Academic opportunities directory

Competition

Boston College EWB Science & Engineering Competition

Boston College Engineers Without Borders / hosted on AlgoEd

OnlineOnline; associated with Boston College Engineers Without BordersOpen

Estimated cost: $0 possible with approved fee waiver; otherwise $35 minimum priority fee
Deadline: Jan 4, 2027
Eligibility: Grades 6-12; High School Category grades 9-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: $35-$55 per student depending on registration timing
Estimated real cost: $0 possible with approved fee waiver; otherwise $35 minimum priority fee

Aid: Yes
Full aid: Yes
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Aug 31, 2026

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Competition

American Rocketry Challenge

Aerospace Industries Association and National Association of Rocketry

HybridBuild and test locally; national finals in The Plains, VirginiaOpen

Estimated cost: Registration, build materials, local travel, and possible finals travel
Deadline: Not verified
Eligibility: Grades 6-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Registration plus substantial build and launch costs
Estimated real cost: Registration, build materials, local travel, and possible finals travel

Aid: Grants and sponsorship resources may be available; exact terms vary
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

Breakthrough Junior Challenge

Breakthrough Prize Foundation

OnlineGlobalOpen

Estimated cost: $0 plus personal technology/internet
Deadline: Not verified
Eligibility: High school-age students worldwide

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Free
Estimated real cost: $0 plus personal technology/internet

Aid: No aid needed for program fee
Full aid: No
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

FIRST Robotics Competition

FIRST

In personRegional events and championship locations varyOpen

Estimated cost: Team registration, robot, tools, shipping, and travel
Deadline: Not verified
Eligibility: Grades 9-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Registration plus robot build and travel costs
Estimated real cost: Team registration, robot, tools, shipping, and travel

Aid: Yes - FIRST and sponsor grants are available
Full aid: Possibly for well-funded or grant-supported teams
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

iGEM High School Competition

International Genetically Engineered Machine Foundation

HybridResearch performed locally; Grand Jamboree in Paris, FranceOpen

Estimated cost: Registration, lab project, tickets, travel, lodging, and meals
Deadline: Not verified
Eligibility: High school teams

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Official registration rate plus Jamboree tickets and project/travel costs
Estimated real cost: Registration, lab project, tickets, travel, lodging, and meals

Aid: Grants and sponsor fundraising may be available; no universal full-aid promise
Full aid: Unlikely
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism

National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA)

OnlineUnited States / adviser nominationOpen

Estimated cost: No student fee stated
Deadline: Feb 12, 2027
Eligibility: No separate age requirement stated

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Recognition certificate and eligibility for NSPA Leadership in Student Journalism honor cord
Estimated real cost: No student fee stated

Aid: No cash scholarship for the leadership award itself
Full aid: N/A
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle deadline CONFIRMED · Verified Aug 31, 2026

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Competition

Wharton Global Youth High School Investment Competition

Wharton Global Youth Program, University of Pennsylvania

OnlineGlobal online competitionOpen

Estimated cost: $0 plus personal technology/internet
Deadline: Not verified
Eligibility: Grades 9-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Free
Estimated real cost: $0 plus personal technology/internet

Aid: No aid needed for program fee
Full aid: No
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026-2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

YoungArts National Arts Competition

National YoungArts Foundation

HybridLocation is not specified in the current official materials reviewed; check the official page for participation/site details.Open

Estimated cost: Current official materials reviewed 2026-08-31 do not publish enough information to determine a reliable minimum required cost. No $0 or free assumption was made.
Deadline: Not verified
Eligibility: Grades 10-12 or ages 15-18

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Not verified
Estimated real cost: Current official materials reviewed 2026-08-31 do not publish enough information to determine a reliable minimum required cost. No $0 or free assumption was made.

Aid: Current official materials reviewed 2026-08-31 do not publish a financial-aid or fee-waiver policy. This is recorded as unavailable information, not assumed to mean no aid exists.
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Sep 2, 2026

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Competition

Princeton University Mathematics Competition

Princeton University Math Club

In personPrinceton University, Princeton, New Jersey; regional mirrors recommended for some countriesRolling

Estimated cost: Fee and trip costs
Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Registration plus travel, lodging, and meals
Estimated real cost: Fee and trip costs

Aid: No current fee aid stated
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

Blue Planet Awareness Contest

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

OnlineWorldwideOpen

Estimated cost: Cost still being verified
Deadline: Jun 7, 2027
Eligibility: Middle/high school or equivalent

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Not verified
Estimated real cost: Cost still being verified

Aid: No need-based aid identified
Full aid: No
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Oct 7, 2026

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Competition

World of 8 Billion Student Video Contest

Population Education

OnlineWorldwideOpen

Estimated cost: Cost still being verified
Deadline: Mar 3, 2027
Eligibility: Grades 6–12 or international equivalent

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Not verified
Estimated real cost: Cost still being verified

Aid: No need-based aid identified
Full aid: No
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Oct 7, 2026

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Competition

Blue Ridge Highlands Regional Science Fair

Radford University / Blue Ridge Highlands Regional Science Fair

In personRadford University, Radford, VirginiaOpens Soon

Estimated cost: Varies by project and travel
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: Grades 6-12; Senior Division grades 9-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: No participation price published on official page
Estimated real cost: Varies by project and travel

Aid: Current official materials reviewed 2026-08-27 identify support as: Awards/advancement support rather than participant financial aid.
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 fair scheduled; registration deadline TBD cycle · Aug 31, 2026

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Competition

Conrad Challenge

Conrad Foundation

HybridOnline stages; Innovation Summit in Houston, Texas for qualifying teamsOpens Soon

Estimated cost: Team registration, prototype, and finalist travel
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: Students ages 13-18

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Registration plus project and possible summit travel costs
Estimated real cost: Team registration, prototype, and finalist travel

Aid: Scholarship and partner awards are prizes; need-based entry aid not clearly published
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026-2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

DECA High School Programs

DECA Inc.

In personLocal chapter activities; district, state, and international conferencesOpens Soon

Estimated cost: Dues, conferences, lodging, meals, attire, and travel
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: Grades 9-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Membership plus event registration and travel
Estimated real cost: Dues, conferences, lodging, meals, attire, and travel

Aid: Chapter fundraising, school support, and scholarships may be available
Full aid: Possibly
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026-2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

Diamond Challenge

University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship

HybridOnline submission and pitching; finalist event terms varyOpens Soon

Estimated cost: Technology, prototype, and possible travel
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: High school students

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Free entry plus optional project and finalist travel expenses
Estimated real cost: Technology, prototype, and possible travel

Aid: Travel support and prize terms are cycle-specific
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

Harvard Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge

Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association

In personHarvard University, Cambridge, MassachusettsOpens Soon

Estimated cost: Registration and full trip costs
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: High school students

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: $125 team fee plus travel, lodging, and meals
Estimated real cost: Registration and full trip costs

Aid: No current financial-aid program stated
Full aid: Not verified
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2027 upcoming cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

High School Fed Challenge

Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Dallas, and Richmond

OnlineNational online submissionOpens Soon

Estimated cost: $0 plus personal technology/internet
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: Grades 9-12

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Free
Estimated real cost: $0 plus personal technology/internet

Aid: No aid needed for program fee
Full aid: No
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2025-2026; next cycle pending · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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Competition

MATE ROV Competition

MATE Inspiration for Innovation

In personRegional competitions worldwide; qualifying teams advance to World ChampionshipOpens Soon

Estimated cost: Regional fee, robot build/testing, and travel; world qualifiers incur additional costs
Deadline: Deadline not announced
Eligibility: Multiple classes; RANGER and EXPLORER commonly include high school teams

Cost and aid details

Advertised cost: Registration plus substantial ROV build and travel expenses
Estimated real cost: Regional fee, robot build/testing, and travel; world qualifiers incur additional costs

Aid: Team sponsorship and grants may be available; no universal full aid
Full aid: Unlikely
Can reach $0: Not verified

Some access details are not verified2026-2027 cycle · Verified Sep 1, 2026

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