Breakthrough Junior Challenge: Odds & Deadline

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global science video competition for students ages 13 to 18. Each entrant makes a video of two minutes or less that explains a big idea or theory in the life sciences, physics or mathematics in a way a general audience can follow. Entries must be in English and made by one student; group entries are not allowed. As part of entering, each student also scores at least five other entries in a peer review round. A judging panel and selection committee narrow the field to finalists and pick one winner, who receives a $250,000 college scholarship paid to an accredited undergraduate school. The winner's chosen science or math teacher receives $50,000, and the winner's school receives a science lab renovation worth up to $100,000. The application window usually runs from mid May to mid September. Only one student wins each year, so families should treat this as a stretch goal that also builds a strong portfolio piece.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Breakthrough Junior Challenge to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.

Estimated odds: roughly 1 in 2,000 applicants
Modelled applicant field: ~24,000 students
Awards each cycle: 1
Payoff per hour of work: $5 / hr

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Breakthrough Junior Challenge?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
Planning to study STEM
Ages 13 to 18

Confirm these before applying

Must be at least 13 on the opening date and not yet 19 on October 1 of the contest year

Good to know

Individual entries only; the video must be 2:00 or shorter and in English
Entrants must score at least five other entries during peer review

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is September 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual September 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open May 11. The 2027 dates are not posted yet; the 2026 window ran May 11 to September 15, so plan the video over the summer.

Peer review must be completed: September 30, 2026
Popular Vote of top videos: Late November 2026
Submissions open: May 11, 2027
Video and application due: September 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM Pacific (estimated)

Track the next deadline Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Breakthrough Junior Challenge

How much is the Breakthrough Junior Challenge worth?

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge awards $250,000 scholarship (one winner). One award is made each cycle.

When is the Breakthrough Junior Challenge deadline?

The next projected deadline is September 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual September 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open May 11. The 2027 dates are not posted yet; the 2026 window ran May 11 to September 15, so plan the video over the summer.

When do Breakthrough Junior Challenge applications open?

Applications open May 11, and close September 15, 2027 (estimated). The 2027 dates are not posted yet; the 2026 window ran May 11 to September 15, so plan the video over the summer.

Who is eligible for the Breakthrough Junior Challenge?

Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors; Planning to study STEM; Ages 13 to 18.

Does the Breakthrough Junior Challenge require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 25 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Breakthrough Junior Challenge?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 2,000 applicants, against a modelled field of ~24,000 students. The pool stays that size because restricted to specific intended majors. At 25 hrs of work, that is about $5 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the Breakthrough Junior Challenge free to apply?

Yes. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

Breakthrough Junior Challenge