# Study Abroad Programs & Competitions for High School Students Fully funded exchange programs — NSLI-Y, CBYX, YES Abroad — send high schoolers overseas for a summer or a school year at zero cost, and admissions readers know exactly how selective they are. Language immersion counts double: you come home with real proficiency and a story no on-campus activity can match. Most applications open in late summer and close by early winter, a full year before departure. 21 verified programs match this page; 13 of the featured listings are free; 1 can be done online. ## Programs (21 total) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Rotary Youth Exchange](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/rotary-youth-exchange) | Rotary International | $2,000 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-19 | | [Wake Forest University Summer Immersion](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/wake-forest-university-summer-immersion) | Wake Forest University | $4,500 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [EF High School Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ef-high-school-programs) | Education First | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Concordia Language Villages](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/concordia-language-villages) | Concordia College | $2,500 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/middlebury-spanish) | Middlebury College | $6,500 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-15 | | [AFS Intercultural Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/afs-intercultural-programs-exchange) | AFS Intercultural Programs | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Youth for Understanding (YFU) Exchange Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/youth-for-understanding-yfu-exchange-programs) | Youth For Understanding USA | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-01 | | [Boren Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/boren-scholarship) | National Security Education Program | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2027-01-27 | | [Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/future-leaders-exchange-flex-program) | U.S. Department of State | Free | in_person | Grades 9–11 | 2026-10-15 | | [Youth Ambassadors Program (U.S.)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/youth-ambassadors-program-us) | U.S. Department of State & World Learning | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-30 | | [Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/kennedy-lugar-yes) | U.S. Department of State | Free | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2026-10-15 | | [The Experiment in International Living](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/experiment-abroad) | World Learning | $7,000 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-security-language-initiative-for-youth-nsli-y) | U.S. Department of State | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-12 | | [Global Citizen Year Bridge Year](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/global-citizen-year) | Global Citizen Year | $15,000 | in_person | Grade 12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) - High School](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-cbyx-high-school) | U.S. Department of State (administered by AFS/CIEE/YFU) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-10 | | [Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/kennedy-lugar-yes-abroad) | U.S. Department of State (ECA) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/fulbright-hays-group-projects-abroad) | U.S. Department of Education | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | Rolling | | [Rustic Pathways Service Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/rustic-pathways) | Rustic Pathways | $4,000 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Verto Education Pre-College Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/verto-education-first-year-abroad) | Verto Education | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Pre-College Summer Program in Ireland](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/pre-college-summer-ireland) | Pre-College Summer Program in Ireland | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Dartmouth Rassias Language Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/dartmouth-rassias-language-program) | Dartmouth College | $4,500 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | Rolling | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many study abroad programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 21 verified study abroad opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these study abroad programs free? Yes — 13 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: Global Citizen Year Bridge Year (October 1, 2026); Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program (October 15, 2026); Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (October 15, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### Do study abroad extracurriculars help with college admissions? Yes — sustained, escalating involvement in study abroad (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. ## Related pages - [World Languages Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/language) - [Prestigious & Highly Selective Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/prestigious) - [Free for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free) - [Summer Programs for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/summer-programs) - [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/study-abroad 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.