Sarthak Dassarma ’26 Earns Top Finish in 86th Putnam Competition
Competing against 4,329 students nationwide, the Santa Clara mathematics major secured a Top 500 ranking in one of North America’s most rigorous undergraduate mathematics exams.
By Kate Vander Vort ’27
The 86th William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition was held on December 6, 2025, with 4,329 students from 487 institutions participating.
The Putnam is widely recognized as the most prestigious mathematics competition for undergraduate students in North America. The six-hour exam challenges students to solve twelve proof-based problems that require originality, precision, and deep mathematical insight.
Santa Clara University is proud to recognize Sarthak Dassarma ’26 (Mathematics), who ranked among the Top 500 participants with a score of 30 on the exam.
The exam consists of 12 problems worth 10 points each, meaning the highest possible score is 120. Although a score of 30 may sound modest, the Putnam is known for its difficulty. According to Tamsen McGinley, professor in the mathematics and computer science department, “a score of 20 points or more is usually in the top 20%. It is a really hard competition.”
Another notable result from this year’s competition is Santa Clara’s performance in the Putnam team rankings, which are determined by the combined scores of each school’s top three participants. Santa Clara’s team placed 80th out of 487 participating institutions.
We congratulate Sarthak on this outstanding achievement and celebrate this milestone for the Santa Clara mathematics community.