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11 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Houston

Writer's picture: Stephen TurbanStephen Turban

If you’re a high school student in Houston and looking for free programs to build your skills over the summer, we’ve got you covered! Participating in a summer program will allow you to explore beyond the traditional classroom setting, cultivate new skills, and network with peers and mentors. These programs help you explore potential career paths and set you apart from your peers, boosting your resume for college applications. 


Many universities and research centers offer free or fully-funded summer programs for talented high school students. Most of these programs are highly prestigious, and participating in them is viewed by colleges as a testament to a student's dedication, intellectual curiosity, and potential for success.


Here’s our curated list of the top 11 free summer programs tailored for high school students in Houston!


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.

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.

Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.

Cost: Full financial aid is 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: Medical research, cancer biology.

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

Cost: Free

Dates: 8-10 weeks between June and August.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January. 

Eligibility: High school seniors who are 18 years or older, in good academic standing, or graduating are eligible to apply.


The DACCPM (Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine) Summer Research Program is a highly selective 10-week summer program. As a trainee, you will get practical experience developing laboratory and clinical research skills, conducting medical literature reviews, handling data, and more. Other programming opportunities are also available on topics such as applying to graduate school and the different career tracks the faculty have pursued. You will work with a faculty member on an assigned research project, which you will present at a poster symposium at the end of the program. The abstract of your research will be included in the 2024 CATALYST Summer Program abstract book. You can apply by filling out this form.


Subject Areas: Engineering research, scientific writing, communication. 

Location: Rice University, Houston, TX

Cost: Free

Dates: 3 weeks; Session 1: June 10 - June 27 | Session 2: July 8 - July 25 

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.

Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors who are residents of the Houston area. 

Note: The program runs from Monday to Thursday between 9 AM and 3 PM. 


The Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Summer Program is a free summer program that introduces students to digital circuitry, computer science, physics, and engineering research at Rice University. In addition to learning about practical applications in the healthcare field, you will build a network of peers and explore various college pathways. As a part of this program, you will study programming and digital design and their relationship to healthcare through practical simulations. You will work with instruments such as pulse oximeters, accelerometers, GPS devices, speakers, and microphones. This is a highly selective program that only selects 12 students, and the application requires the involvement of a school representative.


Subject Areas: Engineering, physics, sustainability

Location: Rice University, Houston, TX

Cost: Free 

Dates: July 8 - July 12

Application Deadline: June 7

Eligibility: High school girls entering 10th or 11th grade. Boys and non-binary students in 10th or 11th grade are welcome to apply to participate in this program.


Rice STEM Academy is a free enrichment program aimed at helping high school girls understand scientific principles and processes. As part of this program, you will explore different sustainability-related engineering challenges with Rice University faculty and graduate students. Alongside studying these theoretical principles, you will make connections to the real world to understand their impact on your daily life. The program will allow you to work with engineering landing capsules, learn about circuits using Microbits, explore motion concepts with the help of TI Nspire Rovers, and discuss other physics concepts. 


Subject Areas: Biomedical sciences

Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Cost/Stipend: No cost; $6,800 for the 10-week program ($6,120 if participating for nine weeks).

Dates: June 3 - August 9 

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.

Eligibility: High school seniors who are Texas residents and are at least 18 years old by the time the program starts (June 3).


The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program is a highly selective summer program for students interested in biomedical sciences. The MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas offers students interested in an allied health career the opportunity to work on a research project in one of the biomedical disciplines under the guidance of a member of the MD Anderson faculty. As a participant, you will learn the principles and processes involved in research investigation and explore the various career opportunities at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre. The program admits only ten students each year. 


Subject Areas: Leadership, human rights, global policy, renewable energy, international security, economics, environment.

Location: Asia Society Texas Center, Houston, TX

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: May 31 (Applications for the Young Leaders Institute are accepted on a rolling basis, with students encouraged to apply early to secure placement).

Eligibility: High school students from the Greater Houston area are encouraged to apply for the Young Leaders Institute. Students must be high school students in Fall.


The Young Leaders Institute is a summer program for high school students that promotes global competence, elevates leadership skills, and connects students from diverse backgrounds and experiences. You may apply to one, two, or all three sessions of the Young Leaders Institute. During the Institute, you will work in teams to research, debate, and present solutions for the world's challenges. With mentorship and guidance from Asia Society Texas staff, you will develop more in-depth knowledge about global issues; hone communication, collaboration, and presentation skills; and engage thoughtfully with experts, staff, and peers to enhance your understanding of leadership.


Subject Areas: Earth science, aeronautics, technology, space science.

Location: Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX and Online Experience

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid.

Dates: This is a year-long program. November-February (Online course) | Late July: 4-Day Onsite Residential Experience. For other important dates, check here. 

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in August and close in October.

Eligibility: Applicants must be high school juniors who are U.S. citizens residing in Texas.


Texas High School Aerospace Scholars is a STEM learning opportunity to engage with NASA’s missions. HAS is a year-long commitment for Texas high school juniors, which starts in the fall with a four-month online learning experience related to space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics. High-achieving students receive an invitation to a five-day gamified virtual summer experience (Moonshot) mentored by NASA scientists and engineers. You’ll participate in design challenges, including 3D drawings, science and math quizzes, discussion posts, and technology writings. In the five-day summer experience, you’ll participate in team projects and briefings directed by NASA engineers and scientists, hands-on design challenges, and engineering activities to plan a mission to the Moon and Mars.


Subject Areas: College preparation, arts, technology, leadership development, and community service.

Location: University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX

Cost: Free 

Dates: The program starts in early June and finishes at the end of July (6 weeks).

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and decisions are made based on program criteria and capacity.

Eligibility: The Upward Bound program accepts applications from 9th-11th graders from their affiliated high schools.


The Upward Bound Summer Academy at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is a pre-college non-residential program that all members of the Upward Bound community are expected to attend. The Summer Academy offers a variety of classes and activities designed to benefit high school students in preparation for college. Some common classes and activities include test preparation classes, college readiness workshops, college tours, and extracurricular activities. By participating in challenging classes and engaging in activities, students are better prepared for the academic rigor, independence, and personal growth of college.


Subject Areas: Science, research, professional development.

Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. 

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipends might be provided.

Dates: June 10 - August 5

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.

Eligibility: All applicants must be 18 or older by June 1. Some projects may be available for 16 and 17-year-old students.


The SMS Summer Research Program allows a select number of students who have previously participated in Saturday Morning Science (or are part of the affiliate programs with Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M, or other predominantly minority-serving institutions) to work on a research project with a Baylor College of Medicine researcher. In addition to your research, you will attend weekly ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions where you will learn about various aspects of research and professional development. You also participate in the research meetings and any other special seminars specific to your research group. As a Summer Project Intern, you will also receive a stipend. At the culmination of the summer, you will be invited to present your research to the SMS Summer Research Symposium to the other in-person summer interns.


Subject Areas: Leadership training and career counseling

Location: University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX

Cost: Free

Dates: July 8 - August 8 

Application Deadline: July 1

Eligibility: High School seniors graduating in May or June can apply.


The Get Ready Gators Summer Bridge program is an academic program for graduating high school seniors. Summer Bridge is designed to aid freshmen with strengthening their academic skills, social integration, and transitioning from high school to university life. Through this program, you will enroll in college-level courses. Additionally, you’ll benefit from programming such as academic support in and outside of the classroom, student success services, career counseling, and leadership training. 


Subject Areas: Coding, technology, AI, and data science. 

Location: Houston, TX. Virtual camp options are also available. 

Cost: Free 

Dates: Session 1: June 3 - June 14 | Session 2: June 17 - June 28  | Session 3: July 8 - July 19 | Session 4: July 22 - August 2 | Session 5: August 5 - August 16

Application Deadline: May 13

Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive teens between the ages of 13-18 years with an interest in the field of technology. No prior coding experience is required. 


Kode with Klossy offers free coding camps for students of traditionally underrepresented genders in the STEM fields. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of coding and encourages participants to explore the field as a career path. During the program, you will work in one of four courses—web development, mobile apps, artificial intelligence, and data science. You will engage in hands-on activities, like creating your own mobile app and training machine learning models. The camp is an excellent opportunity to hear from women in technology who join as speakers and to network with like-minded individuals.


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: Rice University seal

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