§ MN

Research programs in Minnesota.

110 local programs run in Minnesota, 70 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.

Filter the Finder by MN →Suggest a Minnesota program →

Local to Minnesota

ACE Mentor Program of America, Twin Cities Affiliate
ACE Mentor Program Twin Cities
A free, roughly 16-week after-school mentorship program (mid-October to mid-March) pairing high school student teams with volunteer architecture, engineering, and construction professionals to design a response to a real-world RFP challenge, culminating in a judged presentation at the University of Minnesota.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The American Legion, Department of Minnesota
American Legion Minnesota High School Oratorical Contest
High school students research and deliver an 8-10 minute prepared speech on the U.S. Constitution plus a 3-5 minute speech on an assigned constitutional topic, competing for a state title and scholarship money that leads to a national contest awarding up to $25,000.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Analytics U
Free week-long summer program at the Carlson School for high school students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, introducing data science for real-world problems with college access and industry networking, including an immersive day at the Mall of America. Meals and parking covered; application includes a short essay.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Between 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
Moderate
University of Minnesota Department of Biomedical Engineering
BME 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
Selective
Schubert Club
Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition
An annual classical music competition for young musicians across Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Iowa, with video preliminaries followed by in-person finals at Macalester College and over $70,000 in scholarships awarded across about fifteen instrument and voice categories.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism, University of St. Thomas
Capitol Reporting Workshop
Free winter workshop for Twin Cities high school students on legislative reporting: youth-led news teams work with local journalists to produce 700-800 word stories and multimedia content, culminating in Youth Day at the Capitol. 18 competitive spots; $200 stipend on completion.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science
Career Immersion Program (Minnesota)
A free, scholarship-funded, week-long residential program in Rochester for Minnesota high school sophomores and juniors to explore in-demand allied health careers such as sonography, phlebotomy, respiratory care, and paramedic work through hands-on classroom and lab experiences with Mayo Clinic faculty and students.
📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism / University of St. Thomas
College 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
Selective
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Computer 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
Moderate
Concordia College
Concordia Language Villages
Immersive summer language villages in 15+ world languages for ages 7-18.
⏱ 1-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Highly Selective
University of Minnesota MnCAV Ecosystem
Connected 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
Selective
Mayo Clinic
Discover Mayo Clinic (Career Exploration for High School Students)
Seven-week career exploration series for high school students in grades 10-12 interested in health-related careers, typically held on Monday nights in October and November, with hands-on in-person or virtual options. Apply via Airtable form.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
Discover 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
Selective
Dunwoody College of Technology
Dunwoody 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
Moderate
University of Minnesota The Raptor Center
Ecosystems of STEM Careers High School Internship
Minneapolis and Saint Paul public-school students complete a four-week paid STEM internship with conservation-focused projects and field trips. The 2026 program paid $18 per hour.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
EDU Film Festival (formerly hosted by IFP Minnesota/FilmNorth)
EDU Film Festival
Minnesota's only school-sponsored, statewide high school film festival, screening 60-120 student-made short films (documentaries, dramas, comedies, animations) at a two-day event with industry roundtables, equipment demos, and meet-and-greets with college film programs.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Emerging Leaders of Color (ELOC)
Free eight-month pathway program of monthly Saturday sessions (September to April) for underrepresented high school students, covering entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, finance, HR, supply chain and MIS with faculty, networking, mentorship from Carlson students and college prep. Meals and parking covered.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota State University, Mankato (Engineering Center of Excellence)
Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC)
Teams of 3-12 students in the Senior Division (grades 9-12) design and build a complex machine from everyday objects to complete a themed, multi-step task, judged on a team journal, presentation, and machine performance at regional contests leading to a state Championship hosted by MNSU Mankato.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
Environmental Stewardship Institute
A paid environmental leadership fellowship for Minnesota high schoolers combining a two-month summer intensive learning from environmental experts and visiting ecologically important Mississippi River sites with a school-year Youth Council for continued leadership and independent capstone projects addressing community environmental concerns.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Girls Inc. at YWCA Minneapolis (with UMN College of Science and Engineering)
Eureka! Girls STEM Program
A five-year STEM pipeline program for girls in grades 8-12 combining summer weekday sessions at UMN's College of Science and Engineering with school-year enrichment at YWCA Midtown, including mentorship from STEM professionals, career exploration, and completion stipends.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 8–12
Selective
Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth
Expand Your Mind (EYM)
Students entering grades 9–12 select an intensive two-week course from a large interdisciplinary catalog spanning STEM, humanities, arts, medicine, law, psychology, engineering, and writing. 2026 commuter tuition was $875 per session and residential tuition $2,200, with financial aid available.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Field Science in Action: Geology, Ecology, & Ornithology
Students complete interdisciplinary field-science study spanning geology, ecology, and ornithology as part of Carleton's intensive residential college-credit program.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
The Loft Literary Center
Finding Your Story Through Images: Writing with Visual Art
A single-session online workshop for teen writers ages 15-18 that pairs visual art with creative writing prompts, taught by a Loft instructor as part of the Loft's year-round Young Writers' Program for ages 6-18.
📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
FIRST in Upper Midwest
FIRST Robotics Competition Minnesota / MSHSL Championship
Minnesota's state robotics championship, where the top FRC high school teams from the state's eight MSHSL sections compete in qualification matches and playoff alliances for the state's highest robotics honor. The free, public event is held at Concordia University's Gangelhoff Center; Minnesota fields the nation's third-largest FRC contingent.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Minnesota Historical Society
Gallery Assistant High School Internship Program
Juniors and seniors work as paid museum interns at the Minnesota History Center, learning entry-level interpretation while presenting historical information and engaging visitors and school groups. The commitment runs approximately February through August.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Get Ready Student Success Scholarship
Eligible graduating Get Ready students attending Minnesota postsecondary programs can receive $1,000 for eligible two-year/certificate study or $3,000 for four-year study.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Minnesota Department of Neuroscience
Go4Brains
Students facing barriers to science and medicine opportunities spend a week exploring neuroscience through lectures, demonstrations, hands-on experiments, research-lab visits, career workshops, and mentoring. The program is free and selected students receive a $400 stipend plus meals and travel support.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Minnesota High School Press Association (MHSPA, a division of NSPA)
Gold Medallion Contest / Journalist of the Year
Minnesota's scholastic journalism association hosts an annual Fall Convention (2026: October 8 at the University of Minnesota) featuring the Gold Medallion Contest, which recognizes top student media work in seven categories (broadcast, newspaper/newsmagazine, yearbook, photojournalism, online, social media, and literary arts magazine), alongside a statewide Journalist of the Year award and Best of Show critiques.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Faith, Science, and Ethics Camp
Week-long summer camp at Gustavus Adolphus College where high school students explore a yearly theme through the lenses of faith, science and ethics with lectures, hands-on activities, mentor group discussions and recreation; the 2026 theme investigated the Mississippi River's ecosystems and history. Scholarships are available.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater Summer Camps
Week-long theater intensives for students entering grades 6-12 that pair participants with professional theater artists on acting, musical theater, costuming, and devising, culminating in showcases for family and friends; the grades 9-12 'Actor's Studio' track includes scene study and a mock audition with the Guthrie's artistic team.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Hamline University Creative Writing Programs
Hamline Young Writers Workshop
A summer workshop for high school students ages 15-18 who work each day with a published author on poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or college essay writing, plus a 'Literary Twin Cities' field trip, on Hamline's Saint Paul campus.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota
HERO Cancer Research High School Program
Minnesota high-school students spend two weeks online learning directly from cancer researchers, completing experimental activities with supplied lab kits, receiving mentorship, and exploring cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research careers. Successful participants receive a $500 stipend.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Global Minnesota
High School Academic WorldQuest Competition
Annual statewide in-person competition where Minnesota high school teams of four test their knowledge of international affairs and global issues; each school can register up to two teams. The winning team earns sponsorship (hotel and airfare) to the national championship in Washington, D.C. Free for teachers and students.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of St. Thomas, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
High School Innovation Day
A one-day, hands-on design-thinking workshop on UST's St. Paul campus where sophomores through seniors (up to 10 students per school) collaborate with entrepreneurially-minded peers to create a prototype for a business concept, and observe St. Thomas students pitch business ideas at a live university competition.
📅 November🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Winona State University
HOPE Academic and Leadership Academy
Week-long summer residential program for high school sophomores and juniors with college-level courses on topics from leadership to financial and academic barriers, focused on academic and personal skill development.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Humanities: The Arts of Power and Knowledge in the Renaissance
Students investigate Renaissance history, philosophy, art, art history, and mapmaking through an interdisciplinary college-level humanities course.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
University of Minnesota (MathCEP)
IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
A weeklong day camp (June 22-26, 2026) on the Twin Cities campus where high schoolers who have completed single-variable calculus work in teams on open-ended, real-world mathematical modeling problems and present their solutions.
📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Minnesota College of Design
Indigenous Design Camp
A week-long architecture camp for Indigenous junior high and high school students that uses the 'At Home in the Homelands' curriculum to teach Indigenous spatial design principles, has students build scale models, and tours the College of Design's fabrication shops and School of Architecture.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Morris (Kapemni Collaboration)
Kapemni Astrophysics Summer Camp
A fully NSF-funded, six-day residential astrophysics camp on the UMN Morris campus where high schoolers observe stars and deep-sky objects through telescopes, study relativity, gravitational waves, and the Big Bang, and learn Native American astronomy and mathematics from Indigenous astrophysicists. Participants earn one UMN Morris college credit for Phys 1007.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Science Museum of Minnesota Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center
KAYSC High School Program
Students in grades 9–12 become paid museum employees while developing STEM expertise, leadership, professional skills, and community-focused projects in biology/public health, media/technology, environmental science, or engineering/design.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota
LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program (High School)
Eight-week summer cardiovascular research program for high school juniors and seniors (16+, U.S. citizens): scholars join a laboratory with a faculty mentor for intensive basic or clinical research, plus weekly faculty/industry seminars and field trips. Scholars are paid an hourly wage. 2027 high school session runs May 31 to July 23.
📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
The Loft Literary Center
Loft Youth Writing Intensive — Ages 14–18
Teens spend four intensive days studying fiction, poetry, memoir, and screenwriting with published writers, creating at least one new piece and receiving opportunities for public reading and anthology publication. The 2026 fee was $550.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
MacPhail Center for Music
MacPhail Summer Camps for Youth
Week-long music camps for developing musicians ages 11-18 spanning classical, jazz, rock, and electronic music plus songwriting, including intensives like Jazz Camp and Rock Week that culminate in a live performance.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic High School Unpaid Internship for Credit
Six-to-twelve month unpaid internship for high school juniors and seniors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to learn about health care career opportunities while earning school credit. Application through Airtable form after reviewing guidelines.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
MCAD Pre-College Summer Session
A two-and-a-half-week, 3-college-credit residential studio program for students who have completed sophomore, junior, or senior year, who choose a major such as animation, illustration, painting, or character design and concept art and spend full days in foundation and major-specific classes.
📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Minnesota High School Press Association (a division of NSPA)
MHSPA Journalism Convention
A statewide convention for high school journalists and advisers featuring workshops on ethical reporting and journalism skills, alongside All State Awards, the Gold Medallion Contest, Best of Show Awards, and Journalist of the Year recognition across print, broadcast, online, photojournalism, and yearbook categories.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Hamline University
Microscope Adventure Camp
A weeklong day camp on Hamline's Saint Paul campus where students entering grades 9-12 use light microscopes and a scanning electron microscope to explore the microscopic world, developing skills in photomicrography and scientific presentation across environmental science, forensics, and materials science.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship
Minnesota graduates demonstrating outstanding achievement or potential in areas such as creative writing, fine arts, foreign language, mathematics, science, or social science can receive institutional scholarship support at eligible Minnesota colleges.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Minnesota ACE Camp (nonprofit)
Minnesota Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camp
A residential June camp connecting Minnesota high schoolers to aviation and aerospace careers through guided tours, guest speakers, hands-on demonstrations, and the chance to pilot aircraft with FAA-certified flight instructors. Volunteer-run since 1991, with over 2,000 student graduates.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
BestPrep
Minnesota Business Venture
Students spend a week on a college campus forming mock companies, developing products or services and business plans, meeting executives, practicing interviews, and presenting Shark Tank-style pitches. Financial assistance is available.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence
Minnesota Data Derby
An annual data analytics competition open to Minnesota high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, featuring a one-day 'Datagon' debate-format contest and a multi-week 'Datathon' where teams analyze a real dataset (e.g., education costs) and present solutions at Hennepin Technical College.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Macalester College Forensics / Debate Matters
Minnesota Debate Initiative Competitive Debate Workshop
An intensive residential or commuter summer debate workshop for incoming 7th-12th graders covering Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum strategies, case writing, and tournament preparation, coached by Debate Matters instructors.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota DECA
Minnesota DECA State Career Development Conference
Annual state conference where DECA chapter members from Minnesota high schools compete in 70+ role-play and written events in marketing, finance, hospitality, entrepreneurship and business management; top placers advance to the DECA International Career Development Conference. Students register through their school DECA chapter.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota Council on Economic Education (MCEE) / Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Minnesota Economics Challenge
A statewide quiz-bowl style competition where teams of high school students take online tests on economic fundamentals, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics, with top teams advancing to the state tournament and potentially the National Economics Challenge.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Department of Philosophy
Minnesota High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl where student teams analyze real-world ethical case studies and compete in respectful, judged discussion rounds emphasizing clarity of reasoning and consideration of alternative viewpoints.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)
Minnesota High School Mock Trial
Teams of 8-14 students argue both sides of a fictional legal case as attorneys and witnesses in a real courtroom setting, progressing through regional rounds to the state championship, with the winner advancing to the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House High School Page Program
Minnesota juniors spend a week at the Capitol paging in the House chamber, participating in a mock committee, observing the legislative process, and meeting legislators, judges, lobbyists, media members, and other public officials. Lodging is covered and students receive a small meal stipend.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Minnesota Council on Economic Education
Minnesota Personal Finance Challenge
Teams complete online tests in income, spending, saving, investing, credit, and risk management. Top schools advance to an in-person case-study and quiz-bowl state championship, with the winner advancing to nationals; there is no registration fee.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Academy of Science
Minnesota Science Bowl
A fast-paced team quiz-bowl competition covering biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and math. The 2027 High School Science Bowl will be held January 23 at Hamline University; winning teams receive full funding to represent Minnesota at the National Science Bowl.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Minnesota Science Olympiad (state affiliate of Science Olympiad, Inc.)
Minnesota Science Olympiad
Minnesota's Division C (high school) Science Olympiad tournament, with 750+ students across 76 teams from 46 schools competing in events spanning earth science through physics; Mounds View High School won the 2026 state championship.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Chess Association
Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Championship (High School Section)
Annual March state championship for K-12 students with a high school section: seven-round Swiss tournament in St. Paul. US Chess membership is required; only Minnesota residents may be declared state champion and qualify for national scholastic invitationals.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota Urban Debate League, Augsburg University
Minnesota Urban Debate League Summer Speech and Debate Camps
Summer policy, congressional debate and speech day and residential camps at Augsburg University for middle and high school students, from one-week beginner/advanced sessions to multi-week policy camps. Full tuition scholarships are available for qualifying students (free or reduced lunch with adequate GPA) at select July sessions.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Minnesota Alliance With Youth / Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota Youth Council
Students are selected through an application and interview process to advise the Legislature and Governor on youth issues. Members can hold hearings on bills, recommend policies, and propose youth legislation during two-year terms.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
YMCA Center for Youth Voice (YMCA of the North)
Minnesota Youth in Government (Model Assembly)
Since 1946, students form school or community delegations and spend the fall preparing for a four-day January conference at the Minnesota State Capitol and a downtown Minneapolis hotel, serving as legislators, judges, attorneys, lobbyists, media or cabinet members in a model state government. Includes an October LAUNCH training day; financial aid is available through delegations.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Minnesota CFANS (World Food Prize Foundation network)
Minnesota Youth Institute (MNYI)
Part of the World Food Prize Youth Institute network, MNYI has Minnesota high schoolers write a research paper on a global food security challenge connecting agriculture, nutrition, economics, and policy, then present it in small roundtable discussions with experts at a spring event hosted by the University of Minnesota. Top participants can advance to the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines and earn a $1,000 CFANS scholarship.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Minnesota Youth Symphonies
Minnesota Youth Symphonies
Audition-based youth orchestra program with five ensembles placing students by skill level, offering sectionals, full rehearsals, music classes, retreats and three major concerts a season. Students audition each summer (mid-season audition Nov 7 2026); need-based financial assistance means no student is turned away for inability to pay.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Movements That Matter: Activism from Theory to Action
Students study activism through global politics, Indigenous studies, political science, and related fields while connecting theoretical ideas to real movements for change.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
ThreeSixty Journalism / Minnesota Public Radio
MPR NEWS Radio Camp
High-school students learn interviewing, radio writing, field reporting, audio recording, and editing at MPR headquarters and produce original stories for Minnesota Public Radio platforms. Students receive a stipend after completing their work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism / University of St. Thomas
Multimedia Storytelling Institute
Twin Cities high-school students spend three weeks reporting, interviewing, writing, filming, and editing professional-quality multimedia journalism with working journalists. Tuition was fully covered in 2026 and students received a stipend after completing their published work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Institute of Linguistics
NACLO at the University of Minnesota
A local contest site for the North American Computational Linguistics Open, where high school students solve linguistic puzzle problems requiring no prior linguistics background, with top scorers advancing to an invitational second round.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Minnesota Historical Society
National History Day in Minnesota
A co-curricular historical research program for students in grades 6-12 who choose a topic tied to an annual theme and present original research as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance, or website, competing at school, regional, state, and national levels.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota
National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI)
Free two-week summer day camp at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for students in grades 7-9 introducing transportation careers and engineering: building model bridges, field trips to airports, transit facilities and construction sites, campus tours and expert talks. Requires a 2.0 GPA and pre-algebra; 2027 dates and deadline to be announced in early 2027.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 9
Highly Selective
St. Catherine University
Next-Gen AI & Data Science Summer Camp
Free five-day on-campus summer camp for high school students (grades 9-12) exploring AI and data science through topics such as AI and the arts, facial recognition, the environment and ethics, plus data visualization, with an off-campus visit to a tech center and mentorship from professors, college students and women in tech. Breakfast and lunch provided; first come, first served. Minnesota Academy of Science lists it as aimed at high school women.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
North Star Promise Scholarship
Eligible Minnesota residents with family AGI below $80,000 can have remaining tuition and required fees covered at Minnesota public colleges, universities, and Tribal Colleges after other gift aid is applied.
🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
University of Minnesota Crookston (World Food Prize Foundation network)
Northern Great Plains Youth Institute
Annual one-day institute at UMN Crookston where high school students write a paper on a food security issue and present it to local leaders and experts. Participants can earn Borlaug Scholar recognition, eligibility for Borlaug-Ruan international internships and a $1,000 scholarship to UMN Crookston.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Northland Hackathon (Minnesota nonprofit)
Northland Hackathon
Billed as the Midwest's largest free student hackathon, this one-day remote event has Minnesota high school and college students build web and app projects in teams over seven hours with mentorship from engineers at companies like Google, Amazon, and Square. No coding prerequisites are required.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ThreeSixty Journalism, University of St. Thomas
Opinion Writing Workshop
Free four-Saturday competitive workshop (Oct 3, 10, 24, 31) where 15-18 Twin Cities high school students develop publishable opinion pieces on community topics with media professionals; participants receive a $200 stipend on completion. Priority deadline Sept 16, rolling admission afterward; lunch and snacks provided.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Dunwoody College of Technology
Pathways to Careers Summer Experience
Juniors and seniors complete a free three-week experience exploring technical careers through job-site visits, industry interaction, and hands-on projects. Accepted participants planning to attend Dunwoody can become eligible for scholarships of up to $10,000 annually for two years.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) & Project Lead The Way
Phoenix Student Worker Program
A year-long paid internship pairing Minnesota STEM/PLTW students entering their senior year with MnDOT engineering professionals on real transportation projects, working up to 40 hours/week in summer and part-time during the school year, with a mid-point performance evaluation and career-exploration office visits.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Southern Cities Student Coalition (SCSC) / Minnesota State Arts Board
Poetry Out Loud Minnesota
A statewide recitation competition in which high school students memorize and perform classic and contemporary poems, advancing from regional competitions to a state championship, with the Minnesota champion representing the state at nationals in Washington, DC.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Department of Education
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Minnesota students take eligible college courses on campus or online while earning both high-school and college credit. Tuition, required textbooks, fees, and required course materials are provided at no charge; grade-10 participation is more restricted than grades 11–12.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Macalester College
PRE@Mac Pre-College Program
Free residential immersion at Macalester for high school students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education (BIPOC and first-generation students): sample classes with faculty, community building and mentoring from current students. Out-of-state students receive airfare and transportation. Returns summer 2027; applications open in March with late-April notification.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
University of Minnesota, College of Science and Engineering
Rooted in STEM
A two-year pipeline program (10th through 12th grade) for Twin Cities students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM, meeting one Saturday per month for CSE faculty presentations, lab tours, and industry-alumni panels, plus summer enrichment. Graduates who enroll in CSE can receive a $40,000 3M scholarship.
📅 December🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Minnesota State University Moorhead / HealthForce Minnesota / Essentia Health
Scrubs Camp (Minnesota State University Moorhead)
Four-day day camp for students entering grades 9-12 to explore health care careers and experience college life, co-sponsored by HealthForce MN and Essentia Health. A scholarship application is available alongside registration.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Winona State University
Scrubs Camp (Winona State University)
Week-long residential health care career camp for students entering grades 9-12: participants live in a residence hall and take part in hands-on activities related to health care. Full scholarships are available to students who demonstrate financial need.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
South Central Service Cooperative / Minnesota State University, Mankato
SCSC Writing Contest
K–12 students from south-central Minnesota submit fiction, nonfiction, or poetry around an annual theme. Selected writers are recognized through the contest and authors reception; the 2026–27 theme is "History Then and Now."
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
South Central Service Cooperative
Senior High Knowledge Bowl
Five-student high-school teams compete in interdisciplinary academic invitationals and regional events, with qualifying teams advancing to the Minnesota state competition. Registration is open for the 2026–27 season.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Southwest MN Hacks (Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall)
Southwest MN Hacks
Free 24-hour student hackathon held in spring and fall at Southwest Minnesota State University for participants ages 14 and up, from high school through university. Teams of up to four build projects with mentors and workshops; beginners are welcome, and meals and snacks are included.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf Music Academy
High-school musicians spend a residential week in choir, band, orchestra, chamber groups, private lessons, masterclasses, music theory, conducting, and performances with St. Olaf faculty. Financial assistance is available to Minnesota participants.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota FFA Association
State Greenhand Leadership Conference (SGLC)
Four-day residential leadership conference at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve introducing first-year FFA members to the organization, with goal setting, relationship building and career development through agricultural experiences. Cost covers programming, supervision, materials, lodging and meals. Requires FFA membership through a school chapter.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Minnesota FFA Association
State Leadership Conference for Chapter Leaders (SLCCL)
Four-day residential program at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve for FFA chapter leaders in grades 10-12, building teamwork, community service, time management and chapter leadership skills with state leaders and peers. Requires FFA membership through a school chapter.
📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAE)
State program providing stipends of up to $1,000 per student, paid directly to sponsors, to attend any of 78 approved summer enrichment programs (science and technology, health care careers, aviation, language arts, math, world languages, performing and fine arts). Open to students in grades 3-11 who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals; students in grades 7-11 need a C average in the relevant subject. First come, first served.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
Summer Computer Academy
Female students learn Python programming and apply it to small robots, image processing, and other computing projects while participating in career-planning activities. Minnesota Academy of Science identifies the academy as a free program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minnesota Hospital Association / Minnesota Department of Health
Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP)
Paid summer internships in Minnesota hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities and home care for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school; employers pay at least minimum wage between Memorial Day and Labor Day for 6-12 weeks, with up to half of wages reimbursed through the program. Students apply to participating facilities.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa
Summer Youth Corps (Youth Intern Program)
A paid, residential conservation crew position for teens ages 14-18 who camp in Minnesota state parks while completing hands-on projects such as trail maintenance and habitat restoration alongside a crew of peers.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Bell Museum, University of Minnesota
Teen Science Cafe
Free public programs 'by teens for teens' run by a Teen Advisory Board, where teens meet University of Minnesota STEM experts for conversations, interactive presentations and hands-on activities. No prior STEM experience needed; RSVP via Eventbrite. Sponsored by General Mills.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The Loft Literary Center
Teen Writing Project — Fall Edition
Students ages 15–18 spend 12 weeks workshopping fiction, studying craft, revising manuscripts, and participating in literary-community projects such as an anthology editorial board and youth writing blog. The fall 2026 fee is $444.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Carleton College Summer Liberal Arts Institute
Thinking About Feelings: The Science of Emotion
Students examine emotion through neuroscience, cultural studies, and related interdisciplinary approaches during a three-week college-credit experience.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth
Twin Ports Teen Science Cafe
Free monthly program for Twin Ports high school students to explore advances in science and technology through conversations and hands-on activities with researchers and STEM experts at UMD. Registration and a parent permission form are required; upcoming session is an aquarium careers and animal encounter at the Great Lakes Aquarium.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota
UMN Eureka! and Talented Youth Math
Free STEM enrichment for Minnesota girls and underrepresented students.
⏱ Summer + school year📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
United Nations Association of Minnesota
UNA-MN Model United Nations
Junior and senior high students form school or community delegations, research UN member countries, and spend three days at a downtown Minneapolis conference debating global issues such as human rights, climate action, and peacekeeping while drafting resolutions.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Data Science and AI Hub
Under the Hood: A Data Science & AI Experience
Rising juniors and seniors learn Python, predictive modeling, neural networks, computer vision, generative AI, and ethical AI through hands-on projects and laboratory exposure. The 2026 beginner week cost $125 and the advanced week $175.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
VEX Minnesota (REC Foundation)
VEX Robotics Minnesota State Championship
Minnesota's state VEX Robotics championship, now in its 17th year, held at the River's Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, where high school (V5RC) teams design, build, and program robots to compete on a shared field alongside middle and elementary school divisions.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Minnesota
VFW Voice of Democracy (Minnesota)
A national audio-essay scholarship contest in which grades 9-12 students write and record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual patriotic theme, starting at the local VFW Post level and advancing through district, state, and national rounds.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Walker Art Center
Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC)
A paid, year-round position for 11th and 12th graders from across the Twin Cities who meet weekly during the school year to connect with contemporary art and artists and help create new ways for other teens to experience the Walker.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Minnesota Humanities Center / Center for Civic Education
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (Minnesota)
Students study the Constitution and democratic institutions through inquiry-based lessons, then 'testify' in simulated congressional hearings before panels of judges, with top classes representing Minnesota at the national We the People showcase.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Minnesota Crookston
Western Minnesota Regional Science Fair
Regional science and engineering fair for students in grades 4-12 in northwest Minnesota; projects follow International Science and Engineering Fair rules and require scientific review before the fair. Registration includes lunch and event swag. Advancing projects can move on to the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Hamline University
Young Physicist Camp
A weeklong day camp on Hamline's Saint Paul campus where students entering grades 9-12 learn renewable energy and engineering principles by designing, building, and race-testing both a hydrogen fuel-cell car and a battery-powered car with 3D printing and local expert mentorship.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minnesota Zoo
ZooTeen
Teens ages 13–17 support Zoo Camps by assisting with activities, supervising younger campers, serving as role models, and sharing their interest in the natural world. Summer 2026 applications are closed, with the next cycle expected in 2027.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective

Nationwide programs open to Minnesota 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

Showing 20 of 210. See all in the Finder →

Browse other states

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY INTL