Public Health programs for high schoolers.
40 programs indexed in public health. 34 are free or pay a stipend. 27 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new public health program.
All public health programs
- 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 - SelectiveCity of BostonBoston SuccessLink
Free paid summer employment program for Boston youth ages 14-18.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCrisis Text LineCrisis Text Line Counselor
Volunteers over 18 (or high school seniors) provide mental health support via text; requires 200 hours of commitment.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12 - 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 - SelectiveEmory UniversityEmory Pipeline Collaborative
Free pipeline program for Atlanta-area students interested in health professions.
📍 GA⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateHOSA Future Health ProfessionalsHOSA 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 - ModerateHOSA Future Health ProfessionalsHOSA International Leadership Conference
International leadership conference and competition for future health professionals.
📍 Rotating (US)⏱ 5 days📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveImmerse EducationImmerse Education — Medicine Cambridge
Residential medicine track for teens at the University of Cambridge.
📍 Cambridge, United Kingdom⏱ 2 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateIMO FederationInternational Medical Olympiad
International team olympiad on medicine, anatomy, and public health for high schoolers.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 Fall registration🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveKhan Academy / Medline PlusKhan Academy Health & Medicine Pathway
Learn the science behind medicine and the human body through interactive coursework developed by top universities. Ideal for medical-track HS students.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible (1-year access)📅 Self-paced🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of KansasKU Project SEARCH
Paid biomedical research at KU Med Center for Kansas students.
📍 KS⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveMcGill UniversityMcGill Mini-Med School
Lecture series introducing high school and community members to medical science and clinical topics.
📍 Montreal, Canada⏱ 8 weeks📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterMD Anderson Summer Experience
Paid summer internships for high school students in Houston to explore careers in clinical care, research, and support services.
📍 Houston, TX⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 31🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterMS Rural Physicians Pipeline (high school strand)
Free med-school pathway program for rural Mississippi students.
📍 MS⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveAPHANational Public Health Week Student Challenge
Annual student challenge for high schoolers to advocate for public health issues.
📍 Online⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveNational Institutes of HealthNIH HiSTEP
NIH program specifically for students from underserved DC-area communities.
📍 MD⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveNYC DYCDNYC 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 - SelectiveOregon Health & Science UniversityOHSU On Track OHSU!
Free pipeline program for Oregon students from rural and underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 OR⏱ Year-round + summer📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCity of ChicagoOne Summer Chicago
Free paid summer jobs and internships for Chicago youth ages 14-24.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of OklahomaOU Sooner Health Research
Paid health research at OU for Oklahoma students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 OK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveAmerican Red CrossRed Cross Youth Volunteer
Youth volunteer roles in disaster relief, blood services, education.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmerican Red CrossRed Cross Youth Volunteer Programs
Volunteer opportunities for ages 13+ in disaster, blood services, and youth leadership clubs.
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveRutgers UniversityRutgers Future Scholars Research
Free college-prep + research for first-gen New Jersey students.
📍 NJ⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (program-based)🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCity of SeattleSeattle 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 - SelectiveSF DCYFSF Mayors Youth Employment & Education
Free paid year-round and summer internships for SF youth.
📍 San Francisco, CA⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveSpecial OlympicsSpecial Olympics Youth Activation
Youth leadership and unified sports programs.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveStanford School of MedicineStanford AIM-HI
Free Stanford program for under-resourced Bay Area students interested in health equity careers.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveStanfordStanford 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 - SelectiveStanford School of MedicineStanford 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 - ModerateTulane UniversityTulane Summer Pre-College
Pre-college courses at Tulane. Need-based scholarships available.
📍 LA⏱ 2-4 weeks (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesUAMS Summer Science Program
Paid biomedical research for Arkansas students underrepresented in healthcare.
📍 AR⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUC San FranciscoUCSF SEP High School Intern
Paid summer research for SFUSD students underrepresented in science.
📍 CA⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUniversity of North DakotaUND Summer Healthcare Programs
Free intro programs for North Dakota students, including INMED for Native American students.
📍 ND⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUNICEF USAUNICEF UNITED National Council
Student-led advocacy for global child welfare.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of PittsburghUPMC 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 - SelectiveMD Anderson Cancer CenterUT MD Anderson HS Summer Program
Paid cancer research at MD Anderson for Texas students.
📍 TX⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUniversity of VirginiaUVA Summer Medical Leadership Program
Free medical exposure program at UVA for Virginia students underrepresented in medicine.
📍 VA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateUniversity of VermontUVM Summer Academy
Pre-college academic programs at UVM. Need-based scholarships.
📍 VT⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectivePhiladelphia Youth NetworkWorkReady Philadelphia
Free paid summer work experience for Philadelphia youth ages 12-24.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveWest Virginia UniversityWVU Health Sciences Summer Camp
Free health-sciences exposure for West Virginia students from rural communities.
📍 WV⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12