§ ND

Research programs in North Dakota.

78 local programs run in North Dakota, 51 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.

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Local to North Dakota

Altru Health Foundation
Altru Generosity in Action Scholarship
Graduating students from Altru's service region pursuing health-care or related science fields can compete for scholarship support.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Altru Health System
Altru Junior Volunteer Program
High-school students volunteer in a hospital environment while gaining exposure to health-care careers and patient-support operations.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
North Dakota State University
Avenues of Scientific Discovery
Students choose from hands-on STEM sessions and interact with university faculty during a one-day science-discovery conference.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NDSU Department of Computer Science
Bison Cyber Day Camp (GenCyber)
A free NSA/NSF-funded GenCyber camp for high schoolers covering programming, cybersecurity, robotics, and artificial intelligence, with day and overnight options and meals provided.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota NASA Space Grant Consortium
Build the Moon Challenge
Teams design lunar-regolith concrete mixtures while applying aerospace engineering, materials science, prototyping and experimental design.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Archives, State Historical Society of North Dakota
Capturing Oral Histories Workshop
A free workshop teaching participants the fundamentals of recording and preserving oral histories, including practical interviewing techniques and tips for documenting personal stories.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Valley City State University
Clarinet Day
Clarinet students attend demonstrations, lessons, masterclasses, ensemble rehearsals and a university recital.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Dakota University System
College Credit in High School — Early Entry & Dual Credit
North Dakota high-school students enroll in college courses through dual-credit or early-entry options, including online and classroom courses.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of North Dakota / Williston Basin CTE Center
CONNECT Energy Education Workshop
Juniors and seniors explore engineering and energy careers through hands-on activities with UND and regional energy professionals.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Department of English
Creative Writing Camp
Students develop fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, songwriting and other creative work with university writers and instructors.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Mary
CyberConnect CTF
Four-person high-school teams solve cybersecurity challenges in a capture-the-flag competition for cash prizes.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minot State University
Dakota Chamber Music — 7th–12th Grade Program
Young musicians receive intensive chamber-music coaching, rehearsals and performances in a residential summer program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Dakota Zoo
Dakota Zoo Crew
Teen volunteers serve as camp mentors, conservation educators and junior zookeepers while completing structured zoo service.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of North Dakota Department of Communication
Digital Storytelling Summit
Students spend several days reporting, filming and producing multimedia stories while learning journalism and media production from UND faculty and professionals.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Bank of North Dakota
Dual Credit Assistance
Income-eligible North Dakota students can receive assistance covering dual-credit application fees, tuition, books and related course costs.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of Mary
Emerging Engineers
Students design and build an engineering project, then compete with other teams while interacting with university engineering faculty and students.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Dakota State University College of Engineering
Explore Engineering High School Camp
Students explore multiple engineering disciplines through laboratories, design activities, university facilities and engineering-industry visits.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Fargo Public Schools / City of Fargo partners
Fargo Youth Initiative
High-school students work with local government and community leaders on youth priorities, civic projects and public-policy discussions.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Minot State University
Futurepalooza
Area high-school students meet employers, colleges and career representatives while exploring a wide range of postsecondary and career pathways.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
State Historical Society of North Dakota
Heritage Volunteer Program
Teens can assist at the Heritage Center and state historic sites in interpretation, museum operations, research and public programs.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Valley City State University
INSTEM Academy
Native American students participate in residential STEM learning, college exposure and culturally responsive science and engineering activities.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
International Music Camp
International Music Camp - Creative Writing & Drama
A one-week residential session combining creative writing and drama instruction for students in grades 7-12 at the International Music Camp's summer fine arts program.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
International Music Camp
International Music Camp - Music Composition & Songwriting
A residential summer session focused on music composition and songwriting for high school students, part of the International Music Camp's non-competitive fine arts program.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
International Music Camp
International Music Camp - Visual Arts Sessions
A residential summer fine arts camp on the North Dakota/Manitoba border offering drawing, painting, sculpture, and cartooning sessions for middle and high school students.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Minot State University
Keyboard Arts Festival Student Piano Competition
Young pianists compete in junior and senior divisions and participate in recitals, masterclasses and other keyboard events.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
State Historical Society of North Dakota
National History Day in North Dakota
A project-based history research competition in which students produce a documentary, paper, exhibit, performance, or website on an annual theme, advancing from regional contests to the state contest at the ND Heritage Center.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Turtle Mountain Community College
Native Youth Community Project
Native high-school students receive college and career preparation, dual-enrollment support, cultural enrichment, community projects and exposure to local employers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
ND EPSCoR / North Dakota State University & University of North Dakota
NATURE High School Summer Research Experience
A STEM outreach and research program for Indigenous North Dakota students that pairs middle school, high school, and tribal college students with university researchers at NDSU and UND through tribal college summer camps, Sunday Academy sessions, and university summer camps.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Northern Crops Institute
NCI Summer Ag Academy
Students explore food science, animal science, agricultural technology, international trade and agriculture careers through campus and industry experiences.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
North Dakota Council on the Arts
ND Poetry Out Loud State Competition
A statewide poetry recitation competition in which classroom and school champions advance to perform memorized poems before judges at the state finals in Bismarck.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Association of Student Councils / NDCEL
NDASC State Student Council Conference
Student council members from across North Dakota meet for leadership development, networking, workshops and student-government programming.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Dakota High School Activities Association
NDHSAA Debate
Students compete through their schools in structured policy and/or public-forum style debate under NDHSAA rules.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Dakota High School Activities Association
NDHSAA Speech
Students compete in interpretive, public-speaking and related speech events through regional and state tournaments.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Dakota High School Activities Association
NDHSAA Student Congress
Students compete in a mock-legislative format by introducing, debating and acting on proposed legislation using parliamentary procedure.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Challey School of Music
NDSU High School Choral Festival
High-school singers rehearse and perform in grade-level honor choirs under university and guest conductors.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Dakota State University Challey School of Music
NDSU Music Academy
Students take non-degree private music lessons from academy instructors in instruments including flute, clarinet and others.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Dakota State University
NDSU TRIO Upward Bound
Students receive year-round tutoring, advising, college preparation, summer coursework and a bridge experience before college.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
North Dakota State University Challey School of Music
NDSU Woodwind Day
Woodwind musicians join ensemble rehearsals, clinics, masterclasses and performances with NDSU music faculty.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of North Dakota
North Dakota ALA Flickertail Girls State
A week-long summer citizenship and leadership program for girls who have just completed their junior year; participants form mock cities, counties, and a state government, running for office and writing laws.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
American Legion, Department of North Dakota
North Dakota Boys State
A week-long immersive civic leadership academy where students who have just finished their junior year build and run a simulated state government, including mock legislature, courts, and elections.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
American Legion North Dakota
North Dakota Boys State and Girls State
A leadership program for high school students in North Dakota to learn about government and civic engagement.
⏱ 1 week📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
North Dakota Community Foundation
North Dakota Community Foundation Scholarships
One foundation portal connects North Dakota students with a large collection of local, county, school and donor-specific scholarships.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
EduTech / North Dakota state partners
North Dakota Cyber Madness High School Tournament
Teams of up to five students solve cybersecurity challenges in virtual qualifying rounds before finalists compete face-to-face.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
DECA Inc. / North Dakota DECA
North Dakota DECA
North Dakota's CTSO chapter preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, operating in 39 high schools and career/technology centers with 50+ competitive event categories.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Dollars for Scholars / Scholarship America
North Dakota Dollars for Scholars
Graduating North Dakota students apply through a statewide scholarship system for awards typically ranging from hundreds to several thousand dollars.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America / North Dakota FBLA
North Dakota FBLA
The North Dakota chapter of the largest student business organization in the world, serving grades 9-12 members through competitive events like accounting, agribusiness, website design, and computer applications, plus state and national leadership conferences.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
FCCLA / North Dakota FCCLA
North Dakota FCCLA
North Dakota's Family and Consumer Sciences CTSO, active since 1945, offering competitive events, community service projects, and leadership conferences to help members become college- and career-ready.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National FFA Organization / North Dakota FFA
North Dakota FFA Association
North Dakota's agricultural education CTSO with 8,000 members across 95 chapters, offering Career Development Events, Leadership Development Events, Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, and community service through its Living to Serve initiative.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State of North Dakota / UND
North Dakota Governor's School
Select students complete an intensive residential academic program; the 2027 UND cycle is expected to include education, health studies, mental health and energy-law pathways.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
HOSA Inc. / North Dakota HOSA
North Dakota HOSA - Future Health Professionals
North Dakota's health-sciences CTSO for grades 7-12, grown from 395 members in 2021 to over 1,000 by 2026, offering 50+ competitive events across healthcare fields plus Fall, State, and International Leadership Conferences.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Department of Mathematics
North Dakota Mathematics Talent Search
High-school students solve challenging mathematics problems over three rounds in an annual statewide problem-solving competition.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
North Dakota Scholarship
Choice Ready graduates can earn up to $6,000 for qualifying North Dakota colleges, universities, career programs or apprenticeships.
🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
UND College of Engineering & Mines
North Dakota Signature VEX Robotics Competition
A high school VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Event hosted at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, drawing dozens of teams from the U.S. and Canada to compete for World Championship qualifying awards.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines
North Dakota State Science & Engineering Fair
Students advance through regional fairs to present original science and engineering research at the statewide ISEF-affiliated fair.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
North Dakota Student Legislative Summit
High-school delegates from across the state participate in a two-day legislative simulation and discuss education technology and artificial-intelligence policy.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
PICNICS Summer Research Program
High-school students conduct hands-on research in NDSU chemistry, biochemistry, coatings, polymer/materials and engineering laboratories alongside university researchers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Pre-Apprenticeship: Educators Rising Program
A Grow-Your-Own pre-apprenticeship pathway introducing middle and high school students to teaching careers, piloted in 2025-26 at five North Dakota school districts: Fargo, Hazen, Northern Cass, Watford City, and Williston.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UND Center for Rural Health
R-COOL-Health Scrubs Academy II
Students shadow and interact with professionals across numerous health careers during a residential rural-health academy.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Mary
Rising Leadership North Dakota
A four-day residential summer leadership program for high schoolers at the University of Mary featuring first-person simulation experiences in business and health care, coordinated with Sanford Health and faculty from the Gary Tharaldson School of Business and Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Plains Art Museum
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - North Dakota Art Region
The North Dakota regional affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, inviting students in grades 7-12 to submit original artwork in categories such as painting, photography, sculpture, and architecture for Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention recognition.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Red River Valley Writing Project at NDSU
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - North Dakota Writing Region
The North Dakota regional affiliate for the writing categories of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, open to students in grades 7-12 submitting poetry, flash fiction, journalism, screenwriting, and other original writing.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Altru Health System
School to Career Internships
High-school juniors and seniors work in paid health-system positions for roughly ten weeks while exploring medical and health-care careers.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
SkillsUSA / North Dakota
SkillsUSA North Dakota
A career-readiness CTSO for trade, industrial, technical, health science, and IT students, culminating in a State Leadership & Skills Conference and national championships spanning 100+ occupational and leadership skill areas.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA North Dakota
SkillsUSA North Dakota State Leadership & Skills Conference
Students compete in technical, occupational and leadership events spanning skilled trades, engineering, technology and career preparation.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NDSU Department of Mathematics
Sonia Kovalevsky Day
A free annual celebration of women in mathematics for grades 8-12 female students, featuring hands-on workshops, a career panel with women who use math professionally, and a math competition.
📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota State University
Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Day
Students participate in mathematics problem solving, interactive activities and workshops designed to build mathematical confidence and interest.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
State Bar Association of North Dakota (SBAND)
State Bar Association of North Dakota High School Mock Trial Competition
Teams of North Dakota high school students argue a simulated civil or criminal case before real attorneys and judges, working side-by-side with legal professionals to learn trial procedure and courtroom skills.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
State Superintendent's Student Cabinet
Selected students advise the state superintendent on education policy while developing leadership, advocacy, public-speaking and decision-making skills.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Valley City State University Prairie Waters Education & Research Center
STEM Explorers: Water Research Institute
Students investigate water quality, aquatic invertebrates and fish through field and laboratory research with environmental scientists.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
Teen Takeover Contest
North Dakota teens submit an original artistic creation plus a short written explanation inspired by state history and museum collections.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Titan Machinery / Dickinson State University
Titan Machinery Diesel Camp — Dickinson State
Students receive hands-on instruction in diesel technology, heavy equipment, diagnostics and technician careers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Titan Machinery / North Dakota State College of Science
Titan Machinery Diesel Camp — NDSCS
Overnight technical camp introduces students to diesel mechanics, agricultural/construction equipment and service careers.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
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 North Dakota Department of Music
UND Honor Band, Choir & Strings Festival
Selected high-school musicians rehearse with guest conductors and university faculty before performing in honors ensembles.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of North Dakota
UND Summer Healthcare Programs
Free intro programs for North Dakota students, including INMED for Native American students.
⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of North Dakota TRIO Programs
UND Upward Bound
Eligible first-generation and/or lower-income students receive tutoring, advising, college preparation and a six-week residential summer academic program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Department of North Dakota
VFW Voice of Democracy - North Dakota
A patriotic audio-essay scholarship competition for grades 9-12; students record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual democracy/veterans theme, with winners advancing from the local VFW Post to department and national judging.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Humanities North Dakota / The Study
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution (North Dakota)
North Dakota classroom teams study the Constitution and Bill of Rights in six units, then compete in simulated congressional hearings before judges including state Supreme Court justices and constitutional scholars.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Nationwide programs open to North Dakota 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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