Research programs in Colorado.
16 local programs run in Colorado, 8 of them free or paid, and 1 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 46 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.
Local to Colorado
- ModerateCU Science DiscoveryAerospace
Students explore aerospace engineering, satellite operations, space science and related technologies through hands-on activities and visits to CU facilities such as LASP and Fiske Planetarium.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of Colorado AnschutzAnatomy & Medical Careers Camp
Students study university-level anatomy while exploring medical school, dentistry, physical therapy, scientific research and other health professions.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Colorado BoulderAquetza Academic Summer Program
Residential academic enrichment combining history, literature, health science, writing, science, and civic/social issues while emphasizing leadership and community engagement.
🎓 Grades 9–11 - ModerateAspen Music FestivalAspen Music Festival and School
Eight-week summer classical music festival and school accepting advanced young musicians.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveBoettcher FoundationBoettcher Scholarship
Highly competitive merit scholarship for graduating Colorado seniors attending participating four-year Colorado institutions. Selection emphasizes academics, intellectual curiosity, leadership, service, and character.
🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of Colorado AnschutzBrain Camp
Four-day program examining nervous-system structure and function underlying thinking, feeling, movement and learning through university-level anatomical education.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateCU Science DiscoveryChemical Engineering for a Changing World
Students design experiments, analyze data, optimize systems and investigate how chemical engineers address energy, medicine, sustainability and technology challenges.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveChildren's Hospital ColoradoChild Health Research Internship
Participants conduct child-health research with faculty mentors, attend a weekly research lecture series, and present their work at the end of the internship.
🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveColorado Area Health Education Center / CU AnschutzCOAHEC HOPE Program
Colorado students participate in monthly statewide healthcare sessions on infectious disease, epidemiology, addiction medicine, behavioral health, nutrition and AI in healthcare. Completing three sessions can qualify students to apply for the HOPE Institute summer camp.
🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveColorado School of MinesColorado School of Mines REACH
Engineering immersion at Mines. Scholarships for Colorado students from underrepresented backgrounds.
⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateColorado State University / Colorado State Science FairColorado Science & Engineering Fair
Students qualifying through one of Colorado's regional fairs present original research at the statewide science and engineering fair in categories ranging from chemistry and biomedical science to physics, computer science, and engineering.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateCO/WY Academic DecathlonColorado/Wyoming Academic Decathlon
High-school teams study and compete across multidisciplinary academic subjects in the Colorado Academic Decathlon pathway.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveColorado School of MinesCS@Mines Cyber Camp — Exploring IoT: Data Security and Privacy
Two-day camp covering IoT security, privacy, networking, data analysis, cyberattacks and AI-based defensive techniques through hands-on activities.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveColorado School of Mines Department of Computer ScienceCS@Mines High School Research Internship
High-school students join Mines faculty research groups in areas such as AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and computing. Remote and in-person placements can be available.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveDaniels FundDaniels Scholarship Program
Major scholarship for graduating seniors demonstrating character, leadership, service, and academic promise. Colorado students are eligible.
🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveColorado School of MinesDECTech Intern
High-school interns assist Mines outreach programs and help deliver computing and technology activities for younger K–8 students.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Nationwide programs open to Colorado students
- 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.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmerican Foreign Service Association (AFSA)AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityAI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAI4ALLAI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMathematical Association of AmericaAIME
Invitational round for top AMC scorers. 15-question, 3-hour exam that gates the USAMO. No fee for invited students.
⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveFreedom ForumAl Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
An all-expenses-paid journalism conference for one student from every US state and DC.
⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAmazonAmazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateMathematical Association of AmericaAMC 10/12
The entry-level American Mathematics Competition. Top scorers qualify for AIME and the path to the USAMO. Open to all US high schoolers; school registration required.
⏱ 75 minutes📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateACSLAmerican Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmgen FoundationAmgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveApple Inc.Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateBerklee College of MusicAspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive
The world's premier summer performance program for contemporary music, including jazz, rock, and pop.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveNCWITAward for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateBard College at Simon's RockBard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop
A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveMIT Lincoln LabBeaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveELASH / Bebras USBebras Computing Challenge (US)
An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.
⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBennington CollegeBennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBlack Girls CODEBlack Girls CODE Workshops
Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.
⏱ 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.
⏱ 3 months📅 February🎓 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.
⏱ Multi-year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
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