15 Free STEM Programs for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
- Stephen Turban
- 27 minutes ago
- 10 min read
If you are looking for a way to learn beyond the classroom, structured STEM programs can be a great next step. STEM programs can help you explore advanced topics in science, engineering, math, and tech that are rarely covered in standard high school curricula. You will also connect with peers from diverse backgrounds, as well as mentors who are STEM professors and professionals. Many selective, rigorous STEM programs today offer free participation, making them accessible options to explore.
Why should you attend a program in New York City?
New York City is home to research centers, universities, and organizations that offer various STEM-focused learning opportunities to high school students at no cost. Here, you will find opportunities to work with new technologies on meaningful projects and discover if a certain STEM discipline aligns with your long-term goals. Whether you live in the city or are visiting, NYC’s programs provide an exciting environment to learn and build your profile.
To help you find the right option, we have put together a list of 15 free STEM programs for high school students in NYC.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2%; 20 interns/year
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application deadline: February 6; applications open on December 1.
Eligibility: High school juniors, ages 14 and up, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in science; applicants must live within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, either in NY, NJ, or CT
Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Summer Student Program is an eight-week mentored research experience for high school juniors interested in biomedical sciences. During the program, you will work in a Memorial Sloan Kettering research lab on a mentor-guided project. The program’s research areas span various STEM fields, including chemistry, computer science, engineering, optics, genomics, and chemical biology. The program is designed to help you develop research skills and learn from experts through professional development events, lab meetings, and exposure to translational medicine. At the end of the program, you will present your research work at a poster session.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts offered in the spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement and financial hardship
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.
Location: Genspace, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipends of $2,000 available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Spring session: February 25 – May 21 + Summer session: July 6 – August 14 (six-month program)
Application deadline: January 5; applications open on November 1.
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students who are 16 or older
Biorocket is a six-month research internship designed for NYC public and charter high school students looking for exposure to biology research. As an intern, you will explore wet-lab techniques and genetic engineering fundamentals, and then work with scientist mentors to design and complete a research project. The program combines lab training with career guidance, science communication workshops, improv sessions, and field trips to research labs and biotech companies. At the end of the program, you will share your project with peers and family members.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; 100% financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Program cohorts run all year for 10 – 15 weeks; dates vary by program and cohort you choose.Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship typically accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI 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. 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: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application deadline: January 2
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Rockefeller University’s SSRP is a competitive, team-based STEM research experience. Over seven weeks, you will join a group of peers and work full-time on a mentored laboratory project guided by scientific trainees from the Tri-Institutions (Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC). The curriculum blends hands-on experimentation and research work with elective courses, guest lectures, workshops, networking events, and social activities. You will begin by learning research techniques and norms, then develop and investigate your own research questions, with the summer experience culminating in a formal poster presentation.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are NYC residents attending NYC schools
ARISE is a free 10-week summer research program designed to help high schoolers engage in hands-on STEM inquiry in lab environments. You will begin with four weeks of foundational training, learning about laboratory safety, scientific writing, and research methodologies. In the next six weeks, you will be placed in one of 80+ NYU research labs, where you will work alongside faculty and graduate mentors on STEM research projects. You’ll gain approximately 120 hours of lab experience while developing public speaking, technical, and analytical skills. You will present your work at the end of the program.
Location: Mercy University Westchester Campus, Dobbs Ferry, NY (20 miles from NYC)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $800 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 2
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11 with a B or better grade
The M3U program offers academically gifted, economically disadvantaged high school students the opportunity to dive into mathematical modeling during the summer. Here, you will spend around four weeks working on real-world math problems drawn from physical, natural, and environmental sciences and exploring the full modeling process via classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory work, and software-based analysis. The program supplements academic training with visits to research centers and museums, exposure to research methodologies, and discussions of ethical issues in science. You will also conduct experiments, write reports, engage in panel discussions and debates, and work and present a final modeling project.
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 7; free spring and fall programs also available
Application deadline: May 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 12
The CCNY STEM Institute offers a fully funded hands-on STEAM experience for middle and high school students during the summer. Here, you will dive into various science, arts, math, engineering, and tech topics, from calculus to rocketry, engage in real-world problem-solving, and work on research projects. Additionally, the program offers courses in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and writing. The program also focuses on college and career skill development as well as test prep. At the end of the program, you will present your research work at a poster symposium.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students currently in 10th or 11th grade who are NYC, NJ, or Nassau County residents
CS4CS is a fully funded summer program that is designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of cybersecurity and computer science. Over four weeks, you will learn key concepts such as ethical (“white-hat”) hacking, cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, privacy, and data protection. You will also practice coding and programming during the program. Additionally, CS4CS includes hands-on cybersecurity labs, real-world security analysis, and theater-based communication workshops designed to strengthen presentation and collaboration skills.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (under 1.5 hours away from NYC)
Cost/Stipend: No fees; an optional housing and dining fee of ~$2,460 is applicable to residential participants. A stipend is awarded at the end of the program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~5% applicants selected/year
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens/
The Simons Summer Research Program is a selective program that matches you with Stony Brook University faculty mentors to engage in authentic, team-based scientific research. You will join an active research group, assume responsibility for a project, and receive training in laboratory techniques and scientific methodology. Throughout the program, you will attend weekly faculty research talks, workshops, tours, and special events designed to deepen your exposure to university-level research. You will present your research findings at a symposium at the end of the program.
Location: The New York Historical Society, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Podcasting: February 16 – 20 | Web Design: April 6 – 10
Application deadline: Podcasting: January 11 | Web Design: March 1
Eligibility: High school students who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area
Tech Scholars is a series of free digital humanities programs offered year-round in the New York Historical Society’s Tech Commons. These programs focus on student-led creation of digital projects, including podcasts, websites, and digital games, while integrating research on artists, historical figures, and events that resonate with youth. You will collaborate with peers and develop digital media and storytelling skills. You will also meet with museum and tech professionals to dive into fields like history, digital humanities, and technology.
Location: Columbia University (SHAPE) & HypotheKids, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application deadline: December 5
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders attending NYC public or charter high schools
Hk Maker Lab is a free, two-phase engineering design program for NYC high school students. The program combines Columbia Engineering’s SHAPE coursework with a hands-on health equity hackathon. Over the first three weeks, you will take SHAPE courses such as Biomedical Engineering or Innovation & Design, learning essential engineering principles and gaining structured instruction from Columbia faculty. In the final two weeks, you will design digital media solutions, such as apps or websites, that address real-world health disparities. On completing the program, you will be eligible to apply to New York Bioforce, a paid training and internship program, the next year.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 80 students selected/year
Dates: July 5 – 25
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who are at least 16 and U.S citizens/permanent residents
The Simons‑NYU Science Explorations Program is a residential program designed for students interested in exploring neural science, chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology. During the three-week program, you will take on introductory college-level chemistry coursework and engage in laboratory research. You will also attend lab sessions and workshops that cover the fundamentals of all five disciplines. The free program can help you build lab skills and gain exposure to college-level academics. The program also offers opportunities to engage in social activities in NYC.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Cohort 1: July 6 – August 7 | Cohort 2: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students, from current 9th graders to 11th graders, ages 15 and up, who are NYC residents
NYU’s ieSoSC is a tuition-free, five-week STEM program at NYU Tandon designed to help high schoolers explore engineering, computer science, and urban innovation through the lens of smart city technologies. The ieSoSC introduces concepts like design thinking, entrepreneurship, prototyping, and Internet of Things (IoT) systems and allows you to practice what you learn. As a participant, you willattend daily hands-on classes taught by NYU faculty and graduate instructors and learn how to work with tools, software, and materials to research and design smart-city solutions and prototypes. You will also attend communication-based theater workshops to build public speaking skills.
Location: RISE, Far Rockaway, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; up to $1,200 stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June – mid-August; exact dates TBA
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: 9th–11th grade NYC students who live in NYC and attend school in or near the Rockaway peninsula
Environmentor is an in-person environmental science research mentorship program designed to help high school students engage in authentic field and lab research focused on the Rockaway shoreline and Jamaica Bay ecosystem. Over the course of the summer, you will work closely with scientists from local universities and research institutions to design and carry out environmental research projects. You will also learn about water safety and CPR, and engage in kayaking, biking, and surfing during the program. As a participant, you will contribute to RISE weekend community service events, earning service hours in the process.
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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