Ron Brown Scholar Program 2026 vs MLH Fellowship

Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Ron Brown Scholar Program 2026 is a scholarship while MLH Fellowship is a internship.

Ron Brown Scholar Program 2026 MLH Fellowship
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Scholarship Internship
Organization Ron Brown Scholar Program Major League Hacking (MLH)
Acceptance Rate Estimated 5-10% acceptance rate based on prestige tier 1 classification and $40,000 award amount (highly competitive, exact rate unavailable) Not publicly disclosed; competitive program but exact rate unknown
Applicants Likely 500-2,000+ applicants annually (specific number not available) Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually
Deadline Rolling Rolling
Award $40,000
Cost to Apply Free Free
US Only Yes No / International
Grades High school seniors (12th grade, graduating class of 2026) College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear)
College Impact The Ron Brown Scholar Program is viewed very favorably by college admissions officers and is recognized as a prestigious national scholarship. Winning this scholarship demonstrates: (1) Academic excel... Highly valued in college admissions and recruiting. Shows: (1) Real-world experience with production-grade code, (2) Demonstrated commitment to open-source/collaborative development, (3) Recognition b...