15 Math Programs for High School Students in Alaska
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 15
- 10 min read
If you are serious about mathematics and want to challenge yourself beyond your school curriculum, a structured math program can be an excellent place to start. Math programs allow you to dive deeper into reasoning, explore unfamiliar topics, and build confidence in tackling complex problems.
What math programs are available for high schoolers in Alaska?
Alaska offers math programs through universities, statewide STEM initiatives, and academic enrichment organizations that support motivated high school students. These programs may include summer intensives, competition preparation tracks, research exposure, or advanced coursework beyond the standard curriculum.
Choosing a program within Alaska can also make financial sense. Staying local reduces travel and housing expenses while still giving you access to structured academic opportunities. Participating in one of these programs can strengthen your college applications by demonstrating sustained interest in mathematics and a willingness to challenge yourself.
With that, here are 15 math programs for high school students in Alaska!
15 Math Programs for High School Students in Alaska
Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want experience with academic inquiry. You work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to design and complete an independent research project over 12 weeks. You can explore a wide range of fields, including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. Throughout the program, you learn how to develop a research question, conduct analysis, and engage with scholarly sources. By the end of the experience, you will have produced a completed research paper based on your work. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK
Cost: Free (covers tuition, housing, meals)
Application Deadline: March 20
Dates: May 23 – June 27
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders. To qualify, you must have completed MATH 105 (Intermediate Algebra) with a "C" or higher through a University of Alaska campus or scored 30 or higher on the ALEKS Math Placement test.
ANSEP Acceleration Academy Statewide Summer at the University of Alaska Anchorage places you in a university math course for five weeks based on your ALEKS math placement score or prior UAA math coursework. You enroll in one math course selected from MATH 105 Intermediate Algebra, MATH 151 College Algebra for Calculus, MATH 152 Trigonometry, MATH 251 Calculus I, or MATH 252 Calculus II, depending on your placement results. You attend the same lectures as other UAA students, complete identical problem sets, and take the same exams during the summer semester. The program structure is designed for you to advance one full level in math by the session end. Students placed in Calculus I or higher begin classes on May 19 rather than the standard start date. You complete all coursework under the same grading standards as undergraduate students.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Internal to participating schools
Dates: May 18 through June 26
Eligibility: High school students (participants in Upward Bound)
Upward Bound Summer Academy at the University of Alaska Anchorage includes structured classroom mathematics instruction as part of its six-week college-preparatory curriculum. You attend daily math classes addressing algebraic reasoning and quantitative skills required for college-level mathematics. The instruction includes guided lessons on solving linear and quadratic equations, working with polynomials, and graphing functions. You receive supervised study time to practice problem-solving techniques and work through assigned problem sets. Tutoring support is available during scheduled sessions to review mathematical concepts and clarify procedural steps.
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK
Cost: $241/credit (Resident)
Application Deadline: Registrations open Mid Feb
Dates: Typically from May to August
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Math and Natural Sciences Summer Sessions at UAA allow you to enroll in university mathematics courses offered during the summer term. You may register for courses including algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, or statistics, depending on placement results or prerequisites. You attend lectures taught by UAA mathematics faculty and complete graded coursework under undergraduate academic standards. Problem sets, examinations, and evaluation criteria follow the same requirements used for degree-seeking students. You complete all assignments and assessments using the same textbooks and grading rubrics as regular UAA students.
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, and Mat-Su Valley
Cost: $300 registration fee per week (tuition waivers available)
Application Deadline: March (Open enrollment in April)
Dates: Week-long sessions through June and July
Eligibility: Students entering grades 3 through 12 (High school-specific sessions)
UAA Summer Engineering Academy offers week-long day camps for high school students. You apply mathematical concepts to engineering design challenges, including structural analysis, robotics programming, and aerodynamic modeling. You calculate force vectors, torque equations, and material stress limits during hands-on building projects. You use geometric principles and trigonometric functions to design and test mechanical systems. You analyze data from engineering experiments and graph results to evaluate design performance. You work with algebraic equations to program microcontrollers and solve circuit analysis problems. Each week focuses on a specific engineering discipline with corresponding mathematics applications.
Location: Kuspuk School District, Aniak River valley, AK
Cost: Not specified
Application Deadline: Typically, Mid-April
Dates: August 5 – August 17
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 through 12
Kuspuk Math Science Expedition integrates mathematics through field-based data collection along the Aniak River valley. You measure the length and weight of each fish specimen using standardized tools and record the numerical data in a personal workbook at four sampling locations along a 40-mile rafting corridor. You calculate weight-to-length ratios and analyze variations in fish communities across different habitat characteristics. Quantitative reasoning is applied to compare habitat data and interpret ecological patterns from the collected measurements. You use systematic sampling techniques to place baited minnow traps and perform preliminary data analysis during field discussions.
Location: Sealaska Heritage Institute, Southeast Alaska
Cost: Not specified
Application Deadline: Subject to annual announcement
Dates: July 21 – July 30
Eligibility: Alaska high school students
Sealaska Heritage Institute High School STEAM Academy incorporates mathematics into project-based investigations connected to Southeast Alaska communities. You apply measurement techniques and data interpretation within research projects on environmental topics. Quantitative reasoning is used to analyze information gathered during field activities and STEAM career exploration sessions. You work alongside professional researchers and educators to collect numerical data relevant to traditional ecological knowledge studies. The mathematics component involves documenting measurements and performing calculations linked to science and engineering contexts. High school credit may be arranged through participating schools.
Location: Opportunities are available at various lab locations across the country, including in Alaska
Cost: No cost. New participants receive a stipend of $4,000, while returning participants receive $4,500
Application Deadline: November 1 (tentative, based on previous editions of the program)
Dates: The internship lasts eight weeks during the summer, with the option to extend for up to two more weeks
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 9th grade, are at least 16 years old, and are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. Graduating seniors can also participate. Students should check if their chosen lab has any additional requirements or exceptions.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program offers high school students internships in STEM fields at the Department of the Navy laboratories nationwide. For Alaska-based placements, SEAFAC (Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility) at Carderock provides positions focused on acoustics research. You assist with evaluating radiated acoustic noise from naval vessels and use mathematical modeling to analyze data, identifying sound sources. You apply statistical analysis to assess acoustic vulnerabilities and develop noise reduction strategies. Quantitative methods are used to process measurement data and calculate acoustic signatures. Problem-solving skills are applied to engineering challenges involving underwater sound propagation and signal analysis.
Location: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK (field trips to Anchorage, Valdez, Cordova, Chena Hot Springs, Kotzebue)
Cost: Free; advanced session offers work-study stipend
Application Deadline: March 14
Dates: Session 1: May 25 – June 5; Session 2: June 8 – 19
Eligibility: Students from participating Alaska schools (grades 8–12); low-income/first-generation preferred
Upward Bound T3 Alaska Summer Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks incorporates mathematics into technology and environmental projects during summer sessions. Introductory sessions apply mathematics to sensor readings and data collection activities. Advanced sessions use mathematical modeling techniques to analyze climate data and energy usage patterns. You interpret quantitative information gathered during field trips to locations including Anchorage, Valdez, Cordova, Chena Hot Springs, and Kotzebue. The mathematics component involves working with numerical data from environmental monitoring equipment and performing calculations related to energy efficiency measurements.
Location: Fairbanks, AK (program base) and field sites across Alaska (e.g., Alaska Range, Kachemak Bay)
Cost: Free (tuition, food, and transportation covered)
Application Deadline: March 15
Dates: 12-day expeditions between June and August
Eligibility: High school youth ages 16–18 (focusing on female-identifying, transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming students)
Inspiring Girls Expeditions Alaska interweaves field science, art, and backcountry travel into a single wilderness experience. You explore alpine landscapes or coastal ecosystems alongside professional glaciologists, ecologists, and mountaineers. You collect scientific data using specialized field equipment, measure environmental changes, and record your observations in field journals. You apply mathematical concepts to navigate across glaciers using compasses and topographic maps, or calculate tidal shifts during sea kayaking excursions. You engage in daily art activities to document your surroundings and communicate your scientific findings. You work in small teams to measure ice ablation, water flow rates, or ecological transects, depending on expedition type. By the end of the expedition, you present a group science project based on the quantitative and qualitative data you gathered in the field.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 1
Dates: Year-long: Phase I January 1 – March 14; Phase II: March 14 – June 15; Phase III: June 15 – August 31; Phase IV: September 1 – December 31
Eligibility: High school juniors/sophomores (or equivalent home-schooled) with extraordinary math ability
MIT PRIMES USA is a year-long mathematics research program conducted virtually and open to qualified students nationwide, including Alaska. You work on advanced topics in pure or applied mathematics under mentorship from MIT graduate students or faculty. The program begins with intensive reading and a written report, followed by original research and a formal paper. Weekly meetings and independent study require a consistent time commitment. Completed projects are presented at a conference and may be submitted to competitions or journals.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,700
Application Deadline: Typically early January
Dates: January 26 – May 15
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math and Physics offers thirteen advanced mathematics courses throughout the year, awarding Stanford Continuing Studies credit. You may enroll in courses including Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Modern Algebra, Number Theory, or Real Analysis, provided you meet prerequisites. Each course includes problem sets requiring proof writing, computational exercises, and graded assessments aligned with Stanford's undergraduate mathematics curriculum. Instruction is delivered asynchronously with optional live office hours for additional problem-solving support. The curriculum covers theoretical foundations and applications in calculus, abstract algebra, and mathematical analysis.
Location: Stanford, CA (in-person and online options)
Cost: In-person $525 tuition/quarter, Online $500 tuition/quarter
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: March 30 – June 4
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Stanford Math Circle for grades 9 through 12 provides weekly enrichment sessions focused on advanced mathematical problem-solving. Each two-hour session is led by a mathematician or mathematics educator and centers on nonstandard problems extending beyond the typical school curriculum. Sessions cover topics in number theory, combinatorics, geometry, and algebra at levels appropriate for mathematical enrichment. Meetings occur weekly during the academic quarter at either Stanford Historical Main Campus or Stanford Redwood City Campus for in-person sections, or via online platforms for virtual sections.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,275-$1,575 per course (early/regular; multi-course discounts available)
Application Deadline: Early Round: January 14; Regular Round 1: February 18; Regular Round 2: March 25; Late Round 1: April 22; Late Round 2: May 26. Decisions are released within five days of each deadline; earlier applications receive greater tuition savings and a wider course selection
Dates: Three-week sessions (tentatively June 8 – 26, June 29 – July 17, July 20 – August 7)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grades 6–12) interested in math contests like AMC, AIME, USA(J)MO
AwesomeMath Summer Program delivers three-week intensive online courses centered on competition mathematics preparation. You select courses from four subject areas: Algebra, Combinatorics, Geometry, and Number Theory, with each area offered at multiple difficulty levels. Algebra courses cover polynomials, sequences and series, functional equations, inequalities, and complex numbers. Combinatorics courses address counting principles, probability, graph theory, extremal combinatorics, and algorithmic thinking. Geometry courses include Euclidean geometry, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, and transformation techniques. Number Theory courses cover divisibility, modular arithmetic, Diophantine equations, prime factorization, and classical theorems.
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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