# Free Biology Programs for High School Students Free biology means funded lab benches: NIH-adjacent programs, university research placements, and genetics institutes that cover costs so talent, not tuition, decides who attends. Lab seats are the bottleneck, not money — funded bio programs fill on mentor capacity, so a specific “why this lab” paragraph beats a generic love-of-science essay. 35 verified programs match this page; 30 of the featured listings are free; 4 can be done online. ## Programs (35 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [YES! Teen Internship Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yes-teen-internship-program) | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-20 | | [USA Biolympiad (USABO) National Camp](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/usa-biolympiad-usabo-national-camp) | Center for Excellence in Education | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-08 | | [GSA High School Research Contest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/genetics-society-america-award) | Genetics Society of America | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-04 | | [Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program - High School Application](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/jackson-laboratory-summer-student-program-high-school-application) | The Jackson Laboratory | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2027-01-26 | | [Genomics Research Internship Program (GRIP)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/genomics-research-internship-program-grip) | Stanford University Department of Genetics | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-28 | | [High School Research Academy (HRA)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/high-school-research-academy-hra) | The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences | Free | hybrid | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-22 | | [Simons Summer Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/simons-summer-research-program) | Stony Brook University | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-05 | | [Monell Science Apprenticeship Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/monell-science-apprenticeship-program) | Monell Chemical Senses Center | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2026-12-18 | | [Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/science-research-mentoring-program-srmp) | American Museum of Natural History | Free | hybrid | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-01 | | [International Brain Bee - USA Finals](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-brain-bee-usa-finals) | International Brain Bee | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-30 | | [WCS High School Internship Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/wildlife-conservation-society) | Wildlife Conservation Society | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [Heithoff-Brody High School Summer Scholars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/heithoff-brody-high-school-summer-scholars) | Salk Institute for Biological Studies | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-03-01 | | [Partners for the Future](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/partners-for-the-future) | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | Free | in_person | Grade 12 | 2027-03-15 | | [International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Team USA](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-biology-olympiad-ibo-team-usa) | Center for Excellence in Education | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-19 | | [National Science Bowl (High School)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-science-bowl-high-school) | U.S. Department of Energy | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-10 | | [USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/usa-biology-olympiad-usabo) | Center for Excellence in Education | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-08 | | [AMNH Science Research Mentoring Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/american-museum-natural-history) | American Museum of Natural History | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-01 | | [UCSC Summer Session: Science Internship Program (SIP)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ucsc-summer-session-science-internship-program-sip) | University of California, Santa Cruz | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-26 | | [Summer Cancer Research Experience Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/summer-cancer-research-experience-program) | Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-01-31 | | [Thermo Fisher Scientific Antibody Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/thermo-fisher-antibody-scholarship) | Thermo Fisher Scientific | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2027-05-05 | | [Stony Brook Simons Summer Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stony-brook-simons-summer-research-program) | Stony Brook University | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-02-05 | | [Governor's School in the Sciences (NJGSS)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/governors-school-in-the-sciences-njgss) | Drew University | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-01-15 | | [Urban Barcode Research Program (UBRP)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/urban-barcode-research-program-ubrp) | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-26 | | [Whitehead Institute High School Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/whitehead-institute-high-school-research-program) | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [International Young Naturalists Tournament (IYNT)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-young-naturalists-tournament-iynt) | IYNT | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-01 | | [Broad Institute Scientific Internship Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/broad-institute-scientific-internship-program) | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-01-20 | | [Salk Institute High School Research Scholars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/salk-institute-high-school-research-scholars) | Salk Institute for Biological Studies | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-03-01 | | [Breakthrough Junior Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/breakthrough-junior-challenge) | Breakthrough Prize Foundation | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-09-15 | | [Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stanford-institutes-of-medicine-summer-research-program-simr) | Stanford University School of Medicine | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-20 | | [Genes in Space Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/genes-in-space-competition) | miniPCR Bio | Free | virtual | Grades 7–12 | 2027-04-10 | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many free biology programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 35 verified free biology opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these free biology programs free? Yes — 30 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: Breakthrough Junior Challenge (September 15, 2026); USA Biolympiad (USABO) National Camp (November 8, 2026); USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) (November 8, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### How do I get into a free biology 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) - [Biology Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/biology) - [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/biology 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.