MLH Fellowship vs Regeneron ISEF 2026
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. MLH Fellowship is a internship while Regeneron ISEF 2026 is a competition.
| MLH Fellowship | Regeneron ISEF 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Internship | Competition |
| Organization | Major League Hacking (MLH) | Regeneron |
| Acceptance Rate | Not publicly disclosed; competitive program but exact rate unknown | Roughly 1,700 finalists are selected from 365 affiliated fairs worldwide. Getting to ISEF requires first winning regionally, which itself is competitive. Estimated <1% of all science fair participants globally reach ISEF. At the ISEF itself, approximately 600 of the 1,700 finalists (~35%) receive some award. |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually | Millions of students compete in science fairs globally each year; approximately 1,700–1,800 reach ISEF as finalists |
| Deadline | Rolling | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | No / International |
| Grades | College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear) | Grades 9–12 (high school students only; middle schoolers compete in the separate Junior Innovators Challenge) |
| College Impact | Highly valued in college admissions and recruiting. Shows: (1) Real-world experience with production-grade code, (2) Demonstrated commitment to open-source/collaborative development, (3) Recognition b... | ISEF finalist status is one of the most powerful extracurricular credentials in college admissions. Being named an ISEF finalist (simply qualifying) is Tier 1 on most admissions frameworks. Grand Awar... |