Direct medical programs, also known as BS/MD, BA/MD, BS/DO or BA/DO programs, represent a unique opportunity for aspiring physicians to join a direct pathway to medicine. These programs allow high school students to commit early to medicine, oftentimes reducing the time and financial burdens typically associated with medical school.
Despite this, many students graduate with considerable debt, with more than 71% of med school students graduating with loans. To reduce this financial burden, some schools will offer scholarships to students who qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual competition open to all high school students in the United States who meet the program entry requirements. For most participants, they will take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year to qualify for the award in the year following their high school graduation.
To enter the National Merit Program, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled as a high school student (either traditional or homeschooled) and will plan to enter college the year following their high school graduation
- Attend high school in the United States, District of Columbia or U.S. commonwealths and territories. If they attend high school outside of the United States, they must be a U.S. citizen or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT no later than the third year in grades 9-12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern.
More than 1.3 million students enter the competition annually, but only 50,000 will be recognized as high scorers. From there, they will be further distinguished as:
- Commended Students – 34,000 students will qualify as Commended Students. While this means they won’t move forward in the competition for the National Merit Scholarship, they might still be eligible for other scholarships provided by corporate or business sponsors.
- Semifinalists – 16,000 students will move forward as Semifinalists, meaning they scored the highest in their state. They will be notified of the next steps through their school.
- Finalists – in February of their senior year, 15,000 students will be notified if they have advanced to the Finalist stage. To be chosen as a National Merit Scholarship recipient, the student must advance to this stage.
Of the 15,000 students who advance to the finalist stage, a little less than half (7,140) will win one of the three types of National Merit Scholarships:
- National Merit $25,000 Scholarships
- Corporate-sponsored scholarships
- College-sponsored scholarships
Direct Medical Programs That Offer College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships
Roughly 3,800 National Merit Scholarships will be offered to finalists who plan to attend a sponsoring college or university. In total, there are about 160 colleges that currently are sponsors. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years at the sponsoring college, and are non-transferable, meaning they are canceled if the student opts not to attend the sponsoring college.
The following Direct Medical Programs offer National Merit Scholarships to qualifying students. These scholarships are subject to change. Confirm on each individual school’s website to review any updated information.
Case Western Reserve University
Award: $1,000-$2,000.
Eligibility: Must declare CWRU as their first choice and those who have not received other National Merit or Corporate National Merit Scholarships will be considered.
Creighton University
Award: National Merit Award amount varies.
Eligibility: Must declare Creighton University as their first choice.
Florida Atlantic University
Award:
- National Merit scholarship recipients who are Florida Residents are eligible for the Benacquisto Scholarship Program, which awards a Finalist up to the cost of attendance.
- Out-of-state Finalists are not eligible for the Benacquisto Scholarship Program. They will receive competitive scholarships, although they will be partially responsible for covering the cost of attendance.
- National Merit Scholars are eligible for awarded scholarships for eight semesters or until graduation from your Bachelor’s degree at FAU, whichever comes first.
Eligibility:
- Submit your completed admissions application to FAU. Complete the admission process by submitting your Self-Reported Student Academic Record instead of your high school transcript.
- Submit your SAT or ACT test scores through your application status portal or have your official scores sent from the testing agency.
Florida International University
Award: The total amount of the National Merit Scholarship includes tuition, fees, housing, a meal plan, stipend for stipend for books and, if they demonstrate financial need, a laptop as well.
Eligibility: Must choose FIU as their top-choice university.
Florida State University
Award: For Florida residents, the total amount of this award equals the institutional cost of attendance, minus the sum of Bright Futures and the National Merit Scholarship, for a total value of over $66,000. This scholarship guarantees admission into the University Honors Program and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). For out-of-state residents, the package has a total value of approximately $75,776 distributed across four years.
Eligibility: Must list FSU as your first-choice institution by May 1.
Penn State
Award: Award amounts vary with a maximum amount of $2,000 per year with up to four years of eligibility.
Eligibility: Full-time students who list Penn State as a first-choice school on the National Merit application by February are considered.
Michigan State University
Award: $750-$2,000
Eligibility: Must declare Michigan State University as their first choice and who have not received other National Merit or Corporate National Merit Scholarships will be considered.
Rhodes College
Award: National Merit Awards are valued at $1,500 beginning with the incoming class of 2020-2021.
Eligibility: The National Merit Awards are renewable for three years provided the student meets the financial aid satisfactory academic progress standards.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Award: National Merit Award amount varies.
Eligibility: When you apply to Rensselaer, you will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships, which include National Merit Scholarships. There are no other forms to complete.
Rutgers — New Brunswick
Award: $1,000 per year, renewable. This award is valid for four years of undergraduate study with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average.
Eligibility: National Merit finalists must designate Rutgers University as their first choice on the National Merit Scholarship application.
Saint Louis University
Award: National Merit Award amount varies. If SLU funds the scholarship, the recipient receives $2,000 in additional aid per year.
Eligibility: Not all National Merit Finalists are guaranteed funding. To apply, list Saint Louis University as their first-choice college by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation deadline.
Stony Brook University
Award: Up to $3,000 a year for four consecutive years. Finalists may qualify for an additional $2,000 award if Stony Brook is listed as their top choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Eligibility: Any current year National Merit Scholar Finalist or Semifinalist who is eligible for admission to Stony Brook University as a freshman for the following fall semester will be considered for a scholarship of $3,000 a year for four consecutive years.
Texas A&M University
Award: $500-$7,000 annually.
Eligibility: Scholarships are guaranteed to fall freshman admits who are identified as either a National Merit Semifinalist or National Merit Finalist.
Texas Tech University
Award: The National Merit Scholarship covers the cost of attendance.
Eligibility: Students should enroll in 30 TTU hours per academic year (checked in May) and must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA in university.
Tulane University
Award: Awards of at least $2,000 per year are given to finalists who name Tulane as their first choice school according to the National Merit Process from either the National Merit Scholarship Corporation or Tulane, but not both in the same year.
Eligibility:
- Recipients must meet requirements set forth by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for renewal of the scholarship.
- For those students whose National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards are one-year only, Tulane will apply a $2,000 per academic year award after the one year as long as the student is primarily enrolled as a full-time Newcomb-Tulane undergraduate.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Award: Cost of attendance, regardless of residency.
Eligibility: Students recognized as a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation who have submitted their application, all supporting documents, provide a copy of their official National Merit Finalist letter via email to [email protected] and list The University of Alabama as their college of choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation before May 1, 2024.
University of Arizona
Award:
- Arizona Semi-Finalists: $13,500 per academic year.
- Non-Arizona Semi-Finalists: the value of the original Arizona Tuition Award + $1,500 National Merit Semi-Finalist Award.
Eligibility:
- Students who become National Merit Finalists will be awarded the National Scholar award which supersedes and replaces the National Merit Semi-Finalist Award.
- Enroll in courses at Arizona as a first-time, full-time, degree-seeking student (i.e. students who did not attend any higher education institution including Community Colleges, Universities, or International post-secondary education schools after high school graduation).
University of Cincinnati
Award: Full in-state tuition; Out-of-state students will receive an additional $3,000; 60 available, first-come, first-served.
Eligibility:
- Complete the application for admission and all required supplemental materials by December 1 of your senior year.
- Notify the University of Cincinnati of your status as a National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist by March 1 of our senior year.
- Email a copy of the award notification letter to [email protected]
University of Evansville
Award: The recipient will not have to pay any out-of-pocket tuition expenses.
Eligibility: Provide a copy of your Certificate of Merit to the Office of Admission.
University of Houston
Award: Covers the cost of tuition and required fees, including a $1,000 undergraduate research stipend and a $2,000 study abroad stipend.
University of Louisville
Award: Full in-state tuition + $32,000 allowance for room, board and books or $80,000 for out-of-state students.
Eligibility: Must list the University of Louisville as their first choice with National Merit Corporation.
University of Minnesota
Award: Multiple available, up to $40,000, competitive.
Eligibility: Recipients must list the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as their first-choice college by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation deadline.
University of New Mexico
Award: The UNM National Merit Finalist Scholarship is valued as approximately $23,000 per year — covers base tuition, fees and housing. The National Merit Finalist scholarship is renewable for 4 years.
Eligibility: There is no separate scholarship application; simply apply and be admitted into UNM by Dec 1.
University of North Texas
Award: For Texas residents, 4-year value: $128,000. For Non-residents, 4-year value: $177,000.
University of Oklahoma
Award: For residents, the award can be up to $73,850, which includes a $1,000 research stipend. For non-residents, the award can be up to $129,850.
Eligibility: Name University of Oklahoma as their college choice by April 30.
University of Tulsa
Award: Free tuition, fees, room and board, and books. Given membership in Leadership TU (led by the University’s President), guaranteed admission into TU’s Honors Program, and a $6,000 annual monetary gift.
Eligibility: Designate the University of Tulsa as their top choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Complete University of Tulsa application no later than Feb 1. Maintain a minimum of 15 hours of coursework.
University of South Florida
Award: Full cost of attendance, as well as a $2,000 scholarship for study abroad
Eligibility: Qualify for National Merit Scholarship by submitting all required documents needed to complete your application. This can include your application fee, test scores and SSAR/transcript(s).
University of Pittsburgh
Award: National Merit Award amounts vary.
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