15 Math Programs for High School Students in Illinois
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 15
- 10 min read
Many fields that students pursue later in college - engineering, computer science, economics, physics, and data science- depend heavily on mathematics. Exploring math more seriously during high school can help you understand whether you enjoy the kind of problem-solving these fields require.
Math programs give students the chance to step into that deeper side of the subject. You might explore proof-based thinking, mathematical puzzles, or real-world applications that connect math to science and technology. Working alongside other motivated students often makes the process more engaging.
Why should I do a math program in high school?
Illinois is home to several universities and academic institutions that run programs designed specifically for high school students interested in mathematics. These programs often include workshops, lectures, and collaborative problem-solving sessions that expose students to more advanced mathematical thinking. Participating in a program like this can also strengthen your college applications by showing that you sought out challenging academic experiences.
With that in mind, here are 15 math programs for high school students in Illinois!
15 Math Programs for High School Students in Illinois
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
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 rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Income-based fee structure; suggested fees range from $250–$1,000, with scholarships and financial assistance available.
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Significantly selective; limited cohort.
Dates: June 29 - July 24
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 from Chicago, surrounding suburbs, and Northwest Indiana; students outside the area may apply but must provide their own lodging and transportation.
The UChicago Young Scholars Program allows you to explore mathematical ideas that extend beyond what is typically covered in school. You work through material aligned with the program's rotating focus, which alternates between number theory and geometry depending on the year. Each day includes faculty-led lectures, a small-group problem session run by undergraduate math majors, and time for lunch and informal discussion. If you are in grades seven or eight, you also spend time in the computer lab conducting research activities tied to the curriculum.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
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: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: Tuition ranges from $1,005–$6,105, depending on session and course type; financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective eligibility tiers (Emerald, Magenta, Indigo) based on achievement data, transcripts, recommendations, or test scores.
Dates: June 28–August 7
Application Deadline: One week before each session’s start date
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–12; placement depends on meeting CTD tier requirements in math or reading
Northwestern University’s Academic Summer Camps allow you to enroll in accelerated mathematics courses designed for students who meet the Center for Talent Development eligibility benchmarks. Depending on placement, you study topics that extend beyond typical school sequences, often moving into advanced algebraic reasoning, discrete mathematics, or higher-level problem solving within one- or three-week sessions. Classes run on a daily schedule similar to university courses, combining lectures, guided exercises, and collaborative problem sets that require detailed reasoning rather than routine calculation. Residential participants follow a full campus schedule that includes evening academic activities and supervised study sessions.
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, East Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; space is limited, and registration continues until full
Dates: Four one-week sessions running from early July through early August
Application Deadline: Registration is expected to begin by late April and continue until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 from the Chicago area; any number of weekly sessions may be attended
The UIC Young Scholars Program organizes its summer schedule into week-long modules where each session focuses on a specific mathematical field such as abstract algebra, graph theory, probability, statistics, game theory, or mathematical economics. Each day begins with a lecture introducing the underlying concepts, followed by structured problem-solving sessions where you test the ideas through guided exercises. Faculty members and graduate students work closely with the group as you analyze examples, explore proofs, and discuss how mathematics connects to research or industry applications.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: Illinois high school students pay $276 per credit hour for MATH 241 and MATH 257; non-Illinois students pay standard undergraduate tuition.
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not selective; enrollment depends on meeting prerequisites and receiving approval through the application process.
Dates: Courses follow the NetMath registration calendar and run year-round through online, self-paced formats.
Application Deadline: Varies by registration window; applications from high school students must be approved before enrolling.
Eligibility: High school students who meet course prerequisites and submit the required Application for High School Students to Enroll in a NetMath Course.
The NetMath program from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign allows you to enroll in full university mathematics courses online while still in high school. Once approved through the program’s application process, you can register for courses such as Calculus III or Linear Algebra and complete them for official University of Illinois transcript credit. Coursework is delivered through an online platform where you work through lectures, structured assignments, and graded assessments under university standards. The program is self-paced within each registration window, but assignments follow strict mathematical expectations similar to those faced by undergraduate students.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Wohlers Hall 174, Champaign, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open enrollment; geared toward late middle school and high school students
Dates: Saturdays, 11:30 am–1:00 pm, beginning January 31
Application Deadline: None listed; participants may attend weekly sessions
Eligibility: Late middle school and high school students in the Champaign–Urbana area
UIUC Math Circle meets weekly at the University of Illinois campus and invites you to explore mathematical ideas through discussion rather than formal lectures. Each series begins with familiar concepts from school mathematics and gradually builds toward deeper topics such as combinatorics, number theory, algorithms, logic, and topology. Sessions revolve around challenging problems that require experimentation, reasoning, and collaborative thinking rather than quick computation. Instructors encourage participants to propose ideas, test conjectures, and examine different solution strategies together at the board.
Location: Multiple hub sites across Chicago, including Payton College Prep, University of Chicago (Eckhart Hall), Back of the Yards High School, Austin College & Career Academy, Lane Tech, and FORA Rogers Park
Cost: Fee-based with a published fee schedule; financial considerations vary by program
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Hub programs use a lottery system for new students; re-enrollment is available for returning students with good attendance
Dates: Sessions held throughout the school year; Hubs run from fall and winter, with additional summer camps
Application Deadline: Priority deadlines apply for lottery placement; enrollment continues until sites reach capacity
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–12; specific levels offered for different age groups, with hubs open to all Chicago-area students
Math Circles of Chicago organizes weekly sessions at several sites across the city where you investigate mathematical problems through collaborative exploration. Instead of traditional lectures, instructors introduce puzzles and open-ended challenges that lead you into topics such as combinatorics, geometric reasoning, number patterns, and logical arguments. You will work in small groups, discussing strategies and presenting solutions to the room as ideas evolve. The program runs across multiple grade bands and continues throughout the school year, allowing you to return regularly and tackle increasingly complex problems.
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology (Virtual Program), Chicago, IL
Cost: $300
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15–19
Application Deadline: Not listed; applications accepted through the Elevate College Prep portal
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
Illinois Institute of Technology’s Math in Action program runs as a short virtual course where mathematical concepts are explored through real-world problem scenarios. Each session introduces a quantitative situation, such as decision-making problems or modeling situations, and guides you through the mathematics required to analyze it. Instructors lead interactive problem-solving exercises that illustrate how mathematical reasoning supports scientific and technological work. Rather than focusing on isolated formulas, the sessions examine how numerical reasoning and modeling help interpret complex systems.
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; applications open seasonally and may be competitive
Dates: School-year program with a separate summer session (summer application opens in spring)
Application Deadline: Summer deadline released in spring
Eligibility: Chicago-area teens; Far Horizons Teen Captains require prior participation in Adler’s light-pollution programs
Adler Planetarium’s Far Horizons program connects mathematics with environmental and astronomical research by involving you in projects that measure and analyze light pollution across Chicago. You participate in data collection activities such as observing night-sky brightness or tracking how artificial light affects ecological systems like tree growth cycles. Once data is gathered, teams analyze patterns and discuss how measurements relate to urban environmental conditions. Staff members from the Adler research team guide the investigation, explaining how quantitative measurements and statistical interpretation support ongoing studies of urban light pollution.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Free through partner organizations such as After School Matters
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not stated; the program has trained more than 750 high school students since its launch
Dates: Runs during the academic year and summer, with schedules varying by site and partnership
Application Deadline: Not specified; participation occurs through YPP Chicago and partner organizations
Eligibility: High school students interested in serving as Math Literacy Workers (MLWs)
The Young People’s Project in Chicago trains high school participants as Math Literacy Workers who help younger students understand mathematical ideas through workshops and community programs. You attend training sessions that focus on explaining mathematical reasoning clearly and guiding others through problem-solving exercises. After training, you lead activities in schools or community centers where groups explore puzzles, numerical patterns, and structured challenges together. The program also introduces discussions about how mathematics relates to civic issues and decision-making.
Location: Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Cost: $150 (non-residents)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not listed; selection requires meeting academic criteria and completing an interview
Dates: June 22–July 30
Application Deadline: May 29
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 who demonstrate proficiency in math and science and submit required documentation
Chicago State University’s PREP Program runs as a six-week summer experience where mathematics and engineering preparation form the central academic focus. During the program, you attend classes that strengthen mathematical foundations required for engineering study, often including algebraic reasoning, quantitative problem solving, and analytical communication. Alongside classroom work, you participate in engineering design exercises that rely on mathematical calculations and modeling. Field visits to science and engineering organizations allow you to observe how these mathematical tools operate in professional environments.
Location: Loyola University Chicago, Water Tower Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,400 (or $1,600 with test scholarship)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; participants must have registered for the MathCON Online Round and are selected based on engagement and performance
Dates: June 15–19
Application Deadline: Applications open later in the year
Eligibility: MathCON students in grades 7–12 as of the upcoming fall
MathCON Summer Camp takes place at Loyola University Chicago and centers on advanced problem solving drawn from competition mathematics. Instructors lead classes covering topics such as number theory, combinatorics, algebraic manipulation, and geometric reasoning. Daily sessions involve working through challenging contest-style problems, discussing strategies, and examining how different mathematical approaches lead to a solution. Some lessons also focus on preparation for competitions like AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12, where problem-solving speed and creativity play a major role.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,500, with significant financial aid available; students with household incomes at or below $125,000 have the program fee waived, and students below $60,000 also receive covered domestic travel
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; competitive selection based on academic materials and essays
Dates: July 26–31
Application Deadline: Not listed; applications require full submission of all materials
Eligibility: Current 11th graders, at least 15 years old, enrolled in a U.S. high school
The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars program begins with an online mathematics course before bringing participants to the University of Chicago campus for a residential week of STEM exploration. The preparatory coursework introduces mathematical concepts used in areas such as engineering and computational science, allowing you to arrive with a shared academic foundation. During the campus week, you attend model classes with UChicago faculty and visit research facilities where quantitative methods drive scientific discovery. Trips to national laboratories such as Argonne and Fermilab expose you to environments where large-scale mathematical modeling supports physics and engineering research.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (local students meet in person; non-local students participate virtually)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Very small cohort; PRIMES-USA grew from 5 students to 47 students over its history, and selection is highly competitive
Dates: Year-long program operating January–December, with four phases
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in the United States; local students near Boston join MIT PRIMES, and non-local students join PRIMES-USA
MIT PRIMES is a year-long mathematics research program where you work on open research questions under the guidance of mentors from MIT and collaborating universities. The program begins with a reading phase in which you study advanced material needed for the project, often involving subjects such as number theory, combinatorics, or algebraic structures. After building the necessary background, you move into original research where you investigate unsolved problems and communicate regularly with your mentor about progress. During the summer months, you continue working independently on proofs, conjectures, or computational results connected to the project.
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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