Political Science Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 24 political science competitions for high school students. Of these, 13 are free to participate in and 12 offer virtual participation. Examples include 9th Circuit Civics Contest, Beloved Arise Queer Youth of Faith National Essay Contest, and CHSAA Speech & Debate State Championships.
- 24
- listed
- 13
- free
- 12
- virtual
- 24
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are political science competitions for high school students?
- Political Science Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in political science. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 13 of the 24 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 12 of the 24 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are political science competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — political science competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in political science on college applications.
Related Categories
24 activities found·Browse by category
9th Circuit Civics Contest
Essay or video contest on "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," analyzing one core right historically and today.
Beloved Arise Queer Youth of Faith National Essay Contest
A national essay and video contest for LGBTQ+ high school seniors of any faith background to share their story at the intersection of queerness and religion. Five winners split $5,000 in scholarships.
CHSAA Speech & Debate State Championships
Colorado High School Activities Association's annual state speech and debate tournaments (3A, 4A, 5A) covering Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional Debate, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Extemporaneous, Interpretation events, and more. Compete for a state title via your high school's team.
Columbia Political Review High School Essay Contest
Annual essay contest hosted by Columbia University's undergraduate political journal. Prompts focus on contemporary political issues and public policy; winning essays may be published in the Columbia Political Review.
Columbia Undergraduate Law Review – High School Essay Contest
Essay contest on law and public policy topics run by Columbia's undergraduate law review. Often intersects with constitutional law, civil rights, and governance.
Congressional Essay Contest (National Society of the Colonial Dames of America)
An annual essay contest run by state societies of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America since 1977, in which high school students write a 750-word essay on the functions of American government for a chance at one of roughly 50 scholarships to the Washington Workshops Congressional Seminar in Washington, D.C.
Constituting America – "We the Future" Contest (Civics & Constitution)
National contest on U.S. constitutional principles with categories like essays, PSAs, short films, and songs about founding documents and civic values. Very political/civics-oriented.
Federal Bar Association – National Civics Essay Contest
National essay competition on constitutional and civics themes; high school students write up to 1,000‑word essays responding to a prompt with legal/historical analysis; prizes include scholarships for top essays.
Free Expression Essay Competition (PEN America)
An annual essay competition from PEN America in which high school students ages 15-17 write 1,000-word essays on threats to free expression in the U.S. or abroad, with top entries winning cash prizes.
Future We Want Model United Nations (FWWMUN – NYC)
Large international MUN conference where students debate global issues and write UN-style resolutions in New York.
Harvard Model Congress Boston
A large congressional simulation conference run by Harvard undergraduates where high schoolers write and debate legislation, argue mock trials, and role-play crisis scenarios across dozens of committees.
Hindus for Human Rights Civil Rights Scholarship Contest
An essay and art contest presented by Hindus for Human Rights and the International Commission for Dalit Rights inviting high school and college students to explore migration, borders, and belonging, with cash scholarships and possible publication for winners.
Kennesaw State University High School Model UN Conference (HSMUN)
A long-running regional Model UN conference for high schoolers across the Southeast, held on Kennesaw State's campus with ten committees simulating international diplomacy.
MyImpact Challenge (Bill of Rights Institute)
A national civic engagement contest for students ages 13-19 who are engaged in community service, volunteerism, or entrepreneurship; entrants submit their project through an online portal for a chance at a grand prize of up to $10,000. The 2026 submission deadline is May 3.
National High School Mock Trial Championship
Annual national mock trial tournament; only the winning team from each state, territory, or country qualifies. 2026 nationals: May 7-9 in Des Moines, Iowa. To compete, students join their state's mock trial program through their high school team and win at the state level.
National Political Science Bee (IAC – U.S. Division)
Individual buzzer-based quiz competition on U.S. and world politics, political theory, political economy, and current events. Students first sit for a National Qualifying Exam; top scorers advance to the National Championships held alongside other IAC events and participate in discussion dinners with practitioners.
NHSMUN (National High School Model United Nations)
One of the world's largest and longest-running Model UN conferences, held in New York City, where secondary school delegates debate global issues, draft resolutions, and interact with actual UN staff and diplomats.
NSDA National Speech & Debate Tournament
Largest academic competition in the world, organized by the National Speech & Debate Association. 2026 tournament held in June in Richmond, Virginia (Altria Theater, Greater Richmond Convention Center, area high schools). To compete, students must be NSDA members with at least 25 honor-society points and qualify through district tournaments.
Penn Model Congress
A four-day spring congressional simulation hosted by University of Pennsylvania students where high school delegates from across the country debate bills and discuss current political issues.
Princeton Model Congress
The oldest model congress program in the country, bringing roughly 700 high schoolers to Washington, D.C. to debate bills, sit as Supreme Court justices, and role-play executive branch decision-making.
WAMUNC (Washington Area Model United Nations Conference)
A large high school Model UN conference hosted by George Washington University students in Washington, D.C., welcoming delegates of all experience levels to debate international policy issues.
Yale Model Congress
The oldest student-run model government conference in the Ivy League, bringing several hundred high school delegates to Yale's campus to simulate congressional debate and lawmaking.
YMCA Youth & Government – Model Legislature & Court (California, East Bay)
Six‑month experiential program where high school delegates simulate California's legislature, executive, and courts, writing bills, debating, and attending statewide conferences; local delegations meet weekly.
Youth for Human Rights International Essay Competition
An annual international essay competition open to students age 18 and under who study the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and write about "What Are Human Rights?", with standout essays featured on Human Rights Day.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.