Students
Build your skills in data and AI
The SAS Hackathon Student Track challenges you to move beyond predictive modeling to complete a realistic lending challenge.
Registration is now closed! The 2026 hack begins in October.
Apply your skills in a real-world scenario and prove what you can do with data
Using AI and analytics, you’ll explore data, build models, make business decisions and evaluate the impact of those decisions in a lending simulation.
Apply what you’ve learned to the real world
Move beyond theory and work through business challenges using real data.
Build in-demand skills with real tools
Gain hands-on experience with SAS Viya and predictive modeling used by global organizations.
Compete, improve and see results
Climb the leaderboard while refining your models and seeing the impact of your decisions in real time.
Stand out and prove your impact
Showcase your ability to turn data into meaningful outcomes.
1,200+
student registrations
60+
countries represented
700+
organizations, universities and partners represented
These stats were collected from the 2025 SAS Hackathon
What is the 2026 SAS Hackathon Student Track?
Learn analytics by making lending decisions
The 2026 SAS Hackathon Student Track puts you in the role of a data scientist working for a fictitious auto finance company.
Your goal is to help build a profitable auto loan portfolio. Using a realistic dataset of loan applicants, you'll explore data, build predictive models, evaluate risk, and design approval strategies that balance business performance with responsible lending practices.
But predicting default is only the beginning.
Success means deciding which loans to approve, evaluating the tradeoff between risk and reward and considering how these decisions affect access to credit across different groups of borrowers.
Every decision impacts your results, and your performance is measured on a competitive leaderboard against students from around the world.
What to expect
The Student Track is designed to be flexible, fast-moving and supported every step of the way.
Compete your way
Take on the challenge individually and compete against students from around the world.
Get started with confidence
Kickoff sessions walk you through the platform and show you how to play the game.
Improve with expert support
Office hours help you refine your models and boost your performance.
Work flexibly with real tools
Build at your own pace using SAS Viya for Learners for hands-on model development.
Event Timeline
See how your hackathon journey unfolds from start to finish.
Kickoff Event - October 1, 2026, 10am – 12pm (ET)
Welcome to the SAS Hackathon 2026 Student Track! The event kickoff will introduce you to the credit risk modeling game, including a brief tour of the SAS Viya for Learners platform, and instructions on how to play and submit to the leaderboard.
Office Hours - October 19, 2026, 10am – 11am (ET)
Check-in with a SAS instructor for the midpoint of the SAS Hackathon Student Track. Bring any questions you have and take your modeling to the next level.
Leaderboard Closes - October 30, 2026, 12 noon (ET)
Leaderboard closes and models are scored.
Winner contacted - Early November, 2026
Winner contacted and results verified.
SAS Hackathon 2026 Winners Announcement - December 16, 2026
SAS Hackathon 2026 winners announced.
Ready to build something that matters?
Step into the experience and bring your ideas to life.
