Record Number of Merit Scholars Enrolled at Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. --- This year's freshman class at Northwestern University includes 249 Merit Scholars — third highest in the nation and a record number for Northwestern.

The total surpasses the record number of 198 Merit Scholar freshmen in the 2006-07 academic year, fourth highest in the nation. That number topped the previous high of 174 in 2005-06.

Northwestern is second among private institutions in the number of National Merit freshmen. Harvard University has 285 Merit Scholars, highest in the nation. Merit Scholars at other private institutions include Washington University-St. Louis (204); University of Chicago (196); Yale University (183); and Princeton University (179).

One public institution is ahead of Northwestern -- the University of Texas at Austin with 283.

Of this year's 249 Merit Scholars at Northwestern, 186 were sponsored by the University. Each institution taking part in the program selects winners of their awards from finalists who have been accepted for admission and who state that the sponsor college or university is their first choice.

The National Merit® Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who apply for the awards and who have the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (critical reading+mathmatics+writing skills scores). Awards are made on a state representational basis without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans.