10 Online Summer STEM Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
Online STEM summer programs can be a practical way for you to explore advanced academics during middle school without the cost or logistics of traveling to a residential campus. Because these programs are virtual, you can engage with college-level concepts, applied problem-solving, and real technical tools while still working from home. Many online STEM camps emphasize hands-on projects, mentorship, and collaboration, helping you build skills that translate directly to future coursework and independent projects. You also get early exposure to how scientists, engineers, and technologists think and work, often through structured assignments rather than passive lectures.
Compared to traditional summer camps, online programs are often more affordable and, in some cases, fully funded or heavily subsidized. If you’re serious about STEM, it also makes sense to look for programs that offer scholarships or need-based support so cost isn’t a barrier to participation. To help with that, we’ve narrowed this list to selective online STEM summer programs for middle school students that stand out for their academic rigor, strong peer and mentor networks, funding opportunities, and affiliation with well-regarded institutions or organizations.
10 Online Summer STEM Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Online (Founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers)
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: 8 weeks (rolling cohorts throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Varies across different cohorts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8; open to motivated students globally interested in exploring academic research or writing.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program pairs middle school students with Ph.D. mentors from universities such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton to explore academic subjects and develop a written project. Across eight weeks, you’ll learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You’ll receive individualized feedback through eight mentor sessions and two writing-coach sessions, ensuring you master both analytical and writing fundamentals. Research topics range from gene editing to behavioral economics. The program’s rigorous selection process and personalized mentorship make it one of the most competitive and enriching academic writing experiences available for middle school students. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohorts of ~12 students
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, Online
Cost: Free; program is fully funded for admitted students
Program Dates: July 6–July 24
Application Deadline: Application window opens through March 25
Eligibility: Students currently in Grades 6–7 who reside and attend school in the U.S.; priority given to students from low-income households
You participate in a three-week online summer course followed by weekly live seminars during the fall semester. The program emphasizes math enrichment, analytical reasoning, and academic skill-building alongside structured instruction in writing and problem-solving. You work closely with Stanford Online High School instructors, many of whom hold PhDs, in real-time virtual classrooms designed around discussion and guided practice. The small cohort structure allows for sustained feedback and close instructor interaction. During the fall component, you engage in structured modules on academic planning, growth mindset, and preparing for selective high school environments. The program is designed to build the foundational skills needed for rigorous STEM and humanities coursework at the high school level.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; average class size of ~16 students
Location: Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, Online
Cost: $3,200; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: June 15–June 26 or July 6–July 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students currently in Grades 8–11
You enroll in a single, intensive online course focused on one subject area, such as artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, or advanced mathematics. Courses are taught live in small classes and emphasize discussion, analytical reasoning, and applied problem-solving rather than survey-style instruction. You complete daily synchronous sessions alongside asynchronous assignments designed to reinforce concepts and prepare you for the next class. Instruction is led by subject-matter experts who design custom curricula not typically available in standard middle or high school classrooms. The program prioritizes depth over breadth, allowing you to build a strong conceptual foundation in a specific STEM field. Collaboration with academically motivated peers from around the world is built into the classroom experience through structured discussion and group activities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts averaging ~6 students during project work
Location: Berkeley Coding Academy, Online
Cost: $2,499
Program Dates: July 6–July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment until cohorts fill
Eligibility: Students ages 12–14; beginners allowed, with advanced tracks for students with prior Python experience
You attend live online lectures focused on Python, data science workflows, and introductory machine learning concepts. Instruction emphasizes hands-on coding using Jupyter-style notebooks, with students maintaining their own working files throughout the program. After lectures, you work in small cohorts to apply concepts through guided exercises and a cumulative data science project. Depending on the package selected, you may cover data visualization, library-based analysis, and introductory neural networks. Cohort placement is based on self-reported coding background, allowing instruction to vary between fundamentals and more advanced applications. The program culminates in a portfolio-style project intended to document your technical progress over the summer.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohort size varies by course
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, Online
Cost: $575; need-based financial aid available for qualified students
Program Dates: Summer sessions between June 24 - August 5 (course pacing varies by course)
Application Deadline: Early Bird deadline is 10 days before the session start date; enrollment typically remains open until courses fill or the session begins
Eligibility: Grades 3–8, plus qualifying test scores (90th percentile+) or prior CTD course completion or an admission portfolio (report card/transcript + teacher recommendation); some courses may have prerequisites
You pick a single online course (including STEM options in math, science, and technology/engineering) and complete weekly modules with instructor guidance and feedback. Because coursework is typically asynchronous within each week, you manage deadlines while still receiving structure through pacing expectations and instructor check-ins. Admission is eligibility-based, meaning you may need standardized test evidence or an admission portfolio. Many STEM offerings emphasize applied reasoning, including data interpretation, modeling, experimental thinking, or computational problem-solving, depending on the specific course you choose. You can use the course experience to build a tangible output (e.g., a project, problem set portfolio, or written analysis), though deliverables vary by syllabus.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; acceptance rate and cohort size not publicly disclosed
Location: Kode With Klossy, Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Two-week summer sessions (exact dates announced in Spring)
Application Deadline: Not yet announced; students can join the interest list to receive updates by clicking here.
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens ages 13–18 who are comfortable learning in a female-identifying environment; no prior coding experience required
You participate in a two-week, coding-intensive online camp and are placed into one of four curriculum tracks based on availability and any prior experience with Kode With Klossy programs. Depending on your track, you work with technical stacks such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (web development); Python for AI and machine learning concepts like datasets and natural language processing; Swift and SwiftUI for iOS app development using Xcode; or SQL, Python, and data visualization tools for data science. In addition to technical coursework, you attend sessions with women working in technology as part of a structured speaker series. The program is designed so you can begin with no prior coding background and still complete a concrete technical project by the end of the camp.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size not published
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, Online
Cost: Pricing varies by camp
Program Dates: Offered throughout the year, including summer sessions; dates vary by camp
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until sessions fill
Eligibility: Middle and high school students, particularly those currently enrolled in or planning to take AP Biology
You participate in live, instructor-led virtual biology sessions designed to reinforce and extend core concepts from advanced middle school and AP Biology curricula. Camps are typically structured as multi-hour classes held on weekends or during academic breaks, allowing you to engage deeply with specific biological topics without conflicting with school schedules. Instruction is delivered by biology subject experts and includes targeted time for working through exam-style questions and applied problem-solving. Sessions emphasize conceptual understanding alongside analytical skills needed for advanced biology coursework. The program is well-suited if you’re looking for structured online biology enrichment rather than a project-based research experience.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Application-based with limited course capacity; acceptance rate not publicly disclosed
Location: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC, Online
Cost: $495–$1,495 depending on the course; some sponsored students may attend for free; financial aid and discounts are available
Program Dates: Summer sessions; exact dates vary by course
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed starting mid-January; enrollment continues until courses fill
Eligibility: Rising 7th–9th graders who demonstrate strength or interest in STEM; course-specific prerequisites may apply
You enroll in one or more online STEM courses taught by NCSSM faculty and subject-matter experts with experience in advanced secondary instruction. Courses combine synchronous live sessions with asynchronous assignments, allowing you to manage your schedule while still engaging in real-time discussions and collaborative projects. Depending on the course, you may work on applied problem sets, labs, presentations, or group-based investigations. Instruction emphasizes conceptual understanding and real-world application. Assessments are typically project- or performance-based, and you receive instructor feedback throughout the course. The program concludes with a pass/fail evaluation and a certificate of completion.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Eligibility-based admission; cohort size varies by course
Location: Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, Online
Cost: Varies by course; tuition-based with need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Online courses offered throughout the summer; dates vary by session
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment with multiple summer start dates; students must enroll by posted session deadlines
Eligibility: Middle school students who qualify through CTY testing or approved alternative academic credentials
You enroll in an online course focused on a specific STEM subject such as mathematics, robotics, engineering, computer science, or applied science. Courses are designed for academically advanced learners and move at a faster pace than typical school curricula, emphasizing conceptual depth and analytical reasoning. Instruction combines instructor-led guidance with independent problem-solving and project-based assignments. Depending on the course, you may work through simulations, design challenges, or multi-step quantitative problems rather than relying on lectures alone. You interact with peers from around the world through structured discussions and collaborative activities. The flexible online format allows you to progress at a defined pace while still meeting clear academic expectations.
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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