Top 10 High School Research Journals

Getting published in research journals as a high school student showcases your academic passion and demonstrates that you can conduct high-quality research and communicate it effectively. This experience can help you stand out to Ivy League schools and other top research universities.

In this article, we’ll list the top 10 high school research journals you can consider submitting to, alongside important details for each.

• What are the Best High School Research Journals to be Published in?
• International Journal of High School Research
• National High School Journal of Science
• Journal of Emerging Investigators
• The Concord Review
• Columbia Junior Science Journal
• Journal of Student Research
• STEM Fellowship Journal
• Curieux Academic Journal
• Young Scientists Journal
• Youth Medical Journal
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What are the Best High School Research Journals to be Published in?

In competitive admissions like the Ivy League and other top research schools, having a peer-reviewed publication can set you apart. After all, publishing your research paper as a high schooler demonstrates initiative, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to tackle advanced work.

Carrying a paper through a rigorous academic peer-review process signals that you have the dedication and critical thinking skills to excel in a research-heavy environment. Publishing provides credibility to your work and highlights your passion for discovery.

Here’s an overview of ten high school research journals, their deadlines, and what disciplines they accept so you can immediately see where you might consider submitting:

Let’s talk about each journal below.

1. International Journal of High School Research

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: STEM, social sciences, behavioral sciences
• Cost: $300 publication fee

The International Journal of High School Research (IJHSR) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that covers all areas of science and accepts both new experimental research and substantial literature reviews. IJHSR is published by the non-profit Terra Science and Education and releases multiple issues per year on a rolling basis, so there are no fixed submission deadlines.

A unique aspect of IJHSR’s process is that student authors must secure three faculty or postdoc reviewers who agree to evaluate their manuscript as part of the submission. This extra step means you should start early to line up qualified reviewers. All published papers are indexed in academic databases (such as EBSCO and Google Scholar), which boosts their visibility to researchers and admissions officers worldwide.

IJHSR is open to any high school student internationally. Having your work appear in IJHSR signals that it meets a high standard of scientific rigor. It’s a strong credential for STEM-focused students because it shows you contributed new knowledge at the high school level in a globally indexed journal.

If you’re interested in this journal, check our complete guide to the IJHSR.

2. National High School Journal of Science

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: STEM
• Cost: $250 typical submission fee; $260 expedited submission fee

The National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS) is a free, online, student-run journal that publishes research by high school students in a variety of STEM fields. The journal accepts original research articles, as well as review articles or reports summarizing significant advances in science or policy. Submissions are accepted year-round with no deadlines, and there are no publication or submission fees.

Each submission is peer-reviewed by a board of professional scientists and academics, ensuring a high standard despite the journal being student-run.

The typical review timeline is 8 weeks. However, for time-sensitive research, the journal offers a 2-week turnaround until the initial review decision. That means if revisions are requested, the resubmitted manuscript will then follow the standard non-expedited timeline.

Considering submitting to this journal? Learn more about it in our National High School Journal of Science guide.

3. Journal of Emerging Investigators

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: STEM, particularly natural and physical sciences
• Cost: $45 submission fee

The Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) is a peer-reviewed journal for middle and high school scientists, run by graduate students and PhDs (primarily affiliated with Harvard University). JEI focuses on publishing original research in the natural and physical sciences.

Every student who submits gets detailed feedback from multiple scientists, and those whose work shows promise are mentored through an extensive revision process to meet publication standards. Basically, JEI publishes student research and also teaches you how to write a professional scientific article. The journal accepts submissions year-round and requires that research be hypothesis-driven, meaning it does not accept purely theoretical or review articles.

To be eligible, students must be in middle or high school at the time of submission, and a teacher or mentor serves as a co-author on the paper to provide oversight.

Compared to other journals, you might be more likely to be accepted to JEI since the journal’s model is to work with students through revisions. As long as you perform a solid experiment and power through the 8–12 month review process, your paper will likely get accepted eventually.

Publishing in JEI can be very beneficial since your work undergoes rigorous peer review by experts, which prepares you for college-level research. Read our detailed JEI guide to learn more about this journal.

4. The Concord Review

• Deadline: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1
• Disciplines accepted: History and historical social science
• Cost: $70 submission fee

The Concord Review (TCR) is a quarterly journal that publishes exceptional history research papers by high school students. Founded in 1987, TCR is the most prestigious journal for high school humanities research in the world.

TCR focuses primarily on history, including topics in social studies like politics or economics with a historical approach, and expects long-form essays. In fact, the average paper is around 9,000 words (roughly 20 pages), and many are in the 5,000–10,000 word range or longer. 

To be considered, a paper must be a scholarly work with extensive primary source research and proper Chicago-style citations. Papers must also be sole-authored by a high school student and previously unpublished.

TCR has four deadline cycles: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1—corresponding to the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter issues. The journal operates on rolling admissions, so if you miss one cutoff, your essay can be considered for subsequent issues.

There is a submission fee of $70, which includes a year’s subscription to the journal’s eBook edition. U.S. students can opt for a print subscription at $110, while international print costs $150.

Any high school student worldwide is eligible to submit a history paper. Getting published in The Concord Review can greatly strengthen college applications, especially if you’re aiming for top programs in history, political science, or other social sciences.

Are you an aspiring historian hoping to get published in this journal? Read our complete guide to The Concord Review for more tips and details on submission guidelines.

5. Columbia Junior Science Journal

• Deadline: late September (September 30 last 2025)
• Disciplines accepted: STEM, social sciences\
• Cost: Free

The Columbia Junior Science Journal (CJSJ) is an annual research journal for high school students, affiliated with Columbia University. It was created as a spin-off of Columbia’s undergraduate science journal to provide a publishing opportunity for outstanding high school research.

CJSJ accepts original research papers in the natural and physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences, as well as shorter scholarly review articles. One distinctive feature is the format: the journal requires a condensed paper summarizing your work, specifically 2–3 pages for original research or 4–5 pages for a review. This means you must distill your research into a very concise form, focusing on key findings and insights.

Submissions open around early July in the summer and are typically due by the end of September. A faculty and student editorial board then reviews submissions through the fall. They announce semifinalists and finalists, and the selected papers are published online by spring (usually March) with an awards ceremony in April.

All high school students are eligible. If you’re submitting an original research paper, you’ll also need a teacher or mentor to sign a permission form confirming the work and supporting your submission.

CJSJ is backed by an Ivy League institution, so having this on your application shows that Columbia University’s science community deemed your work publication-worthy. Read our blog on the CJSJ to learn more about this journal.

6. Journal of Student Research

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: All disciplines
• Cost: $50 pre-review Article Processing Charge; $299 post-review Article Processing Charge; $25 per additional individual over 5 authors

The Journal of Student Research (JSR) is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal that accepts work from high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. It covers a wide range of disciplines, from medicine and biology to economics, psychology, engineering, and even arts and humanities.

The journal accepts various formats of student work, such as research articles, literature reviews, short analyses, case studies, and research posters in a condensed article form. This means if you’ve written an AP Research paper or an IB Extended Essay with original research, JSR could be a venue to publish it.

JSR is an open-access journal that publishes issues on a periodic basis. The review timeline is around 12-24 weeks, depending on factors like reviewer availability and the complexity of the research. Revisions will extend the timeline.

It’s important to be aware that submitting to the Journal of Student Research can be quite expensive: there’s a $50 fee due upon submission of your manuscript, and if your paper is accepted, a $299 article processing charge for publication. These fees are common for open-access academic journals, but JSR does make all its content freely available online once published.

All high school, undergraduate, and graduate students can submit their work. High school authors usually have a teacher or mentor as a co-author, but it’s not strictly required as long as the work is yours.

Because JSR is also open to older students, a high schooler getting published in JSR demonstrates they can perform at near undergraduate level. Admissions officers will recognize JSR on your application as a legitimate academic journal. Interested in submitting? Check out our article on the Journal of Student Research to learn more about it.

7. STEM Fellowship Journal

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: STEM
• Cost: $400 CAD

The STEM Fellowship Journal (SFJ) is an international, open-access peer-reviewed journal that publishes research by both high school and university students. It’s published in partnership with Canadian Science Publishing, a major scientific publisher, which gives it a strong professional footing. SFJ focuses on all STEM disciplines and accepts several types of articles, namely original research papers, review articles, and short “viewpoint” essays on scientific topics.

SFJ publishes two issues per year on average. They have rolling submissions, meaning you can submit at any time, but a submitted paper might take 8-12 months to go through review and appear in an issue.

High school students from anywhere around the world can submit. Having a mentor or teacher as a co-author is common and likely helpful given the level of review.

Getting published in SFJ is an outstanding achievement for STEM-oriented students. SFJ’s association with a known publisher means your work will be taken seriously and will be accessible via scholarly databases.

8. Curieux Academic Journal

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: All disciplines
• Cost: $250 Fast-Track Review; $200 Seasonal Review

Curieux Academic Journal is a youth-led, non-profit journal founded with the mission of publishing research by middle and high school students.

The journal welcomes submissions from all academic disciplines, spanning the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. It also encourages various forms of academic writing, so you can submit a standard research paper, a review article, or even a well-developed humanities essay. The only guideline is usually that the work be under 20 pages and meet scholarly standards.  Curieux accepts submissions year-round, so you can submit whenever your work is ready.

Curieux offers two tracks for submissions: a Fast-Track Review for an expedited review decision within three weeks, or the standard Seasonal Review, where you get notified when the next issue is released.

A majority of submissions get published eventually, provided they meet basic quality, and the authors are willing to revise as needed. That’s because Curieux is less about exclusivity and more about giving young scholars a chance to experience publishing.

All middle and high school students from around the world can submit. If you’re interested in publishing in this journal, read our guide on the Curieux Academic Journal for more details.

9. Young Scientists Journal

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: STEM
• Cost: Free

The Young Scientists Journal (YSJ) is the world’s first peer-reviewed science journal written and edited exclusively by 12–20 year-olds. Founded in 2006 in the UK, it has grown into the largest international journal of its kind, with a global team of student editors and contributors. YSJ covers all areas of science (STEM) and publishes a variety of content: original research papers, review articles, and even shorter pieces like blog-style insights or science news.

The journal is published online and is fully open access. YSJ also charges no submission or publication fees at all since it operates as a registered charity. Submissions are accepted from students worldwide, and you must be aged 12–20 when submitting.

YSJ is student-run, meaning high school or college students, with guidance from a few adult advisors, handle the editorial process. In fact, your work will first be checked by a junior editor, then an academic advisor, then a senior editor. There isn’t a strict deadline, so you can submit anytime.

Aside from providing an avenue to publish your work, YSJ also has a unique community, where authors might eventually become editors. If you make it to that point, it can especially boost your academic profile since it demonstrates initiative, passion, and commitment to science beyond the classroom.

10. Youth Medical Journal

• Deadline: Rolling
• Disciplines accepted: Medicine and health sciences (including healthcare and public health)
• Cost: Free

The Youth Medical Journal (YMJ) is an international student-led journal focused on medicine and health sciences. It’s run by a team of about 40 high school and undergraduate students from around the world. YMJ’s goal is to give young, medically oriented students a platform to publish articles according to professional standards.

The journal is organized into numerous sub-journals or sections by topic. For example, there are sections for biomedical research, neuroscience, public health, and even timely topics like COVID-19 research.

YMJ accepts original research papers, review articles, and also shorter pieces like commentaries or “blog” style articles on medical topics. So, whether you did an experiment on bacteria or wrote a literature review on a disease, or even an opinion piece on a healthcare issue, there’s a place for it in YMJ.

The review process at YMJ is peer-reviewed with student editors and likely some oversight by medical students or professionals. High school and early undergraduate students are the target contributors. If you’re aiming for schools with a competitive pre-med track like Johns Hopkins or just have a strong interest in medicine, this journal is tailored for you.

Publishing in the Youth Medical Journal can be particularly helpful if you plan to pursue medicine in college. Activities like shadowing a doctor or joining HOSA are certainly helpful, but engaging with medical literature and research shows that you’ve explored a medical topic of your choice and sharpened your scientific writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best research journal for high school students?

There isn’t a single “best” journal for all high schoolers since it depends on your research and goals. For example, in science, the Journal of Emerging Investigators is highly regarded, whereas for history The Concord Review is prestigious. Aim for a reputable peer-reviewed journal that fits your subject and showcases your work strongly.

2. Where can I publish my research paper as a high school student?

You have many options regardless of your discipline. For example, you can consider the Young Scientists Journal for STEM, the Youth Medical Journal for medical topics, or Journal of Student Research for any field. Choose a journal aligned with your topic and follow its submission guidelines closely.

3. How to get research experience as a highschooler?

Start by exploring subjects that fascinate you. You can take advanced classes, join science clubs, or self-study topics of interest. Next, seek out opportunities: you can reach out to local college professors or labs to volunteer, attend summer research programs, or work on a project with a teacher’s guidance.

Even an independent project (like a science fair experiment or history paper) can count as research. The key is to actively engage in inquiry: formulate a question, investigate it through experiments or data, and analyze the results. Over time, these experiences will build your research skills and can lead to publishable work.

Takeaways

• Publishing in high school demonstrates advanced skills and a passion for academics. Completing the peer-review process as a teenager signals to colleges that you can handle rigorous, college-level research work.
• Many top student journals are free to publish, but some charge submission or publication fees to cover open-access costs. Always check if there’s a fee and whether waivers exist.
• Aiming to get your research published? In our Science Research Program, you’ll work 1-on-1 with a mentor to guide you in refining your research so you’re guaranteed to get accepted by top research journals.