15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Miami
- Stephen Turban
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
If you're a high school student in Miami looking to explore a subject you're curious about, pick up new skills, or get a feel for college life, a summer program might be a great step to take. These programs often feature a mix of lectures, lab work, research opportunities, hands-on activities, and projects, giving you the chance to engage with a subject while building academic and practical skills. They are often hosted by respected universities, are selective, offer mentorship, and provide industry exposure.
Most of these programs are free or offer financial aid, making them accessible options to explore. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 standout summer programs for high school students in Miami.
Here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Miami!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Miami
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending upon program type
Dates: Cohorts run year-round, with sessions offered in Summer (June–August), Fall (September–December), Winter (December–February), and Spring (March–June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance (recommended GPA 3.3 or higher).
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective, one-on-one research opportunity for high school students looking to dive deep into a topic they care about. You’ll be paired with a Ph.D. researcher in your field of interest and spend 12 weeks developing a project from start to finish. Research topics span across fields like psychology, physics, economics, engineering, international relations, and more. You’ll meet regularly with your mentors, receive detailed feedback, and walk away with a polished research paper that can be submitted to competitions or journals. You can find more details about the application here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending upon program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students. Applicants to the AI Fellowship program must either complete the AI Scholars program first or show that they have experience with AI and Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers selective, project-based programs in artificial intelligence and data science for high school students. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session introduction to core AI and machine learning concepts, where students also apply what they learn through real-world projects. The AI Fellowship is more advanced and meant for those who’ve already done some work in AI. It’s a 1-on-1 mentorship setup with researchers where you get to create your own AI project. There’s also support to help you publish your work in high school journals if you’re interested. You can apply here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited availability; competitive enrollment
Location: University of Miami campus, Coral Gables, FL
Cost/Stipend: Marine Biology: $4,295 | Medicine & Health Care: $4,195
Dates: June 17–25 | June 29–July 7
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students
NSLC offers high school students short, immersive college-style programs where you explore a specific career path in depth. At the University of Miami, you can choose between tracks like Marine Biology or Medicine & Health Care, each combining classroom learning, lab work, and leadership activities. You’ll live in dorms, attend lectures, and work in small groups, giving you a feel for both college academics and campus life. It’s a structured way to explore a potential interest while also learning soft skills like communication and teamwork.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-enrollment for eligible students
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $1,940 per credit
Dates: June 23 - August 1
Application Deadline: May 5 to June 16
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
This program is for high school students who want to get a sense of what college-level learning looks like. It’s fully online, so you don’t need to be on campus. You can choose from a wide range of subjects: from business and international relations to science and the arts. Depending on what you pick, you’ll earn between 3 and 12 credits. Classes are taught by Cornell faculty and offered in both live and flexible formats, so you can fit them into your summer schedule. It’s best suited for students who want to experience what college work feels like.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective with the interview process
Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: June 20 - August 9 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors from Miami-Dade or Broward County.
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship offers high school students a chance to explore science and research by working alongside professionals in real lab environments. This program gives students the chance to work alongside researchers on real-world projects in genetics and computational biology. It’s a hands-on experience designed to help you understand what working in a research lab is really like. The program focuses on curiosity and collaboration while helping you build practical lab and technical skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; not listed
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 13 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or graduated seniors committed to FIU
FIU’s Summer Research Internship offers high school students an intensive, eight-week experience focused on cardiovascular health research. As an intern, you’ll be paired with FIU faculty mentors and spend at least 15 hours per week in research labs. Beyond lab work, you'll take part in workshops, journal clubs, case studies, and professional development sessions. Throughout the program, you’ll develop skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. The experience culminates in a research symposium where you'll present your findings. It's suitable for students interested in STEM or medical careers to gain practical research experience in an academic setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend:
2-week program: $3,965 per session (single course)
1-week program: $2,815 per session
Additional fees: $80 application fee
Dates: Session A: July 7 – July 18 | Session B: July 21 – August 1 | Session C: August 11 – August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots are filled (Summer 2025 applications currently open on a space-available basis)
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
Columbia University’s Online Summer Pre-College Program offers high school students the opportunity to experienceIvy League academics, right from home. With over 40 course options in subjects like engineering, writing, psychology, and economics, students join live Zoom classes with Colombia’s faculty and participate in discussions, group work, and workshops. The program is flexible, so you can pick a schedule that works for your time zone. You’ll also get access to college prep resources like essay writing sessions and success seminars. At the end, students receive a Certificate of Participation and an evaluation letter.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; program capacity limited
Location: Miami-Dade County, FL
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: July 1 – August 2
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-grade students enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools
If you’re a high school student in Miami-Dade looking to get real-world work experience, the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) is a great place to start. Over five weeks, you’ll spend 150 hours working on projects with support from mentors at your internship site and school-based supervisors. You’ll build skills like communication, teamwork, and time management while also getting a better idea of what kind of career might be right for you. SYIP is a great way to explore different industries such as healthcare, technology, business, government, and non-profit sectors, and see how what you learn in school applies in the real world.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Cost/Stipend:
Residential Program: $9,532
Commuter Program: $8,144
Deposit: $500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit (applied toward tuition/fees)
Dates: June 28 - July 18 (3 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors
The Summer Scholars Program offers high school students a look into college life in its 3-week program. You’ll choose an academic track that matches your interests, be it engineering, business, mobile computing, media, or medicine, and earn 6 college credits. You’ll dive into daily classes, labs, fieldwork, and group projects all led by UM faculty. It’s a fast-paced, immersive program that gives you a real feel for college life, both in and out of the classroom. This program helps you develop academic and technical skills while earning college credits.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Cost/Stipend: Competitive stipend; Housing and transportation costs provided
Dates: May 19 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors at a Florida institution of higher education
The American Cancer Society Internship Program offers high school students a hands-on, 10-week summer immersion in cancer research and clinical shadowing. This program provides you with the chance to work on individual lab projects that address critical cancer research questions, receive year-round mentorship, and take part in clinical trial design. Throughout the summer, you’ll gain experience through career development sessions, field trips on cancer disparities, and networking opportunities with Sylvester leadership. Interns also have the chance to present their research at national or regional conferences. You’ll be fully immersed in research while getting a taste of life in the lab and the clinical side of cancer care.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Selective
Location: Istituto Marangoni Miami, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (domestic), $3,000 (international)
Dates: June 2nd - June 13th | June 16th - June 27th | June 30th - July 11th | July 14th - July 25th | July 28th - August 8th
Application Deadline: July 10
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
The classes at Istituto Marangoni Miami’s Fashion Summer Camp offer high school students industry exposure to fashion. You’ll get to experiment with design and styling, learn how to choose the right textiles, and even try your hand at garment construction. There’s also a focus on the business side, like how branding and marketing shape the industry. Along the way, you’ll start building a fashion portfolio that reflects your style and ideas. It’s a hands-on, creative experience for high school students interested in fashion.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, limited to 30 students
Location: FIU Modesto Maidique Campus, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free. Participants will need to arrange their own transportation to and from campus.
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: May 26
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a 3.0+ GPA
In the Junior Doctors of Tomorrow (JDOT) Program at FIU, high school students will engage in hands-on clinical workshops, attend interactive learning sessions, and receive mentorship from experienced medical professionals. In this week-long program, you’ll get a look into the skills, knowledge, and practices needed to succeed in the medical field. This immersive program is open to a select group of 30 students and is a great way to dive into medicine while learning from experts in the field.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Cleveland Clinic Weston Campus, Weston, FL
Cost/Stipend: No stipend provided; students are responsible for meals and accommodations
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – July 4 | Session 2: July 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (GPA 3.6+)
The Cleveland Clinic Summer Scholar Program allows high school students to explore different careers in medicine. During the program, you’ll rotate through various clinical areas like internal medicine, surgery, radiology, and emergency medicine. This will give you a chance to discover what each specialty is like. You’ll also attend lectures, take part in clinical rotations, and get the chance to interact with doctors. The program ends with a case presentation where you’ll share everything you’ve learned.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; all tuition, room, and board are covered for accepted students
Dates: June 8 – July 19 (6-week program)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 11th grade
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) at Florida State University is a summer program available to high school students. It is a fully funded summer program where rising seniors dive into advanced coursework and hands-on research alongside FSU faculty. You’ll take two college-level classes and spend time in real university research labs, building skills that go far beyond the high school classroom. YSP is only open to Florida residents and highly selective, so if you’re strong and interested in math and science, this program will suit you.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 students per session
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost/Stipend: $1,650
Dates: Session 1: June 8–13 | Session 2: June 22–27 | Session 3: July 13–18, 2025
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors
The SSTRIDE Summer Institute at FSU’s College of Medicine is an opportunity for high school students interested in health care to get practical exposure to the field. You’ll spend time shadowing physicians, touring anatomy labs, and learning hands-on skills like taking vital signs and performing CPR. The program also covers important topics like medical ethics, applying to college, and understanding financial aid. It’s a competitive program, but a great way to explore your interests, build confidence, and take steps toward a future in health care.
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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