Real programs that develop real skills — without the hidden costs, broken promises, or NDAs.
Your child deserves access to excellent debate education. These programs have proven track records, transparent pricing, and genuine commitments to student development. This list will continue to grow.
Harvard College • Est. 1990 • Cambridge, MA
This is the real Harvard debate program — and it has nothing to do with Veritas. The Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops are run directly by Harvard College's independent student organization and have been developing young debaters for over 35 years. If your child wants to learn debate at Harvard, this is where they should be. No middleman. No $15,000 markup. No misleading affiliations.
Programs include Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, World Schools, Congressional Debate, and Public Speaking — with both in-person and online options. Low student-faculty ratios with nationally competitive instructors. Need-based financial aid may be available. This is the ONLY official site for registration.
Emory University Barkley Forum • Est. 1985 • Atlanta, GA
The AUDL has provided excellent debate education to diverse K-12 students across metro Atlanta for over 30 years. A partnership between Atlanta Public Schools and Emory University, it teaches critical thinking, research, public speaking, and advocacy skills through tournaments, workshops, summer camps, and in-school programming.
Programs include competitive debate tournaments (Sept-April), a Digital Debate Center, Debate Ambassadors for regional/national competition, teacher training through Debate Across the Curriculum, and elementary debate programming.
Urban Debate • Est. 2004 • Chicago, IL (20 cities nationwide)
NAUDL is the gold standard for urban debate education in America. Operating across 20 cities, they've spent two decades proving that world-class debate programs don't require $15,000 tuition — just genuine commitment to students. Their model partners directly with public schools, making debate accessible to the students who need it most.
Programs include competitive Urban Debate Leagues, a national championship hosted at Harvard College, Sports Debate, teacher training through Teach Debate, and mentorship programs that develop real skills and real confidence — with full transparency and nonprofit accountability.
If you know of a legitimate debate, college prep, or leadership program that serves underrepresented students with transparency and integrity, email us and we'll review it for inclusion.