10 Free Psychology Programs for High School Students
For high school students interested in psychology, free programs provide an excellent opportunity to explore the field without financial barriers. These fully funded programs allow you to access high-quality education and hands-on experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. By applying to free psychology programs, you can gain valuable insights into human behavior, mental processes, and the various career paths available in this field.
Early exposure to psychology through these programs can also enhance your college applications. Participating in a prestigious, fully funded program demonstrates initiative, commitment, and a strong interest in the subject. It highlights your ability to seek out learning opportunities and excel in a competitive environment, which can make you stand out to admissions committees.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 10 free psychology programs for high school students that offer a mix of academic learning and practical experience.
The Child Mind Institute Program is an internship designed to promote career development in the mental health space. You will complete a paid project-based learning program in the summer before participating in workshops and activities throughout the second year. You will then complete a paid internship at a mental health organization in the program’s second summer while receiving mentorship from professionals. This internship is a great way to demonstrate leadership within the field of psychology.
Cost: Stipend of up to $2,000
Location: Remote, hybrid, and in-person at the Child Mind Institute, San Mateo, CA
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Program Length: 14 months
Eligibility: High school students in California
The High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP), hosted by the National Institutes of Health, offers high school juniors and seniors a full-time, hands-on research experience in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. You will work within NIH labs under the mentorship of Principal Investigators and conduct research in fields like biology, chemistry, psychology, and more.
The program provides access to professional development, educational advising, and wellness resources to help interns thrive. With an acceptance rate of around 7%, this highly competitive program includes a stipend for participants. You also get to participate in specialized group experiences that enhance skill development and foster a sense of community.
Location: NIH campuses (including the main campus in Bethesda, MD)
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Applicant must be:
A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
18 years of age or older
A high school senior
Applicants under 18 years old must live within 40 miles of the NIH campus where they will be interning.
Application deadline: February 19, 2025
Dates/duration: Typically from June to July
The Mary S. Easton Center Neuroscience High School Scholars Program at UCLA offers high school juniors and seniors a six-week, in-person summer program with a focus on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD). You will participate in hands-on neuroscience activities, including brain cutting, clinical trial preparation, and research projects, while also engaging in community outreach. A virtual option is available, and both tracks encourage students to start Alzheimer's Awareness Clubs at their schools. Year-round virtual seminars with neuroscience experts will keep you connected to cutting-edge research.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA and virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16-18 years old)
Application deadline: TBA for 2025
Dates/duration: 6 weeks for the in-person program (three days a week, four hours per day); virtual seminars held monthly on the last Wednesday of the month
The Barrow Neurological Institute’s Summer High School Internship Program provides an immersive research experience for high school students interested in neuroscience. You will gain hands-on lab exposure in various research areas such as cerebrovascular studies, neuro-oncology, neuropsychology, and more.
You will not only work with cutting-edge technology but also receive mentorship, develop scientific projects, and learn to evaluate scientific literature. You will explore advanced techniques while understanding disease mechanisms and contributing to scientific competitions or literature. The program emphasizes mentorship, scientific inquiry, and skill development for aspiring neuroscientists.
Location: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older
Application deadline: February 14, 2025
Dates/duration: May 30 – July 3, 2025
The University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week virtual program designed for rising 10th–12th graders and incoming college freshmen. This internship introduces you to diverse career paths in mental health, offering interactive sessions with professionals like social workers, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and physician assistants. You will also engage in discussions, complete pre-session readings, and explore fields such as psychotherapy, neuroscience, and community psychiatry.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application deadline: Typically close in early February
Dates/duration: Typically 2 weeks in June
The Recruitment & Training to Unlock Research Potential in Science (RTURP) is a competitive summer internship offered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus. This program is designed for high school students interested in the scientific study of drug abuse, particularly psychology and behavioral sciences. You will work alongside experienced researchers, engage in hands-on research projects, attend training seminars, and may even present your findings at national meetings. This paid internship runs for 8-10 weeks and offers valuable exposure to addiction research.
Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Applicant must be:
A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
17 years of age or older
Currently enrolled in high school as a junior or senior
Applicants under 18 years old must live within 40 miles of the NIH Biomedical Research Center.
Application deadline: February 1, 2025
Dates/duration: 8-10 weeks during the summer, typically in June-July
Carnegie Mellon University's Introduction to Psychology course, part of the Open Learning Initiative, offers a comprehensive introduction to human behavior and mental processes. This self-paced, interactive course covers a wide range of topics such as brain function, cognition, motivation, and psychological disorders. Throughout the 16 units, you will use learning tools like videos, animations, interactive exercises, and self-assessments to deepen your understanding. The course emphasizes the importance of scientific methods and research design, making it ideal for high school students or lifelong learners interested in psychology.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: No specific eligibility requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates/duration: Self-paced
The Introduction to Abnormal Psychology course by Wesleyan University on Coursera provides foundational knowledge of psychological disorders and mental health. It covers a broad range of topics, including symptomatology, diagnosis, and intervention strategies for disorders like anxiety, mood, psychotic, and personality disorders.
By the end of the course, you will gain an understanding of how to recognize signs of distress in others and feel more comfortable initiating supportive conversations. The program features video lectures, quizzes, and peer-reviewed assignments, making it ideal for those interested in psychology.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: No specific eligibility requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates/duration: Self-paced
MIT OpenCourseWare's Introduction to Psychology is a robust, self-paced course that explores how the mind and brain function. Spanning topics like perception, cognition, memory, personality, and social interaction, this course gives you a scientific approach to understanding human behavior. With lecture videos, assigned readings, discussion content, and exams for self-assessment, you can independently explore complex psychological concepts.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: No specific eligibility requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates/duration: Self-paced
Yale University’s Introduction to Psychology on Coursera offers a comprehensive dive into the key aspects of human behavior and cognition. This course explores foundational psychological theories and research, from neuroscience to social psychology. You will delve into Freud's psychodynamic theory, Skinner's behaviorism, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and the study of emotions.
The course also touches on human differences, personality, intelligence, and clinical psychology, including mental illnesses and therapies. Additionally, you will learn about happiness, exploring what contributes to living a fulfilling life, all while benefiting from Yale faculty and the flexible online format.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: No specific eligibility requirements
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates/duration: Self-paced
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.