15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Indianapolis, IN
- Stephen Turban
- Feb 25
- 10 min read
Summer gives you time to step away from regular classes and focus on learning more deeply. Summer programs let you explore college-level subjects while you are still in high school. You get to work through complex material and decide which interests you want to pursue long-term.
Why should you consider a summer program in Indianapolis, IN?
Indianapolis offers a range of summer programs through universities, hospitals, research centers, nonprofits, and community organizations. These programs allow you to explore subjects like science, health, engineering, business, writing, or public service. Summer programs give you exposure to academic and professional environments, which helps you develop new skills in your field. Colleges notice when students use their summers thoughtfully, and these experiences can strengthen your applications.
With that in mind, here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Indianapolis!
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, IU Indianapolis, and IBRI in Indianapolis
Cost: Fully funded, participants receive a stipend up to $4,000 depending on financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current Indiana high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have completed at least one high school chemistry course.
The SEED/STEM program, part of Project SEED, is a prestigious research opportunity designed to provide equitable access to science careers. You will be matched with a faculty mentor at institutions like the Indiana University School of Medicine or IUPUI to conduct research in fields such as chemistry, basic science, and biomedical engineering. You will apply and develop your ideas and skills, meaningfully contributing to an active research project, and engage with professional researchers and industry experts. The program also includes college preparation workshops and professional development sessions, culminating in a poster presentation of your research findings.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by the program. Full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Fully funded, interns receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Early June to Late July
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school juniors from Marion County public schools with a GPA of 3.0
The Future Scientist Program at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center places you inside a real biomedical research environment for the summer. You will work in research labs connected to cancer biology, medicine, and related life science fields. During the program, you learn how scientific research actually works day to day. This includes understanding how research questions are formed, how experiments are designed, how data is collected, and how results are interpreted. Depending on your placement, you may work with cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, or translational cancer research projects that connect lab findings to patient care.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Butler University (Indianapolis, IN) or Innovation Pointe (Evansville, IN)
Cost: Fully funded, participants earn a $1,500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – July 2
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Current high school students in Marion County, Evansville, and the surrounding areas
The Catapult program from Nextech.org is a summer experience that blends technology, entrepreneurship, and real-world projects. You work in teams to take a tech-driven idea from concept to prototype while learning core digital skills along the way. In Catapult, you use tools like web development stacks, mobile app frameworks, UX/UI design platforms, and business modeling techniques to build something tangible. The program emphasizes problem-solving and applied tech skills such as coding, product design, and data interpretation. You also explore how technology intersects with business, user needs, and impact in a community or market context.
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Cost: No cost, you will be paid $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 20 hours/week for 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+
The Youth Tree Team, run by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, is a paid summer job that also functions as an environmental internship. You will spend most of your time outdoors caring for trees across Indianapolis, learning how urban forestry works and why tree health matters in cities. Your work includes planting, mulching, watering, and maintaining trees in different neighborhoods. Along the way, you learn about environmental stewardship and how green infrastructure supports communities. In addition to fieldwork, the program includes weekly enrichment sessions, job readiness training, and personal development workshops.
Location: IU Bloomington Campus, IN, or remote
Cost: Varies by camp, $300 for virtual and $950 for in-person
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment until full
Dates: Varies by camp. The residential camp is from July 26 to August 1, while the virtual camp is from June 15 to 19
Application Deadline: Applications open in January and are rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
The Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering in Indianapolis offers hands-on summer workshops that allow you to explore technology and its applications. You can choose from tracks like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, or Virtual World Design in the residential track, working alongside faculty and current college students. You could also choose the fully virtual Cybersecurity Immersion Camp for a sharper focus on that field. You will be taught the fundamentals of Python programming, advanced computational techniques, and field-specific tools such as Wireshark or Nmap.
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Fully funded, participants receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 19 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors (entering freshman year of college)
The Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR) program at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is a 10-week, full-time summer research experience. You work about 40 hours a week with a mentor on cancer-focused research. Your work may involve laboratory experiments, data analysis, or a mix of both, depending on the project. You learn how research questions are developed, how studies are carried out, and how results are interpreted in a professional setting. Alongside research, you attend workshops and networking sessions focused on research skills and career pathways. The program ends with a formal presentation where you share your findings with peers and faculty.
Location: Notre Dame, IN (Approx. 2.5 hours north of Indianapolis)
Cost: Tuition, housing, and meals are covered, but you need to pay a $75 application fee and a $150 enrollment fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, only 150 students admitted per year
Dates: July 18 – 29
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Academically talented rising high school seniors aged 16+
The Leadership Seminars program at the University of Notre Dame is a competitive, ten-day residential summer experience that brings high school students to campus to study big academic and social questions. In this program, you choose a seminar topic and spend each day in small classes and discussions led by Notre Dame faculty. Courses cover areas such as global issues, economic inequality, environmental problems, investing and financial reasoning, technology and data, or liberty and law. You also take part in peer discussions and interactive sessions that strengthen your critical thinking, presentation, and leadership skills. At the end of the seminar, there may be an option to receive one transferable college credit.
Location: Bloomington, IN (Approx. 1 hour south of Indianapolis)
Cost: Free; students are responsible for transportation to Bloomington and personal expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: A series of one-day sessions stretching from June 12 to July 24
Application Deadline: Typically around March
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA
The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute at the Kelley School of Business is a selective pre-college business leadership program that introduces you to how business is studied and practiced in a college environment. You will participate in workshops and sessions led by business faculty, where you explore business cases and learn how leaders make decisions. The curriculum is designed to build skills in leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem analysis, with discussions that mirror college business classes more than typical high school courses. You also work on a business case project and interact with faculty, current students, and other participants who share an interest in business and leadership.
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, 75-85 students chosen per year
Dates: June 14 – 21
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Hispanic/Latino Hoosier students currently enrolled as a sophomore or junior at an Indiana high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA
Project Stepping Stone (PSS) is a free, immersive, one-week college preparation experience run by Project Stepping Stone and the Escala Foundation. You will travel to multiple college campuses in Indiana, stay overnight in dorms, and learn what college life feels like through tours, meals in dining halls, and interactions with current students and admissions staff. During the week, you work on practical college-readiness skills such as time management, resume writing, interview practice, financial literacy, and professional etiquette. You also attend sessions on choosing a major, navigating the application process, and planning for paying for college.
Location: Metropolitan Indianapolis-Central Indiana Area Health Education Center, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the website for details
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 interested in health careers
The Young Achievers Academy is a summer program run by the Metropolitan Indianapolis Central Indiana Area Health Education Center. It is a five-week experience focused on helping you understand what healthcare careers actually involve. You will learn about different health professions and the education paths behind them, including training requirements and day-to-day responsibilities. The program includes panel discussions with professionals, simulations, lectures, and structured enrichment activities that show how healthcare systems work in practice.
Location: Eskenazi Health Downtown, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots per session
Dates: One of three sessions – June 1–12, June 15–26, July 6–17
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Students ages 14–19 interested in healthcare
The VolunTEEN program at Eskenazi Health lets you explore careers in health care while you volunteer inside a hospital environment. You will spend two weeks on campus, where your time is split between professional development, service, and shadowing in clinical and non-clinical settings. During the first week, you take part in orientation, professional-skills sessions, facility tours, and discussions with health care workers that help you understand how different roles fit together in a health system. In the second week, you rotate through shadowing and volunteer activities at the hospital.
Location: Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: $25 deposit to register; full tuition cost varies by program track (need-based tuition assistance available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, rolling admissions until spots are filled
Dates: Exploratory (June 7–12); Business (June 21–26); Healthcare (July 12–17)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students; residential and commuter options available
Butler University’s Pre-College Programs give you a one-week experience on campus where you explore college academics and possible career paths. The program is run by Butler University and is designed to help you understand what college learning and campus life are like. You choose one of three tracks based on your interests. The Exploratory track lets you sample different subjects to help you figure out what you might want to study in the future. The Business track introduces you to areas like marketing, entrepreneurship, and risk management through hands-on sessions with faculty. The Healthcare track focuses on health-related careers using simulations and applied learning activities.
Location: Herron School of Art and Design (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective enrollment
Dates: June–July
Application Deadline: Applications open in March; rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, recent graduates
The Herron Pre-College Summer Program at the Herron School of Art and Design is a two-week studio experience that gives you a sense of college-level art and design work. You will spend the week working across art studios in drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, 3D design, and digital media, with instruction from faculty. The schedule centers on hands-on making and critique. You develop at least one piece that can go into your portfolio and participate in group critiques where you explain your ideas and get feedback.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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