§ Collection

Programs for underrepresented and under-resourced students

These programs state, on their own pages, that they prioritize students from under-resourced schools or backgrounds underrepresented in the field. Eligibility language differs program to program — always read the official criteria.

215 programs currently listed · 192 free or stipend-paying.

What to know

—Atlas flags these based on the program's published language, not on any assumption about you.
—Many of these also cover travel and housing. That detail is usually on the program's FAQ page.
—Being eligible is not the same as being selected — apply to several.

Programs in this collection

The Adroit Journal
Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship
Online mentorship pairing teen writers with established poets and prose writers. Tuition is $575; fee remission and financial aid are available.
📍 Online⏱ 6 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ALA
African Leadership Academy Summer
Two-week entrepreneurial leadership summer program for youth from around the world.
📍 Johannesburg, South Africa⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Carnegie Mellon University
AI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
📍 PA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
AI4ALL
AI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Freedom Forum
Al Neuharth Free Spirit Conference
All-expenses-paid journalism conference + $1,000 scholarship for 51 students.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 week📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Amazon
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
AICF
American Indian College Fund
Scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending tribal colleges or other colleges.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grade 12
Selective
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps Summer of Service
Service opportunities for teens through select programs.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program
ANSEP Acceleration High School
Free year-round STEM acceleration for Alaska Native students.
📍 AK⏱ School year + summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne Exemplary Student Research Program
Chicago-area students conduct year-long research mentored by Argonne scientists.
📍 IL⏱ School year📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program
ASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
📍 CA⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ashoka
Ashoka Young Changemakers
Global community of young people (10–20) already leading social innovation projects; selected changemakers receive mentorship, storytelling support, and network access.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Ongoing fellowship📅 Rolling · by country🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
AAJA
Asian American Journalists Association JCamp
Free six-day multicultural journalism program for high school students.
📍 Rotating (US)⏱ 6 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
APIA Scholars
Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander American students entering college.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Aspen Institute
Aspen Challenge
City-based design challenge for high school teams to solve community problems.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arizona State University
ASU SCENE
Free science club + research opportunities for AZ high schoolers, with focus on first-gen students.
📍 AZ⏱ Year-round📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NCWIT
Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
📍 Nationwide⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bank of America
Bank of America Student Leaders
Paid 8-week summer internship with nonprofits + leadership summit in DC.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 8 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Biogen
Biogen Community Lab
Free hands-on biotech labs and high school research opportunities at Biogen sites.
📍 Cambridge, MA + RTP, NC⏱ Day to weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Black Girls CODE
Black Girls CODE Workshops
Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Blue Ocean Strategy / various
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurship Competition
Free global pitch competition with cash prizes. Teams pitch a novel business idea via video; finalists present live.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Boston
Boston SuccessLink
Free paid summer employment program for Boston youth ages 14-18.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Breakthrough
Breakthrough Collaborative
Free summer and school-year academic program for first-generation, low-income middle schoolers; high schoolers can serve as teaching fellows.
📍 30+ US cities⏱ Multi-year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Art of Problem Solving Initiative
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)
Free intensive math programs for underserved middle schoolers in NYC and LA.
📍 New York, NY / Los Angeles⏱ 3 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 6–8
Selective
Broad Institute (MIT & Harvard)
Broad Summer Scholars Program
Paid genomics research for Boston-area rising seniors from underrepresented groups.
📍 MA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Built By Girls
Built By Girls Wave Program
A peer-mentorship program connecting high school girls with women in tech.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 November 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars
Free three-week residential AI program for underrepresented students.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 3 weeks📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon SAMS
Free six-week residential STEM program for underrepresented students.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Freedom Forum
ChiPS Chips Quinn Scholars (pipeline)
Diversity journalism pipeline programs for students of color.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Clemson University
Clemson CAFLS Summer Program (SPECTRA)
A residential program for diverse students to explore agriculture and natural resource careers at Clemson.
📍 Clemson, SC⏱ 1 week📅 April 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
CMU SAMS
Fully-funded STEM immersion for rising seniors from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 PA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Coca-Cola Foundation
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
USD 20K college scholarships for 150 graduating seniors annually. Free to apply.
📍 Online application⏱ Senior year📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Code2College
Code2College Summer Program
Summer program for Texas students to gain technical skills and professional development.
📍 TX⏱ Various📅 February 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines REACH
Engineering immersion at Mines. Scholarships for Colorado students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 CO⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
US House of Representatives
Congressional App Challenge
District-level coding competition open to every US high schooler.
📍 All US districts⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of California
COSMOS
UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Bound (Free)
Free fly-in program for high-achieving, low-income juniors.
📍 NH⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Selective
DC DOES
DC Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment
Free paid summer jobs for DC youth 14-24. Wide range of placements.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 6 weeks📅 Feb-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Debate Mate
Debate Mate
After-school debate mentoring by university student coaches, delivered to state schools across the UK and now internationally; free for participating schools.
📍 UK + Global partner schools⏱ School-year program📅 School enrolment: fall🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE STEM Rising / SCEP
Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.
📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Duke University
Duke Marine Lab Community Science Program
A hands-on summer research program at the Duke University Marine Lab focusing on ocean science and environmental justice.
📍 Beaufort, NC⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Emory University
Emory Pipeline Collaborative
Free pipeline program for Atlanta-area students interested in health professions.
📍 GA⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FIRST
FIRST Robotics Competition
Team-based robotics season culminating in regional and world championships. Team participation fees vary; financial aid available.
📍 Local team + regional events⏱ 6-week build📅 Jan kickoff🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
FIRST
FIRST Tech Challenge
Smaller-scale FIRST robotics program. Team fee + parts; many teams sponsored by schools.
📍 Local team + regional events⏱ Multi-month📅 Sep-Apr season🎓 Grades 7–12
Moderate
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship
Paid cancer research in Seattle. Prioritizes students underrepresented in biomedical sciences.
📍 WA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Late January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Various
Freedom Summer Collegiate
Free college-prep program in the Mississippi Delta taught by graduate students. Travel and housing covered.
📍 Mississippi⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
From the Top
From the Top
Public radio classical-music showcase with full scholarship awards for selected young musicians.
📍 Touring venues⏱ Performance📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Gates Cambridge Trust
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Fully funded postgraduate scholarship at the University of Cambridge.
📍 Cambridge, United Kingdom⏱ 1-4 years📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Generation Citizen
Generation Citizen Youth Council
National civic action council for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Genes in Space
Genes in Space
Design a DNA experiment to be performed on the International Space Station. Annual competition with no entry fee.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 April🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
GenZ Girl Gang
GenZ Girl Gang Virtual Internship Program (Open to all GS)
A network for students to find virtual internships in tech, non-profits, and policy. Focuses on social impact projects led by youth.
📍 Online⏱ 8-12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion
Free two-week virtual program teaching CS to high school girls and nonbinary students.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code Virtual Summer Programs
Free online coding workshops for girls and non-binary students focusing on web development, game design, and AI.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks or 6 weeks📅 Spring/Summer cycles🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Girls' Angle
Girls' Angle Math Club
Math program in Cambridge MA mentoring girls in mathematics.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 5–12
Selective
NASA / University of Toledo
GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME)
A year-long club-based program where students engage in data-driven environmental justice projects and present to scientists.
📍 Online / Various⏱ Year-round📅 October 31🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Google Official
Google Generation Scholarship (Americas)
Google's scholarship aimed at supporting students with disabilities pursuing CS degrees.
📍 Nationwide⏱ One-time payment📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Grassroots Ecology
Grassroots Ecology Youth Internships
Paid summer employment for high schoolers working on habitat restoration in San Jose area parks.
📍 San Jose, CA/South Bay⏱ 6-8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
City of Boston
Greenovate Boston Youth Leaders
Students work on local environmental justice and climate resilience projects in the Boston area.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 February 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Hack Club
Hack Club
Free worldwide network of student-run high school coding clubs and hackathons. Travel grants for in-person events.
📍 Worldwide⏱ Flexible📅 Year-round🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard University
Harvard Pre-College (Need-Based Aid)
Pre-college courses with substantial need-based scholarships covering up to full tuition.
📍 MA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2-7 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
HSF
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Need- and merit-based scholarships for Hispanic American students. Awards from USD 500 to USD 5K annually.
📍 Online application⏱ Annual📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hollins University
Hollins University Hollinsummer
Two-week creative writing program for high school women writers.
📍 Roanoke, VA⏱ 2 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences
Eight-week paid summer neuroscience research internship for Baltimore high schoolers.
📍 Baltimore, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Horatio Alger Association
Horatio Alger Scholarship
Need-based scholarships for HS seniors who have overcome adversity.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Horizon
Horizon Academic Research Program
Individual research mentorship program producing a college-level paper; open worldwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
HOSA Future Health Professionals
HOSA Competitive Events
School-chapter health-science competitions across 60+ medical events. Local through international rounds.
📍 Chapter + state + intl⏱ School year📅 Fall-summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Fisheries Society
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Paid mentorship for high school students interested in fisheries science.
📍 Multiple states⏱ 8 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IBM
IBM BlueCamp (High School)
Students spend a week learning about technology careers and interacting with IBM engineers.
📍 Austin, TX⏱ 1 week📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Indian Institute of Science
IISc Summer Fellowship
Research fellowship at India's premier science institute in Bengaluru.
📍 Bengaluru, India⏱ 8 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Imi Hoʻōla Pathway / UH Manoa SHARE
Free research program for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
📍 HI⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Inspirit AI
Inspirit AI Scholars (Aid)
AI research projects mentored by Stanford/MIT grads. Need-based aid covers full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-25 hours📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars
Five-year pre-college scholarship for high-achieving 7th graders with financial need.
📍 United States⏱ 5 years📅 Spring🎓 Grade 7
Selective
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars
Free 5-year program for 7th-grade high-achieving low-income students. Includes summer programs, college advising, and scholarships.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 5 years📅 April🎓 Grade 7
Selective
The Jackson Laboratory
Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Paid genetics research at JAX. Highly competitive, all expenses + stipend.
📍 ME⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Johns Hopkins
JHU Internship in Brain Sciences
Paid neuroscience research for Baltimore-area students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 MD⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation High School Journalism
Various Knight-funded high school journalism programs and fellowships.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Kode With Klossy
Kode With Klossy Camp
Free two-week coding camps for girls and gender-expansive teens ages 13-18.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 2 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
University of Kansas
KU Project SEARCH
Paid biomedical research at KU Med Center for Kansas students.
📍 KS⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Los Alamos National Laboratory
LANL UTS High School Pipeline
Paid internships at LANL for Northern New Mexico students.
📍 NM⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Latinas in STEM
Latinas in STEM 101 Workshops
Events that bring Latinas into STEM through hands-on technology workshops and panels.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 1 day📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America
LEDA Scholars Program
Free summer college-prep program for high-achieving low-income HS juniors.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 11
Selective
City Bureau
Local News for Teens Internships (CityBureau Documenters)
Paid civic journalism documenters program in select cities.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lumiere Education
Lumiere Research Scholar (Aid)
Independent research papers with PhD mentors. Need-based financial aid up to 100%.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
MLH
Major League Hacking Local Hack Day
Free worldwide student hackathons run by MLH. Beginner-friendly tracks.
📍 Worldwide⏱ 1-2 days📅 Year-round🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI
MBZUAI AI Summer School
Machine learning and AI summer school at the UAE's dedicated AI university.
📍 Abu Dhabi, UAE⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
MIT Office of Engineering Outreach
MIT MITES
Free rigorous six-week residential STEM program for underrepresented HS juniors.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
MIT
MIT MITES Semester
Free six-month online STEM program for HS juniors.
📍 Online⏱ 6 months📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
MIT
MIT WTP (Women's Technology Program)
Four-week summer EECS or ME program for HS women.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 4 weeks📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
MIT
MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science) Summer
Free six-week residential STEM program at MIT for under-represented rising HS seniors.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
MIT
MITES Saturdays
Free academic enrichment for 10th graders in Greater Boston from under-represented backgrounds.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grade 10
Highly Selective
MIT
MITES Summer
Rigorous STEM enrichment for rising seniors from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds. Fully funded.
📍 MA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Various universities
Model UN (BMUN / NHSMUN / MUNUC)
High school Model United Nations conferences held by universities. Registration fees; many offer financial aid.
📍 Berkeley / NYC / Chicago⏱ 3-4 days📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Museum of Modern Art
MoMA Teen Programs
Free teen programs at the Museum of Modern Art.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Montana State University
Montana Apprenticeship Program (MAP)
Paid research apprenticeships at MSU for Montana Native American students.
📍 MT⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
MS Rural Physicians Pipeline (high school strand)
Free med-school pathway program for rural Mississippi students.
📍 MS⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Memorial Sloan Kettering
MSK HOPP Summer Student Program
Paid cancer research at MSK for students from groups underrepresented in medicine.
📍 NY⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Michigan State University
MSU ANR Technology & Science Program
Michigan State program focused on the intersection of agriculture, engineering, and technology.
📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 1 week📅 April 30🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Michigan State University
MSU Veterinary Medicine Enrichment Summer Program
An intensive three-week program exposing students to the diverse careers in veterinary medicine through clinical rotations and labs.
📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 3 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NASA
NASA App Development Challenge
Open team coding challenge from NASA. Teams build a visualization of mission data. No fee; finalists visit Johnson Space Center.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 December🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
NASA / Future Engineers
NASA TechRise Student Challenge
Teams design space-bound experiments. Winners receive USD 1500 and their payload flies on a high-altitude balloon.
📍 Online⏱ School year📅 November🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
Council for Economic Education
National Economics Challenge
Team economics competition with state and national rounds. Open to all US high schoolers; many states offer scholarships.
📍 State + national⏱ Multi-round📅 March-April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Photography
Photography track of the YoungArts national competition.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NFTE
National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Pitch competition for student entrepreneurs from NFTE programs.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National Center for Women & Information Technology
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award & Community
While many awards are in-person, NCWIT provides a massive online community, virtual mentorship, and networking for girls in tech nationwide.
📍 Online/Nationwide⏱ Lifetime membership📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NFTE
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Summer
Free summer entrepreneurship programs for underserved students.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NOAA
NOAA Hollings Scholarship
Undergraduate scholarship + paid summer internship at NOAA (apply 2nd year of college; pipeline awareness for HS).
📍 Multiple sites⏱ Multi-year📅 January🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NPR
NPR Student Podcast Challenge
Free annual podcasting contest. Submit a 3-8 minute podcast. Winning student is featured on NPR.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 April🎓 Grades 5–12
Selective
National Speech and Debate Association
NSDA Nationals
Largest US speech and debate tournament. Qualify through your district. Substantial scholarships for finalists.
📍 Rotating US city⏱ 1 week📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
U.S. State Department
NSLI-Y (Critical Languages)
Fully-funded US government scholarship for high schoolers to study languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Korean abroad.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks or academic year📅 Early November🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Nuffield Foundation
Nuffield Research Placements
Fully-funded UK STEM research placements for Year 12 students, prioritized for those from low-income backgrounds; hosted by universities, research institutes, and companies.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 4–6 weeks (summer)📅 March (UK Year 12)🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
NYC DYCD
NYC Ladders for Leaders
Free paid summer internship program for NYC high schoolers. Stipend included; competitive admission.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 6 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Personal Narrative Contest
Annual short personal narrative contest for teens. 600 words. Free entry.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Student Editorial Contest
Free annual contest for students aged 13-19 to write a 450-word evidence-based editorial. Top entries are published by the Times.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYT / NABJ / NAHJ
NYT Student Journalism Institute
Paid summer journalism program at The New York Times for diverse students.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Summer Reading Contest
Each summer week, students pick a Times piece and write 350 words about it. Free; winners published.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June-August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYU Tandon
NYU Tandon ARISE
Free seven-week research program for NYC HS sophomores and juniors in engineering and science.
📍 Brooklyn, NY⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Ohio State University
Ohio State Young Scholars Program
Free year-round academic + research support for first-gen Ohio students.
📍 OH⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Oregon Health & Science University
OHSU On Track OHSU!
Free pipeline program for Oregon students from rural and underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 OR⏱ Year-round + summer📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
City of Chicago
One Summer Chicago
Free paid summer jobs and internships for Chicago youth ages 14-24.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
One Young World
One Young World Summit
Global summit for young leaders working on social impact and sustainability.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 1 week📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Oregon State University
Oregon State Environmental Science Internship
A program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in environmental research and data science.
📍 Corvallis, OR⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Oklahoma
OU Sooner Health Research
Paid health research at OU for Oklahoma students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 OK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oxbridge Launchpad
Oxbridge Launchpad Essay Competitions
Rolling essay competitions across STEM, humanities, and social sciences for global high school students.
📍 Remote (Global)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Oxford
Oxford UNIQ and Open Days
Free Oxford summer schools and open days for academically excellent students.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Oxford University
Oxford UNIQ Summer School
Free residential summer school for UK state-school students.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Goethe-Institut
PASCH-Initiative
German government initiative offering scholarships to attend summer language and STEM courses in Germany for students at partner schools worldwide.
📍 Germany⏱ 3–4 weeks📅 January (school-nominated)🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
PBS
PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
Network of student newsrooms producing stories for PBS.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Peace First
Peace First Mini-Grants
Digital platform and mini-grants (up to $250) for 13–25-year-olds anywhere in the world to design and launch a project responding to injustice in their community.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Project-based📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Point Foundation
Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship
Scholarships and mentorship for LGBTQ students from high school through graduate school.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Polygence
Polygence Scholars (Financial Aid)
1:1 research mentorship with PhDs across any field. Full financial aid for qualifying students.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-20 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Posse
Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarships nominated by partner cities. High schoolers from cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta nominate by August of senior year.
📍 Partner cities⏱ Senior year📅 August🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Posse Foundation
Posse Scholarship
Full-tuition leadership scholarship sending diverse cohorts to top colleges.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 4 years📅 Fall🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
PPPL Plasma Physics Research
DOE national lab program — fusion and plasma research mentorship.
📍 NJ⏱ 1 week + mentorship📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Princeton University
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Fully free 10-day intensive for low-income rising seniors with strong journalism interest. All travel, room, and board paid. Participants get a 4-year journalism mentor.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Purdue University
Purdue Extension Urban Agriculture Interns
Paid positions for Indianapolis youth to maintain urban gardens and learn about food justice.
📍 Indianapolis, IN⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purdue University
Purdue STAR (STEM Academic Research)
Free research immersion at Purdue for Indiana students underrepresented in STEM.
📍 IN⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
QuestBridge
QuestBridge National College Match
Full four-year scholarships matching low-income HS seniors with partner colleges.
📍 United States⏱ 4 years📅 Fall🎓 Grade 12
Selective
American Political Science Association
Ralph Bunche Summer Institute
Funded political science research for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Society for Science
Regeneron ISEF
The largest international pre-college science fair. Qualify through an affiliated regional or state fair. Travel and lodging covered for finalists.
📍 Rotating US city⏱ 1 week📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Rhodes Trust
Rhodes Scholarship
Postgraduate scholarship to study at the University of Oxford (long-term aspirational track for HS students).
📍 Oxford, United Kingdom⏱ 2-3 years📅 October🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Schmidt Futures × Rhodes Trust
Rise
A lifetime program for 15- to 17-year-olds worldwide; the top ~500 finalists receive scholarships, mentorship, and career support to work on problems that matter.
📍 Remote application + summer residency⏱ Ongoing📅 Late January🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Rise
Rise (Schmidt Futures × Rhodes Trust)
Global program identifying brilliant young people who need support. Scholarships, mentorship, funding.
📍 Multiple + Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Lifetime support starting at age 15-17📅 January🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Ohio State / Otterbein / Rose-Hulman
Ross Mathematics Program
Six-week residential immersion in number theory for students new to proof-based math. Need-based aid covers tuition for many admits.
📍 Multiple campuses⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 31🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Running Start
Running Start High School Program (Young Women's Political Leadership)
A leadership program that empowers young women to increase their political efficacy and leadership skills.
📍 Washington, D.C. / Online⏱ 1 week📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)
Free college-prep and research program for rural Alaska Native and rural Alaska students.
📍 AK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Rutgers University
Rutgers Future Scholars Research
Free college-prep + research for first-gen New Jersey students.
📍 NJ⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (program-based)🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Writing Awards
Regional and national recognition for student writers in 11 categories. Need-based fee waivers available.
📍 Regional + national⏱ Self-paced📅 Sept-Dec by region🎓 Grades 7–12
Moderate
New York Public Library (Schomburg Center)
Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program
A six-month program for NYC students to examine inequality and social justice through research and advocacy.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 6 months📅 January 15🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Team-based STEM competition with 23 events spanning earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Regional through national rounds.
📍 School team + regional⏱ School year📅 Aug-May season🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
City of Seattle
Seattle Youth Employment Program
Free paid summer internships for Seattle youth ages 16-21. Targeted toward youth furthest from opportunity.
📍 Seattle, WA⏱ 8 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SETI Institute
SETI Institute REU
Astrobiology and astronomy summer research.
📍 Mountain View, CA⏱ 10 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
SF DCYF
SF Mayors Youth Employment & Education
Free paid year-round and summer internships for SF youth.
📍 San Francisco, CA⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Sierra Club ICO
Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors
Outdoor leadership and conservation volunteer service.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Smallpeice Trust
Smallpeice Trust Engineering Courses
Residential engineering courses at UK universities for Year 10–13 students — many fully funded via bursaries; specialisms include civil, aerospace, chemical, and robotics.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 2–5 days📅 Rolling · by course🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Smith College
Smith Summer Science & Engineering Program
Research courses for young women in STEM. Substantial need-based aid.
📍 MA⏱ 2-4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SPARK SMP
SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Free 1:1 mentorship with industry researchers. Started by WA students, now nationwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stanford
Stanford AI4ALL
Three-week residential AI program for underrepresented HS students.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 January🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford AIM-HI
Free Stanford program for under-resourced Bay Area students interested in health equity careers.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Stanford
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)
Medical research at Stanford labs. Need-based stipend available. Strong focus on accessibility.
📍 CA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Late February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Free five-week summer program for low-income California high schoolers exploring medicine.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 5 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Buffett Foundation
Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Scholarship
A program providing financial support and mentoring for Nebraska high school students from underprivileged backgrounds pursuing higher education.
📍 Lincoln, NE⏱ Multi-year📅 January 31🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Sutton Trust
Sutton Trust US Programme
Fully-funded programme helping state-school students in the UK apply to US universities — includes a residential week in the US, SAT prep, and application support.
📍 UK + week in USA⏱ 1 year📅 January (Year 12)🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Fermilab (Department of Energy)
TARGET Program
Students engage in cutting-edge research in high-energy physics and accelerator science at a national laboratory.
📍 Batavia, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Tec de Monterrey
Tec de Monterrey Global Leadership Program
Youth leadership and entrepreneurship program at one of Latin America's top universities.
📍 Monterrey, Mexico⏱ 3 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Technovation
Technovation Girls
Global tech entrepreneurship challenge for girls 8-18.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 October🎓 Grades 3–12
Selective
Telluride Association
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Fully-funded six-week humanities seminar focused on critical Black studies, anti-oppressive thought, and social justice.
📍 Multiple universities⏱ 6 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
The Diana Award
The Diana Award
International charity honoring young people (9–25) for social action or humanitarian work; programmes include mentoring, anti-bullying, and the Legacy Award.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Varies📅 Nominations open year-round🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pittsburgh Promise (Related to Opportunity)
The Heinz Scholars Program (Historical Affinity) / Pittsburgh Promise
Award for high-achieving, low-income students in PA and OH to attend a partner college.
📍 PA/OH⏱ 4 years📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Toronto
U of T Summer Mentorship Program
Summer research and mentorship program hosted by the University of Toronto for high school students.
📍 Toronto, Canada⏱ 4 weeks📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
University of Utah
U of U ACCESS Program
Year-long STEM research program for women entering the U of U from Utah high schools.
📍 UT⏱ Summer + school year📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS Summer Science Program
Paid biomedical research for Arkansas students underrepresented in healthcare.
📍 AR⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Chicago
UChicago DATA High School Program
Computational science and modeling fellowship for underrepresented high school students.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grade 11
Selective
UC San Francisco
UCSF SEP High School Intern
Paid summer research for SFUSD students underrepresented in science.
📍 CA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Georgia
UGA Young Scholars Program (CAES)
Laboratory-based research for high school students in agricultural and natural resource sciences.
📍 Athens, GA/Tifton, GA⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Illinois Chicago / NCI-Cancer Center
UIC High School Summer Research Program (ResearcHStart)
High school students in Illinois work in University of Illinois Chicago labs on health-related research.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Minnesota
UMN Eureka! and Talented Youth Math
Free STEM enrichment for Minnesota girls and underrepresented students.
📍 MN⏱ Summer + school year📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of North Dakota
UND Summer Healthcare Programs
Free intro programs for North Dakota students, including INMED for Native American students.
📍 ND⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UNICEF USA
UNICEF Clubs
Student-led advocacy for global child welfare.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNCF
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Scholarships
Hundreds of scholarships for African American students attending college.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UWC International
United World Colleges Scholarships
Two-year, needs-blind scholarships to complete the IB Diploma at one of 18 UWC schools worldwide; students selected by their country's national committee.
📍 18 campuses worldwide⏱ 2 years📅 National deadlines: fall/winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Oregon / Saturday Academy
UO Saturday Academy ASE
Paid 1:1 research apprenticeships across Oregon. Strong equity focus.
📍 OR⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy
A residential program for high-achieving high school seniors interested in careers in medicine and biomedical research.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 4 weeks📅 Late February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
American Association of Physics Teachers
US Physics Olympiad
F=ma exam then USAPhO. Top 20 attend a training camp for the International Physics Olympiad team.
📍 School-administered⏱ Multi-round📅 Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for Excellence in Education
USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)
Free 3-round biology olympiad. Top 20 attend a residential training camp; top 4 represent the US at the International Biology Olympiad.
📍 Online + training camp⏱ Multi-round📅 Jan-Apr🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Chemical Society
USA Chemistry Olympiad
Local-section through national chemistry olympiad. Top scorers attend the USNCO study camp at the US Air Force Academy.
📍 Local section + national⏱ Multi-round📅 Mar-Apr🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
USC
USC Bovard Scholars
Fully-funded college-prep and academic program for high-achieving, low-income California juniors.
📍 CA⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
MD Anderson Cancer Center
UT MD Anderson HS Summer Program
Paid cancer research at MD Anderson for Texas students.
📍 TX⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Virginia
UVA Summer Medical Leadership Program
Free medical exposure program at UVA for Virginia students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 VA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Washington
UW Genome Sciences Summer Bridge
Seattle-area paid genomics research. Strong support for first-gen and low-income students.
📍 WA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison PEOPLE Program
Free year-round college-prep + research for Wisconsin students of color and first-gen.
📍 WI⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veritas AI (Harvard alumni)
Veritas AI
AI research mentorship and publishing program. Financial aid available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8-15 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
REC Foundation
VEX Robotics Competition
Worldwide robotics competition with regional, state, and world championships. School- or club-team based.
📍 Worldwide⏱ Multi-month📅 Aug-Apr season🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech C-Tech²
Free cybersecurity and tech camp for high school women.
📍 VA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Washington University in St. Louis
WashU Young Scientist Program
Paid biomedical research for St. Louis-area students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 MO⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Center for Civic Education
We the People
Free national civics competition. Class teams compete in simulated congressional hearings on the Constitution.
📍 State + national⏱ School year📅 Dec-Apr🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Whitney Museum
Whitney Museum Youth Insights
Paid teen programs and internships at the Whitney.
📍 New York, NY⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Emory University School of Medicine
Winship Cancer Institute Summer Program (Winship Win)
Program at Emory focusing on cancer research, providing hands-on laboratory experience and professional development.
📍 Atlanta, GA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Philadelphia Youth Network
WorkReady Philadelphia
Free paid summer work experience for Philadelphia youth ages 12-24.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
West Virginia University
WVU Health Sciences Summer Camp
Free health-sciences exposure for West Virginia students from rural communities.
📍 WV⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Yale University
Yale Young Global Scholars (Need-Based Aid)
YYGS offers full need-based scholarships covering tuition, travel, and room.
📍 CT⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Peking University
Yenching Academy Scholars Program
Master's fellowship at Peking University in China Studies for outstanding international graduates.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1-2 years📅 December🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Peking University
Yenching Global Symposium
Annual student-organized symposium bringing global youth together on Asia-facing issues.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1 week📅 November🎓 Grade 12
Selective
U.S. State Department
YES Abroad
Fully-funded year-long high school exchange to countries with significant Muslim populations.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Academic year📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YMCA
YMCA Youth and Government
Model state-legislature program. Local YMCA fees vary; scholarships available.
📍 State capitals⏱ School year📅 Fall-Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Young Diplomats Society
Young Diplomats Forum
Global essay and forum program engaging teens with foreign policy questions.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
ICCA
Young ICCA Skills Training
International commercial arbitration training and mentorship for students entering law.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UC Davis
Young Scholars Program (YSP)
A high-level research internship where students work in labs at UC Davis on environmental and biological projects.
📍 Davis, CA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts
Free national arts competition. Winners receive cash awards, mentorship, and the chance to perform at YoungArts Week in Miami.
📍 Miami + regional⏱ 1 week📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts Awards
National competition in writing, visual arts, design, music, theater, film for 15-18 year olds.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Year-round📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts
YoungArts Theater
National recognition program for theater artists 15-18.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Various
Youth Climate Leaders
Free youth climate summits and competitions. Project-based environmental advocacy.
📍 Online + regional⏱ Self-paced📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

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