15 Best STEM Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 12 min read
If you’re looking to explore STEM in high school, structured programs are one of the most reliable ways to gain early exposure to advanced academics and research environments. These programs often mirror college-level expectations, combining rigorous coursework, projects, and mentorship from researchers or professionals. Beyond technical skills, they also offer insight into academic culture, research workflows, and the kinds of problems scientists and engineers work on.
Why should I participate in a STEM program in high school?
If you’re applying to competitive colleges, a STEM program allows you to demonstrate sustained interest and preparation beyond standard coursework. Many programs involve selective admissions, which helps colleges contextualize your academic ability and commitment to a technical field. The coursework, projects, or research you complete can be referenced in your applications, essays, and interviews to show how you’ve engaged with STEM outside the classroom. These experiences can also clarify your academic goals.
To help you choose, we’ve narrowed this list to the 15 best STEM programs for high school students, prioritizing opportunities that are highly selective, fully funded, academically rigorous, and hosted by prestigious universities or research institutions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; students placed across approximately 32–40 NYU STEM labs (exact acceptance rate is not published)
Location: New York University, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Fully funded; tuition-free program supported by external foundations
Program Dates: June 2–August 7
Application Deadline: January 3–February 21
Eligibility: New York City high school students in grades 10–11 with strong academic records and demonstrated interest in STEM
ARISE places you in an active NYU research lab, where you work on real scientific or engineering research under the supervision of faculty and graduate researchers. You contribute to lab projects in areas such as life sciences, engineering, computer and data science, or materials chemistry, gaining exposure to lab protocols, research design, and data analysis. The program includes structured workshops focused on scientific communication, public speaking, and research presentation skills. You present your work at a formal colloquium attended by NYU faculty, graduate students, and external guests. The hybrid structure combines remote research preparation with six weeks of full-time, in-person lab work, closely mirroring the workflow of an undergraduate research experience.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; acceptance rate estimated in the low single digits (exact figures not publicly released)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded; no tuition or program fees
Program dates: Online Courses: February 3 - June 20 | In-person Summer Program: July 7–August 3
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students entering grade 12 with strong preparation in math, programming, and STEM coursework
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is an intensive, project-based STEM program focused on advanced engineering and computational topics such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, radar, and satellite technologies. You will participate in team-based, workshop-style courses that emphasize problem-solving and building functional systems. Instruction is delivered by MIT-affiliated staff and technical mentors, with a strong emphasis on engineering design, coding, and systems thinking. You’ll collaborate on complex technical projects that mirror real research and defense-industry workflows. The program prioritizes hands-on experimentation, iterative development, and technical documentation over lectures. Many courses culminate in formal project demonstrations or evaluations tied to clearly defined engineering milestones.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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, 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Less than 2.5% acceptance rate; approximately 100 students selected annually
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded; all tuition, housing, dining, and educational expenses covered
Program Dates: June–July (6-week summer session)
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors (grade 11) with one year remaining before graduation; a strong background in mathematics and science is required
The Research Science Institute immerses you in the full research lifecycle, combining advanced STEM coursework with an individual research internship. You begin with intensive classes in scientific theory, followed by a five-week research placement where you conduct original research under the mentorship of scientists and researchers. Projects span fields such as mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, and engineering, and require independent problem formulation, experimentation, and analysis. You produce both a formal research paper and a conference-style oral presentation presented at the RSI Symposium. Mentorship is central to the program, with close guidance from faculty and research professionals throughout the summer. The structure closely mirrors undergraduate and early graduate-level research expectations, emphasizing rigor, independence, and scholarly communication.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 50 students selected annually
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Fully funded; no tuition or program fees
Program Dates: June 8–July 30
Application Deadline: December 19–February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by program start; U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending high school in the U.S.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program places you in a Stanford School of Medicine research lab to conduct hands-on biomedical or biological research. You will work closely with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers on medically oriented projects that introduce you to experimental design, data collection, and scientific analysis. The program emphasizes understanding how real-world medical research is conducted, rather than simulated coursework or classroom instruction. You contribute to ongoing lab research while developing technical lab skills and scientific reasoning. Mentorship is central, with daily interaction with research professionals and exposure to academic research environments. The eight-week structure closely reflects the pace and expectations of undergraduate biomedical research programs.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly released
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded; no tuition or program fees (students cover travel to and from MIT)
Program Dates: July 12–July 25
Application Deadline: January 5–March 11
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current grade 11); U.S. citizens only; strong interest in science, math, and engineering
LLRISE is a two-week, project-based engineering workshop where you learn how radar systems are designed, built, and tested. You will work alongside MIT Lincoln Laboratory scientists and engineers to construct small Doppler and range radar systems, gaining experience with electronics, signal processing, and system integration. The program emphasizes applied problem-solving, requiring you to troubleshoot hardware, analyze radar performance, and iterate on designs. You collaborate closely with professionals working in national-level research and engineering environments. Instruction takes place across MIT’s campus and Lincoln Laboratory facilities, exposing you to both academic and applied research settings. The workshop concludes with functional radar builds that demonstrate your understanding of real-world engineering constraints and design trade-offs.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 12 students selected annually (acceptance rate not publicly released)
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Fully funded; housing, meals, and program activities are provided. Scholars receive a $750 stipend upon successful completion.
Program Dates: June 21–August 6
Application Deadline: January 2–February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors graduating in the next one to two years; must be at least 17 years old by program start; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week, full-time summer research experience where you conduct original research under the mentorship of Texas Tech University faculty. You will be placed in a research group aligned with your academic interests and work on a defined project that involves experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The program emphasizes hands-on research practices and close faculty mentorship rather than classroom instruction. You are expected to complete a formal research project and submit a written research report at the end of the program. Weekly seminars and structured activities supplement lab work, helping you understand the broader context of academic research. The experience closely mirrors undergraduate research expectations, with a strong focus on independence, rigor, and scientific communication.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the exact acceptance rate is not publicly released
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded; no tuition or program fees
Program Dates: June 27–July 25
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (post–grade 11); strong performance in math and science; intended for students with little or no prior exposure to engineering
The Women’s Technology Program is a four-week residential STEM program designed to introduce you to core engineering concepts through coursework, labs, and team-based projects. You take structured classes in engineering fundamentals while applying concepts through collaborative design challenges and problem-solving exercises. The program emphasizes learning how engineers think, including breaking down complex problems, testing solutions, and iterating based on data. You work closely with peers and instructors in an intensive academic setting that mirrors college-level expectations. Faculty-led instruction and lab work provide direct exposure to MIT’s engineering environment. The experience culminates in project-based outcomes that help you evaluate your interest in pursuing engineering or other STEM fields at the collegiate level.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small national cohort. The exact acceptance rate is not publicly released
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded; all tuition, housing, meals, and program-related expenses covered (students pay only for travel to and from MIT)
Program Dates: Mid June–early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; strong academic preparation in math and science
MITES Summer is a six-week, residential STEM immersion program that places you in an intensive academic environment modeled on MIT’s undergraduate experience. You will take a full course load that includes math, physics, life sciences, humanities, and a project-based STEM elective such as machine learning, genomics, or engineering design. Coursework is paired with lab tours, workshops, and structured exposure to real-world STEM applications across disciplines. You engage directly with MIT faculty, instructors, and mentors while completing rigorous assignments, exams, and final projects. The program also includes seminars with STEM professionals and guided college admissions support. By the end of the program, you receive a detailed academic evaluation that reflects college-level expectations and performance.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; acceptance rate below 10%
Location: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost: Fully funded; no tuition or program fees required (students are responsible for transportation and personal expenses)
Program Dates: June 23–August 21
Application Deadline: January 1–February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; must be at least 15 years old by June 1; U.S. citizens only; minimum 2.8 GPA; must reside in designated MD/VA/DC regions and commit to 30–40 hours per week on-site
The ASPIRE program places you in a professional research and engineering environment at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where you work directly with staff mentors on real-world STEM projects. You will contribute to research efforts by solving technical problems, supporting ongoing initiatives, and developing engineering or computational skills. The program emphasizes independent work, persistence, and professional communication in a full-time lab setting. You collaborate closely with engineers and scientists while learning how large-scale research organizations operate. ASPIRE mirrors the expectations of a professional STEM workplace rather than a classroom-based program, offering early exposure to applied research careers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 2% acceptance rate; 20 students selected annually
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost: Fully funded; no program fees; housing and transportation not covered; students receive a $1,200 summer stipend
Program Dates: June 29–August 21
Application Deadline: December 1–February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors; must live within 25 miles of MSK’s main campus in Manhattan; legally authorized to work in the U.S.; minimum 3.5 GPA in science subjects; must be at least 14 years old by program start
The Summer Student Program places you in an active Memorial Sloan Kettering research lab, where you conduct hands-on biomedical or computational research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. You will work on a self-directed project that supports the lab’s ongoing research in areas such as cancer biology, immunology, computational biology, or drug development. The program emphasizes experimental design, data analysis, and research accountability within a professional scientific environment. You participate in lab meetings, research discussions, and professional development sessions focused on translational medicine. Mentorship is central, with close guidance from principal investigators and lab teams throughout the eight-week internship. The experience culminates in a structured research presentation as part of the program’s closing poster session.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly released
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
Cost: Fully funded; no program or application fees (limited subsistence allowances available for select students)
Program Dates: June 26–August 7
Application Deadline: October 1–January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors; must reside and attend school in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, or Chautauqua counties; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be at least 15 years old by program start
The SURE-CAN program places you in a cancer research environment at Roswell Park, where you participate in a six-week blend of laboratory research, lectures, and professional development. You work on hands-on wet-lab or dry-lab projects while learning core concepts in cancer biology, genomics, imaging, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The program emphasizes research rigor, ethics, reproducibility, and the integration of mathematics, physics, and engineering into biomedical discovery. You develop scientific communication skills through seminars and present your work in a formal research symposium. Mentorship from cancer researchers and exposure to advanced research infrastructure shape the experience. The program provides a structured introduction to careers in cancer research, engineering, medical imaging, and health sciences.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 32 students accepted annually
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: Fully funded; no tuition or program fees (housing and transportation not provided)
Program Dates: June 22–August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by program start
The Summer Science Research Program places you on a mentored research team within Rockefeller University’s teaching laboratories, where you engage in hands-on biomedical research throughout the summer. You will work in small teams guided by scientific trainees from Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Weill Cornell Medicine, mirroring the structure and workflow of a research lab. The program emphasizes research design, experimental techniques, data analysis, and collaborative problem-solving driven by student-generated research questions. You analyze results and present your findings through a formal scientific poster at the program’s end-of-summer symposium. Elective courses, guest lectures, and workshops supplement lab work, providing exposure to research careers and scientific communication. The experience is designed to closely replicate real academic research environments rather than classroom-based instruction.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Fully funded; no program fees; housing and transportation not covered; students receive a stipend upon completion (program supported by the Simons Foundation)
Program Dates: June 29–August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (grade 11) at time of application; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be at least 16 years old by program start
The Simons Summer Research Program places you in a Stony Brook University research group, where you work with faculty mentors on research in science, mathematics, or engineering. You assume responsibility for a defined research project, learning laboratory techniques, analytical methods, and research workflows used in academic labs. The program emphasizes independence, problem-solving, and collaboration within real research teams rather than simulated exercises. You produce a written research abstract and present your findings through a formal poster at the program’s closing symposium. Weekly faculty research talks, workshops, and campus events supplement lab work and expose you to a broad range of STEM disciplines. The experience is designed to mirror undergraduate research environments while providing close mentorship and structured support.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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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