DARPA Prize Competitions

Organization: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Quick Answer

DARPA Prize Competitions is a free research program run by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for high school students in grades 9–12. It combines online and in-person components. No fixed deadline is listed — check the official site for current dates.

Program Overview

Open prize challenges from DARPA that fund and reward breakthrough solutions in science, engineering, and national security technology.

DARPA Prize Competitions are open innovation challenges run by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to spur breakthrough technologies in areas like robotics, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, AI, biotech, and space. Rather than a single recurring contest, DARPA periodically launches different prize challenges, each with its own technical focus, rules, and prize pool—often in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Most DARPA prize challenges are open to a broad range of participants, including companies, academic groups, and independent teams. While there is no dedicated *high school–only* division, highly capable high school students sometimes participate as part of larger teams (for example, with a school, university lab, nonprofit, or company) if they meet the specific eligibility and legal requirements of a given challenge. These competitions offer participants the chance to work on real-world national security and engineering problems, gain experience in advanced research and development, and potentially earn substantial prize funding. Interested students should monitor the official challenges website and carefully review eligibility criteria for each competition.

Program Details

Key facts about DARPA Prize Competitions
OrganizerDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
CategorySTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
FormatHybrid (In-Person & Online)
LocationVarious locations
CostFree
EligibilityGrades 9–12
Application deadlineRolling / not listed
CountryUS
Listing last updatedJuly 5, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does DARPA Prize Competitions cost?

DARPA Prize Competitions is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

Who is eligible for DARPA Prize Competitions?

DARPA Prize Competitions is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

Is DARPA Prize Competitions online or in person?

DARPA Prize Competitions is a hybrid program with both online and in-person components.

How do I apply to DARPA Prize Competitions?

Apply directly through Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)'s official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Visit the official program website: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)