Regeneron Science Talent Search vs MLH Fellowship - Production Engineering Track

Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while MLH Fellowship - Production Engineering Track is a internship.

Regeneron Science Talent Search MLH Fellowship - Production Engineering Track
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Competition Internship
Organization Society for Science MLH (Major League Hacking)
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. NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED. FAQ states 'we receive an overwhelming demand from students' suggesting highly competitive (likely 5-15% based on typical tech fellowship rates, but unconfirmed)
Applicants Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 Not officially published, but described as receiving 'overwhelming demand'
Deadline 2026-11-05 Rolling
Cost to Apply Free Free
US Only Yes No / International
Grades High school seniors only The program does NOT explicitly limit to college students. The FAQ states 'the MLH Fellowship is open to all developers, regardless of where you live, the stage of your career, or what type of institution you attend(ed).' This suggests high school students are technically eligible if they meet technical requirements.
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, ... STRONG POSITIVE IMPACT on college admissions for selective universities. What admissions officers see: (1) Selective fellowship showing you survived rigorous vetting process; (2) Real-world engineerin...