Bennington Young Writers Scholarship 2026 in USA
The Bennington Young Writers award recognizes high school poets, fiction, and nonfiction writers with cash prizes, publication opportunities, and college scholarships.
Overview
The Bennington Young Writers competition celebrates high school poets, fiction, and nonfiction writers worldwide. Administered by Bennington College, the awards program offers cash prizes, publication or showcase opportunities, and substantial college scholarships for students who eventually enroll at Bennington College.
Benefits
- First Place: $2,000 cash prize.
- Second Place: $1,000 cash prize.
- Third Place: $500 cash prize.
- Distinguished Designation: $250 by category and grade level.
- Enrollment Scholarships: First Place winners who enroll receive a full-tuition scholarship for four years; Distinguished Designation recipients receive a half-tuition scholarship for four years; Finalists who enroll receive a $25,000 annual scholarship for four years.
- Additional Perks: Winning and distinguished entries may be featured on Bennington’s website, social media, and publications.
Eligibility
- Open to students worldwide in grades 9–12.
- Students who have already graduated from high school are not eligible.
- There is no entry fee.
- Only one submission per discipline is allowed per student.
- All entries must be original work, written in English, typed, and meet the strict 1500-word limit.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) may not be used in any way during the creation, drafting, or revising of entries.
- Entries must be reviewed and approved by a sponsoring teacher or mentor before submission.
- Grade 12 students must submit through the Common Application or Coalition Application process.
How to Apply
Submissions open on September 1 and run through the closing date. Interested students must ensure their work is reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher or mentor prior to entering. To apply, access the designated submission links on the official Bennington Young Creators Awards web page. Grade 12 applicants must use the Common Application or Coalition Application process to initiate their entry.
Deadline
The submission deadline is November 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.