14 Online Winter Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student who wants to explore new subjects, an online winter program can be a smart way to do that. These programs are built for short breaks. They let you explore a subject you are interested in, strengthen a skill, or prepare for upcoming coursework. You can work through lessons, readings, or small projects over a few weeks.
Why should I do an online winter program in high school?
Many winter programs for high schoolers offer subjects you don't normally learn in school, like neuroscience, data science, philosophy, or creative writing. It's a low-stakes way to test out a subject before committing to it as a major. Many programs involve collaborative work with peers from different backgrounds, which builds communication and teamwork skills that carry over into college and beyond. Using winter break this way shows curiosity and the ability to engage with structured learning outside school, which can boost your college applications.
To help you find options that fit your needs, here are 14 online winter programs for high school students worth exploring!
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program track. Financial aid is available
Program Dates: Vary depending on the cohort
Application Deadlines: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
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.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Available year-round; suitable for winter participation through quarter-time internships
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
The EnergyMag Virtual Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to gain real-world research and analysis experience in the renewable energy and energy storage sector through a fully remote format. Quarter-time internships run throughout the year, making them well-suited for you to commit during the winter months alongside school. During the internship, you will be assigned to research and analysis tasks based on your academic background and experience level. Projects may involve researching a specific company, technology, or market within the renewable energy storage industry. You’re guided through the full research process, including identifying sources, contacting experts, analyzing findings, and synthesizing insights into a written report.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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 and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you will get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Year-round internships, including winter opportunities
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution.
The APA Internal Internship Program offers remote, year-round internship opportunities that high school students can pursue, depending on role availability. You’ll work remotely and be supervised by APA staff within individual departments. Responsibilities vary by role but are designed to help you apply psychological concepts in professional settings, build research and analytical skills, and gain exposure to non-traditional career pathways in psychology. You may also participate in workshops, group projects, and professional development activities, depending on departmental offerings.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course and level
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: December 18 for winter cohort
Eligibility: High school students; prerequisites vary by course level.
The UC San Diego Bioengineering Winter Programs are offered by the UC San Diego Department of Bioengineering in collaboration with UC San Diego Extended Studies. These programs follow a clearly defined progression that allows you to build skills over time, beginning with foundational coursework and advancing toward independent research projects. You’ll typically start with BE-BOAT (Bioengineering Broad Overview and Techniques) courses, which introduce core scientific and engineering principles in bioengineering. The next level, BE-ROW (BioEngineering Research Orientation Workshop), focuses on collaborative research and design investigations conducted from a home-based lab environment. The advanced level is BE-SHIP (Bioengineering Scholar High School Internship Project), which offers the opportunity to independently propose, execute, and present a bioengineering research project in collaboration with a university research laboratory.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: January 5 – January 23
Application Deadline: Registration starts in early October
Eligibility: Academically strong high school students who are rising juniors or seniors and meet UMBC’s concurrent enrollment requirements.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Winter Pre-College Programs let you step into real college-level coursework while still in high school. You will enroll in online classes that follow UMBC undergraduate courses in areas like data science, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, public policy, and leadership. You’re expected to complete projects, case studies, and applied assignments, often using real tools, datasets, or structured problem-solving methods tied to the subject. Along the way, you join live discussions with instructors and classmates from different places, receive direct feedback, and get a clear sense of what college academics actually demand in terms of time management, writing, and analytical thinking.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: January 2 – January 17 (Winter)
Application Deadline: December 1 for the winter session
Eligibility: Rising or current high school juniors and seniors
Cornell University’s Winter Online Program allows high school students to enroll in real undergraduate Cornell courses and earn college credit without leaving the comfort of their home. You’ll study alongside Cornell undergraduates and engage in academically rigorous coursework taught by Cornell faculty. Courses span a range of disciplines, including architecture and the arts, business and hotel management, health and humanities, international relations, science and technology, social change, and veterinary medicine. You’ll typically interact with instructors and peers through discussion boards, video conferencing, email, and other online collaboration tools. Grades and credits earned through the program appear on an official Cornell transcript.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: January 5 – March 12
Application Deadline: Session-based
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors aged 16 or older
SCAD’s Joint Enrollment winter program allows high school students to take college-level online courses while still enrolled in high school. During the winter quarter, you’ll gain access to SCAD’s virtual classroom experience, learning from SCAD faculty and engaging with classmates. You may enroll in up to two online courses per quarter, earning college credits that can later be applied toward a degree at SCAD. The courses span a broad range of creative and academic disciplines, including advertising, design, drawing, photography, digital communication, business fundamentals, storytelling, and visual culture.
Location: Online
Cost: $700
Program Dates: February 3 – April 9
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school students who have completed NYS Regents Living Environment or an equivalent biology course
The Introduction to Neuroscience course is a winter online program designed for highly motivated high school students interested in gaining a foundational understanding of the mammalian nervous system. Delivered through live evening webinars, the course introduces you to core neuroscience concepts with an emphasis on how the brain and nervous system control movement, sensory processing, learning, and memory. Over the course of the winter session, you’ll explore key topics such as neuroanatomy, neural signaling, sensory and motor systems, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurorehabilitation. Lessons also address contemporary areas, including neurotechnology and artificial intelligence, offering you exposure to how neuroscience research connects to real-world medical and technological challenges.
Location: Online
Cost: $799
Program Dates: Winter I: January 12 - February 8 | Winter II: February 17 - March 15
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Teens in grades 6–12
The Interlochen Online Acting Techniques Certificate Program consists of three four-week courses that can be taken in any order, allowing you to build a flexible yet comprehensive foundation in acting during the winter season. You’ll choose from courses focused on monologues, scene study, and improvisation & character development. Across these courses, you’ll study established acting methods, analyze scripts to understand character and story, and develop tools for emotional expression, physical characterization, and authentic performance. The curriculum emphasizes practical application, preparing audition-ready material, and working collaboratively with scene partners. Instruction is led by experienced actors, acting coaches, and educators, where you’ll receive personalized feedback from professional artists.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 per course
Program Dates: Courses offered year-round, including winter availability.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and older
The Dartmouth Precollege Online Program offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses during the winter months through a fully online, flexible format. Designed around Dartmouth’s liberal arts philosophy, the program encourages you to explore multiple disciplines while developing critical and creative thinking skills. You can choose from courses across fields such as biology, entrepreneurship, finance, law, psychology, and regenerative medicine. Each course includes structured video lessons, mentor guidance, and a final capstone project that allows you to demonstrate what you’ve learned through a presentation or creative submission. A key feature of the program is individualized mentor support, with experts providing feedback, answering questions, and guiding you through assignments and capstone work.
Location: Online
Cost: $799
Program Dates: Winter I: January 12 - February 8 | Winter II: February 17 - March 15
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Teens in grades 6–12
The Interlochen Online Digital Animation Studies Certificate Program is an online program designed for students interested in building strong foundations in animation and character design. The program focuses on developing technical animation skills alongside creative storytelling, with a focus on creating expressive, original characters for film, games, or personal projects. The certificate consists of three four-week courses taken in sequential order: Digital Animation 101, Designing Animated Characters, and Digital Animation Techniques: Expressions and Movement. Across these courses, you’ll learn animation fundamentals, gain familiarity with animation software and tools, analyze existing animated media, and apply principles such as timing, movement, and expression to your own work. You’ll receive personalized feedback from professional artists and can collaborate with peers through online messaging and optional live sessions.
Location: Online
Cost: Enrichment Courses: $1,895 | College Credit Courses: $3,995
Program Dates: Courses offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and older
The Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program offers high school students the opportunity to explore college-level academics through a flexible, fully online format. You can choose between enrichment courses and college credit courses, depending on your academic goals. Enrichment courses are shorter and focus on exploration and skill-building, while college credit courses require additional instructional hours and award official college credit upon completion. Subjects such as biology, psychology, cybersecurity, international relations, business, creative writing, marketing, law, and medicine are part of the program.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,595 per course
Program Dates: Multiple 2- and 4-week sessions offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and older.
The University of Rochester Pre-College Online Medicine Courses allow high school students to explore medicine and healthcare through a flexible online format. Designed by University of Rochester faculty, these courses introduce you to real-world medical and biomedical concepts while accommodating school-year schedules. Winter courses cover topics such as personalized medicine and genetics, orthopedic medicine and surgical treatments, and biomedical engineering, giving you exposure to both clinical and technology-driven aspects of healthcare. You’ll receive guidance from a dedicated mentor who supports learning, answers questions, and provides feedback throughout the course. You’ll conclude the course with a final capstone project, where you’ll demonstrate your understanding through a presentation or creative submission.
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.
Image Source - UC San Diego logo