15 Computer Science Summer Programs for High School Students in NYC
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 12
- 11 min read
Updated: Oct 11
As a high schooler in New York City, summer is a great time to build skills that can set you apart in college applications. Computer science summer programs give you hands-on experience in coding, game design, data science, and more. You get to work on real projects using languages like Python, JavaScript, and C, or tools like Unity and Arduino.
These programs often last several weeks and include workshops, group projects, and chances to present your work to peers and mentors. Completing a computer science summer program shows colleges that you’re serious about the subject and have practical experience beyond your school classes. It can help you figure out your interests in tech and give you examples to discuss in essays or interviews.
To help you find the right fit, here’s a list of 15 computer science summer programs for high school students in NYC!
15 Computer Science Summer Programs for High School Students in NYC
Location: Online
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12); 3.3+ GPA recommended
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives you the chance to work on a computer science research project with one-on-one guidance from a PhD mentor. Your mentor will be from a top university and will help you explore a topic in depth over a few months. You can find more details about the application here.
You’ll focus on subjects like artificial intelligence, algorithms, or computational theory, depending on your interest. As you go through the program, you’ll build research and technical skills step by step. You might use programming languages like Python or Java, and tools such as MATLAB or TensorFlow.
You’ll also learn how to structure a research question, work with datasets, and apply methods used in real academic research.
Cost: Fully funded tuition; travel, meals, and housing (if residing on campus) not included
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors. U.S. citizens and permanent residents only (must be at least 16 years old)
The Simons Summer Research Program is for high school juniors who want to explore computer science through a full research project. You’ll spend several weeks working with a university professor, often in a lab, and attend weekly seminars led by researchers. The first week includes sessions on lab safety and research basics.
You need to pick three mentor-project options when applying. Past computer science topics have included blockchain, smart systems like IoT, AI for medical imaging, algorithmic fairness, and quantum software. Some projects may expect you to know Python, JavaScript, or math, like linear algebra. By the end, you’ll present a research poster or abstract at a university symposium.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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: 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. You can apply here.
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: Free; fully funded
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Program Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Open only to 10th and 12th graders living in NYC or Nassau County
CS4CS is a free, four-week summer program in New York where you learn the basics of cybersecurity and computer science. You’ll learn how to code, find and fix security issues, use cryptography to protect data, hide information using steganography, and analyze digital clues in forensics. You’ll also study online privacy and learn how people fall for scams or how identity theft works. The program shows how cybersecurity is not just technical, but also about how people behave online. Some students from past years have worked on research about password safety.
Cost: Free; travel reimbursed; need-based stipends available
Location: Rockefeller University, Upper East Side, Manhattan, NY
Program Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; must be 16+
The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program is a seven-week in-person program for high school juniors and seniors. Each year, 32 students join research teams led by scientists. Most projects are in biology, but some focus on data science or tech-related work like computational biology.
If you’re interested in computer science, mention that clearly in your application. You might work on projects involving genetic data analysis using tools like BLAST or Galaxy, or help build code to manage and study large datasets. You’ll start by learning your team’s research area, then choose a question to work on. Each week, you’ll meet your mentor, work on experiments or code, and attend workshops. You’ll also build skills in reading research papers, planning experiments, and organizing data. At the end, you’ll present your findings in a research poster at a campus-wide symposium.
Cost: Free; paid stipend ($15/hour at 25 hours/week)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Program Dates: July 7 – August 14
Application Deadline: Ladders for Leaders: February 3; Centre for Smart Streetscapes (CS3) and Foundations of Research: March 3,
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current 11th graders) enrolled at schools in NYC’s five boroughs
Columbia’s Engineering Summer Research Program is a fully funded, in-person opportunity for high school students in New York City to explore computer science through hands-on urban technology projects. In the CS3 "My Streetscape" track, you work with topics like artificial intelligence, computer vision, data science, and the Internet of Things to study and improve local environments.
You might build datasets from real-world images, train models to detect city features, or analyze transportation patterns. Some students present their work to local officials or turn it into research papers. The program also includes a Foundations of Research track (broader in scope but still CS-adjacent), where you’ll work alongside Columbia engineering researchers. That one requires applying through NYC’s Ladders for Leaders. For the CS-focused CS3 track, you can apply directly through Columbia. The program takes place on campus from Monday to Thursday and also includes workshops on research methods, science communication, and preparing for college.
Cost: Free; $1,000 stipend upon completion
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders attending a public or charter school full-time
The Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) program is a 10-week summer research experience for high school students in New York. It begins with two weeks of college-level instruction in scientific methods, ethics, lab safety, and data analysis led by NYU faculty.
After that, you will spend six weeks working in a university lab alongside PhD students, postdocs, and faculty on real research projects. You might work on topics like AI, fair ranking systems, or synthetic data and help with coding, data collection, or building research tools. Outside the lab, the program includes workshops on scientific writing, presentations, and college admissions. You also join an alumni network that can offer support for applications and internships. You will present your work at the NYU Colloquium and the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium.
Cost: Free
Location: Google Chelsea Campus, Manhattan, NYC
Program Dates: Four weeks in summer (exact dates shared with eligible club members)
Application Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: High school student (at least 13+)
Code Next is a Google-led computer science program where you work on tech projects in a neighborhood lab with support from Google engineers. The four-week summer program at Google’s Chelsea campus is only open to current Code Next club members, so you must join during the fall, winter, or spring session to be eligible.
During the summer, you will work on projects like building robots, designing games, programming apps, exploring AI, and experimenting with tools like TensorFlow.js or Google Cloud. Some students have created websites, Java apps, or digital tools to support advocacy and inclusion in tech. You will also meet Google professionals, explore virtual and augmented reality, and present your work during demo days.
Cost: Free (includes a college ID, Monday lunches, metro card, and $1,575 stipend upon internship completion)
Location: CUNY City Tech, Brooklyn, NY (hybrid in spring; in-person in summer)
Program Dates: Spring course: Saturdays, February 8 – May 31; Summer Course: June 26 – August 15
Application Deadline: December 13 (priority)
Eligibility: NYC public high school sophomores and juniors from partner schools
The City Tech STEM Research Academy is a two-semester program for NYC public high school sophomores and juniors from partner schools. It begins with a required spring Saturday course that covers research basics like forming questions, designing lab experiments, using databases, and reading scientific papers. You must complete this spring course to take part in the summer internship.
The summer internship runs for six weeks. You will work with a City Tech faculty mentor and research team on a project in your chosen area. Computer science topics may include sensor networks, computational analysis, or technology applications in science. The program includes lab work four days a week, a weekly seminar, and a research paper you will present at the Summer Science Symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
Cost: $1,950 (3-week) or $3,950 (6-week); financial aid available (full waivers available for families earning up to 100% of the NYC Area Median Income; partial aid available for families earning up to 120%)
Location: The Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, Manhattan, NYC
Program Dates: July 7 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders; public school students preferred
Each summer, Cooper Union runs the Summer STEM program for high school students interested in engineering, data, and design. The program offers three-week and six-week courses, some of which include computer science topics. In the “Embedded Systems” course, you will write C code to control physical circuits. In “Code and Canvas,” you will use tools like Arduino and TouchDesigner to create interactive installations.
Another course, “Exploring NYC Through Data Visualization,” focuses on city systems and uses code and visual tools to study them. Courses are structured and project-based. Most students spend time building prototypes, testing them, and working in teams. At the end of the session, you will present your work to classmates, staff, and guests.
Cost: $12,449 (residential); $6,300 (commuter); $3,960 (online); need-based scholarships available
Location: Columbia University, Manhattan, NY
Program Dates: June 30 - Aug 15
Application Deadline: Residential and Commuter A sessions: June 30–July 18; Residential and Commuter B sessions (July 22–August 8; Commuter C sessions (August 11–15; Online sessions: July 7–August 15 (open on a space-available basis; apply as soon as possible for best chance of acceptance)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) + current 12th graders; must be 15+ for the NYC residential summer program
Columbia University’s Pre-College Program offers over 70 courses, including options in data science and machine learning. These are introductory courses, so no prior experience with machine learning is required. You will start by learning Python and move on to core topics in data science and machine learning.
This includes how algorithms function, how computers use data to improve performance, and how AI is used in real-world situations. Depending on the course, examples may include recommendation systems, image recognition, or text models. Courses are taught by instructors with academic or industry backgrounds.
12. Kode with Klossy
Cost: Free
Location: Multiple locations, including NYC
Dates: July 21 - Aug 1 in NYC
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Teens ages 13–18 who identify as girls or are gender nonconforming or nonbinary
Kode With Klossy is a free computer science summer program for high school students in NYC focused on students from underrepresented genders in tech. You can choose one of four tracks that build coding skills, even if you have no prior experience. In the Web Development track, you will learn to build interactive websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, focusing on user experience, responsiveness, and accessibility.
The Machine Learning track covers how AI works, using Python to train a chatbot and introducing algorithms, datasets, and natural language processing. The Mobile App Development track uses Swift, SwiftUI, and Xcode to design and build iOS apps.
The Data Science track teaches SQL and Python to analyze datasets and create a visualization project on a topic of your choice.
Cost: Free
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Program Dates: July 7 - August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 8th–10th graders in NYC; basic understanding of physics and coding recommended
The Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) program at NYU Tandon runs for five weeks and focuses on combining computer science, engineering, and urban planning. You will work in teams to design and build prototypes addressing real urban problems, using coding, microcontrollers, and sensors.
The program includes workshops on design thinking, product development, pitching, patents, entrepreneurship, and basic finance. Most work takes place at NYU’s MakerSpace, where you gain hands-on experience with hardware and software. Projects have included storm-warning systems, air-quality monitors, and waste-management tools. There are public speaking workshops led by theater professionals to prepare you for the final presentation. You will present your prototype to a panel of engineers, professors, and city planners.
Cost: Free; pay-what-you-wish
Location: Tech Commons, New-York Historical Society, Manhattan, NY
Program Dates: Web Design: July 21–25
Application Deadline: Web Design Cohort: May 26
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; open to students who self-identify as women, including trans and non-binary students
The Tech Scholars Program is a computer science summer program for high school students in NYC that combines technology with history. You can choose between two tracks. The web design track teaches JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to build websites focused on the stories of historically marginalized women.
You design interactive sites based on your research, gaining skills in coding and exploring topics like gender equity or social justice. The game design track lets you create a simple 2D game from scratch, covering programming, logic, and storytelling, as well as historical research.
Cost: Free
Location: Urban Arts Learning Lab, Manhattan, NYC
Program Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
This NYC summer program for high school students focuses on game development to teach coding and creative skills. You’ll learn C#, a programming language used in college courses, and work with Unity, a game engine common in both education and industry.
You’ll build a game from scratch, learning programming basics like variables, loops, and functions, plus design skills for graphics and sound. Lunch and MetroCards are provided to support attendance. By the end of the summer, you’ll complete a game project and gain practical experience working with a team on applied computer science.
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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