About USACO

What is USACO?

The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a prestigious computer programming competition for high school students in the United States. It serves as the primary method for selecting the US team for the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).

Competition Structure

USACO consists of four divisions, each progressively more challenging:

🥉 Bronze

Introduction to basic algorithms and problem-solving techniques. Perfect for beginners starting their competitive programming journey.

🥈 Silver

Intermediate algorithms including sorting, searching, and basic graph theory. Requires solid understanding of data structures.

🥇 Gold

Advanced algorithms and data structures. Topics include dynamic programming, shortest paths, and tree algorithms.

💎 Platinum

Expert-level problems requiring deep algorithmic knowledge and creative problem-solving skills.

Knowledge Areas

Data Structures: Arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, heaps, hash tables
Algorithms: Sorting, searching, greedy algorithms, divide and conquer, dynamic programming
Graph Theory: DFS, BFS, shortest paths, minimum spanning trees, network flow
Mathematics: Number theory, combinatorics, probability, geometry
Problem Solving: Pattern recognition, optimization, edge case handling

Who Should Participate?

USACO is ideal for:

High school students interested in computer science and programming
Students preparing for college admissions with a strong CS focus
Aspiring software engineers looking to build problem-solving skills
Anyone passionate about algorithms and competitive programming

No prior competitive programming experience is required to start at the Bronze level. With dedication and proper training, students can progress through the divisions.

Competition Format

USACO holds four contests per year (December, January, February, and US Open). Each contest is a 4-hour online competition where students solve 3 algorithmic problems. Students can take the contest at any time during a 4-day window.