11 Free Summer STEM Programs for High Schoolers
Incorporating STEM programs into your university applications distinguishes you as a self-motivated student. By committing to this extra effort today, you’re broadening your understanding and honing valuable skills that can set you up for success in college!
However, some of these programs can be costly. Hence, we’ve curated a list of 11 prestigious and free STEM programs in the summer for ambitious high school students across the U.S.!
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)
Each year, RSI welcomes 100 talented high school students to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. RSI is a pioneering summer science and engineering program that integrates theoretical coursework with research. The program kicks off with a week of STEM classes led by professors. The core of RSI lies in its five-week research internship phase. Here, you will individually pursue projects under the guidance of scientists and researchers, experiencing the entire research cycle. As RSI draws to a close, you will dedicate the final week to preparing your written and oral presentations. We’ve detailed how you can build a strong application to get into RSI here.
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided, $40 application fee with a need-based refund.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: 6 weeks
Selectivity: Extremely High (<5%)
Eligibility: High School Juniors only (U.S. and International)
In 6 weeks, SAMS Scholars undergo a robust curriculum led by faculty. The program combines classroom learning, projects, and interaction with faculty and mentors. Beyond academics, you will make connections with peers nationwide. SAMS unfolds in two parts. Part one, a pre-residential virtual segment, focuses on skill-building. Part two comprises a six-week in-person program, involving full-day courses and meetings and culminating in a symposium. This merit-based initiative bears no cost for scholars. More about this program can be found in our blog here. Note: Scholars selected for SAMS cannot engage in conflicting programs, whether virtual or in-person.
Cost: Fully funded
Location: Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: 6 weeks, June 22 - August 3
Selectivity: High (<10%)
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors from high school and underrepresented communities.
This 10-week summer program caters to rising sophomores and juniors in New York City interested in STEM. It offers experiences across STEM fields such as Bio and Molecular Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Robotics, AI, Computer Science, and Machine Learning. In addition to the practical opportunities, the program covers college-level research, expository writing, scientific methods, professional development, and ethics. The first 6 weeks of the program will be remote workshops after school, and the next 4 weeks will be in-person at NYU from 9 am to 4 pm. We’ve covered more about this program in this article.
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, but participants are responsible for their meals and transportation in the program.
Location: New York University (New York, NY)
Application deadline: March 1
Program Dates: 10 weeks, June 3 — August 9
Selectivity: High (cohort size: roughly 80)
Eligibility: High school students living in New York City in grades 10 and 11 at the time of application.
SIMR offers an 8-week summer internship targeting high school juniors and seniors. This program involves research guided by mentors within Stanford University’s Institutes of Medicine and select departments. Applicants can specialize in one of eight research areas: Immunology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, and Genetics and Genomics. You will be placed in a specific institute aligned with your preferences. SIMR also presents an alternative option, a bioengineering boot camp. Learn more about this program in our deep dive here.
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee with a need-based refund, stipend of $500 provided ($1500 for need-based students).
Location: Stanford University campus (Stanford, CA)
Application deadline: February 24
Program dates: 8 weeks, June 10 - August 1
Selectivity: Extremely High (<3%)
Eligibility: High School Juniors and Seniors. At least 16 years old when the program begins. Living in the U.S. and U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program offers 12 highly qualified high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to engage in research in the subject of their choice. Scholars collaborate with faculty on their research projects. Upon successful completion of their research project report, scholars receive a $750 stipend. Further insights into the program can be found in our blog here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; the program provides a $750 stipend. On-campus meals, room and board, and weekend activities/programming are covered. Travel to and from the program location and personal and medical expenses are not covered.
Location: Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: 7 weeks, June 16 - August 1
Selectivity: Extremely High (<3%)
Eligibility: At least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate in this or next year (U.S. and International)
This summer program offers projects and networking opportunities with women in tech. Options include a 2-week immersion program or a 6-week self-paced experience. The 2-week immersion program introduces beginners to intermediate CS concepts, the iterative design process, and UX design. It provides an introduction to the tech industry. The 6-week Self-Paced Program offers high school students a chance to explore HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for web development. You can also learn about the intermediate applications of Python, focusing on cybersecurity or the new data science courses! We’ve covered all you need to know about this program in our blog here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, $300 need-based grant provided (for eligible students in the U.S.)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Applications open by mid-January. Early acceptance is due by mid-February. The general application deadline is in late March.
Program Dates: 2 weeks, typically in July, but may vary depending on the program.
Selectivity: Open enrollment
Eligibility: All female and non-binary high school students are eligible.
For nearly 60 years, NIDA has been a primary source of scientific knowledge about addiction and a hub for training researchers in drug abuse studies. This program offers valuable training opportunities focusing on the scientific fundamentals of drug abuse. This program encompasses a range of disciplines, including Biochemistry, Bioinformatics & Genomics, Cellular Biology, Epidemiology, Genetics & Genomics, Medical Sciences, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences. Limited positions are available, with selection being highly competitive.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided
Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus (Baltimore, MD)
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks. Typically, in July but may vary depending on the program.
Selectivity: Very High (cohort size: 15-20)
Eligibility: At least 17 years old and high school or college students. U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
YSP offers Massachusetts high school juniors (soon-to-be seniors) research experience within Northeastern University’s Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences departments. This 6-week program includes lab research and exposure to diverse faculty projects, exploring areas like agent-based modeling, model compression algorithms, battery chemistry, and cancer therapies. You will work with professors, engaging in seminars covering engineering disciplines and career counseling sessions. Check out our blog here for more details on this program.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided
Location: Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
Application Dates: Applications will open in January.
Program Dates: 6 weeks, June —August
Selectivity: High (cohort size: 20-25)
Eligibility: High school juniors based in Massachusetts with strong academic credentials and a well-rounded balance of extra-curricular activities.
CS4CS introduces high school students to the basics of cybersecurity and computer science. You will explore diverse topics, including “white-hat” hacking, cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, privacy, and data usage . The coursework involves learning software tools to detect cyber threats, exploring cipher usage in network protection, and developing coding skills. Additionally, you will learn about behavioral science, understanding and mitigating threats like phishing scams and identity theft. Learn more about this program in our review here.
Cost/Stipend: Full scholarship provided
Location: New York University (Manhattan, NY)
Application Deadline: April 14
Program Dates: 3 weeks, July 15 — August 9
Selectivity: High (<10%)
Eligibility: NYC residents who are entering 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in September.
This program introduces students to genetics and genomics research, focusing on laboratory exploration and professional development. Each year, around 40 undergraduates and high school students from across the U.S. join this 10-week program. You will engage in ongoing research guided by mentors. You will craft independent projects, execute plans, analyze data, and deliver presentations showcasing your findings. We’ve covered more on this program in our blog here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend of $6,500, room, board, and travel included.
Location: The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME)
Application Deadline: January 29
Program Dates: 10 weeks from June — August
Selectivity: High (cohort size: 40)
Eligibility: At the time of participation in the program, must have completed grade 12, be at least 18 years old, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
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 where students work 1–1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: NIDA logo