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National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP)

An Opportunity for Hispanic/Latino Students

The National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) identifies nearly 5,000 outstanding Hispanic/Latino students each year.  If you are selected, be sure to indicate this recognition on your college applications.

Although the NHRP does not provide a financial reward, being named is an important academic recognition.  The program sends a list of all recognized students to subscribing colleges and universities that are particularly interested in academically outstanding seniors of Hispanic/Latino heritage.

This nationwide list includes students from the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Mariana Islands, and Marshall Islands, as well as U.S. citizens attending international and Army Post Office (APO) schools. It also includes approximately 150 of the top scoring PAA™ students from Puerto Rico.

NHRP Eligibility Requirements

There are three requirements for qualification.  Qualification for recognition is based on your critical reading, mathematics, and writing skill scores on the PSAT/NMSQT®. The cutoff scores vary each year by state. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is also required.

To be eligible, you must also identify yourself as Hispanic/Latino on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet. Your academic and ethnicity information is verified by your high school counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NHRP’s definition of Hispanic/Latino?
To qualify for this program, you must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic category, not a racial category, and you may be of any race. For purposes of the NHRP, you must be from a family whose ancestors came from at least one of these countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela.

Am I eligible for the program if I’m not a junior when I take the PSAT/NMSQT?
No, you must be a junior to be eligible.  If you take the test as a freshman or sophomore, you must take it again as a junior in order to be eligible for the NHRP.

Am I still eligible for the program if I took the PSAT/NMSQT but did not designate myself as Hispanic/Latino?
Yes. Ask your high school counselor to request the appropriate nomination form by sending an email to nhrp@collegeboard.org.

If I did not take the PSAT/NMSQT, is there an application I can use to apply for the program or can my SAT® scores be used instead?
No, to be considered for the NHRP you must take the PSAT/NMSQT during your junior year. There is not a separate application process. We do not use the SAT or any other alternate methods of qualification.

Do the cutoff scores remain the same each year?
No. The cutoff scores are evaluated each year. They can vary by year and by region.

When are schools and students notified?
Counselors are notified in mid-May of the students who are being considered from their high school. They are asked to verify each student’s cumulative GPA and ethnicity. In mid-September of your senior year, a formal letter of congratulations is sent to each recipient. A certificate is sent to your counselor to present to you.

Can you direct me to other scholarship programs?
Our Scholarship Search is a free online tool to help you locate scholarships, internships, grants, and loans that match your educational level, talents, and background.

 

NHRP Dates and Deadlines

October of junior year: You take the PSAT/NMSQT and identify yourself as Hispanic/Latino on the answer sheet.

Mid-September of senior year: NHRP provides counselors with the names of the students selected for the list and distributes award certificates to counselors for student recognition. NHRP also sends out formal award letters congratulating you on your recognition.

October of senior year: NHRP distributes the list of students to subscribing colleges and universities.

For more information, send an email to nhrp@collegeboard.org or call (800) 626-9795