Explore

Competitions to enter. Clubs to join.

Competition pathways

Find your starting point in chess, debate, STEM, arts or writing. See how to enter, what comes next and where to check the official rules.

19 program guides. These are routes to explore, not upcoming event listings.

Choose a program

Programming · Direct entry

Develop algorithmic programming skills through USACO divisions and selective finalist opportunities.

Who it’s for: Open online participation; restricted U.S. finalist selection

Create a USACO account and review the official contest instructions before entering Bronze.

Bronze entry
New participants begin in Bronze.
Division progression
Contest-specific performance rules govern promotion through Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Finalist selection
Eligible students with strong season results may be invited to training camp.
International team selection
Camp is part of the selection process for U.S. international teams.

Before you commit: Promotion and certified-score rules can change between seasons; reaching Platinum alone does not guarantee a camp invitation.

Sources and review · 2026-10-20

Organizer: USACO. Causey’s summary is a starting point; the organizer decides eligibility, selection and current availability.