15 STEM Summer Camps for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in STEM, summer camps can be a useful way to explore subjects beyond what is typically covered during the school year. Depending on the camp, you may study topics such as mathematics, computer science, engineering, biomedical research, environmental science, or artificial intelligence through coursework, projects, and research activities. These programs can help you deepen existing interests, develop technical skills, and learn more about potential academic pathways before college.
What are the benefits of attending a STEM summer camp?
STEM summer camps are offered by universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and industry-focused programs across a range of scientific disciplines. Programs such as MITES, SUMaC, SIMR, NIH HS-SIP, and Girls Who Code allow students to engage with specialized subjects through research experiences, academic coursework, coding projects, and mentorship. Whether you are looking for a short-term introduction to a field or a more intensive academic experience, STEM camps provide opportunities to explore different areas of science and technology in a structured setting.
To help with your search, here are 15 STEM summer camps for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Key Takeaways
Best free options: Los Alamos Physics Camp, SAGE Camp at SLAC, MITES at MIT, NYSCamp, CMU SEE
Best virtual options: Veritas AI (year-round, rolling deadlines), SUMaC Online ($3,750), Girls Who Code Pathways (self-paced)
Best for math: SUMaC (Stanford), IMA-MathCEP at UMinn, NYSCamp; best for AI/CS: Veritas AI, Girls Who Code, Immerse Education CS Programme; best for biology/research: MITES, COSMOS, HK Maker Lab
Earliest deadlines: HK Maker Lab (January 7), COSMOS (February 6), SUMaC (February 2) — start preparing in December
1. Summer Physics Camp – Los Alamos National Laboratory
The Summer Physics Camp is a free two-week STEM camp run by Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, where students explore STEM subjects such as physics, engineering, and more through hands-on projects. Students work directly alongside scientists and engineers from two of the country's leading national laboratories, gaining exposure to real-world research and the kind of work done at Department of Energy facilities. The program also includes professional development training covering resume writing, job applications, and career pathways at national labs and local colleges. Students who complete the program are invited to join the national SAGE Journey program, a community focused on science and technology leadership.
Cost/Stipend: Free; $350 stipend awarded upon completion; lunch and snacks provided daily
Location: New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 8 – June 19
Eligibility: Students living in New Mexico, New Mexico tribal communities, or East Hawaii. They must have completed Algebra I
2. Veritas AI
Veritas AI offers diverse AI programs tailored for driven high school students, ranging from collaborative learning in small groups to personalized project paths with individual mentorship. These programs are crafted and administered by Harvard graduate students and alumni. The AI Scholars program allows students to engage with Ph.D. experts from leading institutions, focusing on Python fundamentals and essential AI and ML concepts. Participants establish a robust coding foundation and learn to develop AI models autonomously. In the AI Fellowship, students work 1-1 with mentors over 12-15 weeks to create independent, unique projects. You can find examples of past projects here!
Cost: Varies. Need-based financial aid is available.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Rolling. 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.
3. SAGE Camp – SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
SAGE (Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement) Camp is a free one-week residential program at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, a Department of Energy facility operated by Stanford University. During the week, students hear from scientists and engineers about their careers, shadow STEM professionals in their day-to-day work, complete hands-on team projects, and tour SLAC facilities showcasing the latest technologies being developed. The program also includes college campus tours, a visit to a local observatory, and evening activities designed to build connections between students and STEM professionals. SAGE Camp serves as the entry point to the broader SAGE Journey program, a national community supporting students as they pursue STEM education and careers.
Cost: Free
Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University campus, Menlo Park and Palo Alto, CA
Application Deadline: March 17
Program Dates: June 21 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students from all backgrounds; open to U.S. students
4. Immerse Education’s Math Summer School
The Computer Science Academic Insights Programme enables high school students to study computer science through undergraduate-level instruction at leading universities worldwide. The programme pairs you with academics from universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4–10 students. You'll attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor, focusing on computational thinking, algorithms, and problem-solving. The programme includes practical experiences such as coding projects, software design tasks, and analytical challenges that reflect how computer science is taught at university. You can explore core areas of computer science, including programming, data structures, foundations of artificial intelligence, and systems thinking, while developing technical confidence and academic depth. By the programme’s end, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion.
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Boston
Application deadline: Rolling, with multiple summer cohorts throughout the year
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
5. MIT’S MITES Summer Program
MITES Summer is a free six-week residential program at MIT where high school juniors take five college-level courses across math, life sciences, physics, humanities, and a project-based elective. Students are placed into math, life sciences, and physics courses based on a knowledge inventory taken during orientation, and elective courses have included machine learning, genomics, engineering design, architecture, and electronics. The program also includes lab tours, STEM professional seminars, visits to local companies that employ MITES alumni, and college admissions guidance. At the end of the program, each student receives a written evaluation from their instructor that many choose to include as supplemental material in their college applications.
Cost: No Cost. Students only pay for transportation to and from MIT.
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: Fall semester of junior year; exact date announced each cycle
Program Dates: Late June through early August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently in 11th grade; students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply
6. National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp)
NYSCamp is a free three-week residential STEAM program held in the mountains of West Virginia, where delegates from every U.S. state and select international countries attend by nomination. Each day includes two lectures by prominent STEM professionals, along with small-group mini-courses that allow for deeper exploration of a topic with an expert. The program also includes outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, rock climbing, caving, and kayaking, an arts program, and a trip to Washington D.C., where delegates have previously met with members of Congress and attended panels at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Cost: Free
Location: Monongahela National Forest, Davis, WV
Application deadline: Late March; varies by state
Program dates: July 11 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors, current seniors, and recent graduates; superior academic record with recognized achievement in STEAM; international delegates selected through U.S. Embassy partnerships in select countries
7. Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) – Carnegie Mellon University
SEE is a free week-long commuter program at Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering where students work on hands-on engineering projects. Session 1, themed Making and Engineering, has students complete two design projects, one structured group project and one individual project, both focused on building problem-solving and design skills using everyday materials. Session 2, themed Biomedical Engineering, covers biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, circuit elements, stem cell and tissue engineering, robotics, and 3D bioprinting through academic presentations and interactive project work. Students may apply to one session based on their grade level.
Cost: Free
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Application deadline: March 23
Program dates: Session 1: July 13–17; Session 2: July 27–31
Eligibility: U.S. students; Session 1 for rising 8th and 9th graders; Session 2 for rising 10th and 11th graders
8. Hk Maker Lab
Hk Maker Lab is a free five-week engineering design program run by HYPOTHEkids in partnership with Columbia Engineering. The first three weeks consist of a Columbia SHAPE course taught by Columbia faculty, with students placed in either Biomedical Engineering or Innovation and Design, based on their preferences. The final two weeks are a Hackathon for Health Equity, where students work in interdisciplinary teams to design and build a digital product, such as an app or website, that addresses a real health disparity. Students who complete the program may apply to NY Bioforce the following year, including a paid summer internship at a research or healthcare institution.
Cost: Free
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Application deadline: January 7
Program dates: July 6 – August 7
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students currently in 10th or 11th grade who demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage; applicants must attend a school with an Economic Need Index of 80% or higher, or qualify for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or similar government aid
9. Summer STEM – U.S. Naval Academy
The U.S. Naval Academy's Summer STEM Program is a week-long residential camp on the USNA campus in Annapolis, where students work through hands-on academic modules taught by Naval Academy faculty in real labs and classrooms. STEM modules have included reverse-engineering small-motor engines, materials science in the USNA engineering labs, structural design tested in a wind tunnel, and coding challenges. The week also includes a harbor cruise, intramurals, a majors and technology expo, and leadership activities guided by USNA midshipmen. All meals, lodging, and transportation to and from BWI Airport are included in the program fee.
Cost: $450; financial aid available for program fee and travel
Location: U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: Rising 9th graders: June 1–6; Rising 10th graders: June 8–13; Rising 11th graders: June 15–19
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–11
10. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
COSMOS is a four-week residential STEM program offered across six University of California campuses, where students enroll in a single intensive "cluster" — a focused course of study built around a specific topic in science, engineering, or mathematics, taught by UC faculty and researchers. Each campus offers its own set of clusters that draw on that campus's research strengths, covering areas such as astrophysics, robotics, bioengineering, data science, nanotechnology, and environmental science, among others. The curriculum is hands-on and lab-intensive, going well beyond what is typically offered in California high schools. Students must live on campus for the full four weeks to receive the COSMOS diploma and be recognized as alumni.
Cost: $5,518; need-based financial aid available for application and program costs; $46 application fee
Location: University of California campuses, CA
Application Deadline: February 6
Program Dates: July 5 – July 31 or August 1 (varies by campus)
Eligibility: California students currently in grades 8–12; students apply to a specific campus and cluster topic
11. Camp SEA Lab
The Science, Education, and Adventure (SEA) Lab, in partnership with California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), offers a marine-focused environment that enables high school students to partake in week-long boating expeditions. Throughout these 5-day journeys at sea, guided by a professional captain and crew, students are challenged to work collaboratively. These expeditions involve plankton and marine mammal studies, oceanographic sampling, examination of marine debris, and conservation discussions, among other enriching activities.
Cost: $1,495; scholarships available;
Location: Monterey Bay and Sausalito, CA
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6–10; Session 2: July 13–17; Session 3: July 20–24
Eligibility: Ages 13–16; no sailing experience required
12. IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp – University of Minnesota
The IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp is a five-day commuter program at the University of Minnesota that introduces high school students to the use of mathematics in solving real-world problems. Topics have included predicting population and disease trends, studying the effects of traffic on infrastructure, and estimating the impact of climate on natural resources. Students work in teams on applied problems throughout the week, with past projects including analyzing potential light rail routes and studying food deserts.
Cost: Not specified
Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: June 22 — June 26
Eligibility: Current high school students who have completed a full year of single-variable calculus; primarily for students in or near the Twin Cities metro area; students from other states should contact the program before applying
13. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
SUMaC is an intensive mathematics program at Stanford that takes high school students through advanced topics well beyond the standard curriculum, with courses focused on either abstract algebra and number theory or algebraic topology. Students engage in daily lectures, problem sets, and guided research, working alongside instructors and undergraduate and graduate student teaching assistants. The residential program spans four weeks on Stanford's campus, with structured weekend field trips to the San Francisco Bay Area, while online sessions run three weeks with live daily instruction in morning or evening time slots. Both formats conclude with final research project presentations and carry an equivalent level of academic rigor.
Cost: $3,750 (online); $8,950 (residential; includes housing, meals, course materials, and field trips); need-based financial aid available
Location: Virtual OR Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Application deadline: February 2
Program dates: Online Session I: June 15 – July 3; Online Session II: July 6 – July 24; Residential Session I: June 21 – July 17
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
14. Tapia STEM Camps – Rice University
Tapia STEM Camps are six-day residential camps at Rice University where students work on hands-on projects covering data centers and their environmental impacts, including heatsink design, wind turbine construction, carbon capture and storage, and algorithm design. A special track, Techniques of a Pro Mathematician, is available for high school students looking for additional rigor and requires a separate application. The week concludes with a final presentation competition that families are invited to attend, and includes a field trip to NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Cost: $2,200 (early bird, before March 1); $2,500 (regular, before May 1); limited scholarships available
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Session 1: July 5–10; Session 2: July 12–17; Session 3: July 19–24
Eligibility: Rising 8th–12th graders; no prerequisites for most tracks
15. Girls Who Code Pathways
Girls Who Code Pathways is a free, self-paced online program where high school students complete hands-on coding projects in one of five curriculum tracks: game design, data science, AI, cybersecurity, or web development. Students work at their own pace over six to seven weeks and have access to a virtual community on Discord, as well as optional corporate partner events, career panels, and advisor-led workshops focused on emerging technologies. Students in select cities can also participate in in-person Industry Immersion Days with partner companies.
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: 6–7 weeks; self-paced
Eligibility: All female and non-binary high school students are eligible.