20 Free Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 17, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Feb 9
We know that summer programs can be expensive. That’s why we’ve put together this list of competitive programs that are completely free (some even provide a stipend!). Some of these programs are more selective than others, and they range from STEM programs to the humanities.
Summer programs are a great option for high schoolers because they give you time to focus on the program instead of trying to balance its workload with your school-year activities. Free summer programs are also prestigious because they are fully funded (which means they’re competitive!) College admissions officers look for students with advanced skills, which you can demonstrate by participating in a competitive free summer program!
Without further ado, here are 20 free summer programs for high school students! Note: Please keep in mind the following information is for 2024-2025, though dates tend to be similar year on year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — You can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note. students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Program Dates: Summer cohort runs from June to August, Fall cohort from September to December, Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June.
Cost: Full financial aid available!
The Lumiere Inclusion Foundation enables students to participate in Lumiere’s Research Scholar Program with financial aid! The latter is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as applied math, computer science, AI, and more. You can find more details about the application here!
Subject areas: Arts, Sciences, and Humanities
Location: Washington DC and one of 18 cities in the United States and Puerto Rico
Stipend: $2,350 upon completion of the program
Application deadline: April 15th
Program dates: Vary by individual, but the program consists of a five-week commitment
Program selectivity: Highly selective; only 24 participants accepted
Eligibility: Must be a graduating high school senior, GPA of 3.25 or higher, full-time enrollment in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university for the fall
The Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a national preparatory and leadership program for high school students. The program consists of a week-long seminar in Washington, DC, and a four-week internship at a museum or cultural institute. Meals and accommodations and round-trip travel for the DC portion of the trip are covered by the program, but students are responsible for all expenses during their internships, so it’s worth selecting an internship location close to home. You will participate in community outreach events to promote childhood literacy. One of the benefits of this program is access to the YAP Alumni Network, which can connect you with career and leadership development opportunities.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: George Mason University, fully remote, hybrid (determined by faculty mentor)
Stipend: Unpaid, but the program is free (there is a $25 application feed)
Application deadline: Usually at the end of January
Program dates: Varies by year, mid-June to mid-August (8-week program)
Program selectivity: Moderately competitive
Eligibility: High school or university students; students must be 15 or older for remote and hybrid programs and 16 or older for “wet-lab” programs
The ASSIP program is nationally known and provides intensive research opportunities. One of the major benefits of this program is the 1:1 ratio of students to mentors. There are internships available in specialties like nanoscience, oceanic science, astronomy, mathematical modeling, and more. During the internship, you will use cutting-edge equipment, develop scientific writing skills, and participate in discussion forums and meetings with mentors. Student/mentor work may also be published in scientific journals and presented at academic conferences.
Subject areas: STEM, History
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Stipend: $750
Application deadline: Varies by year, but usually mid-February
Program dates: Generally, mid-June to the beginning of August
Program selectivity: Highly selective; only 12 students are accepted
Eligibility: Applicants must be 17 by the program start date and should participate the summer before or after their senior year
This intensive 7-week summer program focuses on research. The research disciplines vary from year to year but generally focus on STEM subjects. The program covers on-campus meals, room and board, and weekend activities. Students do have to pay for travel to and from the program location, personal expenses, and medical expenses. You will work with faculty on specific research projects and attend weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips.
Subject areas: Science and medicine
Location: Stanford University campus, San Francisco Bay Area, California
Stipend: No stipend is provided for this program
Application deadline: Usually mid-March
Program dates: 5 weeks, usually from the end of June to the end of July
Program selectivity: Moderate to high; the program only admits 24 students
Eligibility: Must be low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California
This program is an on-campus experience centered around the health sciences and medicine. You will be mentored by medical professionals, faculty, and university students. You will attend lectures, participate in professional development workshops, make connections at Stanford Medicine networking events, and work on a research project on public health disparities. You will be placed in a hospital internship where you can apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom portion of the program. They will gain experience in laboratory work and patient interaction.
Subject areas: Engineering
Location: University of Washington
Stipend: No stipend is provided
Application deadline: Varying from year to year
Program dates: This program is a five-day introduction to engineering that normally starts at the end of June and runs each week until the end of July
Program selectivity: Low to moderate selectivity
Eligibility: Must be a high school sophomore or junior during the current academic year. Must attend high school in the greater Seattle area. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply
This program offers an introduction to engineering. You will work on engineering design challenges, work with university engineering students and faculty, and research how different engineering disciplines make an impact. Students are responsible for their transportation to and from the UW Seattle campus. This program doesn’t offer the same boost to your CV as some other programs on this list because it’s relatively short and not as competitive. However, if you want to build a foundation in engineering and make connections, it’s a great summer program to start with.
Subject areas: Science and Engineering
Location: Multiple locations around the country
Stipend: Varies by internship location and duration
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines based on location. The application opens in December each year.
Program dates: Vary by location, but always during the summer
Program selectivity: Competitive
Eligibility: Must be a current high school student; additional requirements based on location. Some locations require that applicants be military-connected.
This program allows you to work with university faculty and Department of Defense scientists and engineers. The internships occur in a university research lab or a US Army Research Laboratory and Center. You will spend a significant amount of time in the lab. The program emphasizes exposure to STEM culture, equipment, and research techniques. You will receive formal mentorship and multiple opportunities to learn from STEM practitioners. The program also provides office hours with more advanced interns, webinars, and workshops. The program provides a stipend, but meals, transportation, and housing are not provided.
Subject areas: Libraries and museums, writing, public speaking, and public programming
Location: Library of Congress, Washington DC, hybrid
Stipend: No
Application deadline: Usually early spring, but varies by year
Program dates: Usually mid-June to mid-July
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16 or older
This internship is for students who want to work with primary sources. Applicants are expected to enter the program with strong research and writing skills. You’ll need to be in the DC area and able to go to the library one day a week. You will learn about the Library of Congress, help with the Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement development, and create content to support family and youth engagement. You’ll produce content for interpretive guides for young audiences, research collection materials for items on display, advise on program models for teens at the Library, and contextualize information and present it in verbal or written formats.
Subject areas: Law
Location: Chicago
Stipend: No
Application deadline: Rolling deadline
Program dates: Rolling dates
Program selectivity: Competitive
Eligibility: Academic excellence and interest in public service. You do NOT need to be a city resident to volunteer. Must be a high school or college student.
This volunteer program is open year-round but would also be a great summer opportunity. This free program allows high school students to work with a large legal organization. One of the major goals of the volunteer program is to give students an opportunity to get a realistic picture of law and public service. You will work on complex legal projects, conducting research and analysis, shadowing attorneys and law students, and seeing the legal system at work. The Chicago Department of Law is one of the largest law firms in the country. It covers all types of legal issues, from criminal prosecutions to federal civil rights litigation to real estate transactions.
Subject areas: Foreign languages
Location: Fort Meade, MD
Stipend: Varies by education level
Application deadline: Applications accepted between September 1 and October 31
Program dates: 12 weeks from mid-May to mid-August
Program selectivity: Highly selective
Eligibility: High school seniors at least 16 years of age
NSA's summer program is called the Gifted and Talented Language Program. This program requires applicants to come to the internship with aptitude in Chinese, Russian, Korean, Farsi, or Arabic. You will spend a lot of time working with your foreign language and gaining work experience. These internships are more work focused than academic, and you will be expected to come to have aptitude in your field. This program is a good fit for students interested in government work who can work independently.
Subject areas: Biomedical research
Location: Seattle, WA
Stipend: No
Application deadline: Applications accepted from the beginning of January to mid-March
Program dates: Varies by year, but usually the beginning of July to the beginning of August (4-week program)
Program selectivity: Competitive
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, or graduating seniors who have not yet applied to college. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in medical science, and students from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
This program, led by Ph.D.-level scientists and educators, introduces students to a research laboratory environment. You will learn about biochemistry, immunotherapy, gene editing, and infectious diseases. The program provides career workshops and exploration and college readiness prep. Stipends are available to offset transportation and meal costs. The program is intended for students who live within commuting distance of Seattle. The program focuses on research and work experience supported by supplemental lectures and workshops. You will be expected to complete a group research project and presentation.
Subject areas: Leadership, Democracy, and Service
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan
Application deadline: January 4.
Program dates: 6 weeks, June 25 – August 5
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from all backgrounds, especially students of color and/or of disadvantaged backgrounds
TASS offers two free summer programs for high school students: TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) and TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies). The program is hosted at multiple universities and aims to prepare students to become critical thinkers, leaders, and contributors to society and the larger world. If you’re interested in history, literature, politics, and art from people of African descent, do check out this program!
13. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Subject areas: STEM
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Stipend: The program provides a $500 stipend. There is a $40 application fee with a need-based waiver
Application deadline: December 2
Program dates: June - August
Program selectivity: Extremely High (<5%)
Eligibility: High school juniors only (U.S. and international)
RSI is a 6-week, highly selective free summer program for high school students in STEM. This program is hosted at MIT and accepts about 80 students each year. Here, students work with a researcher on an independent project and present their research at the end of the program. In 2019, there were about 1600 applicants for 80 spots, which means there is a 5% acceptance rate for the program. International students will need to check their specific country's eligibility!
Subject areas: Journalism
Location: Online
Application deadline: February 23
Program dates: 6 weeks, June 26 - August 4
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be high-achieving juniors in high school from low-income backgrounds
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program stands out as one of the top free summer programs for high school students interested in journalism. The program offers a mix of virtual and residential opportunities, including weekly lectures and workshops taught by program alumni and journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, The Daily Beast, Politico, Sports Illustrated, and CNN, among other media outlets. You will also participate in weekly discussion groups covering various topics and attend seminars about the college admissions process.
15. Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Subject areas: STEM
Location: Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: 5 weeks, July 1- August 5
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores or juniors in high school from underrepresented communities
This is a free summer program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who want to earn college credit while "developing mastery of fundamental ideas in higher-level collegiate math and science." Classroom training, research projects, and professional and academic development courses are all part of SAMS. You will engage in a rigorous curriculum taught by Carnegie Mellon University faculty.
Subject areas: Biology, chemistry, medicine
Location: Stanford University campus (Stanford, CA)
Stipend: The program provides a $500 stipend. There is a $40 application fee with a need-based waiver.
Application deadline: December 15
Program dates: 8 weeks, June 13 - August 4
Program selectivity: High
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 years old when the program begins, are living in the U.S., and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card.
During this program, you will collaborate with Stanford faculty and researchers to conduct medical research. SIMR is one of the best free summer programs for high school students. You will select one of eight fields and then be allocated to a lab to be mentored one-on-one.
Subject areas: Media and Communication
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Application deadline: November 27
Program dates: 4 weeks, June 19 - July 14
Program selectivity: Medium
Eligibility: Students must reside and attend high school in Los Angeles County
This program offers high school students insight into freshman-level college courses in media and journalism. It is one of the top free summer programs for high school students. Additionally, they provide college advising and college essay preparation to all students. Each year, 28 students from various parts of Los Angeles County are selected to attend.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: UC Irvine campus (Irvine, CA)
Deadline to apply: March
Program dates: June - July
Program selectivity: Moderate
Eligibility: Released with the new application
Math ExpLR is one of the best free summer programs for high school students focused on mathematical biology. In this program, you will be paired with undergraduates and collaborate on a computational biology research project with a principal investigator. There will also be weekly skill development events, such as how to deliver presentations and how to write math on the computer.
Subject areas: STEM
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: April
Program dates: 2 weeks, typically in July, but may vary depending on the program
Program selectivity: Open enrollment
Eligibility: This program is open to all female and non-binary high school students
Girls Who Code’s is a fantastic option among the free summer programs for high school students. The program aims to bridge the gender gap in the field of technology. This program offers you hands-on projects and networking opportunities with women in tech. While they admit students from all backgrounds, half of their participants are from underrepresented groups. This includes girls, women, and non-binary folks who are Black, LatinX, and from low-income households.
Location: Virtual and in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology on the East Baltimore campus.
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: 8 weeks, June - August (in-person); 5 weeks, July - August (virtual)
Eligibility:
Juniors and seniors from around the country are eligible to apply to the 5-week virtual program.
Juniors and seniors residing in Baltimore City and the metro area who are from underrepresented groups are eligible for the in-person program.
Stipend: In-person participants receive an hourly stipend (amount varies), while virtual interns receive a stipend of $500.
This 5-week virtual research program is for high school students from underrepresented communities to promote inclusivity in neurological sciences. You will conduct research under the mentorship of researchers and engage in discussions, scientific seminars, and weekly development sessions. You will also interact with neuroscientists at JHU. At the program's conclusion, you will present your research through oral or poster presentations. Learn about past projects here!
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.