15 Free Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you are looking for a way to learn beyond the classroom, structured programs can be a great option to explore. These opportunities can offer research experience, industry exposure, and mentorship from faculty and professionals, all of which can help shape your academic and career trajectory. Hosted by top universities and organizations, they also connect you with university faculty and industry professionals, helping you develop your network. Many of these programs are also fully funded, giving you the chance to experience college-level learning, explore your interests, and build valuable skills without worrying about cost.
To make your search easier, we have curated a list of 15 free programs for high school students.
If you are looking for free online summer programs, check out our blog here.
15 Free Programs for High School Students
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: Late June – early August (six weeks); dates vary by year
Application deadline: Early–mid December
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; applicants must have a strong background in math and science, strong performance in advanced STEM coursework, and a clear interest in research. U.S. applicants must submit standardized test scores (PSAT, SAT, or ACT).
RSI, a selective STEM program hosted at MIT, offers a fully funded six-week research experience to about 100 high schoolers. You will begin with an accelerated week of STEM instruction led by expert faculty, designed to build a foundation in modern scientific concepts across disciplines like physics, biology, chemistry, math, and engineering. The rest of the program is dedicated to a mentored research project. You will work closely with scientists and researchers at MIT and collaborating institutions to explore original questions, analyze data, and produce meaningful findings. Field trips to science and tech facilities are part of the RSI experience.
Location: Multiple locations in the country + a summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipends available (amount unspecified)
Application deadline: January 15; application opens on October 14
Program dates: Eight-week summer internship; dates not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Bank of America offers high schoolers opportunities to work with local nonprofits through the Student Leaders Program. As a participant, you will learn about the key aspects of running a nonprofit, participate in community service projects, and explore various social issues in your community. In the process, you will find opportunities to build social, civic, and business leadership skills. The program includes a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will learn how government, business, and non-profit sectors come together to tackle critical community needs.
Location: Online
Cost: Fully funded
Program dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
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 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.
Location: MIT campus (Cambridge, MA) and MIT Lincoln Laboratory (Lexington, MA)Cost: Free
Program dates: July 12 – 25
Application deadline: March 11; applications will open on January 5.
Eligibility: Students who are completing their junior year of high school and are U.S. citizens
The LLRISE program is a fully funded, two-week summer engineering workshop hosted jointly by MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. It is designed for rising seniors with a strong interest in math, physics, and engineering. LLRISE guides you through the process of building two functioning radar systems: a Doppler radar and a range radar. You will spend two weeks soldering components, assembling circuits, testing hardware, and applying real engineering methods under the mentorship of MIT researchers and Lincoln Laboratory engineers. The program is hands-on and fast-paced, offering an inside look at how radar technology works in modern scientific and national security applications.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; full financial aid is available
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; option to choose from 10-week weekend format or two-week intensive summer format.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
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.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free apart from a $25 application fee; a $750 stipend is offered upon program completion.
Program dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16; applications will open on January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old by the program start date and U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an intensive seven-week residential research experience open to just 12 high-achieving high school juniors and seniors each year. Here, you will be paired with Texas Tech faculty mentors and engage in advanced research across fields such as STEM, humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Beyond hands-on lab and project work, you will attend seminars, discussions, and enrichment activities that offer insight into academic research, problem-solving, and potential career directions. At the end of the program, you will submit a research project report summarizing your findings.
Location: TASS partner universities across the U.S.; sites vary by year
Cost: Fully funded
Program dates: June 21 – July 25
Application deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) who are 15–17 years old during the program
TASS is a free academic program that offers a five-week humanities and social sciences immersion designed to help you challenge your thinking about power, identity, and society. You will choose between two seminar tracks: TASS-CBS, which focuses on the intellectual and cultural histories of people of African descent, and TASS-AOS, which explores how systems of power shape social structures more broadly. Each weekday, you will take part in a three-hour, college-level seminar led by two faculty members, engaging in rigorous discussion, close reading, writing, and collaborative work. You will also learn how to plan group activities, participate in restorative practices, and engage in public speaking workshops.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Program dates: Year-long commitment, including a summer component running from late June to early August.
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors from limited-income backgrounds with strong academic performance, a demonstrated interest in journalism, and a permanent U.S. address; applicants must maintain at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA.
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a free hybrid opportunity for high school students to explore journalism through year-long engagement and a summer residential experience on Princeton’s campus. During the online phase, you will take workshops led by professional journalists, complete weekly readings on current events, and begin developing your own articles. You will also start working closely with a dedicated college adviser, who supports you through the application process during senior year. During the residential component, you will dive into the world of professional reporting while staying in Princeton’s undergraduate dorms and engaging in on-campus seminars, newsroom visits to major outlets like The New York Times and Bloomberg, and field reporting assignments in the community. You will collaborate to publish your work in the Princeton Summer Journal, gaining experience in writing, editing, and multimedia storytelling.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Program dates: Summer intensive: July 13 – August 1 + year-round support
Application deadline: January 16
Eligibility: High school juniors with a 4.0 weighted GPA or higher and demonstrated financial need; applicants must be enrolled in Algebra II/Trigonometry or above and have a rigorous course load (AP/IB courses when available)
The USC Bovard Scholars program is a fully funded three-week residential experience designed to support high-achieving students from limited-income backgrounds as they prepare for top-tier colleges. During the program, you will receive individualized admissions guidance, financial aid support, college essay coaching, and test preparation. You will explore academic and career pathways through visits with industry professionals and sessions with USC faculty and staff. Beyond the summer intensive, you will receive year-long mentorship from an admissions coach to refine your college applications, identify scholarship opportunities, and navigate the college decision process.
Location: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,800 stipend offered
Program dates: June 1 – July 25
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in Memphis–Shelby County and nearby counties in TN, MS, and AR who are at least 16 years old and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA
The St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program is an eight-week, full-time summer experience for those interested in biomedical science and scientific research. Here, you will work with another peer under the guidance of St. Jude researchers on projects in fields such as laboratory science, psychology, epidemiology, clinical studies, or data science. Alongside mentored research, you will meet with science educators to reflect on scientific identity, discuss equity in STEM, and develop a strong personal statement for college applications. The program also emphasizes community building, offering structured peer support and intentional mentorship activities designed to help you gain confidence in research environments. At the end of the summer, you will present your findings at a community research exhibition through a scientific poster.
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 2 – December 3
Application deadline: December 31; applications open on November 1.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Duval or St. Johns Counties (FL) with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA.
The SPARK Research Mentorship Program offers rising juniors and seniors the chance to work alongside leading scientists at Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus. You will spend at least 25 hours per week in a mentor’s laboratory, gaining hands-on experience with biomedical research techniques in fields such as cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, drug discovery, regenerative sciences, and AI-driven medical research. You will also receive training in scientific communication, present your findings at a summer research symposium, and compete in regional and state science fairs. The program also offers access to a weekly Lunch and Learn series, where you will explore career paths and tour Mayo’s research facilities.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY]
Cost: Free/fully funded through the Pinkerton Foundation and partners
Program dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: New York City high school students currently in 10th or 11th grade
The ARISE program at NYU Tandon offers a 10-week lab-based research experience. As a participant, you will work directly in active NYU research labs spanning engineering, computer and data science, materials chemistry, and other STEM fields. Guided by faculty and graduate researchers, you will take on real lab tasks and make meaningful contributions to ongoing research projects. Before entering the lab full-time, you’ll complete four weeks of remote workshops introducing research skills, lab readiness, and foundational scientific concepts. Once on campus, you will join a lab and gain hands-on experience running experiments, analyzing data, and working on engineering design. ARISE also incorporates a public-speaking and presentation curriculum, delivered in partnership with the Irondale Ensemble Project, to help you gain science communication skills. The program culminates in a formal research colloquium, where you will present your findings to NYU faculty, researchers, peers, and families.
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 7 – July 18
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Florida high school students who have completed grade 11 and have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA and 90th percentile or higher on a nationally standardized math exam; students must be enrolled in or have completed Pre-Calculus.
The Young Scholars Program at Florida State University is a six-week, fully funded STEM-focused residential experience. As a participant, you will engage in college-level coursework, laboratory work, and research exploration. You will also learn through structured academic modules that lay the foundation in fields such as mathematical modeling, computational science, and laboratory-based scientific inquiry. The program also runs seminars and enrichment sessions that can help you develop critical thinking and collaborative research skills and gain exposure to real scientific practices.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program dates: Late June – early August
Application deadline: Varies annually; typically spring
Eligibility: High school students; preference given to students underrepresented in engineering, upperclassmen without prior research exposure, and those unable to access other summer opportunities.
EEMP is a five-week, fully online summer experience designed to introduce high school students to core areas of electrical engineering while guiding them through an independent research project. Throughout the program, you will explore foundational topics such as circuits, signal processing, computer architecture, software engineering, and embedded systems, supported by open-source tools, volunteer mentors, and accessible learning resources. Each week, you will attend a journal club, a hands-on lab session, a content lecture, and a research skills workshop. You will also meet one-on-one with a mentor to discuss your project progress. During the final week, you will deliver a 10–15-minute talk discussing your project and submit a written project paper, which can later be used for college applications or student journal submissions.
Location: Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, FL
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – July 3
Application deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in Miami-Dade and Broward counties; no prior journalism experience required.
The Journalism Jumpstart Caplin Summer Institute is a free, two-week program designed to help young writers explore the fundamentals of journalism and multimedia storytelling. Hosted by FIU’s Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media, the program immerses you in a hands-on newsroom environment where you will learn from journalism faculty, media professionals, and experienced writing coaches. Additionally, you will collaborate on real assignments, producing articles, multimedia packages, and graphics centered on themes provided by the Dow Jones News Fund. All of your completed work will be published on the Jumpstart Journal, allowing you to build a public writing portfolio. You will also learn interviewing techniques, reporting basics, and the essentials of producing digital content for modern newsrooms.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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