15 AI Summer Programs for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
If you are a high school student curious about AI, summer programs offer a strong way to go beyond surface-level exposure. Through structured AI programs, you will find opportunities to build practical skills in areas like coding, data analysis, and machine learning while working on real problems rather than hypothetical examples. You will also learn from instructors with industry or research experience, gaining insights into what studying AI looks like beyond high school.
Why should you attend a program in New York City?
Universities and organizations across NYC run summer programs that offer access to active labs, faculty expertise, and opportunities to dive into a wide range of tech-driven fields. Many of these programs let you work on AI-based projects, analyze datasets, and explore applications of machine learning in areas such as healthcare, robotics, and social impact. Whether you live in NYC or are considering visiting the city in the summer, these programs let you learn in an environment shaped by constant innovation and diverse perspectives.
To make things easier, we have narrowed down 15 AI summer programs for high school students in New York City (NYC).
If you are looking for free summer programs in NYC, check out our blog here.
1. NYU ARISE Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are NYC residents enrolled in NYC schools
NYU ARISE is a free, 10-week summer research program that combines structured training with hands-on lab experience, including opportunities within AI and data-driven research. During the first four weeks, you will complete safety training, research methods workshops, and college writing sessions to prepare for lab work. During the remaining six weeks, you will join one of over 80 NYU research labs to engage in research with NYU faculty, graduate students, and researchers. Projects may involve computational analysis, data modeling, or technology-supported research, depending on the lab’s focus. You will gain approximately 120 hours of research experience as well as college application support during the program. At the end of 10 weeks, you will present your work at an NYU colloquium and later at the American Museum of Natural History’s Poster Symposium.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Program cohorts run all year, including in the summer; duration ranges from 10 to 15 weeks, depending on the program you choose.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; the AI Fellowship program is open to previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI 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, students are 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, students 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.
3. America On Tech’s TECH360: Intro to AI
Location: America on Tech, New York, NY (hybrid program)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 17 | July 28 – August 14; Demo day: August 21
Application deadline: Typically, May; applications open in the spring
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors currently attending New York City (all boroughs) high schools
TECH360: Intro to AI, run by America on Tech, introduces you to how artificial intelligence works and how it is used across industries today. You will explore where AI originated, why it has grown so quickly, and how generative and predictive models differ in design and purpose. The curriculum draws on foundational ideas from data science and machine learning to explain how AI systems are built, trained, and evaluated. Ethical considerations, including bias and responsible use, are integrated throughout the curriculum to help you learn how to think critically about emerging technologies. The program ends with a group project where you will design an AI-powered tool and pitch it to mock clients, simulating real-world decision-making; top teams get to present their work at a Demo Day.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: AI Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 6 – August 7 | July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: New York City high school students, from current 9th graders to rising 12th graders
NYU Tandon’s ieSoSC program is a five-week summer initiative focused on applying STEM and entrepreneurial skills to smart city challenges. While not a typically AI-focused program, ieSoSC introduces concepts and practices crucial for building AI solutions. Here, you will attend sessions led by faculty and students from NYU and explore design thinking, coding, and Internet of Things concepts while examining how technology can improve urban systems. During the second half of the program, you work in a small team to design and prototype a device or app addressing a real-world problem. Each team receives a small budget to support hands-on development. The program includes public speaking and presentation training through a partnership with Irondale Theater. The experience concludes with a public presentation of your prototype to engineers, planners, and community members.
6. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (less than 1.5 hours away from NYC)
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; residential fee: $2,450 (optional); a stipend will be awarded
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 when the program starts
The Simons Summer Research Program is an in-person STEM research program for high school students. It offers research opportunities spanning fields like engineering, geoscience, computer science, physics, astronomy, physics, astronomy, math, and chemistry, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning. During the program, you will join a Stony Brook University research team and contribute to a research project while learning how to use professional laboratory techniques and tools. You will attend faculty talks every week to learn about various STEM fields and participate in workshops to refine your research skills. At the end of the program, you will submit and present a research abstract and poster.
7. NYU’s Machine Learning Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost: $3,180 tuition + optional costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 27 | Session 2: July 6 – 17 | Session 3: July 20 – 31 + one-day online orientation scheduled 3–4 days before each session begins
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who have some programming experience and have completed Algebra 2; applicants typically have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
NYU Tandon’s Machine Learning Program is a two-week learning experience focused on the mathematical and computational foundations of machine learning and AI. You will study topics such as linear regression, neural networks, cross-validation, and model evaluation. You will also work on programming-based assignments that allow you to apply these concepts to practical problems. The curriculum connects theory to real-world applications, including image recognition, speech processing, autonomous systems, and medical diagnostics. Outside the classroom, you can participate in campus activities and organized events for summer students.
8. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person camps available (sites vary but have included NYC in the past)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions between June and August
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive teens between the ages of 13 and 18
Kode With Klossy runs free, two-week summer coding camps for high school students from underrepresented genders in technology. You will learn through a focused track, with options spanning machine learning, web development, mobile app development, or data science, each offering a hands-on experience. In the machine learning track, you will explore foundational AI concepts such as algorithms, datasets, and natural language processing using Python. You will use what you learn to train a chatbot. Other tracks emphasize building functional websites, iOS apps, or data analysis projects using industry-relevant tools. Alongside technical instruction, the program addresses topics like algorithmic bias, accessibility, and inclusivity in tech.
9. NYU’s AI+Art Summer High School Program
Location: NYU's Brooklyn campus, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost: $3,145 + $50 non-refundable application fee; scholarships are available for commuter students who are NYC residents.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students who will be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior years in the fall
The AI+Art Summer High School Program at NYU is a two-week experience that allows you to explore how artificial intelligence can be utilized as a creative tool. You will learn how generative AI models function and how they are applied in visual art, music, animation, and interactive media. The program combines technical instruction with experimentation, allowing you to use AI tools to support your own creative projects. You will explore topics like co-creating art with AI systems, fine-tuning models, and adapting simple algorithms for artistic goals. Ethical, cultural, and policy-related questions surrounding AI in creative fields are also covered. Hands-on work may include building creative robots or interactive installations. The program ends with an art show where you will present media created in collaboration with AI.
10. Columbia University’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Residential fee: $10,705 | Commuter fee: $5,880; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 450 students/year; average class size: 25 students
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 24 | Session 2: July 27 – August 14
Application deadline: March 2 (Regular) | December 22 (Priority)
Eligibility: Current high school students; applicants must be 16+ for the residential program.
Columbia’s SHAPE program allows you to experience college-level engineering through hands-on coursework and project-based learning. You can choose from various courses, including options in AI and programming. For instance, in the AI Builders course, you will move from foundational AI concepts to applied topics such as decision trees, neural networks, and large language models. You will also learn coding in Python while maintaining interactive notebooks to build and test intelligent systems. You will explore issues like bias, fairness, and ethics in AI through experiments and discussions. Guest lectures from industry and research professionals provide insight into current AI work. The course culminates in an independent or team-based AI project, which may involve computer vision, chatbots, or other applications.
11. NYU IDEA Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost: Varies based on partnership package
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates TBA
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Current 9th graders to graduating 12th graders, ages 15 and above
NYU’s Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurial Applications (IDEA) program is designed to help you examine how artificial intelligence connects with innovation and business development. You will study foundational AI concepts while learning how AI tools can improve products and services, particularly in public service sectors. Case studies will help you assess gaps in existing businesses and identify opportunities for innovation. Entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through technical exploration, prompting you to consider both feasibility and impact when working with AI. Research and discussion are balanced with applied project development. The program also includes college visits to select North East universities.
12. Columbia University Pre-College Summer Programs: Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms Course
Location: Columbia University, New York (30 minutes from NYC)
Cost: $12,829 (Residential) | $6,375 (Commuter); financial aid available for commuters
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Application deadline: March 2 (Residential) | April 2 (Commuter)
Eligibility: High school students; students who are 15 or older can apply to the Residential Program.
Columbia’s Pre-College Summer Programs allow high schoolers to dive into advanced coursework in flexible formats, including online, commuter, and residential options. The Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms course introduces you to the history of artificial intelligence, optimization and probabilistic strategies, and tradeoffs between different types of search strategies. You will also explore problems like N-Queens, Knapsack, Post correspondence, and Chess. The curriculum includes assignments that can help you practice what you learn and gain experience in building functioning programs in Python and Java. The residential format allows you to live on Columbia’s Morningside campus and get a taste of college life. You can also check out other courses in related tech fields here.
13. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15 – 26
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current 9th graders or rising 10th graders who will be over 14 years old by the start of the program and are younger than 16 years old
Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week summer program designed to broaden participation in artificial intelligence. As a participant, you will attend lectures led by Stanford faculty and researchers while working in small groups on research projects. You will explore topics in computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and medical AI, all framed around societal impact. Hands-on projects involve working with real datasets and applying machine learning techniques. You will have access to the mentorship of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and industry professionals. The program also includes career development workshops and community-building activities.
14. Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,000+ $45 application fee; financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50 students/year
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26 | Session B: July 6 – 17
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 14 or older when the program starts; the program prefers applicants with strong math/programming skills and/or prior experience working on a healthcare project.
The Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a free, two-week virtual program that is designed to introduce you to machine learning in healthcare settings. You will gain insights into why AI is used in medicine, how models are evaluated, and the challenges of deploying systems in clinical settings. The program content includes topics such as ethics, data limitations, and best practices for health AI development. Learning takes place through online modules, group discussions, and breakout activities. You will also participate in “Meet the Expert” sessions with professionals from academia, industry, and the public sector. Emerging areas like generative AI and foundation models are discussed at an introductory level. On completing the full program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
15. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual internships available for NYC students
Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition for three course credits; fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
Each summer, ASSIP offers remote research internships in various STEM fields, including computer science and machine learning. You can choose a mentor offering a remote research experience in machine learning/AI or computer science to engage in research, learn about lab practices, work with advanced research tools, and build scientific writing and communication skills over eight weeks. During the program, you will also learn about STEM career paths while connecting with professors, researchers, and STEM professionals. The program ends with a symposium, where you will gain exposure to the research conducted at ASSIP over the summer.
Image source - NYU Logo