International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) vs Regeneron Science Talent Search
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is a olympiad while Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition.
| International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) | Regeneron Science Talent Search | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Olympiad | Competition |
| Organization | International Olympiad in Informatics | Society for Science |
| Acceptance Rate | — | Approximately 0.2-0.3% (2% of ~2,000 applicants become Top 40 finalists; 15% become Top 300 scholars). Highly selective with ~2,000 projects submitted annually. |
| Applicants | — | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 |
| Deadline | — | 2026-11-05 |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | — | High school seniors only |
| College Impact | — | Regeneron STS is considered one of the most prestigious high school science competitions and carries significant weight in college admissions, particularly for top-tier universities (Ivy League, MIT, ... |