12 Best Data Science Programs for High School Students
If you are curious about how data shapes the world, from recommendation algorithms to medical breakthroughs, data science programs can be a great next step. Data science programs move beyond theoretical instruction by letting you apply data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to challenges. As a participant, you will build technical skills like coding, data visualization, and statistical thinking in a structured environment. You will also learn from professionals and professors, work with real tools and datasets, and connect with peers from different backgrounds. This early exposure can help you build practical skills, including communication and problem-solving, which are crucial for a career in data science.
What are the benefits of a data science program?
Participating in a data science program while you are in high school can help you explore your interests in the field before committing to a college degree. You may work with real datasets to uncover patterns, design machine learning models to solve specific problems, or develop visualizations that turn complex information into clear insights. In more advanced settings, you could take on independent research projects with guidance from mentors, with your work culminating in research papers or capstone presentations. Through these experiences, you will strengthen your analytical thinking, creativity, and ability to clearly communicate your findings.
To help you find suitable opportunities, we have shortlisted the 12 best data science programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
1. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~2.5%; 100 students/year
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors; applicants must have a strong academic performance (check details here)
RSI is a selective STEM research program that invites a small cohort of high school students to work in MIT labs under the guidance of professors and scientists. You will begin the program with one week of seminars covering current research topics in STEM and the humanities. For the next five weeks, you will join a lab and work on a research project with your mentor. Your project can focus entirely on data science or involve aspects of it. In the final week, you will deliver an oral and written presentation discussing your findings. Field trips to nearby science and tech organizations are also part of the RSI experience.
2. Veritas AI Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; deadlines vary by cohort: Summer (May), Fall (September), Spring (January), and Winter (November). You can check details and apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholars participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers a range of online programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with data science and AI/ML, you can choose the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will learn about the fundamentals of AI and data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another track for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. In this program, you will get a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A key feature of this program is that it offers you access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Multiple labs across the U.S.
Stipend: New students: $4,000 | Returning students: $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~300 students/year
Dates: 8 – 10 weeks over the summer
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th- to 12th-grade students and graduating seniors who are 16 and older by internship start date; applicants must be U.S. citizens. Additional requirements vary by lab.
The U.S. Department of the Navy (DON) offers high school students STEM research exposure within a naval lab. Placements span various technical areas, including data science. You will work on ongoing naval research under the guidance of scientists, contributing to projects focusing on the extraction, analysis, and processing of data collected by naval research tools and technologies. You will shadow researchers, tour labs, attend technical meetings, engage in networking events and team-building workshops, and access other professional development opportunities. Based on your performance, you may be eligible to return to the program in the following summers.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, winter, fall, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students in high school who 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 across a broad range of subjects that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as data science, computer science, engineering, physics, economics, international relations, chemistry, psychology, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. National Library of Medicine (NLM) Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
Stipend: Paid; amount is based on education and experience (check details here)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 32 students in the past cohort (the number can vary each year)
Dates: 8 – 12 weeks starting in June
Application deadline: February 18
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2; applicants must have completed coursework in data science, informatics, computer science, mathematics, or related fields, and they must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents.
Offered by the National Library of Medicine, this selective data science program offers high schoolers research exposure in computational biology and health informatics. You will join an NLM research team and work closely with a mentor on projects, using data science methods to analyze biological or clinical data. You will also attend seminars and professional development workshops to refine scientific communication skills. Your work will culminate in presentations at NLM’s Summer Poster Day and the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day, which can help you practice communicating your findings in a professional environment.
6. University of Chicago Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $5,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; 22 students in the past cohort (the number can vary each year)
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Undergraduate students and Chicago-area high school students; familiarity with one or more programming languages (Java, C++, Python, etc.) and relevant coursework in statistics, computer science, and math is preferred.
University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab is a paid, eight-week interdisciplinary data science research opportunity for high schoolers. You will join a lab where you will work with mentors on research projects spanning data science, public policy, computer science, climate science, and biomedical research. You will undergo training in research methodologies and data science skills. Alongside lab work, you will attend a weekly speaker series featuring researchers who offer insights into data science research pathways and approaches to addressing research questions. Social and recreational events like picnics, concerts, sports, and trivia are also part of the experience. You will practice communicating your results through final videos, which will be showcased at a symposium at the end of the program.
7. NIST Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campuses in Boulder, CO, and Gaithersburg, MD
Cost: Free; no stipend
Acceptance rate: 4% for Boulder, CO applicants; 10.6% for Gaithersburg, MD applicants
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are current high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA; applicants must live within 50 miles of either the Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO NIST campus.
SHIP places students in research labs to work with scientists at NIST, a non-regulatory federal agency focused on measurement science. You will work on a project under the mentorship of a NIST scientist, applying techniques and methods relevant to the assigned lab’s work. Placements span areas such as data science, engineering, materials, and computer science with a focus on advanced manufacturing. You will learn how to collect, assess, and visualize data, work with measurement instruments, and explore professional lab environments. At the end of SHIP, you will present your research work in the form of a poster.
8. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College: CS Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University campus, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded (tuition, housing, meals, and program activities covered + limited travel assistance available)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors (10th graders while applying), ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; applicants should demonstrate interest in computer science and preferably exhibit financial need or limited access to CS opportunities.
Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars is a fully funded, four-week residential program where you will explore the world of computer science through hands-on projects, coursework, and collaborative problem-solving. Guided by faculty and researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, you will explore real-world applications of computing, take on programming and math coursework, work on research projects, and present your work at a final symposium. Alongside technical learning, you will attend college prep sessions on admissions, financial aid, and personal development. You will also gain mentorship, industry exposure, and a strong peer network, with the opportunity to be invited to join CMU’s AI Scholars program based on your performance in CS Scholars.
9. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None; some labs may offer a stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective; 1–2 students/lab selected out of ~3,500 applications
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16, enrolled in a high school, U.S. citizens, and able to provide proof of local housing and transportation in New Jersey
Princeton’s LLP is a full-time, in-person summer experience, where you will work with faculty and research staff on projects in the sciences and engineering. The project focus and tasks vary by placement, but typically involve data analysis, modeling, documentation, laboratory activities, and scientific writing. You will typically apply data science to scientific research, working with large genomic datasets, anatomical data, quantum chemistry databases, or preliminary datasets for modeling, depending on your placement. You will follow the assigned lab's schedule, complete safety training before starting work, and adhere to university policies. At the end, you will write and submit a two-page research summary describing your research work.
10. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University campus, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No fee; residential cost: $2,450 (optional); a stipend is offered
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 are at least 16 when the program starts
This is a STEM research program conducted at Stony Brook University campus and designed for high school students. It offers research opportunities spanning data science, geoscience, computer science, engineering, physics, astronomy, mathematics, and chemistry. During the program, you will work within a Stony Brook University research team on a project, exploring laboratory practices, the research process, and research tools. You will also engage in weekly faculty talks to learn about various STEM fields and workshops to sharpen your research skills. You will submit and present a research abstract and poster at the end of the program.
11. Johns Hopkins University APL’s ASPIRE
Location: Virtual or Johns Hopkins APL, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Less than 10% students accepted/year
Dates: June 23 – August 21
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 15 and up, with a GPA of 2.8 or higher, who reside in specific regions in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. (check details here)
ASPIRE is a selective summer program that matches you with a mentor at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory to work on a project aligned with your interests. Placements are typically in areas like data science, math, programming, and computer science. During the program, you will connect with professionals, attend check-ins, and build teamwork skills as you work on the assigned project. At the end of the summer program, you will present your work in the form of a research poster. You may also continue working on the project during the school year if you and your mentor agree to collaborate following the summer.
12. ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) @ NYU
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering campus, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,000 stipend upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools.
NYU’s ARISE is a fully funded summer program that combines research and science training with real lab work. You will start with four weeks of remote training in research methods and writing, followed by six weeks of in-person lab work on advanced projects in fields like data science, machine learning, bioengineering, and environmental science. Working alongside faculty and mentors, you will earn around 150 hours of lab experience while building communication and presentation skills. The program ends with a research colloquium and poster presentation at the American Museum of Natural History. ARISE also offers college application support, networking opportunities, and continued mentorship.