15 Free Programs for High School Students in Ohio
If you're a high school student looking to explore a field before committing to it in college, a structured program can be a good option to explore. These programs often combine coursework, research, or project-based work with mentor guidance, helping you build skills, gain exposure to new material, and develop connections. Free programs, in particular, let you gain this kind of experience without cost being a barrier to participation.
Why should you attend a free program in Ohio?
Ohio offers free programs through institutions like Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Depending on the program you choose, you could take part in a research internship, a business or humanities pathway, or a coding or design camp. Whether you live in Ohio or are coming from out of state, you can find a program suited to your interests and experience level.
To help you get started, here are 15 free programs for high school students in Ohio.
If you’re looking for research programs in Ohio, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span STEM research, AI and machine learning, engineering, biomedical science, business, humanities, design, and early college coursework, so students with a wide range of interests can find a relevant free or fully funded option in Ohio or online.
Several programs are paid in addition to being free, including AFRL Scholars ($500 or more per week), Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program (paid full-time), Mandel Youth Humanities Academy ($3,150 stipend plus laptop and meals), AWS Foundation Internship (stipend provided), and Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation (fully funded), making them closer to professional workforce experiences.
Many programs are highly selective with small cohorts, including AFRL Scholars, Wright Scholar (around 10 to 20 students), Mandel Youth Humanities Academy (25 to 30 students), and Camp CAR (around 25 students), so students should apply early and prepare strong applications.
Programs vary significantly in format, from academic-year college credit programs, such as College Credit Plus and Start College Now, to eight to ten-week full-time research placements, such as AFRL Scholars and Wright Scholar, so students can choose based on their schedule and depth of interest.
Application deadlines for the most competitive programs fall early, including AFRL Scholars and Wright Scholar (January 10), AWS Foundation Internship (February 13), and NASA GL4HS (March 15), so students should begin researching options in the fall.
1. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Air Force Research Laboratory – Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Dayton, OH)
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid ($500+/week for high school students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Summer (typically 8–10 weeks; varies by placement)
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors; age 16+; U.S. citizens
In the AFRL Scholars Program, you are placed into a research environment where you work directly with scientists and engineers on active projects. You will likely engage with datasets, simulations, or lab-based systems depending on your assigned team. As you progress, you’ll learn how to document your work, interpret technical results, and follow structured research workflows. The program expects you to operate with a level of independence, so you gradually build both analytical and problem-solving skills. You also get exposure to how large-scale research projects are managed in a professional setting. If you are exploring free programs for high school students in Ohio with strong technical depth, this program gives you a close look at real research operations.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies as per program (with financial aid options)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
In Veritas AI, you explore artificial intelligence through structured coursework and applied projects. You learn concepts like machine learning models, data analysis, and algorithm design. The program includes coding exercises and real-world datasets. You may also work on independent or guided projects. Advanced tracks allow deeper research with mentorship. It complements free programs for high school students in Ohio by building AI and data science skills.
3. Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program
Location: Air Force Research Laboratory (Dayton, OH area)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (full-time summer research position)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors; GPA 3.5+; U.S. citizens
In the Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program, you take on the role of a research assistant within an active STEM project. You will work alongside mentors to set up experiments, collect data, and analyze results using structured methodologies. Over time, you’ll become familiar with tools and techniques relevant to your assigned field, whether that involves modeling software or lab instrumentation. The program runs like a full-time job, so you learn how to manage deadlines and maintain consistent output. You also gain experience in communicating findings through reports or discussions.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: The program is fully funded!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: January / May / September / November
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
5. AWS Foundation & Mₐ²JIC High School Internship Program
Location: Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (~10–20 students)
Dates: June 2 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors; must live near Columbus
The AWS Foundation & Mₐ²JIC High School Internship Program places you in a lab environment focused on materials science and welding engineering. You will work on projects that involve constructing, testing, and analyzing different materials under controlled conditions. As part of the process, you’ll learn how to interpret data and evaluate performance metrics. The program also introduces you to research documentation and technical reporting practices. Mentors guide you through each stage, helping you understand both theoretical and applied aspects of engineering. By the end, you present your work through a structured poster and presentation. If you’re looking into free programs for high school students in Ohio with a focus on applied engineering, this program gives you that exposure.
6. Mandel Youth Humanities Academy
Location: Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus (Highland Hills, OH)
Cost/Stipend: Free + $3,150 stipend + laptop + meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (~25–30 students)
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in Northeast Ohio
In the Mandel Youth Humanities Academy, you engage with humanities subjects through structured seminars and applied projects. You will participate in discussions around philosophy, literature, and history, while learning how to analyze complex texts and ideas. The “City as Text” component pushes you to observe and interpret real-world environments as case studies. You also work on digital storytelling and blog writing, which helps you organize and communicate your thoughts clearly. Throughout the program, you collaborate with peers and build arguments supported by evidence.
7. Camp CAR (Ohio State University)
Location: Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (Columbus, OH)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (~25 students)
Dates: July 14 - 18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Camp CAR introduces you to automotive engineering through a mix of lab work, simulations, and applied projects. You will explore how vehicle systems function and how engineers test and improve performance. The program includes hands-on activities where you apply concepts like mechanics and design thinking. You may also interact with simulation tools used in automotive research. Field visits and lab tours help you understand how engineering work is carried out in real settings.
8. Biology Meets Engineering Summer Program (Animals + Robots)
Location: University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
Cost/Stipend: Free / fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – June 18
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students
In the Biology Meets Engineering Summer Program, you explore how biological systems can inform engineering design. You will study how animals use sensory input and then translate those mechanisms into robotic systems. The program combines lab experiments with modeling and prototyping tasks. As you work through projects, you learn how to connect biological observations with engineering solutions. You also develop problem-solving skills by working on interdisciplinary challenges.
9. Pediatric Biomedical Sciences High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Cincinnati, OH)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Expected in November
Eligibility: High school seniors
The Pediatric Biomedical Sciences Internship introduces you to healthcare through a mix of observation and research-based activities. You will shadow medical professionals and observe clinical workflows across different specialties. Alongside this, you participate in simulations and discussions that help you understand medical decision-making. You may also contribute to small-scale research or observational projects. The program concludes with a presentation where you summarize your learning. If you’re exploring free programs for high school students in Ohio in medicine, this gives you a structured clinical perspective.
10. College Credit Plus (Ohio)
Location: Statewide
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Academic year + summer term
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Ohio high school students
In the College Credit Plus program, you take real college courses while still in high school, which changes how you engage with academics. You will work through full syllabi, assignments, and exams that match college-level expectations. Depending on your course, you may use academic databases, analytical frameworks, or subject-specific tools. Over time, you build skills in independent learning and time management. You also get exposure to how college grading systems work. While not strictly a research program, it still fits into free programs for high school students in Ohio because of its academic rigor.
11. Start College Now (Franklin University)
Location: Franklin University (Columbus, OH + online)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Eligibility-based
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: June 1 / Nov 1 / March 1
Eligibility: Grades 7–12
The Start College Now program allows you to take college-level courses with flexible scheduling options. You can choose between online and on-campus classes depending on your preference. The coursework includes assignments, projects, and assessments that reflect real college expectations. You also learn how to manage coursework independently. Over time, you build foundational academic and analytical skills. This makes it one of the more flexible free programs for high school students in Ohio for early academic exposure.
12. Withrow High School Business Pathway
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Eligibility-based
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Withrow High School students
In the Withrow Business Pathway, you complete college-aligned coursework in subjects like accounting, economics, and entrepreneurship. You will work on case studies and problem-solving exercises that reflect real business scenarios. The program also includes mentorship from university students. You get exposure to campus environments and business workflows. Over time, you build both academic and practical business skills.
13. Kent State Design & Technology Summer Camp
Location: Kent State University (Kent, OH)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20–30 students
Dates: July 13 – July 17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
In the Kent State Design & Technology Summer Camp, you explore design concepts through hands-on digital projects. You will work with areas like UX design, motion graphics, and creative coding. The program introduces tools used in digital design workflows. You apply both visual and technical skills in your projects. Over time, you build a basic understanding of design systems. It’s a practical option within free programs for high school students in Ohio for creative technology exposure.
14. GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not stated
Dates: June 1 – August 28
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a biology background
In the GeneLab for High Schools program, you work with real biological datasets using computational tools. You will use JupyterLab notebooks to analyze and interpret data. The program introduces bioinformatics workflows and coding basics. You also learn how to identify patterns and draw conclusions from large datasets. Optional office hours allow you to clarify concepts with experts.
15. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not stated
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive teens
In Kode With Klossy Summer Camps, you learn programming through project-based learning across different tracks. You may build websites, apps, or machine learning models depending on your chosen track. The program introduces programming languages like Python and tools like SQL. You work on projects that require logical thinking and debugging. Collaboration with peers is also part of the process. It complements free programs for high school students in Ohio by strengthening coding fundamentals.
Frequently asked questions
1. What free programs are available for high school students in Ohio?
Options include paid federal research internships, such as AFRL Scholars and Wright Scholar, fully funded research programs, such as Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, biomedical and engineering programs, such as AWS Foundation Internship, Cincinnati Children's Pediatric Biomedical Internship, and UC Biology Meets Engineering, humanities programs, such as Mandel Youth Humanities Academy, early college credit programs, such as College Credit Plus and Start College Now, and virtual coding and AI programs, such as Veritas AI, Kode With Klossy, and NASA GL4HS.
2. Are there free programs in Ohio that also provide stipends or pay?
Yes, AFRL Scholars pays $500 or more per week, Wright Scholar is a paid full-time research position, Mandel Youth Humanities Academy provides a $3,150 stipend plus a laptop and meals, AWS Foundation Internship provides a stipend, and Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is fully funded with no cost to students.
3. Which free Ohio programs are best for students interested in research?
AFRL Scholars, Wright Scholar, AWS Foundation Internship, and Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation all place students in structured research environments, while NASA GL4HS introduces bioinformatics and data analysis using real space biology datasets in a fully virtual format.
4. Are there free programs in Ohio open to students outside the state?
Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, Veritas AI, Kode With Klossy, NASA GL4HS, and Veritas AI are all fully virtual and open to students regardless of location, while AFRL Scholars has placements at multiple bases nationwide beyond Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio.
5. Which free Ohio programs are best for students interested in business or humanities?
Mandel Youth Humanities Academy offers a fully funded humanities experience covering philosophy, literature, digital storytelling, and community analysis, and Withrow High School Business Pathway provides college-aligned coursework in business, economics, and entrepreneurship for enrolled students.
6. When should I apply to free programs for high school students in Ohio?
AFRL Scholars and Wright Scholar both close January 10, AWS Foundation Internship closes February 13, NASA GL4HS closes March 15, and Kode With Klossy closes March 31, so students should begin researching options in the fall and preparing applications over winter break.