William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition

About this scholarship

The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition is the Mathematical Association of America’s annual undergraduate mathematics examination for regularly enrolled students at institutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 87th competition takes place Saturday, December 5, 2026, correcting the December 6 date shown by some scholarship directories. Institution-supervisor registration opens September 1 and closes November 15; student registration opens September 8 and remains available until the competition begins. Students do not use a public standalone application. They obtain the registration link from their institution’s Putnam supervisor, and a faculty member must establish that role if the college has not participated before. Cash prizes go to the highest-ranked team’s department and team members, the highest-ranking individuals known as Putnam Fellows, and the recipient of the Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Prize for a particularly meritorious performance by a woman. The MAA has not yet published exact 2026 prize amounts, so the listing does not reuse the prior competition’s $2,500 top-individual figure as a promise. The 2026 exam changes from two three-hour sessions to four 90-minute sessions with synchronized timing and designated breaks. Calculators, computers, references, and drawing tools are prohibited. Participation is limited to four official Putnam competitions.

Eligibility

• Be regularly enrolled as an undergraduate at an institution in the United States, Canada, or Mexico
• Not already hold a bachelor’s degree
• Register through the official link supplied by the institution’s Putnam supervisor
• Have an institution-associated supervisor willing to administer the competition
• Have participated in no more than three prior official Putnam competitions
• Follow the 2026 four-session timetable and designated-break rules
• Bring the assigned Putnam Identification Number and permitted writing instruments
• Do not use calculators, computers, references, drawing tools, or an active cell phone during the exam