United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) vs Regeneron Science Talent Search

Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) is a olympiad while Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition.

United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) Regeneron Science Talent Search
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 1 — Elite
Type Olympiad Competition
Organization Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Society for Science
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 Free
US Only No / International Yes
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, ...