15 Technology Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 21
- 10 min read
If you're a high school student who enjoys coding, building apps, or figuring out how technology actually works under the hood, a technology program is worth exploring! Unlike a standard computer science class, these programs let you go deep into one area, whether that's software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or robotics, and build something real. Getting there involves more than following a tutorial. You'll often work through real coding problems, build and test your own projects, debug things that don't work the first time, and learn to explain your thinking clearly.
Why should I participate in a technology program in high school?
Technology programs let you apply what you've learned in classes like computer science and math to problems that actually matter. Instead of working through an assignment for a grade, you're building something functional and improving it through real trial and error. These programs also strengthen college applications by showing initiative beyond the classroom. Whether you're aiming for computer science, engineering, or another tech-related field, a technology program gives you a way to explore that path while building a project you can keep developing long after the program ends.
To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 15 technology programs for high school students!
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: 10% (highly selective)
Application Deadline: Varies by 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. 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (travel, housing, and meals covered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 2% - 3%
Dates: Late June – Early August
Application Deadline: February 1 (Student application); February 15 (Teacher recommendations)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as high school juniors
MITES Summer is one of the most selective technology programs for high school students in the U.S., especially for students interested in engineering and computing. Over six weeks, you live on MIT’s campus while taking intensive coursework across science, mathematics, humanities, and computer science. You may study subjects like machine learning, genomics, or computational systems while also attending recitations and technical workshops. The structure is intentionally rigorous, so you spend a lot of time solving advanced problem sets, debugging code, and discussing technical concepts with instructors and peers. You also gain exposure to research environments through laboratory tours and faculty interactions. The program also includes college preparation support and written evaluations from instructors.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
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 will 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.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective (12 students)
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: Historically early February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Research is at the center of the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program, where just 12 high school students spend seven weeks working alongside Texas Tech faculty on original projects. Depending on your mentor and research area, you might investigate artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, robotics, or another STEM discipline while contributing to an active university research project. You'll review scientific literature, develop research methods, analyze data, and troubleshoot challenges as they arise. Alongside your project, you'll attend seminars led by researchers from different disciplines, giving you broader insight into scientific inquiry beyond your own field. The program concludes with a formal research paper and presentation, closely reflecting how professional researchers communicate their work.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; Estimated acceptance rate of 5% - 10%
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years of age and U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or registered with DACA can apply
Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, and Carnegie Mellon University's AI Scholars program allows you to explore the field from one of the world's leading AI institutions. Over four weeks, you'll learn the fundamentals of machine learning, robotics, neural networks, and computational thinking through lectures, coding exercises, and collaborative projects. Instead of stopping at theory, you'll apply what you learn to solve practical problems using datasets and introductory AI models while working closely with classmates. Beyond the classroom, you'll meet researchers and technology professionals, attend college readiness sessions, and gain a clearer understanding of careers in artificial intelligence and computer science.
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 9 – July 30 (Tentative)
Application Deadline: April 9 (Tentative)
Eligibility: Rising low-income 11th graders from the US/Puerto Rico
Princeton AI4ALL approaches artificial intelligence from both a technical and societal perspective. Throughout the program, you'll learn core concepts in machine learning, programming, and data analysis while working in teams to build AI-based projects under the guidance of Princeton faculty and graduate students. Alongside coding and technical instruction, discussions regularly explore questions around fairness, bias, ethics, privacy, and the public impact of AI technologies. The curriculum extends beyond campus with an educational trip to Washington, D.C., where conversations examine how emerging technologies intersect with public policy and regulation. By the end of the program, you'll have developed both technical skills and a broader understanding of the responsibilities involved in building AI systems.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 3% - 5% acceptance rate; 30 slots
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: Typically late January
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
This program places you directly inside a faculty-led research group working on STEM and computational projects. Depending on your placement, you may work with coding systems, data visualization tools, or experimental design frameworks connected to AI or data science. Throughout the summer, you learn how research teams structure workflows, analyze information, and communicate findings. Weekly seminars expose you to research culture, academic writing, and technical presentation methods. You also build a research abstract and poster for the final symposium. Because the program mirrors university research structures closely, it is considered one of the strongest research-oriented technology programs for high school students.
Location: University of Chicago, Hyde Park Campus – Chicago, IL
Cost: Free to participate; paid internship with stipend support
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students who live/attend school in the Chicago area
This eight-week program gives you exposure to how data science research actually operates at a major research university. You work with faculty and graduate students on projects involving computational analysis, public policy datasets, climate data, biomedical systems, or computer science research. The technical work may involve coding, cleaning datasets, visualization pipelines, and statistical analysis. Rather than isolated assignments, you contribute to collaborative research environments where tasks are interconnected. You also create a final presentation video for the summer symposium, which helps you practice communicating technical findings clearly. If you are interested in data-heavy technology programs for high school students, this program gives strong research exposure.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $11,492 (Residential); $6,241 (Commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Typically late June – Mid-August
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school students; U.S. citizens/permanent residents preferred
SHAPE introduces you to engineering through a project-heavy curriculum inside Columbia’s engineering facilities. You can explore areas like cybersecurity, robotics, electrical engineering, and computer science while attending lectures from instructors and graduate students. Team-based projects often involve prototyping, coding, and iterative testing, which helps you understand how engineering systems are designed and improved. You also practice technical writing and structured problem-solving throughout the sessions. Because activities take place in Columbia labs, you get exposure to university-level tools and workflows. This makes SHAPE one of the more immersive campus-based technology programs for high school students.
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6–17
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Georgia residents, age 16+
The Student and Teacher Enhancement Partnership (STEP) Program at Georgia Tech introduces high school students to engineering through hands-on design challenges rather than traditional classroom instruction. Over two weeks, you'll work in teams to solve open-ended engineering problems by designing, building, testing, and refining prototypes. Every project goes through multiple rounds of experimentation, encouraging you to identify weaknesses, improve performance, and balance practical constraints such as cost, efficiency, and functionality. The program ends with a formal design showcase where you'll present both your final prototype and the engineering process behind it.
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 7–15
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
SEI gives you a short but fairly technical introduction to engineering systems and computational workflows. During the program, you rotate through modules involving electrical systems, mechanical systems, and engineering design concepts. You may work with circuit components, modeling frameworks, or simulation tools while experimenting with how systems are tested and optimized. Collaboration is a major part of the program, since most challenges are solved in teams. Faculty interactions also help connect classroom concepts to ongoing research at Georgia Tech. Among shorter technology programs for high school students, SEI still manages to provide strong technical exposure.
Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Cost: Ranges from $530 to $1,255
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats
Dates: July 12–16
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 13–17
This program focuses specifically on coding and machine learning fundamentals using Python. You begin with programming basics before moving into topics like classification algorithms, model training, and dataset analysis. Since the sessions are hands-on, you spend most of your time writing and testing code rather than only listening to lectures. Collaborative projects also introduce you to how AI systems are developed in teams. Ethical discussions are built into the curriculum, which helps you think about the limitations and implications of AI systems. For younger students exploring technology programs for high school students, this is a manageable introduction to AI workflows.
Location: Oregon State University Cascades, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $1,000 (day) / $1,500 (overnight); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited seats
Dates: July 19 – 24; July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: High school students entering Grades 10–12
The OSU-Cascades Summer Academy gives high school students the flexibility to explore technology through specialized project tracks instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Depending on your interests, you can choose pathways such as Computer Science or Art + Media + Technology, spending the week creating practical projects under the guidance of university instructors. Coursework emphasizes building, experimenting, and improving your work through continuous feedback rather than completing traditional assignments. Alongside project development, you'll hear from industry professionals about how similar tools and workflows are used in technology careers, helping connect classroom learning with real workplaces.
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 93 students
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors from rural districts
Designed specifically for students from rural Georgia communities, the Georgia Tech Summer Institute offers an introduction to STEM within one of the country's leading engineering universities. During the week, you'll participate in interactive workshops, engineering demonstrations, collaborative design activities, and campus experiences that introduce the fundamentals of science and technology. You'll also visit research facilities and innovation spaces while learning how engineering majors are structured and what life at a major research university looks like. Conversations with faculty members and current Georgia Tech students provide additional insight into college preparation, academic opportunities, and STEM careers.
Location: Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 150 students
Dates: June 22 – 25
Application Deadline: May 20
Eligibility: Ages 14–16
CTE Exploration Week is designed as an introductory technical exploration program for younger high school students. You rotate through workshops involving robotics, computer information systems, and technical troubleshooting. The focus is less on theory and more on understanding how technical skills are applied in practical settings. Mentors and instructors explain how different technology pathways connect to careers and further education. Since the program exposes you to multiple technical disciplines in a short time, it helps you narrow down your interests before committing to more specialized experiences. Among early-stage technology programs for high school students, this one is especially accessible and focused on exploration.
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.