# Free Coding Programs for High School Students Free coding programs — nonprofit bootcamps, corporate-sponsored academies, open online intensives — mean a serious programming credential without a course fee. Every free coding program asks the same implicit question: what have you built? A small finished project beats a long list of tutorials. 41 verified programs match this page; 30 of the featured listings are free; 16 can be done online. ## Programs (41 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [PennApps Hackathon](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/pennapps-hackathon) | University of Pennsylvania | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2026-08-18 | | [NASA International Space Apps Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasa-space-apps-challenge) | NASA | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Kaggle Data Science Competitions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/kaggle-competitions) | Kaggle/Google | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Code.org Hour of Code Champions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/codeorg-hour-code-champions) | Code.org | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Google Code Jam to I/O](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/google-code-jam-to-io) | Google | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [GitHub Open Source Contributor](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/github-notable-contributor) | GitHub / Open Source Projects | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Google Summer of Code (Pre-University Contributor)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/google-summer-of-code-pre-university-contributor) | Google | Free | virtual | Grades 11–12 | 2027-04-05 | | [Lockheed Martin Code Quest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/lockheed-martin-code-quest) | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-15 | | [NASA App Development Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasa-app-development-challenge) | NASA | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-01 | | [Google Code Next Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/code-next) | Google | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-08-13 | | [CodeCombat Championship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/usa-code-combat) | CodeCombat | Free | virtual | Grades 6–12 | 2027-04-01 | | [National STEM Video Game Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stem-video-game-challenge) | Entertainment Software Association Foundation | Free | virtual | Grades 5–12 | Rolling | | [Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/girls-who-code-summer-immersion-program) | Girls Who Code | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | Rolling | | [RoboMaster Robotics Competition for Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robomaster) | DJI RoboMaster | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Codeforces Rounds](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/codeforces-competitions) | Codeforces | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [MIT Battlecode](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-battlecode) | MIT | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-10 | | [Zero Robotics Programming Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/zero-robotics-programming-competition) | MIT/NASA | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-28 | | [TopCoder Algorithm Competitions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/topcoder-algorithm-competitions) | TopCoder | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [NYU Tandon CS4CS](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nyu-tandon-cs4cs) | NYU Tandon School of Engineering | Free | in_person | 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 | | [Technovation Families](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/technovation-families) | Technovation | Free | virtual | Grades 8–18 | Rolling | | [Intel oneAPI Developer Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/intel-oneapi-developer-challenge) | Intel Corporation | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Code Nation Summer Labs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/code-nation-summer) | Code Nation | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–11 | 2027-04-01 | | [Code in Place - Stanford](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/code-in-place-stanford) | Stanford University | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-08 | | [Carnegie Mellon CS Scholars (CSS)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/carnegie-mellon-cs-scholars-css) | Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-02-01 | | [Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/microsoft-imagine-cup) | Microsoft | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-01 | | [Zero Robotics Competition (MIT/NASA)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/zero-robotics-competition-mitnasa) | MIT / NASA | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-21 | | [Apple WWDC Student Challenge Winner](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/apple-wwdc-student-challenge-winner) | Apple Inc. | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-27 | | [VEX Robotics Competition (VRC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/vex-robotics-competition-vrc) | Robotics Education & Competition Foundation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-19 | | [Project Euler Online Math Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/project-euler) | Project Euler | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many free coding programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 41 verified free coding opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these free coding 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: Google Code Next Program (August 13, 2026); PennApps Hackathon (August 18, 2026); NASA International Space Apps Challenge (October 1, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### How do I get into a free coding 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) - [Coding Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/coding) - [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/coding 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.