Competition
Science Olympiad National Tournament
Science Olympiad, Inc.
Recognition
From the 2026 National Tournament page: Founders' Scholarships totaling $50,000 ($10,000 each to 5 Division C seniors on a registered team), two Spirit Awards ($2,000 each), six Coaching Excellence Awards, plus sponsor-provided prizes/scholarships. Event medals/team trophies are customary but exact medal structure was not confirmed on an official page this session (VERIFY).
Deadline
See sponsor site
Not yet published; confirm on sponsor site
Science Olympiad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit STEM organization running a national hierarchy of ~450 regional, state, and invitational tournaments culminating each May in a National Tournament, where roughly 120 top Division B (middle school) and Division C (high school, grades 9-12) teams compete in 23 hands-on STEM events. The 2026 National Tournament was hosted by the University of Southern California, with the 2027 tournament set for The Ohio State University.
Eligibility
- Grade levels
- High school freshman, High school sophomore, High school junior, High school senior, High school
- Fields of study
- Science, Natural sciences, Engineering, Technology
Application requirements
- Form a school-based team and secure institutional support: Obtain school administration approval and identify funding sources before recruiting; teams may start at any time of year, though spring is recommended for budget planning.
- Recruit up to 15 student competitors: Typical recruitment happens in September/October; roster is capped at 15 official members per team, with division-specific grade caps (e.g., max 7 twelfth-graders on a Division C team).
- Register the team through your state Science Olympiad director: National registration/membership is paid as part of state-level registration; the national fee is a minimum of $75 per team, with total team costs typically $125-$300 depending on state.
- Study the current year's Division B/C Rules Manuals: Rules Manuals for the ~23 rotating events are released 'the Tuesday after Labor Day' each year and govern event preparation.
- Compete at Invitational, Regional, and State tournaments: Teams must advance through the regional/state tournament hierarchy (~450 tournaments nationally) to qualify for the National Tournament; only top state teams advance.
- Attend the National Tournament if qualified: Approximately 120 qualifying Division B and C teams compete each May at the host university (2026: USC; 2027: Ohio State University).
Verified Jul 8, 2026 · View official source