Extracurriculars & Programs in Ohio for High School Students

Ohio hosts two of the most respected academic summer programs in the country — the Ross Mathematics Program and Kenyon Review Young Writers — plus liberal-arts pre-college across Denison and Oberlin.

Columbus, Cleveland, and the college towns between them give Ohio students top-tier options without leaving the state.

10 verified programs match this page; 5 of the featured listings are completely free; 1 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 10+ curated programs for high school students:

  • Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Program — Cleveland Institute of Music: Intensive music training at Cleveland Institute of Music. Lessons, chamber music, and orchestra for advanced pre-college musicians.
  • Oberlin Conservatory Summer Voice Program — Oberlin Conservatory: Classical voice training at elite Oberlin Conservatory. Individual lessons, coaching, and performance opportunities with Oberlin faculty.
  • Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop — Kenyon Review: Transform your writing skills at a summer program for high schoolers. Join acclaimed authors for hands-on workshops in poetry and fiction—perfect for
  • National Robotics Challenge (NRC) — Marion Technical College: Compete in the National Robotics Challenge, an open-platform high school competition. Build hands-on engineering and robotics skills to stand out on c
  • Oberlin College Foresight Prep — Oberlin College: Pre-college program at Oberlin College for underrepresented high school students interested in liberal arts.
  • Denison University Young Writers Workshop — Denison University Writers Workshop: Creative writing workshop at Denison University for rising high school juniors and seniors.
  • University of Toledo Cosmetic Science Summer Camp — University of Toledo: Virtual cosmetic and science formulation summer camp at the University of Toledo for rising sophomores through seniors.
  • Denison University Fly-In Program — Denison University Fly-in Program: Free campus visit program for high school seniors at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.
  • Denison University TUTTI Summer Program — Denison University TUTTI: Liberal arts summer program at Denison University for rising sophomores through seniors ages 15-18.
  • Reynolds Young Writers Workshop — Denison University: Ten-day residential creative writing workshop at Denison University for rising juniors and seniors, with morning workshops capped at 12 students; $1,7

Frequently asked questions

How many ohio programs are listed for high school students?

ExtracurricularHub currently lists 10 verified ohio opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link.

Are any of these ohio programs free?

Yes — 5 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: Denison University Fly-In Program (August 17, 2026); Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Program (December 1, 2026); National Robotics Challenge (NRC) (February 26, 2027). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site.

Do I have to live in Ohio to participate?

Most in-person programs based in Ohio accept applicants from anywhere, though some give preference to local students. Residential summer programs typically accept students nationwide — check each listing's eligibility.