Regeneron Science Talent Search vs Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Both are competitions for high school students.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Competition |
| Organization | Society for Science | Lemelson-MIT Program at MIT |
| 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 8-10% (based on 8 teams selected annually; suggests 80-100+ applications per year, though exact applicant count not publicly available) |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | Estimated 80-100+ schools apply annually (extrapolated from 8 selections) |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | Rolling |
| Award | — | $7,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | High school seniors only | High school students (9-12) |
| 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, ... | 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; ... |