§ Humanities

Humanities programs for high schoolers.

88 programs indexed in humanities. 50 are free or pay a stipend. 27 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new humanities program.

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All humanities programs

Brown University
Brown Pre-College
On-campus and online courses across the liberal arts.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 1-7 weeks📅 May🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Brown University
Brown Pre-College Summer@Brown
One- to four-week summer courses for HS students across all fields.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Forestry Challenge
California Forestry Challenge
California's premier natural resource competition for high school students, similar to Envirothon.
📍 CA⏱ 1 week📅 April 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Immerse Education
Cambridge Immerse Education
Two-week pre-college summer programs at Cambridge, Oxford, and beyond.
📍 Cambridge, UK⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Texas Tech University
Clark Scholars Program
Intensive research with TTU faculty across STEM and humanities. $750 stipend, room and board covered.
📍 TX (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 11, 12
Highly Selective
Columbia University
Columbia Summer Immersion
Three-week pre-college sessions in NYC across 80+ subjects.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
Columbia University
Columbia Summer Immersion
Pre-college immersion across humanities and STEM.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 1-3 weeks📅 January🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
The Concord Review
Concord Review (Humanities Publishing)
The only quarterly journal publishing high school history research worldwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
U.S. House of Representatives Members
Congressional District Office Internship
High school students can intern in their local district offices to learn about constituent services and local policy.
📍 Local Districts⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 10, 11, 12
Selective
Cornell University
Cornell School of Continuing Education Pre-College
Three or six-week pre-college programs in hundreds of subjects on campus or online.
📍 Ithaca, NY⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Curieux
Curieux Academic Journal
Open multidisciplinary research journal for students.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Bound (Free)
Free fly-in program for high-achieving, low-income juniors.
📍 NH⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 11
Selective
DECA Inc.
DECA Competitive Events (ICDC)
One of the world's largest business competitions for students to demonstrate their professionalism in multiple event categories.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-long📅 January 10🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Duke University
Duke Summer Academy
Pre-college academic programs at Duke. Need-based scholarships.
📍 NC⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 April🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
FBLA National Leadership Conference Competitions
Focuses on business knowledge, academic competition, and leadership development across multiple career clusters.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-long📅 January 15🎓 9, 10, 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech Sustainable Systems Camp
Multidisciplinary camp exploring sustainable energy, water resources, and climate resilience.
📍 Atlanta, GA⏱ 1 week📅 May 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
The World Food Prize Foundation
Global Youth Institute
An international organization that empowers students to research and propose solutions to the global food security crisis.
📍 Des Moines, IA/Global⏱ Year-long📅 January 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Harvard International Relations Council
Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN)
Premier conferences hosted by Harvard students simulating international diplomacy and the United Nations.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 4 days📅 Varies🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
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🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Harvard University
Harvard Pre-College Program
Two-week residential program in 50+ disciplines.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 2 weeks📅 January🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (and others)
High School Fed Challenge
High school teams compete to solve real-world economic problems and demonstrate their understanding of central banking.
📍 Regional Fed Banks⏱ Semester📅 February 15🎓 11, 12
Selective
Horizon
Horizon Academic Research Program
Trimester-style research cohort with university faculty. Full scholarships available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
Horizon
Horizon Academic Research Program
Online research seminar plus 1:1 mentorship producing a 20-page paper.
📍 Online⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Institute for Youth in Policy
Institute for Youth in Policy (Economics Dept)
A youth-led organization providing resources for high schoolers to conduct and publish research in economics.
📍 Online⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
University of Iowa
Iowa Young Writers' Studio
Premier creative writing program from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Need-based aid available.
📍 IA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
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🎓 7
Selective
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Global essay competition across philosophy, economics, history, politics, theology, law.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 June🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
JHSS
Journal of High School Science
STEM and humanities journal for high school students.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
JRHS
Journal of Research High School
Multidisciplinary peer-reviewed HS journal.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
JSR
Journal of Student Research
Multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal accepting HS submissions.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Brown University
Leadership Institute
A leadership development program where students explore social justice, identity, and leadership through workshops.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 2 weeks📅 May 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Learn To Be Foundation
Learn To Be Tutor
A 1-on-1 online tutoring program for low-income K-12 students. High schoolers can apply to tutor and earn volunteer hours.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
National High School Mock Trial Organization
National High School Mock Trial Championship
A national mock trial case competition where students act as attorneys and witnesses in a simulated courtroom.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-long📅 March 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
National History Day
National History Day
Year-long historical research project competition culminating at the national contest.
📍 College Park, MD⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
National Merit Scholarship Program (Social Science/General Score)
A scholarship competition where students address global challenges melalui research-based scenarios in social science.
📍 Nationwide⏱ One-time exam📅 March 31🎓 12
Selective
NSDA
National Speech & Debate Tournament
Largest academic competition in the world; speech and debate across many events.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Free residential seminars for outstanding rising seniors.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Summer Scholars
Two-week immersion in 25+ academic fields.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 2 weeks📅 February🎓 11, 12
Highly Selective
Notre Dame
Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program
Two-week pre-college program across 20+ academic disciplines.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11
Moderate
National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)
NSLC on Law & Advocacy
Residential programs for students interested in law, ethics, or leadership held at university campuses.
📍 Multiple Locations⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
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🎓 10, 11, 12
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)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Oxford Royale
Oxford Royale Summer Schools
Summer academic programs at Oxford and Yale across humanities, sciences, business for ages 13-18.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1-3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Oxford University
Oxford UNIQ Summer School
Free residential summer school for UK state-school students.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week📅 January🎓 11
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🎓 11, 12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Penn Manuscript Journal
Undergraduate humanities journal welcoming exceptional HS work.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 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🎓 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Academics Research Program
One-on-one online research program with US professors across humanities, social sciences, and STEM; produces publishable paper.
📍 Online⏱ 4-6 months📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
Polygence
Polygence Core Program
One-on-one online research mentorship with PhDs in any field; produces a tangible project.
📍 Online⏱ 3-6 months📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Polygence
Polygence Press
Symposium and publication venue for student research across all fields.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Princeton University Students
Princeton Model Congress (PMC)
A student-led conference bringing high school students to Princeton to discuss current events and political theory.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 4 days📅 January 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Princeton University
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Free 10-day residential program for low-income high school juniors.
📍 Princeton, NJ⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 11
Selective
QuestBridge
QuestBridge College Prep Scholars
Fully-funded summer programs at top universities for high-achieving, low-income juniors.
📍 Multiple campuses (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 1-5 weeks📅 Late March🎓 11
Highly Selective
RoundPier
RoundPier Networking & Competition Portal
An online platform where students can find curated digital internships, summer courses, and research opportunities specifically for HS.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
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🎓 9, 10, 11, 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🎓 11, 12
Selective
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🎓 10, 11
Selective
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Youth Engagement
Internships across Smithsonian museums and research centers.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Stanford University
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Residential courses in humanities, social sciences, and STEM.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 8, 9, 10, 11
Moderate
Stanford University
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Three-week intensive humanities seminars for rising 11th/12th graders.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 11, 12
Moderate
Stanford University
Stanford Summer Session
Eight-week Stanford summer course program for HS juniors and seniors.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 8 weeks📅 Spring🎓 11, 12
Moderate
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🎓 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🎓 10, 11
Highly Selective
Telluride Association
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Fully-funded residential seminar in critical Black/ethnic studies and anti-oppression.
📍 Multiple campuses⏱ 6 weeks📅 January🎓 11
Highly Selective
Telluride Association
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS/TASP)
Free intensive humanities seminars. Tuition, room, board, and travel fully covered.
📍 Multiple campuses (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-January🎓 10, 11
Highly Selective
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech Clark Scholars Program
Highly selective seven-week paid research program for 12 high schoolers across all fields.
📍 Lubbock, TX⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 11, 12
Highly Selective
The Concord Review
The Concord Review
Quarterly journal publishing exemplary history essays by secondary students worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Quarterly🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Concord Review
The Concord Review
The only quarterly journal publishing high school history research essays. Students submit 5K-9K word papers; selected essays are printed and indexed.
📍 Online submission⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE)
The Free Enterprise Institute Summer Seminar (FEE) / FEE con Alternative
Highly selective program on free-market economics, legal principles, and leadership for upperclassmen.
📍 Atlanta, GA⏱ 1 week📅 January 15🎓 11, 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🎓 12
Selective
The Young Researcher
The Young Researcher
Peer-reviewed journal for IB Extended Essay and similar research.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley ATDP
Academic Talent Development Program with summer courses for grades 7-12.
📍 Berkeley, CA⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
University of Chicago
UChicago Summer Session Pre-College
Three and four-week pre-college programs at UChicago across humanities and sciences.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 3-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
UCLA
UCLA Summer Sessions for HS
Six-week and short-term pre-college academic courses at UCLA.
📍 Los Angeles, CA⏱ 2-10 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
UPenn Summer Programs
Pre-college summer programs across business, biomedical research, social justice, and academic.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
USC
USC Bovard Scholars
Fully-funded college-prep and academic program for high-achieving, low-income California juniors.
📍 CA⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 11
Selective
USC
USC Summer Programs
Pre-college summer programs across arts, sciences, business, journalism.
📍 Los Angeles, CA⏱ 2-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
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)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt Summer Academy
Pre-college research at Vanderbilt. Need-based aid available.
📍 TN⏱ 1-3 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Population Connection
World of 8 Billion Student Video Contest
Students create short videos highlighting solutions to global issues like population growth and sustainability.
📍 Global⏱ One-time📅 May 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Yale University
Yale Young Global Scholars
Two-week interdisciplinary academic enrichment program.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 2 weeks📅 January🎓 10, 11
Moderate
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🎓 10, 11
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🎓 10, 11, 12
Selective
Adler Planetarium / Zooniverse
Zooniverse Citizen Scientist Volunteer
Research and tag images for academic science projects. High schoolers can contribute to NASA or university data sets from home.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective

Humanities programs for high schoolers.

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