# Debate & Speech Programs & Competitions for High School Students

Debate remains one of the most respected humanities extracurriculars: national circuits in Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Congressional debate, plus speech events and summer debate institutes.

Sustained debate achievement signals exactly what selective colleges want — research ability, argumentation, and composure under pressure.

62 verified programs match this page; 15 of the featured listings are free; 2 can be done online.

## Programs (62 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page)

| Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Tournament of Champions Qualifier](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/toc-qualifier) | Tournament of Champions | $800 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-01 |
| [Tournament of Champions Debate](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/tournament-of-champions) | Various | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-17 |
| [Glenbrooks Debate Tournament](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/glenbrooks-debate) | Glenbrook Schools | $300 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-13 |
| [World Schools Debating Championships](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/world-schools-debating-championships) | World Schools Debating Council | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-06-24 |
| [US Universities Debating Championship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/us-universities-debating-championship) | American Parliamentary Debate Association | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-23 |
| [International Young Physicists' Tournament](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-young-physicists-tournament) | International Young Physicists' Tournament Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-25 |
| [Atlas Fellowship — High School Philosophy & Economics](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/atlas-fellowships-high-school-philosophy) | Atlas Society / Atlas Fellowship | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-23 |
| [Economics for Leaders](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/economics-for-leaders) | Foundation for Teaching Economics | $2,300 | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-04-15 |
| [Frank Anthony Memorial All-India Debate](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/the-frank-anthony-memorial-all-india-inter-school-debate) | Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-27 |
| [Underline Space Roundtable](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/underline-space-roundtable) | Space Minds Center | Free | virtual | All grades | Rolling |
| [Emory Barkley Forum for High Schools](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/emory-barkley-forum-for-high-schools) | Emory University | $50 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-01 |
| [Yale Model Government Europe (YMGE)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-model-government-europe-ymge) | Yale International Relations Association | $125 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-15 |
| [National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-speech-and-debate-association-tournament) | National Speech & Debate Association | $400 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-15 |
| [Science on Tap Student Science Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/science-on-tap) | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [European Youth Parliament (USA Sessions)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/european-youth-parliament-usa-sessions) | European Youth Parliament Network | $300 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-15 |
| [Pan African Universities Debating Championship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/pan-african-universities-debating-championship) | Pan African Universities Debating Council | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [Empire Mock Trial](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/empire-mock-trial) | Empire Mock Trial | $100 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-06-10 |
| [Greenhill Fall Classic](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/greenhill-fall-classic) | Greenhill School | $250 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-08-27 |
| [Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/harvard-model-united-nations-hmun) | Harvard International Relations Council | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 |
| [World Schools Debate Championship US Team](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/world-schools-debate-championship-us-team) | World Schools Debate | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-06-24 |
| [Yale Invitational Debate Tournament](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-invitational) | Yale University | $250 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-09-25 |
| [ILMUNC (Ivy League Model United Nations Conference)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ilmunc-ivy-league-model-united-nations-conference) | University of Pennsylvania International Affairs Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-31 |
| [We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/we-the-people-the-citizen-and-the-constitution) | Center for Civic Education | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-01 |
| [Capitol Forum Debate & Speech](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/captial-forum-debate) | Capitol Forum | $200 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-15 |
| [National High School Ethics Bowl](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-high-school-ethics-bowl) | University of North Carolina Parr Center for Ethics | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-18 |
| [Princeton Model United Nations Conference (PMUNC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/princeton-model-united-nations-conference-pmunc) | Princeton International Relations Council | $100 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-04 |
| [Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition (CMUNCE)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/columbia-model-united-nations-conference-and-exposition-cmunce) | Columbia International Relations Council and Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-29 |
| [North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/naimun-georgetown) | Georgetown International Relations Association | $100 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-26 |
| [Stanford National Forensic Institute (SNFI)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stanford-national-forensic-institute-snfi) | Stanford Debate | $3,600 | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-25 |
| [Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/harvard-debate-council-summer-workshops) | Harvard Debate Council | $3,400 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |

## Frequently asked questions

### How many debate & speech programs are listed for high school students?

ExtracurricularHub currently lists 62 verified debate & speech opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link.

### Are any of these debate & speech programs free?

Yes — 15 of the programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Free programs are often funded and can be more selective, so apply early.

### Which deadlines are coming up soonest?

The next deadlines: Greenhill Fall Classic (August 27, 2026); Yale Invitational Debate Tournament (September 25, 2026); Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) (October 1, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site.

### Do debate & speech extracurriculars help with college admissions?

Yes — sustained, escalating involvement in debate & speech (participation → awards or leadership → independent work) reads far stronger than scattered one-off activities. Pick one or two programs from this page and go deep.

## Related pages

- [Model UN Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/model-united-nations)
- [Leadership for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/leadership)
- [Writing Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/writing)
- [Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/competitions)
- [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars)
- [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit)

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Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/debate
Source: ExtracurricularHub (https://extracurricularhub.com) — a free directory of 1,826 verified extracurricular programs for high school students. Cite the canonical page above; always confirm binding details on each program's official site.