Research programs in Minnesota.
8 local programs run in Minnesota, 4 of them free or paid. Plus 46 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.
Local to Minnesota
- ModerateCarleton College Summer Liberal Arts InstituteBetween Worlds: Home, Borders, and Belonging
Students study home, borders, and belonging through Latin American studies, English, art, and photography in an interdisciplinary college-level setting.
🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveUniversity of Minnesota Department of Biomedical EngineeringBME High School Internship Program
Students spend six paid weeks conducting hands-on biomedical-engineering research with a graduate-student mentor, touring laboratories, receiving scientific-writing and communication training, and presenting a research poster. A stipend and bus transportation are provided.
🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveThreeSixty Journalism / University of St. ThomasCollege Essay Workshop
Twin Cities students spend four days developing a polished college or scholarship essay through brainstorming, drafting, professional mentorship, and peer review. Tuition was fully covered in 2026 and completers received a stipend toward transportation and application fees.
🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateCarleton College Summer Liberal Arts InstituteComputer Science: Computer Vision, Web Development, Computer Organization
Students explore computer vision, web development, and computer organization through rigorous collaborative coursework, research, and a final symposium.
🎓 Grades 10–11 - Highly SelectiveConcordia CollegeConcordia Language Villages
Immersive summer language villages in 15+ world languages for ages 7-18.
⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Minnesota MnCAV EcosystemConnected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) Camp
Students explore self-driving vehicles, drones, teleoperations, programming, and transportation technology, including building and programming an automated electric skateboard. The camp is free and lunch is provided.
🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Minnesota College of Science and EngineeringDiscover STEM
Students spend a week exploring current STEM research through laboratory tours, experiments, technology demonstrations, faculty presentations, and career discussions. Attendance is free.
🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateDunwoody College of TechnologyDunwoody Design Camp
Students complete hands-on projects in architecture, interior design, and graphic design, interact with industry professionals, and visit local design firms. The 2026 fee was $350, including lunch, supplies, and a field trip.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Nationwide programs open to Minnesota 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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