Read this blog for the top 10 online STEM competitions for high schoolers, complete with free guides and tips to boost your chances of success!

1. NASA App Development Challenge Description: Middle and high school students are welcome to participate in the App Development Challenge.

Students are presented technical problems related to deep space exploration missions.

The minimum team size is 5 students with no maximum and must be led by a sponsor or educator.

Teams have 10 weeks to submit a video presenting their technical solution to a proposed problem.

Lastly, top teams advance to an interview round, from which 7 teams will be selected to travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Eligibility: High school and middle school students.

Prizes: Opportunity to travel to the Johnson Space Center.

2. American Computer Science League (ACSL) Description: The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is a year-long competition that challenges students to apply their knowledge of computer science and programming in a series of contests.

The competition is divided into multiple divisions based on experience level, making it accessible to beginners and advanced students alike.

Each contest focuses on different aspects of computer science, including data structures, algorithms, and coding challenges.

Competitions are conducted online, allowing students to participate individually or as part of a team.

Eligibility: Open to students in grades 3-12, with divisions for varying skill levels.

Prizes: Trophies, certificates, and recognition in national rankings.

3. Exploravision Description: Sponsored by Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Exploravision is a competition that encourages students to envision the future of technology.

Participants select a current technology and imagine how it might evolve over the next 20 years, presenting their ideas through a detailed project report.

The competition promotes creativity, scientific thinking, and a deep understanding of technological trends.

Projects are judged on innovation, research quality, and feasibility.

Eligibility: Open to students in grades K-12 in the United States and Canada.

Prizes: Up to $10,000 savings bonds for national winners, Toshiba laptops, and other prizes.

Bonus Online Competition: Check out the International Research Olympiad (IRO)!

This is the premier competition for high school researchers.

Testing analytical and problem-solving skills, the IRO provides the opportunity to compete with the brightest minds in the world.

The finals for the IRO will occur at Harvard University! https://youtu. be/h7OlgFLByK8?si=jjHNsFqnA_KvL9fh STEM Programs & Competitions for High Schoolers!

4. CyberPatriot Description: CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, designed to inspire students toward careers in cybersecurity.

Sponsored by the Air Force Association, the competition involves teams securing virtual networks and defending them against simulated cyberattacks.

Teams are judged based on their ability to find and fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities in various operating systems and platforms.

The competition helps students develop skills in IT, cybersecurity, and critical thinking.

Eligibility: Open to students in middle school and high school globally.

Prizes: Scholarships, recognition at the national level, and an invitation to the National Finals.

5. MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge Description: The M3 Challenge is an online math competition where students use mathematical modeling to tackle real-world issues.

Participants work in teams to develop models and present solutions to a problem posed by the competition.

The challenge takes place over a 14-hour period, during which teams must submit a comprehensive report of their findings.

The competition emphasizes teamwork, problem-solving, and the practical application of mathematical concepts.

Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors in the United States.

Prizes: Scholarships totaling up to $100,000 are awarded to the top teams.

6. Breakthrough Junior Challenge Description: The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global competition that encourages students to create a short video explaining a complex scientific or mathematical concept in an engaging and accessible way.

The competition is judged on the creativity, clarity, and difficulty of the concepts presented, as well as the impact of the explanation.

The challenge aims to inspire students to communicate science effectively and to think critically about how to make complex ideas understandable to a broader audience.

Eligibility: Open to students aged 13-18 worldwide.

Prizes: $250,000 scholarship for the winner, $50,000 prize for the teacher, and $100,000 for a new science lab for the winner’s school.

FREE STEM Student Guide with 50+ opportunities, research programs, and more!

International Competitions for High Schoolers

7. Technovation Girls Description: Technovation Girls is an international competition that empowers young women to address real-world problems by developing mobile apps.

Teams work through a curriculum that teaches them the basics of coding, entrepreneurship, and project management.

Participants create a business plan and pitch for their app, which addresses a community issue.

The competition culminates in a global online submission, where teams can advance to regional and international levels.

Eligibility: Open to girls aged 10-18 from around the world.

Prizes: Scholarships, mentorship, and funding to develop the winning apps further.

8. FIRST Tech Challenge Description: The FIRST Tech Challenge is a robotics competition that combines online and in-person elements.

Teams of students design, build, and program robots to compete in tasks against other teams.

The competition fosters creativity, engineering, and teamwork.

While the primary focus is on physical robot building, there are also online challenges that test programming and design skills, providing a comprehensive STEM experience.

Eligibility: Open to students aged 12-18 globally.

Prizes: Scholarships, awards at regional and national levels, and advancement to the World Championship. https://youtu. be/32Uq1qNSDz4?si=M2djWBBqhbiwtqPB STEM Summer Programs for High Schoolers (Research Camps, Internships)

9. Chemistry Olympiad Description: The Chemistry Olympiad, organized by the American Chemical Society, is a rigorous competition that tests students’ knowledge and problem-solving skills in chemistry.

The competition begins with local online exams, with top students advancing to national and international levels.

Participants are evaluated on their theoretical understanding and practical application of chemistry concepts, making this a prestigious and challenging competition.

Eligibility: Open to high school students in the United States.

Prizes: Scholarships, medals, and an opportunity to represent the U.

S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad. 1

0. Codewars Description: Codewars is an online platform that offers a competitive environment for students to improve their coding skills through solving programming challenges, known as "kata. " Unlike traditional competitions, Codewars provides continuous challenges across various programming languages, where students can practice and compete against others worldwide.

The platform is gamified, allowing participants to earn ranks, badges, and recognition based on their performance.

Eligibility: Open to coders of all ages globally, with challenges suitable for beginners to advanced programmers.

Prizes: Ranks, badges, and global recognition within the Codewars community.

More STEM Competitions Rishab Jain, who won at ISEF, has achieved success in numerous research competitions and undertaken several research projects during his high school years.

His FREE Student STEM guide has a list of 50+ opportunities and competitions!

And sign up for International Research Olympiad 2025 now!.