ensure you meet all the academic, residency, and enrollment requirements.
This proof of academic accomplishment needs to extend all the way from grade 9 through your senior year. It also includes any college courses you took.

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous disruption in education, and the National Merit scholarship program was also impacted. The testing update was a response to the current health crisis, and it is not anticipated to become a permanent program change. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous disruption in education, and the National Merit scholarship program was also impacted. This testing update is a response to the current health crisis, and it is not anticipated to become a permanent program change.

PSAT/NMSQT and Finalist Status

To participate in the National Merit Program, students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of their high school program. Typically, to advance to Merit Scholarship finalist status, applicants must submit an SAT score that confirms the reported performance on the PSAT/NMSQT.

Subjective and Objective Value

Pride born of doing something few people can accomplish is subjective, and academic and personal excellence that can be measured in dollars, diplomas, and careers is objective. Being part of the National Merit Scholarship Program justifiably is a point of great pride. It means you have scored in the top 1 percentile of test takers nationwide. Pride is a subjective measure of what it means to be a Merit Scholar. Dollars are a more objective metric. Clearly, preparing for the PSAT can pay dividends. Award amounts are the focus of many frequently asked questions about the scholarship program and its benefits, but dollars aren’t the only measure of how Merit Scholars benefit. Some colleges offer scholarships and perks for Commended Students, semifinalists, finalists, and Merit Scholars.

History of the National Merit Scholarship Program

The not-for-profit National Merit Scholarship Corp. was established in 1955. It launched the National Merit Scholarship Program in 1956 to inspire and reward academic excellence. The first year, 58,158 students qualified for the program. Admission to the program is based on PSAT/NMSQT scores. About 3.8 million high school students vie for admission to the National Merit Scholarship Program.

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