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
NHRP Eligibility Requirements
There are several requirements for qualification. Your academic and ethnicity information is verified by your high school counselor. In order to be eligible, you must:
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT® in October of your junior year.
- Be a junior in high school.
- Be of at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino descent.
- Achieve the minimum required PSAT/NMSQT cutoff score (this index score may vary by state, region and territory each year).
- Achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher by the end of junior year (GPAs may be weighted).
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are a permanent resident, you must possess, or be in the process of obtaining, a visa or green card,
- If attending an international school, the school must be a U.S. school.
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
No. 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
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
No, to be considered for the NHRP you must take the
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: Students take the PSAT/NMSQT and identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino on the answer sheet.
Mid-September of senior year: NHRP provides counselors with the names of the students who are being recognized and distributes award certificates to counselors for student recognition. NHRP also sends out formal award letters congratulating the students on their 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 877-358-6777.
