§ Political Science

Political Science programs for high schoolers.

59 programs indexed in political science. 35 are free or pay a stipend. 21 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new political science program.

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All political science programs

Adam Smith Society
Adam Smith Society HS Essay
Essay contest exploring market economics and policy.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Bank of America
Bank of America Student Leaders
Paid internship at a local nonprofit + week-long DC leadership summit.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-January🎓 11, 12
Selective
Brown University
Brown Leadership Institute
Pre-college leadership program at Brown. Need-based scholarships.
📍 RI⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
C-SPAN
C-SPAN StudentCam
Annual student documentary competition on public policy.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 January🎓 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Northwestern CTD
Civic Leadership Institute
Service-learning summer program for civic-minded teens.
📍 Evanston, IL⏱ 3 weeks📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Coolidge Scholars Foundation
Coolidge Senators Program
Fully-funded public policy program at the Coolidge Foundation in Vermont.
📍 VT (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 January🎓 10, 11
Selective
Coro
Coro Exploring Leadership
Civic leadership program for high school students in major US cities.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Generation Citizen
Generation Citizen Youth Council
National civic action council for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Georgetown University
Georgetown Summer College
Earn college credit in IR, politics, business, and more.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 3-5 weeks📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Georgetown University
Georgetown University Summer Law Institute for HS Students
Exploration of legal concepts, criminal justice, and the judicial system in a university setting.
📍 Washington, D.C. / Online⏱ 1 week📅 March 15🎓 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
Harvard University
Harvard Model Congress
Premier government simulation conference for high school students.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 4 days📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Harvard University
Harvard Model Congress
Premier high school simulation of the US federal government, run by Harvard students.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 4 days📅 Winter🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Harvard University
Harvard Model UN
High school Model UN conference with delegates from around the world.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 4 days📅 Fall🎓 9, 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
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
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Essay
Annual global essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Free entry; cash and Oxford summer school prizes.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June 30🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
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
JSA
Junior State of America Summer School
Three-week residential programs in government, politics, and leadership at Princeton, Georgetown, Stanford.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
London School of Economics
LSE Summer School
University-level economics, finance, IR, and law courses in London.
📍 London, UK⏱ 3 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 11, 12
Highly Selective
London School of Economics
LSE Summer School
Three-week summer courses at LSE for ages 17+, plus pre-university programs.
📍 London, UK⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 11, 12
Highly 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
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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Highly Selective
IMUNA
National High School Model United Nations
World's largest model UN conference held at UN headquarters in New York.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 4 days📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
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
NSLC
National Student Leadership Conference
Pre-college leadership programs across law, medicine, engineering, business and more.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 9 days📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
American Legion North Dakota
North Dakota Boys State and Girls State
A leadership program for high school students in North Dakota to learn about government and civic engagement.
📍 Bismarck, ND⏱ 1 week📅 March 15🎓 11, 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📅 June🎓 9, 10, 11, 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🎓 10, 11, 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Summer Academy
Journalism, filmmaking, and writing courses taught by Times journalists. Limited need-based aid.
📍 NY / Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 Rolling🎓 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
Princeton University
Princeton Model Congress
Four-day high school simulation of Congress run by Princeton students in DC.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 4 days📅 Fall🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
Princeton University
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Fully-funded journalism program for high-achieving, low-income juniors. Travel and lodging covered.
📍 NJ (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 10 days (summer)📅 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
American Political Science Association
Ralph Bunche Summer Institute
Funded political science research for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 11, 12
Selective
South Dakota State Legislature
South Dakota Legislative Page Program
A year-long fellowship for South Dakota high school students to engage in state policy-making and legislative observation.
📍 Pierre, SD⏱ 1 year📅 April 1🎓 11, 12
Selective
Stanford SIEPR
Stanford International Youth Forum
Policy and economics forum for international and US high school students.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 1 week📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
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
Street Law
Supreme Court Summer Institute
Teacher and student programs on constitutional law and the Court.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 9, 10, 11, 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
University of Notre Dame
The American Experiment: Liberty for All?
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 📅 July 18, 2026🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Aspen Institute
The Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange
A high school program focusing on international affairs and cultural exchange between US and Middle Eastern students. Online workshops.
📍 Online⏱ 6 months📅 Early February🎓 9, 10, 11
Selective
Hearst Foundations / U.S. Senate
United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP)
A prestigious week-long program in DC for leaders interested in government, history, and public service.
📍 Washington, D.C.⏱ 1 week📅 Mid-January🎓 11, 12
Selective
US House
US House Page Program (alumni network)
Visit programs and learning resources from the US House of Representatives.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
US Senate
US Senate Page Program
Live in DC and serve as a US Senate page; sponsored by a senator.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 1 semester📅 Varies🎓 11
Selective
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
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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Center for Civic Education
We the People Constitution Competition
National constitutional knowledge competition for classroom teams.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Center for Civic Education
We the People Constitutional Competition
Free constitutional law simulation. Top teams compete nationally in DC.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Year-long competition📅 Varies (school-based)🎓 11, 12
Selective
Center for World Affairs / Bezos Academy
World Affairs Challenge
Project-based competition tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Denver, CO⏱ Academic year📅 May🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Selective
Yale YRIS
Yale Review of International Studies
Undergraduate IR journal that publishes select high school work.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 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
Yale University
Yale Young Global Scholars Politics, Law & Economics
Two-week residential interdisciplinary program in politics, law, and economics.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 10, 11
Moderate
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
YMCA
YMCA Youth & Government
State-level mock government simulations in 38 states.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate
YMCA
YMCA Youth and Government
Model state-legislature program. Local YMCA fees vary; scholarships available.
📍 State capitals⏱ School year📅 Fall-Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
Moderate

Political Science programs for high schoolers.

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