National Merit Scholarships
Welcome, National Merit Scholars
University of Idaho is your first choice for leadership and excellence. As a leader among schools in the Northwest, you’ll join more National Merit Scholars here than at all other Idaho institutions combined.
As Idaho’s only university with a prestigious Carnegie R1 classification, you’ll become part of one of the most impactful institutions in the world.
As a National Merit Finalist, you're guaranteed a four-year scholarship at University of Idaho when you declare U of I as your first-choice institution.
This scholarship covers university-defined educational costs, including basic tuition, fees, housing and meals in a U of I residence hall.
How do I qualify for the National Merit Scholarship?
- Achieve Finalist standing with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in your Junior year of High School through PSAT and SAT scores.
- Be admitted as a first-year student entering directly from high school or home school.
- Submit a copy of your National Merit Finalist letter to the Financial Aid Office.
- Declare University of Idaho as first school of choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by their deadline of May 31.
What is the value of the National Merit Scholarship?
This award covers basic registration fees/tuition and the university-defined cost for room and board for a traditional undergraduate if you live in a U of I residence hall. Fees/tuition are set by the Idaho State Board of Education in late spring, annually. The value of this award for the 2026-27 academic year is approximately $22,000 for Idaho residents. For non-residents, a full non-resident tuition waiver (a value of approximately $20,000) is also included. That's over $85,000 in cash scholarships, plus a full non-resident tuition waiver for non-residents, over the course of four years. The best news is that the value of the scholarship program increases at the same rate as costs increase.
Will the National Merit Scholarship cover all my expenses?
The fee portion of the scholarship covers basic registration/tuition fees only. You will be responsible for paying any special course and lab fees. The scholarship is designed to support you during the fall and spring terms, only; winter intersession and summer term enrollment is not required and therefore we cannot promise additional funding for these optional experiences at this time.
Housing and meals fees are calculated using the university-defined cost for a double room in the Living Learning Communities (LLCs, also home to Honors Living), and an all-access meal plan for a typical undergraduate. Students may choose to live in any university-managed housing; however, depending on the actual cost for housing and meals, a student may end up owing a small amount out of pocket.