Academic awards give you something most high school achievements do not: recognition for work you created entirely on your own. Unlike grades or program certificates, they evaluate a finished product on its own merits, whether that is a research paper, an essay, a prototype, a creative submission, or a social initiative. The judges have no stake in your school or your background. They are simply assessing what you produced.
For students serious about building a strong academic profile, that independence is exactly what makes these awards matter. A competitive award tells a college admissions committee something specific and credible about your ability to do original, high-quality work under real evaluative pressure.
What do academic awards for high schoolers involve?
Most programs ask you to develop and submit original work within a defined scope and timeline. Some focus on specific subjects like science, mathematics, writing, or public policy, while others are more open in what they accept. Submissions are reviewed by expert panels, and the strongest ones demonstrate not just knowledge but genuine analytical depth and independent thinking. Preparing a serious submission also pushes you in ways that regular coursework rarely does. Many awards also offer scholarships, cash prizes, and recognition that carry real value beyond the competition itself.
To help you get started, here are 15 academic awards for high school students! You can also consider these science competitions and these essay contests.
15 Academic Awards for High School Students
Location: Finals week takes place in Washington, DC
Award: Top 300 scholars receive $2,000, top 40 finalists receive $25,000, top 10 winners receive awards ranging from $40,000 for tenth place to $250,000 for first place. More details here
Program dates: Finalists are selected in January, which is followed by a final week from March 5 – 11
Application deadline: Applications open on June 1 and close in the first week of November
Eligibility: Students who are attending their last year of secondary school. Students who are studying abroad may apply if they are US citizens
Organized by the Society for Science, the Regeneron Science Talent Search is a prestigious competition that gives high school students a platform to present their original research. You must submit an independent research report in either science, math, or engineering. Previous students have studied topics like whale migration patterns, voter ID laws, aircraft wing design, and more. While the research is important, the competition uses a holistic judging process and also looks at essay questions, recommendations, and transcripts.
Location: Phoenix, AZ (Although this may change from year to year)
Award: $6,000 for the 1st place, $2,400 for the second place, $1,200 for the third place, $600 for the fourth place
Program dates: May 9 – 15
Application deadline: Depends on which ISE-affiliated fair you apply to
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
Taking place on a larger scale than the Science Talent Search, Regeneron’s International Science and Engineering Fair is an international, multi-stage competition for high school students. Applicants submit a research paper or project that includes no more than 12 months of research and falls under one of the given categories, including fields from science and engineering. To apply to the final week-long ISEF competition, you will need to win an ISEF-associated fair, going through the local, regional, and state levels. You can start by looking for a fair over here.
Location: Virtual
Award: $2500 scholarships are awarded to finalists
Program dates: The process runs over two years. PSAT/NMSQT generally takes place in October, semifinalists are announced in August of the following year, finalists are announced in February of the next year, and the winners are awarded in May
Application deadline: October
Eligibility: High school students who are attending school in the US and have taken the PSAT/NMSQT no later than the third year of high school. Find the details on the specific year you must take the test in here.
Organized by the National Merit Scholar Corporation, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual competition that recognizes high school students’ academic prowess. This is a multi-round competition that is primarily based on the score on the PSAT/NMSQT test. High scorers move forward to the semifinal and final rounds, which may require additional applications featuring essays, transcripts, and your performance on the SAT/ACT test. This is a widely taken and highly selective competition, so even a commendation comes with a certain level of prestige.
Location: Virtual. The awards ceremony takes place in Washington, DC
Award: $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 scholarships are awarded
Program dates: Winners are notified on or before July 15 and the award ceremony takes place in September
Application deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Students who are US citizens/permanent residents and 18 years of age or younger
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards high school students who have completed a significant piece of academic work. The competition looks for work that has the potential to make a positive contribution to society and must fall in one of the eight available categories, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy, and “Outside the Box”. Each category has its own requirements, such as a research report, visual model, or creative portfolio. You can apply independently or in teams of two.
Location: Virtual
Award: $10,000 to be applied to higher education or the service project
Program dates: Applications open in January, and winners are announced in September
Application deadline: Pre-application due March 15, Full application due April 15.
Eligibility: Students residing in the USA and Canada who are aged 8-18
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes recognizes 25 young students who have made a significant positive impact on their community or the environment. The main component of the competition is an independent service project, which must involve either humanitarian or environmental service work. This can be a research project or a service activity led by you, but it must clearly benefit either people or the planet. To apply, you must first meet the competition’s eligibility criteria through a pre-application, after which you will get access to the full application.
Location: Online. The Global Finale takes place at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Award: A scholarship to a Wharton Global Youth online program, trophies, and certificates
Program dates: Trading begins on September 29 and ends on December 5. Global finale takes place on April 24 and 25
Application deadline: You must register your team before September 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12. International students can apply as well.
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a free, online challenge through which high school students can put their investing knowledge to the test. During the competition, you will be given a case study and tasked with meeting the “client’s” investment goals by building a portfolio with $500,000 of virtual cash using the Wharton Investment Simulator. Along with 4-7 teammates and 1 advisor, you will develop an investment strategy, buy and sell stocks, and submit a mid-term and final report. The winners are selected on the basis of the strength of the investing strategy and not the growth of the portfolio.
Location: Virtual
Award: Winners receive a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre and Best-in-show awards
Cost: $229 + shipping
Program dates: Spring, summer, and fall sessions are available
Application deadline: Varies with each session
Eligibility: High school students (who are at least 13 years of age), undergraduates, and professionals. International students can apply as well
The Plant the Moon Challenge is a global science research challenge that focuses on biology and astronomy, examining how vegetable crops can grow in lunar or Martian soil. During the 8-week competition, you and your team will design your own lunar crop experiment and work with a soil simulant to determine how to best support plant growth. You will go through the following stages of experimentation: Research, Design, Plant & Monitor, and Analyze & Present. Winners will get a chance to attend a symposium at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre and present their work.
Location: Virtual
Award: Awards range from $500 cash prizes to $12,500 scholarships
Cost: $10 per individual or $30 per portfolio
Program dates: Regional winners announced on January 28, national winners announced on March 25, national awards week from June 9 – 11
Application deadline: Applications open on October 1 and close by December 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 who are at least 13 years of age
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a highly reputable competition for middle and high school students that recognizes achievements in creative fields. The competition accepts submissions in art, writing, and film categories, including subcategories like comic art, fashion, sculpture, speculative fiction, journalism, and more. As a participant, you will first apply to a regional round and, on clearing that, can move on to the national competition. Winning a medal in this prestigious competition will be a valuable addition to your profile.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Award: Cash prizes ranging from $250-$2,000
Cost: $165 registration fee
Program dates: June 14 – 18
Application deadline: May 19
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12
National History Day is a multi-round contest for young students who have completed history research projects. To take part in the contest, you must submit a research project related to the annual theme to a regional or affiliated contest. The top two entries in each category will be invited to take part in the national-level competition that takes place at the University of Maryland. After each round, you will be expected to take the judges’ feedback and make revisions. You can go through examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual. The academic conference takes place in London, but is optional to attend
Award: $10,000 scholarship for the best essay overall, $5000 scholarship for 1st place in each category, $2,000 scholarship for 2nd place in each category, $1,000 scholarship for 2nd place in each category
Program dates: Short list announced on July 7, academic conference from October 2 – 4
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students who are 18 years of age or younger
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize is a prestigious international essay competition for young students. The competition has ten categories, including economics, history, international relations, law, philosophy, politics, psychology, public policy, science & technology, and theology. Each category comes with three essay questions, of which you can choose to address any one within a maximum limit of 2,000 words. This is a good option for students interested in social sciences who want to work on their writing and critical reasoning skills.
Location: Virtual
Award: $2,000 for the 1st place, $1,000 for the second place, $500 for the third place, and additional scholarship prizes
Program dates: Applications open on September 1
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students worldwide
Bennington College’s Young Writers Awards is a prestigious writing competition for high school students. As an applicant, you can submit a piece of writing that falls into one the three categories: Poetry (1-3 poems), Fiction (a short story or standalone excerpt from a larger piece), or Non-fiction (a personal or academic essay). Your application must be reviewed and sponsored by a schoolteacher. You can go through a list of the previous winners here.
Location: Virtual
Award: Certificates are awarded to First, Second, or Third Place, and up to three additional Certificates of Merit are given for Honorable Mention
Program dates: NA
Application deadline: August 31
Eligibility: High school students
Organized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the CSPA offers two award programs that recognize student achievements in the field of journalism. The Crown Award allows entries from student print or digital publications as a whole, for overall excellence. On the other hand, the Gold Circle Awards are for individual student journalists’ achievements in four categories: news, magazine, digital media, and yearbook. The judges comprise faculty members and professional journalists from across the US.
Location: Virtual
Award: Certification
Program dates: NA
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school seniors who are DECA members, have a minimum 3.2 GPA, and more
The DECA Emerging Leader Award highlights high school students’ achievements in the fields of marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and leadership. The competition focuses on community participation, leadership experience, and professional responsibility in its applications. To apply for the award, you must take part in at least three recommended activities through DECA, in each of the above categories. For example, participating in a social activity, holding a position at church, or leading a DECA project.
Location: Virtual
Award: $250,000 post-secondary scholarship
Program dates: Finalists evaluated by November 18, winners announced on April 18
Application deadline: Applications open in May and close on September 15
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual global competition in the field of science. As a participant, you will be tasked with creating a short video (not more than 2 minutes) that brings a scientific concept or theory to life. You must choose a concept from life sciences, physics, or mathematics, and focus on communicating the idea in a clear, engaging, and imaginative way — which is what you will be judged on. In addition to expert evaluation, the competition also involves a peer review and public voting component.
Location: Virtual; final round at Space Center Houston, Houston, TX
Award: Various awards are given to honor different achievements
Cost: $499/attendee
Program dates: Phase 1 from August to October, Phase 2 from October end to January, Phase 3 runs for 4 days in April
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
The Space Center Houston’s Conrad Challenge is a global innovation competition during which students are challenged to develop solutions for a real-world issue. As a participant, you and your team can choose from five available challenges like water, health and nutrition, energy and environment, cyber technology and security, and aerospace and aviation. The competition involves three stages: the activation stage to brainstorm and ideate, the innovation stage to develop a website and an innovation video, and the innovation summit, where finalists will showcase their work to a panel of judges.