13 STEM Programs for High School Students in St. Louis, MO
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
As a high school student, exploring STEM programs can help you explore your interests and gain experience that goes beyond what’s taught in the classroom. These programs give you the chance to build technical skills, collaborate with peers, and work on meaningful projects that connect science, technology, engineering, and math. You’ll also have opportunities to meet mentors, researchers, and university faculty who can offer guidance, share career insights, and help you expand your academic network.
Why should you attend a program in St. Louis?
St. Louis is home to major research institutions, including Washington University and Saint Louis University, which offer programs to high school students. These organizations offer structured summer experiences where you can explore areas like biology, computer science, engineering, and environmental research. Whether you’re a local or travelling to the region, St. Louis offers a wide range of opportunities to learn, experiment, and connect with professionals in STEM.
To help you get started, we have 13 STEM programs for high school students in St. Louis, MO.
If you are looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; $4,500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors and rising seniors from the Greater St. Louis area
This is a summer focus, fully funded research internship run by the Young Scientist Program at Washington University in St. Louis. Since 1991, the program has paired highly motivated high school students with research laboratories across the biological and biomedical sciences for an intensive eight-week experience. You will work closely with a laboratory Mentor on an individualised research project while receiving additional academic and personal support from a Tutor. You’ll also complete two structured courses focused on scientific writing, communication, and college preparation.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 12-week cohorts offered in summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating strong academic performance
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high school student. 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: Paid internship; exact stipend amount not publicly specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Summer; 8-week internship; exact dates vary by year
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older
The High School Internship Program at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre offers you the opportunity to engage in authentic, hands-on research in plant and agricultural sciences. You’ll work alongside leading scientists at a world-class research centre, contributing to real research projects that impact agriculture, sustainability, and food security. You’ll gain experience collecting and analysing data, learning advanced laboratory, field, greenhouse, or computational techniques depending on your assigned lab. You’ll collaborate with fellow interns and researchers while developing critical scientific and professional skills.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling cohort-based deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; recommended to have completed AI Scholars or have basic Python/AI familiarity for advanced programs
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, students are 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, students 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Saint Louis Science Centre, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Fully Funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Multi-year program spanning all four years of high school
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Underserved high school students from the St. Louis area
The Youth Exploring Science Program is a nationally recognised, multi-year STEM enrichment initiative run by the Saint Louis Science Centre for underserved high school students in the St. Louis region. You’ll enter the program as a freshman and participate throughout all four years of high school, engaging in project-based, hands-on STEM learning during the academic year and intensive daily programming in the summer. The curriculum emphasises real-world skill development and exposure to high-demand STEM fields such as aerospace, agriscience, computer science, and integrative medicine and well-being.
Location: Mobile STEM Labs across underserved communities in St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Ongoing year-round with various programs
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Open to K-12 students in underserved communities in St. Louis
STEM on Wheels is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to bringing hands-on STEM education directly to underserved communities in St. Louis. Through mobile labs equipped with cutting-edge technology, the program offers workshops, camps, and mentorship opportunities designed to ignite curiosity and foster a love for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program provides you with a chance to engage in interactive, real-world STEM projects while developing critical skills for future academic and career success.
Location: University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $200 stipend for participation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 23 – June 26
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students from the Greater St. Louis Area
The Geospatial Science Summer Camp offers you an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of geospatial science, which covers areas such as geography, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), cartography, remote sensing, and surveying. This four-day camp provides hands-on experience with geospatial technologies, such as GIS and remote sensing tools, and emphasises teamwork, leadership, and exposure to STEM career opportunities in the growing geospatial sector. Through a mix of lectures, interactive sessions, and field activities, you will learn how geospatial science is used in real-world applications, including urban planning, environmental management, and space exploration.
Location: St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free textbooks, materials, and supplies for dual enrollment courses (not dual credit)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Classes Begin: August 25
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students in North St. Louis County
The Emerson STEM Academy is a dual enrollment and dual credit program developed in partnership with Emerson Electric Corporation, St. Louis Community College (STLCC), and local North St. Louis County school districts. The program allows you to earn college credits through STLCC while still in high school, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pathways. You must complete at least 12 credit hours of college coursework, including STEM-related math courses, and be prepared for future career opportunities.
Location: Challenger Learning Centre St. Louis, Ferguson, MO
Cost: $225–$375, depending on camp; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June – August; multiple 1-week sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling registration; early-bird discount available through March 15
Eligibility: Students ages 8 - 13
The Challenger Learning Centre St. Louis Summer Camps offer immersive, hands-on STEM experiences inspired by space exploration, engineering, and technology. The camps feature simulated space missions, rocket launches, robotics, drone design, and collaborative problem-solving activities. The camp offerings range from Astronaut Training programs to advanced robotics, drone engineering, and inventor workshops using tools such as Arduino microprocessors and 3D printers. Advanced camps may include unique experiences such as underwater SCUBA-based astronaut training simulations.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits; application fee of $25 (waived for financial need)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15–17 for remote internships, 16+ for in-person internships)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University offers you the chance to engage in cutting-edge research across a wide range of STEM fields. You’ll work directly with faculty mentors on innovative projects involving state-of-the-art technology in areas such as astronomy, bioengineering, physics, computer science, environmental science, and neuroscience, among others. This full-time, 8-week program provides hands-on experience in scientific research, developing critical skills in scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Program is unpaid; one-time nonrefundable application fee: $95
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 22 to August 14
Application Deadline: Deadline usually extended to March 1
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors or seniors aged 14+
SHTEM is a faculty-mentored, interdisciplinary summer internship hosted by Stanford University’s Compression Forum that immerses those in authentic research. Over roughly eight weeks, you’ll work in small groups of 2–5 students on multifaceted projects spanning information science, engineering, humanities, arts, linguistics, neuroscience, computer science, design, and related fields. You’ll receive mentorship from Stanford students, faculty, and staff, gaining early exposure to academic research in a collaborative university environment.
Location: Virtual (Available on edX)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-placed
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to high school students, and is curated for beginners
CS50x, Harvard University’s premier introductory computer science course, is available on edX as a self-paced program accessible to learners globally. Led by Professor David J. Malan and Harvard’s expert computer science team, the course focuses on developing algorithmic thinking and problem-solving skills. The key topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, software engineering, resource management, and web development. Throughout the course, you'll gain hands-on experience with programming languages such as C, Python, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, while tackling real-world-inspired problem sets in fields like finance, cryptography, biology, and forensics.
Location: Online (via edX)
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; paid certificate available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all learners; designed for students with zero prior programming experience
CS101 is Stanford University’s beginner-friendly introduction to computer science, available as an on-demand online course through edX. Taught by Senior Lecturer Nick Parlante, this course breaks down the fundamentals of computers, covering topics like hardware, software, code structure, data, digital media, and internet basics. You'll engage with short, browser-based coding exercises to explore key concepts such as loops, logic, abstraction, and structured data, providing hands-on experience with how these elements function in real-world scenarios.
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.
Image Source - Lumiere Education logo