Preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s national fiscal challenge.
Helping to train leaders since 2013
Why participate in the Fiscal Challenge?
To be a responsible citizen you don’t need to be a professional economist, but you do need to know the basics of how the economy operates.
Sound fiscal policy can be an engine of economic growth for decades to come. These policies will impact YOU more than today’s politicians. So, don’t you think you should have a say in how our tax dollars are allocated?
Free Learning
Equivalent to a 400-level economics course. Any undergraduate student can participate.
Networking
Meet and debate with students, advisors, and fiscal policy experts from around the country.
Teambuilding
Recruit classmates with a variety of skills such as statistical analysis, drafting public policy, and public speaking.
Resume building
Your resume is upscaled with a unique and extraordinary activity.
What is the Fiscal Challenge?
This is your chance to shape our nation’s fiscal priorities.
How much should we tax? Where should we spend? Your goal is to stabilize the federal debt over the next 30 years.
We’re looking for creative, forward-looking proposals backed by solid data analysis and economic reasoning.
Registration opens October 1, 2026.
First-round proposals are due March 2, 2027.
Over the Years
Established In
Students attended
Universities have participated
How to participate?
- There are no registration fees. All necessary data & tools are publicly accessible!
- Form a team of 2 – 6 students from your university, register on our website, and start your research! Registration is open October 1, 2026 – January 20, 2027.
- First-round proposals are due March 2, 2027.
- The top teams will be invited to Washington, D.C., to present and defend their proposals to respected policy analysts from top think tanks and government organizations.
- New in 2027: Additional opportunities for Fiscal Policy Challenge competitors to travel to Washington, D.C., in May 2027 with the Up to Us Leadership Network.
- Interested? Fill out this form to let our team know!
Finals will be held on April 2, 2027, in Washington, D.C.
First-round submissions are due March 2, 2027.
Students create and submit a 20-minute video presentation for round one. You should include slides and audio accompaniment without showing yourself on camera.
For the purpose of fair judging, you should not include any identification of team members, advisors, or school affiliations such as school colors, emblems, logos, etc.
Upload your presentation as an unlisted video on YouTube and email the link with your slide deck to [email protected].
We anticipate first-round results to be announced via email and social media.
More Than a Competition
Fiscal Challenge allows students to take what they’re learning in the classroom and put it into action. You’ll tackle one of the biggest policy challenges facing the country, work alongside your peers to develop solutions, and build skills that extend far beyond the competition. Whether you’re studying economics, public policy, political science, business, or something completely different, Fiscal Challenge gives you a chance to think critically, communicate effectively, and make your ideas heard.
Put Your Knowledge Into Practice
Move beyond textbooks and lectures. Your team will analyze the federal budget, weigh real policy tradeoffs, and develop a comprehensive proposal addressing America’s fiscal future.
You don’t need to be a budget expert to start. Fiscal Challenge provides resources, guidance, and opportunities to learn throughout the competition.
Build Skills Employers Value
Research. Analysis. Teamwork. Problem-solving. Public speaking.
Fiscal Challenge gives you hands-on experience developing and defending complex ideas and skills that translate across careers in government, business, nonprofits, research, law, communications, and beyond.
Strengthen Your Resume
Fiscal Challenge is a substantive experience you can talk about in applications and interviews. You’ll have a concrete example of working on a team, analyzing a complex problem, developing recommendations, and communicating your ideas.
Connect With Policy Professionals
Students have opportunities to engage with professionals working in fiscal policy, economics, government, and related fields. Finalists traveling to Washington, D.C., gain even greater access to networking, career conversations, and professionals working on these issues every day.
Make Your Voice Part of the Conversation
Federal fiscal policy affects your generation.
Fiscal Challenge creates a space for students to move beyond simply learning about these issues and start developing their own ideas for addressing them. There isn’t one “right” solution. We want to see how your team approaches the challenge.
Unlock Exclusive Career & Professional Opportunities
Submit a Fiscal Challenge proposal, and your experience doesn’t end with the competition.
Students who complete the Fiscal Challenge gain access to Up to Us Professional Pathways, a national network designed to help students turn their interests and experience into meaningful professional opportunities.
Through Professional Pathways, you can access:
- Career support including coaching, resume reviews, and job preparation
- Internship and job opportunities connecting you with mission-driven organizations
- Exclusive events and conferences
- Networking opportunities with peers, mentors, and policy professionals across the country
- Professional development and learning resources
- Opportunities to build your visibility and grow as a leader
Whether your next step is government, public policy, advocacy, business, nonprofits, or another field, Professional Pathways helps you continue building your skills and your network long after Fiscal Challenge ends.
Your proposal is the beginning, not the end of your Fiscal Challenge experience.
Previous
Judges, Advisors, Moderators, and Guest Speakers
FAQs
Who competes in the Fiscal Challenge?
Competitors are inquisitive students who want to learn more about the fiscal challenge that the U.S. is currently facing and offer their solutions. Students hail from universities across the U.S. and from a diversity of majors including economics, public policy, political science, mathematics, statistics, business, and computer science. All undergraduate students are eligible to participate.
Why should I compete?
Students have reported that the Fiscal Challenge is a once in a lifetime experience. You learn just as much, if not more, than an upper level economics course, while having fun and making a difference. For the finalists, a trip to Washington D.C., and meeting top thinkers in the policy field is a thrill. Regardless of whether your team makes it to the finals, your resume will thank you for participating.
What’s in a good proposal?
There is no secret formula. With that being said, a good proposal will have sound economic policy suggestions that fall in line with the judging rubric. Beyond that, a good proposal will also define the current budget landscape and identify the potential challenges to their policy suggestions. Make an argument and back it up with data. See Judging Rubric
Where do we start?
Once your team is registered, you will receive access to a shared drive of resources and past presentations. We’ll send you regular updates on the competition and current fiscal policy news and releases. We also suggest visiting the CBO website and reviewing the CBO’s budget and economic outlook.
Featured Resource: EconoFact for Educators
A non-partisan platform offering expert analysis on today’s most important economic and social policy issues.
Is there a competition at the high school level?
We would be glad to partner with any educators interested in hosting a fiscal policy related event. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected].