# Free AI & Machine Learning Programs for High School Students Funded AI programs are the fastest-growing corner of the catalog: research mentorships, machine-learning bootcamps, and ethics-of-AI institutes that cost nothing to attend. AI moves fast enough that a current project matters more than a certificate — use a free program here to build one thing you can demo by application season. 25 verified programs match this page; 25 of the featured listings are free; 11 can be done online. ## Programs (25 total) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Presidential AI Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/presidential-ai-challenge) | White House Office of Science and Technology Policy | Free | virtual | Grades 1–12 | 2027-01-20 | | [Microsoft AI for Good Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ai-for-good-microsoft) | Microsoft | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-31 | | [World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/waicy-ai-competition) | Ready AI | Free | virtual | Grades 6–12 | 2026-11-10 | | [Kaggle Data Science Competitions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/kaggle-competitions) | Kaggle/Google | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Stanford AI4ALL](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stanford-ai4all) | Stanford University | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-02-06 | | [MIT Global AI Hackathon](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-global-ai-hackathon) | MIT RAISE & App Inventor Foundation | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-14 | | [International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-olympiad-ai) | IOAI Foundation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-06-01 | | [MIT Battlecode](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-battlecode) | MIT | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-10 | | [Roborace Autonomous Racing Series](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/roborace) | Roborace Holdings Limited | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [NWEA Data Science for Everyone Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nwea-data-science-for-everyone) | NWEA | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-15 | | [SECME AI Contest (High School)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/secme-ai-contest-hs) | SECME | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-30 | | [MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-beaver-works-summer-institute-bwsi) | MIT Lincoln Laboratory & MIT School of Engineering | Free | hybrid | Grade 11 | 2027-03-31 | | [Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/carnegie-mellon-ai-scholars) | Carnegie Mellon University | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [Intel oneAPI Developer Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/intel-oneapi-developer-challenge) | Intel Corporation | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [DARPA Grand Challenge (Autonomous Vehicles)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/darpa-grand-challenge) | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Technovation Girls](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/technovation-girls) | Technovation | Free | hybrid | Grades 6–12 | 2027-03-18 | | [AI4ALL Summer Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ai4all-summer-program) | AI4ALL | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–11 | 2027-02-15 | | [AIcrowd Challenges](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/aicrowd-challenges) | AIcrowd | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-07-31 | | [Horizon Academic AI Essay Prize](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/horizon-academic-ai-essay) | Horizon Academic | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-07-13 | | [NVIDIA AI City Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nvidia-ai-challenge) | NVIDIA | Free | virtual | Grades 10–12 | 2026-07-10 | | [Princeton AI4ALL](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/princeton-ai4all) | Princeton University | Free | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-04-09 | | [Summer Match Me Pre-College Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/summer-match-me-pre-college-program) | Summer Match Me | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Veritas AI x Sports Deep Dive](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/veritas-ai-sports-deep-dive) | Veritas AI + Sports | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Veritas AI Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/veritas-ai-program) | Veritas AI | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [CMU AI Scholars (AI4ALL)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/cmu-ai-scholars-ai4all) | Carnegie Mellon University | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-01 | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many free ai & machine learning programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 25 verified free ai & machine learning opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these free ai & machine learning programs free? Yes — 25 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: NVIDIA AI City Challenge (July 10, 2026); Horizon Academic AI Essay Prize (July 13, 2026); AIcrowd Challenges (July 31, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### How do I get into a free ai & machine learning program? Funded programs select on demonstrated interest, not credentials you don't have yet: a short portfolio, a class project, or a clear essay about why this subject beats a stronger application from a student who never says why. Apply to several — free seats fill fast. ## Related pages - [Free for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free) - [AI & Machine Learning Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ai) - [Free STEM Programs for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free/stem) - [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars) - [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit) --- Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free/ai 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.