Research programs in Iowa.
6 local programs run in Iowa, 3 of them free or paid. Plus 46 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.
Local to Iowa
- SelectiveUniversity of Iowa College of EngineeringAI Youth Camp
Students explore machine learning, reinforcement learning, engineering ethics, open-source datasets, and practical AI applications during a free two-week Zoom camp.
🎓 Grades 9–11 - Highly SelectiveIowa Department of EducationAll Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
Eligible Iowa students with financial need can receive state financial aid for attendance at an eligible Iowa college or university. The maximum 2026–27 award is $5,486 and can be renewable for multiple semesters.
🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveDrake University College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBullD.O.G.S. in Healthcare
Students explore pharmacy, nursing, occupational therapy, and other healthcare professions through laboratory activities, educational sessions, a field trip, and interaction with Drake faculty and students. The residential program costs $200, with financial assistance available.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateIowa Association of Business and Industry FoundationBusiness Horizons
Iowa students form teams, create an original product or service, develop a business, and pitch it to industry professionals while participating in leadership activities and company visits. The residential 2026 program cost $650, with aid available.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveIowa State University College of DesignCreators of Tomorrow
Students interested in art, planning, and design complete a hands-on multidisciplinary project, interact with design professionals and current students, tour campus, and receive college and financial-aid guidance. The one-day program is free and offered in spring and fall.
🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateDrake University Department of MusicDrake Composition Summit
Student composers participate in presentations, recording sessions, composition workshops, and interaction with professional composers and audio engineers. High-school composers attending may also request a free individual composition lesson; registration was $25 in 2026.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Nationwide programs open to Iowa students
- SelectiveArmy 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 - SelectiveAmerican 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 - SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityAI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAI4ALLAI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMathematical Association of AmericaAIME
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 - SelectiveFreedom ForumAl 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 - SelectiveAmazonAmazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateMathematical Association of AmericaAMC 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 - ModerateACSLAmerican Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmgen FoundationAmgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveApple Inc.Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateBerklee College of MusicAspire: 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 - SelectiveNCWITAward 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 - ModerateBard College at Simon's RockBard 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 - SelectiveMIT Lincoln LabBeaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveELASH / Bebras USBebras 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 - SelectiveBennington CollegeBennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBlack Girls CODEBlack Girls CODE Workshops
Program that provides coding workshops and tech exposure to young girls of color.
⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBlue Ocean Strategy / variousBlue Ocean Student Entrepreneurship Competition
Free global pitch competition with cash prizes. Teams pitch a novel business idea via video; finalists present live.
⏱ 3 months📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBreakthroughBreakthrough Collaborative
Free summer and school-year academic program for first-generation, low-income middle schoolers; high schoolers can serve as teaching fellows.
⏱ Multi-year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 6–12
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