15 STEM Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 14 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring STEM subjects without a heavy commitment, a STEM camp is worth considering.
What are STEM camps for high school students?
Unlike longer programs or internships that stretch over months, STEM camps follow a much simpler structure. Camps usually run for a few days or weeks, which makes them easier to manage alongside school. They focus on hands-on work rather than long-term assignments, with most of the time spent building projects, running experiments, or solving problems in real time.
What will I do at a STEM camp as a high school student?
At a STEM camp, you might work with robotics kits, write basic code, explore physics concepts, or study biology through guided activities. Mentors and instructors lead the sessions, but the focus remains on practical, activity-based learning. This setup helps you try out different STEM areas, figure out what genuinely interests you, and get early exposure before choosing college courses. It also adds value to college applications, as admissions teams often look for students who have taken the initiative to explore academic interests outside the classroom.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down a list of the top STEM camps for high school students!
15 STEM Camps for High School Students
Location: Stanford University
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22–28
Application deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Students who are currently in 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th grade
Stanford University’s SAGE Camp is designed for high school students who want to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. During the camp, you take part in hands-on lab projects, career talks, and job-shadowing experiences with scientists and engineers at SLAC and Stanford. You also tour research facilities, work in teams on structured challenges, and build problem-solving and communication skills. The camp helps you understand your interests in STEM, connect with mentors, and gain guidance for your future academic and career plans.
Location: NSU Davie/Fort Lauderdale Campus and NSU Tampa Bay Regional Campus, Clearwater, Florida
Cost: $1,800 + $50 fee (Non-refundable)
Dates: Applications open in November
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: High school rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors; Minimum GPA of 3.2
Achieve in Medicine (AIM) High is a five-day summer medical day camp at Nova Southeastern University for high school students interested in healthcare. You will take part in hands-on sessions where you learn skills like suturing, dissection, pharmacy, sports medicine, cancer detection, and emergency care through Stop the Bleed. You will also explore how technology helps improve community health and join labs and workshops led by NSU faculty. During the camp, you will meet and interact with NSU medical students, getting a real sense of what it is like to study and work in health professions. By the end of the program, you will earn First Aid and CPR certifications, giving you a strong start for your future in medicine.
Location: Online
Dates: Offered in multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: Current high school students with a minimum GPA of 3.3; No previous research experience is required
Cost: Begins at $2,990; Need-based financial aid is available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience created by researchers from Harvard and Oxford. It gives high school students the chance to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project in a subject of their choice. Throughout the program, you will meet regularly with your mentor, who will guide you through every step of the research process and help you write a college-level research paper in fields such as medicine, neuroscience, public health, or other areas within the life sciences. You will also receive guidance from writing coaches to improve your academic writing and communication skills. By the end of the program, you will complete and submit a full-length research paper.
Location: Northwestern University
Cost: Varies by camp; 100% need-based assistance available
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: One week before each session
Eligibility: High school students; Specific requirements vary by tier
Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) offers summer courses that let high school students explore STEM subjects such as math, science, engineering, and technology. You can choose to attend in-person camps on campus or take online courses designed to challenge and inspire you. In each course, you will work on hands-on projects, solve real-world problems, and develop important skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. You will also connect with other motivated students and learn from experienced instructors in a supportive and engaging academic environment.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. You can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, Minnesota)
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23–27
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a full year of single variable calculus
At the IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp, you will learn how math can be used to solve real-world problems through hands-on modeling projects. You’ll explore topics such as predicting population growth or disease spread, studying how climate affects natural resources, and analyzing traffic flow and bridge stability. Past participants have even worked on practical challenges like identifying the best routes for a new light rail system. The camp is held in person at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. Housing is not provided, but a limited number of remote spots may be available for students who cannot attend in person.
Location: Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, USA. (locations change yearly)
Cost: $6,600
Dates: June 29 – August 3
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 13-18 (inclusive) who love mathematics and are ready to engage with advanced material
Canada/USA Mathcamp is a five-week summer program for students ages 13 to 18 who are passionate about math and eager to go beyond the standard school curriculum. It’s designed for curious learners who enjoy solving challenging problems and thinking creatively. At Mathcamp, you will attend daily classes on advanced topics such as abstract algebra, topology, real analysis, and discrete math. You can also explore interdisciplinary areas like physics, linguistics, cognitive science, and quantum computing. The program is flexible so you can choose your own classes from a wide range of options, and there are no grades or exams. At the end of camp, you will have the opportunity to present your work to the community.
Location: Virtual and in-person; sites vary but have included NYC in the past
Cost: None
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13–18
Kode With Klossy is a free, two-week summer camp that introduces high school students to technology and coding. You can choose from four specialized tracks: data science, software development, machine learning, or programming. In the web development track, you will use HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to build your own website. The machine learning track teaches you about algorithms, natural language processing, and working with data sets. In the data science track, you will learn to analyze information using SQL, Python, and visualization tools. The mobile app track focuses on Swift, Apple’s coding language, where you will design and create your own iOS app.
Location: UMKC Campus, Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: None
Dates: July 22-26 (Camp 1) and July 29-August 2 (Camp 2)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
The GenCyber Camp at the University of Missouri–Kansas City is a free, one-week summer program funded by the National Security Agency (NSA). It introduces high school students to the field of cybersecurity through a mix of theory and hands-on learning. During the camp, you will explore topics such as internet safety, cryptography, ethical hacking, network scanning, and deepfakes. You will take part in interactive activities that strengthen your technical knowledge, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
10. √mathroots @ MIT
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: None
Dates: July 1–15
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
MathRoots is a 14-day summer camp hosted by MIT’s PRIMES program for high school students who love math and want to deepen their problem-solving skills. You will explore creative approaches to mathematics, discover new ideas, and learn the basics of mathematical proof. You will take part in daily classes, group activities, and guest lectures led by instructors with backgrounds in both competition math and research. The program goes beyond what is taught in school, introducing you to engaging and accessible mathematical concepts that inspire deeper thinking and curiosity.
Location: Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia
Cost: None
Dates: July 10–August 2
Application deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school seniors
The National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) is a free, three-week residential STEM program for graduating high school seniors. At the camp, you will attend daily lectures led by scientists and engineers on topics like artificial intelligence, climate science, biomedical research, and quantum computing. You will take part in small-group sessions called directed studies, where you can dive deeper into specific STEM areas with professionals. You will also join hands-on seminars in coding, robotics, data science, and other technical fields, giving you practical skills and real-world experience.
Location: USNA campus, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Cost: $ 450. Financial aid is available
Dates: Rising 9th-graders: June 1 – 6 | Rising 10th-graders: June 8 – 13 | Rising 11th-graders: June 15 – 19
Application deadline: Application opens on January 6
Eligibility: Students who are currently in 8th, 9th or 10th grade
The U.S. Naval Academy Summer STEM Camp introduces you to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on projects and problem-solving activities. You work on tasks such as designing structures, coding, and experimenting with robotics under the guidance of Naval Academy faculty and midshipmen. The camp also helps you build teamwork, creativity, and leadership skills while giving you a look at college life and the learning environment in the U.S. Naval Academy.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $890. Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 16 - June 27
Application Deadline: December 9 - February 28
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in Fall are eligible to apply
The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a two-week virtual program that introduces high school students to the connection between healthcare and machine learning. Through online modules, group discussions, and breakout sessions, you learn how AI models are built for healthcare, how to assess their performance, and what challenges arise when using machine learning in clinical settings. The program also includes social activities and Career Lunch and Learn sessions where speakers from universities, industry, and government share their experiences and career paths.
Location: Stanford University, USA
Cost: Online: US$ 3,580 and Residential: US$ 8,575
Dates: Online Session 1: June 16 – July 4 | Residential Session: June 22 – July 18 | Online Session 2: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 or 11
The Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is a summer program for high school students who have a strong interest in math and problem-solving. At the camp, you study advanced topics such as algebra, number theory, and geometry through lessons, discussions, and group projects. You’ll work closely with Stanford instructors, learn how to think like a mathematician, and explore how math connects to real-world ideas and research. If you join the residential program, you’ll live on Stanford’s campus, take part in fun activities, and experience what college life is like while learning with students from around the world.
Location: University of Michigan, Michigan
Cost: $ 700
Dates: July 5-11
Application Deadline: Official deadline yet to be announced
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 or 11
SEE Camp at the University of Michigan is a one-week residential program that introduces high school students to different branches of engineering. Through hands-on projects, lab tours, and team challenges, you explore fields like civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering. You meet college students and professors, learn how engineers solve real-world problems, and experience campus life through group games and social activities.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-on-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Stanford University logo