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The page shows registrations are closed and Round 3 applications had a deadline of January 31, 2026. The stored deadline of June 1, 2026 refers to the national hackathon finals date, not the application deadline.
AI NextGen Challenge Scholarship is a grant from the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII) that funds high school and college students pursuing AI education and certification. The program is described as America's largest AI scholarship and hackathon program, offering 100% AI certification scholarships valued at part of a $12.
3 million total scholarship pool to top-performing students selected through an online qualifying exam. Eligible participants include U.S. citizens or legal residents in grades 9-10, 11-12, or undergraduate and graduate STEM programs. The 2026 cycle culminates in a National AI Hackathon in Atlanta, Georgia in June 2026.
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America's Largest Scholarship USAII® AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 Sponsor America’s Largest AI Scholarship and Innovation Program Certified AI Transformation Leader (CAITL ™ ) Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist (CAIS ™ ) Certified Artificial Intelligence Consultant (CAIC ™ ) Certified Artificial Intelligence Engineer (CAIE ™ ) Certified Artificial Intelligence Prefect (CAIP ™ ) Certified Artificial Intelligence Prefect – Advanced ( ™ CAIPa) Email : ainextgenchallenge@usaii.
org AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 America’s Largest AI Scholarship & Hackathon Program Round 3 Application Deadline (Round 2 Application Closed ) National AI Hackathon 2026 Atlanta, Georgia, June 20 -21, 2026 *Scholarship Worth $12.
3+ Million Schools and Colleges to Partner Students eligible for scholarships Students benefiting from AI education Total prize pool available for Hackathon The AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 empowers high school, undergraduate, and graduate students across the United States with AI education, global certifications , and innovation opportunities for future careers in the Artificial Intelligence technology.
This program awards 100% AI certification scholarships to top-performing students and culminates in a National AI Hackathon in Atlanta, GA , in June 2026 . Each participating student is required to register students for the online test, from which 10% of top-performing students will be selected .
USAII® will award 100% scholarships to these selected students – enabling them to pursue USAII’s globally recognized AI certifications at no cost** . Certified Artificial Intelligence Prefect (CAIP ™ ) An exclusive track for young minds with a STEM bend; offering fundamentals of AI, Robotics, deep learning, and much more.
Certified Artificial Intelligence Prefect – Advanced ( ™ CAIPa) An advanced track covering applied machine learning, neural networks, and hands-on AI innovation. Certified Artificial Intelligence Engineer (CAIE ™ ) College Students from STEM An advanced track covering applied machine learning, Gen AI, advanced LLMs, MLOps, RAG, ML Architecture, and more.
**Students participating in the selection process must pay a nominal fee of $49 or $88 , respectively. *Disclaimer: The $12. 3 million scholarship value is based on projections of 10% criteria for schools receiving CAIP™ ($389 each) or CAIP-Advanced™ programs ($489 each) and for colleges receiving CAIE™ program ($749 each) .
Scholarships are merit based and subject to eligibility. If the projected number of students do not enroll or fail to meet qualification criteria, USAII ® is not obligated to award scholarships . Online Scholarship Test Schedule The Online Scholarship Tests will be held on: To award scholarships, USAII ® will conduct online scholarship tests for registered students based on the curriculum mentioned in the exclusive exam policy.
The scholarship test will be notified to students at their registered email address. Showcase your AI talent, win scholarships, and connect with top AI experts while solving real-world challenges in the AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 .
Download Exam Policy and Curriculum Guide Get fully funded access to USAII ® certification programs Career & Internship Readiness Gain early exposure to real-world AI concepts, project-based learning, and data literacy. Globally Recognized AI Certification Earn the prestigious credential from USAII ® , respected by universities and employers worldwide.
100% online, self-paced, with interactive assessments, eBooks, and recorded expert sessions Networking with Industry Leaders Engage with AI experts, recruiters, and technology leaders during AI Hackathon. Win up to $25,000 per team ($100,000 total prize pool) in the AI Hackathon in June 2026. Career Counselling & Mentorship Attend career guidance sessions led by USAII ® advisors and industry mentors.
Top students advance to represent their school at the AI NextGen National Hackathon 2026 in Atlanta. Become part of the global USAII ® AI Learners Network , connecting with peers, mentors, and innovators across the world. AI NextGen National Hackathon 2026 The AI NextGen Challenge™ culminates in a National-Level AI Hackathon to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 20-21, 2026 .
From thousands of students across partner schools, colleges, and universities, the top 250 students will be selected to represent the nation’s brightest AI talent. They will form 50 dynamic teams , each consisting of five students , to solve real-world problems using AI. This grand finale event will showcase creativity, teamwork, and the transformative potential of AI in education, healthcare, the environment, and society.
Total Cash Prizes: $100,000 Over $100,000 in total prizes and nationwide recognition for the brightest young innovators in AI. Join hands to build the AI Future by sponsoring the AI NextGen Challenge™ . For more information, get the sponsorship guide.
Download Sponsorship Guide Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What is the curriculum or syllabus for the online scholarship selection test? Please find the details about the curriculum regarding the Online Scholarship Selection Test ( here ). What is the schedule for Online Scholarship tests?
Online Scholarship tests will be held in three phases- to accommodate the over-whelming AI enthusiasts from appearing to this world AI marathon. Mark your calendars for: Participants are advised to REGISTER EARLY to stand a better chance at preparing for the same. Is there a deadline for completing the certification programs?
ALL students MUST complete their respective certification programs by APRIL 2026 . Who can apply for the AI NextGen Challenge™ Scholarship Program? Students from Grade 11 and 12 (High School) and undergraduate & graduates’s degree students pursuing STEM programs in the United States are eligible to apply.
Is school or college registration mandatory to participate? No. Students can register individually—their school, college, or university does not need to register. Institutional participation is welcome but not required.
What certifications are included in the scholarship program? CAIP™ – for Grade 9 & 10 students CAIP-Advanced™ – for Grade 11 & 12 students CAIE™ (Certified Artificial Intelligence Engineer) – for undergraduate and master’s STEM students What is the participation fee for the scholarship selection test?
To enter the scholarship competition: US $49 for CAIP™ applicants US $49 for CAIP-Advanced™ applicants US $88 for CAIE™ applicants This fee covers the AI Scholarship Test and registration process. How are scholarship winners selected? Students will take an online AI Scholarship Test.
The top 10% of performers in each participating school, college, university, or independent applicant pool will be awarded 100% scholarships. What does the scholarship include? Scholarship winners receive full program access to CAIP™, CAIP-Advanced™ or CAIE™, including study materials, eBooks, LMS access, assessments, and certification prep.
Note: Students must pass the certification exam at the end of the program to earn their official credential. What is the AI Hackathon and how can I qualify? Scholarship recipients who complete their certification training will participate in a Regional Virtual Hackathon .
From there, 125 finalists from each track (CAIP-Advanced™ & CAIE™) will advance to the National AI Hackathon Finals . Who is eligible for the National AI Hackathon 2026? High school students from grades-11 and 12, undergraduates, and graduates are eligible for the National AI Hackathon 2026.
When and where is the National AI Hackathon Finals? The National Finals will be held in Atlanta, Georgia: June 20, 2026 – CAIP-Advanced™ (Grade 11 & 12 finalists) June 21, 2026 – CAIE™ (Undergraduate & Master’s finalists) Finalists will compete in teams of 5. What are the cash prizes for the winners?
Each category will have one winning team, and each winning team receives: What if not enough students qualify from an institution? Selection is purely merit-based. If fewer students qualify within the top 10% criteria , only eligible students who meet the selection score will receive scholarships.
USAII ® has no obligation to award scholarships if criteria are not met . What is the format of the AI Scholarship Test? The test is conducted online and includes logical reasoning, basic math, problem-solving, and AI awareness questions.
No advanced AI knowledge or coding experience is required to participate. Do I need to know programming before applying? No. The scholarship program is open to beginners.
You will learn everything step by step during the CAIP-Advanced™ or CAIE™ certification. Can I apply if I am not from a STEM background? Yes, CAIP™, CAIP-Advanced™ applicants (Grade 9–12) from any academic stream can apply.
For CAIE™, students must be from a STEM-related undergraduate or master’s program. Is the registration fee refundable if I do not qualify? No. The registration fee is non-refundable as it covers scholarship test administration, processing, and online competition access.
Can international or non-US students apply? No. The AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 is open only to students studying in the United States (U.S. citizens or legal residents). How can organizations or universities become sponsors or partners?
USAII ® offers sponsorship tiers and partnership opportunities. Interested organizations can email ainextgenchallenge@usaii. org .
Please fill in your details to download AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 Brochure Grades 11 and 12 - ™CAIPa Undergrads and Graduates - CAIE™ British Indian Ocean Territory Democratic People's Rep.
of Korea Democratic Republic of Congo Federated States of Micronesia French Southern Territories Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Iraq-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone Palestinian Occupied Territories Saint Helena and Dependencies Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands United Republic of Tanzania United States Minor Outlying Islands Captcha validation is required.
Note: USAII ® respects your privacy and ensures that your data is 100% secure with us. We do not share your information with any third-party vendors. By filling out this form, you consent to allow us to use your contact details to communicate with you regarding relevant updates and services.
Please fill in your details to download AI NextGen Challenge™ 2026 Sponsorship Guide Personal emails are not allowed. Please use your business/ corporate email. An "OTP" has been sent to your Email Address, Resend British Indian Ocean Territory Democratic People's Rep.
of Korea Democratic Republic of Congo Federated States of Micronesia French Southern Territories Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Iraq-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone Palestinian Occupied Territories Saint Helena and Dependencies Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands United Republic of Tanzania United States Minor Outlying Islands Captcha validation is required.
Note: USAII ® respects your privacy and ensures that your data is 100% secure with us. We do not share your information with any third-party vendors. By filling out this form, you consent to allow us to use your contact details to communicate with you regarding relevant updates and services.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: U.S. citizens or legal residents in grades 9-10, 11-12, or undergraduate/graduate STEM students studying in the United States. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows 100% Tuition for AI Certification (part of $12.3M+ total scholarship pool). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The published deadline was January 31, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
AI NextGen Challenge Scholarship is funded by United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Brown Girl Jane x SheaMoisture Grant is a grant from SheaMoisture and Brown Girl Jane that funds Black and woman-owned beauty and wellness businesses in the United States. Part of SheaMoisture's broader commitment to addressing racial inequality through its $1 million annual giving fund, this program specifically supports founders at the intersection of Black and women-owned entrepreneurship in the beauty and wellness sector. Applicants must be based in the U.S. and have operated their business for at least one year. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Check the SheaMoisture Fund website for the current open cycle, as deadlines vary by cohort.
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