14 Ivy League STEM Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
MD: Discover 14 prestigious Ivy League STEM programs designed for high school students. Explore opportunities to enhance your skills and academic journey today.
Admission to an Ivy League institution is a dream come true for any high schooler serious about an education in STEM, but you don’t need to wait for college to achieve this. Participating in specialized programs hosted by Ivy League universities is a great option, as these experiences provide exposure to college-level academics and advanced research. These programs teach practical skills, provide industry exposure, and help you build valuable connections.
Why should I participate in an Ivy League STEM program in high school?
If you participate in an Ivy League-affiliated STEM program, you gain exposure to the academic expectations and learning environment of a highly selective institution. Because these programs often use competitive admissions, college admissions officers can better understand your level of preparation and interest in STEM. The coursework or projects you complete provide concrete experiences you can reference in your college essays and interviews. These programs may also offer access to faculty, research facilities, or recommendation writers who can speak to your performance in a rigorous academic setting.
In this blog, we have curated a list of 14 top Ivy League STEM programs for high school students. We’ve prioritized intellectually rigorous options that offer solid networking opportunities. We’ve tried to identify programs that are fully funded (or at least offer scholarships) and have a low acceptance rate.
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Varies by individual research projects, but requires at least 5 weeks of commitment during the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students must be 16+ by June 15 and enrolled in a local NJ high school.
This full-time, immersive research experience allows you to work directly within Princeton University’s cutting-edge laboratories. Unlike typical summer camps, the LLP treats high schoolers as aspiring scientists, embedding them in ongoing research projects alongside faculty and graduate students. You will learn and apply skills in various STEM subjects, often at the intersection of multiple fields, depending on the research project you’re assigned to. You work alongside professional researchers, closely supervised by Princeton faculty. It is strictly for research and does not include social activities or housing, emphasizing its focus on academic rigor. This is a quintessential Ivy League STEM program for high school students dedicated to pure science.
Location: New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, around 100 students accepted per year, in workshops with class sizes of 16 students or less.
Dates: July 6 – 10 for week 1, July 13 – 17 for week 2
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
This program offers intensive two-week STEM workshops exclusively for students within the Yale Pathways to Science network. Scholars select from a variety of tracks designed and taught by Yale faculty and graduate students, covering topics ranging from immunology to engineering. The hands-on nature of the workshops ensures that you will actively engage with scientific concepts rather than just listening to lectures. By granting access to Yale's world-class facilities, this program provides a true collegiate experience. The short time commitment makes this a valuable option for the Ivy experience without the commitment to an intensive summer.
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free. You can earn a stipend of $17/hour at 25 hours/week.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 6 – August 13
Application Deadline: January 12 for Foundations of Research, March 1 for Center for Smart Streetscapes.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors for Foundations of Research. The Center for Smart Streetscapes requires rising high school seniors from Harlem and the surrounding area.
Columbia University’s ENG program is a six-week summer research experience designed to develop academic and professional skills for high schoolers serious about STEM research. You will choose one of two tracks, Foundations of Research or Center for Smart Streetscapes, and be matched with research mentors at Columbia Engineering working on projects. Foundations of Research focuses on a full research experience in subjects like Biomedical, Computer Science, Environmental Engineering, and more, while the Center for Smart Streetscapes has projects at the intersection of engineering and social science, investigating how technology can shape urban life. The program also emphasizes professional development, offering workshops on scientific communication and college preparation alongside the technical work.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: Applications will open early January
Eligibility: Rising 10th/11th graders in Philadelphia public/private/charter/Catholic schools with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, the SMP is a four-week college preparatory program to introduce local high schoolers to careers in their fields of interest. You will gain first-hand exposure to real STEM work in one of Penn’s professional schools - the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Perelman School of Medicine, or the Penn School of Nursing. The curriculum combines hands-on learning with SAT prep and financial literacy workshops, ensuring a holistic approach to college readiness. This program serves as a powerful pipeline for local students to access Ivy League resources.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Free. One of the components is a paid internship.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very low acceptance rate, extremely limited spots available
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors with a 2.7 GPA residing in Boston/Cambridge. Must be at least 16 years old and have completed algebra, biology, and chemistry by program start.
Project Success is a paid summer internship program that places you in research environments at Harvard Medical School and its affiliated laboratories. The program offers mentorship from Harvard scientists and researchers, and technical training in biomedical sciences. You’ll attend seminars, receive career counseling, and complete a mentored research project. The combination of a stipend, rigorous academics, and site visits makes this a highly sought-after opportunity. It remains a standout Ivy League STEM program for high school students keen on a career in the medical field.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Free; this is a paid internship.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies by mentor, can range from 7 to 11 weeks in the summer.
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors residing/attending school in Massachusetts, aged 16 years or older.
The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) program introduces high school students to cancer research through a holistic environment. You will be paired with a mentor and placed in a cancer research laboratory across seven Harvard-affiliated institutions, where you will learn to conduct experiments and analyze scientific literature. The program also features a Journal Club to improve scientific literacy, professional development workshops, research seminars, and networking events. It is a paid internship offering a deep dive into oncology that few other programs can match.
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 9 – 30
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders from low-income households
Princeton AI4ALL is a three-week residential camp focused on artificial intelligence and its ethical implications. Co-hosted by Princeton University, this program aims to diversify the field of AI by training students who are often underrepresented in computer science. You will get to attend lectures by Princeton faculty, work on group research projects using real-world data, and engage in personal growth workshops. Notably, the program is completely free, with tuition, accommodation, and meals all being fully funded, removing financial barriers for talented students. This accessibility cements its status as a top Ivy League STEM program for high school students.
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – 31 for the summer session
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: NY state residents in grades 7-12 who are economically disadvantaged or would greatly benefit from academic enrichment or support in the STEM areas. You can check the criteria in greater detail here.
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) at Columbia is a rigorous academic program for students interested in medicine and related STEM fields. While it runs during the academic year, it also has a summer session. The curriculum covers college-level science and math courses, ranging from Anatomy and Biochemistry to Physics and Statistics. S-PREP provides long-term support rather than just a single summer experience. Attending S-PREP also makes you eligible to apply for deep research programs like BRAINYAC and YES in THE HEIGHTS.
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th grade students attending an NYCDOE public or charter high school and able to demonstrate educational and/or economic disadvantage.
The HK Maker Lab is an intensive summer program that focuses on solving health problems through engineering design. You will work with a Columbia mentor to prototype biomedical devices and develop business plans, mirroring the work of professional biotech firms. The curriculum provides a hands-on crash course in fabrication techniques and the application of scientific principles to create functional solutions. Successful completion of the program makes you eligible for paid internships in research labs the following summer! This unique structure makes it a premier Ivy League STEM program for high school students interested in engineering and entrepreneurship.
Location: Palisades, NY (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very small cohort
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies every year; keep an eye on the website
Eligibility: High school students.
Hosted by Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, this six-week program allows you to conduct field research in a multi-tiered team. You will get to conduct ecological and environmental studies in the Hudson River Piermont Marsh, often getting "muddy boots" experience while collecting data. It places you in a team alongside undergraduate mentors, a teacher contact, and a Lamont researcher. You are treated as an early-career scientist and expected to read science journal articles, refine sampling protocols, perform laboratory experiments, and present your work at an end-of-summer symposium. By combining outdoor field work with lab analysis, it offers a unique hands-on alternative to traditional classroom-based STEM programs.
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer, exact dates vary by project
Application Deadline: October 31
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-grade high schoolers who are New York City residents and enrolled in one of the Zuckerman Institute partner programs – S-PREP, BioBus, Lang Youth Medical, Columbia Secondary School, or Double Discovery Center.
The Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) provides a valuable opportunity in neuroscience research for high schoolers. Mentored by Columbia neuroscientists, you will spend the summer working in a lab, learning how to handle specimens and interpret complex data. You will learn scientific communication, the process of laboratory research to discovery, and key research skills. This is an accessible and prestigious option for aspiring neuroscientists.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 4 consecutive Saturdays in spring – February 28, March 7, 14, and 21
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 in Philadelphia area schools.
PARS is a workshop-based program run by the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. It offers an introduction to reproductive biology through lectures, activities, and career panels led by clinicians and researchers. While shorter in duration than some internships, it serves as a stepping stone for high schoolers interested in medical studies, letting you learn about subjects like female reproductive anatomy and physiology, fertilization, embryo development, stem cells, genetics, epigenetics, and oncofertility without committing to a full term.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 4 consecutive Saturdays in spring – February 28, March 7, 14, and 21
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 in Philadelphia public or charter schools.
Similar to PARS, the PASH program engages students in the science of dermatology and skin biology. You will learn about skin diseases, diagnostic techniques, and laboratory research methods from Penn dermatologists and scientists. The program is free of charge and aims to reach students who might not otherwise have access to medical education. It remains a unique, specialty-focused option if you’re interested in a career in dermatology. Through PASH, you may also be eligible for a paid summer internship with Penn Dermatology!
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 24 – August 14
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ with verifiable STEM experience.
The Meyer Cancer Center and Englander Institute for Precision Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine partner to offer this comprehensive 7-week internship. Here, you will engage in mentored research related to cancer and precision medicine, gaining skills in both wet lab techniques and computational biology. The program is fully funded and includes a rigorous schedule of lab work, lectures, and professional development sessions. You’ll learn about advanced topics such as cancer biology, precision medicine, cancer epidemiology, health disparities, academic research, and computational biomedicine, and even have the opportunity to draft a 2-page research paper about your work using NIH guidelines. It is an excellent research-focused opportunity for high schoolers serious about oncology.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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.
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