11 Astrophysics Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 10, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: May 14
It can be hard for high school students to get involved in astrophysics—a field that requires deep physics knowledge, access to advanced equipment, and guidance. There are a few summer programs that do, however, give students a taste of what astrophysics looks like; we explore them in this article! Here are 11 great astrophysics summer programs for high school students. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
At a Glance:
Some astrophysics summer programs for high school students include NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Internships (paid, prestigious option for US citizens), the Summer Science Program (SSP) (a selective 10% admit-rate program where students calculate asteroid orbits), the Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) (a 6-week residential program at the Leitner Observatory), REACH at Northwestern's CIERA (a 3-week research program with optional independent extension), and the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech (a stipended program admitting only 12 students nationally). For students who can't attend in person — including international students — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program's astrophysics track offers fully remote, 1-on-1 PhD-mentored research.
Location: Online
Application deadline: There are four cohorts throughout the year. Applications are due in February, May, September, and December, respectively. Apply here!
Program dates: There are four cohorts throughout the year in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: All high school students may apply.
Lumiere was founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Hundreds of ambitious high school students do research through the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs. Each student is paired with a top PhD student and works 1-1 with their mentor to produce a university-level research paper. The programs are entirely virtual and vary in duration based on the student’s end goal and the level of deep dive they prefer. The research opportunities span STEM and non-STEM subjects, AI, and business.
Close to 400 students have already done university-level research in astrophysics, making it one of the most popular tracks at Lumiere. Past student research has explored how Dark Matter and Dark Energy shape the evolution of the Universe, the critical factors that affect the habitability of celestial bodies in our solar system, and more.
Also, check out the Lumiere Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Location: Varies as per course
Stipend: Available, depending on academic level and session duration
Application deadline: Early March
Program dates: 10 weeks from late May/early June – August
Eligibility: Students must be a minimum of 16 years of age, be US citizens, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0
You can finally make your dreams of working at NASA come true! NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center offers several astrophysics-related high school internships. You can also go through the full list of NASA’s internships here, just search for high school to filter out the opportunities applicable to you. Suggestions for increasing chances of acceptance include applying early and networking with previous interns. For more tips on getting a NASA internship, check out our full guide here. A NASA internship is a great experience to have on your resume and can help you stand out in competitive college admissions.
Location: Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium at Yale University
Fee: $6,900. Limited, need-based financial aid available, usually ranging from 50-80%
Application deadline: March 13
Program dates: June 26 – August 6, 2 weeks of self-study, 4-week residential program
Eligibility: Open only to rising seniors who are 15.5 years or older by July 9
A comprehensive program, the YSPA brings together elements of research, practical work, and the college experience. In a group of 36 students, you will take classes, use the telescopes at the Leitner Observatory, and analyze data in the observatory’s computer lab. Classes cover topics such as observational astronomy, spectroscopy, telescope optics, and more. You will work in teams of 4 on a research project that will culminate in a scientific paper and presentation. Some have even been published in science journals! To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) at Northwestern University
Fee: $2,500 + $1,500 for REACH Further. Full and partial scholarships are available
Application deadline: March 20
Program dates: Session 1 from June 12 – June 30, Session 2 from July 10 – July 28
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
In the 3 weeks of this course, you and your team will work on projects based on research being done at CIERA. A core element of this program is its focus on learning programming and scientific data analysis to study astronomy. You can also opt for REACH Further to work on an independent research project with one-on-one guidance from a mentor for three additional weeks.
Location: Texas Tech University
Stipend: $750
Application deadline: February 15
Program dates: June 18 - August 3
Eligibility: 17-year-old students who graduate
You could be one of the 12 highly qualified students selected to attend this highly selective program. With physics being one of the program’s tracks, you could work on an astrophysics research project. If you’re looking for a program focused on research that allows you to hone critical thinking skills, then this is an ideal option. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
Fee: Free
Application deadline: March 27
Program dates: July 23 – July 28
Eligibility: All high school students who are US residents
JINA-CEE is a network of 24 institutions in 9 countries and is part of the National Science Foundation’s Physics Frontiers Center program. This free, week-long residential program explores atomic nuclei and their interactions with astrophysics and cosmology. Not only will you get to research at a rare-isotope laboratory, but you will also perform your own nuclear physics experiments. The recruitment process includes a pre-application, application, and teacher recommendations, so keep in mind that it’s fairly selective. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Three programs available at New Mexico State University, University of Colorado Boulder, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Fee: $8,400. Financial aid is available
Application deadline: March 3
Program dates: June 18 – July 26 in Mexico and Colorado; June 11 – July 19 in Chapel Hill
Eligibility: High school juniors between 15 and 19 years of age who have completed the prerequisites
Does determining the orbit of an asteroid sound like an exciting summer project? SSP’s astrophysics track allows you to work on such projects. In teams of three, you will learn celestial coordinates to select a near-Earth asteroid, observe it through a telescope, and use programming to calculate its orbit. This is a prestigious program to have on your resume, but the 10% acceptance rate does make it challenging to get in. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Online
Fee: $250 (CAD). Limited need-based funding is available
Application deadline: March 16
Program dates: July 17 – July 28
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors, prerequisites can be found here
Organized by a Canadian non-profit, this intensive physics program is open to students internationally. Although concentrating on theoretical physics, it also offers a look at topics such as quantum mechanics, special relativity, cosmology, general relativity, and black holes. The program consists of independent work, interactive online sessions, simple home experiments, and career sessions.
Location: Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Fee: $5,999 (residential), $5,199 (commuter). Limited financial aid is available
Application deadline: May 19
Program dates: Session 1 from June 25 – July 14, Session 2 from July 16 – August 4
Eligibility: Students between grades 7 and 11 who have Advanced CTY-level math scores
CTY’s astrophysics course covers a wide array of topics within the field and is ideal for gaining a broad understanding of the subject. You will learn about the constituents of the universe and how to construct patterns between them, study how physics influences the life cycle of stars, interpret the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, use mathematical computations to study astrophysics theories, and more.
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Fee: $9,700. Financial assistance available for select Philadelphia students
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: July 9 – July 29
Eligibility: Open to high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
This program is designed to guide students beyond memorization and test preparation into a deeper understanding of physics. Choose this program if you want to learn astrophysics as part of a broader curriculum including mechanics, electromagnetism, and quantum dynamics. Your learning will be facilitated through lectures, activities, projects, and research talks presented by faculty members from Penn.
Location: Mt. Lemmon Observatory
Fee: $1,800. Need-based scholarships are available
Application deadline: Rolling admissions from the beginning of March
Program dates: June 17 – June 24
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 14 and 18
This summer camp is a seven-day learning experience under the stars! You will be housed at the Mount Lemmon Station Observatory and have access to its telescopes to complete one or more individual research projects. Previous research activities have included astronomical photography, spectroscopy, electronic photometry, and CCD imaging. Bear in mind that the program accepts only 20 students and has had a 30% acceptance rate in the past.
How to Choose the Right Astrophysics Program
If you want the most prestigious credentials: NASA Goddard, Summer Science Program, or Anson L. Clark Scholars.
If you're a sophomore or younger: CTY Astrophysics or Lumiere are your strongest options — most other programs require junior or senior standing.
If you're an international student: Lumiere (remote) or ISSYP (online, Canadian-run) are the only options here.
If you want hands-on telescope time: Mt. Lemmon Observatory camp or YSPA.
If you want to learn programming and data analysis: REACH at CIERA or SSP.
If cost is a barrier: NASA Goddard (paid), Clark Scholars (paid), PAN by JINA-CEE (free), or Lumiere with financial aid.
If you want a long-term independent research paper: Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sophomores or freshmen apply to astrophysics summer programs? Most programs require junior or senior standing, but a few accept students in their first or second year. The CTY Astrophysics Course accepts students from grades 7–11, UPenn's Experimental Physics Research Academy is open to freshmen, and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program accepts all high school students regardless of grade level.
How competitive are these astrophysics programs? Highly competitive at the top end. The Summer Science Program has an approximately 10% acceptance rate, the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program admits only 12 students nationally, and NASA Goddard internships are similarly selective. The Mt. Lemmon Astronomy Camp has a ~30% acceptance rate. Programs like CTY and Lumiere are more accessible while still maintaining academic rigor.
Are there online or virtual astrophysics programs for high schoolers? Yes. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully remote and open globally, and the International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP) is an online program run by a Canadian non-profit covering theoretical physics, cosmology, and general relativity.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.
Image source: NASA website