Overview
Scholarship type
Merit and need based
Number of scholarships to award
Multiple
Grant
Up to $25,000
Scholarship coverage
- tuition fee reduction
- other
Description
Atlas Shrugged is a mystery novel like no other. You enter a world where scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and inventors are inexplicably vanishing—where the world is crumbling.
And what you discover, by the end, is an uplifting vision of life, an inspiring cast of heroes, and a challenging new way to think about life’s most important issues.
Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will achieve a deeper appreciation for Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy that underlies them.
Benefits
The scholarship awards 12 prizes a year, 3 per season: $3,000 for the first place, $2,000 for the second place and $1,000 for the third place, to help you with your studies.
The first-place essay from each season will be eligible to contend for the annual first-place title, with the opportunity to secure a grand prize of $25,000.
Eligibility
-
You must be in high school, college, or graduate school to qualify for the contest. Essays must be written in English only and be between 800 and 1,600 words in length.
Scholarship requirements
Disciplines
Any
Locations
Worldwide
Nationality
Any
Study experience required
None
Age
Unknown
Application
Application deadline
30 Apr 2026
Follow these steps to submit your essay for the Atlas Shrugged essay contest:
Register for the Contest (Get immediate access to the book and essay prompts.)
Read Atlas Shrugged carefully, paying close attention to the characters and the philosophical themes. And most importantly, enjoy the story!
Respond to each of the assigned prompts in the contest dashboard.
Submit your essay by April 30 at 11:59 PM PT.
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