Semifinalist cutoffs aren't set nationally -- each state draws its own line, and Montana's confirmed Class of 2027 line ties two of its four direct neighbors exactly while trailing the other two. Here's exactly where 208 sits.
The number: 208, tied for the national low
Per Compass Education Group's confirmed reporting, Montana's Class of 2027 Semifinalist cutoff is 208, down 5 points from the Class of 2026. The full state-by-state list shows Montana tied at that exact number with Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, and West Virginia -- the lowest confirmed cutoff anywhere in the country.
Two exact ties, two real gaps, all four direct neighbors
Montana borders exactly four states, split evenly between matches and gaps:
- 211: Idaho -- 3 points above, to the southwest
- 210: South Dakota -- 2 points above, to the southeast
- 208 (Montana's line): Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota -- exact matches, to the south and east
The part that surprises people: an exact tie on two borders, a real gap on the other two
Montana's cutoff splits its four direct neighbors right down the middle -- Wyoming and North Dakota match it exactly, while Idaho and South Dakota both confirm higher. 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 -- there's no rule that predicts which neighbors will match and which won't, since each state's number is set entirely independently.
What this means for you
- Check your Selection Index against 208, not Idaho's or South Dakota's number. Use the calculator to convert your actual PSAT Reading & Writing and Math scores directly -- Montana's line is the lowest in this regional cluster, 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 all four neighbors share Montana's number. Wyoming and North Dakota do; Idaho and South Dakota don't.
- If you're weighing a move within the Northern Rockies or Plains 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.