If you’re a middle or high school student (grades 6-12) in Southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, or Delaware, the Delaware Valley Science Fair (DVSF) can be your pathway to national recognition and scholarship. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need: eligibility requirements, key deadlines, a full list of regional feeder fairs, and instructions on how to qualify for DVSF — plus how winners can move forward to ISEF and other big STEM competitions.

Students present independent projects across biology, engineering, computer science, and other STEM fields. Judges evaluate their research, interview them, and award cash prizes, scholarships, and recognition. Top projects advance to national and international levels, including the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Who is Eligible for DVSF? Grades, Regions and School Types

Students in grades 6–12 who live or attend school in the Delaware Valley region, covering southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware, are eligible to compete at DVSF.

Participants cannot register directly for DVSF; instead, they must first compete and place at a local or regional fair in their area. Each affiliated regional fair sends its top winners to DVSF, usually the top three projects per category in high school and top two in middle school.

All school types are welcome, public, private, charter, cyber, and homeschool. Homeschool students simply enter the fair for the county where they live.

Important Science Fair Deadlines for DVSF and Affiliated Regional Fairs

Science fairs follow the school calendar. Regional fairs typically open registration in the fall and hold competitions in February or March. Students who qualify are then invited to compete at DVSF in early April.

• Regional Fair Registration (Fall/Winter): Deadlines vary by fair. For instance, the Bucks County competition runs registration from mid-September to early November, while the Jersey Shore Science Fair opens in late November.
• Regional Fairs (Winter/Spring): Most fairs take place in February and March. All qualifying projects are finalized by late March.
• Delaware Valley Science Fair (March 31 – April 2): Held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. Setup Day is Tuesday, Judging Day is Wednesday, and the Awards Ceremony follows on Thursday evening.

Tip: Regional fairs often require project forms and SRC/IRB approvals weeks in advance, so students should start early to meet all science fair deadlines.

Regional Feeder Fairs: Which Local Competitions Feed Into DVSF

To reach DVSF, students must qualify through one of the following regional feeder science fairs in the Delaware Valley area:

Delaware

• Sussex County Science Fair: Covers Sussex County, DE. The fair is typically held around March 5–6. Forms and SRC paperwork are due in January and February.
• Delaware Tech New Castle County Science Fair: Open to all students in New Castle County, DE. Usually held in early March at Delaware Technical Community College.
• Kent County Participation
  Students from Kent County, Delaware, can take part in either the Sussex County Science Fair or the New Castle County Science Fair. It’s recommended that they reach out to the fair director nearest to their school for specific registration details and guidance.

New Jersey

• Cumberland County Science Research Competition: Serves Cumberland County students. Hosted by Rowan College South Jersey.
• Salem Chemours Science Fair: Open to Salem County students, hosted at Salem Community College.
• Jersey Shore Science Fair: Covers Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean, and Monmouth counties. The fair is typically held around March 14, with registration from November 26 to February 21. Top winners advance to DVSF.
• Coriell Institute Science Fair: For Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. Held in March at Rutgers University–Camden. Winners advance to DVSF.

Pennsylvania

• Bucks County Science Research Competition: Open to Bucks County students. Registration runs in the fall, with the fair held in late February or early March.
• Chester County Science Research Competition: For Chester County students (grades 6–12). The high-school fair usually takes place in mid-March.
• Delaware County Science Fair: Open to all Delaware County students in grades 6–12. Typically held in March.
• George Washington Carver Science Fair (Philadelphia): Open to Philadelphia students in grades 4–12. The secondary division (grades 6–12) is held in early March; winners advance to DVSF.
• Lehigh Valley Science and Engineering Fair: Serves Lehigh and Northampton counties. The fair will be typically held around March 13–14 at Lehigh University.
• Montgomery County Science Research Competition: For Montgomery County students. Typically held in late February or early March.

Homeschool students may compete through the fair corresponding to their county of residence.

How to Qualify: From Your Local Fair to the DVSF Stage

Success at DVSF can launch students to national and international levels. High school winners at DVSF (specifically, the Gold/Silver/Bronze medalists in grades 9–12) earn all-expense-paid trips to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In fact, DVSF is an official affiliated fair for ISEF: medalists from each grade are selected to represent DVSF on the ISEF stage. (ISEF is a massive global science fair with over $4 million in awards) Even at the middle-school level, top DVSF projects may qualify for national contests like the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge.

Beyond competition, DVSF awards significant scholarship funds. Sponsors donate cash prizes for category winners, and colleges offer scholarships to finalists. For instance, Delaware Valley University awards a $2,000 renewable scholarship to each high-school first-place winner at DVSF (with $1,000 to 2nd/3rd places). Harrisburg University provides up to $1,500 per year for four years to top DVSF high-school winners. Other special awards include aviation/physics scholarships and summer college courses for younger students. In short, performing well at DVSF can lead not only to ISEF but also to college scholarships and prizes that support future STEM education.

Advancing Beyond DVSF: ISEF, Scholarships and STEM Fair Opportunities

The Delaware Valley Science Fair helps students move from curiosity to discovery. Through mentorship, research, and presentation, participants gain hands-on experience in scientific research, critical thinking, and communication.

DVSF and its affiliated fairs are more than competitions—they’re stepping stones to college scholarships, internships, and future STEM careers. Students who start with a small research idea in middle school often go on to publish papers, file patents, or pursue careers in medicine, engineering, and AI.

Fast Forward

Whether your student is just beginning to explore science or already conducting advanced research, the Delaware Valley Science Fair is the perfect platform to grow.

Start early, choose a regional fair, and take the first step toward DVSF success.

Future Forward mentors can help students develop research projects, prepare for interviews, and navigate science fair deadlines—turning ideas into real-world impact. Start by filling the form below 👇