10 Ivy League Computer Science Programs for High School Students
For high school students passionate about computer science, participating in a program hosted by an Ivy League university offers a great opportunity to explore academic and career interests in a rigorous environment. These programs provide access to world-class faculty, hands-on learning experiences, and mentorship that reflects the depth and innovation of college-level research. By building foundational skills, engaging with experts, and contributing to meaningful projects, these experiences can serve as a launch pad for future academic and professional success.
While Ivy League institutions are often associated with exclusivity and high costs, many of their pre-college and summer programs offer financial aid, virtual learning options, or are entirely free. These opportunities often deliver greater academic value than private summer camps at a comparable or lower cost. For students interested in computer science, the following Ivy League programs span a range of topics—from artificial intelligence and data science to robotics, software engineering, and ethical computing. Below is a curated list of 10 Ivy League computer science programs for high school students.
1. Princeton University - Princeton AI4ALL Summer Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
Program Dates: July 9 - July 30.
Application Deadline: April 9.
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders who live and attend high school in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and meet at least one low-income criteria are eligible to apply.
Cost: Free!
Princeton AI4ALL is a fully funded, three-week residential program that introduces high school students to artificial intelligence through research projects, guest lectures, and mentorship. The program emphasizes ethical AI, social responsibility, and practical applications. You will attend faculty-led seminars, explore topics such as machine learning and algorithmic fairness, and participate in a two-day field trip to Washington, D.C., to meet policymakers. The program culminates in group research presentations addressing real-world societal issues.
2. Brown University - Artificial Intelligence for Computational Creativity
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI.
Program Dates: June 2 – August 1.
Application Deadline: February 3.
Eligibility: High school graduates who have been accepted into college but have not yet enrolled are eligible to apply.
Cost/Stipend: Free! Students receive a stipend of $6,480, along with housing and travel support.
This NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site offers a nine-week summer research program focused on AI applications in creative fields such as design, photography, and user experience. You will work in research groups alongside Brown faculty and graduate students to explore topics including generative models, game design, and misinformation detection. The program includes intensive instruction in machine learning, research methods, and software tools. In partnership with The Leadership Alliance, the initiative also provides career mentorship and support for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
3. Columbia University - Introduction to Programming with Java
Location: Virtual.
Program Dates: July 7 – July 18.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. No prior experience is required.
Cost: $3,965. Need-based financial aid is available.
This two-week introductory course at Columbia University helps you develop strong programming foundations using the Java language. Core concepts such as object-oriented design, algorithmic thinking, and logical problem-solving are taught through a hands-on, lab-driven curriculum. You will complete both individual and collaborative projects in a cross-platform Java environment, which you will configure on your own computers. No prior programming experience is required, making this a great choice for beginners.
4. Brown University - AI, Data Science and Machine Learning
Location: Virtual.
Program Dates: June 23 - July 18.
Application Deadline: May 9. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. A basic foundation in computer programming that includes python or R is required.
Cost: $5,314. Need-based financial aid is available.
The Data Science and Machine Learning program emphasizes structured data exploration, visualization, diagnostic analytics, and predictive modeling using statistical and machine learning techniques. The curriculum includes practical applications such as text analytics, recommendation systems, and an introduction to deep learning and computer vision. A core focus is the machine learning pipeline, including ethical considerations and data architecture design. You will also explore applications across fields like healthcare, hospitality, and sports.
5. Columbia University - The Coding School Summer Research Program
Location: Virtual.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for five weeks in the summer.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Incoming 10th - 12th graders and recent high school graduates are eligible to apply.
Cost: To be announced. Need-based financial aid is available.
Columbia University has partnered with The Coding School to offer a Summer Research Program, a competitive, five-week virtual opportunity where students work as research assistants to faculty and graduate mentors. You will explore real-world applications of data science in fields such as medicine, finance, and sports analytics. You will receive training in R programming, machine learning, data visualization, and web scraping, and design independent research projects under close mentorship. This program is ideal for students seeking to build a research portfolio in data-driven disciplines.
6. Yale University - Summer Session Pre-College Program Computer Science Track
Location: Virtual or in-person at Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Program Dates: Session A: May 26 – June 27 | Session B: June 30 – August 1.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors in grades 11–12 who will be 16 years or older by the program start date are eligible to apply.
Cost: Varies depending on the course. Need-based financial aid is available.
Yale’s Summer Session offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses taught by Yale faculty. Course offerings include computer science, data science, and related technical fields. You will join undergraduate classes and are held to the same academic standards. Both in-person and online formats are available depending on the course. Though not exclusively focused on computer science, the program offers a valuable preview of college life and academic expectations at Yale.
7. Harvard University - Pre-College Program Computer Science Track
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Cohort Size: 12–18 students per class.
Program Dates: Session I: June 22 – July 3 | Session II: July 6 – July 18 | Session III: July 20 – August 1.
Application Deadline: March.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 are eligible to apply.
Cost: $5,800 tuition and $75 application fee. Need-based financial aid is available.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program allows academically motivated high school students to engage in intensive, college-style coursework in computer science, statistics, and data science. Each two-week session includes one course, taught in small, discussion-based classes led by Harvard-affiliated instructors. Computer science courses cover topics such as algorithms, programming fundamentals, and data visualization. With research-based presentations and a final written evaluation, the program emphasizes intellectual curiosity, independent learning, and communication—without letter grades.
8. Cornell University - CS 1109: Fundamental Programming Concepts
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Cohort Size: 80 students.
Program Dates: July 14 – August 1.
Application Deadline: June 16.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
Cost: $1,840 per credit. Need-based financial aid is available.
Fundamental Programming Concepts is a three-week introductory programming course at Cornell. It focuses on core programming principles including control flow, functions, and data structures. You will work in a hands-on environment using a high-level language and are trained in problem-solving and decomposition. Although the course does not count toward engineering credit, it provides an excellent introduction to programming.
9. Princeton University - Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory, and Machines
Location: Virtual.
Program Dates: This is a self-paced program.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. Some programming or background in math is recommended.
Cost: Free enrollment.
Taught by Professors Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne, this self-paced online course introduces you to core principles in computer science, focusing on algorithms, computational theory, and data structures. Structured into 11 modules, the course covers programming techniques, mathematical analysis, and theoretical models such as Turing machines. It is ideal for self-motivated students interested in a deeper understanding of how computers solve problems efficiently.
10. University of Pennsylvania - Computational Thinking for Problem Solving
Location: Virtual.
Program Dates: This is a self-paced program.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
Cost: Free enrollment.
The University of Pennsylvania offers this beginner-friendly online course introducing computational thinking—a systematic approach to analyzing complex problems and designing logical solutions. You will explore fundamental concepts such as algorithms, data structures, pseudocode, and debugging, and will learn to implement these using Python. The course comprises four structured modules and includes 28 hands-on assignments to reinforce learning. Upon completion, you will receive a shareable certificate and gain foundational skills in programming and analytical reasoning.
Bonus Item - Veritas AI
Location: Virtual.
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world are eligible to apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI offers two highly structured, virtual programs designed specifically for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence and machine learning. The AI Scholars program introduces core concepts such as neural networks, computer vision, and natural language processing through guided small-group sessions.
The AI Fellowship provides one-on-one mentorship to design and complete an independent AI research project, with the option to publish in high school research journals. Founded by Harvard alumni, Veritas AI emphasizes technical depth, interdisciplinary learning, and academic rigor. Cohorts run throughout the year, providing flexibility and personalization.
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