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If you search “best STEM competitions for students,” you’ll find roughly 400 listicles that all say the same thing in the same order with the same vague descriptions. Half of them are outdated. A quarter include competitions that no longer exist. And almost none of them are written by anyone who’s actually stood in front of a panel of judges at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, palms sweating, trying to explain their research to a PhD who looks skeptical.

Our students have been there. Multiple times. They’ve won some, lost some, and had poster boards collapse mid-presentation. So, this list is different. These are 30 competitions we’d recommend, ranked roughly by prestige, impact, and how much they’ll teach you, with honest notes on what each one is really like, who it’s for, and the deadlines you need to know for 2026.

One more thing: this list covers high school and middle school. If you’re a parent reading this for your kid, or a student scrolling through at midnight when you should be sleeping, welcome. Let’s get into it.

1. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

This is the big one. Over 1,800 students from 80+ countries compete every year, and the prize pool is close to $9 million. If you’ve ever Googled “science fair” and felt overwhelmed, just know: ISEF is the final boss. You don’t apply directly. Instead, you compete in affiliated regional and state fairs around the world, and winners from those fairs earn a spot. The research ranges from cancer biology to astrophysics to AI—basically anything you can design a rigorous experiment or project around. The judging is done by PhD-level scientists, and top winners have gone on to become Nobel laureates. It’s intense, it’s humbling, and it’s the single best experience a high school student can have in STEM.

2026: ISEF will be held May 9–15 in Phoenix, Arizona. You qualify through your regional/state affiliated fair.

2. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)

STS is the oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors in the United States—it’s been running since 1942. Alumni include 13 Nobel Prize winners. You submit an original, independent research project along with essays and recommendations. About 2,600 students enter each year; 300 are named scholars, and 40 become finalists who travel to Washington, D.C. to present their work and compete for $250,000. Unlike ISEF, Regeneron Science Talent Search is about your entire body of work—your research, your leadership, your potential. It’s a holistic review, more like a college application than a poster session.

2026: The 2026 competition has already concluded. The 2027 application opens June 1, 2026.

3. Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

If you’re in middle school and thinking “I’m too young for all this,” no you’re not. This is the premier science competition for middle schoolers in the U.S. (formerly known as Broadcom MASTERS). You qualify through your local or state science fair, and the top 30 finalists compete in Washington, D.C. in team-based STEM challenges. It’s less about having a perfect project and more about showing you can think, collaborate, and solve problems under pressure. The Thermo Fisher JIC finalist experience is genuinely fun, and the skills you build here translate directly to high school competitions.

2026: Nominations happen only through your regional/state science fair; been open since Feb 2026.

4. 3M Young Scientist Challenge

This one is for grades 5–8, and it’s different from a traditional science fair. You submit a short video explaining your idea for solving an everyday problem using science or engineering. No lab report. No display board. Just you, a camera, and a big idea. The top 10 finalists in USA get paired with a 3M scientist as a mentor for the summer, and the winner walks away with $25,000 and the title “America’s Top Young Scientist.” It’s one of the best entry points into STEM competitions because the barrier to entry is low, but the reward—both in mentorship and recognition—is high.

2026: The challenge opened for submissions on Jan 7, 2026 and will be taking entries till April 30, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)

5. Genius Olympiad

Most STEM competitions don’t care what your project is about —GENIUS Olympiaddoes. Every project here has to connect to the environment in some way. It’s an international high school competition hosted in New York, and the categories are wild: science, engineering, robotics, business, art, short film, music, creative writing, and — new for 2026 — AI. That breadth is the whole point. If you’ve got a science project about water quality, great. But if you’ve made a short film about deforestation or written a business plan for a sustainable product, that works too. About 50% of submissions get accepted as finalists, and roughly 80% of finalists walk away with some kind of medal, so the odds are friendlier than most competitions on this list. The application fee is $50, plus $425 if you’re selected for the in-person finals. It draws around 1,300 students from 70+ countries each year, and the week at New York includes presentations, networking, and optional trips to D.C. or NYC.

2026: The National Tournament will be hosted by USC on May 22–23, 2026 in Los Angeles. Check their website for regional dates.

6. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

FRC is loud, chaotic, and absolutely electric. Every January a new game challenge is revealed, and teams of high school students have roughly six weeks to design, build, and program an industrial-size robot. Then you compete. The 2026 season theme is called REBUILT, and the FIRST Championship brings 600+ teams to Houston. Beyond the engineering, FRC teaches you fundraising, project management, marketing, and teamwork—skills that are genuinely hard to learn in a classroom. Join an existing team or start one. Either way, you’ll never look at a power drill the same way.

2026: The season kicked off January 10. Regional and district events run through April. The FIRST Championship is April 29–May 2 in Houston, Texas.

7. International Science Olympiads (IBO, IChO, IPhO, IMO, IOI, IESO)

These are the academic heavyweights. The International Math Olympiad, Physics Olympiad, Chemistry Olympiad, Biology Olympiad, Informatics Olympiad, and Earth Science Olympiad each select national teams through a series of increasingly difficult exams. Getting chosen to represent your country is a massive accomplishment—the kind that MIT and Caltech admissions officers notice. But beware: the prep is brutal. At the highest levels, we’re talking 5–8 hours a day of studying during peak season. If you love going deep on a single subject and the idea of representing your country excites you, this is your arena.

2026: Each Olympiad has its own timeline. USACO runs online competitions starting in January. USABO, USNCO, and USAPhO selection exams happen in winter and spring. USAMO is invite-only based on AMC/AIME performance.

8. Breakthrough Junior Challenge

Here’s one for the creatives. You make a short video (two minutes max) explaining a complex concept in physics, math, or life sciences. That’s it. No lab work, no research paper. But the prize? $250,000 college scholarship for the winner, $50,000 for their teacher, and a $100,000 science lab for their school. The judging emphasizes creativity, clarity, and engagement—so the best entries tend to come from students who are as good at storytelling as they are at science. It’s open to ages 13–18 worldwide.

2026: Applications are expected to open around May 1^st week 2026, with a deadline likely in mid-September. Watch the official site for exact dates.

9. Congressional App Challenge

If you can code, this one’s a no-brainer. Middle and high school students design and build a functioning app on any platform, then submit it to their Congressional district representative. Winners get recognized by Congress, featured on the House of Representatives website, and invited to Washington, D.C. to showcase their work. It’s low-stress compared to many competitions on this list, there’s no entry fee, and it’s a great portfolio piece. Perfect for CS students, aspiring app developers, or anyone who’s built something cool and wants someone besides their parents to notice.

2026: Registration opens on May 1, 2026, and deadline for submission is Oct 26, 2026.

10. National Merit Scholarship Competition

This isn’t a competition you “register” for in the traditional sense. You take the PSAT/NMSQT during your junior year, and if your score is high enough, you become a semifinalist. From there, finalists are selected based on academics, extracurriculars, and a qualifying SAT score. About 7,500 students receive scholarships each year. The direct scholarship is $2,500, but the real value is the “National Merit” label—it opens doors to additional scholarships from colleges and corporations. It’s not a STEM competition per se, but if you’re a STEM student with strong test-taking skills, it’s free money waiting for you.

2026: Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October of your junior year. Semifinalists are announced the following September.

11. National Science Bowl

Think quiz bowl, but exclusively STEM. Teams of four answer rapid-fire questions on biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and math in a buzzer-style format. It’s fast, it’s tense, and if you’ve ever seen someone slap a buzzer so hard it flies off the table, you know the energy. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, there are both regional and national competitions. Students who are strong at Olympiad-style problems tend to do really well here.

2026: Regional qualification deadlines are typically in the fall. The 2026 national competition is in the spring. Check the Science Bowl website for your region’s timeline.

12. Coca-Cola Scholarship

You might be wondering why a scholarship is on a STEM competitions list. Here’s why: this $20,000 scholarship values leadership and community service, and STEM students who’ve done research-based advocacy or service projects are a natural fit. The key is to frame your science not as an isolated lab exercise, but as work that serves your community. If you’ve used your research to educate, advocate, or solve a real local problem, this scholarship is a way to get recognized for that. You need a 3.0 GPA and must be a graduating high school senior.

2026: Applications are open August 1 through September 30 for eligible students.

13. Presidential AI Challenge

This one’s brand new. Launched in 2025, the Presidential AI Challenge asks K–12 student teams to use AI to solve a real problem in their community. There are two student tracks: Track I is more research-focused (study or analyze an AI method), and Track II asks you to actually build an AI-powered tool or solution. You need a supervising adult, and teams submit a project narrative plus a video demo. State champions advance to regionals, then to a national championship — with travel and lodging covered for finalists. The rollout has been uneven (some districts jumped in, others haven’t heard of it), but the opportunity is real. If you’re already tinkering with AI tools and want a structured reason to turn that into a real project, this is worth your time.

2026: Registration for the inaugural cycle is closed (projects were due January 20, 2026). State champions will be notified by April 1, regional champions by May 1, and national finalists by May 15. Watch ai.gov for the next cycle’s dates.

14. Conrad Challenge

Part business plan, part science fair, part startup pitch. The Conrad Challenge asks teams of up to five students to develop an innovative solution to a real-world problem across categories like aerospace, energy, and health. You go through three phases: brainstorming with a coach, getting feedback from judges, and—if you’re selected—competing at the Innovation Summit at the Houston Space Center. It emphasizes entrepreneurship alongside STEM, so it’s great if you’re the kind of student who doesn’t just want to discover something but also wants to build something with it.

2026: The 2025–2026 round is in its Innovation Stage with the summit in April. The 2026–2027 round should open in August.

15. MATE ROV Competition

You build a remotely operated underwater vehicle and then drive it through a series of tasks—manipulating objects, navigating environments, surveying underwater sites. It’s part engineering, part piloting, and 100% cool. There are regional events around the world, and the world championship takes place each summer. Teams are evaluated on vehicle design, construction, performance, and their ability to communicate their process. If you’re into marine technology, ocean science, or just want to build something that moves underwater, this is the one.

2026: Registration is open until May 12, 2026. The world championship is June 23–27 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

16. Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition

Not every STEM competition involves building things or running experiments. Cambridge Re:think asks students to write essays on thought-provoking topics contributed by professors at top universities, covering science, ethics, technology, economics, and more. The focus is critical thinking and communication. Winners get a cash prize, a scholarship, and an invitation to an awards ceremony at Cambridge. It’s free to enter for students aged 13–18, and it’s a solid pick if your strength is writing about science rather than presenting a poster.

2026: Dates haven’t been published yet, but it typically opens in mid-January. Check their website.

17. Davidson Fellows Scholarship

This is for the rare student who has done something genuinely significant in their field—a serious research paper, an invention, a technological innovation, or a creative accomplishment. The Davidson Institute awards $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 scholarships to students 18 or younger. Applicants are evaluated on the quality, depth, and impact of their work. You can apply in teams of two, but each person’s contribution must be substantial. The bar is high, but so is the reward—and the application process itself forces you to articulate the significance of your work, which is a valuable exercise.

2026: Applications closed February 11, 2026. Winners will be notified around July 15, 2026

18. MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge)

You get a real-world problem, a team of 3–5 students, and 14 hours. Go. The M3 Challenge asks high school juniors and seniors to tackle problems using mathematical modeling—data analysis, probability, differential equations, whatever tools fit. You submit a written report, and judges evaluate your modeling approach, communication, and the feasibility of your solutions. SIAM and MathWorks offer $100,000 in total scholarships. It’s a great competition for students who like applied math and want to prove they can think under time pressure.

2026: Registration is open until February 20, 2026. The challenge window is February 27–March 2. Finalists present in NYC on April 27.

19. Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT)

HMMT is where the serious math kids go. Organized by undergrads at Harvard and MIT, this tournament features notoriously difficult problem sets across individual and team rounds. There’s a November competition and a February competition, with different formats and difficulty levels. It attracts top math talent from around the world. If AMC and AIME are your warm-ups, HMMT is your main event. The atmosphere is nerdy in the best way possible—you’re surrounded by people who genuinely think proofs are fun.

2026: Registration opens in Sep 3^rd week (for 2027 tournament)

20. Genes in Space

Here’s the pitch: you propose a genetics or molecular biology experiment designed to run in space. Not a simulation. Actual space. The International Space Station. Students in grades 7–12 submit research proposals, finalists get mentoring, and the winning experiment may actually be conducted aboard the ISS. If you’ve ever wanted your work to leave Earth’s atmosphere, this is your shot. No prior space research experience required; just a solid understanding of biology and a creative idea for leveraging microgravity.

2026: Submissions are open from January 5 through April 10, 2026. Finalists announced in spring, winners in July.

21. The American Rocketry Challenge

Build a rocket. Launch it. Hit a target altitude and duration while safely recovering a payload (usually a raw egg). That’s the gist. It’s the largest rocketry competition in the U.S., organized by the Aerospace Industries Association. Teams of 3–10 students in grades 7–12 compete, and the top 100 teams advance to a national fly-off. The prize pool is typically up to $100,000. It’s hands-on, outdoors, and the kind of thing where you learn more from your failures (read: exploded rockets) than your successes.

2026: Registration opened in July 2025. National finals are in May 2026. Check rocketrychallenge.org for the latest.

22. Blueprint by HackMIT

A 10-hour hackathon designed specifically for high school students, run by the same team behind HackMIT. You work in teams to build software or hardware projects, attend workshops, and compete for prizes. There are tracks for web dev, mobile, and hardware. The best part: if you’re admitted, the program covers lodging and food (though not travel). It’s a great first hackathon—shorter than most, well-organized, and held at MIT, which doesn’t hurt for the experience.

2026: Applications typically open in January; event happens in end of Feb.

23. VEX Robotics World Championship

VEX is to younger robotics students what FRC is to high schoolers—though VEX also has high school and middle school divisions. Teams design, build, and program robots to compete in alliance-based matches on a designated field. There are skills challenges, workshops, and exhibitions alongside the main competition. VEX Worlds is the culmination of a full season of qualifying events, and the energy is incredible. If you want a robotics experience but FRC feels too intimidating to start, VEX is a great on-ramp.

2026: VEX Worlds is in St. Louis, Missouri, April 21–30, with different dates for each age category.

24. James Dyson Award

Design something that solves a problem. That’s it. The James Dyson Award is a global competition for young inventors and engineers, focused on simple, innovative designs that address sustainability questions. Even if you don’t win, participating gives you a portfolio piece and a story for your college application. It’s based in the UK but open internationally, and winners get media exposure alongside cash prizes. If you’re the kind of student who has notebooks full of product sketches and half-finished prototypes, this is your competition.

2026: Entries opened on March 11, 2026. Final deadline July 15, 2026.

25. Microsoft Imagine Cup

Build a tech project that solves a real-world problem using Microsoft technology. There are categories for cybersecurity, health, education, and more, and two different tracks—Scale and Launch. Winning teams receive cash prizes, Azure grants, and opportunities to meet industry experts. It’s open to students 16 and older who are enrolled in school, and you can compete individually or in teams of up to three. If you’re interested in tech for social good and already comfortable with tools like Azure or GitHub, this is a natural fit.

2026: Jan 9, 2026 was the deadline to submit MVP. Semifinalists will be announced in April 2026, and the world championship will be in May.

26. International Brain Bee

If you’re the kind of student who reads about neuroanatomy for fun, this is your competition. The International Brain Bee is a neuroscience knowledge competition for teenagers, founded in 1999 and now spanning over 200 chapters across 50+ countries on six continents. It works in tiers: you start at a local Brain Bee, win your way to a national championship, and the national champion represents their country at the IBB World Championship. The competition tests everything from brain anatomy and neurochemistry to neurophysiology — at the World Championship level, you’re identifying structures on actual human brain specimens under a microscope. It’s intense and deeply specialized. The study materials are approachable (the main resource is the Society for Neuroscience’s Brain Facts book), but the competition gets hard fast. If you’re even vaguely considering neuroscience, medicine, or psychology as a career, this is a fantastic way to get serious about it early.

2026: Local and regional Brain Bees run from February through April. The USA National Championship is April 25 at UC Irvine. The IBB World Championship will be held virtually in November, in conjunction with the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

27. PhysicsBowl

A multiple-choice physics exam covering mechanics, electromagnetism, waves, optics, thermodynamics, and modern physics. Organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers, it’s open to high school students worldwide. You take the exam at your school or a testing center, and the problems range from introductory to genuinely hard. It’s a good way to benchmark your physics knowledge, and strong performance looks solid on a college app. Low commitment, no team required, just you and 40 questions.

2026: Registration deadline is February 23, 2026. The exam window is March 18–April 3.

28. DNA Day Essay Contest

If you’re into genetics and you can write, this is a quiet gem. Organized by the American Society of Human Genetics, the contest asks grades 9–12 students to write about a topic in genetics or genomics. The essay should show scientific accuracy, clear writing, and critical thinking. Their website even lists common pitfalls—like using outdated references or making sweeping claims about the future of genetics. It’s a low-barrier competition that forces you to communicate science clearly, which is a skill that serves you everywhere.

2026: Submissions open January 9 and close March 4, 2026. Results are announced April 24.

29. iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines)

This is synthetic biology’s flagship competition. Teams of students design, build, and test genetically engineered systems using standardized biological parts called BioBricks. Projects range from novel biosensors to bioremediation systems to new therapeutic approaches. Teams document everything on a public wiki and present at regional and international jamborees. There’s a high school track alongside the collegiate division. iGEM is intense—it requires real lab work, often over the summer—but if you’re serious about biology or bioengineering, it’s the competition that gets you closest to actual scientific practice.

2026: Dates haven’t been announced yet. Based on 2025, the deadline will likely be at the end of May.

30. International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM2C)

Teams of four students are chosen by their country to work on a mathematical modeling problem over five consecutive days. The emphasis is on applying math to real-world scenarios—not abstract proofs, but practical problem-solving. The awards ceremony is held at the IM2C Summit (Hong Kong in 2025). It’s a great competition for students who like math but want to see it used for something tangible. If you enjoy the M3 Challenge format but want an international stage, IM2C is the next step.

2026: The contest runs February 2–April 27, 2026. Your team picks five consecutive days within that window. Winners are notified in June.

Final Thoughts

Here’s what nobody tells you about STEM competitions: the ones you lose teach you more than the ones you win. Every rejection letter, every judge who poked holes in your methodology, every teammate who bailed the night before the deadline—that’s where the actual learning happens.

Don’t try to do all 30 of these. Pick two or three that genuinely excite you. Go deep. The students who win these things aren’t the ones who padded their resumes with 15 competitions—they’re the ones who cared enough about one or two to put in the real work.

And if you’re a parent reading this: your kid doesn’t need to win ISEF to have a successful STEM career. They need to find something they’re curious about and chase it. These competitions are just one way to do that. A really fun way, but just one way.

Good luck out there. Go build something cool.