# Free Debate Programs for High School Students Debate is famously pay-to-play once travel and camp fees add up — this page is the exception: free institutes, urban debate leagues, and funded speech programs. Free debate camps select on commitment: a season of tournament results, even small ones, is the strongest thing you can put in the application. 32 verified programs match this page; 30 of the featured listings are free; 2 can be done online. ## Programs (32 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Tournament of Champions Debate](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/tournament-of-champions) | Various | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-17 | | [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 | | [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 | | [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 | | [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 | | [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 | | [Underline Space Roundtable](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/underline-space-roundtable) | Space Minds Center | Free | virtual | All grades | Rolling | | [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 | | [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 | | [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 | | [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 | | [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 | | [Kathmandu Debates Championship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/kathmandu-debates) | Kathmandu Debates | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Philippine Schools Debate Championship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/philippine-schools-debate-championship) | Ateneo Debate Society | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/american-legion-national-high-school-oratorical-contest) | The American Legion | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-07 | | [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 | | [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 | | [Heart of Europe Debating Tournament](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/heart-of-europe-debating-tournament) | Heart of Europe Debating Tournament, z.s. | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-speech-debate-association-honor-society) | NSDA | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Yale Model Congress (YMC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-model-congress-ymc) | Yale Model Congress | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-01 | | [National Speech & Debate Association National Tournament Finalist](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-speech-debate-association-national-tournament-finalist) | National Speech & Debate Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-15 | | [International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Debate](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-public-policy-forum-ippf-debate) | The Brewer Foundation & New York University | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-15 | | [Yale Model United Nations (YMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-model-united-nations-ymun) | Yale International Relations Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-07-03 | | [MoMA High School Internship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/moma-high-school-internship) | The Museum of Modern Art | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-15 | | [ESU Schools' Mace Debating Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/esu-schools-mace) | The English-Speaking Union | Free | in_person | Grades 9–13 | 2026-09-16 | | [American Legion Oratorical Contest National Finalist](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/american-legion-oratorical-contest-national-finalist) | The American Legion | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-06 | | [Boca Raton Museum of Art](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/boca-raton-museum-of-art) | Boca Raton Museum of Art | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [U.S. High School Policy Debate](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/policy-debate-competitions-in-the-united-states) | National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-09-01 | | [National Ethics Bowl Champion](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-ethics-bowl-champion) | Parr Center for Ethics | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-15 | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many free debate programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 32 verified free debate opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these free debate 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: U.S. High School Policy Debate (September 1, 2026); ESU Schools' Mace Debating Competition (September 16, 2026); Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) (October 1, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### How do I get into a free debate 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) - [Debate & Speech Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/debate) - [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/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.