15 Math Programs for High School Students in Oregon
If you are a high school student interested in math, structured programs are a great way to build on what you learn in the classroom and take your skills further. Through structured coursework, research projects, and problem-solving, these programs can help you develop practical skills in areas such as data analysis, mathematical modeling, proof writing, and computational thinking. Beyond the academics, many of these programs are offered by well-known universities and organizations, which means you also get access to mentors, peers who share your interests, and connections that can carry weight when it comes time to apply to college.
Why should you attend a Math program in Oregon?
Reputable universities and organizations across Oregon offer math programs specifically designed for high school students. Through these programs, you might work on applied math projects, explore topics such as statistics and probability, participate in math competitions, engage in research alongside university faculty, or gain experience with programming tools used in data science. Whether you live in Oregon or are looking to explore programs outside your home state, there are solid options here that offer both academic depth and a chance to get a feel for university-level work.
With that, we've narrowed down our list to 15 math programs for high school students in Oregon.
If you’re looking for programs in Oregon, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span AI and machine learning, math competitions, proof-based reasoning, applied mathematical modeling, college-credit coursework, and community research, so students with a wide range of math interests can find a relevant option in Oregon or online.
Several programs are free, including UO SAIL Business Economics and Math, Oregon MESA, Corvallis Math Circles, Reed College MathFest, Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament, OSU SMILE, Oregon Young Scholars Program, and Oregon Regional Math Contests, making strong math opportunities accessible regardless of financial background.
Many programs specifically prioritize Oregon residents or students from underrepresented backgrounds, including Oregon MESA (historically underrepresented students), Oregon Young Scholars Program (first-generation, Pell-eligible, and underrepresented students from partner schools), and UO SAIL (Oregon residents meeting financial eligibility criteria).
Programs vary significantly in length and format, from single-day competitions and tournaments, such as Reed MathFest, EOU Regional Competition, and OIMT, to year-round school-based programs, such as Oregon MESA and OSU SMILE, so students can choose based on their schedule and goals.
Several competitions have spring deadlines, including Reed MathFest (April 3), EOU Regional Competition (March 27), OIMT (May 5), and Eugene Math Circle (March 16), so students should identify relevant programs early in the school year and prepare in advance.
1. UO SAIL: Business, Economics & Math
Location: University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: One week during the summer
Deadline: Registrations close when seats fill
Eligibility: Oregon residents currently enrolled in high school; must meet low-income financial eligibility criteria (SNAP, WIC, TANF, Pell Grant-eligible, or similar); day program open to rising 9th–12th graders; residential program for rising 11th–12th graders only
SAIL offers several academic tracks, and the Business, Economics & Math option is the one to look at if you want a genuine math experience. The track is built around the idea that abstract reasoning has real, surprising applications, and faculty use interactive games and activities to make that case, whether that's working through the logic of a game like rock, paper, scissors, or figuring out the fairest way to divide something. The program is intentionally multidisciplinary, so you'll also hear from UO faculty across different departments throughout the week, giving you a clearer sense of what college-level learning actually feels like.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Oregon MESA
Location: Statewide, Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: School year
Deadline: Enrollment varies by school
Eligibility: Historically underrepresented middle and high school students in grades 5–12
Oregon MESA, which stands for Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement, is a school-year program offered directly at participating schools across Oregon, designed for historically underrepresented students in grades 5 through 12. The goal is to remove as many barriers to access as possible so that the students who can benefit most aren't the ones left out. Weekly one-hour chapter meetings follow an NGSS-aligned curriculum that covers problem identification, idea generation, physical prototyping, iterative problem-solving, cooperative work, and public speaking. Beyond the weekly meetings, MESA connects you to a broader network of business mentors and professionals who volunteer their time to work with students. Family engagement is also built into the program, extending the learning beyond the classroom.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote; you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as math, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Corvallis Math Circles
Location: Corvallis High School and select Corvallis school sites, Corvallis, Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Beginning the week of April 6
Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Open to Corvallis-area students in grades 3–12; all high school students are explicitly welcome
The Corvallis Math Circles program is run by Oregon State University Mathematics faculty and grad students, and the HS sessions take place right at Corvallis High School during the spring term. Rather than drilling formulas or test prep, the sessions focus on group problem-solving in areas like combinatorics, probability, logic, and modeling, topics that complement what you're studying in school.
6. Reed College F.L. Griffin MathFest
Location: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: April 18
Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: Open to high school students; enthusiasm for mathematics required
Reed College's mathematics and statistics programs each year focus on a single mathematical topic that sits outside the standard high school curriculum. Past workshops have covered infinity, graph theory, probability, knot theory, Catalan combinatorics, and Turing machines, among others. The format is hands-on, not lecture-heavy. You'll work through problems alongside other students and teachers, guided by Reed math professors. There's also time to meet Reed math majors and ask them directly what studying math in college is actually like, which is genuinely useful if you're thinking about the subject as a potential major.
7. Southern Oregon Mathematics League (SOML)
Location: Stevenson Union, Southern Oregon University campus, Ashland, Oregon
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: Five competition meets throughout the school year: October 20, November 17, February 9, March 9, and April 13
Deadline: Contact SOU Youth Programs or your school's math department to register
Eligibility: High school students at participating Southern Oregon schools; new schools are welcome to reach out to SOU to join the league
The Southern Oregon Mathematics League is a five-meet competition series hosted by the Southern Oregon University Mathematics Department in Ashland. Each meet covers a different set of mathematical topics across the season; you'll work through geometry, linear and quadratic equations, systems of equations, logic, ratios, statistics, trig applications, logarithms, and number sense, among others. Every meet includes both individual events and a surprise team component, with scores accumulating across all five meets and awards presented at the final competition in the spring.
8. Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament (OIMT)
Location: Rotating host universities; hosted at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Cost: Free (invitation-based)
Program Dates: May 16
Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 and above who qualify via a top 12% finish at an OCTM regional competition, or an AMC-10 or AMC-12 score of 80 or higher
The Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament is the statewide competition for Oregon's top high school math students, hosted in rotation by the mathematics departments of Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Willamette University. This one is invitation-only; to qualify, you need to finish in the top 12% at a regional OCTM competition, or score 80 or above on the AMC-10 or AMC-12. Once you've earned an invitation, you can compete in one of four individual exam tracks: Algebra 2, Geometry, Open I (advanced, no calculus), or Open II (advanced, includes calculus). There's also a separate group exam that tests logic and collaborative problem-solving, and any invited student can sign up for it regardless of which individual category they're in.
9. EOU Regional High School Mathematics Competition
Location: Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon
Cost: $35 per team
Program Dates: April 14
Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 at Eastern Oregon high schools, charter schools, and home schools; small schools may include 7th graders to complete a team
The EOU Regional High School Mathematics Competition is an OCTM-organized event held annually at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, and it serves two purposes: it's both a competitive math event in its own right and the qualifying pathway for the state-level OCTM math tournament. The regional competition includes six categories: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus, while the state event focuses on the four upper-level categories. Top finishers on the state qualifying exams in levels III–VI earn invitations to the state tournament. The day begins with individual qualifying exams followed by team events like Math Bee, Solve That Problem, and Math Relay, each testing a different combination of speed, accuracy, and collaboration. First-place finishers in each category receive a $1,000 EOU scholarship.
10. Eugene Math Circle
Location: University of Oregon campus, Eugene, Oregon
Cost: $325 per term
Program Dates: Spring session: Upper Division III meets April 1 through June 3
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Open to grades 10–12 for the Upper Division III track; no prior advanced math experience required
The Eugene Math Circle is an after-school program that covers territory standard classroom curricula rarely touch. For high school students, the Upper Division III sessions run on Wednesday evenings and focus on collaborative problem-solving, mathematical games, and student-led presentations, all within topics like combinatorics, probability, geometry, and logic. Whether you're working toward math competitions or just want more of a challenge than your current coursework offers, this is a low-pressure environment to find that.
11. OSU SMILE (Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences)
Location: Rural schools across Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Throughout the school year; club meetings held regularly at participating sites
Deadline: Contact your school or OSU SMILE to find out if a club is active near you
Eligibility: Oregon students in grades 4–12 at participating schools
SMILE is a school-year enrichment program that brings hands-on math and science experiences directly to rural Oregon schools through after-school clubs. OSU specifically designed SMILE to run at the school site itself, so rural students don't have to travel to access quality STEM programming. The program is designed to complement rather than repeat what you're already doing in class, and it builds toward college preparation and career exploration alongside the subject content itself. You will get a clearer picture of what STEM pathways can look like after high school.
12. Oregon Young Scholars Program
Location: University of Oregon campus, Eugene, Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Check website for latest information
Deadline: Students are identified and recruited from partner schools in 8th grade
Eligibility: Rising Oregon high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from partner schools in Portland and Eugene-Springfield; priority for first-generation, Pell-eligible, and historically underrepresented students
The Oregon Young Scholars Program is a four-year college-preparation program run by the University of Oregon, where students come to the UO campus in Eugene each summer for a residential experience that builds both academic skills and college-readiness. Each summer, you attend intensive classes in math and writing alongside coursework in a chosen area of emphasis, which includes tracks in STEM and the fine arts. The program is designed to make a college campus feel like a place you belong before you even apply. Beyond the academic coursework, OYSP covers the practical side of getting to college: understanding the application process, financial aid, and what college actually costs. You’ll also receive school-year support through tutors, college prep guidance, and well-being check-ins, so the program isn't limited to summer.
13. PSU Challenge Program’s Math Courses
Location: Various participating Oregon high schools across the Portland metro area
Cost: $224.40 per 4-credit course
Program Dates: School year
Deadline: September 30 for fall/first semester enrollment; February 17 for winter/spring enrollment
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at a participating Oregon school; math prerequisites vary by course (pre-calculus required for statistics; MTH 112Z required for calculus sequences)
The PSU Challenge Program brings Portland State University courses directly into Oregon high schools, and for students interested in math, it's one of the most practical ways to access real college-level coursework without leaving your own campus. Depending on your school, the math offerings can include Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Statistics, Sequences and Series, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Mathematics, all taught in your high school classroom by an instructor aligned with PSU's curriculum. You earn both high school credit and official PSU college credit for the same course at a fraction of the cost of college tuition. Schools like Jesuit offer an especially strong lineup, like Calculus IV and V, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Mathematics, alongside the standard calculus and statistics sequences.
14. Oregon High School Regional Math Contests
Location: Various community colleges and universities across Oregon
Cost: Free
Program Dates: February through April
Deadline: Participation is coordinated through your school's math department or the contact person at the nearest regional site
Eligibility: High school students in Oregon
The Oregon High School Regional Math Contests are a statewide network of qualifying competitions held at community colleges and universities across Oregon each spring. Contests run from February through April, and top performers at each regional site earn a spot at the Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament (OIMT) held at Oregon State University in May. Each site is run by a local faculty coordinator, so the best way to get involved is to ask your school's math teacher; they'll know which regional site is closest to you and how to register.
15. Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Online School
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: Year-round; classes start on a rolling basis throughout the year
Deadline: Varies by class; rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in grades 5–12; most high school-level courses are open to students in grades 8–12
The Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Online School offers structured math courses for students who want to go well beyond what's covered in a typical school curriculum. Course offerings range from pre-algebra and introductory algebra to calculus, olympiad geometry, group theory, and deep competition preparation for AMC 10, AMC 12, AIME, and beyond. Classes are live and taught by experienced instructors, and you're learning alongside other students who are equally serious about math. For students aiming at national or international olympiads, AoPS offers Worldwide Online Olympiad Training (WOOT) programs in mathematics, computer science, physics, and chemistry, designed and taught by former competition medalists.
Frequently asked questions
1. What math programs are available for high school students in Oregon?
Options include free math enrichment programs, such as Corvallis Math Circles and Eugene Math Circle, competition programs, such as SOML, EOU Regional Competition, and OIMT, school-year STEM programs, such as Oregon MESA and OSU SMILE, college-credit programs, such as PSU Challenge Program, AI and data science programs, such as Veritas AI and Lumiere, and online competition preparation, such as Art of Problem Solving.
2. Are there free math programs for high school students in Oregon?
Yes, UO SAIL, Oregon MESA, Corvallis Math Circles, Reed MathFest, OIMT, OSU SMILE, and Oregon High School Regional Math Contests are all free. Oregon Young Scholars Program is also free for eligible students identified through partner schools. Veritas AI and Lumiere Research Scholar Program offer full financial aid for qualifying students.
3. Which Oregon math programs are best for students interested in competition math?
Students interested in competition math might consider Southern Oregon Mathematics League for a five-meet school-year series, Oregon High School Regional Math Contests as the qualifying pathway for the state-level OIMT, Art of Problem Solving for structured online preparation for AMC, AIME, and olympiad-level competitions, and AwesomeMath Academy for weekly competition-style sessions targeting AMC and AIME.
4. Which programs in Oregon offer college credit to high school students?
PSU Challenge Program offers official Portland State University credits in courses, such as Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Mathematics, taught directly in participating Oregon high schools at a fraction of college tuition. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program produces an independent research paper that strengthens college applications, and AoPS courses provide rigorous academic preparation recognized by competitive universities.
5. When should I apply to math programs for high school students in Oregon?
Reed MathFest closes April 3, EOU Regional Competition closes March 27, Eugene Math Circle spring enrollment closes March 16, and OIMT closes May 5. Oregon MESA, OSU SMILE, and PSU Challenge Program have school-year enrollment processes that typically begin in the fall. Programs, such as Veritas AI, Lumiere, and AoPS, accept rolling applications throughout the year. Students should identify competitions and programs of interest at the start of the school year and plan accordingly.