15 Best Summer Programs for Gifted High School Students
If you’re a gifted high school student looking for more than what school usually offers, summer programs can give you the time and space to explore your interests in a serious way. These programs are built for students who are already working at an advanced level and want to keep learning through research or college-style courses.
You might study subjects like artificial intelligence, law, public health, math, or writing. Some programs take place on college campuses where you live and learn with other students. Others are online but still focused on deep study and close mentorship. Many programs include projects, presentations, and tasks that help you apply what you learn.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best summer programs for gifted high school students!
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2–5%
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Rising seniors with exceptional academic ability. Check here for more detailed eligibility requirements.
Research Science Institute (RSI) is a six-week summer program held at MIT for 100 high school students worldwide. It starts with one week of academic seminars in subjects like biology, chemistry, math, engineering, and physics. For the next five weeks, you will work on full-time research with a mentor. You review scientific papers, build a research plan, and present your findings through a paper and a talk. You also use MIT’s computing tools and attend evening lectures by scientists and Nobel winners. The program includes visits to science centers and local cultural sites.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
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.
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.
3. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend upon completing a successful research project report
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students are accepted each year
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising or current high school seniors who are at least 17 years old by the start of the program. Accepted students typically have SAT scores in the 99th percentile.
At the Anson L. Clark Scholar Program, you’ll work one-on-one with faculty in research areas like cancer biology, computer science, physics, history, and engineering. The program supports hands-on research across both STEM and humanities disciplines, making it one of the few intensive summer programs for gifted students with a broad academic range.
You’ll be paired with mentors from Texas Tech’s general academic campus or Health Science Center, depending on your area of interest. In addition to conducting research, you’ll take part in weekly seminars, faculty-led discussions, and educational field trips designed to broaden your understanding of academic inquiry.
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.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects high school students with researchers from top universities for one-on-one research mentorship. You work closely with a PhD mentor to design and complete an independent research project in a subject you choose. Fields include economics, biology, computer science, psychology, political science, and more.
The program runs online and usually lasts 12 weeks. You meet your mentor weekly, set goals, read academic papers, and work on your project step by step. By the end, you produce a research paper that can be used for writing samples, competitions, or future applications.
5. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) On-Campus Summer Programs
Location: Various site locations
Cost/Stipend: $3,149 – $7,501 (financial aid is available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers are unavailable
Dates: Session 1: June 22 – July 11 | Session 2: July 13 – August 1 (for all sites except UC Santa Cruz, Skidmore College, and Speyer School)
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Requirements vary based on the CTY course, but applicants should have demonstrated academic ability through qualifying or standardized test scores, typically in the 98th percentile or higher
Johns Hopkins CTY runs summer programs for high school students who are already working above grade level. You can choose from over 70 courses in subjects like engineering, public health, bioethics, and the arts. Programs last three weeks and take place on college campuses, where you stay in dorms and attend daily classes with other students from around the world.
Instead of reviewing old material, you learn new concepts and apply them through discussions, projects, and assignments. Outside class, you take part in group activities, talent shows, and weekend events organized on campus. If you’re looking for online summer programs for gifted high school students at Johns Hopkins CTY, check here.
6. University of Notre Dame Summer Scholars
Location: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Cost/Stipend: $4,950 + $60 application fee (limited financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers are unavailable
Dates: Session I: June 7 – 21 | Session II: June 28 – July 12
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with strong academic standing and extracurricular activities, and will be at least 16 years old by August 1
Notre Dame Summer Scholars is a two-week program where high school students take a college-level course taught by Notre Dame faculty. You choose a subject that interests you, including journalism, law, climate change, AI, neuroscience, data visualization, and more.
Classes are small, and you work closely with both instructors and other students. Projects often involve discussion, teamwork, and assignments that go beyond the classroom. The program is designed to reflect how college courses work, both in pace and style. You also spend time exploring campus life at Notre Dame.
7. Northwestern University CTD's Academic Camps
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost/Stipend: $990 – $6,000 (depending on session and course type)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers are unavailable
Dates: Sessions take place from June 29 – August 8
Application Deadline: The deadline for each session is one week before the start date
Eligibility: Requirements vary by course; check detailed eligibility requirements here
CTD at Northwestern offers summer courses for high school students who want to study subjects at a faster or deeper level. You can choose from topics like app development, writing, leadership, environmental science, and more. Some courses cover a full semester of material, while others let you explore new fields through projects and group work.
The programs are designed to match your academic background. You may have 1 to 3 hours of homework each night, depending on the course. At the end of the course, you get a narrative evaluation with detailed feedback, and in some cases, academic credit or documentation for service-learning. CTD also offers online programs; you can view the list here.
8. Summer Science Program
Location: Various locations (depending on the program)
Cost/Stipend: $9,800, but SSP offers fully to partially discounted fees depending on family income. There is also a $3,000 stipend for students who would otherwise work over the summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who have completed the relevant coursework for their project by June
The Summer Science Program (SSP) is a five-week residential research experience for high school juniors, with tracks in astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics, synthetic chemistry, and cell biology. You’ll work in teams on open-ended research problems using professional-grade tools and methods, such as calculating the orbit of a near-Earth asteroid or studying the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance.
Each program takes place on a university campus, with around 60 hours per week dedicated to research, lab work, lectures, and academic mentoring. Outside of research, the schedule includes field trips, guest lectures, and cohort activities like hikes, talent shows, and group dinners. You’ll also get the chance to interact with faculty and guest speakers, including scientists with active research backgrounds in the program’s focus areas.
9. PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists)
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Up to $7,000 (financial aid available); free for families making under $80,000/year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies from year to year but typically around 10%
Dates: June 29 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Students who have completed the 9th grade, are 14–18 years old, and are not yet enrolled in college/university
PROMYS is a residential summer program for gifted high school students with a strong interest in mathematical exploration. Each weekday begins with a Number Theory lecture, followed by problem sets that encourage you to experiment, identify patterns, and develop formal proofs.
First-year participants spend most of their time on these core problems, while returning students can take advanced seminars in areas like algebra, Galois theory, primes, or discrete dynamical systems. Additional options include faculty-led guest lectures, exploration labs, and mentored research projects based on open-ended prompts proposed by professional mathematicians.
10. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a stipend will be awarded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 years or older at the time of application and have an interest in science and hands-on work
The Simons Summer Research Program is a competitive summer program for gifted high school students where you’ll spend seven weeks conducting research in fields like science, mathematics, or engineering. Once placed, you’ll join an ongoing research project and contribute to lab work, data collection, or analysis, depending on the focus of your mentor’s team. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a written abstract and research poster summarizing your work. The program also includes weekly faculty talks, workshops, and guided tours of university labs and research centers. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work at a poster symposium.
11. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $3,580 (online), $8,575 (residential). Financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students are accepted for the residential program, 64 students for the online program
Dates: Session 1 (online): June 16 – July 4, Session 2 (online): July 7 – July 25 | Session 1 (residential): June 22 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a strong mastery of high school algebra and geometry. Applicants should be familiar with writing and reading mathematical proofs, number theory, and modular arithmetic.
SUMaC is a summer mathematics program at Stanford University for high school students with a deep interest in advanced mathematical theory. You’ll take part in a structured mix of lectures, group problem-solving, and independent exploration of topics such as number theory, abstract algebra, and algebraic topology.
The curriculum is designed for enrichment rather than credit, so you’ll study mathematics as a discipline in its own right as you trace its historical development, current research directions, and occasional applications to other fields. Outside of scheduled sessions, you’ll spend time on assigned problem sets that require both individual effort and collaboration with peers.
12. MITES (MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science) Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: Late June – early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors with a strong academic record and a passion for STEM. Students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
MITES Summer is a six-week, residential summer program for gifted high school students interested in pursuing STEM in college and beyond. You’ll take five courses, including math, life sciences, physics, a humanities seminar, and a project-based elective like architecture or machine learning. Classes run weekdays from 9 to 5, with additional workshops, homework sessions, and social activities in the evenings and on weekends.
You’ll also have midterms, finals, and a Final Symposium where you’ll present your projects to the broader MIT community. After the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your instructors that outlines your strengths and growth areas, which many students choose to submit with their college applications.
13. California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS)
Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz
Cost/Stipend: $5,256 + $44 application fee (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 160–200 participants per campus
Dates: July 6 – August 1/August 2
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders with demonstrated academic excellence and an aptitude for STEM. Previously accepted students have had 3.5 GPAs or higher.
The California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS) is a four-week residential program designed for high school students who are already inclined toward STEM fields and want to explore topics well beyond the standard high school curriculum. When applying, you choose one campus and a specific cluster focused on a STEM topic such as biomedical science, computer engineering, or environmental chemistry. Each site designs its curriculum around the research strengths of its faculty and facilities, meaning that the academic experience can vary significantly from one campus to another.
14. Boston College Experience
Location: Virtual/Boston College, Newton, MA
Cost/Stipend: $5,600 (residential), $3,000 (commuter), $1,800 (online)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact numbers are unavailable
Dates: Courses take place from June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 8
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15 years old
The Boston College Experience (BCE) is a summer program for gifted high school students designed to give high school students a realistic preview of college life through a blend of academic coursework, campus engagement, and personal reflection. The program encourages you to think critically about your goals while participating in seminars, writing workshops, and sessions focused on college readiness. Alongside formal academics, you’ll attend lectures on topics like the college application process, resume writing, and networking. You can enroll as a residential, commuter, or online student, depending on your needs and availability.
15. Summer Discovery Institute for the Gifted Program
Location: Various university campuses
Cost/Stipend: $2,499 – $16,999 (depending on campus and format)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Specific numbers are not available
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Various deadlines. Check the list here.
Eligibility: You need one of these options. Test scores in the 95th percentile from the past five years, proof of acceptance into a gifted or similar program, or a recommendation from a SIG subject teacher.
The Summer Discovery Institute for the Gifted offers summer programs for gifted high school students who want to study topics beyond the school curriculum. You can choose from over 300 university-curated courses across a range of disciplines, including law, medicine, fashion design, and sports management.
Image source - Northwestern University