U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize: Odds & Deadline

The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a national competition for high school research projects about water. Students in grades 9 through 12 who are at least 15 by August 1 of the competition year submit a research paper on water quality, water resources management, or water and wastewater treatment. Individuals or teams of two may enter. Students first compete in a state competition, either by winning a regional fair or by entering the state round directly. State winners then compete in a virtual national round in May, and the top 20 finalists present in person in June. The national winner receives a $10,000 cash prize and a crystal trophy and represents the United States at the international competition during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, in August. The contest is open to residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This suits students already doing a science fair project on water.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize 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: ~8,000 students
Awards each cycle: 1
Payoff per hour of work: $0 / 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 rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field

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 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize?

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
Age 15 or older

Confirm these before applying

Grades 9-12 and at least 15 years old by August 1 of the competition year
Open only to residents of the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico
Must have a completed water-related research project; individuals or teams of two

Good to know

National winner must be available to attend World Water Week in Stockholm in August

What the application takes

Essay required.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is April 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual April 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. The 2027 state entry date is not posted yet; in 2026 it was April 15, so the research paper should be finished by early spring.

National virtual judging: Early May 2026
International competition in Stockholm: August 2026
State competition entry due: April 15, 2027 (estimated)
National finals in person: June 2027

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 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize

How much is the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize worth?

The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize awards $10,000 (national winner). One award is made each cycle.

When is the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize deadline?

The next projected deadline is April 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual April 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. The 2027 state entry date is not posted yet; in 2026 it was April 15, so the research paper should be finished by early spring.

Who is eligible for the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize?

Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors; Planning to study STEM; Age 15 or older.

Does the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay. Expect to spend about 40 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 2,000 applicants, against a modelled field of ~8,000 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and restricted to specific intended majors. At 40 hrs of work, that is about $0 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize free to apply?

Yes. The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize