The American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) is the premier college advertising competition.
Each year, more than 2,000 college students get real-world experience by creating a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate client. Students develop an extensive plan and then pitch their work to advertising professionals at the district, semi-final and national levels. Previous clients have included Coca-Cola, Nissan, State Farm, JC Penney, Glidden, Mary Kay, Pizza Hut, Snapple, Ocean Spray, Adobe, Tinder, Meta, Indeed, Tide, AT&T and more.
Please read the frequently asked questions BEFORE you proceed to the application. Contact Associate Professor Joe Bob Hester at joe.bob.hester@unc.edu if you have additional questions.
When Olivia Herrera ’21 competed on UNC Hussman’s 2021 NSAC team, she won “Best Presenter” in District 3, which involved schools from South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Herrera said she learned multitudes during the NSAC competition, not only about advertising principles but about the teamwork required for the work.
“The whole competition, from start to finish, was one of the most satisfying, real-world applications of the advertising knowledge I’ve learned at UNC Hussman,” Herrera said.
“She’s really smart, but she’s also got a real presence and knows how to work a room,” Hester said, noting those traits were important in presenting advertising campaigns.
The American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition is the premier college advertising competition. Each year, more than 2,000 college students get real-world experience by creating a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate client. Students develop an extensive plan and then pitch their work to advertising professionals at the district, semi-final and national levels. Previous clients have included Coca-Cola, Nissan, State Farm, JC Penney, Glidden, Mary Kay, Pizza Hut, Snapple, Ocean Spray, Adobe, Tinder, Meta, Indeed, Tide, AT&T and more.
The National Football League.
Since 2014, the UNC team has won the district competition and advanced to the national level three times, coming in 6th in 2014, 5th in 2015 and 3rd in 2025.
We compete in one of the toughest districts in the nation. In the past 10 years, the winner of our district has advanced through the semi-finals to compete in the national finals nine times, and they placed each time:
1st Place – four times
2nd Place – two times
3rd Place – three times
Yes, “MEJO 690: Special Topics in Advertising” is the course (three credits). If selected for the team, you must be enrolled in the course to participate.
Here are four reasons:
You’ll add great work to your portfolio.
You’ll stand out in the job market. Attendees on networking trips report that at every agency they go to, they consistently hear this advice: Do NSAC! Many recruiters have stated that when an NSAC alum’s resume comes across their desk, they automatically are set for an interview. And, many former students report that their participation in NSAC was the number one topic in their interviews.
You’ll experience the closest thing to working at a real agency. Some former students even report that NSAC was more “real world” than their internships.
You’ll develop a close bond with the other members of the team. NSAC participants tend to become friends for life.
Technically, no. The course is limited in enrollment and the application pool is very competitive. Completed courses and internships weigh heavily in the selection.
No, you just need a strong interest in advertising and strategic communications. While most participants are advertising majors, the best teams usually include some members from other areas such as public relations, graphic design and journalism. We have also had excellent team members from outside the UNC Hussman School (psychology, art, business, etc.).
No. While MEJO 690 is a capstone course, we have had talented juniors on the team several times in the past. If you are selected for the team as a junior, you could apply again as a senior. It doesn’t happen that often, but we have had several people compete in two different years.
Class meetings are scheduled 12:20 – 1:35 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays during the spring semester. You can expect to have multiple additional weekly meetings with subgroups on the team plus individual work assignments.
Yes, this is a very intense competition, and you should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time working on it. Also, note that even though the class doesn’t start until the spring 2026 semester, the team will begin working on the project during the fall 2025 semester.
All competitors must pay national dues ($60) for the American Advertising Federation, which sponsors the competition. There may also be incidental expenditures throughout the competition.
The deadline for submitting the competition deliverables will be March 26, 2026. The district competition will be held in Charlotte (mid April). If you win at district, the semi-final competition will be held virtually April 30 – May 1. If you make the top eight in the semi-finals, the national finals will be held during the American Advertising Federation’s national conference (ADMERICA) May 29, 2026, in Austin, Texas.
The application form is available here. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 5:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025.
Contact Joe Bob Hester at joe.bob.hester@unc.edu.
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