# Extracurriculars & Programs in Illinois for High School Students Illinois is anchored by UChicago and Northwestern pre-college programs, Fermilab and Argonne research exposure, and Chicago's business and civic internship ecosystem. 31 verified programs match this page; 14 of the featured listings are free; 2 can be done online. ## Programs (31 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Glenbrooks Debate Tournament](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/glenbrooks-debate) | Glenbrook Schools | $300 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-13 | | [Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/illinois-math-science-academy) | IMSA | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-05 | | [Northwestern University Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/northwestern-summer-journalism) | Northwestern University | $6,000 | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-03-02 | | [Northwestern National High School Institute (Cherubs) - Journalism](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/northwestern-national-high-school-institute-cherubs-journalism) | Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-03-02 | | [School of the Art Institute of Chicago Early College](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/school-of-the-art-institute-of-chicago-early-college) | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $5,500 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-01 | | [FAA High School Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/faa-high-school-competition) | University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts | Free | virtual | Grades 9–11 | 2027-02-01 | | [Booth School of Business Summer Business Scholars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/booth-school-of-business-summer-business-scholars) | University of Chicago Booth | $5,000 | in_person | Grades 11–12 | Rolling | | [Kellogg School Summer Business Institute](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/kellogg-school-summer-business-institute) | Northwestern Kellogg | $4,500 | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-03-15 | | [Northwestern Center for Talent Development](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/northwestern-center-for-talent-development) | Northwestern University | $4,500 | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-09-24 | | [Stones and Bones](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stones-and-bones) | The University of Chicago & Field Museum | $12,000 | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-01-09 | | [UChicago Summer Session](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/uchicago-summer-session) | University of Chicago | $7,000 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-12 | | [TARGET Science and Engineering Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/target-science-and-engineering-program) | Fermilab | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [Fermilab TARGET Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/fermilab-target-program) | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [Northwestern Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute (Cherubs) - Writing & Reporting](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/northwestern-medill-northwestern-journalism-institute-cherubs-writing-reporting) | Northwestern Medill | $6,200 | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-03-02 | | [Chicago International Model United Nations (CIMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/chicago-international-model-united-nations-cimun) | Chicago International Model United Nations | $195 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/worldwide-youth-science) | WYSE | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-31 | | [Northwestern CTD Equinox](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/northwestern-equinox) | Northwestern University | $4,500 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [CTD Equinox Academic Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ctd-equinox) | Northwestern University - Center for Talent Development | $4,000 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | Rolling | | [University of Chicago Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/university-of-chicago-research-in-the-biological-sciences-ribs) | University of Chicago | $5,500 | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-10 | | [Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/research-in-the-biological-sciences-ribs) | University of Chicago Summer Session | $13,600 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-10 | | [UChicago Research in the Arts and Sciences: Neuroscience](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/uchicago-research-in-the-arts-and-sciences-neuroscience) | University of Chicago Summer Session | $7,800 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-10 | | [Fermilab Saturday Morning Physics](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/fermilab-saturday-morning-physics) | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-07-31 | | [Fermilab TARGET Summer Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/fermilab-target-summer-research-program) | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-28 | | [LEADing for Life Global Summer Learning Institute (GSLI)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/leading-for-life-global-summer-learning-institute-gsli) | LEAD (Leadership, Education and Development) | $1,500 | hybrid | Grades 10–12 | Rolling | | [University of Chicago Pre-College Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/uchicago-pre-college-programs) | University of Chicago | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-12 | | [IIT Pre-College STEM Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/iit-pre-college-stem) | Illinois Institute of Technology | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-07 | | [Schuler Scholar Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/schuler-scholar-program) | Schuler Education Foundation | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | Rolling | | [Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/fermilab-prism) | Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory | Free | in_person | Grade 12 | Rolling | | [MCA Chicago Teen Creative Agency](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mca-chicago-teen-creative-agency) | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Argonne National Laboratory Science Careers in Search of Women](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/argonne-national-laboratory-science-careers-in-search-of-women) | Argonne National Laboratory | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2026-11-15 | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many illinois programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 31 verified illinois opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these illinois programs free? Yes — 14 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: Fermilab Saturday Morning Physics (July 31, 2026); Northwestern Center for Talent Development (September 24, 2026); Chicago International Model United Nations (CIMUN) (October 1, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### Do I have to live in Illinois to participate? Most in-person programs based in Illinois accept applicants from anywhere, though some give preference to local students. Residential summer programs typically accept students nationwide — check each listing's eligibility. ## Related pages - [Summer Programs for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/summer-programs) - [Internships for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/internships) - [Research for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/research) - [Free for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free) - [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/illinois 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.