Summer STEM Programs for High School Students
Updated: Oct 7
TL;DR
Are you looking for a summer STEM program but are not sure where you fit? This list includes 15 options across biomedical research, cancer research, AI, computer science, engineering, physics, and other STEM fields, with both virtual and residential formats. Some programs are open more broadly, while others have some requirements around location, grade level, citizenship, or school district, and several offer stipends or other financial support. For a remote research option with multiple cohorts throughout the year, you can explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you are a high school student trying to find a summer STEM program, start by thinking about the kind of experience you actually want. Do you want to work in a lab, live on a college campus, focus on a specific field like AI or cancer research, or work remotely on an independent project? This list covers 15 programs across those different formats and subject areas, so you can compare what each one offers before deciding which applications are worth your time.
If you want to compare more research options across STEM fields, see this guide to STEM Summer Research Opportunities for High School Students.
Which summer STEM programs don't require you to live near the host city?
Location is one of the first things to check before spending time on an application. Some programs are open to students from across the U.S. or internationally, while others require you to live in a specific city, county, or region.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, for example, is fully remote. MIT RSI and several other residential programs are also designed for students who can travel to the host campus, while programs such as Stanford SIMR, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Roswell Park, and NYU ARISE have specific geographic eligibility requirements.
If you are specifically looking for remote options, our guide to online research summer programs for high school students has more opportunities to explore.
Which programs pay a stipend, and how much?
Cost is another major difference across these programs. Several opportunities on this list are free, while others provide a stipend, grant, or other financial support. The amount can vary significantly. Because funding and stipend amounts can change between application cycles, check the official program page before applying.
If cost is one of your main considerations, you can also explore our guide to free research opportunities for high school students.
Which programs are virtual, and which require you to live on campus?
The programs on this list have very different formats. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI, and Girls Who Code's Summer Immersion Program are virtual, so you do not need to relocate for the program.
Others are residential or require you to attend a physical research site. MIT RSI, MITES Summer, and Carnegie Mellon SAMS involve an on-campus experience, while programs such as Stanford SIMR, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Roswell Park, and Rockefeller SSRP require you to participate at the host institution.
If you are comparing summer programs specifically by format, our guide to online summer programs for high school students includes more remote options.
Which programs focus on biomedical and cancer research vs. general STEM or computer science?
Your subject interest can narrow the list quickly. Stanford SIMR, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Roswell Park SURE-CAN, HiSTEP, and Rockefeller SSRP have strong biomedical or life-science components, while Veritas AI and Girls Who Code focus more directly on artificial intelligence and computer science.
Other programs are broader. MIT RSI, Clark Scholars, Simons, and Lumiere allow you to explore research across multiple STEM fields, while ARISE spans engineering, science, and technology.
For more options across scientific fields, you can also browse our guide to science research opportunities for high school students.
Find a program by what matters most to you
If you want... | Consider |
A stipend of $1,000 or more | |
A fully virtual, remote-friendly program | |
Hands-on cancer or biomedical lab research | |
A residential campus experience |
15 Summer STEM Programs for High School Students
These programs cover different STEM fields, locations, formats, and levels of research experience. They are presented as options to explore, rather than ranked from best to worst.
Location: Remote; available to students worldwide
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts across summer, fall, winter, and spring; options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate strong academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research program designed for high school students who want to develop an independent project with 1:1 PhD mentorship. You work with a PhD mentor on a research question in a subject such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. The standard 12-week program culminates in an independent research paper.
Who is it right for? You may want to consider this if you want a flexible, remote research experience and want to develop an independent project with a mentor.
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 28–August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school students entering their final year of secondary school; international eligibility varies by participating country
The Research Science Institute combines coursework in scientific theory with original research in science and technology. You will work on a research project, learn from researchers and faculty, and present your findings to an expert panel at the end of the program.
Who is it right for? Students entering their final year of secondary school who want an intensive residential STEM research experience.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Rolling, with cohorts across spring, summer, fall, and winter
Program Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should have completed the AI Scholars program or demonstrate experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. The AI Scholars program introduces you to AI and data science through a structured series of sessions and projects, while the AI Fellowship offers more advanced students the chance to work 1:1 with a mentor on an individual project.
Who is it right for? Students who want a virtual program focused specifically on AI, machine learning, or data science.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California
Cost: Free to participate; $50 application fee with fee waivers available; limited needs-based stipends
Program Dates: June 7–July 29, tentative
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 and meet the program's U.S. residency and citizenship requirements
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program gives you the chance to work on a medically oriented research project with Stanford researchers. Research areas include cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, genetics, stem cell biology, bioinformatics, cardiovascular biology, and bioengineering. The program includes hands-on research and a final presentation of your work.
Who is it right for? Students interested in biomedical research who meet the program's location and eligibility requirements.
5. MITES Summer
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Free; students are responsible for transportation to and from MIT
Program Dates: June 20–July 31 for 2026; check the official site for 2027 dates
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 11th-grade students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a current green card
MITES Summer is a six-week residential STEM program combining rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, mentorship, and college and career preparation. You take courses in areas including math, life sciences, physics, humanities, and a project-based elective, with the program ending in a final symposium.
Who is it right for? Students entering their senior year who want a residential STEM experience combining coursework, projects, mentorship, and college preparation.
Location: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Approximately eight weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who meet the program's current U.S. citizenship, school, age, and other eligibility requirements
ASPIRE gives you the opportunity to work on a technical STEM project with a mentor from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Depending on available projects, you can explore aerospace engineering, applied physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, or mathematics.
Who is it right for? Students entering their junior or senior year who want hands-on technical research with an APL mentor.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Cost: No program participation fee; $25 application fee; $750 stipend upon successful completion of the research project
Program Dates: June 21–August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 17 and meet the program's current graduation requirements
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an intensive seven-week summer research program for rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates. You work with Texas Tech faculty on a research project and take part in seminars, discussions, field trips, and other academic activities. Research areas can include biology, cancer biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, engineering, and physics.
Who is it right for? Students who meet the age and residency requirements and want intensive faculty-mentored research across several STEM fields.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Cost: Free; $1,200 stipend; housing not provided
Program Dates: June 29–August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current high school juniors living in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of MSK's Upper East Side campus, with additional academic and work authorization requirements
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program is an eight-week biomedical or computational research internship in an MSK research lab. You work on a self-directed project with a mentor while developing laboratory and research skills and attending seminars and other activities. The program ends with a research poster presentation.
Who is it right for? Students entering their senior year who meet the program's strict NYC-area residency requirements and want hands-on biomedical research experience.
Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
Cost: Free; no application fee; limited subsistence allowances available
Program Dates: June 28–August 6
Application Deadline: Check the official site
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and permanent residents of and enrolled in school in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, or Chautauqua County, New York
The High School Summer Research Experience in Cancer, also known as SURE-CAN, is a six-week, full-time research experience at Roswell Park. You can take part in wet or dry lab research while learning about cancer biology, imaging, genomics, AI, statistics, research ethics, and scientific communication. The program concludes with a technical abstract and scientific poster.
Who is it right for? Students entering their senior year who live and attend school in Western New York and want full-time cancer research experience.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cost: Free; students are responsible for travel to and from Pittsburgh
Program Dates: Six-week residential program with a required virtual Jumpstart
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 16 and meet the program's grade requirements
SAMS is a residential pre-college STEM program combining rigorous coursework, hands-on learning, mentorship, and a collaborative research project. You begin with a virtual Jumpstart before spending six weeks on the Carnegie Mellon campus taking math and science courses and working on a STEM research project. The program concludes with a Research Symposium.
Who is it right for? Students entering their senior year who want a residential STEM program with rigorous coursework and collaborative research.
Location: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Cost: No program fee; stipend and transportation support have been provided
Program Dates: July–August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who meet the program's current citizenship, school, geographic, academic, and other eligibility requirements
HiSTEP introduces high school students to biomedical research, STEM careers, and the broader scientific enterprise. The program has included hands-on activities, workshops, lectures, career exploration, college preparation, and leadership development. Historical NIH materials describe the experience as a five-week, full-time summer program.
Who is it right for? Students interested in biomedical science and healthcare careers who want research exposure alongside career and college preparation.
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, New York
Cost: Free; public transportation support provided, with need-based assistance and stipends potentially available
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 at the start of the program
The Summer Science Research Program is a team-based, mentored research experience where you investigate a scientific question based on your interests. You spend approximately 35 hours per week in RockEDU's teaching laboratories, working with a research team and scientific mentors. The program combines laboratory research with workshops, lectures, networking, and a final research presentation.
Who is it right for? Students interested in laboratory research who want to work on a scientific question as part of a research team.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
Cost: No tuition charges; participants are responsible for transportation and residential or dining costs
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Check the official site for the next cycle
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 and meet the program's U.S. citizenship or permanent residency and school nomination requirements
The Simons Summer Research Program allows you to conduct hands-on research in science, mathematics, or engineering with a Stony Brook faculty mentor. You join an active research team, learn research techniques and tools, and work on a project throughout the summer. Your research culminates in a scientific poster and presentation.
Who is it right for? Students entering their senior year who want hands-on university research and are able to secure the required school nomination.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York
Cost: Free; $2,000 stipend upon successful completion
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Check the official site
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools
ARISE is a 10-week summer research program combining foundational training with hands-on research at NYU. The first four weeks focus on safety training, college writing, and research skills, followed by six weeks working with NYU faculty and researchers in one of more than 80 research labs. You will also develop research and communication skills and present your work at a final colloquium and poster symposium.
Who is it right for? Students entering their junior or senior year who live in New York City, attend NYC schools, and want extended hands-on STEM research experience.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; eligible U.S. students can apply for a $300 needs-based grant
Program Dates: Two weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Check the official site
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th graders; age and location requirements vary by country
Girls Who Code's Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual experience where you attend live classes and learn computer science through hands-on projects. You can explore beginner-to-intermediate computer science, game design, the game design process, and basic UX design while connecting with industry professionals through Partner Events and other activities.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–11 who want a short, fully virtual introduction to coding, game design, UX, and technology careers.
Find a program by research focus
If your interest is... | Consider |
General or multidisciplinary STEM research | |
Biomedical or cancer-focused research | |
Computer science, AI, or engineering |
What high schoolers ask before choosing a summer STEM program
1. Will these programs end with a research paper, a poster, or something else?
It varies by program. Many end with a poster presentation or symposium, while others produce a research paper, technical abstract, or another written project alongside a final presentation.
2. Do I need prior research or lab experience before applying?
Not usually. Many programs are designed to teach research and laboratory skills during the experience, although some competitive programs may value prior coursework or project experience in the relevant subject.
3. How competitive are these programs?
It ranges widely. Some programs select small cohorts and receive many applications, while others are designed to introduce students to research and STEM careers more broadly. Check each program's eligibility and selection information before applying.
4. Do these programs only run in summer, or are there other times of year to apply?
Most of the opportunities on this list are summer programs, although some have more flexible application or cohort schedules. If you want a program with multiple sessions throughout the year, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers cohort options across different seasons and pairs you with a PhD mentor for a 1:1 research project.