The only debate academy that won't charge extra for coaching
In addition to weekly classes, students will engage in practice and small seminar-style learning sessions focusing on collapsing, weighing, and more! The supplemental programming includes practice rounds, drills specific to each skill, and lectures by our expert coaches.
Our weekly 90-minute classes are the core of the NDC program. Taught by the same teacher all season*, the sessions focus on the everchanging topic landscape and foundational skills such as efficiency and round vision. To maximize individualized teaching, each group is kept to four to six students.
Yes, that's right. Unlike other debate clubs, we provide our tournament services for the National Debate Club at cost, meaning we will not profit off of taking students to competitions. Online tournaments generally range from $125-$200, including all fees and judging. In-person tournaments cost $750-$1500, covering all expenses.
Bi-weekly sessions open to every NDC member, on top of regular small group practices. These are large-format sessions designed to build team cohesion and expose students to a wider range of arguments and speaking styles. Our 6:1 student-to-coach ratio keeps them targeted — no generic lectures, just semi-private coaching where every debater gets real feedback on their individual performance.
NDC's unique ethos emphasizes personalized attention as critical. We offer semi-private instruction focused on individual growth, avoiding cookie-cutter slide shows. Our best-in-industry (6:1) student-to-teacher ratio is just the beginning, ensuring each student's development is tailored & specific.
Competing at tournaments is essential to being a top debater. At CDA, we handle all the travel logistics. In fact, we offer all of these services at cost, meaning we do not make money from tournaments, keeping competition as affordable as possible.
We offer a robust schedule of both in-person and online TOC bid tournaments. Our teams consistently attend Harvard, Grapevine, Stanford, and dozens more.
We understand that parents have lives of their own and cannot take their kids to tournaments every weekend or don’t have the time to coordinate schedules with partners and look up flights and hotels. At CDA, we handle everything from judge registration to hotels and flights. With our exclusive corporate partnerships, we ensure the lowest travel prices available.
Katheryne Dwyer leads NDC's day-to-day coaching and program development. She's one of the most respected voices in Public Forum debate — a member of the NSDA's PF Topic Wording Committee and a coach whose students consistently perform at the national circuit's highest levels.
Katheryne's approach combines deep technical knowledge of PF with a genuine investment in each student's growth. She doesn't just prepare debaters to win rounds — she builds the critical thinking and communication skills that carry well beyond competition.
NDC faculty are not just award-winning debaters, they are some of the most effective teachers. Each staff member goes through dozens of hours of training and is dedicated to the success of every student
Director of Debate, University of Chicago
Lead Travel Team Coach, Coach at the Nueva School
Lead Travel Team Coach, Coach at Strake Jesuit
Lead Travel Team Coach, University of Pittsburgh
Lead Travel Team Coach, Harvard University
Lead Travel Team Coach, Director of Debate at St. Luke's School
Lead Travel Team Coach, NYU Stern
Lead Travel Team Coach, Brown University
Lead Travel Team Coach, University of Michigan
Lead Travel Team Coach, Duke University
Lead Travel Team Coach, Emory University
Lead Travel Team Coach, Cornell University
Lead Travel Team Coach, University of Wisconsin Madison
Lead Travel Team Coach, George Washington University
Travel Team Coach, University of Texas at Austin
Lead Travel Team Coach, Northwestern University
Travel Team Staff, University of Pennsylvania
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Southern California
Travel Team Staff, University of Pennsylvania
Lead Coach, Vanderbilt University
Travel Team Staff, Georgetown University
Travel Team Staff, University of Southern California
Travel Team Staff, Georgetown University
Travel Team Staff, Harvard University
Travel Team Coach, Dartmouth University
Travel Team Staff, Yale University
Travel Team Coach, Stanford University
Travel Team Staff, University of California San Diego
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Columbia University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, New York University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Chicago
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Northeastern University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Congressional Coach, Stanford University
Congressional Coach, University of California, Berkeley
Congressional Coach, Vanderbilt University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Dartmouth University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Texas Austin
Assistant Travel Team & Policy Coach, Western Kentucky University
Assistant Travel Team & Policy Coach, University of Iowa
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Columbia University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of California Berkeley
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Notre Dame
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Virginia
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Stanford University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Williams College
Assistant Travel Team Coach, George Washington University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Michigan
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Maryland College Park
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Texas Austin
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University College London
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Toronto
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of California Los Angeles
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Yale University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of California Berkeley
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Arizona State University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Chicago
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Georgetown University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Michigan
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Stanford University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Cornell University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Harvard University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Columbia University
Assistant Travel Team Coach, University of Michigan
Assistant Travel Team Coach, Case Western Reserve University
NDC coaches don't just know debate — they know how to teach it. Every staff member completes dozens of hours of training before leading a session. Lectures cover topic analysis, round strategy, and skill-specific workshops designed to translate directly into competitive results.
NDC students compete at top national-circuit and regional tournaments throughout the season. We handle registration, judging, and logistics — your student just shows up and debates.
NSDA Season Opener in Kentucky featuring online and in-person Public Forum to kick off the national circuit season.
Blue Key Invitational at the University of Florida, a major octofinals-bid tournament and early Nov/Dec topic debut.
Apple Valley Invitational in Minnesota, a premier Midwest octofinals-bid in-person tournament.
Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament in Illinois, a prestigious octofinals-bid in-person tournament near Chicago.
TOC Digital 1 in Kentucky, an online semifinals-bid tournament in the Tournament of Champions digital series.
Arizona State Invitational, an in-person octofinals-bid tournament hosted by ASU in Tempe.
Stanford Invitational, a premier online octofinals-bid tournament hosted by Stanford University.
Harvard Invitational, one of the most prestigious octofinals-bid in-person tournaments on the national circuit.
CDA has given me the resources and community I never had as a small school competitor. Every practice and drill is tailored to my needs and reflective of where I need to improve. Further, the close-knit support system of students and coaches has made me feel included in the community and helped me improve greatly.
CDA has smoothed out my transition between local competition and debate at the national level with generous considerations regarding my family’s financial situation. From the weekly lectures to the tight-knit labs, the tailored education at CDA has helped me hone my technical debate skills and become a better speaker.
CDA has helped me grow a lot as a debater. The coaches and the class schedule are great for enhancing prep and in-round strategy as a debater. I would recommend this club if you want to join a good environment and become a better debater.
CDA has given me the resources and community I never had as a small school competitor. Every practice and drill is tailored to my needs and reflective of where I need to improve. Further, the close-knit support system of students and coaches has made me feel included in the community and helped me improve greatly.
CDA has smoothed out my transition between local competition and debate at the national level with generous considerations regarding my family’s financial situation. From the weekly lectures to the tight-knit labs, the tailored education at CDA has helped me hone my technical debate skills and become a better speaker.
CDA has helped me grow a lot as a debater. The coaches and the class schedule are great for enhancing prep and in-round strategy as a debater. I would recommend this club if you want to join a good environment and become a better debater.
CDA has given me the resources and community I never had as a small school competitor. Every practice and drill is tailored to my needs and reflective of where I need to improve. Further, the close-knit support system of students and coaches has made me feel included in the community and helped me improve greatly.
CDA has smoothed out my transition between local competition and debate at the national level with generous considerations regarding my family’s financial situation. From the weekly lectures to the tight-knit labs, the tailored education at CDA has helped me hone my technical debate skills and become a better speaker.
CDA has helped me grow a lot as a debater. The coaches and the class schedule are great for enhancing prep and in-round strategy as a debater. I would recommend this club if you want to join a good environment and become a better debater.
Lecture going over key clash and arguments on the new topic
Skill-level divided large group brainstorming session; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group drill session targeting specific core skills; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Review coach-made evidence file for the new topic; Lecture going over a key skill we’ve identified a whole-team need to practice
Skill-level divided large group drills based on previous lecture; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group ‘fun’ practice; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Lecture going over a key skill we’ve identified a whole-team need to practice
Skill-level divided large group drills based on previous lecture; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group practice focused on guided topic research; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Lecture going over a key skill we’ve identified a whole-team need to practice
Skill-level divided large group discussion and drills on weighing and framing debates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group practice where students watch, judge, and salvage a debate; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Lecture going over key clash and arguments on the new topic
Skill-level divided large group brainstorming session; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group drill session targeting specific core skills; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Review coach-made evidence file for the new topic; Lecture going over a key skill we’ve identified a whole-team need to practice
Skill-level divided large group drills based on previous lecture; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group ‘fun’ practice; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Lecture going over a key skill we’ve identified a whole-team need to practice
Skill-level divided large group drills based on previous lecture; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group practice focused on guided topic research; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Lecture going over a key skill we’ve identified a whole-team need to practice
Skill-level divided large group discussion and drills on weighing and framing debates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Skill-level divided large group practice where students watch, judge, and salvage a debate; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Small group 90 minute weekly lab with your core teammates; Work one-on-one with a coach on any questions you have
Coach judged practice debates and feedback against other members of the team
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Optional competition opportunities based on your schedule
Civic Debate Academy makes high-quality debate coaching affordable for all. With flexible pricing, financial aid, and scholarships, no student is held back by cost. We're here to ensure everyone can excel in debate, without breaking the bank. If you want to join the program, cost won't be the reason you don't.
$3,995 One-Time Payment
If you want your child to join this program, cost will not be the reason they can't. We'll work with you to find a solution that fits your family's budget. Click here to learn more about financial aid.
CDA offers both online classes across the country and in-person class in Chicago to fit students’ needs, ensuring flexibility and access to high-quality coaching regardless of location. The National Debate Club Travel Team is hosted online with in-person and online tournaments.
Debate feels overwhelming? Let’s make it easier—schedule your free consult today!
