Effie Collegiate U.S.
The Effie Collegiate program inspires, educates, and engages future marketers by providing students nationwide with the opportunity to design marketing strategies that address business challenges for brands.
For over a decade, Effie Collegiate U.S has teamed up with top brands like Bose, IBM, MINI, Subaru, Target, V8, Coca-Cola, and more, to challenge students.
About This Program
Hands-on professional experience for marketing students at U.S. colleges and universities.
Students and professors of marketing have a unique opportunity to tackle brand challenges in front of senior marketers and bring real-world effectiveness thinking into the classroom.
A rigorous judging panel evaluates the work and provides finalist recommendations to the brand. Selected finalists are invited to pitch their ideas in-person to the brand’s executives and are awarded monetary prizes.
Student Benefits
- Gain real-world marketing experience working for a major brand
- Practically apply classroom concepts to real world problems
- Receive constructive feedback from experienced industry professionals
- Finalists will have the opportunity to network with industry leaders and earn monetary prizes
Professor Benefits
Participating in the Effie Collegiate U.S. program transforms your marketing curriculum with a real-world industry challenge that engage students like never before. Professors gain access to exclusive case studies that enhance both teaching outcomes and industry connections. The program provides the structured Effie framework and resources that reduce prep time while delivering measurable learning outcomes, as students develop strategic thinking, presentation skills, and portfolio-worthy work that impresses future employers.
- Engage with current marketing trends and top brands
- Illustrate concepts taught in curriculum
- Online learning and resources for eligible schools
- Receive supplementary educational resources to support class projects
Effie Collegiate is excited to collaborate with UNA-USA (United Nations Association of the USA) for the 2026 Effie Collegiate U.S. program. Modeled after the prestigious Effie Awards, this program engages marketing students across the U.S. to research, develop, and present comprehensive marketing plans that address real-world business challenges.
For the upcoming Spring 2026 semester, college students will have the unique opportunity to design a culturally relevant campaign that shows young adults how the UNA-USA improves lives and communities across America every day. (View the Press Release.)
The competition is open to students enrolled full-time or part-time at accredited U.S. colleges, universities, or educational institutions, including undergraduate, graduate, portfolio, and online programs. This semester’s deadline is April 1, 2026.
Participants have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges, gaining invaluable, hands-on marketing experience, with finalist teams also getting the chance to network with industry leaders from UNA-USA. Professors benefit as well, with access to award-winning case studies, insights into industry trends, and supplementary resources to enhance their curriculum.
Register Here
Download the Entry Kit
Download the Entry Form
Download the NDA to access the Client Brief
Please reach out to effiecollegiateus@effielions.org with any questions.
For sponsorship opportunities please reach out to caitlin@effielions.org.