11 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Chicago

If you’re a high school student in Chicago looking to spend a productive summer building your skills, you should consider participating in a summer program. Many institutions in Chicago offer free summer programs for high school students in business, STEM, art, architecture, leadership, and more. These programs offer a valuable opportunity to prepare for college beyond textbook learning. 

Whether you have a particular goal in mind or want to explore new concepts in your chosen field, participating in a summer program will demonstrate your proactive approach to learning. Fully funded programs can add a prestigious activity to your college applications! Beyond academics, these programs can also help you explore potential career paths and guide you in your future endeavors. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

Here are 11 of the best free summer programs for high school students in Chicago! 

1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation

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. You can apply here! This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. 

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 currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)

2. UChicago’s Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Program 

Subject Areas: STEM fields

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students who are at least 15 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school are eligible. 

Application Deadline: March 5

Dates: July 21 - July 26

Cost: Free

The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars program at the University of Chicago is an opportunity for high school students interested in STEM. This program combines a virtual mathematics preparatory course and a one-week residential experience on the UChicago campus. On campus, you’ll participate in classes, tours, and lectures designed to expose you to various STEM disciplines. You will hear from UChicago faculty and alumni in molecular engineering, mathematics, computer science, and other fields. You will also visit research facilities like Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, which will enhance your understanding of careers in science and engineering.

3. UChicago’s Voltage Scholars Program

Subject Areas: Economics (microeconomics & macroeconomics) - poverty, climate change, trade, and healthcare inequities.

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Current 10th-grade students who are at least 14 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school are eligible.

Application Deadline: March 5

Dates: June 9 - June 11

Cost: Free

The Voltage Scholars program is a three-day, two-night program that introduces students to the concepts of macroeconomics and microeconomics. It allows you to learn about selective college admissions from UChicago admissions counselors. This program aims to gather a broader range of perspectives and backgrounds to widen the field’s ability to contribute to public policy and society. You will attend lectures about UChicago’s distinctive approach to economics. Voltage Scholars get to network with current college students since the program is run alongside the Becker Freidman Institute’s Expanding Diversity in Economics undergraduate program.

4. Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) Digital Scholars Program

Subject Areas: Computer Science, data science, electrical and computer engineering, and mobile app development.

Location: Discovery Partners Institute, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Students who will be entering 11th or 12th grade or their first year of college at a 2 or 4-year Illinois institution in the Fall are eligible to apply.

Application Deadline: May 2

Dates: June 24 - August 2

Cost: Free

The DPI Digital Scholars program allows high school students to explore various STEM subjects. Through this program, you will work alongside university researchers and industry experts on projects in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to sustainability. You’ll have the option to take a course in computer science, data science, electrical and computer engineering, or mobile app development. By exposing you to cutting-edge research and development, the program helps you develop critical skills for the workforce. You’ll also get to build foundational college and career readiness skills and gain access to Chicago’s tech community with daily speakers and weekly workshops.

5. Chicago Architecture Center Teen Fellows Program

Subject Areas: Architecture and design

Location: Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending high school in Chicago. 

Application Deadline: March 31

Dates: This program runs for three semesters - Summer (6 weeks), Fall (7 hours for 16 Saturdays), and Spring (7 hours for 16 Saturdays). The 6-week summer program starts in May (the exact dates are not specified).

Cost: Free

CAC’s Teen Fellows program allows youth from the city of Chicago to build foundational architecture skills. As a participant, you will attend college courses at Harold Washington College and earn dual credits with CPS and City Colleges of Chicago. You will work with physical models using various materials, develop design projects focused on local challenges, and build a personal portfolio. You’ll also develop digital designs using software such as Sketch-up, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Revit, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop; visit architecture firms and architecturally significant sites; and get a chance to participate in a paid summer internship at a local architecture or design firm. You’ll earn a stipend to cover personal expenses like lunch and transportation.

6. UChicago Medicine’s SHE in Oncology

Subject Areas: Science and medicine

Location: Virtual

Eligibility: Applicants must be rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors at the start of the program.

Application Deadline: March 4

Dates: SHE is a two-week, part-time program that typically runs the second half of July (Exact dates TBA).

Cost: Free

SHE (Summer Healthcare Experience) in Oncology is a virtual, multi-institutional program for high school students interested in science and medicine. Its mission is to empower individuals who identify as women and otherwise underrepresented in the sciences to enter biomedical career pathways, specifically within the field of cancer. Over two weeks, you’ll collaborate on a genetics-based research project and a patient case study project to explore key facets of cancer science and care. You will also participate in daily faculty lectures, panel discussions, and skill-building workshops. You’ll also receive a $500 taxable stipend on completion of the program.

7. Chicago Botanic Garden’s Science Career Continuum

Subject Areas: Science, environmental studies, botany, ecology.

Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: All applicants must be enrolled in a Chicago Public School. Science First applicants must be high school freshmen or sophomores; College First applicants must be high school sophomores or juniors. 

Application Deadline: May 20 

Dates: Science First - July 15 – August 9; College First - June 17 – August 9 (includes the Orientation)

Cost: Free; participants may earn a stipend for the College First Program

The Chicago Botanic Garden offers two opportunities for high school students interested in environmental and conservation challenges. Science First is a learning opportunity to see the Garden's 385 acres of plants and nature. Each summer, approximately 40 students from Chicago Public Schools travel to the Garden and spend four weeks completing hands-on activities. College First is a paid internship program for Chicago Public High School students that entails career mentorship, field ecology and conservation science, and college prep and assistance. Each summer, approximately 20 students from Chicago Public Schools travel to the Garden and spend seven weeks exploring science careers. You can find out more details about Science First here and College First here! 

8. UChicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart

Subject Areas: Biophysics, biochemistry, immunology, and pharmacology.

Location: University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, at least 16 years of age at the time of application.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.

Dates: The program runs from the second full week of June through the first week of August for 8 weeks

Cost: Free

ResearcHStart allows high school students to engage in cutting-edge cancer research alongside professionals. The program is for students interested in pursuing a career in medical research, providing them with a foundation in scientific techniques and methodologies. By participating in the ResearcHStart program, you’ll develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities crucial for your future academic and professional endeavors. You will have the chance to work in some of the most advanced labs at UChicago Medicine, and you’ll receive a taxable stipend of $3,000 after the program.

9. UChicago’s Young Innovators Climate & Energy Program

Subject Areas: Environmental science, climate & energy policy, sustainability.

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 15 years of age and be current high school juniors enrolled in a high school in the U.S.

Application Deadline: March 5

Dates: July 28 - August 2

Cost: Free

This one-week residential program offers talented students an introduction to climate and energy policy careers. Led by experts from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), the Becker Friedman Institute, and the Climate Impact Lab, the program offers discussions, lectures, and collaborative projects. You will participate in activities in Chicago, including a tour and discussion panel with industry professionals at Invenergy's Chicago headquarters. Invenergy team members will speak about their experience working in different parts of the industry and provide examples of what you can do with a STEM degree.

10. UChicago’s Emerging Rural Leaders I Program

Subject Areas: Civic leadership, entrepreneurship, business, professional development. 

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students who are at least 14 years old and attend a rural or small-town high school within the U.S.

Application Deadline: March 5

Dates: July 28 - August 2 

Cost: Free

The Emerging Rural Leaders I program is an opportunity for rural and small-town students to build leadership skills and engage in civic discourse. Readings, lectures, discussions, and projects are offered along with lessons from faculty in the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse, the Booth School of Business, and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship. As a participant, you will build skills in civic leadership and deliberation, explore local opportunities for entrepreneurship by creating and pitching community-based business plans, and learn about the highly selective admissions process.

11. UChicago’s Quantum Quickstart Program

Subject Areas: Quantum Mechanics

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Eligibility: Current 9th or 10th grade students who are at least 14 years old and enrolled in an Illinois high school.

Application Deadline: March 5

Dates: July 28 - August 2 

Cost: Free

In this one-week program, high school students are exposed to the counterintuitive quantum world. You will participate in lectures with faculty in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, theoretical discussions, and tours of world-class lab facilities. As a participant, you will see the inner workings of quantum computers, learn about quantum engineering’s rollout to the consumer market, and even play quantum-adapted board games to understand the concept of entanglement. Additionally, you will get to attend sessions to prepare for future careers in STEM and meet with UChicago admissions counselors to learn about highly selective college admissions.

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.

Image Source: UChicago logo