Regeneron Science Talent Search vs QuestBridge Application Portal
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while QuestBridge Application Portal is a scholarship.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | QuestBridge Application Portal | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Competition | Scholarship |
| Organization | Society for Science | QuestBridge |
| 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. | Exact finalist selection rate not publicly disclosed, but highly competitive. Estimated 5-15% of applicants become Finalists. Among Finalists who rank colleges, match rates vary significantly by college choice but QuestBridge states 'Finalists who match are admitted to a college partner with a full four-year scholarship.' |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | Exact annual numbers not officially published, but estimated several thousand high school students apply nationally each year |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | High school seniors only | High school seniors only |
| 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, ... | QuestBridge is viewed very positively by college admissions officers and is considered a significant achievement. Being selected as a QuestBridge Finalist demonstrates exceptional academic ability com... |