FICO’s Educational Analytics Challenge
Empowering students through real-world analytics, mentorship, and responsible AI to build skills, confidence, and career pathways in data science and financial services.
Inspiring educators. Empowering students. Driving innovation.
The FICO Educational Analytics Challenge is designed to educate and empower the next generation of data scientists, particularly at institutions without formal data science programs. With mentorship from FICO data scientists, the program supports the development of university analytics curricula and strengthens partnerships within the HBCU Data Science Consortium.
The initiative provides students with hands-on experience in responsible AI and real-world analytics, while offering educators a scalable framework to integrate applied data science into their classrooms.
In the news
Andrew Jackson, Recipient of Coveted FICO Internship, Shares His Story
A Drake State Community & Technical College Student reflects on the Analytics Challenge, the mentors who backed him, and a summer interning with FICO’s data science team.
Does it still matter if it doesn’t scale?
FICO's Rukiya Kelly argues that companies asking 'Will it scale?' first may be focused on the wrong question—and points to the Educational Analytics Challenge as proof that small can be a winning strategy.
Fostering the Next Generation Of Data Scientists
FICO Chief Analytics Officer Scott Zoldi on why hands-on mentorship, working with real-world data, and responsible AI practices inspire future data scientists more than funding alone.
Using AI and Data Science to Fight Bias and Drive Opportunities
FICO’s expansion of its Educational Analytics Challenge and Responsible AI collaboration with customers globally can improve transparency and economic outcomes
FICO Educational Analytics Challenge Program Continues its Third Year
Dillard University joins the FICO Educational Analytics Challenge for Spring semester, along with returning institutions Drake State Community & Technical College, North Carolina Central University, and Fayetteville State University
Newsroom
Explore additional press releases, announcements, and coverage of the Educational Analytics Challenge.
Empower Learners
Enrich Classroom Experience
Access Industry Mentorship
Promote Responsible AI
Advance Career Readiness
Build Academic Impact
Why Join the Challenge?
Expanding Reach: Who’s Joined the Challenge So Far
Hear from students and faculty
Semester wrap-up conversations with Dr. Scott Zoldi and participating campuses.
FICO Educational Analytics Challenge Conversation with Dr. Scott Zoldi
FICO Educational Analytics Challenge Fall 2025
FICO x NCCU LinkedIn Recap
FICO x Fayetteville State University Educational Analytics Challenge
FICO x Drake State Educational Analytics Challenge
Frequently asked questions
The FICO Educational Analytics Challenge was created to elevate the field of data science on college campuses and train the next generation of data scientists. The semester-long program provides student teams with real-world practitioner AI challenges and imparts technical skills to prepare them for data science careers in financial services. FICO provides weekly lectures as well as student access to FICO data scientists for technical/ project support and mentoring opportunities. Students are also made aware of career opportunities and offered sessions to improve their resumes and interviewing skills. The project concludes with the students presenting their findings in the competition to judges FICO Chief Analytics Officer Dr. Scott Zoldi and the FICO mentors. The students will receive competition prize money, as well as will have the opportunity to participate in FICO social media activations.
- Alabama A&M University
- Bowie State University
- Delaware State University
- Drake State Community & Technical College
- Fayetteville State University
- Morehouse College
- NC Central University
“The FICO Analytics Challenge helped influence our data science minor here at Alabama A&M University by providing interest from folks outside of our traditional computer science or engineering areas.” -Dr. Andrew R. Scott, Professor and Chairman, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Alabama A&M University
“Our [FICO] mentors were amazing. They were always a great help and provided feedback every step of the way. Our mentors helped shape our experience – whenever we got stuck on something, they were there to help and explain.” -Carl Jennings, Analytics Challenge student participant, Delaware State University
Students often have completed an introduction to a data analytics and/or statistics course and are proficient in Excel. Proficiency in Python and/or other programming languages is helpful. The challenge is designed to run for 12 weeks.
FICO works with each school’s communications professionals to promote the project across a variety of media channels through press releases, school visits, and student/professor interviews with Dr. Zoldi on LinkedIn.
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Alabama A&M University and Drake State Community College participate in the FICO Educational Analytics Challenge
Watch past Alabama A&M University and Drake State Community College participants take on the FICO Educational Analytics Challenge. The challenge empowers students with hands-on experience in responsible AI and real-world data analytics. This innovative program connects students with FICO data scientist mentors, building the next generation of data professionals. See the impact firsthand as students and educators showcase how this initiative is transforming data science education.
