Penguin Random House’s U.S. Creative Writing Awards offer college scholarships to public-school high-school seniors planning to start college in fall 2027. The company runs the competition with We Need Diverse Books and opens it to applicants nationwide, including Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. It is not a contest open to every age or school level.
The 2027 cycle adds a graphic-novel award honoring Marjane Satrapi, with a $10,000 first prize. The competition also includes creative-writing categories with awards up to $10,000; check the application portal for the work each category accepts, authorship rules, and required files. Penguin Random House lists the new graphic-novel prize among seven awards and also describes an additional first-place prize for the top entrant from the New York City area. The funder states that six U.S. seniors receive awards up to $10,000; use the application portal to confirm how each award category is counted.
Applications are open and close January 15, 2027, or when the first 1,000 applications are received, whichever comes first. That cap makes waiting until the final day risky. Eligibility requires senior status at a U.S. public high school and plans to attend college in fall 2027. Students at private schools or below senior year should look for other programs.
Penguin Random House says the competition seeks writing with a strong, clear voice. Check in advance whether each category accepts a novel, short story, poem, or graphic novel and whether the form calls for additional materials. Keep copies of the work and submission confirmation; the award is competitive and should not be counted as guaranteed income when calculating a college bill. For application questions, use the Scholarship America link on the official page.
Confirm the academic year, local deadline and time, who must submit each document, and whether supplemental questions remain. Keep confirmations and recheck the portal after submitting. Ask the school’s financial-aid office how FAFSA, outside awards, and payments coordinate.
Read the aid-program profile and the FAFSA guide; confirm with the institution how funding is coordinated.
2027 U.S. Creative Writing Awards — Penguin Random House Social Impact.
Scholarship America application — Scholarship America.
Information checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Funding, criteria, and dates can change; confirm the linked cycle rules before submitting documents and ask the school how the award coordinates with other aid.
Confirm eligibility and the 2027 cycle deadline on the official portal before applying.
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Penguin Random House U.S. Creative Writing Awards
Penguin Random House’s U.S. Creative Writing Awards offer college scholarships to public-school high-school seniors planning to start college in fall 2027. The company runs the competition with We Need Diverse Books and opens it to applicants nationwide, including Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. It is not a contest open to every age or school level. The 2027 cycle adds a graphic-novel award honoring Marjane Satrapi, with a $10,000 first prize. The competition also inc
College scholarship and financial-aid program
Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education
The agency sets rates, eligibility, and caps; the college certifies need, cost, and the individual amount within those limits.
Public student-aid administering office
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Penguin Random House Social Impact · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Scholarship America · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Penguin Random House Social Impact · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Penguin Random House U.S. Creative Writing Awards ↗
Primary source
Scholarship America · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.