§ TX

Research programs in Texas.

137 local programs run in Texas, 61 of them free or paid, and 4 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 210 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.

Filter the Finder by TX →Suggest a Texas program →

Local to Texas

Texas A&M University Philosophy and Humanities
Aggie School of Athens Philosophy Camp
A week-long, non-residential philosophy summer camp at Texas A&M that gives teens early access to college-style humanistic inquiry through interactive discussion.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University College of Education and Human Development
Aggie STEM Overnight Camp
A 6-day, 6-night project-based STEM camp at Texas A&M for incoming 6th-12th graders, with engineering challenges, physics demonstrations and problem-solving activities.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
American Legion Department of Texas
American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program (Texas)
A constitutional speech contest for grades 9-12 in which students deliver prepared and assigned orations about the US Constitution. Students enter through their local American Legion post and advance through district and division levels to the Texas state finals.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Tech University
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
An intensive seven-week summer research program in which twelve rising high school seniors and recent graduates work one-on-one with Texas Tech faculty. Open to almost any academic area, from natural sciences and mathematics to humanities and fine arts, with weekly seminars and field trips.
📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival Young Filmmakers Competition
A free-to-enter competition for filmmakers ages 13-18 whose selected animated, documentary, and narrative shorts screen at the Young Filmmakers Showcase. Part of a broader program that also includes summer film camps and festival scholarships for Texas students.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
EcoRise
Austin Youth Climate Council
A year-long program where Austin-area high school students partner with local community organizations on real-world climate and environmental projects. The 2025-26 cohort had 39 students from 17 schools and awarded $17,000 in total stipends.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Austin Youth River Watch
Austin Youth River Watch
A service-learning program for Austin-area high school students with weekly after-school and intensive summer sessions on water quality testing, macroinvertebrate sampling, and habitat restoration. Students earn $20/hour with transportation and meals provided, and there is no GPA requirement or application.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Badgerdog Creative Writing Program / Austin Public Library Foundation
Badgerdog Creative Writing Summer Camps
Summer camps and workshops for high school students entering grades 9-12 using a read-write-share model across poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting with professional Austin writers. Camps are capped at 16 students.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Baylor University
Baylor Accelerate Pre-College Program
A pre-college program letting high school students take college courses at Baylor in summer sessions to get a jump start on college-level rigor, with an Early Admission Track for rising juniors and seniors. Summer course offerings have included history, political science, and film and digital media.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Baylor University
Baylor TIP (Talent Identification Program)
A talent-identification program for grades 8-12 offering college-level content, residential summer programs, Baylor TIP Academy summer courses, and personalized talent advising. Its mission is to identify exceptional talent in STEM and the humanities.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT Health San Antonio Office of Recruitment and Science Outreach
BEAT Academy (UT Health San Antonio)
A one-week in-person academy for up to 20 high school students exploring medical and biomedical research, with anatomy lab visits, simulated patient interactions, biomolecular experiments, and college preparation sessions. Topics include anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, aging, and neurodegeneration.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas State University Division of Theatre
Bobcat Theatre Camp
A one-week day camp at Texas State in San Marcos with acting and technical theatre workshops, faculty masterclasses, a College Crash Course for the high school session and a devised production on the final day.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Breakthrough Houston
Breakthrough Houston High School Volunteer Tutors and Teaching Assistants
High school juniors and seniors can volunteer as academic tutors for middle schoolers, or as teaching assistants delivering STEM and humanities project-based lessons on Saturday mornings. Sites include Connect Community, HISD, and St. John's School; applications are submitted by Google Form.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bullock Museum Teen Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 16 and up serve as gallery roamers, podium attendants, and program and event helpers at the state history museum. Applicants complete an online application and interview and commit to at least six hours per month.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
CAMH Teen Council Open Call: Utopias
An open call for teen artists aged 13-19 from the Greater Houston area to submit work in any media (2D, 3D, new media, installation, performance) exploring utopian themes for a museum exhibition. Selected artists receive a modest honorarium.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University College of Architecture
Camp ARCH
A week-long residential camp where students choose a focus in architecture, construction science, landscape architecture, or urban planning and work in design studios. Admission is based on a personal statement, recommendation, transcript, and a two-minute video essay.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Texas A&M University Department of Aerospace Engineering
Camp SOAR (Summer Opportunities in Aerospace Research)
A six-day summer camp for rising high school juniors and seniors with tracks in aircraft, rotorcraft, space mission design and space robotics, featuring technical lectures, hands-on design projects and facility tours. Participants stay in campus housing.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
University of Houston Moores School of Music
Chamber Music Institute
A one-week mentorship program for high school and university string players and pianists with guided rehearsals, intensive faculty coaching, audition-prep studio classes and a final concert.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Charles Butt Foundation, Raising Texas Teachers
Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers
A scholarship for aspiring teachers, open to students from their senior year of high school through junior year of college, at 30+ partner Texas universities. Recipients commit to teaching in Texas public schools that are Title 1, economically disadvantaged or in priority subject areas.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Code2College
Code2College Summer Program
Summer program for Texas students to gain technical skills and professional development.
⏱ Various📅 February 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UNT College of Visual Arts and Design
Creative U Pre-College Art & Design Summer Experience
Week-long pre-college sessions at the UNT Art Building covering graphic design, metalsmithing, printmaking, book arts, papermaking, illustration, interior design, sculpture and photography. No prior artmaking or design experience is required.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Dallas Public Library
Dallas Youth Poet Laureate
A one-year laureate position for poets ages 15-20 who live in or attend school in Dallas, chosen through the Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition. The laureate receives a $1,000 scholarship and gives public readings.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UT Austin McCombs School of Business
DYNAMC: Discover Yourself In Accounting Majors and Careers
A free McCombs summer program introducing Texas high school students to accounting degrees and careers on the UT Austin campus. Tuition, meals and housing are covered.
📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Glassell School of Art)
Emerging Artists: Early College Program
A studio art program for high school artists ages 15-18 with courses in painting, printmaking, jewelry, photography, fashion, ceramics and digital media, portfolio building, free museum access and optional dual credit through the University of St. Thomas.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
UT Tyler ETX Launchpad
ETX High School Idea Challenge
An entrepreneurship pitch competition open to high school students (grades 9-12) in 40 East Texas counties. Round 1 is a 60-90 second video pitch, and selected teams present a Lean Canvas business model on the UT Tyler campus for scholarship prizes ($5,000 first place).
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UT Dallas Nanotech Institute
George A. Jeffries NanoExplorers Summer Research Program
An immersive 8-week, non-residential summer research program placing high school students in UT Dallas faculty labs across natural sciences, engineering, computer science and brain sciences. Students present their findings at a final symposium.
📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
Global Houston Model UN Conference
A student-led Model UN conference where delegates represent countries and committees to negotiate and draft resolutions on global issues. Focuses on global diplomacy, research, and soft-skill development.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
Global Scholars Academy
A week-long immersive summer program preparing students for careers in international affairs, covering foreign policy, international law, global health, and environmental sustainability through interactive sessions and expert dialogues.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
ACM at UT Dallas (HackUTD)
HackUTD 2026: Zero Day
A free in-person university hackathon at UT Dallas welcoming any enrolled student, including high schoolers aged 18+ or younger students attending with a guardian. No major or prior experience is required.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Houston Moores School of Music
High School Jazz Institute
A one-week college-immersion jazz camp at the Moores School of Music with ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, improvisation classes, masterclasses and faculty performances.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School
High School Summer Research Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A four-week program for rising juniors and seniors with hands-on lab work in biochemistry and molecular biology, faculty and graduate student mentorship, seminars and career guidance. Students work on discovery-driven medical science projects.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Texas State University Mathworks
Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)
A six-week residential, full-time summer math camp for talented high school students that builds problem-solving and research skills, with returning students working with research mentors on original projects.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Rice Neuroscience Society (Rice University)
Houston Brain Bee
A free neuroscience competition for Houston-area high school students with a prep workshop, a written exam, and an oral round for the top 10 scorers, held at Rice University. Winners can advance toward national and international Brain Bee levels.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rice University Department of Philosophy
Houston High School Ethics Bowl
A regional National High School Ethics Bowl competition where teams from Houston-area high schools analyze ethical case studies with an emphasis on dialogue and civility. The regional winner is eligible for the national competition.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IBM
IBM BlueCamp (High School)
Students spend a week learning about technology careers and interacting with IBM engineers.
⏱ 1 week📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Interscholastic League Press Conference (UIL)
ILPC Spring Convention
An annual spring convention at UT Austin with more than 100 instructional sessions on journalism skills, legal issues, and careers for student journalists and advisers. The event announces Star Awards and recognizes the Texas high school journalism educator of the year.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University Interscholastic League, Interscholastic League Press Conference
ILPC Summer Workshop
A three-day summer journalism workshop with tracks in UIL contest preparation, design and production, video storytelling and photojournalism, taught by experienced journalism instructors. Open to students and advisers at all levels.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UNT College of Music
International Summer Music Institute (ISMI)
A week-long summer institute at UNT for string and piano students with private lessons, chamber music, chamber orchestra, masterclasses, faculty concerts and an optional concerto competition. Participants submit placement videos and need about four years of playing experience.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Kimbell Art Museum
Kimbell Teen Council
Grade 9-12 members work with museum professionals to plan and run Kimbell teen programs such as Teen Hangouts, volunteer at education programs and events, and consult on museum projects. Members learn about the collection through behind-the-scenes experiences.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Center for the Book, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Letters About Literature (Texas)
A free reading-and-writing contest in which Texas students write a letter to an author explaining how the author's work changed their view of themselves or the world. The grade 9-12 category awards cash prizes of $100-$300 and a travel stipend to the Texas Library Association conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UT Austin McCombs School of Business
McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA)
A free six-day residential summer program where Texas high school students explore finance, marketing and operations through workshops, mentoring and team case competitions. Tuition, meals and housing are covered.
📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
MD Anderson Summer Experience
Paid summer internships for high school students in Houston to explore careers in clinical care, research, and support services.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 31🎓 Grade 11
Selective
International School of the Americas / Trinity University
Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA)
A two-day international relations and diplomacy conference where student delegates assume UN representative roles to address issues like human rights and climate change. Held on Trinity University's campus.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Houston Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mohan Lab Summer Internship (MLSI) for High School Students
An eight-week bench research internship for rising seniors in biomedical sciences, bioengineering and computer science, with 1-2 weeks of foundational lab training followed by mentored research and an oral presentation. Projects include AI and image analysis, big data and neuroscience.
📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Selective
UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering
My Introduction to Engineering (MITE)
A five-day residential engineering camp for current high school juniors featuring team projects, hands-on activities and time with engineering students, faculty and alumni. About 50 students per session are chosen through holistic review, with encouragement for underrepresented and limited-STEM-access applicants.
📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
UNT Department of Linguistics (North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition)
NACLO at the University of North Texas
A Texas host site for NACLO, a contest in which students solve linguistics puzzles. No prior linguistics knowledge is needed, and UNT offers on-campus practice sessions before the Open Round.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UT Austin Center for Space Research (NASA SEES)
NASA & UT Austin SEES High School Summer Intern Program
A competitive two-week on-site summer internship at UT Austin (plus virtual project work) where rising juniors and seniors work with NASA scientists on Earth and space science data. U.S. citizens who are 10th or 11th graders, 16 by early July.
📅 February🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
North Texas Teen Book Festival
North Texas Teen Book Festival
A free one-day festival of teen literature at the Irving Convention Center with about 75 authors, more than 40 small breakout panels, author signings and book sales.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Commission on the Arts
Poetry Out Loud Texas
A poetry recitation competition where students memorize and recite poems from the Poetry Out Loud anthology, advancing from school contests to a statewide competition in February. The state finals are held in person in Austin.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Posse
Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarships nominated by partner cities. High schoolers from cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta nominate by August of senior year.
⏱ Senior year📅 August🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UT Health San Antonio Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science / South Central AHEC / UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Public Health Camp (UT Health San Antonio)
A free week-long summer camp for area high school students introducing public health careers and the 10 Essential Public Health Services. Run as a partnership since 2011 to build awareness of population health professions.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Tech University Whitacre College of Engineering Outreach & Engagement
Raider Robotics Academy (9th-12th Grade Camp)
A weeklong commuter robotics camp at Reese Technology Center where high schoolers learn FIRST Robotics Competition software, fabrication skills and build robots with SparkFun XRP kits, ending with a presentation day. Capacity is 24 students per camp.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Tu Salud Si Cuenta
RGV Summer Science Internship
A six-week internship exposing Rio Grande Valley high school students to university-level research, with students working about 20 hours per week with mentors and presenting their work to faculty, family and community.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Rice University School of Architecture
Rice Architecture Summer Immersion
A tuition-free twelve-day residential program giving Houston-area 10th and 11th graders hands-on experience in the principles of architecture and design, including drawing, model-making, and portfolio-ready work. Participants meet Rice faculty, students, and practicing architects.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
Rice University Office of STEM Engagement
Rice BYTE! (Building Young Tech Engineers) Academy
A one-week summer academy teaching coding, microcontrollers and hands-on engineering with Arduino kits, sensor data analysis and a capstone project, including visits to research facilities such as a cleanroom. No prior experience is required.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Writers in the Schools (WITS) / Rice University Glasscock School
Rice Creative Writing Camp
Writing camp with interactive activities across poetry, prose, and creative nonfiction, including peer review and instructor feedback. The Rice University sessions are for students entering grades 6-12.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rice University Office of STEM Engagement
Rice Digital Health Workforce Initiative (DHWI)
An NSF-supported paid program in which high school students explore wearable biomedical hardware or the software and data behind diagnoses, with a two-week summer immersion and Saturday sessions during the academic year.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–10
Highly Selective
Rice University Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL)
Rice ELITE Tech Camp
A pre-college engineering and technology camp where students pick morning and afternoon technical courses such as robotics, Python, C++, AI/machine learning, 3D modeling and biomedical engineering, plus daily leadership workshops. Instruction is led by Rice engineering students under faculty-designed curricula.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Rice University Center for Environmental Studies and Houston Climate Justice Museum
Rice Environmental Justice Summer Program for HISD Students
A free, week-long residential program on Rice's campus teaching HISD high school students about climate justice and environmental storytelling through arts and media practices. Field excursions have included Galveston Island and boat tours of Buffalo Bayou.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rice University Office of STEM Engagement
Rice Sustainable Futures Academy
A free one-week enrichment academy for high school girls (other students may also apply) entering 10th or 11th grade, exploring engineering challenges focused on sustainability through labs and discussions with Rice faculty. Activities include landing capsules, roller coasters and circuits with micro:bits.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
SMU Dedman School of Law
Rising Scholars
A free, week-long residential program each June at SMU's law school for rising high school seniors interested in law, with law school mini-classes, writing and public speaking workshops, attorney panels and a moot court competition.
📅 Varies🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Harris County Department of Education
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (Houston Region)
The Houston-area regional round of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, where students submit original art or writing across 28-29 categories for regional Gold Key, Silver Key and national recognition.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Sam Houston State University College of Health Sciences
SHSU Health Sciences Summer Camp
A residential 3-day camp for rising high school juniors and seniors with workshops and labs across nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, athletic training, public health, nutrition, and healthcare administration. Requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, and space is limited to about 60 students.
📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
SkillsUSA Texas (SkillsUSA, Texas Association, High School Secondary Division)
SkillsUSA Texas
SkillsUSA Texas is a career and technical student organization partnering students, teachers, and industry to build a skilled workforce through leadership training and skills competitions. Students in Career and Technical Education programs can join and compete at district, regional, and the State Leadership and Skills Conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
Southern Methodist University
SMU Pre-College
Rising juniors and seniors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area take for-credit, university-level summer courses on SMU's campus. It is a non-residential commuter program with a financial aid calculator and partial scholarships.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
SXSW EDU
South by Southwest EDU (SXSW EDU) Student Startup Competition
Education-focused conference and student startup competition.
⏱ 4 days📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
St. Mary's University
St. Mary's University Summer Band Camp
A week of full band rehearsals, sectionals, technique classes, and student-selected electives such as composition, conducting, jazz improvisation, and drum line, ending in final performances. Students audition on the first day for placement.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UT Southwestern Medical Center
STARS Summer Research Program for Students
An eight-week, non-residential program where high school juniors work side by side with faculty hosts in UT Southwestern research laboratories. Students must be 16 by June 1 and have no prior research experience.
📅 January🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Nasher Sculpture Center
Student Ambassadors
A group of Dallas-area high school students who help shape Nasher student programming, volunteer at events and get behind-the-scenes museum learning. The group meets monthly on Wednesday evenings in the Dallas Arts District.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Student Conservation Association (SCA)
Student Conservation Association Houston Urban Green
Houston conservation program with a free school-year weekend volunteer track (five camping weekends of trail building and habitat restoration) for high schoolers, plus a paid summer weekday service crew for high school students and young adults. Includes invasive species removal, dune restoration, and environmental education.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Student Lecture Series (Intern Mentoring Program)
An intern mentoring program for high school and college students who research a topic tied to the museum's permanent exhibit, such as US history, the American presidency, or public policy. The program ends with student-led presentations to peers, the public, and library staff.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UT Austin McCombs School of Business
Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders
A five-day summer leadership academy where Texas high school juniors tackle real-world challenges in healthcare, energy/environment and education alongside business, political and educational leaders. There is no cost to attend.
📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
UTSA Southwest School of Art (UTSA Community Art Program)
Summer Art Studios (Teen Classes)
Seven weeks of summer studio classes in San Antonio, with teen classes for ages 14-18 in drawing, painting, wheel throwing, metalsmithing, photography and sculpture, several with portfolio-development emphasis.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Texas at Austin / Summer Discovery
Summer Discovery at UT Austin
A pre-college summer program on the UT Austin campus offering non-credit courses and full-day academies taught by UT faculty and instructors. Subject areas include psychology, civic engagement, neuroscience, and music business.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Nasher Sculpture Center and The Warehouse Dallas
Summer Institute for Teens
A five-day program where high school students explore Dallas museums, meet art-world professionals and make hands-on projects with artists. Tuition is free for accepted participants.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Art League Houston
Summer Intensive For Teens (SIFT)
A 4.5-week, tuition-free studio art intensive in Houston with six hours of daily coursework in sketching, textiles, ceramics and digital media, plus artist mentorship, a collaborative mural and a gallery exhibition. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Association of Journalism Educators
TAJE Fall Fiesta
TAJE's annual fall convention for student journalists and advisers with workshops, keynote speakers, and competitions including Best in Texas and Journalist of the Year. Student scholarships are available to attend.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE)
TAJE Student Scholarships
TAJE awards $1,000 college scholarships to high school seniors in journalism programs and up to six $150 scholarships to help students attend summer journalism workshops. Applicants need an adviser who is a current TAJE member.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TCU School of Music
TCU Band Camp (High School Music, Leadership and Color Guard)
A four-day summer camp at TCU for students entering grades 9-12 preparing for marching band leadership, concert band, solo and chamber music, with music and leadership, drum major and color guard tracks.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UTSA Community Art Program (PACE)
Teen Studio Intensive
A full-academic-year visual arts program for high school students with twice-weekly studio classes, portfolio review and instruction by professional artists at 300 Augusta in San Antonio.
📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Teen/Artist Project
An eight-month program for sixteen high school students who meet three hours every Sunday at the Modern for workshops with visiting artists, gallery discussions and studio projects, ending with an exhibition. Free for accepted students.
📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas A&M Galveston Sea Camp (High School Programs)
Residential marine science camps for ages 14-18 covering marine biology research, ocean conservation, ichthyology, ornithology, sea turtles, marine engineering, veterinary medicine and pre-medicine. Includes Talented and Gifted tracks for students in GT, Pre-AP or AP courses.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas A&M University Department of Statistics
Texas A&M Statistics and Data Science Summer Camp
A free one-week day camp introducing high school students to core statistics and data science concepts through lectures, data analysis exercises and group projects. Aimed at students in the Bryan/College Station area.
📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University of North Texas
Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS)
A residential early-college program at UNT where Texas students enter after 9th, 10th, or 11th grade and take university courses in math and science while finishing high school. Applicants must have completed Algebra I and be enrolled in or finished Geometry and Algebra II; applications are reviewed continuously through April.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
NASA Johnson Space Center
Texas Aerospace Scholars (NASA Johnson Space Center)
A free, year-long NASA STEM program for Texas high school students combining an online course, a virtual summer design challenge with NASA mentors, and a residential week at Johnson Space Center for top teams. A Junior Experience and a Senior Experience are offered.
📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Texas Association of Future Educators
Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE)
TAFE is a statewide student organization founded in 1984 that lets middle and high school students explore the teaching profession through chapters, competitive events, and service. Its annual Teach Tomorrow Summit is held March 4-6, 2027 in San Antonio.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Texas
Texas Bluebonnet Girls State
A week-long civic education program that teaches young women the duties and responsibilities of citizenship through building fictional city, county, and state governments. Delegates also visit the Texas State Capitol to observe legislative sessions and meet state officials.
📅 May🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
Texas Book Festival
Texas Book Festival Volunteer Program
Teens 13 and older can volunteer at the Texas Book Festival in downtown Austin, including in the children's and young adult programming areas, alongside more than 900 volunteers.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of Texas
Texas Boys State
A week-long summer program where delegates run a simulated two-party government, filing for office, campaigning, voting, and serving in city, county, and state roles. Delegates are recommended by their school and certified by a sponsoring American Legion post.
📅 May🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
State Bar of Texas Law-Related Education Department and Sumners Foundation
Texas Citizen Bee
A civics competition for students in grades 9-12 covering the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases and current events, with regional contests by Education Service Center region and a state championship in Austin.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Debate Collective
Texas Debate Collective Student Institute
A two-week residential debate institute in San Marcos with Lincoln-Douglas and World Schools labs of 12-14 students, covering debate skills plus politics, philosophy and law. The majority of students receive scholarships.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas DECA
Texas DECA
Texas DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through district, state (SCDC), and international Career Development Conferences. Open to Texas students enrolled in Marketing Education or an approved CTE class; the 2027 State Career Development Conference is February 25-27, 2027 in Houston.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas FBLA
Texas FBLA State Leadership Conference
Texas FBLA high school members compete in business events at Area Leadership Conferences, with top performers advancing to the State Leadership Conference and then the FBLA National Leadership Conference. Members also join leadership, volunteer and career-planning activities.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas Association of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (Texas FCCLA)
Texas FCCLA
Texas FCCLA is the state Career and Technical Student Organization for Family and Consumer Sciences students, offering STAR competitive events, Family and Consumer Sciences assessments, community service, and a State Leadership Conference. Students in grades 6-12 enrolled in or having completed an FCS course may join.
📅 November🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
Texas FFA Association
Texas FFA Career Development Events (CDEs)
State-level competitions for Texas FFA members testing technical, leadership and teamwork skills in agricultural fields such as entomology, food science, vet science, agronomy, forestry, wildlife and ag sales. Many events qualify teams for the National FFA CDE competition and offer scholarships.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas Forensic Association
Texas Forensic Association Speech and Debate
The association that oversees high school speech and debate competition in Texas, with events including Congress, debate, extemporaneous speaking, oral interpretation, platform events, and World Schools Debate. Students qualify for the state tournament by earning points at TFA tournaments.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas A&M University McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship
Texas High School Ideas Challenge
A statewide entrepreneurship competition for Texas high school students ages 14-18, individually or in teams of up to six. Ideas go through an online pre-screen round, and finalists pitch at Texas A&M for cash prizes; the 2027 challenge is scheduled for spring 2027 with applications opening early 2027.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Dallas Bar Association Community Service Fund
Texas High School Mock Trial Competition
An annual advocacy competition where public, private, and home school teams from across Texas argue a mock case before attorney judges. The 2027 competition includes a courtroom artist category.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas State Historical Association (Texas affiliate of National History Day)
Texas History Day
A statewide student research competition where grade 9-12 students present papers, exhibits, documentaries, performances, or websites on a historical topic tied to the annual National History Day theme. Winners advance from regional to state to the national contest.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas HOSA
Texas HOSA - Future Health Professionals
Texas HOSA is the state association of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, offering middle school, secondary, and post-secondary divisions with health science competitive events, chapter leadership, and a State Leadership Conference. It is open to students in health science programs or interested in healthcare careers.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE)
Texas Journalist of the Year (JOY)
A portfolio-based state competition for Texas high school seniors across reporting, editing, design, broadcast, photojournalism, web and law/ethics. The winner advances to the national JEA Journalist of the Year competition.
📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Audubon Texas
Texas Leaders in Conservation (TLC)
A free high school stewardship and leadership program where students explore conservation topics (climate, water, coasts, working lands, or bird-friendly communities) through field trips and a five-day summer conservation camp. Offered through partner schools in Dallas, Balch Springs, and San Antonio via the Young Women's Preparatory Network.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Texas Chess Association
Texas Scholastic Chess Championships
The Texas Chess Association runs annual state scholastic championships and regional events with high school sections, open to Texas residents with US Chess and TCA memberships. Results determine qualification for the Texas Junior Invitational and Lone Star Cup.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas A&M Engineering (Texas Science and Engineering Fair)
Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TXSEF)
Statewide science fair where regional fair qualifiers in grades 6-12 present research projects across 20+ categories in engineering, biological sciences, and physical sciences. Top high school entries advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair; the 2027 state fair is April 2-3, 2027 at Texas A&M.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 6–12
Moderate
Texas Space Grant Consortium
Texas Space Grant Build the Moon Challenge
A hands-on aerospace engineering challenge in which middle and high school teams develop a regolith concrete mixture with lunar simulant, test its strength and design a lunar habitat. Texas teams can apply for Space Grant funding to cover participation costs.
📅 August🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas Space Grant Consortium
Texas Space Grant Plant the Moon Challenge
An 8-week team science experiment in which students grow crops in lunar or Martian soil simulant, submit research reports and can present at a virtual symposium with NASA scientists. Teams of 1-5 students participate.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Texas State University School of Music
Texas State University String Camp
A 38-year-old week-long camp in San Marcos for violin, viola, cello and bass students ages 12-18 with four orchestras, chamber ensembles, electives in composition, improvisation and fiddling, and an All-State etude clinic.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech Clark Scholars Program
Highly selective seven-week paid research program for 12 high schoolers across all fields.
⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Texas Tech University Whitacre College of Engineering
Texas Tech Explore Engineering Camp
A week-long camp for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors introducing each engineering discipline through hands-on activities and field trips to local engineering facilities. Participants stay on campus in Lubbock.
📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The Alamo (Alamo Trust)
The Alamo Internship Program
Ten-week internships in museum studies, visitor experience and business operations, including conservation, collections management, educational programming and marketing, open to high school, undergraduate and graduate students.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA)
Free arts classes for Austin youth in grades 6-12 taught by professional artists in painting, film, theatre, sculpture and more at Austin recreation centers, plus summer film and theatre camps.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Trinity University
Trinity Debate Institute
A two-week summer debate institute on the Trinity University campus in San Antonio with policy debate instruction from Trinity professors, high school coaches and Trinity debaters, focused on the NSDA 2026-2027 topic. The site also lists Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum and public speaking programs.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University Interscholastic League (UT Austin)
UIL High School Academic and Speech Contests
Statewide high school academic contests including literary criticism, ready writing, social studies, current issues, journalism, speech and debate (Congress, CX, Lincoln Douglas), and filmmaking. Students compete through their school.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University Interscholastic League (UIL)
UIL Robotics State Championships (BEST, FIRST, RECF Divisions)
Texas high school robotics teams compete in BEST, FIRST (FTC and FRC) or RECF (VEX) qualifier meets, with top teams invited to UIL state championships. Schools register a team with one of the three robotics organizations.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT Austin Department of Radio-Television-Film
UT Austin Film and Media Camps
Summer camps for high school students in screenwriting, cinematography, filmmaking, 2D animation, advanced filmmaking, and post-production, plus a virtual DIY filmmaking course. Sessions run one to three weeks.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT Austin College of Fine Arts (School of Design and Creative Technologies)
UT Austin Summer Design and Creative Technology Camps
Week-long camps on the UT campus for grades 8-12 in game design, product design, 3D modeling, 3D animation, printmaking and immersive light-and-sound experiences, taught by UT faculty.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 8–12
Highly Selective
UT Austin Department of Computer Science
UT Computer Science Academy for All
A free, week-long residential program on the UT Austin campus introducing students to programming, teamwork and real-world computing, with a Standard (Arduino) edition and a Machine Learning (Python) edition taught by UT CS faculty.
📅 December🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UT Austin Department of Computer Science
UT Computer Science Academy for Machine Learning
A six-day immersive residential academy where students learn Python and machine learning fundamentals through hands-on projects, guest lectures and social activities. No prior coding experience is required for the all-levels sessions.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
UT Austin Department of Computer Science
UT Computer Science Academy for Robotics
A six-day residential program on the UT Austin campus where students apply mechanical design, programming and control systems to build, program and simulate robots using C++ and Linux. No prior robotics or programming experience is required.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UT Dallas Computer Science / K-12 Outreach
UT Dallas Summer Research Program for High School Students
An 8-week summer program offering lab internships in UT Dallas computer science labs, research workshops, and a deep-dive AI workshop. Aimed at advanced students finishing 10th or 11th grade, with in-person and virtual options.
📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
MD Anderson Cancer Center
UT MD Anderson HS Summer Program
Paid cancer research at MD Anderson for Texas students.
⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UT Tyler Center for Ethics
UT Tyler Regional High School Ethics Bowl
High school teams discuss real-life ethical problems and moral dilemmas before judges, building critical thinking and collaboration. The winning team advances to the National High School Ethics Bowl.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UTEP Department of Computer Science
UTEP Computer Science AI Camp
A free one-week camp introducing Python programming and basic AI algorithms, with beginner and advanced tracks for high school students with prior CS experience. Open to rising 6th-12th graders with no experience required for beginner sessions.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UTEP Department of Computer Science
UTEP Computer Science CyberCamp
A free cybersecurity training camp led by UTEP cybersecurity students, with beginner and advanced sessions for rising 6th-12th graders. No prior experience is required.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Texas National Institute in Forensics (UT Austin)
UTNIF Speech and Debate Camp
A residential summer forensic education camp for high school students focusing on debate, speech, and individual events, established in 1994. Daily schedule includes morning lectures, afternoon lab sessions, and evening practice.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT San Antonio Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design
UTSA Klesse College Engineering Summer Camps
A series of week-long high school camps including Engineering Overview, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Rocketry and Aerospace Engineering, and an Architecture and Interior Design career academy. Camps feature hands-on challenges, faculty talks and research lab tours with day and overnight options.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UT Austin School of Journalism and Media
Verne Lundquist Sports Media Camp
A four-day, hands-on camp for aspiring high school sports journalists featuring a mock press conference with UT student-athletes and tours of stadium and press box facilities. Students work across print, photo, audio and video formats with professionals and faculty.
📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Texas
VFW Voice of Democracy (Texas)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students expressing their views on democracy through a recorded essay. Entries go through a local VFW post, with state and national scholarship prizes.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Welch Foundation
Welch Summer Scholar Program
A five-week summer residency where Texas high school sophomores and juniors conduct real chemistry research under experienced research chemists at UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, University of Houston, or Texas Tech. Selection is competitive and based on academics and recommendations.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
West Texas A&M University School of Music
West Texas A&M Band and Orchestra Camp
A residential summer camp with full band or orchestra rehearsals, sectionals, individual instrument classes, and optional evening activities, with separate junior high and high school ensembles. Campers may stay in university dorms with adult supervision.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Wonderworks Houston / University of Houston
Wonderworks: From the Ground Up (Architecture)
A comprehensive introduction to architecture with lectures on architectural history and theory, hands-on studio work, and field trips to significant buildings. Students design small-scale structures like cafes and galleries using physical models rather than computer programs.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wonderworks Houston / Rice University
Wonderworks: Money Talks (Economics, Innovation and Business)
An exploration of economics, innovation, and business offered in partnership with Rice University's School of Humanities and Arts and School of Social Sciences. Includes field trips and runs Monday to Friday.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Wonderworks Houston / University of Houston
Wonderworks: Moving Pictures (Filmmaking)
An introduction to filmmaking covering production, editing, screenwriting, and cinema analysis, where students collaborate on short narrative projects using digital technology. Includes daily film screenings with faculty discussion.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wonderworks Houston / Rice University
Wonderworks: Rules of the Game (Democracy and the Humanities)
An interdisciplinary exploration of democracy through history, political science, law, public policy, philosophy, and classics, combining lectures, readings, case studies, films, and field trips. Held at Rice University, Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Wonderworks Houston / University of Houston
Wonderworks: Story Lines (Fiction and Creative Writing)
A reading-intensive summer program exploring fiction, films based on literature, and creative writing. Students discuss assigned readings in morning seminars and watch thematically paired narrative films in the afternoons.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
YMCA Texas Model United Nations
A youth development program where students in grades 6-12 simulate the United Nations as ambassadors solving global problems through compromise and diplomacy. Includes regional summits and an annual state conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Austin Chamber Music Center
Young Artists Division Summer Workshop
A two-week, weekday day camp at the UT Austin Butler School of Music for intermediate to advanced strings, winds, brass, percussion and piano players, with chamber music coaching and final performances. Participants need 1-2 years of private instruction and the ability to read music.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate

Nationwide programs open to Texas 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