Public Health Programs for High School Students
Public health sits where biology, data, and policy meet — and it has become one of the fastest-growing interests in college admissions since 2020.
These programs let students explore epidemiology, global health, and health equity through fieldwork, research, and mentorship rather than a single textbook.
10 verified programs match this page; 9 of the featured listings are completely free.
Featured programs
Browse 10+ curated programs for high school students:
- Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) — Stanford University: Explore medicine, public health, and research in this free, equity-focused summer program for high school juniors. Build skills and strengthen college
- Johns Hopkins Global Health Leaders Conference — Johns Hopkins University: Global health leadership conference at Johns Hopkins for high school students interested in medicine and public health.
- Pestival Urban & Public Health Case Competition — Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine: An annual public health case competition on urban pests and health, open to high school and college students.
- World Food Prize Global Youth Institute — The World Food Prize Foundation: Explore global food security at this hybrid high school program. Gain research skills, boost college applications, and join the Borlaug Dialogue on gl
- Amigos de las Americas — Amigos de las Americas: Transform your summer with this high school leadership program in Latin America. Build public health skills, gain hands-on experience, and boost your
- CDC Public Health Youth Ambassador Program — Centers for Disease Control: Empower your community through the CDC Public Health Youth Ambassador Program. High school students gain leadership skills, hands-on public health exp
- NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) — National Institutes of Health (OITE): Explore biomedical research through a paid summer internship at NIH labs. Gain hands-on STEM experience, boost college applications, and work with top
- HOSA-Future Health Professionals — HOSA-Future Health Professionals: Develop leadership and healthcare skills in this hybrid program for high school students. Gain hands-on experience and boost your college applications
- CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp — CDC David J. Sencer Museum: Dive into public health and epidemiology at CDC headquarters with this free summer program. Gain hands-on experience, boost college applications, and
- The Global Health Leaders Conference — Johns Hopkins University: Pre-college program at Johns Hopkins University for high school students focusing on global health, public health, and medicine.
Frequently asked questions
How many public health programs are listed for high school students?
ExtracurricularHub currently lists 10 verified public health opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link.
Are any of these public health programs free?
Yes — 9 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: HOSA-Future Health Professionals (November 1, 2026); Amigos de las Americas (January 15, 2027); CDC Public Health Youth Ambassador Program (January 15, 2027). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site.
Do public health extracurriculars help with college admissions?
Yes — sustained, escalating involvement in public health (participation → awards or leadership → independent work) reads far stronger than scattered one-off activities. Pick one or two programs from this page and go deep.