11 Kansas Summer Programs for High School Students
Pursuing programs, internships, and immersive experiences in high school is a great way for you to explore your interests, gain hands-on experience, and build valuable skills beyond the classroom. These opportunities can help you connect your academic learning to real-world applications while experiencing personal growth, independence, and confidence. They also provide a chance to network with professionals and peers, which can be useful as you think about your future career path.
Participating in summer programs can also give a significant boost to college applications. Colleges value students who are proactive, engaged, and passionate about their interests. Internships and programs highlight your initiative and readiness to tackle academic challenges, which can make you stand out in a competitive college admissions process. These experiences can enrich your college essays and clarify your academic direction, setting you up for future success in both academic and professional endeavors.
Here’s our list of 11 summer programs for high school students in Kansas worth considering!
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 Research Scholar Program 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 psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Cost: $1,400 (early bird); $1,700 (regular)
Location: Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
Application Deadline: April 15 (early bird); June 24 (regular)
Program Dates: July 14 – 27
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates of any nationality
This program at Benedictine College offers students a glimpse into the rigors of architecture school, equipping them with essential skills such as hand drafting, field sketching, and composition. Participants will also explore architectural theory and history, gaining a well-rounded introduction to the field. By the end of the program, you will have a polished portfolio that you will have the chance to show professional architects for review.
3. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Cost: No information available
Location: MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, KS
Application Deadline: Registration will open in January
Program Dates: June 3 – 7
Eligibility: Incoming high school freshmen to graduating seniors
This week-long residential summer program is perfect for high school students eager to dive into theatre and film. You will have the chance to develop practical skills in various aspects of stage and screen, including audition techniques, acting, improvisation, musical theatre, directing, cinematography, production, editing, and lighting. The program wraps up with a media showcase, allowing you to present your project to friends and family. Additionally, you’ll get to experience college life while living on MNU’s campus.
Cost: $300 (early bird); $350 (regular). Scholarships are available
Location: Newman University, Wichita, KS
Application Deadline: April 25 (early bird); May 24 (regular)
Program Dates: June 2 – 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who have completed at least one high school science course. Consideration may be given to freshmen
The Investigative Summer STEM Program (ISSP) offers high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors a chance to explore interdisciplinary research topics in biology or chemistry. Participants work in small groups to conduct literature reviews, set up experiments, collect and analyze data, and present their findings. Instead of traditional lectures, program faculty provide supervision and guidance through one-on-one and small group discussions.
For over 33 years, ISSP has aimed to boost interest in STEM fields among high school students. Participants earn two hours of college credit upon successful completion of the program. The program also emphasizes team-building and communication skills, offers networking opportunities with peers who share similar interests, and includes guest talks from STEM professionals about various career paths. Students have the option to stay on campus in residence halls.
Cost: Free
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Application Deadline: May 15
Program Dates: June 24 – 28
Eligibility: Rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders
In this creative writing workshop, you will collaborate with skilled educators, tapping into your creativity to craft unique and original pieces of writing. Throughout the program, you will engage with published authors, including slam poets, graphic novelists, oral historians, and playwrights. These writers will offer insights on finding inspiration, overcoming writer's block, and the motivations behind their work.
A typical day will include warm-up exercises, writing time, and guest writer sessions. The program ends with a graduation ceremony, where you get to share your work with others. To apply, you need to submit an application form, a personal statement, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor. Slots are limited to 15.
Cost: Free. Students are responsible for their own transportation
Location: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: TBA. Two sessions were held in the past:
Math and Aerospace Engineering: June 2 – 7
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence: June 9 – 14
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors
This program offers students a chance to participate in hands-on projects in engineering and experience undergraduate life at the University of Kansas. The camp features two distinct sessions. The math camp focuses on linear algebra and probability, while the computer science session teaches optimization algorithms and computer code. You can check out more details of the curriculum on their website.
Cost: Free
Location: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: June 16 – 28
Eligibility: Rising seniors
This two-week residential summer program immerses participants in applied physics and programming instruction while they collaborate on research projects, such as building autonomous race cars and drones. Beyond academics, you will also get career advice and enjoy off-campus recreational activities, such as visiting Worlds of Fun.
Cost: $290. Need-based scholarships are available
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April
Program Dates: June 5 – 7
Eligibility: Students finishing grades 8, 9, 10, or 11
The EXCITE Summer Workshop is a three-day program aimed at motivating high school students to explore careers in STEM fields and pre-health professions. This workshop is meant to empower and enhance the lives of girls and women in STEM, but it is open to students of all genders. Through this program, you will gain exposure to various opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. You will also get to live in the K-State dorms, experiencing college life for a few days.
Cost: $439
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Application Deadline: June 1
Program Dates: TBA. Two sessions were offered in the past:
June 17 – 21
June 24 – 28
Eligibility: High school students
The K-State Theatre Shakespeare Camp is an on-campus summer program. Students will engage in rehearsals and workshops that culminate in a performance at the end of the camp, with a focus on exploring Shakespeare’s works like "Macbeth" (June 17–21) and "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (June 24–28). The camp offers a blend of theatre and leisure activities. No application or audition is required—you can enroll directly.
Guided by professional Teaching Artists, you will dive into Shakespeare's language, stories, and characters through classes that emphasize voice, movement, and acting. The program fosters creativity, collaboration, and ensemble building, with an emphasis on exploring various performance techniques used by the Teaching Artists in their professional practice.
Cost: $425 (early bird discount); $475. Financial aid is available
Location: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Application Deadline: Early bird: April 19; Regular: May 24
Program Dates: June 8 – 11
Eligibility: High school students
This 60-year-old summer program offers students practical experience in creating different types of media, such as news articles, videos, photography, and yearbooks. It aims to equip students with the skills necessary for success in the upcoming year at their student-run publications and provides a valuable glimpse into the world of journalism.
Available in both residential and commuter options, the residential format allows you to experience student life at the University of Kansas. You can choose from a range of courses, and your course will take up the majority of your time at camp. In the past, the options included Multimedia Storytelling, Reporting with Video, and Leading a News Team.
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.