Application for the 2025/2026 The Fountainhead Essay Contest is open to U.S. high school students who are in 8th grade to 12th grade in the United States and anywhere else in the world. The contest is sponsored by Ayn Rand Institute to provide financial assistance to applicants who seek help to further their education. This is a competitive scholarship with a limited number of 9 award and a value of $40,000 shared among the winners of the contest. $3,000 will be given to first place, $2,000 to second place, and $1,000 to third place.
Scholarship Overview
- Sponsor: Ayn Rand Institute
- Host: Any
- Type: Financial aid
- Award: 9
- Value: $40,000
- Level: Undergraduate
- Target: International and local students
- Location: Worldwide
2025/2026 The Fountainhead Essay Contest Eligibility Criteria
The following requirements must be met by the applicants in order to be eligible for the 2025/2026 The Fountainhead Essay Contest:
- The scholarship application is open to U.S. high school students who are in 8th grade to 12th grade.
- Applicants must be enrolled into an accredited high school within the country.
- Applicants must have excellent academic performance and good grades.
- The selection of qualified applicants will be based on their clarity, organization, understanding, and on the topic provided on the scholarship application form.
2025/2026 The Fountainhead Essay Contest Application Process
To apply for the 2025/2026 The Fountainhead Essay Contest, applicants must follow these steps:
- Applicants can apply for the scholarship through the provided link below to register for the contest, click ‘Get Started’, verify your email address, complete the registration form and have access to book and essay prompts instantly.
- Applicants must read the book “The Fountainhead” carefully, paying close attention to the characters and the philosophical themes, and most importantly, enjoy the story.
- Candidates must write their essay to respond to each of the assigned prompts in the contest dashboard and submit their entry before the deadline date.
- Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview period with the scholarship committee.
- For more information about the scholarship, applicants can contact this email essays@aynrand.org.
Application Deadline: 31 October 2025