National Student Advertising Competition

students at nsac

The National Student Advertising Competition team creates a national advertising campaign for a client and then pitches it at a regional and national competition. Past clients include Tinder, Adobe, Indeed and Tide. This year's client is AT&T!

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About the 2025 Client

The 2025 client is AT&T. For seven months, the UNL team will delve into the world of AT&T and its competitors by conducting extensive research, identifying potential areas of opportunity for the brand, and creating a fully integrated marketing campaign that will present before a panel of judges at the district competition.

students putting sticky notes on a wall

About the Class

Students can enroll in either ADPR 339 or ADPR 449 during the spring semester. ADPR 449 may be used as your capstone requirement. Check with your academic advisor before enrolling.

This course may require commitments outside of the regularly scheduled class time to participate in competition activities. 

students working in the agency

About the Program

The National Student Advertising Competition is the premier college advertising competition. It provides more than 2,000 college students with the real-world experience of creating a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate client.

Each year, a corporate sponsor (client) provides a case study outlining the history of its product and a current, real-world marketing challenge. Students research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas, and devise an integrated campaign for the client. Each student team then pitches their campaign to a panel of district judges. Judging is conducted by professionals in the advertising, marketing and communications industry.

National Student Advertising Competition 2023

Meet the Faculty

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To apply students must submit a course application, a resume, a cover letter and a link to a portfolio or work and complete an interview. Applications are open from September 1 to 30.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am not an advertising and public relations major, can I still apply?

Any student who meets the course prerequisites can apply for the National Student Advertising Competition. Visit the undergraduate catalog to see the prerequisites for ADPR 339 and ADPR 439.

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I am not in the College of Journalism of Mass Communications, can I still apply?

Any student who meets the course prerequisites can apply for the National Student Advertising Competition. Visit the undergraduate catalog to see the prerequisites for ADPR 339 and ADPR 439.

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What does the class entail?

This course is reserved for students selected to serve on the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team. NSAC is an annual challenge sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Students participating in this course and NSAC, will research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise a completely integrated campaign for the client.

Are there prerequisites?

Yes. Visit the undergraduate catalog to see the prerequisites for ADPR 339 and ADPR 439

What will I need to provide to apply?

To apply students must submit a course application, a resume, a cover letter and a link to a portfolio or work and complete an interview.

Apply Now