14 Free Psychology Courses for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 15 hours ago
- 12 min read
If you are interested in human behavior, mental health, or neuroscience, figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming, especially when many summer programs and pre-college experiences come with high price tags. Free psychology courses can provide a meaningful introduction to college-level academics, research methods, and practical applications of psychology without requiring a significant financial commitment. These courses often let you explore topics like cognition, social behavior, mental health, and developmental psychology while also helping you build practical skills in critical thinking, communication, data analysis, and academic writing.
Why should I enroll in a free psychology course in high school?
Participating in a free psychology course in high school can help you gain early exposure to college academics while building experiences that stand out on college applications. Many of these programs are academically rigorous and designed by prestigious universities, research institutes, or national organizations, allowing you to experience the pace and expectations of higher education before college. As a participant, you may conduct research, collaborate on projects, attend lectures from experts, or learn directly from faculty and graduate students in the field. Some courses also offer certificates, mentorship, or access to student communities that can support your future academic and career goals.
To help you find strong options, we have narrowed down 14 free psychology courses for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 14 options span introductory psychology, social psychology, neuroscience, positive psychology, well-being, mental health careers, and AI in behavioral science, so students with a range of interests within psychology can find a relevant free or low-cost course.
Most courses are fully free to audit, including MIT OpenCourseWare, Open Yale Courses, CMU Open Learning Initiative, Dartmouth's Free Will and Neuroscience, and Harvard's Managing Happiness, while Coursera-hosted options, such as Yale's Science of Well-Being for Teens and UPenn's Positive Psychology Specialization, offer optional paid certificates but are free to access.
Several programs go beyond self-paced courses to offer structured mentorship and academic outputs, including Lumiere Research Scholar Program (independent research paper with a PhD mentor), UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship (two-week clinician-led program), and Veritas AI (AI research project with publication support).
Many courses are self-paced and available year-round, making them flexible options for students who want to explore psychology independently during the school year or over the summer without a fixed schedule.
Structured programs with application deadlines, such as UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship (February), Wolverine Pathways (February 28 to March 20), and Lumiere (rolling cohort deadlines), require advance planning, so students interested in these should research them early in the year.
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, spring, and winter. Available options range from 12 weeks to one year.
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school who demonstrate strong academic performance
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous program tailored for high school students. It offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a wide range of subjects for high school students. The program will pair you with Ph.D. mentors to work one-on-one on a research project. At the end, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose from areas such as psychology, physics, math, computer science, international relations, data science, engineering, chemistry, economics, and more. You can learn more about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; open enrollment year-round
Application deadline: Not applicable; you can start the course anytime.
Eligibility: Open to all learners
This self-guided course introduces you to essential topics in psychology, covering the field's history alongside current theories and issues in areas such as cognition, motivation, and wellness. You will work through 16 units and roughly 59 modules covering topics such as research methods, the brain and nervous system, memory, language, personality, psychological disorders, and treatment. The course uses expository text, videos, animations, and “Learn By Doing” activities paired with self-assessments, so you can practice and check your understanding as you go. The course will take about 14 weeks to complete if you work through roughly one unit per week, though you can move at your own pace. The course is designed for students who want to explore psychology topics independently, without needing a grade or credential at the end.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; deadlines vary by cohort: Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May), and Winter (November). You can find more details and apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholars participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, started and run by Harvard graduate students, offers various online programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, you can choose the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will learn about the fundamentals of AI and data science and work on real-world projects. Another track for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. During this program, you will get a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A key feature of this program is that it offers you the support of an in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school journals. You can check out examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Online
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; open enrollment year-round
Application deadline: Not applicable; you can start the course anytime.
Eligibility: Open to all learners
This free MIT course examines interpersonal and group dynamics, looking at how the thoughts, feelings, and actions of individuals are shaped by, and in turn shape, the beliefs, values, and practices of both large and small groups. As an independent learner, you will have access to lecture notes, readings, and written and activity-based assignments that were originally used alongside in-class demonstrations and small study group discussions. You will also find instructor insights that offer additional context on how the course was taught. This archived course does not come with grading, an instructor, or a certificate of completion, but can be a useful resource if you want to explore social psychology at your own pace.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open access
Dates: Self-paced course
Application deadline: No application required
Eligibility: Open to all
This free psychology course is the recorded version of Paul Bloom's full undergraduate Introduction to Psychology PSYC 110) course at Yale, released through Open Yale Courses under a Creative Commons license. You will have access to more than 20 lectures covering topics such as the fundamentals of the brain, child development, language, perception, emotion, mental illness, and happiness. The course offers free access to lecture videos, syllabus, transcripts, and exam materials, letting you work through the material like a Yale undergraduate would. This free resource can give you genuine exposure to the field of psychology and to how the subject is taught at one of the top universities in the world.
Location: Online
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; open enrollment year-round
Application deadline: Not applicable; you can start the course anytime.
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Taught by Professor John Gabrieli, this course surveys the scientific study of human nature, covering how the mind works and how the brain supports it. You will explore topics like perception, memory, learning, cognition, child development, personality, psychopathology, and social interaction, and consider how this knowledge relates to broader debates about nature versus nurture, consciousness, and free will. The course is designed for independent study and includes a full set of lecture videos, reading assignments from a free online textbook, and “Check Yourself” questions to test your understanding after each session. You will also have access to discussion content that expands on the lectures, additional resources for further study on each topic, and a complete set of exams with solution keys and practice questions. As this is an archived course originally taught in Fall 2011, you will not have access to grading, an instructor, or a certificate of completion.
Location: Virtual via Coursera
Cost: Free to enroll and audit (with free trial); optional paid certificate available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; typical commitment of a week
Application deadline: No application required; open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all, but is designed specifically for teen learners
Created by Yale professor Laurie Santos using insights from the Yale course Psychology and the Good Life, this Coursera course walks you through the science of happiness, stress, motivation, and habit formation. Each week, you will learn through short video lectures and “happiness homework” assignments that require you to review and test scientific findings. You will also learn about how people misjudge what will make them happy, how social comparison affects mental health, and which evidence-based strategies actually move the needle. You will also examine the roles of positive and negative emotions in promoting well-being and the methods for regulating your fight-or-flight response. The audit mode unlocks all videos, readings, and quizzes at no cost, so you only pay if you want a certificate of completion.
Location: Online via Coursera
Cost: Free to audit + free Coursera trial available; an optional paid certificate is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Self-paced; open enrollment year-round
Application deadline: Not applicable; you can enroll and start the course at any time throughout the year.
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Taught by a Dartmouth professor, this course examines free will through the lens of neuroscience. In the first module, you will examine well-known neuroscience experiments, such as those by Libet and Wegner, that have been used to argue against the existence of free will, and consider where those arguments may fall short. The second module covers the anatomy and physiology of neurons, giving you a foundation for understanding how the brain relates to consciousness, attention, and free will. In the final module, you will explore the concept of volitional attention and learn how neural circuits associated with both voluntary and involuntary thought interact. Over roughly nine hours of video lectures, readings, quizzes, and discussion prompts, you will build an understanding of concepts such as neural indeterminism, willpower, and self-transformation. If you choose the paid version of the course, you can earn a shareable certificate to add to your academic record.
Location: Online
Cost: None; offered under the Open Yale Course resource
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Self-paced; open enrollment year-round
Application deadline: Not applicable; you can begin the course whenever you want.
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Taught by Yale Professor Kelly D. Brownell, this course explores how eating shapes human health and well-being, as well as the social and political forces surrounding food. Over 23 recorded lectures, you will study topics like taste preferences, hunger regulation, eating disorders, and the influence of food advertising, alongside broader issues such as sustainable agriculture, genetically modified foods, and global nutrition policy. Several sessions feature guest lecturers who bring additional expertise on topics like the food industry, eating disorders, and nutrition-related law and policy. As this is an archived Yale College course, you will have access to the full video lectures and syllabus, but you will not be able to submit assignments, receive grades, or interact with the original instructor. This can be a useful resource if you want to explore the psychology and politics of food independently, without a grade or certificate.
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round program with Saturday sessions during the academic year + 2–4 weeks of summer programming
Application deadline: February 28 (Southeast Michigan) | March 20 (Grand Rapids)
Eligibility: Students residing within eligible school districts in the 9th grade with an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher; 6th graders who meet location and GPA requirements are also eligible.
University of Michigan’s Wolverine Pathways provides students long-term academic and career preparation through mentorship, enrichment courses, and college access support. Over several years in the program, you will participate in Saturday academic sessions, courses, and summer experiences that expose you to disciplines such as psychology, public health, neuroscience, sociology, and related social science fields. The program also connects you with faculty, professionals, and internship opportunities to explore how psychological research and community-focused careers can create social impact. In addition to academic preparation, the program emphasizes leadership, confidence-building, and professional development, helping you strengthen communication and critical-thinking skills important to psychology-related careers. As the program continues throughout your high school, you will receive sustained guidance on college applications, career exploration, and long-term goal setting.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-week commitment in June; dates vary by year
Application deadline: February
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in the U.S. or on U.S. armed forces bases or diplomatic posts
Although not a typical course, this fully funded online internship offers an educational introduction to a wide range of careers connected to psychology, psychiatry, and mental health care through sessions led by practicing clinicians and researchers. Over the two-week program, you will engage with psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers while exploring topics such as psychotherapy, neuroscience, neuropsychological testing, interventional psychiatry, and community mental health. Before each session, you will complete guided readings drawn from both scientific literature and accessible media sources, helping you build a foundational understanding before discussions with professionals. The program also lets you ask professionals candid questions about their career paths, graduate training, medical school, and day-to-day work in mental health fields.
Location: Virtual (hosted on Coursera)
Cost: Free to audit each course in the specialization; an optional paid certificate is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: No application required
Eligibility: Open to all
This five-part specialization, led by the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, covers the core theories and research in positive psychology, as well as its real-world applications. You will learn through modules covering theoretical foundations, applications and interventions, character and grit, resilience skills, and a capstone project where you design your own well-being plan. In the process, you will explore how well-being skills can be adopted and taught, how to classify character strengths and virtues, and how to use non-cognitive strategies to reduce anxiety. Toward the end, you will develop a positive intervention using one of the explored signature strengths and present it in writing.
Location: Virtual (hosted on edX)
Cost: Free to audit; an optional paid certificate is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; typical commitment of six weeks
Application deadline: No application required
Eligibility: Open to all
Taught by a Harvard professor, the Managing Happiness course draws on social science, neuroscience, philosophy, and positive psychology to help you understand what well-being actually is and how it can be cultivated over a lifetime. The course mixes peer-reviewed research, contemplative traditions, and modern survey tools. The curriculum is designed to offer philosophical and technical insights to challenge your notions about happiness. You will leave with an understanding of concepts and a few actionable insights that you can apply to your daily routine.
Location: Online via Coursera
Cost: Free to audit; an optional paid certificate is also available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No limits on enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; enrollment opens on a rolling basis
Application deadline: Not applicable; you can enroll and start the course whenever a new session begins.
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Taught by Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson, this course covers her research findings in positive psychology, along with practical exercises you can apply right away to your own life. Across six modules, you will explore concepts like the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, the roots of resilience and creativity, and the ratios that best support flourishing and happiness. You will also study positivity resonance, a concept related to shared positive emotions, and practice a lab-tested loving-kindness meditation as part of the coursework. Each module includes video lectures, short readings, optional experiential activities, and a quiz, with the full course taking about 10 hours a week to complete over one week. Interviews woven throughout the modules will help you connect the research to real-world applications in areas like entrepreneurship, wellness, and education. If you choose the paid version of the course, you can also earn a shareable certificate to add to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
What free psychology courses are available for high school students?
Options include self-paced university courses, such as CMU Introduction to Psychology, MIT Social Psychology, Open Yale Introduction to Psychology, and MIT Introduction to Psychology, structured well-being courses, such as Yale's Science of Well-Being for Teens and UNC Positive Psychology, neuroscience-focused courses, such as Dartmouth's Free Will and Neuroscience, and mentored research and internship programs, such as Lumiere, UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship, and Veritas AI.
Which free psychology courses are best for complete beginners?
CMU's Introduction to Psychology, Yale's Science of Well-Being for Teens, and Open Yale Introduction to Psychology with Paul Bloom are all beginner-friendly and require no prior background in psychology or science.
Are there structured programs that go beyond self-paced courses?
Yes, Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs students with PhD mentors to produce an independent research paper, UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship offers two weeks of clinician-led sessions on mental health careers, and Wolverine Pathways provides multi-year academic enrichment with mentorship and psychology-related coursework.
Do any of these courses offer certificates or credentials?
Yale's Science of Well-Being for Teens, Dartmouth's Free Will and Neuroscience, UPenn's Positive Psychology Specialization, Harvard's Managing Happiness, and UNC Positive Psychology all offer optional paid certificates, while free auditing unlocks the full course content.
Which psychology courses connect to real-world career exploration?
UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship introduces students to psychiatry, neuropsychology, and clinical social work through direct interaction with professionals, Wolverine Pathways connects students with faculty and internship opportunities in psychology and public health, and Yale's Psychology, Biology and Politics of Food explores how psychology intersects with public health and policy.
When should I apply to structured psychology programs for high school students?
UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship closes in February, Wolverine Pathways closes February 28 for Southeast Michigan and March 20 for Grand Rapids, and Lumiere Research Scholar Program accepts rolling applications with cohort deadlines throughout the year, so students should begin researching options in the fall.
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 Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-on-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.