Semifinalist cutoffs aren't set nationally -- each state draws its own line, and Idaho's confirmed Class of 2027 line trails both of its Pacific Northwest neighbors by a wide margin while matching a state clear across the Great Basin. Here's exactly where 211 sits.
The number: 211, tied with Nevada
Per Compass Education Group's confirmed reporting, Idaho's Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff is 211, down 4 points from the Class of 2026. The full state-by-state list shows Idaho tied at that exact number with Nevada, and ten points below Washington at 221.
A wide range across six bordering states
Idaho borders six states, and its own line sits well below its Pacific Northwest neighbors while clearing its Mountain neighbors:
- 221: Washington -- 10 points above, to the northwest
- 216: Oregon -- 5 points above, to the west
- 211 (Idaho's line): Idaho, Nevada -- an exact match, to the south
- 209: Utah -- 2 points below, to the southeast
- 208: Montana, Wyoming -- 3 points below, to the east
The part that surprises people: a ten-point gap to Washington, despite a direct shared border
Idaho and Washington share a long, direct border, yet their confirmed cutoffs sit ten points apart -- among the largest gaps between any two adjacent states in this dataset. Semifinalist slots are allocated to each state in proportion to its share of the nation's graduating seniors, a separate calculation from the cutoff score. The cutoff itself depends entirely on where the top slice of Selection Index scores lands among each state's own PSAT/NMSQT takers that year -- the Seattle metro area's much larger, more urban test-taking population produces a very different result than Idaho's, even along a shared border.
What this means for you
- Check your Selection Index against 211, not Washington's or Oregon's number. Use the calculator to convert your actual PSAT Reading & Writing and Math scores directly -- Idaho's line sits well below both Pacific Northwest neighbors, so a score that fell short elsewhere may still clear it here.
- 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.
- Don't assume the Pacific Northwest shares one cutoff. Idaho, Oregon, and Washington span a ten-point range despite Idaho bordering both.
- If you're weighing a move within the Pacific Northwest or Mountain West 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.