Regeneron ISEF Awards vs QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and National College Match
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Regeneron ISEF Awards is a competition while QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and National College Match is a scholarship.
| Regeneron ISEF Awards | QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and National College Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Scholarship |
| Organization | Society for Science | QuestBridge |
| 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) | — |
| 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) | — |
| Deadline | — | Rolling |
| Award | $7,000,000 | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | 9th through 12th grade (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... | — |