HMMT vs PUMaC: Which Program Is Right for You?
Both are student-run math tournaments at universities, and many teams attend both. HMMT picks teams by random lottery and splits the year into a November tournament and a harder February one; PUMaC admits teams of eight on merit and runs one November contest with a proof-based Power Round released in advance. Registration timing and team size usually decide it.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT) and Princeton University Mathematics Competition (PUMaC). A blank row is a fact we do not hold — not a zero, and not a no.
| HMMT | PUMaC | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Varies — see Cost and funding | $5–$12.5 |
| Application deadline | Applications closed | Dates not announced |
| Grade eligibility | Up to age 20 | Up to age 19 |
| Format | In person | Hybrid |
| Location | Cambridge, MA, United States | Princeton, New Jersey, United States |
| Program dates | Not listed | November 21, 2026 |
| Application destination | hmmt.org | pumac.princeton.edu |
| Organizer | Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament | Princeton University Math Club |
HMMT vs PUMaC: the short answer
Both are student-run math tournaments held at universities, and the practical difference is how you get in. HMMT picks teams and individuals by a uniformly random lottery, and registration for both its November tournament at Harvard and its February tournament at MIT closed on September 20, 2026 — so for this season that door has shut. PUMaC, run by the Princeton University Math Club, admits on merit on a rolling basis until October 11 and holds one tournament on Saturday, November 21, 2026, with room for about 70 teams on site. Teams differ too: PUMaC teams are 8 students, HMMT's are 4-6 in November and 6-8 in February. Fees are $80 per HMMT team application and $15 per PUMaC student, and both offer help when cost is a barrier.
Program details
These are the current details stored for each program. A blank cell means the catalog does not hold that detail.
| HMMT | PUMaC | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to attend | $80 per team application or $10 per individual, paid in cash or by check at check-in. | $15 per student in the Main Competition: $120 per team, or $15 as an individual. |
| Financial aid | Hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday nights and a waived registration fee; travel is usually not covered. | Email PUMaC if the registration fee would be a financial hardship. |
| How places are given | A uniformly random lottery; a team in the previous February's top 30 is guaranteed a February place if it applies. | On merit, for individuals as for full teams. |
| Size | Close to 1000 students at each tournament. | About 70 teams a year on site. |
| Team size | 4-6 students in November, 6-8 in February. | 8 students; teams can be schools, regional teams or home-schooled teams from a well-defined region. |
| Who can apply | Under 21 and enrolled in full-time primary or secondary education on or after the season's registration start (August 2, 2026). | Teams from high schools and well-defined geographic regions, plus individual applicants. |
| The rounds | November's team round is short-answer; February's is entirely proof-based. | A Power Round released a week in advance, then individual tests, a team round and individual finals on campus. |
| Limits | Each student competes in November or February, not both, in a season. | A team registers for the Main Competition or the Power Competition, not both. |
| Deadline, most recent published cycle | September 20, 2026, for both the November 2026 and February 2027 tournaments. | Rolling applications for PUMaC 2026 until October 11. |
Inside HMMT
A tournament weekend at Harvard in November or MIT in February, with Friday-night events at the other school. November has two individual rounds, a short-answer team round and a Guts round; February adds subject tests in algebra, geometry and combinatorics and makes the team round entirely proof-based, and HMMT says students with less proof experience may feel more comfortable in November. Your coach pays in cash or by check at check-in.
Inside PUMaC
One Saturday at Princeton. The Power Round, a proof-based test, is released about a week ahead; on the day you take individual tests, a team round and individual finals, with lunch included and mini-events such as a puzzle hunt that do not count toward scores. Teams compete in Division A or B, and a team that has done well before may be placed in A.
Choose HMMT if…
- Your strongest students write proofs comfortably. HMMT February's team round is entirely proof-based, and HMMT pitches February from mid-AIME to olympiad level.
- You plan a season ahead. HMMT's registration for both tournaments closes in September, before either one is held.
Choose PUMaC if…
- You missed HMMT's September deadline. PUMaC 2026 takes rolling applications until October 11.
- You want a November tournament for a team of eight. PUMaC's November contest takes teams of 8; HMMT's November teams are 4-6, and its teams of 6-8 compete in February.
Applying next cycle: what to do now
| HMMT | PUMaC | |
|---|---|---|
| Decisions released | Lottery results for this season have been released. | All teams hear by Sunday, October 18, whether they are accepted or waitlisted. |
| Next program dates | November 7, 2026 at Harvard; February 13, 2027 at MIT. | Saturday, November 21, 2026. |
Applying to HMMT
- A coach — any responsible adult — submits applications for the organization's teams and individuals.
- Applications are needed every season, and the window is typically about 3 weeks in September.
- Each organization must bring enough adult proctors; one that does not faces a 1 year suspension.
Applying to PUMaC
- A coach account comes first, even for an individual; the coach is responsible for them on the day.
- No team picked yet? Describe your school's past results in similar competitions.
- Pay only after your team is accepted.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- PUMaC's registration page still shows last season's deadline above its 2026 schedule, and its FAQ lists older prices; we quote the 2026 schedule and the current fee line.
- HMMT's places are drawn by lottery, so a strong team can miss out; only teams in the previous February's top 30 are guaranteed a February place.
- Neither publishes an acceptance rate, and neither page says how many teams applied.
Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT)
A tournament organized entirely by students at Harvard, MIT and nearby schools.
Princeton University Mathematics Competition (PUMaC)
An annual competition run by the Princeton University Math Club, entirely student-run since 2006.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, HMMT or PUMaC?
HMMT: Varies — see Cost and funding. PUMaC: $5–$12.5. Confirm each figure on the program's official page before budgeting.
Can I apply to both HMMT and PUMaC?
The application destinations are evaluated independently. HMMT: hmmt.org. PUMaC: pumac.princeton.edu. Review each provider's current instructions before assuming either application is open or compatible with the other.
Which is better for college applications, HMMT or PUMaC?
We do not rank enrichment programs by admissions value. Use the comparison to assess whether each program's documented constraints fit your situation, and check the details that decide it for you on each program's official page.
What grades can apply to HMMT and PUMaC?
HMMT: Up to age 20. PUMaC: Up to age 19. Eligibility can change between cycles, so confirm it on each program's official page before applying.
Related comparisons
HMMT appears in 2 of 56 comparison pages. PUMaC appears in 1 of 56 comparison pages.
How we count
Our comparison list has 56 pairs covering 91 catalog programs. Those numbers count this list only. They are not a ranking or the size of the full catalog.
We don't rank programs or name one of them the best.
When we don't list a cost, it is unknown, not free. Check the official page.
Catalog-wide numbers, and what each was counted out of, are on Statistics.