15 Free Writing Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in building stronger writing skills, free programs can be a great way to explore the field without committing to high costs. These opportunities often give you access to experienced mentors, structured practice, and feedback that helps you understand how writing is used in academic, creative, and professional settings.
What will I do as a participant at a free writing program for high school students?
Through workshops, lectures, and collaborative projects, you gain exposure to practical techniques while also learning how writers work across different industries. Many top universities, nonprofits, and literary organizations now offer free writing programs for high school students, making high-quality experiences accessible regardless of background. You also have the option to explore virtual programs that allow you to participate from anywhere while still gaining hands-on experience.
To make your search easier, we have collated this list of 15 free writing programs for high school students, each program is either completely free or offers full scholarships so that cost isn’t a barrier to participation.
P.S. If writing is where you're headed, 14 Free Political Science Internships for High School Students is worth a look too — a lot of those programs involve research writing, policy briefs, and communications work that sharpens the same skills.
15 Free Writing Programs for High School Students
1. Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Location: Hybrid — online + Princeton University campus, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approx. 40
Dates: Online workshops begin the week of July 1; Residential session runs July 24–August 3
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors
In this year-long free program, you learn journalism with feature writing and reporting. It combines virtual plus onsite learning at Princeton University, allowing you to participate in online lectures led by professional journalists, complete weekly current-events assignments, and begin drafting your own articles. You also work one-on-one with a college counselor to strengthen key elements of your college applications. During the residential portion, you live in undergraduate dorms, attend intensive writing workshops,and observe journalism firsthand through visits to major newsrooms such as The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and Bloomberg. Throughout this free writing program for high school students, you cover real events, create digital media projects, conduct interviews, and help produce The Princeton Summer Journal, the capstone student publication.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Program Dates: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter cohorts
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary - Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships connects high school students with remote positions at early-stage, fast-growing startups. Throughout the program, you work directly with a company manager and a Ladder coach in fields like technology, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, or consulting. You take on tasks that contribute to real, ongoing projects, giving you the chance to apply practical skills in a professional context. Many of the host companies are rapidly scaling and backed by significant funding, offering an energetic work environment. Over the course of the internship, you collaborate with industry professionals, develop workplace skills, and complete a final presentation summarizing your contributions. Since the program is entirely online, you can participate from anywhere while gaining meaningful hands-on experience.
3. L.A. Times High School Insider Summer Internship
Location: Hybrid - El Segundo, California + remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid, $16.90 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: High school students graduating who live in Los Angeles or Orange County and can work onsite
This 7-week hybrid internship aims to help participants develop real-world reporting skills while working with the L.A. Times High School Insider team. You’ll report on issues relevant to teens, producing everything from quick news updates to longer feature stories and experimenting with multimedia storytelling. Throughout the program, newsroom mentors support your growth through training sessions and workshops designed to strengthen your writing and reporting techniques. Your weekly schedule includes time in the El Segundo office along with one remote workday, giving you experience with both on-site journalism and digital production. During the internship, you interview sources, draft articles, and revise your pieces with feedback from editors.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, 100% financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: By cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers a guided research experience for high school students. In this program, you work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to complete an independent research project over about 12 weeks, with some sessions lasting longer depending on the cohort. You can explore a wide range of subjects, including physics, psychology, economics, chemistry, engineering, data science, computer science, and international relations. During the program, you learn how to shape a research question, evaluate information, and strengthen your academic writing. Your work concludes with a full research paper based on your project. Program timelines, fees, and deadlines differ by cohort, and full financial aid is available.
5. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University and University of Maryland
Cost/Stipend: Free; no cost to participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Program Dates: June 21 - July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: Open to all high school sophomores and juniors (ages 15-18)
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a 6-week humanities and social sciences program that examines how power and privilege influence social systems. Participants choose between two academic tracks: Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS), which looks at the history, culture, and experiences of people of African descent, and Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS), which studies structures like white supremacy, patriarchy, and class inequality. Each track includes daily college-level seminars led by faculty, blending lectures, group discussions, and essay writing. Beyond academics, students take part in community self-governance, plan service activities, and engage in transformative justice practices. The program also offers public speaking workshops and sessions with guest speakers.
6. Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement (AYA)
Location: USC University Park and Health Science Campuses (Los Angeles, CA)
Cost/Stipend: Free (meals included); transportation scholarship available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 26 students
Dates: June 16 – July 3
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: You must reside in and attend high school in Los Angeles County.
In the Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement, you spend 3 weeks exploring how media, journalism, and communication shape civic leadership. The program introduces you to first-year college–level coursework while strengthening your writing, critical thinking, public speaking, and multimedia production skills. You’ll participate in two academic periods each day, meet USC Annenberg scholars and practitioners, and gain insight into careers across media and journalism. The academy also includes college advising and support with college essays, giving you structured guidance as you plan for future applications. Throughout the program, you collaborate with peers on storytelling, reporting, and community-centered media projects.
7. JCamp
Location: Varies each year (hosted in a different U.S. city)
Cost/Stipend: All expenses covered, including airfare, housing, and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 30 students; very competitive
Dates: Six-day summer program (dates vary each year)
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors nationwide; you do not need to be Asian American or an AAJA member.
In JCamp, you spend 6 days immersed in hands-on journalism training led by experienced reporters, editors, and media professionals. You learn core skills in reporting, writing, interviewing, multimedia production, and cross-cultural communication through workshops, newsroom simulations, and field assignments. The program emphasizes media diversity, encouraging you to examine how race, identity, geography, and background influence storytelling. You’ll work in small teams to produce multiplatform news packages for JCamp Live and receive one-on-one feedback from industry mentors. Field trips, guest speakers, and networking sessions give you direct exposure to national journalists and newsroom environments.
8. The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $575 tuition; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Open to high school students (including graduating seniors) and gap year students.
In this mentorship-driven program, you collaborate individually with an experienced writer while creating original work in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The format is flexible and centered on ongoing correspondence instead of structured classes. Poetry students submit new writing each week, while fiction and nonfiction students share drafts every other week, helping you build consistency, practice revision, and engage meaningfully with feedback. You receive detailed critiques from your mentor and peers, giving you a deeper understanding of how creative pieces develop over time. The program encourages steady writing habits, strong communication, and exploration of your personal creative voice.
9. Teen Summer Writing Fellowship (GrubStreet)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Free; $800 stipend for all fellows
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Applications open mid-December
Eligibility: You must be entering grades 9–12 in Fall 2025 and live/attend school in Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex, or Plymouth counties (Boston residents prioritized).
In this 3-week creative writing fellowship, you participate in intensive classes, workshops, and readings designed to help you generate new writing and understand the craft behind multiple genres. You explore fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting, and you’re encouraged to experiment with sub-genres such as speculative fiction, magical realism, or sci-fi/fantasy. Throughout the program, you work closely with instructors and peers to strengthen your voice and learn how the writing and publishing world operates. The fellowship includes community-building activities and culminates in a public Teen Writing Fellowship Showcase. You also have the optional fourth-week opportunity to stay on as an editor for the YAWP Anthology, which features work from teens across GrubStreet’s summer programs.
10. Multimedia Journalism Workshop (MJW) – University of Alabama
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–15 students
Dates: Six-day residential program (annual summer workshop)
Application Deadline: Not specified; Opens January 1
Eligibility: High school students from across the United States
The Multimedia Journalism Workshop program helps you learn the fundamentals of reporting, writing, editing, photography, and multimedia storytelling. You spend the week living in the University of Alabama dorms and work on real deadlines as you report on stories from Tuscaloosa and nearby communities. The program includes field reporting, visits to historical sites, and lectures from professional journalists who serve as mentors and editors throughout your experience. You also study essential topics such as media law, ethics, design, and production. By the end of the workshop, you create publishable work that appears in the MJW Journal and on the program’s website. Through its long-running partnership with the Alabama Scholastic Press Association, MJW provides continued guidance to students as they move into college media and future journalism careers.
11. Future Dramatic Writers Workshop – NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Location: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: January 31 – May 9
Application Deadline: November 10
Eligibility: High school students
In the Future Dramatic Writers Workshop, you explore the fundamentals of dramatic writing for theater, film, and television through a semester-long series of Saturday classes. Each week, you participate in lectures and discussions that introduce key elements such as dramatic structure, character development, and episodic storytelling. You then apply these concepts in writing workshops, where you draft scripts in multiple formats and receive detailed feedback from Tisch faculty. The program mirrors the introductory training given to NYU dramatic writing undergraduates, giving you a structured preview of college-level expectations. Over the semester, you refine your work and present it in a live final showcase.
12. University of Iowa – 2-Week Summer Residential Writing Program
Location: University of Iowa campus, Iowa City, Iowa
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (full financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 14–27; Session 2: July 12–25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
In this two-week residential program, you spend your time immersed in the art and craft of creative writing while living on the University of Iowa campus. You take one core course for the full session, choosing from fiction, poetry, creative writing, TV writing, or playwriting, all taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and other University of Iowa MFA programs. Throughout the program, you share your work with peers, receive constructive feedback, and participate in activities that help you explore new writing techniques. You also attend readings by published writers, craft workshops, and discussions on topics like revision and literary translation. Collaborative projects, open mics, and informal social events give you additional ways to connect with other young writers and learn from different perspectives.
13. Academic English: Writing Specialization — University of California, Irvine
Location: Online (self-paced)
Cost/Stipend: Free; certificate requires payment
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment
Dates: Flexible; 2 months at 10 hours/week
Application Deadline: No deadline; enroll anytime
Eligibility: Beginner-friendly; no prior experience required
In this five-course specialization, you build foundational skills in grammar, academic writing, and research to prepare for college-level coursework. You start by strengthening sentence structure and punctuation before moving into essay organization and advanced writing techniques. Throughout the program, you participate in structured exercises, peer review, and guided assignments that help you apply each concept directly to your own writing. You also learn how to conduct academic research and use credible sources effectively, which prepares you for longer analytical projects. The specialization culminates in a capstone project where you write a full research paper on a topic of your choice.
14. Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization — University of Michigan
Location: Online (self-paced)
Cost/Stipend: Free; certification and graded assignment is available at a cost
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment
Dates: Flexible; ~2 months at 10 hours/week
Application Deadline: No formal deadline; enroll anytime
Eligibility: Beginner-friendly; open to all learners
In this four-course online specialization, you explore core writing and editing techniques that help you communicate ideas clearly and effectively. You learn how to refine word choice, adjust syntax, and structure information so it’s easier for readers to understand. Throughout the program, you complete hands-on writing exercises and receive guidance on giving and receiving thoughtful feedback. You also practice strategies for drafting, revising, and managing both short-term and long-term writing projects. Since the program is taught by a University of Michigan instructor, you benefit from structured lessons grounded in professional writing practices.
15. Creative Writing Specialization — Wesleyan University
Location: Online (self-paced)
Cost/Stipend: Free; certificates require paid subscription
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment
Dates: 4 weeks at 10 hours/week; fully flexible
Application Deadline: No deadline; enroll anytime
Eligibility: Beginner-friendly; no prior experience required
In this five-course specialization, you develop core creative writing skills across fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction. You learn how to build compelling plots, create memorable characters, and craft vivid settings through structured lessons and practical writing exercises. Throughout the program, you engage in peer review, giving and receiving feedback to help refine your drafts. Each course focuses on a fundamental element of storytelling, allowing you to build your skills step by step and apply new techniques to your own work. You also study examples from established writers to understand how professionals approach style, voice, and narrative structure. The specialization concludes with a capstone project where you draft, revise, and complete an original story in the genre of your choice.
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