MLH Fellowship vs Ron Brown Scholar Program 2026
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. MLH Fellowship is a internship while Ron Brown Scholar Program 2026 is a scholarship.
| MLH Fellowship | Ron Brown Scholar Program 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Internship | Scholarship |
| Organization | Major League Hacking (MLH) | Ron Brown Scholar Program |
| Acceptance Rate | Not publicly disclosed; competitive program but exact rate unknown | Estimated 5-10% acceptance rate based on prestige tier 1 classification and $40,000 award amount (highly competitive, exact rate unavailable) |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually | Likely 500-2,000+ applicants annually (specific number not available) |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Award | — | $40,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear) | High school seniors (12th grade, graduating class of 2026) |
| 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... | The Ron Brown Scholar Program is viewed very favorably by college admissions officers and is recognized as a prestigious national scholarship. Winning this scholarship demonstrates: (1) Academic excel... |