Semifinalist cutoffs aren't set nationally -- each state draws its own line, and Georgia's confirmed Class of 2027 line sits at the top of its region, tied rather than standing alone. Here's exactly where 217 ranks, and how much distance separates Georgia from its neighbors.
The number: 217, tied with North Carolina and Colorado
Per Compass Education Group's confirmed reporting, Georgia's Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff is 217, down 3 points from the Class of 2026's 220. The full state-by-state list shows Georgia tied at that exact number with North Carolina and Colorado. Texas and Pennsylvania, which tied Georgia in last cycle's projections, confirmed two points higher this year.
Tied for the highest line in the Southeast
Sorting the Southeast by confirmed cutoff shows Georgia now sharing the top spot rather than clearing every neighbor outright:
- 217 (Georgia's line): Georgia, North Carolina
- 216: Florida -- one point below
- 214: Tennessee -- three points below
- 212: South Carolina -- five points below
- 210: Alabama -- seven points below
Georgia ties North Carolina at the top of the region this cycle, a full point over Florida and seven points over Alabama -- a gap as wide as most states see across their entire spread from lowest to highest neighbor.
The part that surprises people: leading the region doesn't mean fewer slots
It's tempting to read Georgia's position atop the Southeast as "the hardest state in the region to get recognized in," but slot count and cutoff score are two independent numbers. Semifinalist slots are allocated to each state in proportion to its share of the nation's graduating seniors -- Georgia's population size determines its total slot allocation, separate entirely from where its cutoff line falls. The cutoff itself reflects where the top slice of Selection Index scores lands specifically among Georgia's own PSAT/NMSQT takers that year. Georgia and North Carolina tying atop their region doesn't mean either state recognizes a smaller share of its students than Florida or Tennessee do -- it means their top scorers cluster at a higher raw Selection Index.
What this means for you
- Check your Selection Index against 217, not Florida's or North Carolina's number. Use the calculator to convert your actual PSAT Reading & Writing and Math scores directly, rather than assuming a score that clears a neighboring state's bar clears Georgia's too.
- This is the confirmed, official cutoff, not a projection. NMSC announced Class of 2027 Semifinalists nationally on September 9, 2026, and Compass Education Group's number reflects real qualifying and non-qualifying score reports.
- The gap to Alabama and South Carolina is real and wide. Don't assume "same region" means "close cutoff" -- Georgia sits five to seven points above its southern and western neighbors.
- If you're weighing a move within the Southeast before junior year, check both states' specific lines. Eligibility is based on where you're enrolled at the time of the qualifying PSAT, not where you grew up.
- This is one piece of the larger National Merit picture -- see the full breakdown of how National Merit actually works for how the cutoff fits into the whole Commended-to-Scholar process.