39 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students
Updated: Oct 13
TL;DR
This guide covers 39 STEM summer programs across biology, math and computing, engineering, medical research, and multidisciplinary science, with cost, dates, deadlines, and eligibility listed for each. Seven of them are free, more than a dozen pay a stipend, and several can be completed fully online, so cost and location need not rule you out. The most selective placements, including Memorial Sloan Kettering at close to 2% and RSI at roughly 2.5%, admit only a small cohort, and the earliest deadlines fall in November. If you want to finish a mentored research paper from anywhere in the world, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a PhD mentor.
A STEM summer program gives high school students something a classroom rarely can: time in a real lab, an engineering workshop or a math seminar with people who do the work. This guide covers 39 programs across biology, math and computing, engineering, medicine and general STEM research, with costs, dates, deadlines and eligibility for each. Where a program has not yet posted dates for the coming summer, we give its usual timing instead.
Are STEM summer programs worth it?
Yes, if the program ends with something you produced rather than just a certificate of attendance.
You finish with a useful output: Ending a program with a report, a research paper, or a project gives you something concrete to point to during college applications. Rutgers' Waksman Institute Summer Experience has students isolate and analyze duckweed DNA fragments, then submit their vetted sequences to GenBank, the international DNA repository, where each published sequence credits the student by name.
You find out whether a field suits you before you commit to it: Two weeks in Stanford AIMI's health AI internship or four weeks of proof-based mathematics at SUMaC will tell you if you’re actually interested in the field. Discovering that at 16 costs far less than discovering it in the second year of a degree.
You gain a recommender who has watched you work: UCSF's Summer Student Research Program assigns one-to-one mentors, and Scripps Research pairs each intern with a graduate student mentor. Someone who supervised your experiments writes a different, more detailed letter than a teacher who graded your tests.
How do you choose a STEM summer program?
Start with eligibility rather than interest, since many programs have age, geography, and citizenship restrictions. Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program accepts only US citizens attending New Jersey high schools, and Memorial Sloan Kettering requires you to live within 25 miles of its Manhattan campus.
Read the eligibility: Residency, citizenship, grade, age, and GPA rules rule out many applicants. Scripps Research states that applicants must be San Diego County residents who completed their most recent semester at one of nine named partner schools, a far narrower door than the program summary suggests.
Decide how much time you can commit: The range here is wide. TCNJ's Camp Innovate and Investigate runs one week, ARISE and the Eugene and Ruth Roberts Academy run about ten, and Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science asks for ten weeks across two consecutive summers.
Check the format: Virtual options remove travel and housing costs outright, making them cheaper than in-person alternatives. Rutgers' WISE covers the bioinformatics online for $600 against $2,200 in person, and Stanford AIMI runs its internship entirely remotely.
Apply early: The Navy's SEAP window runs August 1 to November 1 for the following summer, RSI closes in early December, Simons posts in late November, and every UCLA track is filled before its posted 2026 deadline.
Are there free STEM summer programs for high school students?
Yes. Seven of the 39 programs on this list charge nothing to attend, more than a dozen pay a stipend, and many options offer financial aid.
Free programs might be more selective: The cost-free programs are among the most selective here. RSI admits around 100 juniors a year at roughly 2.5%, Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program draws more than 3,000 applications annually, and Memorial Sloan Kettering accepts about 20 students at close to 2%.
Some free programs still cost you money: Check what the waiver actually covers. MIT states on its MITES site that all educational, food, and boarding costs are covered and students pay only for transportation to and from campus, with travel scholarships available. Princeton's program is free but provides neither housing nor transport, so it works only if you already live nearby.
Paid placements usually come with residency conditions: Genspace's Biorocket internship pays $2,000 and is limited to New York City public and charter school students aged 16 or older, and UCSF's placement is aimed at students from economically, educationally or medically disadvantaged backgrounds in the Bay Area.
Do STEM summer programs help with college applications?
Yes, though what you do at the program matters more than just a famous name.
A finished output is more beneficial: A GenBank sequence under your name, a two-page research summary, or a symposium presentation gives admissions officers something specific to read and evaluate.
A supervising mentor becomes a credible recommender: Someone who watched you troubleshoot an experiment across seven weeks can describe how you think, which a classroom teacher is not positioned to do.
Colleges look for continued engagement: If you pair your summer program with STEM internships, STEM research, or STEM extracurriculars, colleges see that as sustained engagement with the field. Returning to Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science for a second summer, or earning a summer place through a spring course as CCNY's STEM Research Academy requires, reads as commitment.
Depth of involvement matters more: Longer programs allowing deeper engagement with the field typically lead to better outputs. From our analysis of the Class of 2030, we found that students who mentioned the Lumiere program and research paper were 4x more likely to be admitted to a top university compared to the general applicant pool.
How we selected these programs
We assessed every program against what matters when you are deciding where to spend a summer.
Who mentors you and how much access you get: Whether you work with faculty, postdocs or graduate researchers, and whether that contact is one-to-one or in a group.
What you produce by the end: A paper, a published sequence, a poster, a presentation, or a graded course, rather than attendance alone.
Cost and what it covers: The full fee or stipend, what sits outside it such as housing and travel, and whether need-based aid exists.
Who can actually apply: Residency, citizenship, grade, age and GPA requirements, stated plainly so you are not reading about a program that is closed to you.
Whether the details are verifiable: Dates, deadlines, and eligibility confirmed on the program's own page. Where a program has not posted dates for the coming summer, we give its usual timing and say so.
Section | Top programs | Cost | Best for |
Biology, biotech and life sciences | Free – $2,200 (stipends at several) | Students who want wet-lab or bioinformatics work in a research institute | |
Math, computing and AI | SUMaC, MathILy, Stanford AIMI, Veritas AI | $3,750 – $8,950 (AIMI fee not published) | Students who enjoy proofs, programming, or health data |
Engineering | ARISE NYU Tandon, UCLA Engineering Design, Cornell CURIE | Free – $3,002 | Students who want to build and test a design rather than sit in lectures |
Medical and clinical research | Free (stipends of $1,200 – $3,000) | Students pursuing medicine or biomedical research | |
Multidisciplinary STEM | Free – $9,970 | Students who want to sample several fields or aim for the most selective placements |
Biology, Biotech and Life Sciences Research
These programs put students in working biology, biotech and life science labs, from microbiology to molecular genetics. Most are research placements or short lab courses, and several are free or paid.
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: Paid; the stipend amount is not listed in the program summary
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Eight weeks over the summer
Application deadline: Posted on the program page each winter
Eligibility: High school students in the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden
Monell's apprenticeship is an eight-week paid summer placement at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a research institute focused on taste and smell. It draws students from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden. Apprentices spend the summer inside a working research center rather than a classroom.
Who it's best for: A greater Philadelphia or Camden student who wants a paid eight-week apprenticeship in sensory science.
Location: Rockefeller University, New York City
Cost/Stipend: Free; need-based stipends are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: About six weeks (June 22 to August 6 in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications closed January 2 in 2026, so expect an early-January deadline
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors aged 16 or older
Rockefeller's Summer Science Research Program is a free placement for 32 students in labs at Rockefeller University over about six weeks. Applicants must be juniors or seniors aged 16 or older, and need-based stipends are available. The 2026 application closed on January 2.
Who it's best for: A junior or senior aged 16 or older who wants a free spot in a research university lab and can apply by early January.
Location: Genspace community biolab, Brooklyn, New York
Cost/Stipend: Paid: a $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Six months: a spring session (February 25 to May 21) and a summer session (July 6 to August 14) in 2026
Application deadline: Applications opened November 1 for the 2026 cohort
Eligibility: New York City public and charter school students aged 16 or older
Biorocket is a six-month biotech research internship, split into a spring session and a summer session, with a $2,000 stipend. It is open to New York City public and charter school students aged 16 and older, and applications opened on November 1 for the 2026 cohort.
Who it's best for: A New York City public or charter student aged 16 or older who can commit across spring and summer.
Location: Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California (in person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; the stipend amount is not posted on the program page
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Seven weeks over the summer; specific dates are shared with applicants
Application deadline: Contact the program coordinator for the current application window
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from underrepresented, low-income backgrounds in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Francisco County
iCLEM is a seven-week, paid summer internship in microbiology hosted by the Joint BioEnergy Institute. It is aimed at rising juniors and seniors from low-income, underrepresented backgrounds in three Bay Area counties. The program's own page is short, so families should email the coordinator for dates and how to apply.
Who it's best for: A rising junior or senior in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Francisco County who wants a paid first lab job.
Location: Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey (in person), or online for vWISE
Cost/Stipend: WISE $2,200; virtual vWISE $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats; sessions are expected to fill
Dates: Two-week sessions in 2026: June 22 to July 2 and July 27 to August 7 in person, and August 10 to 21 online
Application deadline: First come, first served; 2027 applications will likely open around February 1, 2027
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a high school biology course
WISE students work on a real research project analyzing duckweed DNA, purifying and analyzing fragments in the lab and publishing their vetted sequences to GenBank under their own names. The in-person program runs two weeks at Rutgers' Waksman Institute for $2,200. The virtual vWISE covers the bioinformatics online for $600, with no lab experiments.
Who it's best for: A student who has finished high school biology and wants a published DNA sequence, in person for two weeks or entirely online.
Location: Scripps Research, La Jolla, California (in person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid: a $5,040 stipend for the seven-week program (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Seven weeks plus a mandatory three-day boot camp (June 22 to August 7, with boot camp June 16 to 18, in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications close in late March (March 22 in 2026), with interviews in early April and decisions by the end of April
Eligibility: Ages 16 and up, San Diego County residents from nine named REACH partner schools and programs, with one year each of high school chemistry and biology and a minimum 3.0 GPA
Scripps Research pairs students with a laboratory scientist for a full-time research internship, after a three-day unpaid training boot camp. Interns attend weekly professional development workshops and scientific seminars, then present at a campus-wide Summer Intern Symposium. The stipend is $5,040, but eligibility is limited to nine named San Diego-area partner schools and programs.
Who it's best for: A student at one of the nine San Diego partner schools with a 3.0 GPA who can work 40 hours a week for seven weeks.
Location: Rowan University biomedical engineering or biomedical science labs in Glassboro, Camden or Stratford, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid volunteer placement; no fee is posted
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Six weeks (June 29 to August 7 in 2026)
Application deadline: A teacher nomination is due in mid-May (May 15 in 2026), followed by an application packet due within three weeks
Eligibility: Rising seniors who live in or attend high school in South Jersey, or within a 30-minute drive of a host lab, and can work at least 20 hours a week in person
Rowan's RISER program places rising seniors in biomedical engineering or biomedical science labs for six weeks of guided and independent research. Scholars volunteer at least 20 hours a week and present at a culminating symposium for host labs, families and nominating teachers. A high school teacher must nominate you before you can apply.
Who it's best for: A South Jersey rising senior with a teacher willing to nominate them and time for 20 unpaid hours a week of biomedical lab work.
Location: UC Davis campus, Davis, California (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Program fees are listed on the program's cost page; the program raises funds to support students who cannot afford to attend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 40 students
Dates: Six weeks (June 21 to August 1 in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications opened January 1 for 2026, with decisions sent by April 15
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students interested in the biological, agricultural, environmental and natural sciences
The Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential research program that introduces about 40 students to original research at UC Davis. Participants work in the biological, agricultural, environmental and natural sciences and live on campus for the duration. The program also raises money each year to support students who cannot afford the cost of attending.
Who it's best for: A high-achieving student ready to live on a university campus for six weeks and carry a research project in the life or environmental sciences.
Math, Computing and AI Programs
Two proof-based math programs sit alongside two AI programs, one general and one focused on health. Three of the four can be done fully online: Veritas AI, Stanford AIMI and SUMaC's online track.
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (residential)
Cost/Stipend: $6,175 program fee (2026); need-based aid is guaranteed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 45 students
Dates: About five weeks (June 28 to August 1 in 2026)
Application deadline: Posted on the program's site each winter
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics; grade and age details are on the program's site
MathILy is a five-week mathematics program at Bryn Mawr College that gathers about 45 students. The 2026 fee was $6,175, and the program guarantees need-based financial aid. It suits students who want depth in mathematics rather than a survey of many fields.
Who it's best for: A math-loving student who wants five weeks of college-level mathematics and needs guaranteed need-based aid.
Location: Stanford University (four-week residential) or online (three weeks)
Cost/Stipend: Online $3,750; residential $8,950, which includes housing, meals and field trips; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 residential seats and 64 online seats
Dates: 2026 sessions: online June 15 to July 3 and July 6 to July 24; residential June 21 to July 17
Application deadline: Applications typically close in early February (February 2 in 2026); financial aid applications are due about a week later
Eligibility: Students in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application with an exceptional interest in math, experience reading and writing proofs, and strong high school algebra and geometry
SUMaC is a selective, non-credit program in advanced mathematics, with tracks in abstract algebra and number theory or algebraic topology. Students choose a four-week residential session at Stanford or a faster three-week online session, and they present research projects at the end. Admission is competitive, and only 104 seats exist across formats.
Who it's best for: A student who already enjoys writing proofs and wants a serious pure math environment, with the choice of living at Stanford or attending online.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!
11. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program, $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship, $6,900 for both; need-based aid available for AI Scholars
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; the AI Fellowship requires completing AI Scholars or showing prior AI or Python experience
Dates: Multiple 12 to 15 week cohorts year round, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling; cohorts open in January, May, September, and November
Eligibility: Ambitious high schoolers anywhere in the world; AI Fellowship applicants need prior AI Scholars completion or existing AI or Python experience
Founded and run by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI offers two tracks for students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars boot camp introduces the fundamentals of AI, machine learning, and data science through real world projects, while the more advanced AI Fellowship pairs you one on one with a mentor from a top university to develop an individual project, with in-house support toward publishing in a high school research journal.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a structured entry point into AI, and can move up to fellowship level one on one mentorship once they have the foundation.
Location: Virtual, hosted by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging
Cost/Stipend: Fee details are shared in the application materials
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Two weeks over the summer
Application deadline: The 2027 application opens November 10, 2026 and closes February 1, 2027
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 or older, with a preference for strong math and programming skills
Stanford's AIMI internship gives high school students mentored, hands-on research experience in AI for health and medicine, working with real-world health data. It runs virtually for about two weeks, so there is no travel. The 2027 application opens in November, and the center holds an information session on November 10, 2026.
Who it's best for: A student comfortable with math and programming who wants to try health AI research without traveling.
Engineering Programs
These programs focus on engineering design and research, from go-karts and rockets to biomedical devices. Most run on university campuses, and one is a funded pathway for New York City public school students.
Location: University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Fees are listed on the academy's fast-facts page
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Three weeks in July
Application deadline: Posted on the academy's fast-facts page
Eligibility: High school students; details are listed on the fast-facts page
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn is a three-week, for-credit residential program held each July on Penn's campus. Students take engineering coursework taught at a research university. Cost and deadline details sit on the academy's fast-facts page.
Who it's best for: A student who wants to try university-level engineering for credit and can spend three weeks of July in Philadelphia.
Location: Columbia University, New York City (commuter)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition is listed on the program page
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Two three-week sessions in 2026: July 6 to 24 and July 27 to August 14
Application deadline: Applications for 2027 open in January 2027
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors
SHAPE is Columbia Engineering's summer program for high schoolers, offered as a commuter program in two three-week sessions. Students entering 10th to 12th grade can apply, and applications for the next summer open in January.
Who it's best for: A student who can commute to Columbia daily and wants a three-week taste of engineering.
Location: Columbia University, New York City
Cost/Stipend: Funded for eligible students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: A funded pathway into SHAPE's summer sessions
Application deadline: A priority deadline in late December (December 22) and a regular deadline in early January (January 7) in the 2025-26 cycle
Eligibility: New York City public and charter school students with documented economic need
HK Maker Lab is a funded pathway into Columbia's SHAPE summer program for New York City public and charter school students with documented economic need. Its deadlines come early, with a priority deadline in late December and a regular deadline in early January.
Who it's best for: A New York City public or charter school student with documented financial need who wants Columbia engineering funded.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Cost/Stipend: $1,900 tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: One week in the third week of July
Application deadline: Typically mid-February (February 15 for the 2025 program)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Cornell Engineering's CURIE and CATALYST academies are one-week summer programs held in the third week of July for rising juniors and seniors in Ithaca. Tuition is $1,900. Applications have typically closed in mid-February.
Who it's best for: A rising junior or senior willing to travel to upstate New York for a one-week engineering immersion.
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, California (commuter program; no program housing)
Cost/Stipend: About $3,002 in total fees for a high school student in 2026 (program fee $2,541); need- and merit-based Summer Scholars Support is available to California students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; all 2026 tracks filled
Dates: Two three-week sessions in 2026: June 22 to July 10 and July 13 to July 31
Application deadline: Rolling admission from February 18; scholarship deadline April 1; 2026 session deadlines were June 12 and July 3, though tracks filled earlier
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 11 in spring who are 15 by the first day of the term, with a 3.2 GPA (3.5 for Microcontrollers)
UCLA's Engineering Design program is a three-week, hands-on introduction to engineering built around a team project: a go-kart, a microcontroller system, a rocket or an autonomous rover. Students earn two UCLA units and a letter grade, taught by faculty with undergraduate mentors. Every 2026 track filled, so early application matters.
Who it's best for: A student within commuting distance of Westwood with a 3.2 GPA who would rather build a go-kart, rover or rocket than sit in lectures.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering and NYU labs in New York City, with remote workshops in June
Cost/Stipend: Free; a full scholarship covers the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, with placements across 32 to 40 NYU labs
Dates: Ten weeks: remote evening workshops in June, then six weeks of in-person lab work (July 6 to August 14 in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications close in late February (February 20 in 2026, with recommendations due a week later)
Eligibility: New York City students currently in 10th or 11th grade with strong academic records and a demonstrated interest in STEM
ARISE is a free, ten-week program from NYU Tandon. It begins with four weeks of remote evening workshops in June, followed by six weeks of in-person lab work, Monday to Friday, in one of 32 to 40 NYU labs. Students are mentored by graduate researchers and faculty and present at a concluding colloquium. Admission is selective and includes a group interview and lab tours.
Who it's best for: A New York City 10th or 11th grader who wants a free lab placement in engineering or the sciences and can commit a full summer.
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 to $2,000 per session (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Weekly sessions between July 6 and July 24, 2026
Application deadline: Posted on the academy page each spring
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors
Drexel's academy is a series of one-week summer sessions in biomedical engineering, held between July 6 and July 24 in 2026. Fees ran from $1,500 to $2,000 depending on the session. It is open to rising sophomores through seniors.
Who it's best for: A rising sophomore, junior or senior who wants a one-week look at biomedical engineering rather than a summer-long commitment.
Medical and Clinical Research Placements
These placements sit inside hospitals, cancer centers and clinical research institutes, where students work alongside physicians and scientists. Most pay a stipend, and several are limited by region.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital labs, Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Paid, at 40 hours a week; the stipend amount is not listed on the program page
Acceptance rate/cohort size: More than 100 interns since the program began in 2020
Dates: A summer internship; dates are posted with each year's application
Application deadline: Posted with each year's application
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school and undergraduate students; the program focuses on female, Black, Latinx, American Indian and first-generation youth
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a Biogen Foundation-funded, paid summer internship in mentored neurology research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Interns work 40 hours a week in MGH labs across neurology subspecialties, join an INSPIRE speaker series with leading neurologists, and finish with research presentations. Alumni have co-authored peer-reviewed papers.
Who it's best for: A Massachusetts student interested in neuroscience who wants a paid, 40-hour-a-week lab placement at a major hospital.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, New York
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 stipend; housing is not provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 20 interns, with an acceptance rate near 2%
Dates: Eight weeks (June 29 to August 21 in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications closed February 6 in 2026
Eligibility: Juniors who live within 25 miles of the Manhattan campus
MSK's Summer Student Program places about 20 juniors in cancer research over eight weeks, with a $1,200 stipend. With an acceptance rate near 2%, it is among the most selective programs here, and applicants must live within 25 miles of campus because housing is not provided.
Who it's best for: A junior who lives within 25 miles of Manhattan and can handle a very competitive application.
Location: City of Hope campus, Duarte, California (in person)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend and fee details are posted with each year's application
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; only as many students are admitted as the academy can fund
Dates: About ten weeks, typically early June through August
Application deadline: Applications typically open in January and close in mid-March
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 16, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents (based on the most recent posted cycle)
City of Hope's academy places high school and undergraduate students in hands-on research at a leading independent biomedical, treatment and education center known for cancer and diabetes work. Admission runs in two stages: a committee scores every application, then accepts or waitlists the strongest. Recent cycles ran about ten weeks full time, so students need a clear summer.
Who it's best for: A student who is at least 16, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and can give a full summer to lab work at a cancer center in Southern California.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!
Location: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California (in person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid: a $3,000 stipend for high school students (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Seven weeks (June 15 to July 31 in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications for the 2027 cohort are expected to open in December 2026
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors and seniors who are at least 16 by June 1, have completed a year of math and biology, and come from economically, educationally or medically disadvantaged backgrounds
UCSF's Summer Student Research Program places students in local clinics and basic science labs with one-on-one mentors. Participants attend weekly seminars and workshops, join journal clubs and small-group mentoring, and give poster and oral presentations at the end. The 2026 stipend was $3,000, and the 2026 cohort was open to high school applicants only.
Who it's best for: A sophomore, junior or senior facing economic, educational or medical disadvantage who wants a paid placement in a Bay Area clinic or lab.
Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Cost/Stipend: Paid: participants are compensated; the amount is not posted on the program page
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Ten weeks per summer for two consecutive summers, about 35 hours a week (late June to August 25 in 2026)
Application deadline: The application portal for the 2026 cohort opened in early November; 2026 student applications have closed
Eligibility: Rising high school students (juniors and seniors in recent cycles), including a commitment to return for a second summer
RUYES places students in mentor-supervised cancer research at the Rutgers Cancer Institute for 10 weeks each summer over two consecutive summers. Participants prepare a poster and a 10-minute talk for the annual Research Day, join seminars on cancer and the research literature, and complete about 70 hours a year of follow-up activities. Students are compensated for their time.
Who it's best for: A student ready to commit to two consecutive summers of cancer research plus a year of community engagement.
Location: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: Paid: a $1,500 stipend (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Four weeks (July 6 to July 30 in 2026)
Application deadline: Details for 2027 post in January
Eligibility: High school students interested in biomedical research
The Wistar Institute's high school program is now a four-week paid summer placement in biomedical research, with a $1,500 stipend in 2026. Details for 2027 are due to post in January.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a paid, four-week stint at a biomedical research institute in Philadelphia.
Multidisciplinary STEM Research and University Programs
These programs let students sample several fields at once, from selective national institutes to state-run and university summer schools and research placements.
Location: Remote, from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Individual Research Program $2,600, Premium Research and Publication Program $4,800, Research Fellowship $8,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; admission is based on academic review with a 3.3 or higher unweighted GPA rather than a fixed cutoff
Dates: Multiple cohorts year round, in spring, summer, fall and winter
Application deadline: Rolling; cohorts open in January, May, September and November
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school student with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher; no prior subject knowledge required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs high school students one on one with a PhD mentor for an independent research project, with options ranging from a 12 week paper to a full year of extended work. You can choose from subjects including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations, and finish with a completed research paper of your own.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a genuinely individual, mentored research paper rather than a group program, and doesn't need prior subject expertise going in.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 100 students a year, with an acceptance rate near 2.5%
Dates: About six weeks, typically late June through early August
Application deadline: Applications typically close in early December
Eligibility: High school juniors only; seniors are not eligible
RSI is a cost-free research program run by the Center for Excellence in Education for high school juniors, with seniors not eligible. Participants complete advanced coursework and then an independent research project at MIT. It is among the most selective programs on this list.
Who it's best for: A high school junior with a strong record in math or science who wants a free, highly selective research summer and can apply well before senior year.
Location: Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts (residential)
Cost/Stipend: 2026 tuition was $4,985 per two-week session or $9,970 for both; 2027 rates are coming soon
Acceptance rate/cohort size: More than 100 students a year, in course groups of up to 17
Dates: Two two-week sessions in 2027: July 3 to 16 and July 18 to 31
Application deadline: Applications open in December
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12; the program is hosted by Smith, a women's college
Smith's Summer Science and Engineering Program has run since 1990 and serves more than 100 students a year. Each student takes a two-week, lab-based course with Smith faculty, with options such as Designing Intelligent Robots, Novel Bacteriophage Discovery and Digital Systems, and can stack a second course over four weeks. Undergraduate science majors serve as teaching assistants, and 2026 tuition was $4,985 per session.
Who it's best for: A student entering 9th to 12th grade who wants a residential, single-topic lab course at a women's college, with choices from robotics to genetics to neuroscience.
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Free; students pay only for transportation to and from MIT, and travel scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Six weeks, typically late June through early August
Application deadline: Applications typically close on February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current 11th graders) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Summer is a free, six-week residential STEM program at MIT for rising high school seniors. Room, board and instruction are covered, so students pay only for transportation, and travel scholarships are available. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and applications typically close on February 1.
Who it's best for: A U.S. citizen or permanent resident in 11th grade who wants a fully funded, six-week residential summer at MIT.
Location: Six University of California campuses: Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego and Santa Cruz (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Program fees are posted on COSMOS's fees page, and financial assistance is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Each campus takes about 150 to 250 students
Dates: Four weeks each summer; dates differ by campus
Application deadline: The 2027 application opens January 6, 2027 and closes February 5, 2027
Eligibility: California high school students completing grades 8 to 12; a typical admitted student has a GPA of 3.5 or above
COSMOS is a four-week residential program in which students apply to one of six UC campuses and take a hands-on, lab-intensive cluster with faculty and researchers. Clusters go well beyond typical high school courses and vary by campus. It is limited to California high school students, and selection is competitive.
Who it's best for: A California student who wants to live on a UC campus for four weeks and go deep on one topic, including students just finishing 8th grade.
Location: Drew University, Madison, New Jersey (residential)
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; the program is funded by the State of New Jersey and donors
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Three weeks in July (July 12 to August 1 in 2026)
Application deadline: School nomination and application in the fall of junior year, for the following summer
Eligibility: New Jersey residents nominated by their high school, entering senior year
The Governor's School in the Sciences is a three-week residential program at Drew University where students are immersed in college-level research. Schools nominate students, and applications go in during the fall of junior year for the following summer. The program describes itself as very prestigious for rising seniors.
Who it's best for: A New Jersey student whose school will nominate them in the fall of junior year and who wants a three-week residential research stretch before senior year.
Location: Kean University, Union, New Jersey (commuter only)
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 for the four-week session or $3,000 for the two-week session; early-commitment rates of $3,000 and $1,500; fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Two options in 2026: a four-week session (July 6 to 30) or a two-week session (July 20 to 30), Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Application deadline: Applications typically open in January and close in early March (March 6 in 2026)
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors and seniors; one teacher recommendation and a transcript are required
Kean's program puts students in faculty-led research streams in scientific computation, cancer biology, machine learning, developmental biology and modern drug discovery. Students pick a four-week or two-week session and also attend workshops on skills and college and career paths. It is commuter only, with fee waivers available through the application.
Who it's best for: A northern New Jersey student who can commute daily and wants the flexibility of a two-week or four-week research stretch.
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey (commuter only)
Cost/Stipend: $500, with meals provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Seats are limited
Dates: One week (July 20 to 24 in 2026); 2027 dates are to be announced
Application deadline: Priority deadline of late March (March 31 in 2026), then rolling admission
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors who have completed one year of high school math and science; a teacher recommendation is required
TCNJ's School of Science runs a one-week commuter camp of hands-on experiments across math, physics, computer science, biology and chemistry. Campers also join workshops on the college application process, plus sustainability and hydroponics activities. The fee is $500, and the school provides meals.
Who it's best for: A rising sophomore, junior or senior in central New Jersey who wants a low-cost week of broad science.
Location: New York University, New York City (optional on-campus housing)
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 tuition; optional housing with a meal plan is $3,840
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to 40 students
Dates: Six weeks, typically starting at the end of June (June 30 to August 8 on the current page)
Application deadline: Applications run February 1 to March 2
Eligibility: Current 11th graders with a strong academic record and a demonstrated interest and ability in STEM
GSTEM is a six-week NYU summer program in which 40 students are each paired with a STEM professor or researcher for an individual project. Students take weekly field trips to meet women working in STEM and finish with a symposium where they present their research. Tuition is $5,500, and on-campus housing is optional.
Who it's best for: A junior who wants an individual research project with an NYU mentor and can budget about $5,500 plus optional housing.
Location: Stony Brook University, Long Island, New York
Cost/Stipend: Paid: participants receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Six weeks (June 29 to August 7 in 2026)
Application deadline: Applications for the next summer post in late November
Eligibility: Current 11th graders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Simons program is a six-week summer research placement at Stony Brook University on Long Island. It accepts current 11th graders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and pays a stipend. Applications for the following summer post in late November.
Who it's best for: A junior who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and can get to Long Island for six weeks of research.
Location: City College of New York, New York City
Cost/Stipend: Free; the summer internship carries a stipend of up to $1,575
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students start the spring course and 10 advance to the summer internship
Dates: A spring course from February to May, then a five-week summer internship (July 6 to August 6 in 2026)
Application deadline: See the College Now page for the current deadline
Eligibility: New York City public school sophomores and juniors
CCNY's STEM Research Academy starts with a spring course, and 10 of the 25 students in it advance to a five-week paid summer research internship. The program is free, with a stipend of up to $1,575 for the summer phase. Because the summer spot is earned through the spring course, students should treat it as a year-long commitment.
Who it's best for: A New York City public school sophomore or junior willing to earn a summer spot through a spring course first.
Location: Princeton University campus, Princeton, New Jersey (in person only)
Cost/Stipend: Free; housing and transportation are not provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Over 3,000 students apply each year for a limited number of placements
Dates: Five to six weeks over the summer, set by each research project
Application deadline: Applications typically open February 15 and close in mid-March (February 15 to March 15 in 2026)
Eligibility: Students 16 or older by June 15 who attend a local New Jersey high school and are U.S. citizens (green cards are not accepted)
Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program embeds local high school students in ongoing faculty research in the natural sciences and engineering. The program is free, but students must arrange their own housing and transportation, so it works best for those who live nearby. Every participant writes a two-page research summary at the end.
Who it's best for: A U.S. citizen at a New Jersey high school near Princeton who can arrange their own transport for a free lab placement.
If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey, with placements at research sites
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid on completion; the amount is not posted on the program page
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Eight weeks over the summer
Application deadline: The 2027 application will open in fall 2026
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Partners in Science pairs rising juniors and seniors with mentors in science, health and technical fields for an eight-week summer research experience run by Liberty Science Center. Students contribute to ongoing research and independent projects, and accepted students receive a stipend on completion. The page says the next application opens later this fall.
Who it's best for: A rising junior or senior who can commit to eight weeks of full-time research and is ready to be embedded in a professional lab.
Location: Department of the Navy laboratories; sites vary
Cost/Stipend: Apprentices receive a stipend, and amounts vary by site
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: Eight weeks each summer
Application deadline: Applications open August 1 and close November 1 each year
Eligibility: Requirements are set by each Navy laboratory site and listed with its openings
SEAP places high school students in Navy research laboratories for an eight-week summer apprenticeship. The application window is the same every year, running from August 1 to November 1, so students need to plan a year ahead.
Who it's best for: A planner who will apply in the fall for the following summer and wants to work in a Navy lab.
Frequently asked questions: STEM summer programs for high school students
What is the best STEM summer program for high school students?
The best program is the one that fits your field and that you are eligible for, but a few stand out within their subject. For mathematics, Stanford's SUMaC has only 104 seats across its online and residential formats, and MathILy at Bryn Mawr takes about 45 students. For research, RSI at MIT is free and admits around 100 juniors a year. For biology, Rockefeller's Summer Science Research Program places 32 students in university labs at no cost.
Can you do a STEM summer program online?
Yes, and several strong options run fully remotely. Rutgers' WISE costs $600 and covers the bioinformatics side of its duckweed DNA project with no lab experiments, SUMaC's online track runs three weeks for $3,750, and Stanford AIMI's health AI internship is virtual for two weeks. If you want a longer independent project, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully remote and pairs you one-on-one with a PhD mentor to finish a research paper.
What grade do you need to be in for a STEM summer program?
It varies by program, though most accept students from 9th grade through rising seniors. Smith College's Summer Science and Engineering Program takes students entering grades 9 to 12, and COSMOS accepts California students completing grades 8 to 12. SUMaC is limited to 10th and 11th graders, RSI to juniors only, and MITES Summer to rising seniors.
Do you need prior research experience to join a STEM summer program?
Usually not, although some programs expect specific preparation. Rutgers' WISE requires a completed high school biology course, SUMaC expects experience reading and writing proofs, and Stanford AIMI prefers strong math and programming skills.
Can international students join STEM summer programs?
Some can, but many of the most prestigious programs have citizenship requirements. MITES Summer and the Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook require US citizenship or permanent residency, and Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program accepts only US citizens. Remote programs are the most realistic route, since Veritas AI accepts students from anywhere in the world and Stanford AIMI lists no residency requirement in its eligibility.
How much do paid STEM summer programs cost?
Costs range from a few hundred dollars to more than $8,000. TCNJ's one-week Camp Innovate and Investigate costs $500, Kean University's four-week session costs $5,000, and NYU's GSTEM costs $5,500 in tuition plus $3,840 for optional housing. SUMaC's residential session is $8,950, including housing and meals.
Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.