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Free Programs for High School Students in Illinois

Nichable lists 37 programs, internships, research programs, competitions and volunteer opportunities for high school students based in Illinois. None of them lists a cost to take part, and 7 state outright that they're free. Each one is checked against the organization's own page.

Volunteer· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

UChicago Data Science Institute Summer Lab

University of Chicago Data Science Institute
Research· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

CHESS: Cancer Health Engagement Summer Scholars

University of Illinois Cancer Center
Research· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon · Due Jan 11, 2027

Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program (University of Illinois)

University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering
Research· Urbana, IL
Opening soon

High School Summer Volunteers

Rush Oak Park Hospital
Volunteer· Oak Park, IL
Opening soon
Volunteer· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Northwestern Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Research· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Rush MedSTEM Explorers

Rush University Medical Center
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opens Nov 16, 2026 · Due Feb 12, 2027

CTA High School Internship

Chicago Transit Authority
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

MCA Chicago Teen Creative Agency

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Program· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon
Research· Paid· Evanston, IL
Opening soon

Teen Fellows Program

Chicago Architecture Center
Program· Paid· Chicago, IL
DeadlineMar 31, 2027

Summer Teen Internship

Art Institute of Chicago
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Teen Pitch Program

Naperville Public Library
Competition· Naperville, IL
Opening soon

Teen Loft

Evanston Public Library
Program· Evanston, IL
DeadlineRolling

Teen Programs & Volunteering

Skokie Public Library
Volunteer· Skokie, IL
DeadlineRolling

Griffin MSI RISE Teen Program (Chicago)

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Program· Chicago, IL
DeadlineRolling

Chicago Public Library YOUmedia

Chicago Public Library
Program· Chicago, IL
DeadlineRolling
Research· Paid· Chicago, IL
DeadlineJan 11, 2027

Summer Internship

Chicago Philharmonic
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon
Program· Brookfield, IL
Opening soon

Chicago Summer Business Institute

Chicago Summer Business Institute
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Youth Internship Program

University of Chicago
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

STEM Academy

Exelon Foundation
Program· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

After School Matters

After School Matters
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
DeadlineRolling

Teen Internship

Adler Planetarium
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon
Program· Naperville, IL
Opening soon

TAG: Teens Active in Grantmaking

Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri
Program· Quincy, IL
Opening soon

Astro Ambassadors

Adler Planetarium
Volunteer· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Far Horizons Teens

Adler Planetarium
Research· Chicago, IL
Opens Aug 10, 2027

College First

Chicago Botanic Garden
Internship· Paid· Glencoe, IL
Opening soon
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

TARGET Program

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) TARGET Program
Research· Paid· Batavia, IL
Opening soon
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon
Internship· Paid· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Fermilab High School Internship Programs (TARGET/PRISM)

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Internship· Paid· Batavia, IL
Opens Jan 12, 2027 · Due Mar 1, 2027
Research· Chicago, IL
Opening soon

Common questions

Are these programs really free for high school students in Illinois?

None of these 37 listings names tuition or a required fee. Listings that charge say so in a cost line and are labeled "Costs money", so they aren't on this page. Smaller costs such as travel or materials can still apply, so confirm on the organization's page before you apply.

How do high school students apply to free programs in Illinois?

Each listing is run by its own organization and you apply on that organization's site. A free Nichable account shows each listing's deadline and how to apply, and lets you save and track them.