10 Best AI Research Programs for High School Students in California
Many universities and organizations in California offer AI research programs for high school students, making it easier to explore this growing field. Through these experiences, you can develop your problem-solving skills, work on exciting projects, and meet peers who share your interests. Conducting research in Artificial Intelligence can help you stand out when applying to competitive computer science undergraduate programs.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve rounded up 10 of California's best AI research programs for high school students. Each focuses on research, allowing you to go beyond classroom learning. Whether you’re looking for an on-campus experience or a virtual option, there are options you can consider.
1. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Dates: June 18 - July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Stanford AI4ALL is a competitive program for high school juniors and seniors interested in artificial intelligence. You will gain research experience while learning from Stanford professors, PhD candidates, and tech industry leaders. With a strong emphasis on ethical AI, the program allows you to work on projects that tackle social challenges. The curriculum covers AI ethics, reinforcement learning, and the broader effects of AI on society. This program also offers field trips to major tech companies and one-on-one mentorship. In 2024, only 30 students were selected, making this a prestigious opportunity among AI research programs for high school students.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here.
3. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,175 for the commuter option and $12,474 for the residential option
Dates: June 16 - August 1
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 and exceptional 9th graders with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.80
The Research Mentorship Program at UCSB allows high school students to conduct research in various fields, from STEM to social sciences and the humanities. Those interested in artificial intelligence can opt for the computer science track, where you’ll work alongside UCSB researchers on AI, machine learning, and data science projects. At the end of this AI research program, you will present your research, building skills in academic communication and professional networking.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Stanford University - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 (financial aid available)
Dates: June 16 - June 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to U.S. high school students aged 14 and older
The Stanford Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging Summer Research Internship is a two-week program for high school students who want to explore AI's role in healthcare. Throughout the program, you will attend introductory and advanced lectures covering the fundamentals of AI in medical settings and mentoring sessions with Stanford students and researchers. You’ll participate in group activities, social events, and Virtual Career Lunch and Learn sessions featuring guest speakers from academia, industry, and government organizations. You will receive a Certificate of Completion at the program's end.
6. Blast AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,460 (financial aid is available)
Dates: June 17 - August 12
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising high school students with an interest in AI
Blast AI is an eight-week program for students who want to pursue AI research. The first two weeks are dedicated to learning classical methods and deep learning fundamentals. After that, you’ll begin the research phase, designing and testing your AI models. Guided by mentors, you’ll craft creative solutions to challenging problems, with the possibility of showcasing your research at peer-reviewed conferences.
7. UC San Diego - Research Experience for High School Students
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $1500 (Financial assistance available)
Dates: June 16 - August 8
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students from Southern California who have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and are 16 years of age or older
The UCSD Research Experience for high school students is an eight-week volunteer opportunity introducing students to computational science research. You will join active research projects, including those focused on AI. You will learn how to craft and test hypotheses, run computational experiments, and interpret data under the guidance of research scientists. Weekly lab meetings and group discussions are part of the experience, helping you strengthen essential workplace skills. You will create scientific posters by the program’s end to showcase your research.
8. The Knowledge Society (TKS) - AI Innovators
Location: Virtual
Cost: The cost is $489 per month, plus a $1,000 deposit (financial aid available)
Dates: 10 months from September to June
Application Deadline: Based on the cohort
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13 and 17 in high school are eligible
TKS AI Innovators is a 10-month accelerator program for high school students who want to solve problems using artificial intelligence. Throughout this AI research program for high school students, you’ll participate in weekly cohort-based sessions, receive mentorship, and build connections with industry professionals from organizations like Google and Microsoft. You will work on AI-driven projects, participate in workshops, and interact with guest speakers, building a strong foundation for future careers in technology.
9. ICS Summer Academy at UC Irvine
Location: The University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost: $2500 for each session (financial aid available)
Dates: Session 1: July 7 - July 18; Session 2: July 21 - August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12, as well as graduating seniors
This two-week residential program at UC Irvine is centered around machine learning and data analysis fundamentals. It wraps up with a team capstone project. You will put AI concepts into practice by working on problems alongside peers and instructors. The program emphasizes hands-on experiences, including Python programming and AI applications. Throughout the course, you will develop your teamwork, problem-solving, and AI development skills while experiencing campus life.
10. Artificial Intelligence for Real-Life Problem Solving Program
Location: Berkeley, CA
Cost: Session 1: $1,465; Residential Tuition for Session 1 & 2: $1,255 (financial aid available)
Dates: Session 1: June 23 - June 27; Session 2: July 7 - July 11; Session 3: July 21 - July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering grades 10 through 12
The Artificial Intelligence for Real-Life Problem Solving program, hosted by The Lawrence Hall of Science in collaboration with the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) Lab, introduces AI technologies. Over a week, you will participate in coding workshops, build your own machine learning models, and explore the core mathematical concepts that support AI systems. Guided by Berkeley scientists and industry experts, you will gain insight into AI research and its applications. The program encourages you to think critically about how AI shapes society and future industries. You will work on projects, collaborate with peers, and discuss the ethical use of AI.
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