12 Math Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
What if your summer could feel a little less like a break from learning and more like a chance to actually use the math you’ve been studying all year? Summer math programs give you a way to test out problem-solving, explore fields that rely heavily on mathematical thinking, and meet people who actually work with numbers every day. Instead of learning formulas for the sake of an exam, you get to see how math ties into engineering, data science, AI, research, and more, often with guidance from professors, graduate students, and industry mentors.
Why should you attend a program in Illinois?
Illinois is home to institutions like the University of Chicago, UIUC, and well-established STEM organizations throughout the state that offer math programs. These programs allow you to work in research hubs, learn from experienced faculty, and explore subjects beyond the high school curriculum. Whether you are a local or out-of-state student, these programs are a solid option to experience Illinois’s academic landscape.
To help you decide, this guide highlights 12 math summer programs for high school students in Illinois.
If you are looking for internships in Illinois, check out our blog here.
1. Math Circles of Chicago College Pathways
Location: Multiple locations in Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Need-based annual stipend of $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: Varies for different pathways
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Math Circles of Chicago College Pathways is a free program that gives Chicago high school students access to university-level mathematics education and research. You begin with enrichment sessions that use the math circle model, then can move into more focused tracks that involve teaching experience, research projects, summer camps, and mentorship from educators and STEM professionals. If you enjoy working with younger students, you can gain hands-on experience supporting middle school math circles, including opportunities for paid teaching roles. Students interested in research can explore deeper mathematical topics and complete guided projects. High-achieving seniors may also apply to become MC2 Scholars, a distinction that includes a $2,000 scholarship and individualized college advising.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Selective
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). You can apply to the program here
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 provides structured online programs for high school students who want to explore how mathematics is applied within artificial intelligence and machine learning. The AI Scholars program introduces you to key foundations in data science, image classification, and natural language processing through a ten-session curriculum taught by mentors with advanced training in AI. You’ll work with a small team to build a practical project, which is a helpful way to see how mathematical concepts shape real-world models. More advanced students can join the AI Fellowship, a 1:1 research experience where you design an independent AI project under guidance from mentors affiliated with top universities. This track also connects you with an internal publication team that helps students submit work to high-school research journals, which may interest you if you want a more academic outcome.
3. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5%, only 30 lab spots available
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th Graders from Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, or Wisconsin
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research program is a six-week, no-cost opportunity that places high school students in active research environments across disciplines. You’ll spend around 30–35 hours each week participating in real research under the guidance of faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and trained teachers. Weekly seminars help you build skills in scientific communication, college preparation, and poster development. By the end of the program, you will prepare and present a research poster at a symposium that showcases your findings. Most activities take place on the University of Illinois campus, giving you direct exposure to life at a major research institution.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Math Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year, including in the summer; dates vary by cohort
Application deadline: May for summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a twelve-week virtual research experience that pairs high school students with Ph.D.-level mentors to design and complete an original academic project in mathematics or a closely related field. You’ll move through the full research cycle by creating questions, developing methods, analyzing results, and refining your writing, with individualized feedback throughout. Students interested in mathematics can choose topics such as pure math, applied math, data science, or machine learning, depending on their goals. Over the course of the program, you’ll also work on a 15-page research paper that reflects the conventions of academic writing, which helps you understand and emulate how research communication actually works.
5. MathCON Summer Camp
Location: Loyola Water Tower Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,450 (with housing) | $2,150 (without housing)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
MathCON Summer Camp is a one-week program for high-performing students who participated in the MathCON Online Round and want deeper exposure to advanced mathematics and competition preparation. The curriculum covers topics like number theory, combinatorics, geometry, and algebraic reasoning, introducing concepts that span high school through early graduate-level material. You’ll work with experienced instructors to refine your problem-solving approach, especially if you’re preparing for the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), which feed into the pathway for International Mathematical Olympiad qualification. Beyond academics, the program includes activities such as a boat cruise on Lake Michigan and team-based challenges, along with meals and optional residential housing at Loyola University.
6. UChicago Summer Session- Proof-Based Discrete Mathematics
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $8,900 + $50 Application fee (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 - July 2
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 - 11 who have completed Geometry, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2
The Proof-Based Discrete Mathematics course at the University of Chicago Summer Session is a three-week residential program that introduces high school students to the logic and structure behind rigorous mathematical proof. You’ll learn to move beyond computational problem-solving and instead focus on the reasoning that underlies concepts in set theory, counting, and infinity. The course begins with naïve set theory and explores how operations on sets translate into methods for counting, including applications to infinite sets and related paradoxes. Each day combines lectures, small-group work, and opportunities for students to present their arguments in an environment that encourages clarity and collaboration.
7. UChicago Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars
Location: Virtual and at the University of Chicago
Cost: $2,500; program fee may be waived based on a household income criterion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 27 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students enrolled in a U.S. high school, minimum age of 15 years
The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars program combines a virtual mathematics course with a weeklong residential experience at the University of Chicago. After completing the virtual component, you spend a week on campus attending model classes and hearing from UChicago faculty and alumni in fields such as mathematics, computer science, and molecular engineering. The program includes guided visits to major research sites such as Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and the Polsky Center. Throughout the week, you work alongside a cohort of like-minded students selected for their interest in STEM and their engagement with diverse perspectives.
8. Summer Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Varies based on household income
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12
The Summer Young Scholars Program is a four-week program hosted by the University of Chicago for students in grades seven through twelve who want a deeper experience with mathematical thinking. In alternating years, participants study either geometry or number theory, with each day built around faculty-led lectures and a breakout problem-solving session facilitated by undergraduate math majors. Rather than accelerating you through standard school content, the program immerses students in mathematical ideas that require sustained thought, creativity, and collaborative effort. During the academic year, the program works closely with Math Circles of Chicago.
9. Illinois Tech Elevate College Math in Action: Real-World Problem Solving
Location: Virtual
Cost: $300 + $100 application fee; financial aid available + upon completing the program, you may be eligible to secure a $500 scholarship for future education
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: June 15 – 19
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders, ages 14 – 17
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Math in Action program is a short online experience that introduces you to how mathematical ideas function in practical, real-world contexts. Over several virtual sessions, the faculty guide you through demonstrations and varied activities that show how abstract concepts translate into tools for solving everyday problems. You’ll work through scenarios that connect mathematics to science, technology, and engineering, focusing on reasoning rather than memorization. The curriculum highlights how mathematical thinking supports decision-making in fields like engineering and systems analysis.
10. University of Minnesota’s IMA–MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
Location: Limited virtual slots available
Cost: No cost
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a year-long course in single-variable calculus by the end of the school year
The IMA–MathCEP Math Modeling Camp is a free, weeklong, in-person program that centers on using mathematics to examine real-world issues such as disease spread, population change, climate-related resource shifts, and traffic behavior. You’ll work in teams to build and analyze models under the guidance of university instructors, learning how mathematical structures help interpret complex systems. Past groups have taken on projects like evaluating possible routes for a proposed light rail system, demonstrating how modeling informs choices related to public infrastructure. The program culminates in a presentation of your group’s findings to faculty and peers.
11. MathQuantum High School Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 2 weeks in July
Application deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students interested in Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, and/or Quantum (Information) Science; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The MathQuantum High School Fellowship is a two-week online program that introduces you to the mathematical ideas underlying quantum information science. Through lectures, coding labs, discussions, and a final mini-project, you examine topics such as linear algebra, elements of quantum mechanics, and the basics of quantum cryptography. The curriculum also covers tools used in current research, including QLab and concepts like ion traps, which illustrate how theoretical ideas connect to emerging quantum technologies. Participants gain exposure to both the mathematical frameworks and computational approaches used in the field.
12. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,750; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 64 online participants
Dates: Session One: June 15 – July 3 | Session Two: July 6 – 24
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is an intensive academic program that brings motivated high school students into advanced mathematical topics such as abstract algebra, number theory, and algebraic topology. Over three to four weeks, you participate in daily lectures, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and assignments that are designed similarly to a college mathematics course but without grades or credit. SUMaC is offered in both a residential format at Stanford and an online format, each featuring real-time discussions, guest lectures, and ongoing work with undergraduate and graduate instructional assistants. You’ll explore mathematical theory for its own sake, though the program also highlights applications of these concepts in scientific and technological fields. A final research presentation allows students to share their findings with peers and instructors.
Image source - University of Chicago Logo