15 Essay Competitions for High School Students
If you are in high school and looking for a way to boost your writing skills, essay competitions can be a solid option for you. Essay competitions give you a chance to go beyond the standard school curriculum and engage seriously with ideas that interest you, whether that's literature, science, social policy, philosophy, or history. Many of these competitions are organized by universities, research institutions, and professional organizations, which means participation alone carries real weight on a college application or CV. Whether you win or not, sitting down to research a topic, build an argument, and write pushes you in ways that most classroom assignments cannot. If you are still figuring out your interests, competitions can be a low-stakes way to explore a subject deeply without any formal commitment.
Why should you participate in essay competitions in high school?
Participating in an essay competition is a practical way to gain academic experience outside of school. Writing an essay forces you to develop a clear argument, back it with evidence, and communicate it persuasively, skills that can be difficult to build in a regular school environment. Beyond the writing itself, competitions teach you how to work within a deadline, structure complex thinking under pressure, engage with new topics, and share insights that matter to you. Many competitions are free or low-cost to enter, making them among the most accessible ways for you to gain meaningful skill-building experience outside the classroom. Additionally, competitions attract entries from across the country, and even internationally, offering you a chance to learn about diverse perspectives and assess your own work when pitted against many peers.
We went through the options to offer you a list of 15 essay competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for AI competitions, check out our blog here.
1. John Locke Institute’s Global Essay Prize
Location: Online + optional awards dinner in London for winners
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes include $1,000 – $5,000 scholarships toward John Locke Institute programs
Dates: Entry submission window: April 1 – May 31; late submission dates: June 7 and June 21; Notification of shortlisted essays: July 7
Application deadline: March 31; registration opens on February 2
Eligibility: Students around the world who are under 19 years old by May 31 (Junior category: students under 15 | Senior category: students who are 15 – 18 years old)
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize competition invites students to write a 2,000-word essay on a question from one of 10 subject categories, including economics, history, international relations, law, philosophy, politics, psychology, public policy, and science and technology. Each category offers three distinct questions, so you will choose both a subject and an angle that genuinely interests you. Essays are judged by senior academics from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford based on criteria like knowledge, use of evidence, quality of argument, originality, writing style, and persuasive force. If you get shortlisted, you will be invited to participate in a conference and awards dinner in London, which can be an opportunity to network. The competition concludes with the announcement of six winners in each category (junior and senior), who receive scholarships to attend John Locke Institute programs.
2. Singularity: AI Essay Contest by Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost and Prizes: Free to enter. Winners will receive up to $2,490 in scholarships toward any Veritas AI program.
Dates: Submissions open March 23, winners announced on May 16.
Application deadline: April 26. Submit your essay here!
Eligibility: Students from any country enrolled in high school (grades 9–12) are eligible to apply.
Singularity: AI Essay Contest is an international essay competition where high school students write about the future of AI - its risks, its possibilities, and what it means for the world. Prompts are contributed and judged by researchers from MIT, Harvard, and Oxford. Free to enter and open worldwide,winners receive up to $2,490 in scholarships to any Veritas AI programs.
3. Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition
Location: Online and awards dinner at King’s College (University of Cambridge), Cambridge, England
Cost and Prizes: Free; cash prizes of up to $150 and up to $500 worth of Cambridge Center for International Research Academy scholarship
Dates: Submission window: January 15; Announcement of results: May 26; Award Ceremony and Dinner: July 31
Application deadline: May 10
Eligibility: Students, ages 11 – 18, worldwide
Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is an opportunity to explore big questions in politics, ethics, science, and society, and put those ideas on paper. You will pick one prompt (designed by professors from Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, and other top universities) and write an original essay of up to 2,000 words responding to it. Your essay will go through a double-blind review by a panel of researchers and professors, and will be judged on the quality of your thinking and writing. The competition also offers access to free monthly workshops led by Ph.D. mentors to help you refine your writing. If your essay stands out, you will be invited to attend a formal dinner at King's College, Cambridge, with a Nobel laureate speaking at the ceremony.
4. Lumiere Scholars Essay Award
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes of up to $1,000 in cash + $3,190 scholarship to Lumiere Research Program
Dates: Submission window: March 9 – April 26; Announcement of shortlist: May 11; Announcement of results: May 17
Application deadline: April 26
Eligibility: High school students worldwide
Lumiere Education’s Essay Competition invites high school students to answer a question focused on a contemporary societal issue and make an argument backed by solid evidence. In the process, you will learn how to structure your writing, analyze information, and present your insights. Your work will be evaluated based on criteria like intellectual independence and persuasive arguments, with winning entries being well-reasoned, research-based essays. Your essay will be reviewed by an international panel of professors and researchers from Brown, Oxford, Cambridge, Dartmouth, and Cornell through a double-blind review process.
5. Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; Seasonal rounds: up to $3,000 in scholarship prizes | Annual grand prize: Up to $22,000
Dates: Next submission deadline: April 30; multiple competitions each year
Application deadline: Next deadline: April 30; multiple events each year
Eligibility: Anthem and The Fountainhead: Students in grades 8–12 worldwide | Atlas Shrugged competition: High school, college, and graduate students worldwide
The Ayn Rand Institute runs three annual essay contests tied to Rand's novels Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. As a participant, you will read Ayn Rand’s work, explore its philosophical ideas, go through the assigned prompts, and share your insights in an essay. You will need to read the novel carefully, make a note of characters and themes, and come up with strong reasoning to address the prompts. First-place winners in the seasonal contests receive $2,000 to $3,000, and the grand annual prize of $25,000 is awarded to the single best essay across the full season. Essays will be judged on clarity, organization, and the depth of engagement with Rand's ideas.
6. Horizon Academic Essay Prize
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; cash prizes up to $1,000 + scholarships of up to $6,450
Dates: Submission deadline: February 1; Notification of shortlist: February 22; Announcement of winners: March 8
Application deadline: No pre-registration process; you can directly submit the essay before or on February 1.
Eligibility: High school students worldwide
The Horizon Academic Essay Prize allows you to dive into complex, real-world issues like mental health stigma, social movements, global inequity, bioethics, and technology and present your ideas in the form of a structured essay. You will choose a topic and draft an essay that focuses on precision, independent thought, and counterarguments. In the process, you will learn how to structure your arguments and conduct deep research. The competition follows a double-blind review process, where a panel of professors and researchers on Horizon's Academic Advisory Board will score your essay based on its originality, critical thinking, use of evidence, clarity of structure, and quality of writing. Winners will receive scholarships and cash prizes.
7. AFSA National High School Essay Contest
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes of up to $2,500 + an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. + a full scholarship for Semester at Sea available
Dates: TBA; next cycle opens in the fall
Application deadline: March 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 (including home-schooled students) who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents attending school in any US state, D.C., US territories, or overseas
Organized by the American Foreign Service Association, the National High School Essay contest asks you to write 1,000–1,500 words on a specific, topical foreign policy question. The current year's prompt focuses on the fragmentation of U.S. soft power tools and what it means for American diplomacy going forward. You will be expected to take a clear position, back it with evidence, and engage seriously with the counterarguments. Your essay will be evaluated based on the extent of analysis, research quality, clarity, style, and mechanics. Your essay will go through multiple rounds of blind judging. If you win, you will receive a cash prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where you will meet senior State Department officials, and a full scholarship for a Semester at Sea voyage. Your school will receive 10 copies of AFSA's Inside a U.S. Embassy.
8. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Critical Essay Category
Location: Online submission; awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Cost and Prizes: $10 fee/entry (waivers available); winners get their work published on the competition website, and national winners receive scholarships of up to $12,500
Dates: Submission window opens in the fall; dates vary by region
Application deadline: Varies by region; check your regional affiliate's deadline here
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up, in grades 7 – 12
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a creative recognition program for young artists and writers in the U.S. It allows submission of original work across 29 categories, including the Critical Essay category, focused on analytical and argumentative writing. You will write an essay of 500–3,000 words with the intent to inform or persuade. You can submit art or media reviews, opinion essays, or essays defending a specific intellectual position. The competition operates through regional affiliates, so your entry will be reviewed at the regional level first before advancing to national judging. Regional Gold Key winners are considered for national awards, which include Gold Medals, Silver Medals, and American Voices nominations. The program also offers portfolio submissions for graduating seniors who want to show a body of work rather than a single piece.
9. Gilder Lehrman Institute’s David McCullough Essay Prizes
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes of up to $5,000 for individuals and $500 for schools
Dates: Submission deadline: June 22; Results announcement date: TBA
Application deadline: June 22
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools
Named in memory of Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David McCullough, this competition invites you to explore topics in American history from 1491 to 2001 through structured writing. You can choose from two essay formats. The interpretive essay requires a written analysis of 750 to 1,000 words focused on a single primary source from the Gilder Lehrman Collection.The research essay takes a broader approach, requiring you to write 1,500 to 2,000 words by drawing on both primary and secondary sources to argue a position on a topic in American history. Your essay will be evaluated on historical rigor, clarity of argument, use of evidence, empathy, and imagination. If your essay makes it to the end, you stand a chance to win $500 to $5,000.
10. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest
Location: Online submission
Cost and Prizes: $10 entry fee; up to $1,000 scholarships available as prizes
Dates: Submission deadline: February 22; Announcement of results: May
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12; US public, private, and home schools only; international students not currently accepted; previous national winners not eligible
Offered by the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation and the Journalism Education Association, the High School Essay Content is designed for students interested in media, journalism, and the role of the press in a democratic society. You will write a 300- to 500-word essay on a given prompt, which typically focuses on a topical issue in media literacy or press freedom, such as why misinformation spreads so easily and what journalists can do about it. Judges will score your work based on topic analysis, originality of voice, use of language, structure, and mechanics. The scoring rubric is published in full, and you can see exactly how the 100 available points are distributed before you write. First place carries a $1,000 scholarship, second place $500, and third place $300.
11. World Historian Student Essay Competition
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; $500 prize
Dates: Submission deadline: May 1; Announcement of winners: June
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades K – 12 enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home schools worldwide; past winners in the same category are not eligible.
The World History Association’s Student Essay Competition asks you to connect world history to your own life in the form of structured text. You will write a 1,000-word essay that ties a personal or family experience to a broader historical event or world history theme.It could be a family story connected to a war, a migration, a cultural tradition, or a moment in regional history that shaped your community. The personal angle is not optional; judges will specifically evaluate how well you describe the experience of being changed by a deeper understanding of history. Essays are judged on the clarity of your thesis, the quality of your concrete personal examples, evidence of critical thinking, organization, and how effectively you communicate that personal connection. If you win, you will receive a prize of $500 along with a one-year membership in the World History Association. Winning essays may also be published in the World History Bulletin.
12. Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; winning essay published on the competition site + access to a speaker event available
Dates: TBA in the spring/summer
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Current high school students worldwide
The Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest requires high school students to write an essay focused on law, working on close legal reasoning, case analysis, and structured argumentation. Each year, the prompt shifts to a different legal question; past cycles have tackled due process and the limits of government power, asking students to argue whether governments can ever justifiably curtail individual rights, and when necessity claims hold legal weight. Essays that are successful typically engage with real legal reasoning and draw on historical or contemporary examples; so instead of a general opinion piece, you will need to submit a structured legal argument. The winning essay is published on the CULR website, and the winner and runners-up are invited to a speaker event hosted by the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review.
13. Bennington College Young Writers Awards
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes of $250 – $2,000 + Bennington College scholarships + publication of essay on Bennington College website available
Dates: Submission window: September 1 – November
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 worldwide (gap year students not eligible); all entries must be reviewed and approved by a sponsoring teacher or mentor.
Bennington College’s Young Writers Awards competition allows you to submit written work in one of three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The nonfiction category allows you to submit a personal or academic essay, or a stand-alone excerpt from a longer piece, following a total word limit of 1,500 words. Your entry must be original, reviewed by a sponsoring teacher, and submitted to only one category. Winners in each category receive $500 – $2,000, with additional $250 prizes for distinguished submissions by grade level. Beyond the cash prizes, winners who apply to and enroll at Bennington are eligible for substantial scholarships as well. Winning entries are published on the Bennington website and may also be picked up by local publications or recorded for the Bennington audio library.
14. YoungArts National Competition: Writing (Nonfiction)
Location: Online; event for winners with distinction at YoungArts, Miami, FL
Cost and Prizes: $35 fee/entry; cash prizes between $250 and $10,000
Dates: Submission Window: July – 22; October 8; Announcement of winners: End of November; National YoungArts Week: January 4 – 11
Application deadline: October 8
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 who are 15 to 18 years old by December 1 and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or those legally able to receive taxable income in the U.S.
YoungArts runs a national competition to recognize young artists and writers. You can submit written work through the writing track under five categories: fiction, nonfiction, play or script, poetry, and spoken word. The nonfiction category is best suited for essays. The competition recognizes work that goes beyond technical skill, so you need to submit an essay with a strong, distinctive artistic point of view and a depth of thinking that stands out.
Recognition is offered at two levels. A YoungArts Award ($250) recognizes exceptional work, while a YoungArts Award With Distinction moves students into the national pool, with cash awards of up to $10,000 and an invitation to National YoungArts Week.Beyond the prizes, winners get to join a 20,000-strong alumni network and gain access to ongoing creative and professional development opportunities.
15. JASNA Essay Contest’s High School Division
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes include $250 – $1,000 scholarships + publication of essays on JASNA website + free access to select JASNA events
Dates: Submission window: February – June 1; Announcement of winners: August
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school and home-schooled (full- or part-time) students, college students, and graduates worldwide
The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) runs an annual essay contest with a separate division specifically for high school students. Rather than summarizing Austen's novels or cataloging themes, you will form an original argument and support it with close reading. This year’s topic focuses on men and boys in Austen's work, asking you to choose two or more male characters and explore them on terms of your choosing, be it similarities, development, relationships, how men treat women, or any other angle that genuinely interests you. You will need to support your points with passages from the text and engage with what you find genuinely interesting. Winners receive $250 to $1,000 scholarships. The first-place winner gets free registration and two nights' lodging for JASNA's Annual General Meeting. All winners receive a year of JASNA membership, publication of their essay on the JASNA website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Austen’s novels.
16. New York Times Learning Network’s Open Letters Contest
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free to enter; winning letters published on The New York Times Learning Network
Dates: Submission window: February 25 – April 8; results announced three months after the submission deadline.
Application deadline: April 8
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 19, in middle school or high school worldwide; children of NYT employees are not eligible.
This contest, run by The New York Times Learning Network, invites you to write an open letter of up to 500 words focusing on a specific person, group, or institution about an issue you care about. Your letter can be serious or lighthearted, but it should focus on a clear call to action and must be written in a way that resonates with the public, not just the person you are addressing. You will need to support your argument with at least two sources, one from The New York Times and one from elsewhere. You can write on your own or as part of a group, but the contest accepts one entry per student. Along with the letter, you will write a short artist's statement describing your writing process.
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Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!