Regeneron ISEF Awards vs DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Regeneron ISEF Awards is a competition while DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship is a scholarship.
| Regeneron ISEF Awards | DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Scholarship |
| Organization | Society for Science | Department of Defense (DoD) |
| 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) | Approximately 8-18% depending on year; recent data shows ~600 awards annually from ~4,000-5,000 applicants |
| 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) | 2024-2025 cycle: estimated 4,000+ applicants; historically 2,000-2,655 per year |
| Deadline | — | Rolling |
| Award | $7,000,000 | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | 9th through 12th grade (high school students) | Currently enrolled undergraduate, master's, or doctoral students (NOT 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... | SMART Scholarship is HIGHLY REGARDED in college admissions and professional circles. For undergraduates: Demonstrates exceptional STEM commitment and achievement; counts as major merit-based scholarsh... |