16 Free Online Competitions for High School Students

If you’re a high school student looking to challenge yourself beyond the classroom, online competitions can provide a structured way to apply your skills in real contexts. These experiences often involve solving problems, building projects, conducting research, or presenting ideas under defined timelines. Through participation, you develop transferable skills such as time management, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Because many competitions are free and conducted online, they are accessible regardless of location and can be a low-commitment way to explore different academic interests.

Why should you participate in online competitions in high school?

Online competitions are especially useful because they combine flexibility with practical experience. Some are individual, while others are team-based and require coordination and the division of responsibilities. Many also include feedback from judges or mentors, helping you refine your work and improve over time. Whether you’re interested in STEM, business, writing, or the arts, these competitions can help you test your strengths and build a portfolio of work.

In this blog, we’ve narrowed down a list of 16 free online competitions for high school students that you can consider applying to.

If you’re looking for AI competitions, check out our blog here.

1. Microsoft Imagine Cup 

Location: Virtual (global competition; final stages held on the world stage)

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; prizes of $50,000 – $100,000

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; highly competitive with global participation

Program Dates: Multi-stage competition (semifinals in February, finals in spring/early summer)

Application Deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: Students aged 18+ enrolled in high school or college/university

This is a team-based global tech competition where you build and pitch an AI-driven product or startup idea. You’ll either enter the Launch track if you’re still developing your idea, or the Scale track if you already have traction, and then move through stages such as MVP submission, semifinals, and a final championship round. Along the way, you’ll refine your product, validate your idea, and present it to judges while competing against teams from around the world. Top teams can win significant cash prizes and gain access to mentorship, including a session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The competition also connects you with tools like GitHub and Replit, which you’ll likely use to build and iterate on your project. If you’re interested in startups, AI, or product-building, this gives you a chance to work on something long-term and present it at a global level.

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 AIprograms.

3. Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; cash prizes (amount not specified)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; thousands of participants globally, top 100 shortlisted

Program Dates: Annual cycle; top 100 announced in early April (tentatively)

Application Deadline: Details not provided (submissions currently closed)

Eligibility: High school students worldwide (individuals or teams of up to 5)

In this program, you’ll either work solo or with a small team to come up with a new business idea and turn it into a structured pitch. The process involves identifying a real-world problem, developing a “blue ocean” solution that creates a new market space, and then recording a 5-minute video pitch explaining your concept. Unlike many startup competitions, you don’t need an existing business, just a well-thought-out idea and a clear way of presenting it. Along the way, you can use the provided templates and frameworks to shape your thinking, which can be helpful if you’re new to entrepreneurship. Judges evaluate submissions based on how innovative and viable your idea is, along with how clearly you communicate it.

4. Lumiere Scholars Essay Award

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; $11,000+ in cash prizes and scholarships

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 6 winners selected (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze)

Program Dates: Submissions open March 9 – Winners announced May 17

Application Deadline: April 26

Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) worldwide

This competition focuses on analytical writing, with the goal of crafting a strong, thesis-driven essay. The focus is on structured thinking, so you’ll need to build a strong central argument, engage with counterarguments, and support your ideas using credible sources. Essays are judged on originality, analysis, evidence, structure, and presentation, which means clarity and depth matter more than just having an interesting idea. You’re not expected to conduct original research, but you do need to show that you can think critically and write in a polished academic style. The prompts are designed by professors at institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Columbia, so the questions tend to be broad and thought-provoking. If you enjoy writing and want something that directly demonstrates your analytical ability to colleges, this is a straightforward way to build a strong writing sample.

5. Davidson Fellows Scholarship

Location: United States (application-based; award ceremony in Washington, DC)

Stipend: $25,000, $50,000, or $100,000 scholarships

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; highly selective

Program Dates: Annual cycle; awards ceremony held in September

Application Deadline: February

Eligibility: Students 18 or younger who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

This program is a project-based scholarship that rewards substantial, self-directed work completed before applying to a field such as STEM, literature, philosophy, or music. Your work should be close to college graduate level and show depth, originality, and real impact, whether that’s research, an invention, or a major creative accomplishment. Applications require detailed materials and two nominators, so you’ll need strong external validation of your work in addition to the project itself. Unlike essay contests or pitch competitions, this is less about potential and more about demonstrated achievement over a long period. If you already have a serious independent project or research project, this can serve as high-level recognition that stands out significantly on college applications.

6. Immerse Education Essay Competition

Location: Virtual (scholarships applicable to programs in locations such as Oxford, Cambridge, London, New York, and more)

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; scholarships ranging from 10% to 100% of program tuition

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; thousands of entries annually, with 10 full scholarship winners

Program Dates: Competition runs November 3 – January 14; results announced January 30

Application Deadline: January

Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 worldwide

You’ll choose from a wide range of subject-specific prompts and write a 500-word academic essay responding to your selected question. The structure is fairly flexible, but you’re expected to demonstrate clear reasoning, relevant research, and strong writing fundamentals within a short word limit. Top submissions are awarded full or partial scholarships to attend Immerse Education’s academic programs, which are hosted in major global cities and universities. Essays are evaluated on communication, critical analysis, evidence, structure, and grammar, with age taken into account during judging. You can also access a competition guide and webinars by registering, which help you understand expectations before submitting. If you’re considering attending a summer program but want financial support, this competition directly ties your writing performance to scholarship funding.

7. John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize

Location: Virtual (optional conference and awards in London, UK)

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; scholarships up to $10,000 for top winners

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; tens of thousands of global submissions

Program Dates: Registration opens February 2 – Submission deadline May 31

Application Deadline: March 31 (registration); May (submission)

Eligibility: Students under 19 years old worldwide

You’ll choose one question from a subject area like economics, philosophy, politics, or science and write a long-form essay (up to 2,000 words) defending a clear argument. The prompts are open-ended and often abstract, so much of the work lies in defining your stance and building a structured, evidence-based case around it. Top essays are shortlisted, and winners are invited to an academic conference and awards ceremony in London, where final prizes are announced. The judging focuses heavily on depth of knowledge, quality of reasoning, and originality, so simply summarizing ideas won’t get you far. You can submit multiple essays across categories, but each must be independently written and carefully argued.

8. New York Life Award – Alliance for Young Artists & Writers (Scholastic Art & Writing Awards)

Location: Varies by region (submission through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards)

Cost/Stipend: $2,500 scholarships or travel stipends for 10 recipients

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 10 award recipients

Program Dates: Regional timelines vary

Application Deadline: December (varies by region)

Eligibility: Teen participants in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards who opt in and submit work related to grief

To apply, you’ll submit a piece of art or writing through the broader Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and then opt into this specific award. Your work should explore themes of grief, loss, or bereavement, and you’ll also include a short personal statement explaining how your piece connects to your own experience. The focus here isn’t just technical quality, but how honestly and thoughtfully you engage with a deeply personal topic. Unlike most competitions on this list, this one is closely tied to your lived experience rather than to research or argumentation. The judging considers both the creative work and how clearly you reflect on its meaning in your statement.

9. Ocean Awareness Contest – Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; awards up to $1,000

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; thousands of global participants

Program Dates: Annual contest cycle; submissions due June 8

Application Deadline: June 8

Eligibility: Students ages 11–18 worldwide

You’ll create an original piece of work responding to an annual theme, which the most recent edition focuses on your personal connection to the ocean and its role in sustaining, protecting, and inspiring life. Submissions can take many forms, including visual art, creative writing, poetry, film, music, or multimedia, so you can choose a format that fits your strengths. The emphasis is on combining creativity with environmental awareness, so your work should both express an idea and show some understanding of ocean-related issues. You can work individually or as part of a group, and you’ll submit your project along with the details of an adult sponsor. The contest also provides resources to help you research and develop your ideas before creating your piece.

10. WriteCause Writing Contest

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free to enter; recognition awards (no cash prize)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified

Program Dates: October – January cycle

Application Deadline: January 1

Eligibility: Ages 12–18 worldwide

This quarterly writing contest invites students to respond to a themed prompt through creative or analytical writing. The current theme, “Youth in Activism,” focuses on how young people are shaping social, political, and environmental change. You can submit essays, short stories, or poetry, and both individual and collaborative entries are allowed. Submissions must be under 6,000 characters and written in English. Winning entries (Gold, Silver, Bronze, plus honorable mentions) are published in the WriteCause Winners’ Gallery, and recipients receive a Certificate of Achievement. While there’s no monetary prize, the contest offers a strong opportunity to build a published writing portfolio and explore real-world issues through your voice.

11. American Computer Science League (ACSL)

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Paid registration (varies by school/region); no cash prize

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open participation; 7,000+ students globally

Program Dates: Annual season (4 contests across the year)

Application Deadline: Rolling/depends on school registration

Eligibility: K–12 students worldwide

The ACSL is one of the longest-running global computer science competitions, testing students on core CS concepts like number systems, Boolean algebra, and digital electronics. The competition is divided into multiple divisions, making it accessible to both beginners and advanced programmers. Each season consists of four online contests, where students solve theoretical CS problems and (in higher divisions) complete programming challenges using languages like Python, C++, or Java. Participants typically compete through a school or club, guided by an advisor, and submissions are automatically graded online. Top-performing students qualify for an end-of-year Finals competition. Preparation resources, including structured study materials and topic-wise guides, are provided to help students build strong fundamentals.

12. CyberPatriot – National Youth Cyber Defense Competition

Location: Virtual (with optional in-person elements via camps)

Cost/Stipend: Registration fee (varies); no direct cash prize

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open; largest U.S. cyber defense competition

Program Dates: Multi-round competition spread throughout the year

Application Deadline: Depends on team registration timeline

Eligibility: Middle and high school students

CyberPatriot, created by the Air & Space Forces Association, is a major cybersecurity competition where students act as IT professionals tasked with securing virtual systems. Teams compete by identifying vulnerabilities, fixing security issues, and defending networks under time pressure. The program goes beyond competition, offering CyberCamps, training materials, and career exposure in cybersecurity and STEM fields. Participants gain hands-on experience with real-world systems, making it one of the most practical tech competitions available at the high school level. Top teams advance through multiple rounds, culminating in national-level finals.

13. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition

Location: Virtual, with final round in Philadelphia, PA

Cost/Stipend: Free (travel and lodging not covered for finalists)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified (top 50 teams advance to semifinals; top 10 to finals)

Program Dates: Late September – early December (trading period), with finals in April

Application Deadline: September

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 worldwide, in teams of 4–6 with a teacher advisor

You’ll spend about 10 weeks working in a team to build and manage a simulated investment portfolio using $500,000 in virtual cash. Along the way, you’ll analyze companies, study industries, and make trading decisions using Wharton’s online simulator, while also preparing written reports explaining your strategy. What stands out here is that judging is based on how well you explain and justify your investment decisions, not just how much your portfolio grows. You’ll submit a midterm and final report, and if your team advances, you’ll present your strategy to judges in virtual semifinals. The structure pushes you to think like an investor but also communicate like one, which is a key part of the experience. The time commitment varies by team, but most groups meet regularly throughout the 11-week period. 

14. High School Fed Challenge – Federal Reserve System

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified (select submissions published)

Program Dates: September – March

Application Deadline: February

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (team-based; specific eligibility details in rulebook)

You’ll work in a team to research an economics topic tied to an annual theme and turn your findings into a structured written submission, often in the form of a podcast script. The process involves digging into real-world data, analyzing trends, and building an argument using economic principles, rather than just learning theory. A key part of the experience is producing a polished, research-backed piece that could be selected for publication in the Journal of Future Economists. Along the way, you’ll collaborate closely with teammates, divide up research tasks, and refine your writing to make your ideas clear and convincing. The timeline is flexible but stretches across several months, so you’ll need to manage deadlines alongside schoolwork.

15. Diamond Challenge – University of Delaware (Horn Entrepreneurship)

Location: Virtual + regional pitch rounds; final summit in Newark, DE

Cost/Stipend: Free to participate; cash prizes up to $12,000

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified

Program Dates: September – April

Application Deadline: January 15

Eligibility: High school students worldwide working in teams

You’ll work in a team to develop a business or social venture idea from scratch, starting with a written concept and a short introductory video explaining your solution. The first round focuses on clearly outlining the problem, your target users, how your idea works, and the basic economics behind it. If you advance, you’ll move into pitch rounds where you present your idea using a slide deck and answer questions from judges, similar to a startup pitch environment. The competition is structured to take you from the idea stage to a polished pitch, with multiple rounds that mirror how real startups are evaluated. Finalists present at the in-person Limitless World Summit in April.

16. All American High School Film Festival

Location: New York, NY (festival); submissions online

Cost/Stipend: $0 – $65 submission fee, depending on deadline

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified

Program Dates: Festival held October 16–18

Application Deadline: July 3

Eligibility: High school students worldwide (individual or team submissions)

You’ll create and submit your own short film in a category of your choice, either independently or through your school, and then go through a formal judging process similar to that of professional film festivals. If selected, your film will be screened at a major theater in Times Square, and you’ll attend a multi-day festival with workshops, panels, and an awards show. A key part of the experience is seeing your work presented in a real theater setting alongside other student filmmakers, which makes it feel closer to the industry than a typical school project. There are multiple submission deadlines depending on when you apply, with earlier deadlines offering free or lower-cost entry. During the festival weekend, you’ll meet other students interested in filmmaking and attend sessions that cover different parts of the creative process.

If you’re 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 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we have had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!