16 Free Competitions for High School Students
If you are in high school and thinking about how to stand out, competitions can actually help you more than you think. Competitions allow you to apply what you learn in a practical setting, helping you test your skills and knowledge and gain new insights in the process. Many contests are entirely free, making them a low-risk way to test your interests!
Additionally, competitions can directly strengthen your resume, future internships, and even your college applications. These experiences can demonstrate initiative, curiosity, and the ability to take on challenges beyond your school curriculum, which college admissions teams really value.
Why should you participate in competitions in high school?
Competitions in high school can be a great way to build practical skills early. While competing with peers to tackle a problem or develop an original design, idea, or solution, you will learn how to think critically, manage your time, and work under pressure. These skills are essential for future academic and work opportunities, but can be tricky to master through classroom learning alone. Another benefit is exposure through opportunities to connect with mentors, professionals, and academics, and compete with students from different countries, which gives you a broader perspective.
To help you sort through the options, we have narrowed down 15 free competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for AI competitions, check out our blog here.
1. John Locke Institute 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 Global Essay Prize by the John Locke Institute gives you a chance to explore deep, thought-provoking questions across subjects like Philosophy, Economics, and Politics through essay writing. Instead of memorizing facts, you will be expected to build original arguments and defend your perspective clearly. As you work on your essay, you will develop skills in research, structuring ideas, and persuasive writing. Academics from top universities evaluate the entries based on criteria like originality, structure, writing style, knowledge and understanding of the material, the use of evidence, quality of argumentation, and persuasive force. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a conference and awards dinner in London, which can increase your exposure. The competition ends with the announcement of six winners in each category, junior and senior, who win scholarships to attend John Locke Institute programs.
2. Singularity: AI Essay Contest by Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/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. University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton High School Data Science Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes include certificates, trophies, and access to Wharton Global Youth Programs.
Dates: February 2 – April 13
Application deadline: January 28
Eligibility: High school students worldwide, ages 14–18; the competition accepts teams of three to five students from the same school. Check detailed rules here.
The Wharton High School Data Competition is a free opportunity to use professional sports analytics and test predictive modeling skills. Sponsored by Google Gemini, the competition is designed to help you build data analysis and prediction skills with a focus on sports. You will work with a team of peers on a simulated dataset from a fictional ice hockey league, using the season stats to build rankings and predict how teams will perform in a tournament. You will also identify key performance metrics and put together data visualizations to support your analysis. The competition runs in three stages: an initial submission, a semifinal in which you create a detailed slide presentation, and a final round in which the top five teams present live via Zoom to judges. If your team makes it to the end, you will compete to place first, second, or third, and win trophies and free access to Wharton’s high school programs.
4. Immerse Education Essay Competition
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes include up to 100% scholarships to Immerse programs
Dates: Submission window: November 3 – January 14; Results Announcement: January 30
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 18
Immerse Education’s Essay Competition is an opportunity to build writing skills and stand a chance to win scholarships to one of Immerse's university-style academic programs. You will choose one question from a list of 20+ topics ranging from Law and Medicine to Philosophy and Fashion, and write a 500-word academic essay in response. Your essay will be judged on how clearly you communicate ideas, your use of evidence, critical analysis, and spelling and grammar. Winners earn scholarships redeemable at residential programs in cities like Oxford, Cambridge, and New York, or toward online courses.
5. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Virtual + Global Finale at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost and Prizes: Free to enter; prizes include certificates and free/discounted access to Wharton’s high school programs.
Dates: Trading window: September 29 – December 5; Submission of report: December 12; Announcement of semifinalists: January 27; Semifinals (virtual): Week of March 9; Global Finale: April 24 and 25
Application deadline: September 12 (advisor registration deadline)
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18, in grades 9 – 12 worldwide; teams should be composed of 4 – 6 students with a teacher advisor from the same high school.
This free competition run by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is an experiential investment challenge. You and your teammates will manage a $500,000 virtual portfolio using the Wharton Investment Simulator (WInS), buying and selling stocks and ETFs over about 10 weeks. Your team will have access to a real-world case study featuring an actual Wharton graduate, and your job is to build an investment strategy that meets that client’s long-term goals. What sets this competition apart is that teams are judged on the quality and reasoning behind their strategy, not just how much their portfolio grows. You will submit a midterm and a final report toward the end of trading. The top 50 teams advance to virtual Semifinals, with the top 10 then invited to the Global Finale on Wharton's campus in Philadelphia.
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 topics like bioethics, public policy, and technology and present your ideas through a structured essay. You will need to form a clear thesis, support it with evidence, and engage with multiple perspectives. While writing, you will gain experience in structuring arguments in a way that mirrors university-level essays. Your work will be reviewed by a panel of judges from institutions such as Harvard and Oxford, who will assess the essays in a double-blind manner, focusing on persuasive power and intellectual independence. Winners will earn scholarships and cash prizes.
7. John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s Profile in Courage Essay Contest
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes of up to $10,000
Dates: Annual cycle; decisions announced: April 30
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 9 – 12 under the age of 10, including U.S. citizens studying abroad
The Profile in Courage Essay Contest is a prestigious writing competition inspired by Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy. You will be required to write a 700–1,000-word essay analyzing an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917. The essay must evaluate the risks, challenges, and consequences of the decision while using at least five credible sources such as government documents, interviews, or books. Originality is a key judging criterion, so you will benefit from choosing less commonly discussed figures. Your submission must be entirely original (AI-assisted content is disqualified), and it must follow strict citation and anonymity guidelines. Winners receive significant cash awards and national recognition, and the top winner is invited to Boston for an official award ceremony.
8. The National WWII Museum Student Writing Contest
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; cash prizes up to $750 available
Dates: Submission Window: October 27 – February 1; Announcement of winners: March 2
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 7 – 12, including U.S. citizens studying abroad and students under 20 enrolled in high school corresponding/GED programs
This annual writing competition invites students to explore powerful historical themes through argumentative essays. The current prompt focuses on “Degenerate! Hitler’s War on Modern Art,” asking you to examine the importance of artistic freedom using historical evidence in a structured essay of 500–750 words. Your work must be supported by at least five credible sources and reflect critical thinking, historical analysis, and proper citation skills that align with college-level writing expectations. Winners will receive cash awards, certificates, and national recognition, with results announced in March. This can be an opportunity to refine writing skills with a focus on history and humanities.
9. MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge
Location: Online + Final presentation in New York City, NY
Cost and Prizes: Free; $100,000+ in scholarships, and the top team gets $20,000
Dates: Challenge Weekend: February 27 – March 3; Final event and awards ceremony: April 27
Application deadline: February 23
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S. and sixth-form students in the UK
The M3 Challenge is a team-based competition in which you will apply mathematical modeling to real-world problems. You will work with data, analyze trends, and develop solutions collaboratively. During a continuous 14-hour window, you will learn how to apply mathematical modeling to an unscripted, real-world problem. The process requires both technical and communication skills. With your team members, you will write a detailed solution paper explaining your approach. Top teams present their work at a finals event, which adds a presentation component to the experience.
10. Trust for Sustainable Living International Student Competition
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free; cash prizes of up to £1,000/individual and £500/school
Dates: Submission window: October 1 – March 8; Announcement of finalists: May 1; Announcement of Top 10: May 22
Application deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Students, ages 7 – 18, worldwide; participants are split into two categories: ages 7 – 11 and ages 12–18)
The TSL International Student Competition is a free opportunity to explore sustainability culture and present your thoughts through formats like artwork, podcast, poem, essay, letter, story, music, video, or news/opinion piece. While working on your entry, you will reflect on global challenges related to culture and sustainability. The process encourages creative thinking along with research. Your entry will be evaluated based on your understanding of the topic, originality, inspirational power, and communication and presentation. Top participants may get the chance to engage in international debates, adding a collaborative aspect to the experience.
11. Universal Postal Union International Letter-Writing Competition
Location: Online + ceremony at various sites
Cost and Prize: Free; medals and certificates awarded
Dates: Submission deadline: May 5; Awards ceremony: October 9
Application deadline: May 5
Eligibility: Students, ages 9 – 15, worldwide
The International Letter-Writing Competition, organized by the Universal Postal Union, is a long-running global writing contest that encourages students to express their thoughts through letter writing. The current theme focuses on writing a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital world. Here, you will structure your letter to reflect on relationships in an increasingly digital society. Entries will first be evaluated at the national level, where each country selects one winning letter to represent it internationally. Final submissions are judged by an international jury, with top winners receiving global recognition and an invitation to an awards ceremony. The competition emphasizes clarity of expression, emotional depth, and creativity while promoting communication and empathy.
12. The New York Times Open Letter Contest
Location: Online
Cost and Prizes: Free to enter; winners have their letter 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
This contest, run by The New York Times Learning Network, invites you to write an open letter in 500 words or fewer addressed to a specific person, group, or institution about an issue you care about. Your letter can be serious or lighthearted, but it should make a clear call to action and be written in a way that resonates with a broad public audience, not just the person you're 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 solo or as part of a group, but the contest accepts one entry per student. Along with your letter, you will submit a short artist's statement describing your writing process.
13. Rochester Pre-College Data Science Challenge
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Cost and Prizes: Free; prize not specified
Dates: March 19 (registration opens); April 6 (tutorials); April 13 (submission deadline); Awards ceremony: TBA
Application deadline: March 19 – April 13
Eligibility: High school students in the Greater Rochester area participating in teams of three with a teacher/mentor
This data science competition, hosted by RIT’s College of Science, challenges you to analyze U.S. election data and uncover patterns at both the national and local levels with a special focus on how trends play out in the Greater Rochester area. You will work within a team of three, playing a distinct role, either as the Captain who leads the vision, the Analyst who handles the coding and statistics, or the Storyteller who presents the findings. You will work with real open-access datasets from sources like MIT's Election Data Lab and the U.S. Census Bureau, while learning how to use tools like R, Python, or Julia through sessions led by Ph.D. mentors. Your final submission will include a written report, a slide deck, and a short video, but the biggest weight in judging (40%) goes to your oral presentation, so being able to clearly explain your findings really matters here.
14. Saint Joseph’s University’s Analytics and Data Visualization Competition
Location: Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes available (details not specified)
Dates: Round 1: February 25; Round 2: March 11
Application deadline: December 19
Eligibility: High school students; the competition accepts teams of 3–5 students from one school, accompanied by one faculty or staff advisor from the same school.
This competition, hosted by Saint Joseph’s University, challenges you to use a dataset, analyze it, and turn your findings into an interactive dashboard that tells a clear data story. You will present your work to a panel of judges from academia and industry, who will score you on how strong your analysis is, how well you communicate, and how thoughtfully your visuals are designed. The competition runs in two rounds, so if your team advances, you will receive feedback from judges and get to improve your dashboard before presenting again to a fresh panel. Special awards are available for standout dashboard design and creative use of AI.
15. University of Virginia’s Data + Society Challenge
Location: Online submissions + winners’ event at University of Virginia (UVA) School of Data Science, Charlottesville, VA
Cost/Prizes: Free to enter; prizes include $500 in gift cards split evenly among winning team members + a lunch with UVA data scientists.
Dates: February – April 26
Application deadline: April 26
Eligibility: 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-graders residing in Virginia; individuals or teams of up to 5 can compete.
The Data + Society Challenge, hosted by the UVA School of Data Science, is a free opportunity to apply data science methods to a real environmental and social issue. Here, you will analyze conservation data focused on the state of Virginia’s goals for protecting natural land. You can enter independently or with a team of up to five people. The challenge is organized around four areas of data science: analytics, design, systems, and value, giving you and/or your team the chance to contribute in multiple ways based on your strengths. If you win, you will receive gift cards and get to connect with data scientists at UVA.
16. University of Colorado Boulder’s Women in Business Case
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, CO
Cost and Prizes: Free; $1,000 scholarship prize
Dates: June 10 – 12
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and incoming Leeds freshmen who are Colorado residents
Run by the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Women in Business Case is a three-day competition, where you will analyze and present solutions to business issues through the lens of gender equity. You will work in a team of peers, applying principles of management, leadership, strategy, and communication to a business case. The program can help you develop critical thinking, collaboration, and persuasive presentation skills as you work on your challenge and come up with solutions. You will also connect with corporate partners, university faculty, and peers through workshops and on-campus activities. If you win, you will get a $1,000 scholarship to Leeds School of Business.
If you are looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work one-on-one with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, over 1,000 students chose to learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here, and check out a past student’s experience in the program here!