14 Online Learning Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 49 minutes ago
- 10 min read
Online learning programs can be a valuable way to explore academic interests beyond what is available at your school while maintaining the flexibility of a virtual format. These opportunities span a wide range of subjects, including STEM, medicine, artificial intelligence, engineering, business, and the humanities, and often provide access to advanced coursework, research experiences, and expert mentorship. They also allow you to connect with peers from different locations while developing skills that can support future academic pursuits.
Why should I do an online learning program in high school?
Online learning programs allow you to engage deeply with a subject through structured courses, research projects, workshops, and mentorship opportunities. Depending on the program, you might conduct research, develop technical projects, analyze data, complete capstone assignments, collaborate with peers, or learn directly from university faculty, researchers, and industry professionals. These experiences can help you build subject knowledge, strengthen independent learning skills, and explore potential academic and career interests in a flexible and accessible environment.
To help with your search, below is a list of 14 online learning programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span AI and machine learning (Veritas AI, MIT FutureMakers, Stanford AI4ALL, University of Washington AI4ALL), biomedical and cancer research (SHE in Oncology, EDIT AI, Stanford AIMI), broad STEM research (Lumiere, SPARK, MITES Semester), and college-level coursework (Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes, Rice University Pre-College).
Several programs are free, including SHE in Oncology (which also provides a $500 stipend), MITES Semester, MIT FutureMakers, SPARK, University of Washington AI4ALL, and EDIT AI, while others like Stanford AIMI ($2,400) and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes ($3,200) involve tuition with financial aid available.
Many programs are geographically restricted, including SHE in Oncology (select Illinois and Indiana counties only) and MITES Semester (U.S. citizens or permanent residents), while programs like Lumiere, Veritas AI, Rice University Pre-College, and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes are open to students internationally.
Program lengths vary widely, from short two-week intensives (SHE in Oncology, Stanford AIMI) to semester-long commitments (MITES Semester at six months, University of Washington AI4ALL at approximately five months).
Several programs offer tangible academic outputs, including Lumiere (an independent research paper), UCI School of Medicine (potential co-authorship on a research abstract), and Rice University Pre-College (a certificate of completion from Rice University).
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | $500 taxable stipend
Dates: July 13–25
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students | Must be residents of Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County in Indiana | Limited to 20 students
SHE (Summer Healthcare Experience) in Oncology is a two-week virtual program for high school students supported through collaborations among multiple cancer research institutions. You will have the opportunity to work in collaboration on a genetics-based research project. The program will allow you to conduct hands-on cancer research, attend faculty-led lectures, and engage in discussions. You will attend career and skill development workshops, interact with like-minded peers and expert mentors, and earn a stipend offered by the program. The program is funded by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) and the American Cancer Society.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies with program type | Financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing
Lumiere offers an intensive research program designed for high school students that provides personalized 1-on-1 research opportunities across a wide range of subject areas. As a participant, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor to work closely on an independent research project. Upon completion of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper. Topics available include AI, computer science, data science, engineering, physics, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Starts in June (Specific dates vary)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Semester is a six-month STEM-focused and college preparation program for high school students. You will attend weekly virtual webinars, join intensive courses, participate in workshops, and attend social events. You'll explore the different areas of STEM, prepare for college applications through mock interviews, essay reviews, and expert guidance. The program will allow you to develop a range of skills applied in the academic, practical, and social life areas. You will have in-depth knowledge in STEM areas such as thermodynamics, astrophysics, and machine learning while also developing scientific writing and communication skills.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type | Full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November) | You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students with a strong interest in artificial intelligence. If you are beginning your journey in AI, machine learning, and data science, the AI Scholars program could be a valuable opportunity. It is a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to the fundamentals of AI and data science, while also offering the chance to work on real-world projects. Another option, if you’re a more advanced student, is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program. It offers the opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from leading universities on a personalized, individual project. Additionally, you’ll have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure a publication in a reputable high school research journal. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: July 1 – August 9 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: April 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S. and Puerto Rico
MIT FutureMakers is a free, six-week, highly selective program for high school students. The program will allow you to explore your interest in AI and digital design. You will have the opportunity to choose from four program tracks: mobile app development, conversational app development, applied deep learning, and AI app development. You will gain knowledge about the responsible use of artificial intelligence, spend your first four weeks in the program to engage in cohort training, and design AI solutions to practical problems in a Create-a-thon during the remaining two weeks. You will also participate in a pitch competition and have the opportunity to share your project work at the ASU-GSV summit in San Diego as the program concludes.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Vary by projects
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: Grades 9th–12th students
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program connects high school students with mentors for project-based work in STEM-related fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, biomedical modeling, and quantum computing. You work in small groups or individually on specialized research and technical projects while receiving mentorship from educators and professionals. The program emphasizes applied learning, collaboration, and independent exploration through guided project development. You may also gain exposure to technical tools, research methodologies, and interdisciplinary applications across STEM fields.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 + $45 Application fee
Dates: Session A: June 15–26 | Session B: July 6–17
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students ages 14+ | Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) – Summer Research Internship offers a two-week, structured learning experience for high school students. Through this program, you will study the real-world applications of AI in healthcare settings, including disease diagnosis and detection, patient care, and interactions between patients and clinicians. You will develop an AI model through team-based project work and receive guidance and mentorship from students and researchers at Stanford. The program will help you gain exposure to interdisciplinary problem-solving involving medicine, computing, and data science.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 13–August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students
The EDIT AI High School Summer Internship Program in Machine Learning + Medical AI is a virtual research internship focused on artificial intelligence applications in healthcare and biomedical sciences. The program is affiliated with researchers at Dartmouth Health and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, where you work on computational and data-focused projects in medicine and machine learning. You attend lectures, seminars, and mentorship sessions while learning about clinical data analysis, biomedical datasets, and AI-driven healthcare research. You also gain exposure to programming tools such as Python and R, as well as to topics including data interpretation, scientific communication, and machine learning workflows.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,350
Dates: Session 1: June 22–July 10 | Session 2: July 13–31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-18 | Have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program is a three-week mentored learning opportunity for high school students. The program will help you learn about responsible research practices involving human participants. You will receive instructions through different platforms such as Zoom, email, or podcasts. You will have UC Irvine School of Medicine faculty as your instructors, along with UC Irvine undergraduates or postgraduates from the biomedical department serving as coaches for the program. The program will provide you with the opportunity to engage in critical evaluation of literature, understand the important role of evidence-based medicine, and prepare a structured research report. You will also have the opportunity to have your name published as a co-author on submitting a research abstract of your work to a national meeting.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multi-length courses offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
Rice University Pre-College Online Program offers multi-length courses to high school students. You will have the opportunity to learn at a flexible pace and gain in-depth knowledge in your chosen disciplines. The program offers courses in a range of subjects, including engineering, entrepreneurship, medicine, law, psychology, aerospace, economics, international relations, genome engineering, and physiology. You will receive guidance, get to join multiple courses based on your interest, and work on a Capstone project, along with the opportunity to earn a certificate of completion from Rice University.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: September 8–January 26
Application Deadline: July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, high school seniors, or students starting their freshman year of college in the fall
University of Washington’s AI4ALL is a free workshop for high school students to explore their interest in data science. You will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of data science and machine learning and will learn from researchers, faculty, and instructors at the University of Washington. You will engage in thoughtful discussions to understand the real-world applications of data science and machine learning through data analysis and interpretation. The curriculum also explores the social and ethical implications of AI technologies.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders and recent high school graduates
Columbia University’s Summer Research Program is a five-week learning opportunity for high school students. The program will allow to develop technical skills and gain in-depth knowledge in data science. You work as a research assistant and receive guidance from PhD scholars and professors. You explore a range of topics, including web scraping, data analysis, research protocol, R programming, data cleaning and wrangling, and more. The program emphasizes collaborative learning and communication of research while helping you build foundational technical skills. You complete research-focused work that may involve data interpretation, coding, and presentation development.
13. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,120 | Financial aid available
Dates: June 15–26
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students (ages 14–16)
Stanford AI4ALL is a 12-day online program for high school students. You will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning through AI-focused lectures, group research projects, live demonstrations with companies, and career workshops. You will explore many different topics, including Robotics, Computer Vision, Medical AI, and Natural Language Processing. The program will allow you to address real-world challenges and engage in problem-solving through Artificial Intelligence, and gain knowledge from experienced industry professionals.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200 | Financial aid available
Dates: Session 1: June 15–26 | Session 2: July 6–17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8th-11th
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer 11-day virtual learning sessions to high school students. You will have the opportunity to choose from around 75 courses in a range of disciplines, including bioscience, math, creative writing, philosophy, business, and computer science, and many more. You will develop an in-depth understanding of academic concepts through live online classes and engaging real-time discussions. The program will allow you to learn from experienced instructors and connect with peers and professionals sharing similar interests.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best online learning programs for high school students?
Strong options depend on a student's interests. Students drawn to AI and machine learning might consider Veritas AI or MIT FutureMakers; those interested in biomedical research might look at EDIT AI or Stanford AIMI; and those seeking broad research experience with a dedicated mentor might consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
Are there free online learning programs for high school students?
Yes, several programs are free, including SHE in Oncology (which also provides a $500 stipend), MITES Semester, MIT FutureMakers, SPARK Summer Mentorship Program, EDIT AI, and University of Washington AI4ALL. Programs like Stanford AI4ALL and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes charge tuition but offer financial aid.
Which online programs focus specifically on AI and machine learning?
Veritas AI, MIT FutureMakers, Stanford AI4ALL, University of Washington AI4ALL, and EDIT AI all focus on artificial intelligence, ranging from foundational concepts and ethical implications to applied machine learning in healthcare settings.
Do any online programs lead to a published research output?
Yes, Lumiere's Research Scholar Program concludes with an independent research paper; the UCI School of Medicine program offers the opportunity to co-author a national conference research abstract; and Veritas AI's Fellowship provides access to an in-house publication team to support journal submissions.
Which programs are open to students outside the United States?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI, Rice University Pre-College, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes, and Stanford AI4ALL are all open to international students, while programs like MITES Semester and Stanford AIMI require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
When should I apply to online learning programs for high school students?
Deadlines vary widely. Early deadlines include MITES Semester (February 1), Stanford AIMI (February 21), and Stanford AI4ALL (February 6), while others, like SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (April) and MIT FutureMakers (approximately April 15), fall later in the spring.
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.