Regeneron Science Talent Search vs Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) - Research Projects

Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) - Research Projects is a research.

Regeneron Science Talent Search Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) - Research Projects
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Competition Research
Organization Society for Science Yale University
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.
Applicants Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942
Deadline 2026-11-05
Cost to Apply Free $0
US Only Yes No / International
Grades 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, ...