12 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Texas
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a high school student in Texas looking to make the most of your summer, free academic programs are a great way to explore your interests without any financial burden. These programs allow you to explore college-level academics, assist in labs, work on projects, and receive mentorship from experienced mentors. Whether you're aiming for a future in medicine, engineering, or public service, these opportunities are designed to give you a head start, without the hefty price tag.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas offers a variety of free summer programs hosted by universities, hospitals, and organizations such as Texas Tech University and the University of Texas. You can conduct biomedical research, build engineering prototypes, analyze NASA satellite data, or even explore careers in business, law, and public services. From exploring cancer biology to interpreting NASA data, these summer experiences expose you to practical applications of STEM, business, law, and more, often guided by industry experts and university faculty.
To help you get started, we have 12 free summer programs for high school students in Texas.
If you are looking for STEM summer research programs in Texas, check out our blog here.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free; students are paid a $750 stipend
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents and are at least 17 years of age
Hosted by Texas Tech University, the Clark Scholars Program is a highly selective, seven-week residential research opportunity for exceptional high school juniors and seniors. Participants engage in intensive, hands-on research under the mentorship of Texas Tech faculty across a wide range of academic fields, including STEM, humanities, and social sciences. Each scholar works on an original research project and presents their findings at the program’s conclusion. Scholars also attend seminars, field trips, and enrichment activities throughout the summer. Participants receive a $750 stipend, and all program costs, including housing, meals, and materials, are fully covered.
Location: Virtual
Cost: The program is fully funded
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). You can apply here.
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.
Location: Multiple research centers across the U.S., including AFWERX Texas
Cost: Fully funded; stipend of $501.60–$805.60/week provided
Dates: ~10 weeks, June–August (exact dates vary by site)
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ who are U.S. citizens and have a strong academic background in STEM. Must be available full-time and able to relocate to the worksite.
The AFRL Scholars Program offers a highly competitive, stipend-supported summer research opportunity for advanced high school students passionate about STEM. Interns work full-time alongside Air Force scientists and engineers on advanced research in areas such as aerospace, cybersecurity, and space technologies. You will gain hands-on experience contributing to real-world projects and present your findings at the end of the internship. Each intern is matched with a mentor, and the program includes activities like lab safety training, data analysis, and literature reviews. High school participants are paid a weekly stipend and may be eligible for placements at multiple AFRL centers.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts 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.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free (includes stipend)
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Open to current Texas high school seniors who will be 18 years old by program start. Students must plan to attend college in the fall and show interest in allied health careers. No prior lab experience required.
Hosted by MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, this 10-week immersive biomedical research program is open exclusively to graduating seniors from Texas high schools. Students selected for the program work full-time in a biomedical research lab, guided by MD Anderson scientists, and gain firsthand exposure to allied health careers and research methodology. The experience includes faculty seminars, abstract and poster competitions, and a final presentation. You’ll gain research lab experience, mentorship, and a stipend, with all program costs covered. The program is part of MD Anderson’s School of Health Professions and emphasizes pathways into allied health careers.
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA): June 1 – June 6 | Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders: June 8 – June 12 | DYNAMC: June 22 – June 27
Application Deadline: Subiendo: January 31 | MFEA & DYNAMC: March 1
Eligibility: Open to current high school sophomores and juniors. Only Texas juniors are eligible for Subiendo. A strong academic record and demonstrated interest in business or leadership are recommended.
Hosted by the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin, this series of three fully funded summer programs allows high school students an opportunity to explore business and leadership on a college campus. You can apply to one of three tracks: the McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA), Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders, or DYNAMC (Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers). Each program includes hands-on workshops, mentorship from UT student leaders, industry engagement, and a final case competition. You’ll live on campus, work closely with faculty and corporate representatives, and explore career paths in business. These programs also place strong emphasis on leadership development, especially for first-generation students and those who’ve overcome economic or social hardship.
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: Multi-summer program; summer research begins after freshman year
Application Deadline: Nominations are typically required during freshman year (check current school year cycle)
Eligibility: Open to high school freshmen in San Antonio area schools. Students must be nominated by their school and show a strong interest and ability in science.
Hosted by UT Health San Antonio, the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy (VBRA) offers a multi-summer research-intensive experience for high-achieving high school students in the San Antonio area. Students are nominated in their freshman year and, once selected, begin a rigorous biomedical training track that includes laboratory research, mentorship from professional scientists, and presentation opportunities at conferences. Participants conduct hypothesis-driven research on real medical problems, and some even travel to present findings nationally. The program is long-term, fully funded, and designed to support students from under-resourced schools through college preparation and lab mentorship.
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: Free; includes tuition, housing, and meals. Travel scholarships are available for students with financial need.
Dates: May 31 – June 6
Application Deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Open to students entering 11th or 12th grade
Hosted by the University of Texas at Austin, the Academy for Women is a free, week-long residential program designed to inspire high school girls to pursue careers in computer science and technology. As participants, you will explore coding through hands-on projects with Arduino microcontrollers, learn C++ programming, and engage in workshops on project management, women in tech careers, and the college application process. You will stay on campus, interact with UT faculty and mentors, and present your work in a showcase. The program fosters technical skills, mentorship, and confidence-building in a supportive environment at no cost to students.
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: 3-week program in June–July (exact dates vary by year)
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Open to 10th and 11th-grade students enrolled in high schools in the Houston area. No prior programming experience required.
Offered by the Office of STEM Engagement at Rice University, this grant-funded summer program introduces Houston-area high school students to biomedical engineering and digital health research. Students use tools like pulse oximeters, GPS devices, and accelerometers to build digital prototypes modeled after current healthcare innovations. Over three weeks, participants work in Rice’s engineering labs under the guidance of faculty, educators, and graduate mentors, while also learning the fundamentals of physics, computer science, and circuitry.
The program is fully funded and aims to expand access to research experiences for underrepresented students in Houston.
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: Free; includes tuition, housing, and meals
Dates: Standard Edition: July 6 – July 12 | Machine Learning Edition: July 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Open to students entering 11th and 12th grade. All skill levels welcome. Travel scholarships are available for those with financial need.
The Academy for All at UT Austin’s Department of Computer Science is a free, week-long residential program that introduces high school students to computer science through hands-on coding, mentorship, and exposure to university life. You can choose between two tracks - the Standard Edition (C++ and Arduino) or the Machine Learning Edition (Python and ML concepts). You will live in campus dorms, attend workshops with UT faculty and industry professionals, and develop tech projects in a supportive and inclusive environment. The program is tuition-free and includes meals, housing, and access to travel scholarships for students with financial need.
Location: Hosted at five Texas universities: UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, University of Houston, and Texas Tech University
Cost: Free
Dates: 5-week program during summer (exact dates vary by site)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors in Texas. Selection is based on academic performance, recommendations, and interest in science.
Sponsored by the Welch Foundation, this five-week residential summer research program allows high school students to conduct original chemistry research alongside professional academic scientists at top Texas universities. Students live on campus and are matched with a faculty mentor, conducting experiments and gaining hands-on experience in areas such as biochemistry, materials science, or molecular modeling. The program fosters critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and prepares you for college-level research environments. All program expenses are covered, including housing, meals, and research materials, making it one of Texas’s most prestigious free summer science opportunities.
Location: Hosted by UT Austin, in collaboration with NASA scientists and engineers.
Cost: Free; includes housing, meals, local transport, and some travel scholarships available
Dates: June–July; online modules + in-person July 6–19; final symposium July 21–22
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising juniors and seniors) with strong academic performance and STEM interest.
Hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research in partnership with NASA, the SEES Internship is a nationally competitive STEM research program for high school students. Interns learn to analyze NASA satellite data and work on cutting-edge research projects in fields like remote sensing, geophysics, climate science, astronomy, and planetary exploration. The program combines online training and mentorship with a two-week in-person residential experience at UT Austin, including fieldwork and lab exposure. Interns collaborate with NASA scientists and engineers and present their findings at a final science symposium, gaining real-world research experience and technical skills in programming, data visualization, and Earth systems.
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 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.
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