Dozens of high school seniors across Michigan were announced as 2026 National Merit Scholarship winners.
This year’s National Merit Scholarship Program began in October 2024 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT. The highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than 1 percent of the nation’s high school seniors, were named semi-finalists.
More than 15,000 students became finalists. Ultimately, 6,700 will be named merit scholars.
The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who sought students with the strongest academic records, contributions and leadership in school and community activities, an essay and recommendation written by a high school official.
There were 70 Michigan students selected from 40 schools across the state. The number is slightly down from last year's 72.
The below winners will receive their $2,500 scholarship directly from the NMSC. They may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
Michigan winners are below:
Bloomfield Hills High School
Brighton High School
Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook Kingswood School, Bloomfield Hills
Canton High School
Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills
Dexter High School
East Grand Rapids High School
East Kentwood High School
Forest Hills Central High School, Grand Rapids
Forest Hills Eastern High School, Ada
Grand Ledge High School
Greenhills School, Ann Arbor
Harper Creek High School, Battle Creek
Herbert Henry Dow High School
Hillsdale Academy
Houghton High School
Huron High School, Ann Arbor
International Academy, Bloomfield Hills
International Academy of Macomb, Clinton Township
Lake Orion High School
North Farmington High School
Northpointe Christian High School, Grand Rapids
Northville High School
Novi High School
Okemos High School
Plainwell High School
Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor
Plymouth High School
Portage Central High School
Portage Northern High School
Rochester Adams High School, Rochester Hills
Rochester High School, Rochester Hills
Roeper School, Birmingham
Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Salem High School, Canton
Saline High School
Seaholm High School, Birmingham
Skyline High School, Ann Arbor
South Lyon East High School
St. Joseph High School
Troy High School
University of Detroit Jesuit High School
Utica Academy for International Studies, Sterling Heights
Washtenaw International High School, Ypsilanti
West Bloomfield High School
The NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 specifically to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Across Michigan Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.