14 Online Computer Science Research Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 days ago
- 11 min read
If you are a high school student interested in making computer science a career, then online computer science research programs for high school students are the most accessible and enriching way to gain experience. These programs offer early exposure to advanced topics in areas like AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, and algorithms. They often include college-level coursework, hands-on research, and professional mentorship, giving you an edge when applying to top-tier colleges or future internships.
If you're passionate about computer science and want to take your learning beyond the classroom, such programs can provide a rigorous academic experience. The programs on this list were chosen based on their selectivity, reputation, mentorship opportunities, and the quality of the research experience they offer. Many are highly competitive, fully funded, and hosted by well-regarded universities or organizations.
Here are 14 of the best online computer science research programs for high school students to consider:
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16–20 weeks). Financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic background (3.3 GPA or higher)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Summer Cohort I deadline: April 13
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, fall: September - December, winter: December - February, spring: March - June
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects high school students with PhD mentors for a personalized, one-on-one research experience. It is designed to mirror the structure of college-level research. The program offers a 12-week virtual program that allows you to choose a topic of interest ranging from computer science and engineering to psychology and economics and develop an original research paper.
You will receive weekly mentorship, feedback, and guidance in research design, literature review, and academic writing. The program is ideal for students aiming to explore academic research and strengthen their college applications. Flexible scheduling makes it accessible throughout the year.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400.
Application Deadlines: Multiple deadlines based on cohorts. The summer cohort deadline is April 27
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15 week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school and advanced middle school students worldwide who have either completed the AI Scholars Program or can demonstrate prior experience with AI concepts and Python
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
The Veritas AI Fellowship offers high school students the chance to pursue independent research in artificial intelligence through a 1-on-1 mentorship with AI and publication experts. Over 15 weeks, you will explore advanced topics in machine learning and AI, applying them to fields such as healthcare, climate science, economics, and the arts.
With mentor guidance, you will build a research project from scratch by first assessing its feasibility and the resources required. You will later work on the project under your mentor’s guidance and present it to your peers. The same project can later be submitted to a publication, science competition, or tech-oriented journal. The fellowship emphasizes real-world applications and interdisciplinary learning, and it requires a working knowledge of Python. Students without prior experience are encouraged to complete the Veritas AI Scholars program before applying.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA + Virtual
Cost: $1,500 (Research cohort) and Free for (Non-Research cohort)
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: Southern California residents between grades 10-12 | 16 years of age on or before June 15 | Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective, 40 students selected from applications from over 70 schools every year.
Aimed at increasing the awareness of computational science and its allied fields for San Diego County students, this highly prestigious program offers you the chance to engage in computer science and data-driven research. Hosted by the San Diego Supercomputer Center, the 8-week program covers topics like machine learning, data visualization, and high-performance computing.
You will be paired 1:1 with a dedicated mentor with whom you will spend time in lab meetings and group discussions. You will learn to formulate and test hypotheses and conduct computational experiments. You will collaborate on projects involving AI modeling, big data analytics, and algorithm development in fields like bioinformatics and climate science. The non-research track includes coding workshops, seminars, and lectures covering cybersecurity, robotics, and natural language processing.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (financial aid available subject to certain eligibility criteria)
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2025 | Aged 14+ who are U.S. citizens | Undergraduate students with a computer science background may apply for student-led roles.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective, accepting around 25 students in the program
This two-week virtual internship focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) hosts a program that introduces students to AI applications in diagnostics, medical imaging, and disease prediction.
You will interact with experienced Stanford faculty and research engineers, and work on projects that involve medical data analysis, machine learning model training, image recognition, and developing ML models to analyze chest X-rays and detect medical tubes. The curriculum includes coding workshops, career sessions with guest speakers from the industry, and group projects with Stanford mentors. It also includes an AI in Medicine Boot Camp specially designed for high school students. At the end of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and may qualify for an extended independent research opportunity.
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins APL, Laurel, MD
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 24 – August 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (15+) with a minimum 2.8 GPA | Must be a permanent resident of the Washington-Baltimore area
Acceptance Rate: 15%–20%
This program gives high school students the chance to engage in real-world STEM research before applying for college. You will be paired 1:1 with APL researchers, scientists, and engineers on cutting-edge projects in areas such as computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, mathematics, and IT.
It is one of the most revered online computer science research programs for high school students as there have been instances of projects being selected by NASA. You will also have access to Johns Hopkins’ state-of-the-art facilities and will operate in one of the most advanced research environments. Participation in this selective program can significantly boost your college applications and help you develop an influential network for future career opportunities. You will also develop skills beyond technology such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
Location: Virtual or on-site at various NASA centers
Cost: NA
Application Deadlines: May 16 (fall)
Program Dates: Varies by position
Eligibility: U.S. citizens | High school students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); other criteria vary by type of internship. More details here under ‘Eligibility at a Glance.’
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
There are four programs available under OSTEM - Pathways Internship, Fellowship, JPL Internship, and the International Internship. All of them offer remote and in-person research experiences in cutting-edge STEM fields. Having access to NASA’s world-class facilities, you will join hands with its scientists and engineers in solving real-world problems such as AI/ML in air traffic control, robotics, AR/VR for training simulations, and space systems.
Each internship offers project-based learning, mentorship, and professional development, with placements tailored to your interests and background. Internships vary in length, focus, and compensation, depending on the opportunity and NASA center. The Pathways internship also acts as a pipeline for full-time employment upon graduation.
Location: Virtual, with additional opportunities in Greater Seattle, WA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April
Program Dates: May – August (8–12 weeks, depending on project)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 9-12 with a focus on the Greater Seattle area
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective as the application criteria is rigorous
The SPARK SMP is an intensive, project-based mentorship program for high school students with a strong interest in artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning. Through a highly competitive selection process which includes rigorous essays and interviews, accepted students are paired with mentors from industry and academia to work on 1–5 real-world projects based on their interests.
Previous project topics have included AI for predictive analytics, data engineering, extreme weather modeling, disease detection, ML workflow development, and quantum technologies. The program emphasizes collaborative learning, technical skill-building, and exposure to emerging technologies, involving complex, real-world problems. Previous mentees have gone on to get enrolled in top universities and participated in competitions such as the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $25 application fee (waivers available)
Application Deadline: February 2
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: Must be 15 years or older by program start, In-person/hybrid (computer lab): 15+, In-person/hybrid (wet-lab): 16+
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
This program offers high school students a chance to work with George Mason University faculty on advanced STEM research. Over eight weeks, you will gain hands-on experience in AI, data science, cybersecurity, engineering, and digital innovation using the university’s state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology.
The remote track, led by Dr. Ron S. Mahabir, focuses on earth observation, NLP, ML, and deep learning, while in-person options include lab-based and computer-based research. You’ll sharpen your scientific writing, communication coding, problem-solving, technical, and analytical skills while contributing to impactful, ongoing projects. ASSIP is ideal for students looking to do research in both computational and experimental settings. This highly-regarded program has provided research opportunities to several high school students over the years.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 8
Program Dates: June 2 – November 17
Eligibility: High school students aged 18 or older who are eligible to work in their country of residence and are not residents of the U.S.-embargoed countries
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a prestigious, open-source development program that offers beginner-level coders the opportunity to contribute to real-world software projects under the mentorship of experienced developers. Over 12 weeks, you’ll work remotely with one of 150+ open-source organizations on a coding project, gaining hands-on experience in areas like testing, version control, software licensing, and collaborative development.
GSoC is designed to grow the global open-source community while helping you build a professional portfolio. Some of the project ideas include AI Chatbots, web audio API enhancement, Non-GPS Position Estimation Using 3D Camera and Pre-Generated Map, etc. You will develop collaboration, technical communication, and problem-solving skills beyond coding, and will also get a stipend if you complete the program.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; need-based $300 stipend available
Application Deadline: April 11
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7 – July 18 and Session 2: July 28 – August 8
Eligibility: Female or non-binary students in grades 9–11
Acceptance Rate: Selective
This is a two-week virtual program that introduces high school students to computer science, web development, UI/UX design, and game creation. It is designed to close the gender gap in technology and encourages female and non-binary students to take up technology as a career.
You will learn basic and intermediary levels of computer science, UX design basics, and game design in depth. Pathways is a six-week program where you can learn AI, data science, web development, and cybersecurity at your own pace. You will also learn important tech languages like Python, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. Girls Who Code is one of the most prestigious online computer science research programs for high school students since they have previously partnered with industry-leading companies such as Pfizer.
11. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Application Deadline: January 24
Program Dates: June 18 – July 2
Eligibility: Current 9th graders and rising 10th graders who are at least 14 years old by the program start date
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective; possibly limited cohort size of 32
Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week virtual summer program focused on artificial intelligence (AI), designed to promote diversity and inclusion in the AI field. You will learn topics such as machine learning, robotics, ethical AI development, robotics, computer vision, medical AI, and natural language processing through interactive lectures and hands-on research projects. The program will be guided by Stanford faculty, graduate students, and industry mentors.
You will be part of career development workshops, explore pathways in higher education, and network with leading AI professionals and a diverse cohort of peers. The program has previously had prominent names such as IBM research scientist Stacy Hobson, USCF professor Marina Sirota, and Stanford professor, Chelsea Finn.
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 9
Program Dates: June 2 – August 29
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 16+ by December 31, with a GPA of 3.0+ and completed high school biology
Acceptance Rate: Not selective, aims to enroll 800 students this year
This program introduces you to NASA space biology research, bioinformatics and computational biology methods, omics-based research, and machine learning in the broad context of space research. Over 12 weeks, you will develop key skills in statistical modeling, algorithm development, and data visualization, which are valuable for careers in mathematics, computational biology, and space science.
You will explore the impact of microgravity on living organisms, participate in virtual field trips, and engage in a research competition. Teams will apply statistical and computational techniques to develop innovative project proposals. The top three teams will win an all-expenses-paid trip to present their findings at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) conference. You will also get to be part of the Capstone Project where you will present research proposals and earn a Capstone Certificate.
Location: Virtual
Cost: To be determined
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: To be determined
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders and recent high school graduates
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
This program offers high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in and learn data science, one of the world’s most coveted tech areas. This program aims to make students proficient researchers in data science, with applications across various fields ranging from medicine to sports.
You will work as a research assistant to Columbia University professors and PhD candidates, contributing to ongoing research projects. Your responsibilities will include tasks such as data analysis, data visualization, web scraping, data cleaning, research protocols, programming in R, developing research projects, and honing your oral presentation skills. You will also create your research project and presentation, which will serve as a strong base for your college applications. You will get a certificate upon completion.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not specified
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: June 13 - August 31
Eligibility: High school students with a background in computer science
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
This program hosted by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center offers high school students the opportunity to engage in machine learning research with applications in healthcare. This program focuses on the development, validation, and scaling of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance clinical efficiency and improve patient outcomes.
You will gain hands-on experience working with machine learning models and utilize R, Python, and high-performance computing to address complex medical challenges, along with getting exposure to IRB-approved research. Projects may include analyzing gigapixel medical images, developing AI-driven diagnostic tools, and applying natural language processing in clinical research. You will develop soft skills such as scientific writing, teamwork and communication, and will also have the opportunity to present your research findings to an academic audience.
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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