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.
43 programs currently listed · 40 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
- SelectiveThe Adroit JournalAdroit Journal Summer Mentorship
Free online mentorship pairing teen writers with established poets and prose writers.
📍 Online⏱ 6 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveArmy 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 - ModerateALAAfrican Leadership Academy Summer
Two-week entrepreneurial leadership summer program for youth from around the world.
📍 Johannesburg, South Africa⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–11 - SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityAI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
📍 PA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAI4ALLAI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
📍 Online⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveFreedom ForumAl Neuharth Free Spirit Conference
All-expenses-paid journalism conference + $1,000 scholarship for 51 students.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 week📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAmazonAmazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveAICFAmerican Indian College Fund
Scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending tribal colleges or other colleges.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveAmeriCorpsAmeriCorps Summer of Service
Service opportunities for teens through select programs.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmgen FoundationAmgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAlaska Native Science & Engineering ProgramANSEP Acceleration High School
Free year-round STEM acceleration for Alaska Native students.
📍 AK⏱ School year + summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveArgonne National LaboratoryArgonne Exemplary Student Research Program
Chicago-area students conduct year-long research mentored by Argonne scientists.
📍 IL⏱ School year📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveAspiring Scholars Directed Research ProgramASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
📍 CA⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAshokaAshoka 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 - SelectiveAAJAAsian American Journalists Association JCamp
Free six-day multicultural journalism program for high school students.
📍 Rotating (US)⏱ 6 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAPIA ScholarsAsian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander American students entering college.
📍 United States⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveAspen InstituteAspen Challenge
City-based design challenge for high school teams to solve community problems.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveArizona State UniversityASU SCENE
Free science club + research opportunities for AZ high schoolers, with focus on first-gen students.
📍 AZ⏱ Year-round📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveNCWITAward 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 - SelectiveBank of AmericaBank of America Student Leaders
Paid 8-week summer internship with nonprofits + leadership summit in DC.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 8 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveBiogenBiogen 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 - SelectiveBlack Girls CODEBlack Girls CODE Workshops
Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBlue Ocean Strategy / variousBlue 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 - SelectiveCity of BostonBoston SuccessLink
Free paid summer employment program for Boston youth ages 14-18.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBreakthroughBreakthrough 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 - SelectiveArt of Problem Solving InitiativeBridge 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 - SelectiveBroad 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 - SelectiveBuilt By GirlsBuilt By Girls Wave Program
A peer-mentorship program connecting high school girls with women in tech.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 November 15🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCarnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon AI Scholars
Free three-week residential AI program for underrepresented students.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 3 weeks📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveCarnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon SAMS
Free six-week residential STEM program for underrepresented students.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - Highly SelectiveFreedom ForumChiPS Chips Quinn Scholars (pipeline)
Diversity journalism pipeline programs for students of color.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveClemson UniversityClemson 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 - Highly SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityCMU SAMS
Fully-funded STEM immersion for rising seniors from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 PA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveCoca-Cola FoundationCoca-Cola Scholars Program
USD 20K college scholarships for 150 graduating seniors annually. Free to apply.
📍 Online application⏱ Senior year📅 October🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveCode2CollegeCode2College Summer Program
Summer program for Texas students to gain technical skills and professional development.
📍 TX⏱ Various📅 February 15🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveColorado School of MinesColorado School of Mines REACH
Engineering immersion at Mines. Scholarships for Colorado students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 CO⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUS House of RepresentativesCongressional App Challenge
District-level coding competition open to every US high schooler.
📍 All US districts⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of CaliforniaCOSMOS
UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveDartmouth CollegeDartmouth Bound (Free)
Free fly-in program for high-achieving, low-income juniors.
📍 NH⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveDC DOESDC 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 - Highly SelectiveDebate MateDebate 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 - SelectiveU.S. Department of EnergyDOE STEM Rising / SCEP
Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.
📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveDuke UniversityDuke 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