14 Free Math Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 23 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student interested in exploring math beyond your regular classes, a free math program is worth considering. Math programs let you spend time thinking through problems, patterns, and ideas rather than just completing assignments. You begin to see math as a way of reasoning and explaining, not just getting the right answer.
Why should I consider a free program in math?
Free programs are an excellent fit because they remove cost as a barrier. You can focus on learning without worrying about fees, and many of these programs are designed to reflect how math is studied at the college level. Having dedicated time helps you work through concepts carefully instead of rushing from topic to topic.
These programs also give you something concrete to carry forward for your college applications. When it comes time to apply to college or sit for interviews, you can speak clearly about what you worked on, what challenged you, and how you approached problems.Â
If you’re interested in more math programs hosted virtually, you can check out our blog here for a complete list.
To help you explore what’s available, here are 14 free math programs for high school students!
14 Free Math Programs for High School Students
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free​
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5–10% acceptance
Dates: Roughly January–December (weekly meetings during the school year; conference in mid-October).​
Application Deadline: November 30.
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores (grades 10–11) with a strong mathematical background. [Note: PRIMES STEP serves grades 7–9 as an enrichment program.]
MIT PRIMES is one of the most selective free math programs for high school students in the world. You will work on original mathematical research under the guidance of MIT faculty and researchers. You engage in advanced topics such as number theory, combinatorics, and algebraic geometry. Weekly mentorship meetings support deep exploration and independent thinking. Many participants produce research papers or present at academic conferences. The program is fully funded and academically rigorous.
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: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!Â
Location:Â Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Philadelphia, PA
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Open participation; selective judging phase
Dates: February 27 – March 2
Application Deadline:Â February 20
Eligibility:Â High school juniors and seniors can apply
The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge is a team-based applied mathematics competition where you work on a real-world problem over a short period of time. You collaborate with teammates to define the problem, choose reasonable assumptions, and develop a mathematical model that explains your approach. A major part of the work involves deciding how to structure the model and how to communicate results clearly. Your team submits a written technical report that is reviewed by professional mathematicians, with emphasis on reasoning, methodology, and clarity of explanation rather than final answers alone.
Location:Â Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Full financial aid is availableÂ
Application deadline:Â Deadlines vary depending on the cohortÂ
Program dates:Â Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.Â
Location: Multiple NASA facilities across the United States
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Three sessions annually—Summer (10-week, late May–August), Fall (16-week, late August–mid-December), Spring (16-week, mid-January–early May)
Application Deadline: Summer: February 27; Fall: May 22; Spring: September
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), minimum 3.0 GPA, U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old
NASA's Office of STEM Engagement offers paid internships at facilities nationwide where you contribute to real NASA projects alongside scientists and engineers. You'll work approximately 20–29 hours per week on projects involving data analysis, mathematical modeling, aeronautics, and space exploration. Most interns receive a stipend award based on their academic level and session length. You'll be paired with a mentor who guides your work and provides professional development opportunities. The fall and spring sessions align perfectly with the school year, making it ideal to balance academics with hands-on research.Â
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free (fully funded—covers tuition, housing, meals, and all activities)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 7–10% (approximately 110 students annually)
Dates: June 20 – August 1 (6 weeks residential; virtual Jumpstart June 15–16)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors (11th grade) from underrepresented communities in STEM, at least 16 years old by program start, U.S. citizen or permanent resident
SAMS is an intensive, fully funded residential program where you dive into rigorous coursework in mathematics, science, and engineering alongside world-renowned Carnegie Mellon faculty. You'll complete quantitative seminars, conduct a mentored STEM research project, participate in college prep writing workshops, and take "Student to Scholar," a credit-bearing course helping you transition from high school to college thinking. Throughout the program, you'll work in mentoring groups with graduate student mentors and network with current Carnegie Mellon students. You'll conclude with a Research Symposium where you showcase your project to the community.Â
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free tuition (you cover transportation and housing; stipend provided at program's end)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 8% (approximately 40 Fellows per year)
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (11th grade), at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Simons Summer Research Program gives you hands-on research experience working alongside distinguished Stony Brook faculty mentors on real projects in science, mathematics, or engineering. You'll submit your top three preferred research areas or mentor interests, then be matched with one for the intensive seven-week program. Each day you'll spend at least four hours conducting experiments, attending seminars, analyzing data, and preparing presentations. You'll become part of an active research team, learning laboratory techniques and tools used by professional researchers. By the end, you'll produce a research abstract and poster presentation that you'll share with the research community. Throughout the program, you'll attend workshops and social events to network with other Fellows and faculty.Â
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 10 high school students per summer cohort
Dates: Summer (8-week intensive, July–August); Fall and Spring also available
Application Deadline: Typically, March for summer
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; high school students nationwide
The MathQuantum Fellowship offers summer, fall, and spring sessions where you conduct research in mathematics and quantum information science. This is one of the few programs offering generous support across three seasons of the year. You'll engage in cutting-edge research mentored by faculty and gain hands-on experience in professional mathematics and quantum computing. You'll participate in seminars, hands-on activities, professional development workshops, and collaborative mini-projects with your summer cohort. Summer fellows (8 weeks) receive a $5,200 stipend, free on-campus housing at the UMD College Park campus, $1,000 for conferences or workshops, and $500 for travel if you're coming from outside the Washington, DC area.Â
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (tuition and room and board covered; $75 application fee with waivers available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <2.5% (approximately 80 students selected from 3,000+ applicants)
Dates: 6 weeks, June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: Early-to-mid December (typically December 11–15)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (currently in 11th grade), at least 16 years old by July 1, with exceptional achievement in STEM
RSI is one of the world's most selective and prestigious summer research programs. You'll spend six weeks at MIT in an immersive experience combining intensive coursework with original research. The program begins with a week of seminars in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering, where you'll learn research methods and scientific communication skills from MIT faculty. In weeks two through six, you'll work in cutting-edge research laboratories at MIT or across Boston under the supervision of leading scientists. You'll design experiments, analyze real data, and contribute to original research projects. The experience culminates in a formal symposium where you present your work conference-style and receive feedback from researchers.Â
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 40 students; each faculty mentor selects 1–3 interns
Dates: June 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising seniors who live and attend high school in Florida, minimum 3.0 GPA, scored in the 90th percentile or better in math on a standardized exam, and have completed or are currently taking pre-calculus
The Young Scholars Program at Florida State allows you to conduct original research or explore advanced mathematics topics alongside FSU faculty mentors. You'll work one-on-one or in small groups, gaining insight into how university researchers operate and what it means to be a professional mathematician. Each faculty mentor pairs with 1–3 interns based on shared research interests, so you'll get highly individualized attention. You'll spend six weeks on campus learning how to approach mathematical problems like a researcher, exploring university facilities, and contributing to real faculty projects.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5–8% (approximately 20 students)
Dates: Early July (2-week program; typically late June through mid-July)
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or attending high school in the U.S. (before senior year), ages 14–18, demonstrating a strong mathematical background, comfortable with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus.
√mathroots, hosted by MIT PRIMES, is a two-week mathematics program for high-potential students from underserved or disadvantaged backgrounds. The program combines competition-style problem solving with early exposure to research-based thinking through lectures, group work, and challenging problem sets. Instruction is led by educators experienced in both areas, helping you understand how mathematical ideas are developed and explored. The shorter format is a central feature of √mathroots. It offers a rigorous, MIT-affiliated experience without requiring a full summer commitment.Â
Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA (Residential)
Cost: Free for U.S. domestic students whose families earn under $68,000 per year. Substantial financial aid available for all students; travel scholarships available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 5% (roughly 50–51 students per year)
Dates: June 28 – August 8 (6 weeks, residential; 54th session)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; applications reviewed continuously. Full consideration given to applications submitted by late April.
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising 9th through 12th grade, though most students are rising juniors and seniors), completed 9th grade, exceptional mathematical talent and genuine passion for mathematics, and comfort with college-level mathematical thinking
HCSSiM is a six-week residential program focused on sustained, college-level mathematics rather than research output or competition results. Founded in 1971, it is the longest-running program of its kind. Your days are structured almost entirely around mathematics, with morning classes, faculty lectures, problem sessions, and long stretches of independent and group work. Topics are not fixed in advance. Faculty select material that matches the interests and strengths of the students, which can range from number theory and combinatorics to geometry, topology, or dynamical systems. The defining feature of HCSSiM is its emphasis on mathematical thinking rather than endpoints. You are encouraged to ask questions, struggle with hard ideas, and spend time understanding why arguments work.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Open access
Dates:Â Year-round
Application Deadline:Â None
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Khan Academy High School Math Pathways gives you structured access to the full range of high school mathematics in one place. You can work through Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Statistics using short lessons followed by practice problems. The system tracks what you have mastered and what still needs work, allowing you to move forward only when concepts are clear. You control the pace, which makes the platform useful both for strengthening weak areas and for studying ahead of school coursework.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Open participation
Dates:Â Year-long research tracks; specific start/finish dates vary
Application Deadline:Â Varies by trackÂ
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
The CrowdMath Research Program is an online program where high school students explore advanced mathematical questions in a collaborative setting. You engage with open problems through reading, discussion, and original problem-solving. Participation is flexible and largely self-directed, allowing you to contribute at your own pace. The program emphasizes mathematical rigor and careful reasoning rather than completing fixed assignments.
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.