15 Tech Programs for High School Students

Structured programs can be a smart way for you to figure out what you’re actually interested in before college. Instead of just learning from textbooks, programs let you experience college-level classes, work on projects, and get a feel for what it's like to study your interests in an advanced setting. They can also help you understand the pace, expectations, and types of work involved in more specialized fields before committing to a major.

What are the benefits of a tech program?

If you are interested in tech, programs in the field can help you dive into areas like cybersecurity, software engineering, and data science, as well as emerging areas like AI and automation. As a participant, you will find opportunities to pick up key technical skills in coding, web/app design, or robotics, and learn from professionals in tech. Many tech programs also offer opportunities to access expert mentorship, engage in teamwork, and see how tech is used in research labs or companies. 

To help you get started, we have 15 tech programs for high school students.

If you are looking for online tech internships, check out our blog here. 

15 Tech Programs for High School Students

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year

Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.

Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a remote research experience that pairs you with a Ph.D. mentor for one-on-one academic guidance. You will design and complete a research project, moving step by step through question formulation, literature review, data collection, and analysis. Research areas span various STEM fields, including computer science, software engineering, and other tech disciplines. Throughout the program, you will regularly connect with your mentor, who will review your progress and help refine your methodology. The outcome is a formal research paper that reflects your analytical process and findings, which you may even use for future publications. 

2. Meta Summer Academy

Location: Menlo Park, CA

Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)

Acceptance rate: Competitive

Dates: June 15 – July 24

Application deadline: February 14

Eligibility: High school sophomores who are year-round residents of Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, East Palo Alto, or Redwood City and hold a minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA

The Meta Summer Academy is a multi-week program that introduces you to the technical and professional environment of a large technology company. You will engage in workshops and projects that focus on coding fundamentals, digital media, and teamwork. Alongside technical instruction, the program emphasizes workplace skills such as collaboration, communication, and career exploration. You will also learn how different teams within a tech company contribute to product development and user engagement. Mentorship sessions with Meta employees will provide you with insight into technology-focused career paths and daily work routines. Discussions and activities often connect technology to broader topics like data use and content management. 

3. Veritas AI Programs

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies based on program

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including winter, fall, spring, and summer. 

Application deadline: Rolling basis | Spring sessions have a January deadline, Summer programs have a May deadline, Fall programs have a September deadline, and Winter cohort has a November deadline

Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants must have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity 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. 

4. Microsoft Discovery Program

Location: Microsoft’s offices in Atlanta, GA, or Redmond, WA

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: July 7 – August 1

Application deadline: TBA, but applications typically open in early February/March

Eligibility: Graduating seniors who live and attend high school within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington, or those who attend high school around Atlanta, Georgia. Completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program.

The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week paid summer internship designed to introduce you to careers in technology through hands-on learning. During the program, you will explore foundational coding concepts using languages such as Python and JavaScript while learning about fields like software engineering, UX design, and product management. You will work in small teams on guided projects that simulate real workplace collaboration. Microsoft employees will provide mentorship, offering insight into both technical roles and professional expectations. This tech program for high school students also includes workshops focused on resume writing, communication, and workplace readiness. Through exposure to different tech roles, you will gain a clearer picture of how large technology teams operate.

5. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program 

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

Cost/Stipend: Free except for a $25 applicaiton fee; stipend of $750 available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students 

Dates: June 21 – August 6

Application deadline: February 16

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (i.e., students graduating high school in the program year or the next) who are at least 17 by the start date and U.S. citizens or permanent residents 

The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a selective seven-week summer program designed for high schoolers interested in research. You will work with a faculty mentor on an original research project, which may fall within technology, engineering, or computer science, depending on your interests. Most of your time will be dedicated to conducting research, analyzing results, and preparing a final presentation. Weekly seminars will expose you to broader academic topics and research perspectives across disciplines. The program also includes field trips that demonstrate how research connects to real-world applications. 

6. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute 

Location: Virtual and in-person at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Cost: Free pre-requisite course | Summer program fee is $2,350 for students with family income $150,000 or greater, or free otherwise.

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive

Dates: Online Courses: Starts February 3 | In-person Summer Program: July 6–August 1 or 2

Application deadline: March 31

Eligibility: High school students, in grades 9 – 11, who live in the U.S. or will live in the U.S. during the program 

The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is a four-week, project-based STEM program for rising high school seniors. Before the summer session, you will complete an online prerequisite course to prepare for the technical material. During the in-person summer phase, you will enroll in a specialized track such as autonomous systems, serious game design, or machine learning applications. Much of the work here is team-based and focused on designing, testing, and refining technical systems. You will use industry-relevant tools like Python, Git, and simulation software throughout the course, while learning from instructors and guest speakers who will provide context on how these technologies are used in real-world settings. Each track concludes with a capstone project that demonstrates what you learned during the program.

7. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps

Location: Virtual and in-person camps available (sites vary by year)

Cost/Stipend: None

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: Multiple two-week sessions between June and August

Application deadline: TBA

Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive teens between the ages of 13 and 18

Kode With Klossy runs fully funded virtual and in-person two-week coding camps for high school students in the summer. Here, you will learn through a structured track, with focus areas spanning web development, mobile app development, machine learning, and data science, each offering hands-on opportunities to build coding skills. The web development track covers the basics of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to help you develop an online platform. In the data science track, you will assess data and draw insights using SQL, Python, and data visualization tools. The mobile app track covers coding in Swift (Apple’s programming language), allowing you to develop an iOS mobile application. In the machine learning track, you will explore foundational AI concepts such as algorithms, datasets, and natural language processing using Python and use what you learn to train a chatbot.

8. America On Tech’s TECH360

Location: America On Tech sites in New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, and Atlanta, GA (virtual + in-person sessions)

Stipend: $500 

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Two sessions/site in June–July (dates vary by site and session)

Application deadline: Typically, May

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, ages 15 – 19, attending New York City (all boroughs), Los Angeles County, Miami-Dade/Broward County, or Atlanta high schools

TECH360 is an introductory program that combines computer science fundamentals with applied learning in artificial intelligence. You will explore web development with tools such as HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap while also learning core AI concepts, including machine learning and predictive modeling. The program includes discussions on how AI systems are developed and how they affect society. Ethical considerations, including bias and responsible use of technology, are integrated into the coursework. A key component of the program is a collaborative group project, where you will design a website or an AI-based solution. This tech program for high school students concludes with a Demo Day, during which you will present your projects to judges.

9. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)

Location: NIST laboratory at Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO

Cost/Stipend: None

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive

Dates: June 22 – August 7

Application deadline: January 26

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and U.S. citizenship

The NIST SHIP is a seven-week, full-time paid internship conducted at the NIST federal research laboratory. You will be paired with a scientist or engineer and contribute to ongoing research in areas such as advanced computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, or materials science. Your daily work may include data analysis, lab experiments, software testing, or computational modeling, depending on placement. The program also includes technical training sessions and research seminars. You will showcase your work through a formal poster presentation at the end of the internship. 

10. Boston Tech Apprenticeship

Location: Various companies across Boston, MA

Stipend: Minimum $15/hour

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Six or seven weeks during the summer

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Boston Public School students

The Boston Tech Apprenticeship is a paid six- to seven-week summer internship for students enrolled in Boston Public Schools. You will work 25–35 hours per week at local companies across various industries, focusing on technology-related roles. Assigned projects may involve web design, programming, helpdesk support, quality assurance, or media production. This paid tech program for high school students can offer you support and insights to pursue computer science or IT-related college majors. Depending on your placement, you may also have access to career exploration opportunities, such as company tours, guest speaker-led sessions, workshops, boot camps, and job shadowing.

11. Johns Hopkins’ ASPIRE

Location: Online or in-person at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD

Cost/Stipend: None 

Acceptance rate: Less than 10% 

Dates: June 23 – August  21

Application deadline: February 15

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 15 or older by June 1 of the program year, have a minimum 2.8 GPA, and are U.S citizens and residents of specific regions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia 

The ASPIRE Program at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a STEM research internship for high school students. You will commit at least 190 hours over six to nine weeks to research project work under the guidance of an APL mentor. Placements span tech areas, allowing you to work on projects in computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, machine learning/AI, or data analysis. The program begins with an orientation and includes regular progress check-ins. You will document and communicate your work through a digital research poster presented at an end-of-summer showcase. In some cases, mentorship may continue beyond the summer

12. Carnegie Mellon University’s AI Scholars

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Cost: None

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; national cohort of ~40–50 students

Dates: June 20 – July 18

Application deadline: February 1

Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 or older and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or registered with DACA

Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars program is a fully funded, four-week summer experience for rising high school seniors interested in artificial intelligence. You will begin with a virtual Python pre-program course that introduces basic programming concepts before arriving on campus. Once at CMU, you will study core AI and computer science topics through faculty-led instruction and group projects. The program provides exposure to ongoing AI research and interaction with graduate students and faculty mentors, and seminars on college readiness and equity in STEM. Additionally, you collaborate with peers on a capstone project that applies AI concepts to real-world problems. The program concludes with a public presentation of your work at a final symposium.

13. NYU’s Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY

Cost: $3,300 + optional housing costs 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified 

Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates TBA

Application deadline: TBA

Eligibility: High school students, ages 15 and up, who have completed AP Math, Algebra 2, and Trigonometry, and have preferably completed PreCalc and enrolled in AP Stats/Calculus

SPARC at NYU Tandon is a two-week, in-person program focused on robotics, automation, and coding. You will dive into the basics of electronics, circuitry, microcontrollers, and programming through daily classes and hands-on workshops. Over the course of the program, you build and program multiple robots, including mobile and manipulator systems. Coding instruction focuses on logical structures such as loops and conditionals to control hardware behavior, and much of the learning takes place through guided experimentation, challenges, and problem-solving. The tech program for high school students ends with a robotics challenge that allows you to test your designs. 

14. Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Virtual or Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Cost: Residential: $9,800 | Online: $4,120; need-based financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive

Dates: Residential: July 19 – 31 | Online: June 15 – 26

Application deadline: February 6 

Eligibility: Current 9th graders who are over the age of 14 by the start of the program

Stanford AI4ALL is a virtual and on-campus summer program that introduces you to artificial intelligence through research-driven group projects. As a participant, you will work in small teams to explore AI applications connected to societal challenges. Instruction covers areas such as computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, and medical AI. Graduate students and researchers will provide mentorship and guide project development. This tech program for high school students also includes discussions on ethics, bias, and equity in AI systems. Career panels will help you connect research topics to academic and professional pathways.

15. NYU’s Machine Learning Program

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY

Cost: $3,180 tuition + optional costs

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified  

Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 27 | Session 2: July 6 – 17 | Session 3: July 20 – 31 + one-day online orientation scheduled about three/four days before each session begins

Application deadline: May 15

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11 who have programming experience and have completed Algebra 2; applicants typically have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

NYU’s Machine Learning Program is a two-week opportunity to explore the mathematical and computational foundations of machine learning and AI. You will study topics such as linear regression, neural networks, cross-validation, and model evaluation. You will also work on programming-based assignments that help you apply the concepts you learn to practical problems. The curriculum is designed to link machine theory with real-world applications, covering topics like speech processing, image recognition, autonomous systems, and medical diagnostics. Outside the classroom, you can engage in on-campus activities and organized events.

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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