15 Free Data Science Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you're in high school and want to understand how tools like AI, search engines, and recommendation systems work, it helps first to learn data science. One way to do that is by joining a data science summer program.Â
Data science summer programs teach you how to collect data, clean it, organize it, and find patterns. You’ll work with tools like Python, R, and SQL. You’ll learn how to write code that can sort information, create visualizations, and answer real questions using large datasets. Some programs have you analyze trends in sports, climate, or social media. Others focus on topics like public policy, finance, or machine learning.
All of these programs are free. You don’t have to pay any tuition or buy any materials. You also don’t need to commit to a full-year course or a long-term certificate. Many programs run for two to four weeks, either online or on a college campus, and are designed for students who are just getting started.
To make your search easier, we’ve put together a list of the top 15 free data science summer programs for high school students!
15 Free Data Science Summer Programs for High School Students
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote ,  you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation runs a no-cost research program for high school students from low-income backgrounds. It is the non-profit arm of the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. In the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program, you get the same format as Lumiere’s paid Individual Research Scholar Program. Over 12 weeks, you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to build an independent research project. At the end, you produce a research paper in your chosen field. You can choose topics from psychology, computer science, engineering, data science, economics, international relations, chemistry, and related fields. You can apply here!Â
2. Veritas AIÂ
Location:Â Virtual
Application deadline:Â On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates:Â Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility:Â 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 run by Harvard graduate students and offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. If you're just starting with AI, machine learning, or data science, the AI Scholars program is a good place to begin. It’s a 10-session boot camp where you learn the basics and work on real-world projects.
If you already have experience, you can apply for the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. In this program, you work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university on your project. You also get support from Veritas AI’s publication team to help you publish your work in high school research journals. You can see examples of past student projects here.Â
Location:Â Various sites in the Greater Seattle area, WA
Cost/Stipend:Â Varies; some placements are unpaid, while others offer a stipend
Dates: Typically 8–10 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline:Â Opens around March or April; closes in May
Eligibility:Â Open to high school students who are permanent U.S. residents and live in the Greater Seattle area
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) helps high school students work with mentors from local universities, tech companies, and community groups. You’ll spend the summer working on a STEM project that matches your interests. Past projects have included Python, data visualization, machine learning, and neural networks. When you apply, you’ll pick from a list of projects and mentors. You’ll also join sessions on college planning, STEM careers, and skill-building.
Location:Â University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend:Â Free; $5,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline:Â Typically in January
Eligibility:Â Open to high school students residing in the Chicago area
The DSI Summer Lab is an 8-week research program for Chicago-area high school students. You’ll join a research team and work on a data science project in areas like computer science, climate policy, biomedical research, public policy, or social science. You’ll learn core data science skills and work with faculty, graduate students, and undergrads. Each week, you’ll hear from data science professionals and learn how they solve real-world problems. At the end, you’ll share your work through a video presentation at a closing event.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free, U.S.-based students may be eligible for a needs-based grant of $350–$1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective; exact cohort size varies each year
Dates:Â Two-week sessions during the summer
Application Deadline:Â Typically in March
Eligibility: Open to current 9th–11th grade U.S. students (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who identify as female or non-binary; international students aged 14–18 may also apply
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual program where you learn computer science basics and build coding skills through hands-on projects. You’ll use languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and explore topics like game development, AI, web design, cybersecurity, data science, and machine learning. You’ll work in teams, meet tech professionals, and join sessions on careers and confidence-building. You’ll also be part of a community of students, mentors, and alumni who are interested in tech.
Location:Â NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Dates:Â Jun 23 to Aug 15 (8 weeks; exact dates vary by year)
Application Deadline:Â February 6
Eligibility:Â U.S. citizens currently in 11th or 12th grade with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must live near either the NIST campus, as no housing or transportation is provided.
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is an eight-week volunteer program where you work with scientists and engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. You’ll be matched with a mentor and take on a research project in areas like materials science, chemistry, nanotechnology, engineering, or IT. You’ll build skills in coding, data analysis, and lab work, and learn how scientific research is done. At the end, you’ll present your project at a final symposium.
Location:Â Hybrid or on-site at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD (some virtual placements available)
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Up to 200 students selected each summer
Dates: June 25 – August 22
Application Deadline:Â Typically in February
Eligibility:Â U.S. citizens who are high school juniors or seniors (including rising juniors/seniors), with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Must reside in eligible counties in MD, VA, or D.C. (see full list)
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab is an eight-week internship where you explore STEM careers by working on a project with a mentor. You’ll choose two interest areas and up to three project types when you apply, like software development, lab work, hardware design, or social impact. Your mentor will place you on a project that matches your skills and goals. You’ll be expected to manage your time, solve problems, and work closely with your mentor throughout the summer.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost/Stipend:Â Free for students with household income under $150,000; $2,350 fee for others
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective
Dates:Â July 7- August 3
Application Deadline:Â March 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who reside in the U.S. and will remain in the country during the program
The Cog*Works program is for high school students interested in AI and machine learning. You start with an online course that covers Python, Git, neural networks, image classification, and natural language processing. You need to finish this part to join the summer program. The four-week summer course focuses on audio, vision, and language processing. You’ll work in teams on projects like audio recognition, computer vision, and text analysis, using tools like VSCode and GitHub. In the final week, you’ll build a full cognitive assistant and take part in a team challenge.
Location:Â Online and in-person at sites in Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., London, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and St. Louis
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Dates: Session 1: June 2 – 13; Session 2: July 7 – 18; Session 3: July 21 – August 1; Session 4: August 4 – 15
Application Deadline:Â Not applicable (rolling or based on capacity)
Eligibility: Open to girls and gender expansive teens aged 13–18
Kode With Klossy offers free two-week summer coding camps for high school students from groups underrepresented in tech. Camps focus on web development, mobile apps, machine learning, or data science. If you’re in the data science track, you’ll use tools like SQL and Python to work with datasets. In the machine learning track, you’ll learn basic algorithms and model training. You’ll join workshops, work with peers, and meet women working in tech.Â
Location:Â Online
Cost/Stipend:Â $2,815 (1 week), $3,965 (2 weeks); need-based financial aid available for permanent U.S. residents and residents of U.S. territories
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective; limited to 18 students
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline:Â Closed for this year; check back for next summer
Eligibility:Â Rising 11th and 12th graders
Columbia University’s pre-college program offers a course that teaches you the basics of computer programming using Java. You’ll learn about object-oriented programming, algorithms, and problem-solving through lectures, coding labs, and group projects. The course helps you to be comfortable with logical thinking. You’ll complete assignments on your computer (PC or Mac; Chromebooks aren’t supported). By working alone and with others, you’ll build coding skills and learn how to think systematically.
Location:Â UT Austin Campus, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend:Â The competitive Scholars Academies tracks are free; travel scholarships up to $500 are available for eligible students
Dates: July 27 – August 2
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Rising 11th and 12th graders
The University of Texas at Austin hosts a week-long residential program for high school juniors and seniors to learn about machine learning. You’ll write Python code, train models, and discuss how AI affects society. UT mentors live in the dorms and support you throughout the week, with a 10:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Each day includes workshops led by UT faculty, team projects, and sessions on operating systems and tech careers. You’ll also hear from guest speakers, tour campus, and can join optional visits to local tech companies. You’ll get a certificate when you finish the program.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost/Stipend:Â Full financial aid available!
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective; approximately 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline:Â February 21
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders who are at least 14 years old by the program start date. Students must be U.S citizens, permanent residents, or with valid visa status.
Stanford’s AIMI Center offers a two-week virtual internship for high school students to learn how AI is used in healthcare. You’ll study machine learning and data science through lectures, team projects, and mentorship. You’ll also join guest talks and career panels with professionals from different fields. The program combines computer science, medicine, and ethics, and asks you to think about how AI affects people and healthcare systems. If you complete the full program, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion and may be invited to continue with independent research.
Location:Â Meta Headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend:Â Free; meals provided; stipend may every year
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline:Â Typically in February
Eligibility:Â High school sophomores with a minimum 2.0 GPA who are full-time residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City, CA
The Meta Summer Academy is a six-week, in-person program for high school sophomores. You’ll learn about careers in tech through coding lessons, mentorship, and hands-on projects. You’ll explore skills like programming, financial literacy, media awareness, and networking. Each week, you’ll hear from guest speakers and meet Meta employees from teams like engineering, design, and program management. You’ll also build confidence and get used to working in a professional setting. If selected, you’ll work about 30 hours a week and receive a stipend.
Location:Â University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend:Â Free; $1,200 education stipend
Dates: July 7 – 31
Application Deadline:Â Typically in April
Eligibility:Â Rising juniors and seniors attending high school in Washington State
Changemakers in Computing is a free four-week summer program at the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. It is for high school students from first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds in tech. You’ll work in a team with other students, mentored by current UW undergraduates. The program teaches basic programming through projects and shows how computing can be used to solve real-world problems. Workshops include topics like tech and social justice, college applications, financial aid, and career planning. You’ll also meet professionals who work at the intersection of technology and equity.
Location:Â Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend:Â Free
Dates: Late June – Early August
Application Deadline:Â Typically in February
Eligibility:Â Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Summer is a free, six-week residential program at MIT for high school juniors who are passionate about STEM. You’ll take five college-level courses in math, science, humanities, and a hands-on elective like machine learning or engineering design. You’ll live in MIT’s dorms, explore labs, and join seminars led by researchers and industry professionals. You’ll also get support with college applications, attend a college fair, and receive written feedback from your instructors that you can include in your applications. Outside of class, you’ll take part in social activities, group outings, and build connections with students from across the country.
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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