Free Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
Updated: 4 days ago
TL;DR
This list takes you through a wide range of free medical summer programs, from hands-on research internships at universities and medical research centers to paid work experience in healthcare settings. The programs vary in location, eligibility, and the kind of experience you can gain, with financial support ranging from no specified stipend to opportunities offering $4,000 for the summer. If you want to build your own independent medical research project with 1:1 PhD mentorship, you can explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you are thinking about pursuing medicine in college or building a career in healthcare, a summer medical program should be on your radar. These programs can place you in settings ranging from university laboratories and hospital research centers to healthcare organizations, giving you a closer look at the field before you start college. In this guide, we’ve put together a range of free summer medical programs for high school students, with a few additional options at the end. For a broader look at summer opportunities in healthcare, you can also read 15 Summer Healthcare Programs for High School Students.
How much can you earn through a free medical summer program?
The financial support varies quite a bit from one program to another. At Johns Hopkins ISPEED, for example, you can receive a need-based stipend of up to $2,400, while the program also covers tuition, housing, meals, transportation, and required supplies. The MSK HOPP Summer Student Program offers a $1,200 stipend, and the NIH High School Summer Internship Program currently lists a monthly stipend of $2,530 for high school students before graduation and $2,840 after graduation. Some programs offer a fixed summer payment, while others do not specify the stipend until you are accepted.
If you know you want a summer opportunity that pays you for your time, take a look at our guide to fully paid summer opportunities for high school students.
Do you need to live near the program, or can you apply from anywhere?
Location can determine whether you are eligible for a program in the first place. The MSK HOPP Summer Student Program, for example, requires applicants to live within 25 miles of its Manhattan campus. Kaiser Permanente’s High School Internship Program is also location-specific and is limited to students who permanently live in its Northern California service area. ResearcHStart has a broader set of host institutions, but you still need to live in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana. On the other hand, programs such as the NIH High School Summer Internship Program and NIH STEP-UP accept eligible applicants who can participate through NIH or participating research centers across the U.S. and its territories.
Before you start an application, check the residency requirement. You could have a strong application, but if you do not meet the program’s location rules, you will not be eligible.
How competitive are these programs, and does a free program mean easier admission?
Free does not mean easy to get into. Many of these programs have limited spots, and some receive far more applications than they can accept. The MSK HOPP Summer Student Program, for example, typically receives more than 1,000 applications for around 20 summer positions.
How competitive a program is also depends on who can apply. Programs with local residency requirements may have a smaller applicant pool, while national programs can attract applicants from across the country. Programs that offer both research experience and financial support can be especially appealing.
If you are applying to competitive research programs, it is worth building a broader list instead of putting all your effort into one application. You can also explore 11 Best Free Research Opportunities for High School Students for more options.
What kind of medical research or work experience can you expect?
The programs on this list give you different ways to explore medicine and healthcare. Research-focused programs such as Stanford SIMR, MSK HOPP, NIH HS-SIP, Houston Methodist’s High School Research Internship, ResearcHStart, and UCSF’s Summer Student Research Program can involve laboratory work, experiments, data analysis, research methods, and mentorship.
Other programs give you a different view of the field. Johns Hopkins ISPEED combines biomedical engineering with design, computing, and hands-on projects, while Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH gives you paid experience in healthcare administration and support roles. NIH STEP-UP can also look different depending on the research center you join.
What kind of experience can you get from a medical summer program?
The programs below offer different types of medical and healthcare experience, from laboratory research at universities and hospitals to healthcare workplace experience and data-focused research.
Type of experience | Programs to consider | What you can expect |
Hospital and medical center research | You can spend the summer working in a medical research setting, learning research methods, working with mentors, and contributing to projects in areas such as cancer, clinical research, laboratory science, or public health. | |
University-based biomedical research | These programs give you access to university research environments, with opportunities to explore biomedical science, engineering, computing, laboratory work, research projects, and mentorship. | |
Government and large-scale research | You can work with researchers on biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social science projects and get a closer look at how research is conducted at major public research institutions. | |
Healthcare workplace experience | You can work inside a healthcare organization and learn how medical centers and business teams operate through administrative and support roles, mentorship, and professional development. | |
Translational and data-focused research | You can explore areas such as genomics, mHealth, data analysis, clinical research, bioinformatics, and other research that connects scientific work with healthcare applications. |
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: None; a stipend is provided
Program Dates: June 7–July 29
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 by the program start, live and attend high school in the U.S., and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SIMR is an eight-week summer research program where you work on hands-on biomedical research with guidance from a one-on-one mentor at Stanford. You can choose from eight research areas, including immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics. Tip: We’ve covered this program in depth here!
Why it stands out: You get the chance to spend eight weeks doing biomedical research at Stanford and work closely with researchers in a specific area of medicine or biology.
Stanford University offers a number of other programs in the fields of medicine and biology for high school students that are worth considering:
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) - A free, 5-week-long, full-time summer program for current juniors from low-income and/or underrepresented backgrounds currently living in Northern California. We have covered this program in detail here.
Stanford STaRS Internship Program - A Stanford Medicine research internship focused on plastic surgery and related research.
Pediatrics Internship Program - A Stanford Medicine opportunity that gives high school students exposure to pediatric medicine and research.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, NY
Cost: Free; $1,200 stipend for the summer; housing and transportation are not provided
Program Dates: Approximately eight weeks from late June to mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically in February; exact deadline for the next cycle is not yet published
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of MSK's Upper East Side campus, have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects, are at least 14 by June, and are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
MSK's HOPP Summer Student Program is an eight-week research internship designed to introduce you to laboratory work and careers in translational cancer research. Research areas include cancer biology, cell and molecular biology, computational biology and genomics, immunology, pharmacology, engineering and imaging, and structural biology. You’ll conduct an independent research project under the guidance of a HOPP principal investigator and a mentor from your assigned lab.
Tip: We’ve covered this opportunity in depth here!
Why it stands out: MSK typically receives more than 1,000 applications for just 20 summer positions, making this one of the most competitive high school research programs at a major cancer research center.
Location: Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free; tuition, housing, meals, transportation to and from Baltimore, program supplies, and weekend excursions are covered. A need-based stipend of up to $2,400 may also be available.
Program Dates: Four weeks during summer; typically Late June –Late July
Application Deadline: March 16 for the most recent cycle
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are at least 15 on move-in day and under 18 on the final day, and have a strong academic record and interest in biomedical engineering
If you’re interested in biomedical engineering and want to learn by building and testing things, ISPEED gives you a four-week residential experience at Johns Hopkins. You’ll explore biology and life sciences, healthcare design, computer programming, machine learning, and scientific computing through project-based coursework and hands-on lab work. You’ll work in spaces such as the Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab and BME Design Studio, attend seminars and talks, and take part in research and design projects.
Why it stands out: You get a fully funded, four-week residential introduction to biomedical engineering that combines hands-on lab work, design projects, computing, and three Johns Hopkins college credits.
Location: NIH campuses across the U.S., including the main campus in Bethesda, MD
Cost: Free; $2,530/month stipend before high school graduation or $2,840/month after high school graduation
Program Dates: May 10–August 31
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 18 by September 30; high school applicants must be enrolled at least half-time as seniors when applying and graduate before the internship begins.
The NIH Summer Internship Program lets you work full-time with an NIH research group, conducting biomedical, behavioral, or social science research under an NIH principal investigator. You can explore fields such as biology, engineering, chemistry, computer science, bioinformatics, and psychology, while accessing professional development and career programs. You’ll also have the chance to present your research at events such as NIH Summer Poster Day.
Why it stands out: You get paid, full-time research experience within NIH’s Intramural Research Program while working directly with scientists and exploring careers across biomedical and health-related fields.
Note: Part of the HS-SIP are two programs, High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) and HiSTEP 2.0. We have covered these programs in detail here.
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free; stipend amount is provided in the acceptance letter
Program Dates: June 7–August 6
Application Deadline: January 29
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 by the start of the program; applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and can be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or foreign nationals with qualifying legal visa status
Houston Methodist’s eight-week Summer High School Research Internship lets you gain hands-on experience in translational medical research while working full-time in a Houston Methodist lab. You’ll work with research mentors on a summer project matched to your interests, attend seminars and professional development sessions, and present your findings at the final research symposium. Tip: We’ve covered this program in detail here.
Why it stands out: You get eight weeks of full-time translational research experience at Houston Methodist, with hands-on lab work, research mentorship, professional development, and a final research presentation.
Location: Participating research centers across the U.S. and U.S. territories
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: Summer; exact dates vary by coordinating center
Application Deadline: Applications are due in February
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students; STEP-UP is designed to support students underrepresented in biomedical research, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities. Current eligibility requirements vary by opportunity.
STEP-UP is an NIDDK-supported summer research program offering hands-on biomedical research experience at participating centers across the U.S. and its territories. You’ll work with researchers on a mentored project, explore biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or social science research, and take part in professional development. The program ends with opportunities to present your research.
Why it stands out: You can gain authentic, mentored biomedical research experience through a participating center without necessarily having to relocate to a major research institution.
Location: Scripps Research Translational Institute, San Diego/La Jolla, CA
Cost: Funding for the current cycle has not yet been determined; unpaid positions require school credit or transcript notation
Program Dates: Ten weeks during summer
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Highly motivated high school, college, and professional students; high school applicants must be at least 16 before the internship begins, with a strong interest in genomics or mHealth translational research
Scripps Research Translational Institute’s 10-week summer internship lets you explore translational medical research through an independent project with a mentor. You’ll learn about genomics, mobile health, study design, data analysis, and clinical trials, with most work taking place in a dry-lab setting. The program includes weekly seminars and ends with a research presentation and poster symposium.
Why it stands out: You get to develop an independent research project with a mentor while exploring genomics, mHealth, data analysis, and clinical research.
Location: Kaiser Permanente medical centers and business offices in Northern California. Find the one closest to you.
Cost: Free; minimum $25 per hour stipend
Program Dates: June 14–July 30
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–19 by June 1, including current students and graduating seniors; you must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and have permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
KP LAUNCH is a seven-week paid summer program where you can explore administrative and support careers in healthcare. You’ll work full-time on projects at a Kaiser Permanente medical center or business office, with departments varying by location. The program also includes professional development workshops, mentorship, networking, and work-based or community activities.
Why it stands out: You get paid, full-time work experience inside Kaiser Permanente while exploring how different teams and departments contribute to healthcare.
Location: University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University’s downtown medical campus, or Rush University
Cost: Free; $4,000 taxable stipend
Program Dates: June 14–August 6
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 by June 14, residents of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana, and able to commit to eight weeks at 35–40 hours per week
ResearcHStart is a multi-institutional summer program offering hands-on experience in cancer and biomedical research at one of five participating institutions. You’ll work with faculty and research professionals, receive ongoing mentorship, and build research skills through career development workshops. The program ends with an opportunity to present your research. Housing and transportation are your responsibility.
Why it stands out: You get eight weeks of full-time research experience across a network of five major research institutions, along with a $4,000 stipend, professional development, and ongoing mentorship.
Location: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, MLK Research Building in Oakland, and some UCSF sites in San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free; $3,000 stipend for high school students
Program Dates: Seven weeks during summer
Application Deadline: February; exact deadline has not yet been published
Eligibility: Grades 10–12, age 16+, with one year each of math and biology, a 3.0+ GPA, U.S. citizenship/permanent residency, and qualifying disadvantaged status.
UCSF’s Summer Student Research Program lets you work on a clinical, laboratory, or public health project with one-on-one mentorship. You’ll gain hands-on research experience through seminars, workshops, and technical training, then present your findings at a final research symposium. Housing is not provided or funded.
Why it stands out: You get seven weeks of mentored biomedical research while also taking part in seminars, technical training, and professional development.
Here’s a few bonus programs that are free, held in the summer, and are conducted in fields of medicine:
If you are interested in doing a longer independent research project in medicine or another field, you could also consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. The program pairs high school students with PhD mentors for one-on-one research and can be completed remotely.
You can also read Top 27 Summer Research Programs for High School Students if you want to compare these opportunities with other summer research options.
What should you know before applying to these medical summer programs?
1. Which of these programs don't require you to live near the host institution?
Several programs have broader geographic eligibility than the programs tied to a specific city or region. NIH HS-SIP is available through NIH campuses across the U.S., while STEP-UP works through participating research centers across the U.S. and U.S. territories. Stanford SIMR requires you to live and attend high school in the U.S., and Houston Methodist accepts eligible applicants who meet its U.S. citizenship, residency, or visa requirements.
Several other programs are more geographically restricted. MSK requires you to live within 25 miles of its Manhattan campus, Kaiser Permanente requires permanent residence in a Northern California service area, and ResearcHStart requires you to be a resident of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana.
2. Is there a free program on this list that still pays a stipend over $2,500?
Yes. NIH HS-SIP provides a monthly stipend of $2,530 before high school graduation and $2,840 after high school graduation. ResearcHStart provides a $4,000 taxable stipend for the summer, while UCSF offers $3,000 for high school students.
3. How many of these programs require a minimum GPA to apply?
The list explicitly gives a minimum GPA requirement for three programs. MSK requires a 3.5 GPA in science subjects, Houston Methodist requires a minimum 3.5 GPA, and UCSF says applicants are typically in good academic standing with a 3.0+ GPA. Other programs may describe academic expectations without giving a specific minimum GPA in the information provided here.
4. If none of these programs fit your location or eligibility, what's another way to get research experience?
You can look for a research opportunity that is not tied to a particular hospital or university campus, including remote research programs or independent research with a mentor. If you want to develop an independent medical research project with one-on-one guidance, explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.