How-To Run a University Campus-Wide Investing Challenge
Learn More, Request Help, or Register Your Challenge
Campus-Wide Investing Challenge Best Practices & Tips
For 30 years, Stock-Trak has been supporting universities around the world to host fun and engaging investing challenges for their students. Some of them run highly competitive challenge for their finance majors. Others treat it as an introduction to the stock market for all students across the campus.
The Campus-Wide Investing Challenge gives students a hands-on way to learn investing with a virtual portfolio, so they can build real market skills without risking their real money. It is designed to be simple to join, easy to run, and structured so your campus can promote financial literacy across departments while keeping participation fair and transparent.
What to expect before, during, and after launch
Before launch: your school designates a campus coordinator, confirms challenge dates, and pre-registers with Stock-Trak. Pre-registration is required for challenge setup and for any prize support consideration.
During the challenge: students trade with a virtual starting balance (for example, $100,000) and practice building their first stock portfolio on the Stock-Trak global virtual trading platform. Campuses typically run a short registration window followed by an 8-10 week trading period. Students can trade stocks, bonds, ETFs, and more advanced securities on 50+ global exchanges. Let us know if you need help setting up your challenge when completing the form below.
After trading ends: results are reviewed and winners are recognized based on the challenge rules set for your campus event.
Challenge Details: prize support is currently offered for eligible Site License and Branded Site clients for a limited time. To qualify, events must be pre-registered by completing the form below and meet participation requirements. Availability and prize amounts can vary.
Stock-Trak also provides setup and training guidance on request, including kickoff best practices to help faculty and student groups promote broad, campus-wide participation.
Download How-To Guide
Maximize Participation With Two Key Events
A kickoff training session helps students feel confident getting started, and a post-challenge awards ceremony keeps motivation high through the finish. We can share best practices for both events so more students, including first-time investors, feel comfortable joining.
Why Professors Offer Campus-Wide Challenges
- Improve financial literacy across majors through hands-on, risk-free practice.
- Recruit undeclared majors to business and finance programs.
- Keep faculty workload low with a streamlined setup and support from Stock-Trak.
- Encourage broad student participation through campus partnerships and meaningful recognition.
- Create a practical, resume-booster learning experience students can reference in interviews and at networking events.
- Increase students’ financial confidence by giving beginners a fun way to learn about the stock market.
- Use a repeatable format your school can run each semester with minimal setup time.
FAQ
How much faculty time does this require?
Most campus coordinators spend about 1-2 hours for kick-off and oversight.
What support is available during the challenge?
Our support team and helpdesk are available during business hours (9:30AM to 5:30PM E.T.), and we maintain a 24/7 ticketing system so students can submit questions at any time during the session.
Who qualifies for prize support?
Eligible Site License and Branded Site clients may qualify for once pre-registered and participation requirements are met. If you want prize support included, please indicate that in the registration form so our team can plan for it in advance.
What terms should we review before launch?
Challenge rules, participation requirements, registration and trading dates, and prize support and eligibility will be confirmed by your account manager after registration.
If You Have a Stock-Trak License Already Here are the Terms & Conditions for Receiving Prize Support
By submitting this registration form, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms for Campus-Wide Investing Challenge prize support:
- Offer scope: $250-$500 in Amazon Gift Cards is available only to eligible Site License and Branded Site clients (for a limited time).
- Advance registration required: Challenges must be pre-registered through this form before launch. Prize support requests submitted after a challenge starts may not be eligible.
- Participation minimums: To qualify, the challenge must include at least 20 student participants, and each participant must place at least one trade during the event period.
- Eligible event type: Prize support applies to campus-wide challenges only and is not available for a standard investing or finance class assignment.
- Prize planning: If you want Stock-Trak prize support included, you must indicate that request in this form so our team can confirm eligibility and add your event to our planning queue in advance.
- Final confirmation: All campaign details, including eligibility, participation thresholds, timing, prize amounts, and approved winner structure, are subject to review and confirmation by your Stock-Trak account manager.
Ready to Register Your Campus Challenge?
Already have a Stock-Trak site license?
Submit this form to let your account manager know you want to register a Campus-Wide Investing Challenge.
Don’t have a license yet?
Submit the same form, and our team will contact you to walk through setup options.