Psychology is one of the most versatile fields a high school student can explore early: it underpins everything from neuroscience and clinical practice to education, policy, and business. Whether you're drawn to understanding how the brain works, why people behave the way they do, or how mental health is diagnosed and treated, a summer program is a genuine way to test that curiosity and build skills that go well beyond the classroom.

Below is a curated list of 9 free psychology summer programs for high school students: selected for academic quality, accessibility, and range of formats.

At a Glance:

• 4 of the 9 programs are completely free with no application needed (MIT OCW, both Coursera courses, Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation); the remaining 5 offer financial aid or scholarships

• 5 programs are fully remote, open to students globally; 4 are U.S.-based in-person or hybrid

• Structured program deadlines typically fall in January–April; self-paced courses can be started anytime

1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation

The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.

The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here! 

This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. 

Cost: The program is fully funded!

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).

Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility:

• You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall.

• Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)

• No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!

2. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Psychology

Stanford's Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer a psychology program where you can explore topics such as cognitive development, behavioral neuroscience, and psychological research methods. With a cohort of around 100 students, the program emphasizes interactive learning through lectures, hands-on experiments, and collaborative projects. You will receive mentorship from Stanford faculty and have the option to attend in-person sessions on campus, providing a blend of virtual and face-to-face educational experiences.

Application Deadline: March 1

Program Dates: Typically July to August (6 weeks)

Location: Virtual and Stanford University, Stanford, CA (optional in-person components)

Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Cost: $3,050 (Fully-funded scholarships available)

3. Ladder Internships Psychology Track

Ladder Internships offer a dedicated psychology track that provides high school students with real-world research experience. The program accommodates around 40 students each summer and winter, focusing on areas such as clinical psychology, neuropsychology, and organizational behavior. You work on individual research projects under the guidance of experienced psychologists and engage in weekly webinars covering advanced psychological topics. Additionally, the program features virtual mentorship sessions, career guidance workshops, and opportunities to network with professionals in the field.

Application Deadline: April 30 for the summer cohort

Program Dates: June to August (8 weeks)

Location: Online

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors

Cost: Financial aid available 

4. Coursera—University of Chicago's Understanding the Brain

This program is an online course offered by the University of Chicago through Coursera. This self-paced course gives you a comprehensive overview of neuroscience and cognitive psychology. The curriculum includes video lectures, reading materials, quizzes, and interactive assignments that cover topics such as brain anatomy, neural communication, cognitive functions, and behavioral neuroscience. While the course is free to audit, you have the option to purchase a certificate upon completion for an additional fee.

Location: Online (Self-paced)

Eligibility: Open to all high school students

Application Deadline: None (Self-paced)

Program Dates: Flexible (Self-paced)

Cost: Free to audit (optional certificate available for a fee)

5. Coursera—Wesleyan University's Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

Offered by Wesleyan University, this Coursera course introduces students to the study of abnormal behavior and mental disorders. The course covers diagnostic criteria, treatment approaches, and the social and ethical implications of mental health issues. You will learn about social perceptions, deindividuation, and social psychology. The course includes video lectures, case studies, and interactive assignments to enhance your understanding.

Location: Online (Self-paced)

Eligibility: Open to all high school students 

Application Deadline: None (Self-paced)

Program Dates: Flexible (Self-paced)

Cost: Free to audit (optional certificates available for a fee)

6. Harvard Secondary School Program: Introduction to Psychology

The Introduction to Psychology course offered through Harvard’s SSP provides high school students with a foundational understanding of psychological principles and research methodologies. The program accommodates approximately 80 students each summer, offering a mix of online and on-campus sessions. The Introduction to Psychology course covers learning and motivation, emotion, development, personality, clinical psychology, and more. You will get an overview of the current psychological research as well as the neurological basis for psychological phenomena. 

Application Deadline: February 12

Program Dates: June 21 – August 9

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA and Virtual

Eligibility: High school who will turn 16 before the program start date and will not turn 19 before July 31

Cost: Ranging from $8,650 to $14,950, with financial aid available

7. University of Chicago Summer Immersion Session: Developmental Psychology—Theories and Techniques

The University of Chicago Summer Immersion Program gives high school students a taste of college-level academics, offering intensive courses across fields. In the ‘Developmental Psychology: Theories and Techniques’ track, you will explore cognitive and social development, focusing on language, morality, and emotional growth from infancy to adolescence. You will also gain experience in experimental design and interpreting developmental psychology findings. This experience is ideal for students interested in understanding human behavior through a psychological lens.

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Application Deadline: TBA

Program Dates: June 17 – July 5

Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are at least 14 years old 

Cost: $8,600 per session (includes housing and meals). Financial aid is available

8. Johns Hopkins University Psychology Pre-College Programs

Johns Hopkins' Online Pre-College Program allows you to take advanced psychology classes. The program accepts around 70 students each summer, providing you with access to Johns Hopkins' psychology faculty and research facilities. During the program, you will collaborate on projects related to behavioral psychology, neuropsychology, and psychological assessment. The neurobiology course will teach you basic lab techniques that will be useful in future research projects. In ‘Psychological Profiling,’ you will get to study the psychological makeup of individuals of atypical individuals, such as those who commit crimes repeatedly. 

Application Deadline: April 15

Program Dates: June 24 – August 30

Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD and online

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 

Cost: $1,950 with scholarships available

9. ​​MIT OpenCourseWare—Introduction to Psychology

MIT OpenCourseWare offers an Introduction to Psychology course, providing high school students with a comprehensive overview of psychological principles and theories. The course includes lecture notes, assignments, exams, and multimedia content, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Topics covered include cognitive processes, perception, learning, memory, and social psychology. While the course is self-paced and does not offer formal mentorship or certification, it is an excellent resource for students seeking to build a strong foundation in psychology.

Location: Online (Self-paced)

Eligibility: High school students

Application Deadline: None (Self-paced)

Program Dates: Flexible (Self-paced)

Cost: Free

Key Takeaways

• The 9 programs on this list span a wide spectrum, from completely self-paced free courses (MIT OpenCourseWare, Coursera via UChicago and Wesleyan) that anyone can start today, to structured, application-based summer programs at Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and UChicago that run on fixed schedules with competitive admissions.

  
  

• Cost ranges from entirely free (MIT OCW, both Coursera courses, Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation) to $1,950 (Johns Hopkins Pre-College) to $8,600–$14,950 for residential university programs (UChicago, Harvard SSP). Stanford's institute at $3,050 is the mid-range paid option, with full scholarships available.

  
  

• Most structured programs target rising juniors and seniors: Harvard SSP requires students to be at least 16, and Johns Hopkins requires a 3.0 GPA minimum. UChicago's program is notably more inclusive, open from grade 9 (age 14+). The self-paced Coursera and MIT options have no eligibility requirements at all.

  
  

• The programs divide neatly by goal: if you want formal academic credit or a certificate, look at Harvard SSP, JHU, or UChicago. If you want hands-on research and a mentorship, Lumiere and Ladder Internships are the strongest options. If you want free foundational exposure with no commitment, the MIT and Coursera courses are the right starting point.

  
  

• Several programs, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Institutes and the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation in particular, offer fully-funded scholarships, making cost less of a barrier than it might initially appear.

Common Questions From Applicants

1. I have no background in psychology. Which programs are actually suitable for beginners? Most programs on this list are designed for students with an interest, not prior knowledge. The Coursera courses (UChicago and Wesleyan) and MIT OpenCourseWare are the most beginner-friendly; no application, no prerequisites, start whenever you want. For structured programs, UChicago's Summer Immersion (open from age 14) and Stanford's Pre-Collegiate Institute are also explicitly introductory. The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation similarly requires no prior knowledge of your chosen field.

   
   

2. Are any of these programs accessible to students outside the United States? Yes, several. The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is fully remote and open to students globally at no cost. Both Coursera programs (UChicago and Wesleyan) and MIT OpenCourseWare are open to anyone with internet access. Ladder Internships is also fully online with no geographic restrictions. Stanford's Pre-Collegiate Institute has an online component that international students can access, though the optional in-person element is U.S.-based. Harvard SSP and JHU's pre-college programs are primarily U.S.-focused.

   
   

3. Will a free psychology program actually make a difference to my college application? It depends on which program and what you do with it. A self-paced Coursera course, while genuinely educational, carries limited admissions weight on its own. What matters more is what you build on top of it: a research paper, a project, a clear thread of interest in your essays. Programs like Lumiere, Ladder Internships, and Stanford's Pre-Collegiate Institute carry more direct application value because they are selective, structured, and produce tangible outputs. The strongest approach is to combine foundational learning (Coursera, MIT OCW) with a higher-stakes program that generates something you can point to in your application.

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.