15 Free Online AI Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in artificial intelligence, an online AI program can be a practical way to begin building skills early. These programs allow you to study topics like machine learning, data science, and automation from home while following a structured curriculum. Many options are free or offer full financial aid, making them accessible to students from different backgrounds and locations. You may also have the opportunity to learn from technology instructors and mentors, helping you better understand how AI is applied in academic and professional settings.
What are the benefits of an AI program?
AI programs often introduce you to coding languages such as Python and teach you how algorithms and machine learning models work. Through guided projects, you might analyze datasets, build simple predictive models, or explore how AI tools are used in areas like healthcare, finance, education, and gaming. By completing structured assignments and projects, you strengthen your programming, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills while gaining a clearer understanding of how artificial intelligence is shaping different industries.
In this blog, we’ve put together 15 free online AI programs for high school students that you can check out.
If you’re looking for online STEM programs, check out our blog here.
1. MITES Semester
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: 6 months from June to December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors
MITES Semester is a highly competitive program that introduces you to the field of STEM while also offering guidance on college preparation. Over approximately six months, you will complete rigorous online coursework, attend weekly virtual webinars, participate in workshops, and engage in additional activities. At the outset of the program, you will attend an intensive project-based STEM course in areas such as robotics, machine learning, or computational biology, along with a core course in physics, calculus, computer science, or science writing. In the latter half of the program, the emphasis shifts to college and career readiness, including activities such as reviewing college application essays and participating in mock interviews. The program also offers the valuable opportunity to learn from and connect with STEM professionals.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; 100% financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in 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 have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity 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.
3. AI4ALL @ University of Washington
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 20 weeks; Starts in September
Application Deadline: July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors
The AI4ALL@UW Program is a 20-week initiative that introduces you to data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Throughout the program, you will develop skills in understanding and analyzing real-world applications of these disciplines. The program, led by faculty, researchers, and instructors from the University of Washington, offers opportunities for small, focused group discussions on key concepts. As a participant, you will gain experience in geographic information science and explore equity and bias issues in urban environments.
4. Immerse Education’s Online Research Programme
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible; multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; multiple dates throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 (accredited options require age 14+)
The Online Research Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct rigorous research under the guidance of tutors from Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League universities. You will work with your tutor to explore a subject of your choice in depth and write an academic research paper. The program is offered in 1:1 and small-group formats, and you can choose to earn college credit from universities in the US and the UK. The virtual research program is offered in over 20 subjects, including artificial intelligence, chemistry, psychology, economics, computer science, creative writing, philosophy, and more. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your tutor, an opportunity to publish your research, and an invitation to present at the Immerse Online Symposium. You can find examples of papers Immerse students have worked on here. You can find more details about the application here.
5. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI): Autonomous Cognitive Assistance (CogWorks)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (if family income is below $150,000); $2,350 (if family income is above $150,000)
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: March 2 – 30
Eligibility: U.S. 9th-11th graders
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous, prestigious STEM program that offers hands-on, project-based learning. The Autonomous Cognitive Assistance (CogWorks) course offers you the chance to learn how to use state-of-the-art machine learning tools. You will learn the foundations of artificial intelligence and explore how it can be used to build cognitive assistants. You’ll also get to learn the basics of Python, Git, machine learning, and natural language processing. If you successfully complete the course, you will be considered for participation in a summer program, where you will get to use professional cognition services, like Amazon Alexa, open-source tools, and your own machine learning tools to develop a cognitive system.
6. Kode with Klossy: Summer Camps
Location: Virtual (in-person options available)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not mentioned
Dates: 2 weeks (varies by location)
Application Deadline: March 31 (tentative)
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens (13-18)
Kode with Klossy offers free, intensive summer camps focused on coding fundamentals and promoting interest in STEM fields. You can choose from four specialized tracks: web development, mobile app development, data science, or machine learning. In the web development track, you will explore the key components of building a website, including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, and develop an understanding of effective UI/UX design. The mobile app development track emphasizes programming in Apple’s Swift language and guides you through the creation of a fully functional iOS application. The data science track involves analyzing raw data using tools such as SQL and Python, and applying data visualization techniques to extract meaningful insights. In the machine learning track, you will explore core concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning, including algorithms, datasets, and Python programming.
7. Girls Who Code: Pathways
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 25 (early); April 10 (general)
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade girls and non-binary students
Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing girls and gender-nonconforming students opportunities to explore the technology industry, develop relevant computer science skills, and expand their professional networks. During the Pathways Program, you can select and explore various tracks, including game design, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and web development. The program spans approximately six to seven weeks, during which you will work through course projects at your own pace, including several focused on artificial intelligence. In addition, you will have the opportunity to attend corporate partner events, workshops on current and emerging technologies, and career panel discussions.
8. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI): Serious Games Development with Artificial Intelligence
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (if family income is below $150,000); $2,350 (if family income is above $150,000)
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: March 2 – 30
Eligibility: U.S. 9th-11th graders
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) also offers the Serious Games Development with Artificial Intelligence course, where you will investigate the intersection of game design and artificial intelligence. Topics covered include AI ethics, AI applications in gaming, data analysis, backend game development, and additional related subjects. You will have the chance to modify these games, commonly referred to as “serious games,” which are designed not solely for entertainment but to enhance understanding of real-world issues such as disease transmission, autonomous vehicles, and more. This course will introduce you to fundamental concepts in game design, programming, and teamwork through peer collaboration.
9. EDIT ML High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: 91 participants annually
Dates: June 13 – August 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students from diverse socio-economic and geographic backgrounds with experience in Python and an interest in biomedical research
The EDIT ML High School Summer Internship Program is designed to inspire students to explore the intersection of medicine and artificial intelligence. Throughout the program, you will develop technical skills and gain exposure to various medical specialties. You will also have the opportunity to apply AI to address complex biomedical challenges, such as advancing solutions for cancer-related issues, thereby obtaining hands-on experience. The program offers three tracks: the Skills Track, which emphasizes fundamental programming and machine learning; the Advanced Track, which includes research activities, publications, and innovative projects; and the Peer Mentor Track, which combines research responsibilities with mentorship. As a participant, you will receive mentorship from biomedical researchers and clinicians across Dartmouth medical departments, including Pathology, Oncology, and Radiology.
10. IBM SkillsBuild: Artificial intelligence
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by course
Application Deadline: Not applicable
Eligibility: High school students
The IBM SkillsBuild program provides high school students interested in exploring artificial intelligence with access to a variety of relevant courses. These courses offer an introduction to the foundations of AI and also give you the chance to explore technical concepts like natural language processing. You’ll also get to better understand the practical applications and ethical considerations of AI. Some of the courses available to you include Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals and Build Your Own Chatbots.
11. HarvardX: CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
Location: Online
Cost: Free (paid certificate)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 7 weeks
Application Deadline: Not applicable
Eligibility: High school students
During the CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python course, you will explore the foundation of modern artificial intelligence, including essential concepts and algorithms. You will also have the opportunity to study the development of technologies such as game-playing engines, handwriting recognition, and machine translation. In addition, you will work on hands-on, Python-based projects that introduce you to topics such as graph search algorithms, machine learning, large language models, classification, and more. By the end of the course, you’ll gain an understanding of machine learning libraries and AI principles, using this to build your own intelligent systems.
12. Columbia University Pre-College Programs: Data Science and Machine Learning 1
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Up to 100% financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Varies (multiple sessions)
Application Deadline: February 2 (early); April 2 (general)
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
Columbia University’s Pre-College Program offers college-level courses taught by faculty and experts across a range of fields, including computer science, coding, and AI. The Data Science and Machine Learning 1 course covers the fundamentals of data science and machine learning, explores how these areas shape our world, and offers insight into the careers available in these fields. During the program, you will also have the chance to gain hands-on experience in introductory coding using Python, as well as other machine learning algorithms. The Data Science and Machine Learning 1 course is open to students just starting out, so if you’re looking for a more challenging experience, try the Data Science and Machine Learning 2 course.
13. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual (in-person options available)
Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299; 100% financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: High school students (15+) for remote internships
During ASSIP, you will collaborate closely with faculty researchers at George Mason University and other institutions, gaining hands-on experience with advanced equipment and technology. For those interested in artificial intelligence, the program offers exposure to areas including machine learning, robotics, computer modeling, computer simulations, and other STEM disciplines. The program includes discussion forums and meetings designed to explore various STEM career paths. Additionally, it serves as a valuable platform for developing essential skills for innovative research, including scientific writing and communication. Upon completion, you may have opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and present your work at conferences. The program also offers the chance to earn three college credits through George Mason University.
14. Columbia University Pre-College Programs: Introduction to Programming with Python
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Up to 100% financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Varies (multiple sessions)
Application Deadline: February 2 (early); April 2 (general)
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
Columbia University’s Pre-College Program offers college-level courses taught by faculty and experts across a range of fields, including computer science, coding, and AI. In the Introduction to Programming with Python course, you will explore how Python is used in data analysis, machine learning, AI, data visualization, and web development. Through hands-on projects and practical exercises, you will learn the fundamentals of programming, as well as best practices in coding. The course also introduces key concepts, including data representation and storage, data structures, functions, scripts, and more. The program incorporates instruction, group activities, and independent coding challenges to support active learning.
15. AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Online
Cost: $45 application fee + $2,000 program fee; Up to 100% financial aid offered
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+) with strong math or computer programming skills or experience with a healthcare project
The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp offers you an introduction to the role of machine learning in healthcare and the benefits that come with it. As a participant, you will have access to several online modules that explore several key concepts and principles, as well as the metrics used to evaluate machine learning in healthcare. You will also learn about how foundation models and generative AI contribute to healthcare. The program offers practical experience through group discussions and breakout activities with other students. Additionally, you’ll attend "Meet the Expert" sessions, where you’ll hear from professionals in academia, industry, and government. Upon completing the program successfully, you'll be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
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