International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) vs Regeneron ISEF Awards
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is a olympiad while Regeneron ISEF Awards is a competition.
| International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) | Regeneron ISEF Awards | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Olympiad | Competition |
| Organization | International Olympiad in Informatics | Society for Science |
| Acceptance Rate | — | Approximately 1,600-1,700 finalists compete at ISEF annually out of significantly larger pool competing at 365+ affiliated fairs; roughly 600 finalists receive awards/prizes (37.5% of finalists awarded) |
| Applicants | — | Over 1,600 finalists selected annually from 365 Society-affiliated fairs across 60+ countries and territories; total number competing at all affiliated fairs globally is much larger (tens of thousands) |
| Deadline | — | — |
| Award | — | $7,000,000 |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | Free |
| US Only | No / International | No / International |
| Grades | — | 9th through 12th grade (high school students) |
| College Impact | — | Reaching Regeneron ISEF as a finalist is extremely prestigious in college admissions and carries significant weight. Top colleges (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.) view ISEF participation highly favor... |