14 Math Programs for High School Students in Arkansas
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Programs are a great way for high school students to expand their academic background and prepare for college. These opportunities, typically featuring research, coursework, and/or professional work, expose you to college-level academics, career pathways, industry professionals, and valuable connections. As high school math coursework is usually limited to the standard path of algebra to calculus, it can be challenging to find unique advanced opportunities in the field. Math programs let you apply math to professional work, academic research, and college-level courses.
What math programs are available for high schoolers in Arkansas?
Options include conducting paid research at university labs and prestigious hospitals, analyzing unsolved problems in mathematics with MIT faculty members, and completing quantitative finance internships at Arkansas businesses. We’ve included math programs in research, industry, and academia across the state of Arkansas, as well as advanced remote programs for students in areas with limited in-person math opportunities. In this blog, we’ve narrowed down our list of the 14 top math programs for high schoolers in Arkansas, focusing on selective programs with rigorous academics, unique approaches to mathematics, and strong networking opportunities.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 1-on-1 structure; selective
Program Dates: Varies 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 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 specialized topics in math that you can explore as a high schooler. 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 to complete a research topic in pure Mathematics, or pursue math-focused research in quantitative fields like Data Science, Astrophysics, Physics, Economics, Computer Science, Architecture, and Engineering. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount not publicly specified
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Highly selective; 12 undergraduate/graduate slots, high school openings likely smaller
Dates: Flexible summer schedule
Application deadline: Rolling, summer applications accepted throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offers paid research internships to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students interested in quantitative research focused on physics, nanoscience, and materials science. Working under UA faculty, you’ll apply mathematics skills to UA’s physics and nanoscience research in fields such as mathematical physics, quantum mechanics, chemical quantitative analysis, and topology. As you’ll work on projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DoD), and Department of Energy (DoE), your research will directly contribute to federally-significant initiatives. You’ll receive personalized mentorship, network with UA faculty and graduate students, and learn about academic and career opportunities in chemistry and physics at UA and beyond. This is a valuable opportunity to expand your math abilities through learning about the field’s applications to physics and chemistry.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 1-on-1 structure; 26% acceptance rate
Dates: Spring and Fall: 15 weeks; Summer: 10 weeks (June–September)
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing (>3.67 GPA); most accepted students are 10th/11th graders with average GPA 3.93; some tracks require prerequisites
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students with math subject focuses such as theoretical math and knot theory, data science, machine learning, algorithms and data structures, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to research journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, AR
Stipend: Up to $300/month, based on hours worked
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer; exact dates vary
Application deadline: Contact your Upward Bound site
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders in Arkansas Upward Bound; minimum 2.5 GPA and strong citizenship in school and Upward Bound
Southern Arkansas University’s Work Internship Program is a paid professional experience for Upward Bound participants, matching students with positions in SAU academic departments or local businesses. If you’re looking for a math program, you can pursue work in an SAU campus department such as Mathematics, Data Science, Engineering, or Financial Analysis. If you’d like to apply your mathematics skills to an industry setting, positions in financial services companies or roles focused on data analysis or other quantitative skills can be a strong fit. You’ll gain practical skills in academia and/or industry professions, explore potential majors and careers, and network with professionals across SAU or your host business.
Location: Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR
Stipend / Cost: Free; includes room, board, and instructional materials
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Application deadline: School nominations start October 20; nominated students submit materials by February 16
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students attending school in Arkansas. Only students nominated by their school are eligible for consideration. You can find the application materials required and more info here.
Arkansas Governor’s School is an advanced, fully-funded summer program for high-achieving high schoolers, offering intensive academic training in 9 specialized fields, including mathematics. You’ll study advanced undergraduate-level mathematics topics such as Julia sets, conformal maps, Mandelbrot sets, and the Koch Snowflake, alongside interdisciplinary connections with fields such as cryptography, aerospace engineering, and biology. You’ll additionally engage with topics such as the philosophy, theory, and social implications of mathematics. Outside official programming, you’ll join informal discussion sessions with faculty and peers on specialized interest areas, which can grow into ongoing meetings and training. Other activities include a guest lecture series, screenings of intellectually-significant films, and networking and social events ranging from open mics to debates.
Location: Multiple US college campuses, including Hendrix College, AR
Cost: $11,800. Substantial financial aid is available, including full-tuition scholarships; some students from low-income backgrounds receive $3,000 stipends. Check this page for more info.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 7-10% acceptance rate
Dates: June 8 - July 11 (for Hendrix College; dates vary for other sites)
Application Deadline: February 19 (US applicants) or January 29 (International applicants)
Eligibility: Open to current 11th graders (rising seniors). You must be at least 15 but not yet 19 years old during the program.
The Summer Science Program (SSP) is a prestigious research opportunity for high school students hosted at college campuses around the country, including Arkansas’ Hendrix College. At this location, you’ll participate in the Biochemistry placement, which emphasizes academic research in molecular modeling, mathematics, and bioinformatics to analyze fungal pathogens and infection inhibition. You’ll apply biochemistry-oriented mathematics skills, including rate equations, biostatistics, homology modeling, and sequence alignment and searching. At the end of the program, you’ll write a formal research paper and design a scientific poster on your findings. Other programming includes a speaker series featuring Nobel Laureates and prestigious researchers, networking events with leaders in industry and academia, and an optional alumni mentorship program. Based on your performance, you’ll be eligible to receive a supplementary letter of recommendation from your research mentor for your college applications. While not strictly a math program, you’ll learn and apply advanced math skills through quantitative biology research.
Location: Multiple work sites, Little Rock, AR
Stipend / Cost: $11/hour
Dates: Up to 6 weeks in summer; school-year participation possible
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16–21, residents of Little Rock, AR
Little Rock, Arkansas’ Career Climb program is a government-sponsored professional internship opportunity for local students. After applying, you’ll attend a Job Fair to meet with potential employers. If you’re looking for a math experience, consider roles in financial services, IT, or math-focused youth educational programs/organizations. During your internship, you’ll learn professional skills and directly contribute to your host company’s work while collaborating with current employees. As a result, you’ll build networking experience, receive personalized advising, and explore potential careers. You’ll also participate in program-wide opportunities like career coaching, professional development training, and online career preparation resources.
Location: University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 15–21 (tentative)
Application deadline: May 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Current 8th–11th grade students interested in engineering
The Engineering Scholars Program at UA Little Rock is a week-long opportunity for high schoolers in Arkansas to prepare for college and strengthen their skills in STEM. You’ll attend educational workshops with UA Engineering professors and complete projects across multiple engineering subfields and robotics, working in UA’s lab facilities. You’ll additionally gain industry exposure through field trips to engineering companies in the region, where you’ll network with professional engineers and learn about potential career paths. You’ll begin planning your college journey through tailored support from UA Little Rock admissions officers, learning about the application process and opportunities to deepen your skills in math, science, and engineering.
Location: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR (also offered at other University of Arkansas campuses)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; 50–60 rising 9th graders admitted, limited 10th–11th grade spots if space remains
Dates: Summer: 6 weeks (Summer Academy for rising 11th–12th graders) or 2 weeks (Sophomore Summer for rising 10th graders); programming continues during the school year
Application Deadline: Recruitment October–December
Eligibility: High schoolers from Arkansas enrolled in or have completed Algebra 1 who can commit to participating until high school graduation. Must be attending an Upward Bound “target school” in Arkansas, be low-income (based on federal criteria), and/or an intended first-generation college student, and a US citizen or permanent resident. Some campuses have additional GPA/age requirements
The University of Arkansas’ Upward Bound program is part of a federally funded nationwide initiative preparing low-income and prospective first-generation college students with long-term academic and personal guidance. Throughout high school, you’ll attend Saturday sessions including math programming through STEM immersion, financial literacy, and elective coursework; a specialized Upward Bound Math and Science Program is also available. You’ll also learn about educational and career opportunities, participate in academic seminars, and attend guest lectures from industry professionals. In the summer before your senior year, you’ll participate in an intensive six-week program including academic study of advanced topics in math, science, humanities, and social sciences. You’ll also tour colleges, participate in community service projects, and more. While the program emphasizes education across all primary disciplines, you’ll get extra exposure to math career and academic pathways through one-on-one conferences, workshops, and specialized activities, helping you prepare for college applications and transitioning into undergraduate-level study.
Location: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not provided
Dates: 5–6-week STEM Summer Institute plus ongoing programming during college
Application Deadline: Apply after acceptance to UAPB
Eligibility: Graduating high school students with a GPA of 3.0+ and ACT of 19+
UAPB’s STEM Academy is a year-round academic development program for graduating high school students in Arkansas. You’ll begin the program in the summer before your freshman year of college at UAPB, moving into campus early for a 5-6 week Summer Academy. You’ll network with professors and researchers, prepare for college-level mathematics coursework, visit a major STEM research facility, and learn about academic pathways in math and other STEM fields. During the school year, you’ll work in a math-focused small group, where you’ll attend guest lectures, career-planning workshops, and meetings on math opportunities such as academic conferences and research presentations. You’ll have a dedicated faculty contact within the mathematics department, receive mentorship from upperclassmen, and ultimately mentor younger students yourself. Aimed towards supporting minority students considering STEM careers, you’ll receive guidance and empowerment on pursuing higher education and professional roles in mathematics.
Location: South Arkansas College, El Dorado, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not provided
Dates: 4 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors at El Dorado Public Schools who have completed Algebra II
South Arkansas College Bridge to College Algebra offers rising seniors a fully-funded college prep program focused on building algebraic skills and preparing for future advanced coursework. You’ll study core logarithmic, exponential, and algebraic functions through interactive coursework and activities, covering the equivalent of one high school semester over the 4-week period. If you’re dissatisfied with your official Algebra II grade, the program can also serve as a credit recovery opportunity to improve your transcript. To prepare for college, you’ll additionally study mathematics topics covered on the ACT and tour five colleges in the region, including South Arkansas College. You’ll be eligible to complete a dual enrollment course in college-level algebra during the following year.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Very selective; exact numbers not provided
Dates: One year, starting January 1
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
MIT’s PRIMES-USA is an advanced research-focused math program for high school students offered remotely to students living outside the Greater Boston area. You’ll be matched with an MIT researcher with similar interests, and develop a project focused on an unsolved problem in mathematics, computational biology, or theoretical computer science over the course of a year. You’ll begin with the Advanced Reading Period, where you’ll meet weekly with your mentor, gain a grounding in your specialized math project field, and write a reading report. You’ll then begin the Research Period, where you’ll focus on self-guided work, with mentor support as needed. You’ll continue your work throughout the school year and the summer, completing an interim research report in the spring. You’ll finish your project at the end of the summer with guidance from your mentor, which you’ll present at the PRIME conference. You’ll be supported in submitting your work to professional-level journals and mathematics conferences. The program serves as a strong pipeline to MIT; 75% of PRIMES students who apply are admitted.
Location: Online | In-person camp offered at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $3,750; financial aid offered (In-person cost: $8,950)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 64 students (In-person: 40 students)
Dates: Session One: June 15 - July 3 | Session Two: July 6-24 | Algebraic Topology is only offered in Session One | Residential: June 21-July 17
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th grade students | Students should have experience with proofs, high school geometry, and algebra
SUMaC is a math program for high schoolers hosted both online and on-campus at Stanford, offering two levels of training in college-level mathematics. Based on your mathematics background, you’ll enroll in either the Abstract Algebra & Number Theory Program or the more challenging Algebraic Topology Program. You’ll attend daily lessons led by Stanford professors and problem-solving sessions with undergraduate and graduate mathematics students. Your coursework will be supplemented by a guest lecture series, featuring mathematics researchers and professionals in math-focused industries. You’ll additionally learn about applications of math to other STEM disciplines, new developments in mathematics research, and the history of core mathematics principles. You’ll finish the program by completing a final math research project, which you’ll present to your peers and instructors.
Location: Remote with in-person conference at MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; fully funded for conference travel and attendance
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Very selective
Dates: June – December (6 months)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 11th graders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MIT’s MITES Semester is a six-month college prep program supporting students from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds and regions in STEM. You’ll take one core math or science course in Calculus, Physics, Computer Science, or Science Writing and Communication. To build a specialization in math, you’ll enroll in a project-based elective such as astrophysics, computational biology, or geospatial data analysis. You’ll finish the class by completing a group research project. Your academic experience will include weekly live webinars, group discussions, and cluster meetings; you’ll also build community through game nights, group chats, and mentorship from MIT undergraduates. You’ll participate in a rigorous college-preparatory component, including a virtual college fair with admissions officers from MIT and other top schools, personalized application essay review, and mock interviews. You’ll receive fully-funded attendance to the MITES Semester Conference in Cambridge, where you’ll deliver a presentation on your research project, network with MIT professors, and meet MIT students and admissions counselors.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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