§ AR

Research programs in Arkansas.

73 local programs run in Arkansas, 47 of them free or paid, and 1 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 210 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.

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Local to Arkansas

Arkansas Division of Higher Education
ACCESS to Acceleration Concurrent Courses
Arkansas high-school students can enroll in eligible concurrent college courses through participating institutions while receiving state assistance toward the course cost.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
ACCESS to Acceleration Scholarship
Helps Arkansas high-school students pay for eligible concurrent-credit coursework at $65 per semester credit hour, up to $2,000 annually.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lyon College
ACT Prep Camp
Rising juniors and seniors complete a two-day ACT preparation program on the Lyon College campus.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
AGFC Youth Volunteer Program
Students volunteer at conservation events and other AGFC activities across Arkansas while earning documented community-service hours.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
AI Innovators Lab: From Code to Intelligent Systems
Students learn programming and introductory AI through guided exercises, collaborative projects and development of simple intelligent systems.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Central Arkansas
AI Robotics & Ethics Camp
Students program and train autonomous robot cars while learning machine learning, robotics, hardware, and the ethical implications of AI.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Arkansas
American Legion Arkansas Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speaking competition for high school students under 20, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, advancing from post-level contests to the state department finals.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Arkansas 4-H
Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama
The culminating statewide event for Arkansas 4-H members, featuring roughly 40 competitive events across subjects from animal science to performing arts, with district-qualifying and state-only contests plus workshops and tours.
📅 July🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
Lottery-funded scholarship for Arkansas students attending eligible higher-education institutions. Traditional graduating seniors can qualify through a Diploma of Merit or qualifying academic/test criteria.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas and the World: International Affairs Summer Camp
Fifty Arkansas students study international relations, diplomacy, the UN and Model UN before representing countries in General Assembly simulations and crisis exercises.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Arkansas
Arkansas Boys State
A week-long immersive civics and leadership program for high school juniors who form a mock state government, running for office, drafting legislation, and solving municipal challenges alongside peers from across Arkansas.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Arkansas Children's
Arkansas Children's Hospital Junior Volunteer Program
High school students volunteer in hospital settings at Arkansas Children's, committing to weekly shifts for a minimum of six months (or a condensed summer track), after references, an interview, and required immunizations.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas College Bound
Students with disabilities experience college life while learning about postsecondary academic expectations, accommodations and preparation for further education or training.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas Community Foundation Scholarships
Arkansas students complete an eligibility quiz and can be matched with dozens of donor-funded scholarships based on geography, school, intended major, activities, and other criteria.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas DECA
Arkansas DECA Career Development Conference
Arkansas DECA prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management through competitive events and an annual Career Development Conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts
Arkansas Envirothon
Five-student high school teams compete in a hands-on environmental problem-solving competition covering soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, and current environmental issues, with an oral team presentation on a real-world resource problem.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Arkansas FBLA State Leadership Conference
Arkansas high school FBLA chapters compete in business-related competitive events at the annual State Leadership Conference, with top finishers qualifying for the FBLA National Leadership Conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas FFA Association
Arkansas FFA Convention & Expo
Arkansas's state FFA association serves over 18,000 agricultural education members in 217 chapters, culminating each spring in a statewide convention with career and leadership development contests, an expo, and a career show.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Arkansas
Arkansas Girls State
A week-long civics education camp for young women who have completed their junior year, teaching the duties and responsibilities of citizenship through electing and running a mock state government.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Arkansas Goes Global: World Languages & Cultures
Residential students explore Spanish, French, Japanese and German while examining how global languages and cultures connect to Arkansas history, industry and communities.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Arkansas State University / Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Governor's School
A five-week residential program for high-achieving high school students in Arkansas focused on math, science, and the arts.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Arkansas Activities Association / High School Esports League
Arkansas High School Esports League
Arkansas high schoolers compete on official school esports teams sanctioned by the AAA in titles including Valorant, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike 2, with fall and spring seasons and standard academic-eligibility rules.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Bar Association
Arkansas High School Mock Trial Competition
High school teams from across Arkansas simulate a full criminal or civil trial using a case packet of witness statements, exhibits, and jury instructions, competing before real judges and attorneys with the winner advancing to nationals.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
National History Day Arkansas (affiliate)
Arkansas History Day
A year-long historical research program in which students create papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites on an annual theme, advancing from regional contests to the state contest and potentially the national competition.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas HOSA - Future Health Professionals
Arkansas HOSA State Leadership Conference
Arkansas HOSA supports students pursuing health science education and healthcare career pathways through competitive events, leadership training, and service projects culminating in a State Leadership Conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Chess Association (US Chess sanctioned)
Arkansas Individual Scholastic Chess Championship
A statewide scholastic chess tournament with sections for elementary, middle, and high school divisions plus a girls-only category, open to K-12 students, with a rated USCF section for all skill levels.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Central Arkansas, Department of Political Science
Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN)
Hundreds of high school delegates from Arkansas and neighboring states simulate UN bodies like the General Assembly, Security Council, and International Court of Justice at this two-day conference hosted by UCA each November.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas PBS / Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Arkansas PBS Emerging Filmmakers Program
A statewide student filmmaking showcase accepting narrative, documentary, music video, PSA, and animated shorts from grades 5-12, including an Arkansas Historic Places Student Film Prize specifically for high schoolers, with screenings and workshops at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Arts Council / National Endowment for the Arts / Poetry Foundation
Arkansas Poetry Out Loud
A free program for grades 9-12 (including homeschoolers) that builds public-speaking skill and confidence through memorization and recitation of poetry, culminating in a statewide championship.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas Hospitality Association
Arkansas ProStart Invitational
A two-year high school program combining classroom instruction with mentored industry hours in culinary arts and restaurant management, culminating in a statewide competition with separate culinary and management tracks.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Scholastic Press Association
Arkansas Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention
A statewide convention for student journalists offering on-site and mail-in contests across yearbook, newspaper, broadcast and social media production, plus workshops, keynote speakers, and General Excellence and All-Arkansas awards.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SkillsUSA Arkansas
Arkansas SkillsUSA Championships
SkillsUSA Arkansas empowers high school, middle school and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations through leadership conferences and skill competitions, with state winners advancing to nationals.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas State Coding Competition
School teams of up to three students solve programming challenges in Arkansas's statewide coding competition. Awards are deposited into Brighterfuture 529 accounts.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Art, Geometry and Modular Design STEAM Camp
Students connect geometry, spatial reasoning, paper folding and geometric construction to build three-dimensional and collaborative installations.
🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Arkansas Tech University
CAKE: Creativity, Agriculture & Knowledge of Enterprise
Students investigate Arkansas agriculture and tourism through science laboratories, agritourism activities, enterprise development and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Chamber Music Camp
Student musicians participate in masterclasses, music theory and history instruction, small ensembles and large-ensemble performance.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses
CHAMPS (Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service)
A UAMS outreach program that lets junior high and high school students explore health professions through hands-on activities and presentations by healthcare professionals across UAMS's regional campus network.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Office of U.S. Senator John Boozman
Congressional Youth Cabinet
Arkansas juniors meet with peers throughout the year, learn how Congress and the legislative process work, discuss current issues and provide ideas to Senator Boozman.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Helena-West Helena School District
Cougar Next Level Scholars Institute
Advanced interdisciplinary program combining research, STEM, literature, leadership, civic innovation, seminars and innovation labs around real-world problems.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Crystal Bridges Teen Summer Volunteer Program
High school students in grades 9-12 can join one of three summer teen volunteer tracks - Grounds Crew, Youth & Family Art Crew, or the Junior Instructor Program - developing leadership and communication skills while earning service hours.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses
Day In the Life (UAMS Health Careers)
A one-day event for high school seniors to shadow healthcare professionals and tour medical facilities, giving a first-hand look at day-to-day work in various health careers.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Destination Band Camp / University of Central Arkansas
Destination Band Camp — Senior Camp
High-school musicians receive intensive ensemble instruction and performance experience during a weeklong residential or commuter band camp.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Museum of Discovery
Discovery Camp Counselor
Teen volunteers assist museum educators with children's summer Discovery Camps and gain experience supporting informal STEM education.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UA Little Rock
Engineering Scholars Program
One-week residential experience featuring engineering projects, laboratory sessions, robotics, industry exposure, facility tours, and college-preparation advising.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas
Engineering Summer Academy
Residential academy where students choose an engineering track and complete lab experiments, design challenges, and faculty-guided projects. Tracks include chemical engineering, technology systems, and structural/mechanical design.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Environmental Science and Biotechnology
Campers conduct ecological field surveys, visit a quartz mine and use laboratory techniques connecting molecular biology with ecology and environmental science.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Museum of Discovery
Girls in STEM Leadership Institute
Older teens participate in a free STEM leadership program involving hands-on STEM exploration and interaction with women working in STEM fields.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Play It Again, Arkansas! / Arkansas Department of Education
Governor's Award for Musical Excellence
Schools nominate outstanding senior musicians for statewide recognition of sustained achievement and commitment to music. Up to 100 seniors are recognized.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
Major merit scholarship for Arkansas seniors generally requiring a 32 ACT or 1410 SAT plus a 3.5 cumulative GPA. It provides up to $10,000 annually for four years.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Governor's Scholars — Achievement Scholars
Scholarship for qualifying Arkansas seniors, including students graduating with a Diploma of Distinction or an associate degree while in high school. Awards can reach $5,000 per year for four years.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Arkansas Governor's Mansion Association
Governor's Young Artist Competition
Arkansas high-school artists submit drawings, paintings, illustrations, ceramics, or mixed-media work for a statewide juried exhibition at the Governor's Mansion.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harding University
Harding University Honors Symposium
A two-week academic summer program on Harding's Searcy campus for students entering their senior year, offering university-level courses in theology, history, literature, critical thinking, and art, with three transferable college credits.
📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Harding University College of Pharmacy
Harding University Pharmacy Camp
A residential summer camp introducing high school sophomores through seniors to the pharmacy profession through pharmaceutical compounding, blood pressure and glucose monitoring practice, patient case analysis, and talks with pre-pharmacy advisors.
📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Junior Achievement of Arkansas
JA Be Entrepreneurial (Think Like an Entrepreneur)
A three-module high school program using Design Thinking to help students generate a business idea and build a one-page business plan, delivered in classrooms, after-school clubs, or virtually.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission / Fort Smith International Film Festival / Arkansas Cinema Society
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Statewide High School Video Contest
Students in grades 9-12 create a 30-second-or-shorter video commercial promoting environmental responsibility, litter prevention, or recycling in Arkansas, submitted free through FilmFreeway.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UAMS Regional Campuses
MASH — Medical Applications of Science for Health
Free healthcare camps include suturing, CPR, heart dissection, healthcare-site visits, workshops, team activities and professional shadowing.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UA Little Rock
MT Stage: From the Bard to Broadway
Students reinterpret Shakespeare through contemporary theatre, original lyrics, acting, stage combat and collaborative performance.
🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission / State of Arkansas
My Natural State Story Essay Contest
Arkansas students write up to 500 words about a real outdoor experience in the state. Sixteen students receive prizes, including outdoor gear and experiences.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Physics in Motion: Theme Park Thrills
Students use geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability and physics to analyze the motion and design of amusement rides, culminating in field measurements at a theme park.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Community School of the Arts
Pop, Rock and All That Jazz
Students perform in pop, rock and jazz ensembles, receive private lessons, write songs, record music in a studio and learn about music technology and the music industry.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ozark Natural Science Center
Project Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature
Two-week field-science program where students work alongside scientists, track wildlife, monitor bats, sample aquatic ecosystems, conduct a capstone study and explore conservation science.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Melbourne School District
STEAM & Beyond: Summer Exploration
Ten-day interdisciplinary enrichment combining STEM, arts, music, literature, communication, social studies and world languages through original projects and problem-solving.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
StoryLab: The Writing Process Across Genres
Students explore poetry, short fiction, screenwriting and creative nonfiction through reading, journaling, guided writing and peer feedback.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
University of Central Arkansas
Summer Study for High School Students
Students between junior and senior year can enroll in regular UCA summer courses and earn transferable college credit before graduating high school.
🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
Summer Under the Microscope
Students explore environmental health and public health through hands-on activities and instruction from UAMS Environmental Health Sciences faculty.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
TheatreSquared
SummerStage
Eight-day immersive theatre program where students work with professional playwrights, poets, musicians, actors and directors to devise and perform an original production.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Sheridan School District
The Art of Humanity
Students examine human history through art, culture and sociology while learning artistic techniques and constructing a creative timeline of art history.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
Institute for the Creative Arts
Through the Lens
Students study exposure, composition, lighting, portraiture, landscape filming and visual storytelling while producing a portfolio of original photography and film work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS Summer Science Program
Paid biomedical research for Arkansas students underrepresented in healthcare.
⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Arkansas
VFW Voice of Democracy - Arkansas
An annual audio-essay scholarship contest for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme; students record a 3-5 minute essay and submit it through a local VFW post, competing for state and national scholarships.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UA Little Rock Emerging Analytics Center
Virtual Reality Summer Camp
Students learn introductory programming and VR game development while creating a puzzle-game level for Meta Quest headsets.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Washington Student Math Association (WSMA)
Washington ARML Team
Invitational team of Washington's top high school math competitors, chosen by nomination and AMC, AIME and Mu Alpha Theta results, to represent the state at the American Regions Math League.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Little Rock Zoo
Youth Zoo Crew (Teen Volunteer Program)
Teens ages 13-17 complete a three-week summer training session on guest engagement, conservation, and zoo careers, then continue as year-round volunteer docents supporting Zoo staff and programming.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate

Nationwide programs open to Arkansas students

University of Pennsylvania
Academic English & University Readiness Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn for non-native English speakers. Students do university-style work: reading, lectures, discussions, research and group projects, ending in a final presentation. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 26 - August 8, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Army 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
Selective
American 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
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
AI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
AI4ALL
AI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AIME
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
Selective
Freedom Forum
Al 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
Selective
Amazon
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AMC 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
Moderate
ACSL
American Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Online Seminar
Two-week online seminar (daily Zoom sessions) teaching basic ASL conversation and narrative skills in an immersion setting, plus Deaf community perspectives through vlogs, lectures and a panel of Deaf professionals. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 13 - 24, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Apple Inc.
Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Berklee College of Music
Aspire: 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
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Astronomical Techniques Research Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn. Students learn observational astronomy and data analysis, build simple cameras and spectrometers, observe the Sun and stars, and analyze data with Python. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 11 - 25, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
NCWIT
Award 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
Selective
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Bard 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
Moderate
MIT Lincoln Lab
Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
ELASH / Bebras US
Bebras 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
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

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