10 Best Science Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 20 minutes ago
- 7 min read
For middle school students who are curious about the functioning of the world, whether it’s through microscopes, labs, or engineering challenges, science programs offer the perfect early launchpad. These programs help you dive into hands-on learning, develop practical research and problem-solving skills, and experience what college-level academics and campus life might be like. Many of them are designed to be affordable, with options that are free, scholarship-supported, or cost significantly less than private camps or classes. In short, they provide the exposure and insight of higher education, without the price tag or pressure.
If you're passionate about science and wondering how to explore it beyond the classroom, an online or in-person summer program could be the ideal next step. To help you choose, we’ve put together a curated list of the best science programs for middle school students. Each program we selected stands out for being rigorous, highly selective, and offering students meaningful academic challenges and opportunities to connect with researchers and peers. Most are hosted by top-tier universities or research institutions, with access to real labs, expert mentors, and even college prep support. Here's our curated list of top 10 picks.
10 Best Science Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: August 24 (for Fall cohort, multiple cohorts running year-round)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online mentorship-based research experience tailored for middle school students who want to create an academic project in a field they’re passionate about. You’ll work 1:1 with a PhD mentor from top universities like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford, who supports you throughout the research and project development process.
Throughout the program, you learn to conduct independent investigations, think critically, and complete a final project that reflects your area of interest. The program balances academic challenge with scheduling flexibility, featuring multiple application rounds during the year. Need-based scholarships are available, encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to participate.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity; cohort size not publicly disclosed.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $5,152 (includes tuition, room, board, and activities). Limited financial aid available.
Dates: July 13-25
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 8 or 9; must be 13-15 years old by June 15
This 12-day residential program offers middle schoolers a deep dive into science, technology, engineering, and math through immersive academic courses, research projects, and design challenges. You’ll explore college-level STEM concepts in hands-on labs and collaborative settings, mentored by Brown faculty, graduate students, and program staff. Each course ends with a final presentation, allowing you to share your work with peers, instructors, and family. Outside the classroom, you’ll participate in structured social activities, supervised residential life, and community-building events designed to prepare you for future academic success. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a course performance report and a digital certificate of completion.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Application deadline: Rolling deadline
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Summer session: July 28 - August 8 | Academic year session: October-May
Application Deadline: April 15 for the summer session; typically September for the academic year session
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7-12 with an interest in STEM or medicine
This free enrichment program helps middle and high school students prepare for careers in medicine and STEM by offering rigorous coursework in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physics, psychology, and advanced mathematics. You’ll attend weekly sessions during the academic year and/or daily classes during the summer. Beyond academics, you’ll receive SAT/PSAT prep, college counseling, and access to field trips, campus tours, and career workshops. S-PREP students also become eligible for prestigious mentored research programs like BRAINYAC and YES in THE HEIGHTS, which include hands-on training, stipends, and opportunities to present research.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective; information on exact cohort size is not publicly available.
Location: University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $650 (covers daily lunch)
Dates: June 23- June 27
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area students entering grades 7-9 (must live and attend school within 60 miles of campus)
This week-long day camp invites Philadelphia-area middle school students to dive into engineering through hands-on explorations in bioengineering, nanotechnology, materials science, computing, and robotics. Campers participate in collaborative activities, problem-solving challenges, and guided experiments led by Penn students and faculty. The program emphasizes real-world applications, teamwork, and building confidence in science and math. Designed to spark early interest in engineering careers, Penn GEMS also helps you envision yourself in STEM fields through mentorship and role model exposure.
Cost: $440-$550/week; scholarships available
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Dates: June 23 - July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions are full
Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th grade students
Hosted by Georgia Tech’s CEISMC, the Summer P.E.A.K.S. program offers middle school students week-long, on-campus workshops in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Each session is hands-on and experiential, with projects tailored to your grade level. Past themes have included robotics, biomedical engineering, app development, and environmental science. You will be grouped by grade band and benefit from both academic challenges and social engagement in a college setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Low selectivity; exact cohort size not published
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: May 17
Application Deadline: Typically closes in early May (sign-ups open earlier in the spring)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Stanford seeME is a one-day outreach event where middle schoolers get a rare chance to explore mechanical engineering through hands-on workshops and demos on Stanford’s campus. Hosted by the Mechanical Engineering department, the event is led by current Stanford students who guide participants through real-world challenges, projects, and conversations about engineering careers. The experience is designed to make engineering approachable and exciting, while offering early exposure to collegiate STEM environments. Although brief, the event packs in mentorship, inspiration, and interactive learning in an elite academic setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; exact cohort size not disclosed
Location: Multiple campuses across the U.S.; administered by Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: ~$6,500 for 3-week residential programs (includes tuition, room, board); financial aid available
Dates: June 22 - July 11 or July 13 - August 1, depending on the campus i.e., UC Santa Cruz, Skidmore, or Speyer School
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 2-12 who qualify through CTY’s Talent Search or alternative test scores
These residential programs offer middle schoolers the chance to tackle college-level science and engineering courses. You choose from a range of subjects like Astrophysics, Engineering Design, Marine Biology, and Forensics, taught by expert instructors in small, seminar-style settings. CTY emphasizes inquiry, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, while also providing a supportive social environment tailored to gifted learners. With offerings at multiple campuses across the U.S., CTY allows students to dive into advanced STEM topics while forming connections with peers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served; cohort size not published
Location: Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Grafton, MA
Cost: $850; includes tuition only (no housing); $400 nonrefundable deposit required
Dates: Session 1: April 15 - 19| Session 2: June 24 - 28
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance on a first-come, first-served basis until each session fills
Eligibility: Students entering 7th or 8th grade as of the previous September
This commuter day program introduces middle school students to veterinary science through hands-on labs, animal care training, and exposure to specialty fields within veterinary medicine. You will perform clinical exams, learn how to read X-rays, practice bandaging and suturing, and even try intubation using simulation equipment. Guided by Tufts faculty and vet students, the program includes farm visits, classroom lectures, and real diagnostic challenges, offering an exciting early look into animal health careers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity; rolling admissions until full
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Cost: $425 (includes room, board, and programming); some programs may be fully sponsored
Dates: Session dates vary by track; typically run in July for one week
Application Deadline: Priority deadline February 17; rolling thereafter while seats remain
Eligibility: Middle school girls (typically rising 7th-9th grade)
Junior Women in Engineering (JWIE) is a residential summer program for middle school girls interested in exploring engineering through hands-on activities, mentorship, and campus life at a leading tech university. You will dive into real engineering challenges in labs and workshops while building teamwork and problem-solving skills. You will also engage with female faculty, college students, and industry professionals who serve as role models and mentors. Hosted in Michigan Tech’s state-of-the-art facilities, the program helps girls envision themselves in STEM fields and introduces the wide range of career possibilities in engineering and technology.
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.
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