Regeneron ISEF Awards vs Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Both are competitions for high school students.
| Regeneron ISEF Awards | Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Competition |
| Organization | Society for Science | Lemelson-MIT Program at MIT |
| 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 8-10% (based on 8 teams selected annually; suggests 80-100+ applications per year, though exact applicant count not publicly available) |
| 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) | Estimated 80-100+ schools apply annually (extrapolated from 8 selections) |
| Deadline | — | Rolling |
| Award | $7,000,000 | $7,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | 9th through 12th grade (high school students) | High school students (9-12) |
| 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... | Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams is viewed very favorably in college admissions, particularly for STEM programs. Selection as an InvenTeam demonstrates: (1) exceptional innovation and problem-solving ability; ... |