Regeneron Science Talent Search vs DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship is a scholarship.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Scholarship |
| Organization | Society for Science | Department of Defense (DoD) |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 0.2-0.3% (2% of ~2,000 applicants become Top 40 finalists; 15% become Top 300 scholars). Highly selective with ~2,000 projects submitted annually. | Approximately 8-18% depending on year; recent data shows ~600 awards annually from ~4,000-5,000 applicants |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | 2024-2025 cycle: estimated 4,000+ applicants; historically 2,000-2,655 per year |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | High school seniors only | Currently enrolled undergraduate, master's, or doctoral students (NOT high school students) |
| College Impact | Regeneron STS is considered one of the most prestigious high school science competitions and carries significant weight in college admissions, particularly for top-tier universities (Ivy League, MIT, ... | 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... |