§ IN

Research programs in Indiana.

123 local programs run in Indiana, 56 of them free or paid, and 2 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 210 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.

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Local to Indiana

Indiana Commission for Higher Education / Learn More Indiana
21st Century Scholars
Indiana's early-commitment college promise scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition at eligible Indiana colleges for income-eligible students, with a required Scholar Success Program completed during high school.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Taylor University
Academic Summer Camps
A one-week residential camp for rising sophomores through seniors to explore a passion in-depth, with tracks including Engineering, Forensic Science, Health Science, and Musical Theatre.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Indiana Association of School Principals
Academic Super Bowl
A statewide academic team competition, running since 1987, in which nine-student teams face off in twenty-question rounds across math, science, English, social studies, and fine arts.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Council on World Affairs
Academic WorldQuest
A free, game-style team quiz competition testing high schoolers' knowledge of world affairs, geography, global economics, history, and culture, with a chance to represent Indiana nationally.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Acting for the Camera
High-school students learn screen-acting techniques and work on camera in collaboration with the academy's filmmaking program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Advanced Filmmakers Academy
Students work through pre-production, production, and post-production as a filmmaking cohort and collaborate on a short film using professional equipment.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana Latino Institute / Alivio Medical Center
Alivio Medical Scholarship
A merit-based scholarship supports graduating high-school seniors and college students planning to pursue medical or health-related education.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Indiana
American Legion Indiana Oratorical Contest
A free constitutional-oratory competition for high schoolers under 20, who deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute assigned-topic speech, advancing from post to district, zone, and state levels.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Animation Academy
Students use professional software and equipment to explore digital animation techniques used in film, television, and games.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning
Architecture + Planning Camp @ CAP:Indy
Students explore architecture, planning, sustainability, site analysis, sketching, ecology, and 3D modeling through a week of design activities in Indianapolis.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Valparaiso University College of Engineering
Beacon Engineering Academy
A weeklong summer engineering experience for high schoolers featuring hands-on projects in sustainable engineering, water filtration, 3D printing, materials science, and solar energy alongside Valpo faculty and student mentors.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
University of Notre Dame
Business: What Is It Good For?
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame School of Architecture
Career Discovery
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors spend 12 residential days in design studios and architecture seminars while exploring preservation, accessibility, infrastructure, and the built environment.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Purdue University College of Agriculture
Cargill-Purdue Agriculture & STEM Academy (C-PASA) High School Camp
A one-week residential camp for rising 9th-12th graders exploring Purdue's College of Agriculture through tours of companies like Cargill, Corteva, Syngenta, and BASF plus hands-on lab and research-facility work.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ball State University College of Communication, Information, and Media
CCIM+ Summer Workshops
High-school students choose specialized workshops such as student-media leadership, post-production and visual effects, esports, or speech and communication.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Evansville
Ceramics Camp — Grades 9–12
High-school students explore ceramics through hand-building, wheel throwing, glazing, and studio practice.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Creation Crates
Students receive an at-home engineering kit and meet online with Rose-Hulman faculty to design, construct, test, and analyze experimental apparatus.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR)
Graduating high-school seniors undertake ten weeks of mentored cancer research in laboratory, clinical, or database-based projects and present their work. The program provides a stipend and includes a longer-term research-development component.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Chemistry and Biochemistry at USI
High-school students conduct laboratory activities and explore chemistry, biochemistry, majors, and careers during a two-day university program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Geology & Environmental Science at USI
Students examine rocks, minerals, fossils, environmental models, and stream environments while exploring geoscience careers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Kinesiology & Sport at USI
Students explore exercise science, human-performance measurements, sport management, and sport-related careers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Mathematical Sciences at USI
Students investigate mathematical ideas including geometry, optimization, voting systems, and mathematical games.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Mechanical Engineering at USI
Students use CAD, 3D printing, materials testing, and engineering design activities to explore mechanical engineering.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Southern Indiana
Explore Statistics at USI
Students explore statistics and data science through coding, visualization, and analysis activities.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Southern Indiana
Explore STEM Disciplines for 9th Graders
Incoming ninth graders rotate through hands-on chemistry, engineering, geology, and other STEM activities connected to real-world problems.
🎓 Grade 9
Moderate
Indiana University School of Education
Factor Future Educator Program
Current juniors spend a free residential week exploring teaching, counseling, college preparation, and education careers. Housing and meals are provided.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Anderson University
Filmmakers Camp
A week-long overnight camp for students ages 14-18 covering screenwriting, camera work, editing, lighting, and sound recording, taught by working film-industry professionals with no prior experience required.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ball State University Teachers College
Flight Path to Teaching Adventure
Rising juniors and seniors spend a free residential week exploring teaching, designing and delivering lessons, and learning about education careers and college pathways.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Ball State University
Forensic Science High School Summer Camp
Rising sophomores through seniors investigate fingerprints, blood-spatter evidence, digital evidence, and other forensic methods through laboratories and field experiences. Scholarships can cover up to the full program fee for eligible Indiana residents.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Future Deaf Scientist Program
A four-week paid research internship for students at the Indianapolis School for the Deaf, shadowing deaf physicians and scientists in clinical and lab settings.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Future Scientist Program
Marion County public-school juniors complete an eight-week paid research employment experience under an IU cancer researcher. Students work on a project while learning about biomedical research careers.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
DePauw University
Gateway to Gold: A DePauw Summer Experience
A four-night residential precollege camp for rising sophomores through seniors, with tracks in business, STEAM, the arts, and social change, taught by DePauw faculty with student mentors.
📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Notre Dame
Global Issues: Violence and Peace in the Modern Age
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Marian University
Healthcare Camp
A one-week day camp for high school freshmen through seniors exploring nursing, medicine, research science, and sports science careers with hands-on simulation-lab practice and current health-professions students as mentors.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Evansville
High School Art Camp
High-school artists work in university studios on drawing, painting, perspective, figure drawing, and design while experiencing collegiate art instruction.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Bloomington
High School Journalism Institute
Students receive intensive journalism training in areas such as reporting, editing, documentary work, student media, and sports journalism while living and learning on IU's campus.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purdue University Northwest, College of Engineering and Sciences
High School Summer Engineering Camp
A free, hands-on mechanical and civil engineering camp for students ages 14-17 covering 3D printing, renewable energy, bridge and road design, virtual reality, and electric vehicles at PNW's Hammond campus.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington, Department of Biology
Holland Summer Science Programs
A tiered set of summer science programs (SEP, SSRP, RISE) giving academically high-achieving high schoolers hands-on research experience and faculty mentorship in STEM fields.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Indiana
Hoosier Boys State
A week-long mock-government leadership program for rising senior boys who form parties, run for office, and pass legislation to learn Indiana's political process firsthand.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Indiana
Hoosier Girls State
A week-long civics program for female high school juniors who elect officials, draft legislation, and run a mock state government, sponsored by local American Legion Auxiliary units.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Indiana Latino Institute
ILI Promise Scholarship
Active ILI College Prep students may compete for partner-university scholarships covering in-state tuition, subject to admissions, academic, and program requirements.
🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Ball State University
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
A selective, tuition-free two-year public residential high school on the Ball State campus for high-ability juniors and seniors, offering college-level courses, AP classes, and Ball State dual-credit options.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana Department of Education
Indiana Career Scholarship Account
Eligible Indiana students in grades 10–12 can receive up to $5,000 annually for approved apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, credential programs, and related career preparation.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana DECA
Indiana DECA - High School
Indiana's DECA association for high school students in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, serving 4,500+ members across 60+ chapters with roleplay and case-study competitive events.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Indiana Envirothon
A five-student-team environmental science competition covering soils, aquatics, wildlife, forestry, and a current issue, combining classroom study with field-based testing.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana FBLA-PBL
Indiana FBLA - High School Division
The high school division of Future Business Leaders of America in Indiana, preparing students for business careers through competitive events, leadership conferences, and workshops.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana FCCLA
Indiana FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
The Indiana affiliate of the national FCCLA career and technical student organization, where high school chapters compete in family/consumer science and leadership project categories at the annual State Leadership Conference.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana FFA Association
Indiana FFA - Secondary Programs
Indiana's agricultural education youth organization, with over 25,000 student members in grades 5-12 across more than 240 chapters, offering leadership development and career and technical education tied to school ag programs.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation
Indiana High School Mock Trial
A statewide competition teaching high schoolers the legal system by having them argue both sides of a criminal or civil case as attorneys and witnesses before judge panels.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana HOSA
Indiana HOSA — Future Health Professionals
A statewide student organization for high schoolers interested in healthcare careers, offering over 80 competitive events at the annual state leadership conference in Indianapolis plus leadership and networking opportunities.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Indiana (Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area)
Indiana Junior Duck Stamp Contest
A conservation-through-art contest where students draw a native duck, goose, or swan in its habitat; Indiana's Best of Show winner in the grades 10-12 category advances to the national competition.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Latino Institute
Indiana Latino Institute Academic Scholarship
Graduating high-school seniors planning to attend an Indiana college can apply for an annual scholarship emphasizing academic achievement, financial need, and community service.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation
Indiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (ILYAC)
A legislatively created council of up to 22 Indiana youth ages 16-22 who advise the Indiana General Assembly on youth issues like education, employment, foster care, and health, serving two-year terms and issuing annual policy reports.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana Odyssey of the Mind Association
Indiana Odyssey of the Mind
The Indiana affiliate of the international creative problem-solving competition, where high school (Division III) teams of 5-7 students spend months solving a long-term technical, vehicular, structural, classical, or theatrical challenge.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Indiana State Museum Volunteer Program
Volunteers, including teens, run public-program activity stations and support galleries at the central Indianapolis museum and 11 historic sites statewide, with hours documented for scholarship and service-hour needs.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Thespians (Educational Theatre Association)
Indiana Thespians State Conference / All-State Thespians
A statewide theatre conference for inducted high school Thespians featuring workshops, competitions, and auditions, plus an annual All-State production bringing together Indiana's top student performers, technicians, and designers.
📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo Teen Program
Teens ages 13–17 can volunteer as naturalists, camp assistants, presentation assistants, and in other roles while developing conservation, communication, and leadership skills. Applications for new 2027 participants reopen October 1, 2026.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Inequality in America: America's Social and Economic Inequities
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Intro to Filmmaking Bootcamp
Students learn cinematography, lighting, sound, editing, and storytelling while producing their own film work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA)
ISSMA Solo & Ensemble and State Finals
Indiana's scholastic music association running senior-high solo/ensemble auditions, marching band festivals, and state finals for concert band, choir, orchestra, jazz, and show choir at member high schools statewide.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Dual Credit / Indiana College Core
A free dual-credit program through 450+ partner Indiana high schools letting students earn college credit taught by credentialed high school teachers, either toward career certificates or the 30-credit-hour Indiana College Core.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Biology
Jim Holland Research Initiative in STEM Education (RISE)
Current 11th graders participate in a two-week residential research program emphasizing scientific inquiry, research ethics, communication, and hands-on STEM work. Successful participants receive a $600 stipend.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Biology
Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program in Biology (SEP)
Students explore genetics, evolution, molecular biology, environmental biology, and plant science through lectures and hands-on laboratory activities.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Biology
Jim Holland Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Students spend a week embedded in an IU faculty research laboratory, complete a small scientific research project, and present their work in a poster session.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium / University of Indianapolis
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) — Indiana Region
A Department of Defense-sponsored regional research symposium where Indiana high schoolers present original STEM research and compete for undergraduate tuition scholarships, hosted at the University of Indianapolis.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Kelley Women's Leadership Institute
High-school students explore business and leadership with Kelley faculty through case-based activities, teamwork, and exposure to business majors and careers. Fall 2026 virtual sessions are available to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Lilly Endowment / Independent Colleges of Indiana / Indiana Community Foundations
Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program
Indiana graduating seniors compete through local community foundations for full tuition and required fees at eligible Indiana colleges, plus a book stipend. County selection criteria and deadlines vary.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Indiana University Bloomington, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Luddy Cybersecurity Immersion Camp
A week-long, hands-on cybersecurity camp teaching students to use industry tools like Wireshark and Nmap, with a component on AI in security.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Bloomington, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Luddy Precollege Summer STEM Camp
A residential summer camp where high schoolers explore computational tools for engineering, science, and society, with tracks in AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and 3D/virtual world design.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering — IU Indianapolis
Luddy Summer Camps (IU Indianapolis)
One-week day camps for students entering grades 9-12 covering video game development, digital biology, augmented reality, AI bots, web design, and animation, taught by Luddy faculty at the Indianapolis campus.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO)
A youth-and-family development program using orchestral training as a vehicle for life-skills building; students from beginner through advanced levels rehearse and perform together through high school graduation.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Indianapolis / Central Indiana Area Health Education Center
MICI-AHEC Summer Health Careers Camps
A set of one-to-three-week camps for grades 9-12 exploring nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other health professions through panel discussions, lab simulations, and hands-on activities at UIndy's School of Physical Therapy.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Bloomington Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance
Midsummer Theatre Camp
High-school students receive intensive musical-theatre training in acting, singing, and dance while preparing performances and audition material with university faculty and professional artists.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Indiana University School of Medicine
Molecular Medicine in Action (MMIA)
Indiana sophomores, juniors, and seniors spend two days performing hands-on molecular-medicine activities involving topics such as cancer, diabetes, cytogenetics, gene expression, and molecular biology.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Museum Apprentice Program
A year-long teen leadership and skill-building program of workshops, projects, and museum volunteering, running September through May for a cohort of 30 participants.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Humanities
National History Day in Indiana
Indiana's affiliate of the national research competition, where students in grades 6-12 research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present it as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website through local, state, and national contest levels.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship
Indiana seniors planning to become teachers can receive up to $10,000 annually for four years in exchange for teaching in Indiana for five years after graduation.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Free residential seminars for outstanding rising seniors.
⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Summer Scholars
Two-week immersion in 25+ academic fields.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Online Filmmaking Bootcamp
Students remotely develop a story, shoot footage, and learn editing and filmmaking fundamentals with Cinema Academy instructors.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Operation Catapult
Students completing grades 10 or 11 spend 11 days conducting engineering and science experiments, using faculty laboratories, and completing a team design project.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Anderson University
Orangehaus Music Business Camp
A week-long residential camp for high schoolers covering DIY recording, songwriting, concert booking, and press kits, culminating in a battle-of-the-bands showcase called Orangefest.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wabash College
Pathway to Your Future
A free week-long overnight visit program for rising sophomore and junior underrepresented, first-generation, or Pell-eligible high school students, featuring classroom learning, leadership activities, and a trip to Indianapolis.
📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Indiana Humanities / National Endowment for the Arts
Poetry Out Loud — Indiana
A free statewide poetry recitation competition where high schoolers memorize and perform poems from an approved anthology, advancing from classroom to Indiana State Finals in Indianapolis and potentially national finals in D.C.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Butler University
Pre-College Business Track
High-school sophomores through seniors explore marketing, sales, risk, and other business areas, build a team business pitch, and earn one college credit. Need-based assistance is available.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Butler University
Pre-College Healthcare Track
Students explore healthcare careers through laboratories, simulations, and activities related to pharmacy, nursing, respiratory care, and clinical practice.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Evansville
Printmaking Camp — Grades 9–12
High-school students spend an intensive week creating original work while learning university-level printmaking processes.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Project SELECT
Students completing grades 9 or 10 investigate biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering through hands-on experiments and design-and-build activities.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Purdue University
Purdue Extension Urban Agriculture Interns
Paid positions for Indianapolis youth to maintain urban gardens and learn about food justice.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purdue University
Purdue STAR (STEM Academic Research)
Free research immersion at Purdue for Indiana students underrepresented in STEM.
⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Notre Dame
RADIANT: Research, AI, Data Innovation, and New Technologies
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame College of Engineering
Robotics Summer Camp
Local students entering grades 10–12 work in teams to construct and program robots and complete engineering challenges.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose Accelerate
Academically qualified high-school juniors and seniors take online Rose-Hulman college courses for credit. Summer 2027 offerings include Chemistry with Lab, Film Studies, Software Development, Music Theory, writing, and disability studies.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose POWER
Students completing grades 9 or 10 explore engineering and making through prototype development, design challenges, and work in Rose-Hulman's innovation spaces.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman High School Mathematics Contest
High-school students compete by grade level in Rose-Hulman's long-running mathematics contest. Schools may enter students from freshman through senior classes.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
School of Science STEM Summer Camp
A four-day camp open only to high schoolers that gives hands-on exposure to all nine departments in the IU Indianapolis School of Science through experiments and access to state-of-the-art labs.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Cinema Academy
Screenwriting Academy
Students develop screenplays using professional story-development practices and receive instruction in writing for film.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute / Indiana University Indianapolis
SEED/STEM Summer Program
Indiana high-school students spend eight weeks working full-time with a faculty research mentor and finish by presenting their project. Need-based stipends of up to $4,000 are available.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Purdue University College of Engineering
Seminar for Top Engineering Prospects (STEP)
Rising seniors spend a residential week exploring Purdue engineering through design activities, physics, programming, 3D modeling, robotics, and interaction with engineering students and faculty.
🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
SkillsUSA Indiana
SkillsUSA Indiana
The Indiana chapter of the national career and technical student organization, where high school students in skilled-trade and technical programs compete in regional and state skill competitions and pursue chapter leadership roles.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
STARTedUP Foundation
STARTedUP Challenge / Innovate WithIN
Indiana high-school students develop ventures through statewide entrepreneurship programming and compete in a pitch competition for mentorship, scholarships, and startup funding. The state champion can receive $25,000 in seed funding.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame College of Engineering
STEM Summer Camp
Local high-school students complete hands-on engineering activities with Notre Dame faculty and staff while exploring STEM fields and careers.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Indiana High School Press Association
Student Leadership Workshop
High-school student-media leaders participate in a free workshop focused on journalism leadership and strengthening school publications and media organizations.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana University Jacobs Academy
Summer Brass Academy
High-school brass musicians receive concentrated performance training, coaching, and ensemble experience with Jacobs School faculty and musicians.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purdue University
Summer College for High School Students
Purdue's precollege program lets high school students take real college courses (online or on campus) alongside undergraduates across more than 650 course options.
📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Indiana University Jacobs Academy
Summer Jazz Workshop
Teen musicians study jazz performance through ensembles, rehearsals, coaching, and other intensive musical training.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Jacobs Academy
Summer Music Clinic
High-school musicians participate in band, orchestra, jazz, chamber ensembles, masterclasses, sectionals, and elective music activities.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Jacobs Academy
Summer Piano Academy
Serious young pianists receive private lessons, masterclasses, music-theory instruction, and multiple performance opportunities during an intensive two-week academy.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Jacobs Academy
Summer Saxophone Academy
Students ages 14–18 participate in private lessons, masterclasses, saxophone quartets, ensemble work, and jazz instruction.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Indiana University Jacobs Academy
Summer String Academy
Serious young string players receive intensive performance instruction, lessons, ensemble experience, and other conservatory-style training.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
IU Indianapolis School of Education
Summer YPAR Institute
A five-day intensive institute where high school youth learn youth participatory action research (YPAR) methodology to investigate and address issues in their own communities, prioritizing students of color and those eligible for free/reduced lunch.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana State University
Sycamore Summer Scholars
A five-day residential seminar where high school students live in a campus residence hall, take a college-level course in a subject like forensic anatomy, esports gaming, or environmental economics, and earn university credit.
📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Teens for Nature
A summer volunteer and leadership program for students in grades 7-12 who rotate through Zoo Crew, Zookeeper, Conservation Crew, or Camp Counselor roles in two-week sessions throughout the summer.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Notre Dame
The American Experiment: Liberty for All?
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
The Power of Investing: Financial Literacy and the Miracle of Compound Interest
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purdue Polytechnic Institute
TOTAL Camp (Turned Onto Technology And Leadership)
An on-campus, residential STEM camp for rising 10th and 11th graders introducing the six academic departments of Purdue Polytechnic through a week-long faculty-mentored project, earning one college credit.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Indiana Bar Foundation / William Randolph Hearst Foundation
U.S. Senate Youth Program — Indiana
A fully funded week-long trip to Washington, D.C. for two Indiana high school junior/senior delegates in elected or appointed student leadership roles, who meet senators, cabinet members, and Supreme Court justices and each receive a $12,500 scholarship.
📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
VFW Department of Indiana
Voice of Democracy — Indiana
A free audio-essay scholarship contest for students in grades 9-12 who write and record a 3-5 minute broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme, submitted through a local VFW post.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Bar Foundation
We the People: Indiana Competition
A constitutional-law simulated congressional hearing competition where student teams research constitutional principles and defend their positions before a panel of judges, reaching more than 10,000 Indiana students a year.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Indiana Wesleyan University
Wildcat Summer Academy
A residential college-preview program for high schoolers with academic camps in Art+Design, Engineering, Esports, Forensic Science, Music Therapy, Nursing, Social Work, and Teaching.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Youth Tree Team
Students age 14+ complete a seven-week paid summer job caring for Indianapolis trees while collecting environmental data and building leadership and professional skills. The 2026 position paid $13 per hour.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Conner Prairie
Youth Volunteer Program
Youth ages 10–18 participate in historical interpretation, guest engagement, camps, and special events, often in period or modern roles. High-school volunteers can build substantial year-round service experience.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
ZooTeen Volunteer Program
A competitive volunteer program for Evansville-area teens ages 14-18 currently enrolled in high school, who train to lead guest education, wildlife outreach, and event support at the zoo.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Nationwide programs open to Indiana 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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