10 Fellowships for High School Students
For academically driven students aiming high in their education, getting fellowships is key to navigating the hefty costs of college. Going to university can be financially challenging and not everyone can afford scholarly research programs. That’s why we’ve compiled a useful list of 10 fellowships for high school students to improve your academic profile while also giving you advanced academic and professional exposure at minimal added cost.
Note that these fellowships cover a wide range. Some, while competitive, are free programs that can seriously boost your research aptitude, networking, and leadership skills. Others include a program fee with or without financial aid for a worthwhile experience. However, each fellowship is geared to lend you a hand on your journey before and through college. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
The Davidson Fellow Scholarships target talented high school students presenting projects spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy, or unconventional fields. Evaluations are based on each project’s potential to create a beneficial impact on society. The chosen projects have the chance to secure scholarships ranging from $10,000 to a substantial $50,000! Learn more about this fellowship in our article here.
Fellowship Details: $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000 as a scholarship amount.
Location: NA
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility:
Be 18 or younger as of the application deadline (Note. There is no minimum age for eligibility).
Requires U.S. citizenship, residency, or being a Permanent Resident in the United States, including those on active military duty abroad.
Submissions must showcase substantial work in the specified categories, including the opportunity for two-person teams.
Applicants must validate their original authorship, and attendance at an in-person or virtual awards event is mandatory, accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
The Atlas Fellowship is a unique and prestigious opportunity for high school students to take part in a culture of scientific inquiry with a special focus on artificial intelligence. Up to 100 fellows receive a scholarship amount of $10,000 as well as a fully funded 11-day program in the Bay Area. The program offers 4–7 hours of daily workshops and activities tackling questions such as “What can Bayes’ theorem teach us about generating knowledge?,” and “What can we learn from China’s history about ending global poverty?”
Note: All sessions are optional, allowing participants to determine the value of attending in comparison to other potential activities, like engaging in one-on-one conversations with fellow participants.
Fellowship Details: A $10,000 scholarship, including a completely free (including travel, visas, housing, food, and all other related expenses) 11-day program on topics like AI, epistemology, and personal growth. Learn more about the fellowship here.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Eligibility:
High school students between 13–19 from across the world (including those taking gap years) can apply.
Students who have worked on challenging projects, have explored intellectual topics, or have done well in Olympiads or competitions are encouraged to apply.
Students from nontraditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply!
Earthwatch’s Girls in Science fellowship nurtures teens’ passion for science and technology while boosting their confidence through hands-on environmental research. Launched in 2016, the program has sponsored 70 high school girls, providing them with fully-funded opportunities to conduct scientific research alongside female experts. Equipped with high-tech tools, these young women are pivotal in gathering vital data to address global environmental challenges. In previous program, the expedition is focused on restoring Sierra Meadows led by Rachel Hutchinson.
Note: Applications to apply open on January 15.
Fellowship Details: The expedition is a 7-day trip that includes accommodations, food, and all related research costs. Funding is secured through volunteer contributions.
Location: Tahoe National Forest, California
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility:
Be 15–18 and sophomores or juniors in high school upon applying.
Live in and attend school in the state of California, or attend Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie, Oregon.
Identify as female or nonbinary*
The Lumiere Research Fellowship offers a comprehensive 6 to 12-month program designed to immerse participants in an enriching research experience. Throughout this duration, fellows engage in a series of personalized sessions structured to elevate their academic research journey. Students get to collaborate one-on-one with esteemed researchers, delving deep into specialized subjects. They refine their writing skills with dedicated guidance, participate in workshops honing their understanding of the research process, and publish and present their paper at a college-level journal or esteemed competition/conference.
Note: Choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Fellowship Details: NA
Location: Remote
Application Deadline: To be announced for cohorts. Lumiere Programs run at least four times a year, with Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter sessions. You can find more details on the dates and application deadlines here.
Eligibility:
Should currently be in high school or intending to start college as a freshman in the fall.
A strong academic record is essential, typically reflected in an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.
No prior expertise in your chosen field is necessary!
The High School Fellowship is a competitive program offered by the Historic Santa Fe Foundation that invites a total of 8 juniors and seniors to delve into Santa Fe’s history and modern-day concerns alongside local experts in history, archaeology, and preservation trades. Throughout the academic year, students will convene at historic sites across Santa Fe. Here, they’ll engage in discussions about the city’s built heritage, cultural happenings, and present-day conversations on history and preservation while working on a research paper. Culminating the program, students will present their capstone projects to the public.
Fellowship Details: A $500 stipend is paid to each fellow upon completion of the program including attending all sessions, submitting research, and presenting capstone work.
Application Deadline: To be announced.
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Eligibility:
Applicants must be in 11th or 12th grade during the fellowship.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is necessary.
Applicants must reside in Santa Fe County or the surrounding area.
The Albrecht Fellowship run by the World Trade Center Institute, welcomes sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates aspiring for global careers. Participants delve into diverse topics like sustainability and disinformation, honing leadership skills, and cross-cultural awareness. Engaging sessions will be led by WTCI-affiliated experts from global entities like The Institute of Marine Environmental Technology and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Fellowship Details: The program fee is $495 but scholarships are available on a competitive basis. If you are interested in scholarships, email fellowships@wtci.org after completing your application.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Location: In-person only. NA
Eligibility:
Applicants can be a sophomore, junior, senior, or recent graduate.
Encouraged for students who wish to pursue careers with a global scope, whether as diplomats in multinational corporations or by contributing to nonprofit organizations with worldwide missions.
The Jackson Laboratory invites high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate students to apply for research fellowships. Limited in-person, hybrid and fully remote opportunities exist across Maine and Connecticut campuses. Students acquire essential technical skills and foster problem-solving abilities, effective scientific communication, time management, and teamwork. Throughout the fellowship, they engage in all research facets — from experimental design to data analysis and result reporting. Mentored by JAX faculty, postdocs, and biomedical research professionals, students craft independent projects aligned with the lab’s research.
Note: Commitment to a full academic year is mandatory; partial-year fellowships are not offered. A minimum of 180 hours at the Laboratory is required for all fellows.
Fellowship Details: Students are not paid a stipend. Enrollment in an independent study or research program, eligible for academic credit, is necessary concurrently with the JAX fellowship.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Location: Limited in-person, hybrid, and fully remote opportunities across Bar Harbor, Maine, or Farmington, Connecticut.
Eligibility:
High school juniors (minimum age 16) or seniors in good standing at a nearby high school may apply.
In-person or hybrid fellowships are available for high school students aged 16 and above.
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas High School Fellowship Program provides fully funded, immersive arts education for qualified high school students in New Haven. This semester-long college-level course enriches students’ communication and critical thinking abilities by involving them in the Festival’s various dimensions — performances, lectures, community engagement, production, and management. Conducted through weekly seminars at Gateway Community College and diverse arts-related activities, the program equips Fellows with valuable skills setting a strong foundation for future career prospects.
Fellowship Details: Fellows participate in fully-funded 3-hour weekly seminars every Wednesday on campus, along with engaging field trips to various performances and events. They shadow Festival staff volunteering within diverse local communities. In a two-week run, fellows attend over 30 events.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Location: Gateway Community College, New Haven, Connecticut
Eligibility:
Applicants must be high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors.
Applicants must reside in or around New Haven.
The Morton Arboretum offers an introductory internship ideal for undergraduates and high school students (16+) eager to explore tree science with hands-on research. Tailored for those with limited experience, this opportunity provides first-hand engagement in ongoing research, mentorship from seasoned scientists, and exposure to diverse scientific fields such as climate change solutions, biodiversity, natural resource management, and urban life.
Fellowship Details: NA. The internship covers laboratory, computer, and outdoor field experiences.
Application Deadline: NA
Location: Lisle, Illinois
Eligibility:
High school students aged 16 and above and first and second-year undergraduate students.
Individuals from schools and universities with limited research opportunities.
Groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM programs, persons with disabilities, and veterans currently enrolled in an undergraduate program are encouraged to apply.
The Morgridge Acceleration Program (MAP) is a fellowship that spans six months, catering to early-to-mid-career individuals passionate about social impact. It offers skill enhancement, expansive networking, and collaboration with influential nonprofit leaders known as MAP Mentors, who present real-world challenges for Fellows to solve. Alongside driving nonprofit impact, MAP Fellows receive elite mentorship, travel, speaking engagements, networking prospects, and access to a close-knit supportive community.
Fellowship Details: The Morgridge Family Foundation (MFF) will cover all travel, meals, and lodging expenses for fellows. It will offer up to $5,000 to each nonprofit and manage all fellowship programming and logistics, excluding fellow site visits’ scheduling and coordination. It will also amplify cohort accomplishments through content publication and conduct a lead program evaluation and impact assessment.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Location: Multiple locations throughout the U.S.
Eligibility:
No minimum age to apply.
MAP fellows must live in the United States and be able to travel domestically as outlined by the program.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1–1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Davidson Fellows logo