12 Competitive Criminology Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you are a high school student interested in criminology, participating in a competitive program can help you explore how crime, law, and society intersect while gaining early exposure to academic research and the criminal justice system. These programs often introduce topics such as criminal psychology, legal systems, public policy, sociology, and data analysis through seminars, mentorship, research projects, or internships. In many cases, you will work alongside professors, researchers, attorneys, or public officials who can provide insight into how criminology is studied and applied in professional settings.
Why should I participate in a competitive criminology program in high school?
Competitive criminology programs allow you to explore complex social and legal questions while building analytical, research, and critical thinking skills. Through activities such as research projects, seminars, mock trials, and internships, you can examine issues like criminal justice reform, forensic science, policing strategies, and the social causes of crime. Participating in selective programs can also strengthen your academic profile, connect you with mentors and peers who share similar interests, and help you determine whether fields like criminology, law, public policy, or sociology are areas you may want to pursue in college.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down our list to 12 competitive criminology programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online STEM summer programs, check out our blog here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | Most postings recruit one intern per role
Location: Multiple U.S. locations
Cost/Stipend: Paid | Varies by internship and term | Some roles are voluntary
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: High school students ages 16+ for many roles | U.S. citizenship required | Background check, security clearance, and drug test required | Additional criteria depend on each posting
The U.S. Department of Justice offers competitive internship programs for high school students seeking to gain criminology experience at the federal level. The DOJ hosts high school interns primarily in the Offices of the United States Attorneys, Office of Justice Programs, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, where you’ll work on real-world legal initiatives and investigations alongside federal employees. Requiring clearances at the Secret or Top Secret level, your internship will provide exposure to pressing criminal and legal concerns. You’ll apply directly to an internship posting rather than a broader internship program, so recruitment will be highly selective and require a strong fit for the position’s focus areas. Some internships are offered in connection with the federal government’s College Pathways Internship program; you’ll continue working with the agency throughout your time as an undergraduate through internships and training programs, leading to a full-time job conversion dependent on successful performance.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type | Full financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort | Summer, fall, winter, or spring | Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as criminology, psychology, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective | ~7–10% acceptance rate
Location: Multiple law firms, nonprofits, and government organizations in New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $17–$22 per hour | Some employers may offer higher wages
Dates: 6–8 weeks during the summer | Orientation training in April | Opening Ceremony: June 24 | Closing Ceremony: August 27
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: NYC public high school students aged 16+ by the internship start date
Hosted by the New York City Bar Association, the Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship provides a criminology program opportunity for high school students considering legal careers across legal practice, policy, or advocacy. You’ll be matched with a law firm, government agency, nonprofit organization, or legal corporation in NYC, where you’ll spend 6-8 weeks conducting full-time professional work under the mentorship of attorneys, policymakers, or nonprofit leaders. You’ll prepare for your work with an online orientation in April covering professional skills, including resume writing, interviewing, cybersafety, and communications. You’ll then begin your internship, where your criminology work might include helping exonerate wrongfully-convicted individuals with the Innocent Project, interning for criminal law-focused firms, or working for a borough’s District Attorney’s Office. You’ll also receive guidance from the NYC Bar Association on pursuing a legal career and overcoming barriers to access.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Criminology. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | Considered alongside undergraduate and graduate students
Location: Albuquerque, NM | Livermore, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Full-time high school upperclassmen, undergraduate, and graduate students ages 16+ | Minimum 3.0 GPA | Many roles require U.S. citizenship | Background check, drug screening, and security clearance typically required
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective | Undergraduate program ~2% acceptance rate; high school admissions likely similarly competitive
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $17 per hour
Dates: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 residing in Manhattan
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office High School Internship Program is a competitive opportunity for high school students seeking exposure to criminology through direct involvement in the criminal justice system. You’ll spend five weeks working directly with DA staff on projects across criminal prosecution and administrative work, observing legal proceedings, participating in educational workshops on the criminal justice system, and networking with professionals across the District Attorney’s Office, among others. You’ll also develop legal skills of your own through participation in a mock trial program and training in office professionalism.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective | 10–12 students admitted
Location: John J. Moakley Federal Courthouse, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students from Boston or Worcester with strong academic ability and leadership potential.
The Judge David S. Nelson Fellowship Program is a competitive law and criminology program for high school students from Boston and Worcester, providing internship placements at Boston’s Federal Court. You’ll intern in a judge’s chambers at the Court, where you’ll take on legal and administrative tasks related to the judge’s current cases. You’ll also take courses on criminal justice topics, including civil rights, legal writing, and social issues. You’ll be mentored by your assigned judge and law clerks, gaining networking experience and professional guidance. You’ll participate in immersive learning experiences like attending court proceedings, meeting community leaders, and competing in a mock trial evaluated by a Federal Judge. You’ll also receive support in college preparation, attending guided tours at colleges in the Greater Boston area, and visiting organizations involved in college admissions advising.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective | ~3% acceptance rate
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: 10th–11th grade students from the U.S. or international students in 10th grade | Ages 15–17 during the program | Black and Indigenous students, other students of color, and students who have experienced economic hardship are encouraged to apply
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is a prestigious, fully-funded summer program for high school students focused on the intersections of power, privilege, and society. You can explore critical perspectives on criminology through intensive study of topics across transformative justice, democratic decision-making, and community engagement. You’ll attend daily college-level seminars combining group discussions, collaborative in-class work, and faculty lectures. You’ll complete a specialized study of power dynamics in society, such as inequities in the criminal justice system and racial injustice, while learning strategies to challenge oppressive structures. You’ll be taught by professors from prestigious universities like Yale and Cornell and a team of teaching assistants, and supplement your coursework with readings, homework assignments, and writing essays. You’ll also practice skills in transformative justice, attend lectures from guest speakers, and engage in community service projects. TASS also offers the CBS track, which focuses on Black and African history, politics, art, and literature.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective | 3 students admitted
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 1 – 26
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current high school students | Strong academic achievement and demonstrated interest in anthropology expected
The American Anthropological Association’s Virtual High School Internship Program is a competitive opportunity for high school students interested in studying criminology through a sociocultural lens. You’ll complete a research-focused primary project on a topic of your choice in the discipline, where you can hone in on a specialized approach to anthropological criminology. You’ll complete a literature review of contemporary research on the topic, then develop your own analysis of the subject with personalized mentorship from AAA researchers. You’ll learn professional anthropology research skills, including autoethnography, scholarly publication, and theory of praxis. You’ll adapt your research into a presentation geared toward middle and high school students while learning scientific communication skills. You’ll also complete a secondary project; the focus varies each year but usually centers on developing accessible anthropology education.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective | <15% acceptance rate
Location: Multiple judicial offices in New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students residing in and attending schools in one of the five New York City boroughs | Must obtain a Student General Employment Certificate from their school
The Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program’s High School Division is a competitive summer opportunity for high school students looking for exposure to criminology within the criminal justice system. You’ll be assigned to intern for a state or federal judge in New York City, providing legal and administrative assistance. Your experience will vary based on your assigned judge, but your work may include conducting legal research, analyzing case files and summarizing evidence, attending trials and hearings, and more. You’ll learn about criminology through first-hand exposure to criminal justice proceedings and legal structures. You’ll access professional development opportunities by building a close working relationship with a state or federal judge, attending educational sessions on law and career planning, and receiving personalized guidance on preparing college applications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | 30 students admitted per site
Location: 7 law schools across New York City, NY (Brooklyn Law School, Cardozo School of Law, Columbia Law School, CUNY School of Law, Fordham School of Law, NYU School of Law, St. John’s School of Law)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by family income | Nearly 80% receive fully funded attendance
Dates: 5 weeks | First week of July through first week of August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens
Legal Outreach’s Summer Law Institute is a five-week legal program for NYC students entering high school. You’ll be placed at one of 7 law schools across the city to study law, criminology, and professional skills. You’ll attend interactive lessons on the criminal justice systems taught by current law students, network with practicing attorneys, and visit legal institutions such as courthouses and law firms. You’ll also be trained in leadership and professional skills. You’ll compete in a mock trial competition at the end of the program, where you’ll be evaluated by real judges from NYC. Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll be eligible to apply for the 4-year College Bound program, which provides comprehensive academic and social support in preparing for college and future careers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Limited openings available
Location: Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Summer: June – August | Spring: January – May | Fall: September – December
Application Deadline: Summer: April 15 | Spring: November 15 | Fall: July 15
Eligibility: High school students ages 16+ who are able to commute to the office
The LA County District Attorney’s Office offers internships year-round for high schoolers interested in criminology and law. You’ll work in one of the DA’s Office departments, such as Juvenile Detention, Fraud and Corruption Prosecutions, or Specialized Prosecutions, where you’ll gain first-hand experience with criminal justice proceedings in a major U.S. city. Your exact assignments will vary based on your placement, but typically include tasks such as assembling reports, drafting legal documents and manuals, answering telephone calls from city residents, and broader administrative tasks. Based on your skills, you may be eligible to take on more advanced work, such as conducting legal research for active cases or reviewing evidence.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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