What is Arizona Boys State?
The American Legion Arizona Boys State is a flagship youth program of The American Legion Department of Arizona. This week-long leadership training and civics education experience is designed to teach students about how our government functions and to encourage them to become engaged citizens. Boys across the state who have completed their junior year of high school are eligible to attend Boys State. Click here to learn more about Arizona Boys State.
When and where is the program?
Arizona Boys State 2026 will take place from Sunday, May 31 to Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the University of Arizona campus in Tucson.
What is The American Legion?
The American Legion is a U.S. war veterans organization with nearly 2 million members worldwide. Founded by Act of Congress in 1919, The American Legion’s mission is to enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. To learn more about The American Legion, click here.
The American Legion is organized into 55 departments, with one department operating in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. Within each department, most of the activities of The American Legion are carried out through local American Legion Posts. There are over 13,000 American Legion Posts across the globe.
Beyond The American Legion itself, two other organizations make up The American Legion Family: the Sons of The American Legion (for male descendants of U.S. military veterans) and The American Legion Auxiliary (for spouses and female relatives of U.S. military veterans).
Why should I care about Arizona Boys State?
Boys State is a historic program that boasts many notable alumni nationwide, including President Bill Clinton, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and basketball star Michael Jordan, just to name a few (view a fuller list here). College admissions counselors and many job recruiters are familiar with Boys State, which can help students stand out in a competitive admissions or recruiting process. 
Of course, the real value of Boys State is not as a résumé booster, but rather the lessons and experiences that students will carry with them for the rest of their lives. For example, Arizona Boys State is staffed almost exclusively by former Boys Staters who choose to volunteer their time each year because of how they have been personally impacted by the program.
Who is eligible to attend Boys State?
There is only one true requirement to be eligible to attend Boys State: the student must be a boy who will have just completed his junior year in June 2026. In addition, students must be able to attend Boys State for the full duration of the program (limited exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis). Beyond this, the most successful candidates for Boys State typically have some or all of the following characteristics:
- Strong academic record
- Robust involvement in extracurricular activities (e.g., speech and debate club, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, JROTC)
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated interest in public service (e.g., government, law, law enforcement, or military service)
Students who attend Boys State and are descendants of a U.S. military veteran are eligible to apply for a college scholarship sponsored by Samsung and The American Legion. Additional information about this scholarship opportunity will be provided once the student registers for Boys State.
Is there a cost to attend Boys State?
Students selected to attend Arizona Boys State are typically responsible for paying a $300 tuition fee. This tuition fee covers less than half of the true cost of Boys State, which is nearly $850 per student in room and board and other costs. The remaining funding for each student is provided via sponsorships and donations from The American Legion and other donors. Students are not responsible for arranging additional funding beyond the $300 tuition fee.
Arizona Boys State strongly believes that cost should not be a barrier to attendance. Thus, while most students are expected to pay the $300 tuition fee, financial aid is available to students for whom this cost is prohibitive. Students may request financial aid on the registration form. In addition, all students should check with their school or school district to see whether funding is available to help them pay their tuition fee.
Is transportation to Boys State provided?
In general, students must arrange their own transportation to and from Boys State. Schools (including multiple schools within the same school district) are encouraged to help coordinate carpools among their students. In addition, a variety of low-cost transportation options (such as airport shuttles and private bus companies) are available.
Is there a Girls State?
Yes, there is a Girls State! However, Arizona Boys State and Arizona Girls State operate independently. For information about Girls State, click here.