Montana National Merit Semi-Finalist Tuition Waiver

Montana waives tuition for the first two consecutive semesters at a Montana University System campus for Montana students named National Merit Semifinalists. The student must enter an MUS campus within nine months of high school graduation and maintain a satisfactory standard for the second semester; credits earned before graduation do not count. Semifinalists are sent information automatically in the spring of senior year, and students who have not heard by mid-April should contact the Commissioner's office. The waiver cannot be transferred. It rewards the PSAT-based National Merit recognition, so no separate essay or application is needed beyond enrolling on time.

Other deadlines near this one

• 802 Opportunity Grant
  Due June 30, 2027 · Full tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
• Alaska Education Grant
  Due June 30, 2027 · $500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
• Alaska Performance Scholarship
  Due June 30, 2027 · $3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier

How hard is the Montana National Merit Semi-Finalist Tuition Waiver to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• Fewer rivalsOpen only to Montana residents
• Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Montana National Merit Semi-Finalist Tuition Waiver?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Must be a resident of Montana
• ✓Must attend a college in Montana (the award does not travel out of state)
• ✓Open to high school seniors

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is June 30, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 30 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Watch for the letter in spring of senior year and call OCHE by mid-April if none arrives.

Information sent to semifinalists

Spring of senior year 2027

Common questions about the Montana National Merit Semi-Finalist Tuition Waiver

More merit-based scholarships

• NALC William C. Doherty Scholarship Fund
  $16,000 ($4,000/yr over 4 years) · due December 31, 2026
• NESA Eagle Scout Scholarships
  $4,000 to $50,000 · due February 1, 2027
• National Honor Society Scholarship
  $3,200 - $25,000 (600 awards) · due November 20, 2026
• National Merit Scholarship Program
  $2,500 (plus corporate and college-sponsored awards that vary) · due October 30, 2026
• Ned McWherter Scholars Program
  $6,000 per year ($3,000 state plus $3,000 college match), renewable for four years · due March 1, 2027
• New Mexico Scholars Scholarship
  Tuition, books and fees · due June 30, 2027

Lists this award appears on

• Montana Scholarships and State Grants
• No-Essay Scholarships
• Merit Scholarships
• Scholarships With June Deadlines