Regeneron Science Talent Search
Offered by Society for Science · Free to apply
The Regeneron Science Talent Search is widely regarded as the nation's most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Its purpose is to surface the next generation of scientific talent, valuing the promise of the young researcher as much as the project itself. The competition began in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search and is the nation's oldest science research competition for high school students. Around 2,600 seniors now enter each year, and Regeneron's sponsorship of the event has passed the ten-year mark. Seniors submit an original, independent research project and a paper of up to 20 pages to the country's oldest science competition, run by the Society for Science. Three hundred scholars each receive $2,000, with a matching $2,000 for their school, and 40 finalists travel to Washington, DC for a week of judging that ends with awards up to $250,000. Team projects do not qualify, and work involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, or biohazardous agents needs approval paperwork filed in advance. Citizenship does not matter, but the student must live in and attend their last year of secondary school in the US or its territories. The application opens in June and everything, recommendations included, is due November 5 at 8 p.m. ET with no exceptions. Scholars are named in January, the 40 finalists later that month, and top awards in March.
How hard is the Regeneron Science Talent Search to win?
Real competition, but not a lottery. The time cost is low enough relative to the award that a qualified student comes out ahead by applying.
- Published odds
- roughly 1 in 9 applicants
- Reported applicant field
- ~2,500 students
- Awards each cycle
- 300
- Payoff per hour of work
- $182 / 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 rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants
Where this number comes from: This provider publishes its real applicant and winner counts, so the rate above is the actual published rate from a recent cycle, not a Solyo model. Rates shift a little from cycle to cycle, and nobody can promise a win, but this is as real as scholarship odds get.
Who can apply for the Regeneron Science Talent Search?
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 seniors
- Research must be the student's own individual, independent work; team projects do not qualify
- Minors need parental or guardian consent (entrants must be over 13, or age 18 to under 21, or an emancipated minor)
- All materials including recommendations are due at the deadline with no exceptions
- Research involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, or biohazardous agents requires pre-approval documentation
- Open regardless of citizenship or immigration status to students living in and attending their last year of secondary school in the US or its territories
- US citizens attending school abroad are eligible; non-US citizens at American schools abroad are not
What the application takes
- Essay required. The prompt centers on passion for the field.
- 2 letters of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around November 5 each year. Applications open June. Judging rests on a finished paper, so the research and any approval forms need to be done over the summer before senior year.
- Top 300 scholars announced
- January 2026
- Top 40 finalists announced
- Late January 2026
- Application opens
- June 2026
- Application and recommendations due
- November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
- Finals week in Washington, DC and top awards
- March 2027
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Regeneron Science Talent Search
How much is the Regeneron Science Talent Search worth?
The Regeneron Science Talent Search awards $2,000 - $250,000 (300 scholars; top prize $250,000). 300 awards are made each cycle.
When is the Regeneron Science Talent Search deadline?
The current deadline is November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around November 5 each year. Applications open June. Judging rests on a finished paper, so the research and any approval forms need to be done over the summer before senior year.
When do Regeneron Science Talent Search applications open?
Applications open June, and close November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET. Judging rests on a finished paper, so the research and any approval forms need to be done over the summer before senior year.
Who is eligible for the Regeneron Science Talent Search?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors.
Does the Regeneron Science Talent Search require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay, 2 recommendations, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 80 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Regeneron Science Talent Search?
Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 9 applicants, against a modelled field of ~2,500 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. At 80 hrs of work, that is about $182 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.
Is the Regeneron Science Talent Search free to apply?
Yes. The Regeneron Science Talent Search is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
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Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.