Economics Competitions
Economics competitions are where the theory you learn in lecture finally gets used under pressure. Real data, real deadlines, and a case that has to hold up in front of judges.
You'll sharpen the modeling, research, and presentation skills that employers and grad programs actually screen for, and walk away with resume-worthy results and a network of people who think the way you do. Come compete with us.
Let's go Owls!
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Pitch Night
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Case Crunch
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Comp Prep
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Final Round
Let's go Owls! ✳︎ Pitch Night ✳︎ Case Crunch ✳︎ Comp Prep ✳︎ Final Round
Fall 2026 Competitions
The Rice Economic Forum is fielding teams for the following competitions. Are you up for the challenge?
College Fed Challenge
Every six weeks, twelve people in Washington decide what money costs.
That decision affects your loan rate, your first mortgage, and the job market you graduate into. The College Fed Challenge puts you in that room: You and up to four teammates read the economy, forecast where it's headed, and defend a rate decision under questioning from Fed economists, with the top seven teams going to Washington for the finals. No advanced macro required, just curiosity and the nerve to hold a position while someone tests it.
CFA Institute Research Challenge
Before any major investment, an analyst has to answer one question: buy, sell, or hold?
In the CFA Institute Research Challenge, you're that analyst. Your team gets one real public company and a few months to find out what it's worth, then defends that call in front of industry professionals.
CME Group University Trading Challenge
Oil, gold, corn, the dollar, interest rates: their prices move every second, and professional traders manage that risk for a living.
For four weeks, your team does it too. The CME Group University Trading Challenge gives you a professional trading platform, live market data, and a portfolio to manage. You compete against about 600 university teams from around the world.
Want to suggest a competition?
Fill out this form and we will help you find a team, schedule meetings, and find the funding to get you all there!