Don't let your students miss out on a chance to win a $2,500 Grand Prize for their educational pursuits while developing an understanding of what college life will be like. The deadline to submit an entry for the NGPF PAYBACK Challenge is 11:59 p.m. October 16th. A total of $50,000 in scholarships is up for grabs this year and all U.S. high school students are eligible to participate. Dive into the details and find out how one of your students can win big.

PAYBACK is an immersive game which allows students to learn about the types of choices they will need to make to get to college, through college, and to repay student loan debt after college. It's also available in Spanish!

After playing the game, they respond to the prompt: Compose a letter to your future self, referencing specific experiences from your PAYBACK journey. How will these lessons guide you when facing real-life decisions about finance and college?

How to Enter:

Step 1: Play PAYBACK

Students can play PAYBACK either in the classroom or from the comfort of their own homes. This interactive game not only educates them on important financial decisions but also prepares them for the challenges and rewards of college life.

Step 2: Respond to the Prompt

After playing PAYBACK, students are invited to express their thoughts and insights by either writing a 250-word essay or creating a 90-second video. These responses will be their entries to the scholarship competition.

Step 3: Nominate The Best Entry

As a teacher, you have the honor of nominating ONE outstanding entry from your students for the PAYBACK Challenge Scholarship. Use the 2023 Teacher Submission Form to submit your top choice!

Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. local time on Monday, October 16th. 

View all PAYBACK Challenge details. 

What's at Stake? 

• National Grand Prize: Two lucky winners will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, and all entries have a shot at this prestigious award.

• Honorable Mention: 30 students will be awarded $1,000 each. So, even if your students don't secure the grand prize, they still have a chance to win.

Scholarship winners for the PAYBACK Challenge will be announced in December 2023. 

*Exclusive for NGPF Grant Districts: If your school district has received a grant from NGPF, there's an additional opportunity for your students. NGPF is offering 15 scholarships, each worth $1,000, with one winner per district. See the list of Grant Districts on this page.

Review the Rules and Regulations

Ensure your students' entries meet all the necessary criteria. Review the official rules and regulations of the PAYBACK Challenge.

Good luck to all participants!

Want to get a sense of what a winning entry looks like? Check out the winners from the last three years.

NGPF Announces Winners of 6th Annual Payback Challenge

NGPF Announces Winners of the 5th Annual Payback Challenge

NGPF Announces Winners of the 4th Annual Payback Challenge