15 Best Coding Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
Many students want to learn coding, but the field can be difficult to understand until you start building things. Coding programs give high school students a chance to understand how software is created, how problems are broken down, and how logic turns into working systems. As a participant in a coding program, you may work on small applications, debug errors, collaborate on projects, or learn how algorithms are designed and improved.
How did we choose the best coding programs for high schoolers?
What separates the best coding programs from the rest is selectivity. These programs are highly competitive, accepting only a small percentage of applicants. Low acceptance rates usually mean higher expectations, stronger peer groups, and more structured learning. Colleges recognize this. Getting into and completing a selective coding program signals that you were willing to compete and that you’re capable of handling rigorous technical work.
With that in mind, here are 15 of the best coding programs for high school students!
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicago area
The Data Science Institute Summer Lab at the University of Chicago is an eight-week research program where you work on real data science projects led by faculty. You will use tools like Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and version control to explore topics such as public health, climate data, and social science research. You learn how research actually works, from framing questions to cleaning data, analyzing results, and collaborating on code with others. Faculty, graduate students, and mentors guide you through the process as you build steady research habits. Each week includes seminars and talks that show how data science is used in research and careers.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program. Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school; 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!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective research experience that allows you to explore computer science and coding through an independent, mentor-guided project. You work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to design and execute a research project in areas such as data science, machine learning, algorithms, computational modeling, or applied programming. Over 12 weeks, you move through the full research cycle, including defining a research question, working with datasets or codebases, analyzing results, and documenting your findings. The program emphasizes technical thinking, problem-solving, and structured coding workflows rather than classroom instruction. By the end of the program, you will have produced a complete research paper. You can check out the application here.
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: Free. A stipend of $1,200 is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – 30
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors at Washington State high schools
Changemakers in Computing is a free summer program at the University of Washington for rising high school juniors and seniors who want an introduction to computer science with a social impact lens. You will learn foundational coding and computing concepts through project-based work. Each week focuses on a different intersection of technology and society, helping you see how computing skills can be applied to real-world challenges. You work in small groups mentored by current UW undergraduates, who provide daily guidance, feedback, and academic support. The program also includes college-readiness workshops, a residential campus experience, and a $1,200 stipend.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI is a coding-focused program designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. In the AI Scholars program, you learn core concepts such as Python programming, data analysis, machine learning models, and basic neural networks through a structured 10-session boot camp.
The program emphasizes hands-on learning, where you apply coding skills to real-world AI projects rather than just theory. For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship offers one-on-one mentorship with researchers from top universities, allowing you to build and code an original AI or ML project from scratch. This track also supports technical writing and publication, helping you translate your code and results into a research-style paper suitable for high school journals.
Location: Menlo Park, California (Meta HQ)
Cost: Free. A stipend is paid.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (tentative, based on the previous program)
Application Deadline: February 14 (tentative, based on the previous program)
Eligibility: High school sophomores with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Must be a full-year resident of either East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
Meta Summer Academy is a selective, six-week summer internship that introduces high school students to professional work in the tech industry, with structured exposure to coding and technology-driven roles. You will work alongside a Meta mentor, contributing to projects while learning how technical teams operate inside a large technology company. The program includes coding instruction alongside sessions on problem-solving, financial literacy, communication, and career exploration, helping you understand how technical and non-technical roles intersect. You also participate in workshops on resume building, public speaking, and networking, and interact with Meta employees and executives to learn about different career pathways.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 11th-grade student at the time of application; U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a current U.S. green card; At least 16 years old by the program start date
Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars is a fully funded, four-week residential program designed for rising high school seniors interested in computing and artificial intelligence. You will study core AI and computer science concepts through college-level coursework taught by CMU faculty, with a strong emphasis on project-based learning. The program includes hands-on group research projects where you apply coding, data analysis, and AI concepts to real-world problems, even if you’re new to programming. A required virtual pre-program Python course helps you build foundational coding skills before arriving on campus.
Location: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel, MD
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; Less than 10%
Dates: Late June–mid-August (flexible 8–10 week internship)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school junior or senior who is at least 15 years of age with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Check more details here.
Johns Hopkins’ ASPIRE Program places high school juniors and seniors in a real research and engineering environment, with strong opportunities for students interested in coding and computer science. As an ASPIRE intern, you can work on software-focused projects involving Python, Java, C++, algorithms, robotics programming, virtual modeling, or application development under the guidance of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory mentors. You’re expected to work 30–40 hours per week on-site, managing meaningful technical tasks that mirror professional STEM workflows. Coding interns may contribute to projects like building accessibility tools, supporting robotics systems, or developing software used in research and defense-related applications.
Location: UT Austin Campus, Austin, TX
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 7 – 13 (Standard), June 14 – 19 (ML)
Application Deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Students entering 11–12 grade
UT Austin’s Computer Science Summer Academy for All is a week-long residential program that introduces you to core coding concepts through hands-on, project-based learning. You can choose between two tracks: the Standard Edition, which focuses on C++ programming and hardware-based projects using Arduino, or the Machine Learning Edition, which centers on Python and foundational machine learning concepts. Across both tracks, you work in teams to build, test, and present projects that show how code is applied to real-world problems. Faculty-led workshops introduce current tools and technologies used in industry, while also helping you understand how computer science connects to broader societal and ethical questions. Beyond coding, the program offers exposure to tech career pathways and guidance on navigating UT’s college admissions process.
Location: Labs- Oakland, California/ Chelsea, New York/Detroit, Michigan/ Inglewood, California. The affiliate program is available through various United States and Canadian partner schools.
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies based on the program. Check details here
Application Deadline: Varies based on the program. Check details here
Eligibility: Any student in 8th through 11th grade who is at least 13 years of age
Google Code Next is a free computer science education program designed to support high school students through long-term, project-based learning in coding and technology. You will participate in club-style sessions to learn core computer science concepts through creative coding, game design, app development, and introductory AI lessons. Much of the learning happens after school or on weekends and emphasizes building real projects such as websites, programs, and technical demos. Through sustained engagement rather than a short-term camp, Code Next helps you steadily build computational thinking skills and confidence in computer science.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 10th-grade student at the time of application; U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a current U.S. green card; At least 16 years old by the program start date
Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars is a fully funded, four-week summer program designed for rising high school sophomores interested in computer science. You will study core programming concepts in Python, including variables, functions, conditionals, loops, basic data structures, and algorithmic problem-solving, alongside foundational mathematical thinking for computing. Through structured, faculty-led coursework, you apply these skills in collaborative, team-based projects that address real-world computing challenges. The program also introduces you to how computer science is used in research and industry through sessions with CMU faculty, researchers, and industry professionals. Your experience culminates in a final presentation where you showcase your group project and demonstrate your understanding of core computer science concepts.
Location: Discovery Partners Institute, Chicago, IL
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade or their first year of college at a 2- or 4-year Illinois institution in the fall
The DPI Digital Scholars Program is a summer program for high school and early college students who want structured exposure to computer science and related computing fields. You will enroll in a college-level course such as data science, foundational computer science and coding, electrical and computer engineering, mobile app development, or Swift programming. The program emphasizes hands-on coding and applied learning, with projects that use real-world data, software tools, and industry-relevant workflows. Alongside coursework, you participate in workshops on topics like machine learning, data science, and entrepreneurship, helping you see how technical skills connect to real applications.
Location: Virtual and select in-person cities
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various 2-week sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens, aged 13-18
Kode with Klossy Summer Camps are free, two-week coding programs for girls, trans, and non-binary students ages 13–18, offered in both virtual and in-person formats. You will choose a project-based track: Web Development, Machine Learning, Data Science, or Mobile App Development, based on your interests. Throughout the camp, you learn core programming languages and tools such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and Swift, depending on the track. The curriculum is hands-on and collaborative, with daily coding practice that builds toward a final project, like a functional website, chatbot, data visualization, or iOS app.
Location: Bentley University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,500 (need-based scholarship available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 24 – July 11
Application Deadline: Early decision deadline: January 18, Regular deadline: March 22
Eligibility: Students aged 14–17
The Wolfram High School Summer Research Program is a two-and-a-half-week residential program that immerses high school students in advanced computational thinking and coding-driven research. You will work primarily in the Wolfram Language, learning how to model data, design algorithms, and build computational systems through structured workshops and an initial coding boot camp. With one-on-one mentorship from Wolfram researchers, you develop an independent project in areas such as data science, simulations, algorithmic game theory, or AI-related modeling. A significant portion of the program is dedicated to writing a formal computational essay that documents your code, methods, and results, similar to academic research practice.
14. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Stanford University. Stanford, California, or virtual
Cost: Online: $4,120, Residential: $9,800 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 4–6% (30 of 700 applicants)
Dates: Online: July 15 – 26, Residential: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Students in grade 9 at the time of application submission
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week summer program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence through hands-on, project-based learning. You will work in small teams, guided by Stanford graduate students and researchers, to explore core AI areas such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. The program emphasizes practical understanding, like how AI systems are built, trained, and applied to real-world problems like healthcare and disaster response. Alongside technical work, you examine ethical questions around bias, fairness, and responsible AI use, which are central to modern computing. The program also includes career discussions that help you understand academic and industry pathways in AI and computer science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 + $45 application fee (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26, Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students aged 14+ by program start
Stanford AIMI’s Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program that focuses on hands-on coding and applied machine learning in healthcare. You will work primarily in Python, learning how to build, test, and evaluate basic AI/ML models using medical datasets. The program includes technical lectures on machine learning fundamentals, guided group research sessions, and direct mentorship from Stanford researchers and student leads. Rather than staying conceptual, the internship emphasizes implementation, with students actively writing code and developing practical research outputs. The experience concludes with a completed group project and a Certificate of Completion.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.
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