§ CO

Research programs in Colorado.

69 local programs run in Colorado, 37 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 Colorado

CU Science Discovery
Aerospace
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
Moderate
The American Legion
American Legion National Oratorical Contest (Colorado)
A Constitution-focused oratory competition for high schoolers, requiring an 8-10 minute prepared oration and a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned topic, progressing from local posts through state and national finals.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Colorado Anschutz
Anatomy & Medical Careers Camp
Students study university-level anatomy while exploring medical school, dentistry, physical therapy, scientific research and other health professions.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Colorado Boulder
Aquetza 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
Selective
Aspen Music Festival
Aspen Music Festival and School
Eight-week summer classical music festival and school accepting advanced young musicians.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Boettcher Foundation
Boettcher 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
Selective
University of Colorado Anschutz
Brain Camp
Four-day program examining nervous-system structure and function underlying thinking, feeling, movement and learning through university-level anatomical education.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Colorado Christian University
CCU Academy
Online concurrent-enrollment college courses taught with a Christian worldview, open to high school students (age 15+) and recent graduates who haven't yet started college.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
CU Science Discovery
Chemical 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
Moderate
Children's Hospital Colorado
Child 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
Selective
Colorado High School Activities Association / PlayVS
CHSAA Esports (PlayVS Colorado)
Officially sanctioned interscholastic esports leagues for Colorado high schools competing in titles like Rocket League, Marvel Rivals, Splatoon, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with fall and spring state championships.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado Area Health Education Center / CU Anschutz
COAHEC 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
Selective
American Legion, Department of Colorado
Colorado Boys State
A six-day, hands-on program teaching high school juniors how city, county, and state government operate through a simulated nonpartisan government exercise.
📅 May🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Colorado DECA
Colorado DECA
Career and technical student organization preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through chapter membership and competitive events.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Envirothon Colorado
Colorado Envirothon
A hands-on natural resource competition where high school teams test their knowledge in soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a rotating current environmental issue.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado FBLA
Colorado FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Career and technical student organization for business education, offering 76 competitive events, a Fall Leadership Conference, and a High School State Leadership Conference each April.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado FFA Association / National FFA Organization
Colorado FFA
Statewide agricultural education organization open to students with any interest area (not just farming), offering Career and Leadership Development Events, SAE projects, and a path to state officer positions.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Colorado
Colorado Girls State
A week-long summer leadership and citizenship program for high school junior girls that simulates city and state government through mock political parties.
📅 May🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Colorado Bar Association
Colorado High School Mock Trial
Statewide mock trial program in which high school teams learn about the judicial system and argue an official case problem through regional and state tournaments, with attorneys, judges, and teachers volunteering as coaches and scorers.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado HOSA
Colorado HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
Student-led career and technical student organization for future health professionals, offering competitive events, leadership conferences, Camp Ignite, and state officer positions.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado Model United Nations
Colorado Model UN
A statewide consortium in which Colorado high schools host and attend Model UN conferences from September through April, with students serving as delegates, chairs, and background-guide writers.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado Restaurant Foundation / Colorado Restaurant Association
Colorado ProStart Student Invitational
Annual culinary and hospitality-management competition for ProStart students from 20+ Colorado high schools, competing for the Sysco Denver Hospitality Cup and scholarships.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Colorado State Chess Association
Colorado Scholastic Chess League
A ten-week online scholastic chess league on Chess.com for Colorado K-12 students (including homeschoolers), with a separate high school (9-12) division and weekly Thursday matches.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines REACH
Engineering immersion at Mines. Scholarships for Colorado students from underrepresented backgrounds.
⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Colorado State University / Colorado State Science Fair
Colorado 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
Moderate
NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium / CU Boulder College of Engineering
Colorado Space Grant Consortium - Academic Partner Programs
NASA-affiliated statewide consortium offering high schools free participation in programs like the Colorado Robotics Challenge, DemoSat, Wearables Quest, and CARMA Quest through Academic Partner status.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CO/WY Academic Decathlon
Colorado/Wyoming Academic Decathlon
High-school teams study and compete across multidisciplinary academic subjects in the Colorado Academic Decathlon pathway.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Colorado School of Mines
CS@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
Selective
Colorado School of Mines Department of Computer Science
CS@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
Selective
Daniels Fund
Daniels Scholarship Program
Major scholarship for graduating seniors demonstrating character, leadership, service, and academic promise. Colorado students are eligible.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Colorado School of Mines
DECTech Intern
High-school interns assist Mines outreach programs and help deliver computing and technology activities for younger K–8 students.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado School of Mines
Engineering Design Summer Camp
Five-day program introducing high-school students to authentic engineering-design methods, CAD modeling and creation of components and assemblies using SolidWorks.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Colorado State University College of Business
First Generation Business Summit
First-generation students live on campus, meet business leaders and CSU faculty, tour companies, receive mentoring and complete business-related activities and competitions.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Denver Foundation
Francis H. Mahon Scholarship
Need-based scholarship supporting graduating seniors from six specified Colorado private high schools pursuing a four-year degree.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Colorado State University College of Business
Global Business Academy
Ten-day residential program where students study global business and leadership, complete team challenges and experience college life at CSU.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Colorado State University
GoGetMath@CSU
Five-day mathematics program exploring cryptography, data science, image processing, fractals and geometry through computer labs and hands-on activities.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Regis University
Health Professions Summer Experience
Weeklong exploration of nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, exercise science, occupational therapy, counseling, speech pathology and related health fields through hands-on workshops.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Denver
High School Early Experience Program (University of Denver)
A concurrent-enrollment program letting high school juniors and seniors take DU undergraduate courses alongside their high school coursework, earning college credit that can transfer.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Colorado Boulder, New Venture Challenge
High School New Venture Challenge (CU Boulder)
A free, multi-round entrepreneurial pitch competition open to any Colorado high schooler (public, private, or homeschooled), guided by an adult venture coach, culminating in an in-person final at CU Boulder.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CU Science Discovery
High School STEM Crew
High-school volunteers assist instructors and younger students in CU Science Discovery summer STEM camps while developing classroom, communication, teamwork and professional skills.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado Student Media Association
J-Day (Colorado Student Media Association)
An annual day-long journalism conference at Colorado State University for middle and high school student journalists, featuring guest-led sessions and a Best of Show competition.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Colorado Mesa University
Jazztopia Jazz Workshop
High-school musicians develop improvisation, jazz history, instrumental technique and combo-performance skills, culminating in a public concert.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver / The Denver Foundation
MCA Denver Failure Award Scholarship
Colorado seniors submit an original project demonstrating creative experimentation and meaningful risk-taking, then finalists publicly present their projects.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
National History Day in Colorado / CU Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
National History Day in Colorado (State Contest)
Students research and present historical projects (documentary, exhibit, performance, website, or paper) at one of thirteen regional contests, with top finishers advancing to the state contest at CU Denver.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
National Center for Atmospheric Research
NCAR Atmospheric Research Internship
Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.
⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE)
Outstanding Young Environmental Leader Award
An annual nomination-based award recognizing Coloradans aged 14-23 for outstanding leadership in creating or implementing environmental education programs in their community.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado Creative Industries / Empowered / Lighthouse Writers Workshop
Poetry Out Loud Colorado
Free national recitation competition in which Colorado high schoolers memorize and perform poems, advancing from school and local competitions to the state finals at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Colorado Denver
Pre-Collegiate Development Program (CU Denver)
A year-round academic enrichment program for first-generation, college-bound 9th-11th graders, combining monthly Saturday Academies with summer sessions offering math, English, and college-seminar coursework.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Radius Adventure
Radius Adventure Outdoor Learning Programs
Tuition-free outdoor education programs for K-12 Colorado students, including rock climbing, backpacking, and canyoneering, that build leadership, communication, and decision-making skills through standards-aligned modules.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Denver Foundation / RBC Wealth Management
RBC Wealth Management Colorado Scholarship
Colorado seniors pursuing science, mathematics, or engineering compete for a scholarship based on exceptional academic achievement.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Colorado State University
SciVet Summer Program
Students investigate veterinary science through laboratory and fieldwork involving wildlife research, water quality, native bees, veterinary medicine, dendrochronology and related topics.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
SkillsUSA Colorado
SkillsUSA Colorado
Career and technical student organization developing skilled trade workers through regional and state competitions in fields like construction, automotive, cosmetology, IT, and manufacturing.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Sphinx Organization / University of Colorado Boulder
Sphinx Performance Academy at CU Boulder
Intensive chamber-music and solo-performance academy offering private lessons, master classes, recitals, mentoring and career enrichment for young string musicians.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
University of Colorado Cancer Center
START Summer Research Experience
Students work with a faculty research mentor and graduate researcher to design, conduct, analyze, and present authentic biomedical research while earning college credit.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
CU Science Discovery
STEM Pathfinders — Bioscience
Two-week exploration rotating through molecular biology, ecology/evolution, bio-inspired design and computational biology with labs, faculty interaction and campus activities.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
CU Science Discovery
STEM Pathfinders — Engineering
Students rotate through aerospace, chemical engineering, creative technology/design and integrated engineering while exploring academic and research pathways.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Colorado Boulder / CU Anschutz
STEM Research Experience
Seven-week program pairing students with CU researchers for an authentic project involving literature review, experiments/data collection, analysis, and a scientific poster presentation. Research fields range from chemistry and astrophysics to medicine and engineering.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Colorado College
Stroud Scholars
Three-year college-preparation program beginning after ninth grade, with two to three weeks of residential programming each summer plus math, writing, mentoring, admissions and financial-aid support.
🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Colorado College
Summer Pre-College Program
Students take an intensive for-credit college course under Colorado College's Block Plan in areas such as environmental studies, history, economics/business or anatomy while living on campus.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Colorado School of Mines
SUMMET — Summer Mines Engineering and Training
One-week residential program combining engineering and science coursework, design projects, chemistry/computer-science workshops, mine tours and college preparation.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Teen Guest Engagement Volunteer
Teen volunteers assist museum guests with visitor engagement, information, wayfinding, ticket scanning and special museum activities.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Teen Science Scholars
Teens work directly with museum scientists on authentic projects in fields including genetics, ornithology, paleontology, anthropology, collections, data science, and conservation.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Telluride Film Festival / Artemis Rising Foundation
Telluride Film Festival City Lights Project
A festival-funded program that brings six students and two teachers from two selected high schools to attend the Telluride Film Festival, screening 10-12 films and meeting filmmakers over five days.
📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
UCCS Pre-Collegiate Program
Multi-year college-readiness program providing career and college exploration, academic preparation and a Summer Academic Institute. It prioritizes first-generation, low-income and military-connected students.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Colorado Mesa University
Upward Bound Summer Academy
Six-week college-simulation program combining academic classes with a residential campus experience for eligible CMU Upward Bound participants.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Colorado
VFW Voice of Democracy (Colorado)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for students in grades 9-12 who record and submit a patriotic-themed essay through a local VFW post via the Scholars App.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Civics for Colorado (formerly C3LE) / Center for Civic Education
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Colorado)
A constitutional-law curriculum culminating in a simulated congressional hearing where students demonstrate knowledge of constitutional issues before community-leader judges at the state competition and showcase.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for World Affairs / Bezos Academy
World Affairs Challenge
Project-based competition tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals.
⏱ Academic year📅 May🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Young Americans Center for Financial Education
YouthBiz
Entrepreneurship program for middle and high schoolers combining a 15-session business curriculum with real business ownership, mentorship from adult business leaders, and a twice-yearly youth marketplace.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate

Nationwide programs open to Colorado 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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