19 Summer Academic Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 20 hours ago
- 12 min read
As a high school student, summer academic programs allow you to spend your break learning new concepts and developing practical skills. These programs help you experience college-level academics, explore new fields, and connect with motivated peers and mentors without committing to the cost or pressure of early college enrollment. They also let you build relationships with faculty, researchers, and fellow students that can shape your academic and professional network in the years ahead.
What are the benefits of an academic program?
Academic programs are ideal if you want to go beyond traditional classroom learning and see what college-level study is like. Through these programs, you can work on advanced research projects, study subjects like engineering, medicine, or literature, and participate in discussions that challenge your thinking. Whether you are interested in STEM, the humanities, or interdisciplinary research, you can find a program that suits your needs and helps you explore your interests.
To help with your search, here are 19 summer academic programs for high school students.
If you are looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
19 Summer Academic Programs for High School Students
Location:Â Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Program Dates: June 15 – July 26Â
Application Deadline:Â February 1
Eligibility:Â High school juniors who are US citizens or permanent residents
The MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science program is a prestigious summer program that allows high school students to take on high-level courses. The curriculum has five advanced courses, including math, life sciences, physics, humanities, and one elective course (such as architecture, engineering design, or genomics). During the six-week program, you will study material equivalent to that of a full semester at university while also attending workshops, field trips, and social events. You will also have midterms, finals, and a final project to test your learning.
Location: Remote ,  you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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.
Location:Â Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend:Â $40 (application fee). There are no tuition fees. Students receive a stipend of at least $500
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Approximately 50 students
Program dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline:Â February 21
Eligibility:Â Current high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age. Students must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents, and they must be living and attending school in the U.S.
The Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program is a prestigious 8-week internship that enables high school students to learn about medicine in a practical environment. As a participant, you will contribute to a medical research project, gaining knowledge of the biological sciences and research methodologies in the process. You will also learn how to create a research poster and present your work during a poster session. The program’s available tracks include bioengineering, regenerative medicine, neurobiology, bioinformatics, cardiovascular biology, genetics, cancer biology, and immunology.Â
4. Veritas AIÂ
Location:Â Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.Â
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program dates:Â Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline:Â On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility:Â 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, 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:Â MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program dates: June 28 – August 8
Application deadline:Â December 10
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who meet the required test scores. International students can apply as well.
MIT’s Research Science Institute is a prestigious summer program during which high school students learn about scientific research. The program begins with advanced STEM lessons, after which you will work on an independent research project. Research areas include molecular biology, cryptography, robotics, applied mathematics, and more. You will learn how to formulate hypotheses, review literature, analyze data, model complex systems, and present your findings. At the end of the program, you will submit an oral and written report of your work.
Location:Â Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program dates: Virtual sessions June 15-16. Residential program: June 20 – August 1
Application deadline:Â February 1
Eligibility:Â Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and are at least 16 years old
Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science is a pre-college program that enables high school students to gain a deeper understanding of STEM topics through classroom instruction and hands-on projects. The syllabus includes a combination of math, science, writing workshops, and a STEM project under the guidance of a faculty member. The program ends with a closing symposium during which you will have the chance to present your research.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost:Â $25 application fee. On completion of the program, you will receive a $750Â stipend.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not specified
Program dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline:Â February 24
Eligibility:Â High school juniors and seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents and are at least 17 years of age
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is a prestigious summer program that provides high school students with the opportunity to develop an independent research project at a renowned research institution. Available research areas include chemistry, cancer biology, engineering, history, physics, and more. This program offers the opportunity to delve into advanced topics such as nanotechnology and bioimaging, while also learning about research methodologies and gaining hands-on laboratory experience. You can go through the previous students’ projects here.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost:Â Free. A $1,000 stipend is provided
Acceptance rate:Â Not specified
Program dates:Â June 2 - August 8
Application deadline:Â February 21
Eligibility:Â Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York City
NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering program is a 10-week summer program that provides high school students with practical research experience in an NYU research lab. The program begins with virtual training sessions over four weeks and is followed by six weeks of hands-on lab work, culminating in a symposium. In the process, you will dive into advanced topics that aren’t generally covered in high school and get an in-depth understanding of the same. You can choose from topics such as African paleosciences, applied micro-bioengineering, genomics, mechatronics, and even music research.
Location:Â Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost:Â Free. Travel and lunch stipends are provided after the completion of the program.Â
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size:Â Not specified
Program dates: July 6 – August 7
Application deadline:Â December 5
Eligibility:Â Rising high school juniors and seniors who attend a NYC public or charter school and can demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage
The Hk Maker Lab is a summer program that combines Columbia’s 3-week SHAPE program with a 2-week digital media experience. Through SHAPE, you will be able to take up a college-level engineering course, such as robotics, computer programming, sustainable engineering, chemical engineering, or data science. You will dive into the topic and learn through hands-on project work. In the second half of the program, you will create a website or app that solves a global issue and learn about coding and UX/UI design in the process.
Location:Â Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not specifiedÂ
Program dates:Â The summer program typically takes place in July. The summer session is followed by Saturday classes from October to May.
Application deadline:Â April 15
Eligibility:Â Economically disadvantaged students in grades 7-12 with an 80% grade average, particularly in math and science. Applicants must be New York State residents.
Columbia University’s State Pre-College Enrichment Program is a college preparatory program that trains high school students for college while also improving their knowledge of STEM fields. As a participant, you will take on courses such as biochemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy, cognitive science, physics, and calculus. Additionally, you will also attend career development workshops, counseling sessions, field trips, and campus tours.
Location:Â Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost:Â Free
Cohort size:Â 24 students
Program dates: June 22 – July 26
Application deadline:Â March 23
Eligibility:Â Low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program is an academic enrichment program designed for high school students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. The program includes a hospital internship, academic seminars, a research project, guest lectures, and opportunities to connect with mentors. In the process, you will engage in hands-on work, get lab experience, learn research methodologies, and explore different topics like anatomy, public health, dermatology, anesthesiology, and more.Â
Location:Â Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program dates:Â June 21-July 25
Application deadline:Â December 3
Eligibility:Â High school sophomores and juniors
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is a summer program designed for high school students interested in exploring humanities topics, including politics, literature, history, and art. You can choose between two available tracks: the TASS-CBS, which explores contributions from people of African descent, and the TASS-AOS, which examines how power influences social structures. You will attend college-level classes, engage in small group work, write essays, and work as a community with your peers. This is an effective way to enhance your critical thinking skills and deepen your understanding of concepts such as democracy and justice.
Location:Â Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Cost:Â Free. You will receive a stipend on completion of the program
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: June 5 – July 24
Application deadline:Â February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are members of the Cristo Rey Network or KIPP Foundation school systems, or other invited school, network, or community-based organization. You will also need a nomination to be eligible to apply. More details here. Â
The Summer College Immersion Program is a highly selective program that offers college preparation and an advanced learning experience. During the program, you will create an action plan for college applications, study for the SAT/ACTs, write a personal statement, and attend mock interviews. Alongside this, you will explore fields like business, cybersecurity, international relations, health studies, and STEM topics. You will learn through classes, field trips, discussions, workshops, and a final capstone project.
Location:Â Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost:Â Free; however, if you choose the residential track, you will need to pay ~$2450 as residential fees
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not available
Program dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline:Â February 5
Eligibility:Â High school juniors who are US citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years of age
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program is a research program that allows high school students to join a professional research group and take responsibility for a project. There are several research areas available, from computer science and chemistry to physics and medicine. The research work will enable you to study a topic in depth and gain hands-on experience, such as exploring how machine learning can enhance weather prediction or designing shape-morphing structures and applying them to robotics. You will also learn various research techniques, write a research abstract, and create a research poster.
Location:Â University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost:Â Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â 26 students
Program dates: June 16 – July 3
Application deadline:Â April 14
Eligibility:Â 9th, 10th, and 11th graders who reside and attend high school in Los Angeles County
The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement is a summer program for high school students interested in media communication and journalism. As a participant, you will enroll in college-level courses in writing, public speaking, critical thinking, interviewing, ethnography, and multimedia production. You will also explore various career pathways and engage in hands-on experiences like making a podcast or becoming a news anchor.
Location:Â University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost:Â Application fee of $90; $2,050 ($2,150 for international students) for the virtual track and $4,215 for the in-person track. $6,480 for housing (optional). Some financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size:Â Not available
Program dates: June 24 – July 24
Application deadline:Â March 9
Eligibility:Â High school students who have at least completed grade 9
The Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking (PACT) is a summer program that focuses on theoretical computer science. Instead of using computers and learning programming, PACT dives into mathematics and algorithms, which are fundamental to the field. You will learn about proof techniques, basic graph theory, combinatorics, probability, Euclidean GCD, computational geometry, and more. The program includes a combination of 2-3 hour lectures, problem sets as homework, and sessions with guest speakers. Â
Location:Â University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: ~$3000. Limited scholarships may be availableÂ
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size:Â Not available
Program Dates: Session A from June 22 – July 10, Session B from July 13 – July 31 Â
Application Deadline:Â Session A: June 12; Session B: July 3
Eligibility: 9th – 11th grade students in the spring, who are at least 15 years of age at the start of Session A
UCLA’s Engineering Design Summer Institute is a project-based engineering summer program for high school students. You can choose from three available tracks: mechanical engineering (which focuses on go-karts), electrical engineering (which focuses on microcontrollers), and a combined mechanical/electrical engineering track (which focuses on rovers). You will end the program with the submission of a written report and project presentation.
Location:Â University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost:Â $2,500. The fee is waived for students whose household income is $120,000 or below.
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size:Â Not available
Program dates: July 27 – August 1
Application deadline:Â March 5Â Â
Eligibility: 11th-grade students who are at least 15 years old and enrolled in a US high school Â
The University of Chicago’s Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Program exposes high school students to advanced STEM learning. The program begins with a virtual mathematics course and is followed by an in-person component, during which you will explore topics such as molecular engineering, mathematics, computer science, and more. You will learn through a combination of classes, lab tours, field trips, and guest lectures.
Location: In-person, online, and hybrid options are available (varies with each course)
Cost:Â Ranges from $1,300 - $3,675, depending on the course you choose. A few scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size:Â Not available, but the program is known to be fairly selective.
Program dates:Â Varies with each course
Application deadline:Â Varies with each course
Eligibility:Â All high school students (individual courses may have prerequisites, and international students are welcome to apply)
UC San Diego’s Research Scholars program is a prestigious summer program that enables high school students to delve into a specific topic in depth while gaining valuable research experience. The program has tracks in bioengineering, business, medicine, life sciences, marine science, and sports medicine. You can expect to explore advanced topics like musculoskeletal anatomy, bioimaging, and statistical analysis. You will learn through a combination of lectures, hands-on experiments, fieldwork, and simulations.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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