§ MS

Research programs in Mississippi.

101 local programs run in Mississippi, 49 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 Mississippi

Alcorn State University / USDA APHIS
AgDiscovery Summer Enrichment Program
Students ages 13–17 learn from university faculty and USDA experts in plant science, animal science, biotechnology, veterinary science, wildlife biology, and agricultural careers through laboratories and workshops.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University
AgriSTEM Summer Camp
Students explore precision agriculture and emerging agricultural technologies through hands-on projects, field trips, agricultural and biological engineering, and plant and soil science. Lodging and meals are provided at no cost.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
ARISE@UM
Students spend four weeks conducting mentored research in fields including biology, chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, nanomaterials, physics, and renewable-energy chemistry while also earning up to six college credits. Summer 2027 applications are forthcoming.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Art Doing Its Part
Mississippi high-school students create artwork, slogans, and short reflections explaining connections between litter and waterway pollution. The statewide contest highlights regional environmental challenges and uses winning work in public-awareness campaigns.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi State University College of Business
ASAP — Accelerating Students into the Accounting Profession
Rising seniors explore accounting careers, professional development, teamwork, and leadership through seminars and an industry field trip while living on campus.
🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Base Pair Biomedical Research Mentorship
High-school students, primarily from Murrah High School and the Jackson Public School District, complete rigorous biomedical-research preparation and then work in UMMC laboratories with faculty mentors. Students can earn high-school credit and have historically co-authored scientific presentations and publications.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Scholastic Press Association / University of Mississippi
Best of Mississippi Student Media Competition
Students at MSPA-member publications compete for individual and publication awards in newspaper/magazine/site, yearbook, broadcast, and literary-magazine categories. All MSPA contests are free to enter.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
Blue Crab Bowl (Virginia Regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl)
Virginia's regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl, in which up to 16 teams of five high school students answer questions on ocean science topics including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, maritime history and marine policy.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest
Mississippi students depict native fish or wildlife species through original artwork. Winners receive gift cards, publication in Mississippi Outdoors, and display on MDWFP platforms.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Southern Mississippi School of Media and Communication
Broadcast Boot Camp
A free five-day summer program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from underserved Mississippi communities, offering hands-on experience creating digital and television news with professional equipment, run with the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and Mississippi Scholastic Press Association.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Mississippi State University
Bug & Plant Camp
Students ages 12–17 collect, identify, and preserve insects while learning entomology, botany, biodiversity, and field-collection techniques.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University
Bulldogs in Industrial Technology & Entrepreneurship
Students explore manufacturing careers and industrial technology through welding, CNC programming, coatings, and related hands-on technical activities.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center
Catherine Coleman Literary Arts, Food, and Social Justice Summer Program
Mississippi high-school writers spend a residential week studying poetry, fiction, screenwriting, Southern foodways, and social-justice history with professional writers. Students completing the program receive a $300 stipend.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses
CHAMPS (Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service)
A UAMS outreach program that lets junior high and high school students explore health professions through hands-on activities and presentations by healthcare professionals across UAMS's regional campus network.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
College 101
Need-eligible students spend two residential weeks experiencing college classes and dorm life while exploring majors, financial aid, careers, ACT preparation, and college-application skills.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Jackson State University Margaret Walker Center
Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival
High-school students submit and present essays, poetry, spoken word, fiction, performing arts, or visual art before audiences of students and professors during this annual interdisciplinary festival.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi, Center for Writing and Rhetoric
Creative Writing (Pre-College Program)
A one-week residential or commuter workshop where rising 9th-12th graders read and write across genres -- short stories, travel blogs, literature reviews, autobiographies, and plays -- while exploring Mississippi's literary heritage and sharing work with peers daily.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Campuses
Day In the Life (UAMS Health Careers)
A one-day event for high school seniors to shadow healthcare professionals and tour medical facilities, giving a first-hand look at day-to-day work in various health careers.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12
Selective
National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB) / Center for Practical Ethics, University of Mississippi
Deep South Regional High School Ethics Bowl
A regional qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl hosted at the University of Mississippi, where student teams analyze and defend positions on real-world ethical case studies without being assigned opposing sides.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University School of Architecture
Design Discovery
Students experience the intensity of architecture school through drawing, modeling, full-scale construction, structural studies, product design, field sketching, and a residential-design project. Summer 2027 is confirmed to return.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Discover Engineering at UM
Rising ninth graders can explore chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering through hands-on challenges and university laboratory activities.
🎓 Grade 9
Highly Selective
Delta State University Delta Music Institute
DMI Summer Camp
High-school students ages 14–18 choose audio engineering, performance, or singer-songwriter tracks and work in professional studios with faculty and music-industry professionals before a final recording session and showcase.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
EdStart
A residential pre-college program training Mississippi high school students to become educators, requiring a Foundations of American Education course plus an elective (psychology, sociology, or public speaking), with preference given to students interested in special education or STEM and to Mississippi residents.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Engineering Summer Academy
Rising sophomores through seniors complete engineering demonstrations, design challenges, laboratory activities, and industry tours while exploring engineering majors and careers.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Environmental Engineering
Rising ninth graders investigate water resources, pollution, erosion, soils, and environmental engineering through outdoor experiments and design activities.
🎓 Grade 9
Moderate
University of Mississippi
EPIC: Exploring particle Physics Integrated with Computing
Students work with particle detectors, run laboratory experiments, analyze authentic data, and see how physics, computing, and engineering intersect in experimental particle physics.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi Center for Practical Ethics
Ethical U: Choices that Matter
Rising ninth graders analyze real moral dilemmas, develop arguments, practice critical thinking and leadership, and participate in a case-writing challenge centered on practical ethics.
🎓 Grade 9
Moderate
University of Mississippi Summer College for High School Students
Explore the Arts
A four-week residential dual-credit summer college program for aspiring artists choosing among art, theatre, music, and film emphases, earning six to seven transferable college credit hours.
📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
FAITH Scholarship
Current and former foster youth who meet Mississippi residency and eligibility requirements can receive assistance covering up to the full cost of attendance at a Mississippi college.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Mississippi
Fantasy World Building: Character Design for RPGs and Other Games
Rising ninth graders create fictional worlds, landscapes, characters, narratives, maps, and models while using role-playing games as a framework for art and storytelling.
🎓 Grade 9
Moderate
Various
Freedom Summer Collegiate
Free college-prep program in the Mississippi Delta taught by graduate students. Travel and housing covered.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
GEEK — Geology & Geological Engineering Exploration Kamp
Rising juniors and seniors study rocks, minerals, groundwater, Earth structure, and geological engineering through laboratory experiments, field sampling, and visits to geological sites.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Southern Mississippi
GenSea Blue Economy Pathways Internship
A paid summer internship placing Gulf Coast Mississippi high schoolers at USM labs and partner sites (Mississippi Aquarium, oyster companies, naval oceanography facilities) for hands-on work in aquaculture, marine geology, computer modeling, and coastal restoration research.
📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Mississippi State University
Girls Leading in Industrial Technology, Teamwork, Entrepreneurship, & Robotics
Students explore industrial technology and manufacturing through welding, CNC programming, coatings, teamwork, and exposure to technical careers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
HELP — Higher Education Legislative Plan
Mississippi seniors meeting academic, ACT, income, residency, Pell-eligibility, and curriculum requirements can receive full tuition for up to four years at an approved Mississippi institution.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
The American Legion, Department of Mississippi
High School Oratorical Contest
A statewide public-speaking competition on the U.S. Constitution that advances from local American Legion posts to the state level, developing students' constitutional knowledge, leadership, and oratory skills, with Mississippi finalists earning scholarships up to $3,000.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp
A four-day residential camp for students aged 15-17 introducing plant science and landscape design through hands-on activities including plant identification, floral arrangement, landscape design projects, turfgrass management, and nursery production.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University, College of Arts and Sciences
Humanities Camp
A week-long residential camp at Mississippi State University where nominated scholars explore humanities disciplines such as African American Studies, Communication, History, Literature, and Philosophy through lectures and experiential learning.
📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach
iCREATE Summer Camp
A 7-day overnight camp where high school teens create and launch a real product-based business over one week, from consumer interviews and design through a live retail sales event, then split the net earnings.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University
INDT Robotics
Students learn coding, robot construction, engineering documentation, and 3D printing, tour industrial robotics facilities, and finish with a robotics showcase.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South
JSU High School Band & Dance Camp
Students receive intensive instruction in marching band, instrumental ensembles, drum-major techniques, dance, musicianship, and performance while experiencing a residential college environment.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stennis Institute of Government, Mississippi State University
Junior Civics Leadership Academy (JCLA)
A 7-day residential summer conference for Mississippi high schoolers covering governance, leadership, and community development through lectures, simulations, and field trips, earning three hours of MSU college credit.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
LAW — Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers & Firefighters Scholarship
Eligible dependent children or spouses of Mississippi law-enforcement officers or firefighters killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty can receive tuition, required fees, and average campus housing for up to eight semesters at a state-supported institution.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Trent Lott Leadership Institute, University of Mississippi
Lott Leadership Institute Summer Programs
A suite of leadership programs for Mississippi high schoolers organized by grade band, ranging from a civic-engagement week for rising ninth graders to a flagship residential program for rising seniors that earns college credit and includes a Washington, D.C. trip.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Mississippi
Magnolia Girls State
A week-long citizenship and leadership conference for young women who have just completed 11th grade, who self-govern within a simulated municipality called 'Magnolia' -- electing officials, debating bills, and running mock legislative and judicial processes.
📅 April🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
FIRST Louisiana-Mississippi
Magnolia Regional (FIRST Robotics Competition)
An annual FIRST Robotics Competition regional held in Laurel, Mississippi, bringing together roughly 40-50 high school robotics teams from Mississippi and surrounding states to compete with student-built robots.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
City of Jackson
Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program
Jackson youth ages 16–24 complete six to eight weeks of paid work-based learning in city agencies and private businesses while receiving mentoring, résumé support, financial education, and workforce-readiness training.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Millsaps College
McMullan Writers Workshop (High School)
A weeklong residential creative-writing workshop at Millsaps College for rising 10th graders through college freshmen, featuring instruction in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry plus keynote talks from acclaimed authors.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
MDAH Youth Volunteers
Youth age 16+ can participate in service-learning volunteer placements within MDAH institutions, including the Museum of Mississippi History, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Eudora Welty House & Garden, and state archives.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
Me, Myself, and Art
Students explore identity and visual communication through portraits, collaborative painting, embroidery, collage, watercolor, and a culminating gallery exhibition.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media
Media Mavericks
Students explore journalism, integrated marketing communications, ethical media, digital storytelling, and multimedia production while creating a final showcase project.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
MESG — Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant
High-achieving Mississippi students can receive state merit aid for attendance at approved Mississippi public or nonprofit colleges. Eligibility includes residency and strong academic/test performance.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
American Legion, Department of Mississippi
Mississippi American Legion Boys State
A week-long, hands-on citizenship and government program where rising Mississippi high school seniors self-govern within an assigned mock municipality, electing officials, debating bills, and solving community problems, alongside college/career-prep sessions and networking.
📅 May🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE)
Mississippi Economics Challenge
A free team-based online economics quiz-bowl competition for Mississippi high schoolers in two divisions (advanced and introductory), with regional qualifying rounds and a state championship carrying college scholarship prizes.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts / Mississippi Soil & Water Conservation Commission
Mississippi Envirothon
A hands-on natural resource competition for teams of grades 9-12 students, testing knowledge in aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues at area and state-level competitions, with scholarship awards for top teams.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Education
Mississippi FFA Association
A leadership and career development organization focused on agricultural education for students in Mississippi.
⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State of Mississippi / Mississippi University for Women
Mississippi Governor's School
Gifted Mississippi sophomores and juniors attend a free two-week residential honors program with challenging courses, leadership, service, team-building, and three hours of honors college credit. The 2027 program runs June 6–19.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
The Mississippi Bar, Young Lawyers Division
Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition
A statewide courtroom-simulation competition running since 1983, in which high school teams argue both the prosecution/plaintiff and defense sides of a fictional case through regional, state, and national rounds.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH) / National History Day
Mississippi History Day
Mississippi's National History Day affiliate, a cross-curricular research competition in which students create a Paper, Website, Performance, Exhibit, or Documentary based on an annual theme, with winners advancing to the national contest.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Access to Justice Commission
Mississippi Law Camps (Themis, Miss-Lou, Gargiulo, Golden Triangle, Rankin-Madison)
A series of free half-day summer law camps held at courthouses across Mississippi (Natchez, Gulfport, Tupelo, Starkville, and the Jackson area) giving high schoolers courtroom exposure through mock trials, negotiations, and conversations with judges and attorneys.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Mississippi State University
Mississippi Model Security Council (MMSC)
A UN Security Council simulation conference held annually since 1979 at Mississippi State University, exposing high schoolers to international politics through competitive debate on real-world security agenda items.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi Museum of Art
Mississippi Museum of Art Teen Council
Grades 9–12 work with museum staff throughout the academic year, advise how the museum engages young audiences, meet artists and cultural professionals, and design museum events for other teens.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Teen Volunteer Program
Teens age 13+ can assist with museum education, camps, exhibits, aquariums, conservation biology, trails, and other natural-science activities. During the school year, teen service opportunities are normally offered at least monthly.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE)
Mississippi Personal Finance Challenge
A statewide quiz-bowl competition testing high school students' personal financial literacy knowledge, with top teams advancing to a televised state championship broadcast on Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Center for the Book
Mississippi Poetry Project
A free statewide poetry-writing initiative for students in grades K-12 built around an annual prompt, with school-selected winners published in a contest anthology and honored at a public reading.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi
Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair — Region VII Upper Fair
Students qualifying through participating schools present original projects in 13 science categories to professional judges. Grades 9–12 compete together in Class 5, and successful students may advance through the Mississippi fair system.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University / MDOT / FHWA
Mississippi Summer Transportation Institute
Mississippi students explore road, rail, air, water, and transmission systems through laboratories, bridge projects, flight simulation, field trips, and engineering activities. The residential program is free.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
VEX Robotics Competition / Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
Mississippi VEX Robotics State Championship
The statewide VEX V5 Robotics Competition championship for Mississippi middle and high school teams, held annually at the Jackson Convention Complex, where the top teams qualify to advance to the VEX Robotics World Championship.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Mosaic Summer Enrichment Program
Rural Mississippi students spend a free residential week exploring medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, biomedical research, population health, and other health professions while also receiving ACT and professional-development preparation.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi Medical Center
MS Rural Physicians Pipeline (high school strand)
Free med-school pathway program for rural Mississippi students.
⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mississippi School of the Arts
MSA Summer Arts Camp
Students choose intensive study in creative writing, dance, theatre, visual art, filmmaking, or vocal music plus two additional enrichment arts classes, culminating in a family showcase.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Moderate
Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association (US Chess affiliate)
MSCA Scholastic Chess Tournaments
A statewide series of scholastic chess tournaments including the Mississippi State Championship, K-12 Team Jamboree, and Individual State Championship, the last of which serves as a US Chess National Qualifying event for the Denker Tournament of High School Champions.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
MSMS Math Tournament (Mu Alpha Theta)
A long-running statewide math tournament open to Mississippi high schools (MSMS students excluded from competing), featuring ciphering competitions, written tests, a mini-interschool competition, and a potpourri round across Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, and Calculus.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi Scholastic Press Association
MSPA Fall Convention (Best of MS Contests)
A statewide convention for high school student journalists, photographers, and yearbook/literary-magazine staff featuring competitions, keynote speakers, and workshops led by professional journalists; MSPA also gives student media advisers free JEA membership and curriculum resources.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, Mississippi State University
MSU Language Expo
A one-day event bringing together more than 200 high school students and teachers for language and culture exploration through interactive activities, student poster sessions, and a table fair of academic and cultural programs.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi State University at MCITy
MSU@MCITy High School Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
A free six-week entrepreneurship bootcamp for Vicksburg-area high school students, run in partnership with Vicksburg Warren School District and Leadership Vicksburg, covering problem identification, customer validation, revenue models, and pitching, culminating in a mock pitch competition.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
MTAG — Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant
Mississippi residents meeting GPA, ACT, enrollment, and Pell-related requirements can receive up to $500 per year during the first two college years and $1,000 per year during the final two.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid / Nissan North America
Nissan Scholarship
Graduating Mississippi seniors planning to attend a public in-state college and potentially contribute to the automotive industry compete for full tuition, required fees, and a book allowance. Selection considers academics, leadership, essay quality, and financial need.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
University of Mississippi
Ole Miss Bound
Rising sophomores through seniors live or commute to campus for a week, attend real university classes, meet professors, explore majors, and learn about admissions and financial aid.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi Trent Lott Leadership Institute
Pathways to Leadership
Current sophomores and juniors participate in a three-day leadership conference with university faculty centered on leadership at the local, state, and national levels. Participation is by school nomination.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University Extension Service
Rural Medical & Science Scholars
Mississippi juniors spend two residential weeks exploring medicine, public health, science, and healthcare careers while taking a three-credit Introduction to Health Professions course. Summer 2027 is scheduled for June 6–18, with applications opening November 2, 2026.
🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Mississippi Museum of Art / Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art Awards - Mississippi Region
The Mississippi regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, recognizing outstanding visual artwork from the state's middle and high school students, with Gold Key winners advancing to national judging.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Eudora Welty House & Garden / Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Writing Awards - Mississippi Region
The Mississippi regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Writing Awards, where students in grades 7-12 submit original work across ten categories including critical essay, poetry, short story, and journalism.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University Bagley College of Engineering
Senior Engineers
Students complete engineering-design activities with faculty, tour university engineering facilities, learn about engineering pathways, and participate in college-readiness preparation during a two-day program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Mississippi State University
Summer Horticulture Camp
High-school students study landscape architecture, floriculture, floral design, nursery management, turf, vegetable production, and fruit production during a residential horticulture experience.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Mississippi
Summer Humanities Institute
Rising juniors and seniors conduct faculty-mentored humanities and social-science research around cultural memory and communicate findings through papers, podcasts, documentaries, or screenplays. Participants earn six college credits.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University
Summer Scholars On Stage — Performance Track
Students audition for roles in an original musical and spend two residential weeks studying acting, dance, music, and theatre before presenting a fully staged production.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Mississippi State University
Summer Scholars On Stage — Writers & Technical Theatre Tracks
Writers collaboratively create an original musical's script and songs while technical-theatre participants learn stagecraft and help design and build the production. The three-week residential program culminates in a staged performance.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Fannie Lou Hamer's America / Sunflower County Film Academy
Sunflower County Film Academy
A free, intensive multi-week filmmaking workshop for high school students from the historically underserved Mississippi Delta, who work with professional filmmakers using industry-standard equipment to produce a documentary short while studying civil rights history.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi School of the Arts
The Phoenix Literary Journal
Mississippi School of the Arts students may submit poetry, fiction, memoir, essays, visual art, photography, and collaborative work each spring for publication. Senior Literary Arts students manage submissions, layout, and production.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NDSU / Minnesota State University Moorhead / Concordia College Mathematics Departments
Tri-College Math Contest
An annual math competition rotating among NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia with Beginning High School, Senior High School, and Middle School divisions, drawing over 200 teams and 1,700 students.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Pre-College Programs
UM Summer Language Institute
A month-long residential immersion program in Arabic or Chinese for high schoolers, earning six college credits alongside cultural and career-pathway activities.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi
UM Summer Medical Academy
Students explore pharmacy, public health, nursing, nutrition, physical therapy, and other healthcare fields through case studies, science laboratories, CPR training, simulations, and facility tours.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Mississippi Writing Project
UM Writing Competition
Students submit original essays, poetry, or short stories responding to the annual theme. Winners receive recognition, Summer 2027 academic-competition scholarships, and publication opportunities in the annual Celebrations literary magazine.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Pre-College Programs
UM Writing Competition (Celebrations)
An annual literary competition for grades 7-12 in poetry, short stories, and essays tied to a yearly theme, with winners published in the Celebrations literary magazine and awarded summer-program scholarships.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
United States Senate Youth Program / Mississippi Department of Education
United States Senate Youth Program - Mississippi Selection
A prestigious Washington Week program that selects two Mississippi high school juniors or seniors holding elected or appointed student-government leadership positions for briefings with U.S. senators, the President, and a Supreme Court justice.
📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Mississippi Department of Mathematics
University of Mississippi Math Tournament
An annual math competition for high school teams from Mississippi and neighboring Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee, consisting of an individual test and a team test held on the Ole Miss campus.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Southern Mississippi / American Chemical Society
USM Project SEED
An 8-10 week summer research fellowship placing high school students side-by-side with USM chemistry faculty on hands-on laboratory research, aimed especially at students who have historically lacked exposure to scientific careers.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Mississippi
Voice of Democracy
An annual audio-essay scholarship competition open to grades 9-12 students, who record a patriotic-themed essay on a yearly theme and submit it through a sponsoring local VFW post; national winners share over $2 million in scholarships.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
YMCA of the USA (Mississippi affiliate)
YMCA Youth and Government Mississippi
A civic leadership program for Mississippi high schoolers offering multiple tracks, including a Youth Advocate Program with a funded trip to Washington, D.C., Changemakers community-action projects, and a mock-legislature Conference on National Affairs.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mississippi for a Just World
Youth Internship Program
An 8-week summer internship (June-July) where Mississippi high school and early college students work directly with MSJW staff on organizing, campaign strategy, and movement history focused on international policy, human rights, and social justice.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Nationwide programs open to Mississippi 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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