15 Summer Programs for High School Students in San Antonio
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 26
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student, a summer program can give you early exposure to fields you’re interested in.
The city is home to universities, cultural centers, and organizations that run programs in areas like science, arts, business, and leadership. Participating in one of these programs lets you explore subjects beyond what you learn in school and see how skills are applied in real-world settings.
If you live in or near San Antonio, joining a local program can make it easier to manage your time and reduce travel or housing costs. It also gives you a chance to start connecting with professionals, educators, and institutions in your area, which can help later in college or career planning.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in San Antonio!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in San Antonio
Location: UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Offers a stipend for the summers of the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Every high school in the Greater San Antonio Area is allowed to submit up to 3 potential candidates
Dates: 7 weeks in the Summer
Application Deadline: School nominations are due by January 28; Selected nominees receive access to the application on February 6; Final application deadline is March 6
Eligibility: Rising Sophomores (Freshman in the following school year) nominated by a committee put together at their respective schools, meeting the grade and age criteria
The Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy (VBRA) is a three-year research and college prep program for high school students in San Antonio. You need to be nominated by a school-based committee during your freshman year and meet specific grade and age requirements to apply. If selected, you’ll spend seven weeks each summer at UT Health San Antonio, working in professional labs under the guidance of faculty mentors. You’ll conduct biomedical research, present your findings at an award reception or international session, and may be considered for the Voelcker Student Award, which recognizes outstanding work with a monetary prize.
Location: Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies; nearly 40 high school juniors and seniors were accepted last year
Dates: June 24 to July 18
Application Deadline: Typically ends around February, with application status announced in March
Eligibility: Must reside in the San Antonio area as a rising high school Junior or Senior
The Valero Young Scientist Program is a four-week summer research experience for high school juniors and seniors in San Antonio. Hosted by the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, it gives you access to professional labs and direct mentorship from researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. During the program, you’ll work on inquiry-based projects in areas like infectious diseases, genetics, and environmental science. You’ll also keep a lab notebook to track your progress while practicing lab techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
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. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: 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, 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 you will have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free and with an educational stipend of $125 a week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Accepts around 400-500 students
Dates: Three four-day sessions
Application Deadline: Typically around March to April
Eligibility: Rising 5th through 12th graders are eligible. Participants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent legal residents.
The GEMS Summer STEM Program in San Antonio is a free research experience for middle and high school students, sponsored by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program. Hosted by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, it gives you hands-on lab learning in fields like biomedical science, coding, engineering, robotics, forensic science, and computer science. You’ll work in small teams inside active Army research labs, guided by scientists, engineers, and educators. Each session includes real-world lab techniques, inquiry-based projects, and group activities that strengthen teamwork and leadership.
Location: Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Typically runs from June to August
Application Deadline: Typically around March
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and above
The Greehey CCRI Donald G. McEwen Memorial Summer Research Program is a ten-week biomedical research experience for high school and undergraduate students. Hosted by the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute at UT Health San Antonio, it gives you the chance to work on hypothesis-driven research in pediatric cancer with training in both basic and translational science. You’ll work under the guidance of faculty mentors, learning advanced lab techniques, data analysis, and research communication. Areas of study include genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, structural biology, and molecular imaging. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a research symposium.
Location: Has multiple sites hosted by several campuses and universities in San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Costs around $500 per student; some school districts can cover partial or full cost, and you are encouraged to speak to a school counselor or administration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically accepts around 400 to 500 students
Dates: Runs typically from June to July
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Dr. Manuel P. Berriozábal Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP-UTSA) is a multi-level STEM summer program hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio. As you move through the program, you’ll take courses in logic, algebra, engineering design, engineering physics, and probability and statistics for engineers, building a strong foundation in math and applied science. By Level V, after completing the earlier levels, you’ll be eligible for a four-and-a-half-week internship where you’ll practice engineering skills and apply real-world concepts through projects and mentorship.
Location: Virtual sessions with a 1-week visit to the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free for Texas high school juniors
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: Year-long program starting in fall, Moonshot is a 5-day virtual experience, timing varies
Application Deadline: September 24
Eligibility: Must be enrolled as a junior in a Texas high school
The Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program is a free, year-long STEM experience for juniors in Texas, sponsored by NASA’s Johnson Space Center. You’ll start with a five-month online course during the school year that covers space exploration, Earth science, technology, math, and aeronautics. If you’re a top performer in the online phase, you’ll move on to Moonshot, a one-week virtual summer experience where you’ll be mentored by NASA professionals. The best teams from there are invited to an all-expenses-paid residential program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Location: Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: $448 for all sessions, but offers financial aid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Some sessions may require a placement audition or a minimum years of experience
Dates: Week 1: June 23–27; Week 2: July 7–11
Application Deadline: Tuition and confirmation are due around the first week of June
Eligibility: Musicians aged 7-18
The Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) Summer Symphony Camp gives you a chance to grow as a musician while working with professional instructors. You’ll rehearse in full orchestra, take part in sectional coaching, and perform in concerts led by YOSA faculty. Depending on your age and skill level, you can join tracks such as High School String Orchestra Camp, Band Camp, Cello Intensive, or Orchestra X, which introduces you to music beyond the classical tradition.
Location: University Health, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Relatively selective
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 15-17
In the University Health Junior Volunteer Program, you spend two weeks at University Hospital in San Antonio learning how a hospital runs. You attend Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., completing 54 hours of service. During this time, you help greet patients, support administrative departments, and follow hospital protocols. You also take part in special projects that show you how different parts of the hospital work together. At the start, you go through orientation and training so you’re ready for your role.
Location: Varies, depending on the participating Texas university
Cost/Stipend: Cost for housing, on-campus meals, and laboratory expenses are covered by the Welch Foundation’s grant
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selected on a competitive basis, considering academic performance and recommendations
Dates: Five weeks during the summer, typically from mid-June to late July
Application Deadline: Opens around December
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors from Texas
The Welch Summer Scholar Program (WSSP) is a five-week summer research residency for high school students in Texas, sponsored by the Robert A. Welch Foundation. If you are selected, you’ll be placed at one of six host universities - UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, University of Houston, Texas A&M, or Texas Tech, where you’ll work one-on-one with faculty and graduate researchers in chemistry labs. During the program, you’ll learn key chemistry concepts, lab techniques, and scientific writing. You’ll also carry out your own research project, present your findings formally, and contribute to published papers. Along with lab work, you’ll attend seminars, tour campuses, and experience academic life at the college level.
12. Upward Bound
Location: Varies by university
Cost/Stipend: Fully-funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, typically only accepts a batch of 12 students
Dates: June 12 to 16
Application Deadline: Set by each university or host site
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students (grades 9–12), be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be low-income and/or first-generation college-bound
Upward Bound is a federally funded college readiness program run by the U.S. Department of Education under the TRIO programs. The goal is to help more students from underrepresented backgrounds enroll in college and graduate. As part of the program, you spend six weeks in the summer at a participating university. During this time, you take classes in math, laboratory science, composition, literature, and foreign languages. Along with academics, you also get mentorship, explore career options, attend financial literacy workshops, and take part in cultural enrichment activities.
Location: St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not highly selective
Dates: Runs typically from June 9-12
Application Deadline: Applications typically open early Spring
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in the outdoors
The Environmental Science Summer Camp at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio is a four-day, field-based program for high school students entering grades 9–12. You’ll start each day on campus and then head out to field sites like Woodlawn Lake, Mitchell Lake, Tecaboca, and Bracken Bat Cave and Preserve, where you’ll study local wildlife and environmental systems. At camp, you’ll learn how to document locations with GPS, map environmental features using GIS software, and collect data on water quality, ecology, resource management, and environmental health. You’ll also practice scientific communication and fieldwork, giving you a practical introduction to environmental science and conservation.
Location: UTSA Main Campus, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: $300 per session; limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 40 students per session
Dates: Two one-week sessions – June 15–19 and June 22–26
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen through seniors with an interest in engineering
At the UTSA Engineering Summer Camp, you get a hands-on introduction to engineering design, robotics, structural analysis, and circuitry. You work in teams to solve real-world challenges, build and test projects, and compete in activities like robotics battles and rocket launches. You also tour UTSA’s engineering labs, attend workshops led by faculty and industry professionals, and explore career paths in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. The camp offers day and overnight options, and tuition assistance is available if your family qualifies.
Location: UTSA Main Campus, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: $325 for a two-week program; includes site visits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 35 students
Dates: July 6–17
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors interested in law enforcement and forensic science
At the UTSA Summer Criminal Justice Academy, you spend one week exploring the core functions of the criminal justice system. You take part in mock crime-scene investigations, evidence analysis workshops, and site visits to public safety offices, including possible ride-alongs with San Antonio Police Department personnel. You also learn about forensic science, policing, legal procedures, and homeland security, guided by UTSA faculty and criminal justice professionals.
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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