Most high school students pour months into research with no external recognition to show for it. This guide breaks down the top global awards and research grants available to high schoolers right now, from Regeneron STS to the Explorers Club field research grant open to students worldwide. Whether you're looking for upfront project funding or a competitive award that validates finished work, these programs give your research the institutional stamp that a GPA alone cannot.
How Research Grants Build Compelling College Applications
In the 2026 admissions cycle, "doing research" is no longer enough. What separates a good application from a great one is evidence that a student's work was recognized, funded, and taken seriously by external institutions.
For elite admissions officers at schools like MIT, Stanford, and the University of Chicago, a research grant or competitive award signals something a GPA cannot: that your ideas are worth investing in.
Here are the top global research grants and grant-equivalent awards for high school students that you can apply to with verified funding figures.
1. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
If there's one competition every serious high school researcher in the U.S. should know about, it's the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Regeneron STS is administered by the Society for Science and distributes over $3.1 million in prizes annually.
The first-place winner takes home $250,000, the largest science prize available to any high school student in the United States. Finalists travel to Washington, D.C. for a week to present their research to the public and sit for interviews with a panel of Ph.D. scientists. STS alumni include 13 Nobel laureates and 18 MacArthur Fellows.
What It Signals: Being named even a Scholar is considered a Tier 1 extracurricular by admissions officers. It tells colleges that your independent research was peer-reviewed and found competitive against thousands of applicants nationally.
Apply: Applications for the 2027 cycle open June 1, 2026.
2. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
While Regeneron STS is open only to high school seniors, Regeneron ISEF is open to students in grades 9–12 and draws participants from approximately 75 countries. ISEF finalists compete for nearly $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships. The 2026 competition is scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2026.
You don't apply to ISEF directly. You first need to win a top prize at an ISEF-affiliated regional or national science fair. Each affiliated fair can send a designated number of projects to the international competition.
What It Signals: ISEF participation represents global-scale peer validation of your research. Having the phrase "Regeneron ISEF Finalist" on a college application is a mark of scientific leadership recognized by institutions worldwide.
Apply: Find your nearest ISEF-affiliated fair here.
3. Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant
The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant is given upfront to student teams to build a technological invention before the outcome is known. Since 2003, the program has funded over 4,000 students across the U.S.
Each year, 8 teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors are selected from a national applicant pool to receive $7,500 in grant funding plus year-long support from the Lemelson-MIT Program. The 2025–2026 cohort includes teams from Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, California, Arizona, and Florida.
Teams present their completed invention prototypes at EurekaFest at MIT each June. Teams spend a full academic year solving a real-world problem they've identified in their community whether it's environmental, medical, or safety-related.
What It Signals: The grant itself, the EurekaFest presentation, and the potential for a U.S. patent make this one of the highest-impact extracurriculars available to STEM-focused high school students.
Apply: Applications open in the fall each year. Teachers submit the initial application on behalf of their student teams.
4. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium is sponsored by the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. JSHS supports original research by students in grades 9–12 across the United States and at Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide.
Participation is completely free, and the scholarship pool is substantial. JSHS distributes over $400,000 in scholarships and cash awards across regional and national competitions each year.
Students first find their regional JSHS (there are over 48 regions across the U.S.), and submit an original research paper. If selected, they present their work at the regional symposium. The top five from each region advance to the national competition. National scholarships are capped at $30,000 per individual student winner across all awards combined.
What It Signals: DoD-sponsored recognition tells admissions committees that your research reached a standard of rigor that a federal scientific institution found worth investing in.
Apply: Find your region and submit your research paper in the fall.
5. The Explorers Club Rising Explorer Grant
The Explorers Club Rising Explorer Grant is one of the only funding mechanisms designed specifically to support high school field research. Awards average $2,000 per project, with funding directed toward field research costs including travel, equipment, and data collection.
The program is open to high school students and undergraduates worldwide, with past awardees having conducted research in Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Argentina, Mongolia, Venezuela, and the United States. Accepted projects span disciplines from marine biology to anthropology to environmental science.
What It Signals: For high school students applying to programs in environmental science, ecology, anthropology, or international development, this grant is a category-defining credential.
Apply: Check the grants page for the next application cycle in August here.
RISE Research offers 1-on-1 research mentorship for high school students looking to strengthen college applications for Ivy League and top-tier universities. Under the guidance of PhD mentors, students conduct independent research, get published in peer-reviewed journals, and win international awards.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
PAA/ FAQ
Q: Do I need to already have a completed research project to apply to these programs?
A: It depends on the program. Regeneron STS requires a full research paper and application. The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant, by contrast, funds teams to build a project over the following year, so you apply with a proposal, not a finished product. JSHS falls somewhere in between: it requires original research, but the project can be in progress. ISEF needs the project to be substantially complete, with data collection and analysis finished before competition. However, students may continue building on their work after competing.
Q: Can I apply to multiple programs with the same research project?
A: In most cases, yes. Regeneron STS and JSHS both allow you to submit the same or related research. While most major competitions do not require exclusivity, it’s important to review each program’s rules carefully to confirm eligibility requirements.
Q: Are these programs only for STEM students?
A: Not all of them. JSHS covers a broad range of STEM fields, but social sciences, behavioral sciences, and mathematics are all eligible categories. The Explorers Club grant supports any kind of field-based scientific inquiry.
Author: Written by Shana Saiesh
Shana Saiesh is a sophomore at Ashoka University pursuing a BA (Hons.) in English Literature with minors in International Relations and Psychology. She works with education-focused initiatives and mentorship-driven programs, contributing to operations, research and editorial work. Alongside her academics, she is involved in student-facing reports that combine research, strategy, and communication.
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