14 Chemistry Programs for High School Students
As a high school student interested in chemistry, structured programs are a strong way for you to turn classroom theory into practical experience. These programs let you step into real labs, handle experiments, and learn how chemical principles are applied to solve everyday problems. You’ll also develop skills in research methods, data analysis, and scientific communication, skills that can set you apart when applying to college or future internships.
Many chemistry programs are hosted by leading universities and research institutes, making them both rigorous and highly selective. Some focus on pure chemistry, while others connect the field with biochemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering. They also provide valuable exposure to mentors, graduate students, and professionals, allowing you to build networks that last well beyond the summer.
To get you started, we’ve narrowed down the list to the 15 chemistry programs for high school students that stand out for their academic depth and mentorship.
1. Princeton University – Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 5–6 weeks in the summer (exact dates vary by project)
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: High school students from local schools, 16-18, US citizens or permanent residents, can commute to campus every day (non-residential), and have completed lab safety training
The Laboratory Learning Program gives you the chance to work directly in Princeton research labs. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and join ongoing projects in areas such as chemistry, chemical engineering, or molecular biology. Students typically contribute to real experiments and learn advanced lab techniques. The experience concludes with presentations or reports that summarize your research contributions. This is a full‑time program that runs during regular office hours for about five to six weeks, and you must complete laboratory safety training and submit a two‑page research summary at the end.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students; preferred GPA 3.3+
Lumiere’s Chemistry Track lets you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to develop an independent research paper. Students can choose topics in areas like organic synthesis, biochemistry, or chemical engineering. Throughout the 12‑week program, you follow a structured timeline: you’ll meet with your mentor to align on a topic, explore literature and define your question, draft and refine your paper, and prepare for a final symposium. You’ll learn research fundamentals such as literature review, experimental design, and academic writing. At the graduation ceremony, you’ll present your work, and if you choose the publication track, you continue working with your mentor to submit your research to a high‑school or college‑level journal, a distinctive feature among chemistry programs for high school students.
3. MIT – Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None; ($75 application fee; need-based waiver available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July - August, 6 weeks (exact dates vary yearly)
Application Deadline: December (exact dates vary yearly)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with high test scores, 16+
RSI is a solid option among chemistry programs for high school students. Hosted at MIT, it combines intensive coursework with mentored research. You may be placed in labs studying topics such as materials chemistry, chemical physics, or biochemistry. By the end, you will present your work in a final symposium and often continue your projects beyond the summer. The first week immerses you in lectures taught by professors on subjects ranging from applied mathematics to computational biology. After that, you’ll transition into your six‑week research internship.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program — Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10-15 weeks; offered year-round
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students with high academic standing
Horizon’s Chemistry Track pairs you with a professor or researcher to develop a focused project in areas such as formulation chemistry, organic chemistry, or materials science. You’ll conduct a literature review, write an academic-style paper, and receive detailed feedback from your mentor. The program emphasizes independent research and ends with a polished paper you can use for competitions or college applications. Before diving into your research, you study foundational concepts such as emulsion preparation, system stability, encapsulation techniques, and characterization methods, and explore applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. You also learn analytical chemistry techniques such as spectroscopy, microscopy, diffraction, scattering, and separations to help you interpret experimental data. Physical chemistry topics like thermodynamics and kinetics provide the theoretical background you need to design rigorous experiments, which is essential for chemistry programs for high school students.
5. Rockefeller University – Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; (need-based stipends available to eligible students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 16+
Rockefeller’s SSRP provides an intensive summer research experience in biomedical sciences, with opportunities in molecular and chemical biology. You will learn essential lab skills, participate in journal clubs, and attend career panels. The program emphasizes collaboration, with students working in small groups under graduate and postdoctoral mentors. It concludes with a final presentation at a symposium, highlighting both research findings and professional growth. During the seven‑week program, you’ll follow a weekly progression: orientation and skills training in week 1, selecting a research question in week 2, conducting experiments in weeks 3–5, and focusing on data analysis and poster design in the final weeks. Along the way, you can choose elective courses, attend guest lectures and networking events, and collaborate closely with a team of 8–10 peers and multiple mentors.
6. Stony Brook University – Garcia Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $50 registration fee + $4000 lab fee; optional room and board at extra cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 26 - August 8 (7 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.8+, ages 16+, who have taken at least 3 of the following subjects (Honors or AP a plus): English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics, Biology, and standardized test scores 60%+
The Garcia Program immerses you in polymer and materials science research, a field that combines chemistry, physics, and engineering. Over seven weeks, you’ll join a research team, conduct experiments, and learn to analyze polymers at the molecular level. Students are expected to contribute to publishable research, making this one of the most rigorous chemistry programs for high school students. The program ends with presentations at a research symposium, where you share findings with peers and faculty. Formal instruction and hands‑on research are balanced; you attend lectures before designing and executing your own project under the guidance of faculty, graduate students, and staff. Many previous participants continue their research through Garcia’s mentor program during the academic year and have earned recognition at national competitions and in peer‑reviewed journals.
7. UC COSMOS – California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science
Location: UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz), CA
Cost: $42 application fee; $5,007 tuition; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Vary by campus and program
Application Deadline: January 8 - February 7
Eligibility: CA High school students in grades 8-12, GPA 3.8
UC COSMOS offers cluster-based summer experiences, with several tracks focused on chemistry, chemical engineering, nanochemistry, and materials science. You will live on campus, attend lectures, and conduct lab experiments guided by faculty. Clusters are small and research-oriented, encouraging teamwork and mentorship. The program concludes with group presentations. In the nanochemistry cluster, you’ll prepare and functionalize nanomaterials, explore synthesis strategies, and learn about quantum confinement and optical properties. You’ll also visit research facilities and perform a series of lab experiments that culminate in a science‑communication project, adding depth to your understanding of chemistry programs for high school students.
8. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend awarded at closing symposium
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school students currently in their junior year, 16+, US citizens or permanent residents
The Simons Program gives you the chance to do hands-on research under faculty mentorship at Stony Brook. Chemistry placements are available, covering areas like analytical, physical, or organic chemistry. The program includes both lab research and professional development workshops. You will complete a research abstract and present your findings at a closing symposium. As a participant, you attend weekly faculty research talks, workshops, and tours of state‑of‑the‑art facilities, which can deepen your understanding of scientific careers. The program matches you with a research team that guides you through the process of designing and executing your own project.
9. University of Pennsylvania – Chemistry Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $10,050 residential program fee + application fee $100; financial aid available for local resident students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 11 – August 1
Application Deadline: December - until full
Eligibility: High school students (grades 10-11) with at least one year of high school chemistry coursework, GPA 3.5+
The Chemistry Research Academy at Penn introduces you to college-level chemistry through lectures, lab sessions, and mentored projects. You’ll learn core concepts in organic and inorganic chemistry, along with modern lab techniques. The program emphasizes both collaboration and independent inquiry, with students completing a research project by the end of three weeks. You will also interact with Penn faculty and undergraduates, providing insight into studying chemistry at an advanced level. During the weekday schedule, you spend six hours each day in instruction, with an hour for lunch, and dedicate about half of that time to open‑ended laboratory experiments. In addition to lab work, you attend research lectures on topics such as nanoscale materials and protein modification and learn how to find academic articles and plan a capstone project, making this one of the more comprehensive chemistry programs for high school students.
10. UC Berkeley – Pre-College Scholars: Chemistry Courses
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Session C: $15,950; Session D: $14,650; 1 scholarship available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Session C: June 23 – August 15; Session D: July 7 - August 15
Application Deadline: February 3 - March 10; scholarship deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 10th or 11th grade by start, GPA 3.0+, 16+
The UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars program lets you take university-level chemistry courses such as General Chemistry (CHEM 1A/1AL) and Organic Chemistry (CHEM 3A/3AL) for credit. You will study alongside Berkeley undergraduates, participate in lab experiments, and be graded to the same standards as college students. You will live on campus and also have access to academic advising and college preparation workshops. The experience is intended to give you an authentic preview of both academic and social life at a major research university. Program highlights include orientation sessions, community‑building activities, and excursions around the Bay Area, giving you a supportive peer group while you tackle demanding coursework. You’ll receive a personal commendation letter from the Dean and an official transcript after completing your courses, benefits that set this program apart from many other chemistry programs for high school students.
11. UCLA – Summer College Immersion Program SCIP+ Chemistry Tracks
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies by units and housing. You can check the fee calculator page here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Six weeks, June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 15 - May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 as of spring, GPA 3.8+, residential housing requires age 17+ by program start
SCIP lets high-school students enroll for UC credit in approved UCLA courses alongside undergraduates. Approved chemistry options include CHEM 14A (General Chemistry for Life Scientists I) and CHEM 20A (Chemical Structure). These are recommended only if you’ve completed high school chemistry and 3.5+ years of math. You will also attend co-curricular workshops that include a research skills session led by UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Center. You can choose two courses from a curated list and will earn 8–10 units of credit along with a certificate upon completion. The program includes college‑preparation workshops, leadership seminars, guest lectures, and social events designed to help you build connections.
12. University of Iowa – Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $7500; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 17 - July 24
Application Deadline: December 15 - February 16
Eligibility: High school student in grades 10-11
SSTP places you in active research labs at the University of Iowa, including the chemistry and biochemistry departments. You’ll conduct experiments, attend professional development workshops, and receive mentoring from faculty and graduate students. You will write a research abstract and present it at the program’s closing symposium. The experience mirrors authentic university-level research, making it a strong option among chemistry programs for high school students. This intensive 5½‑week program requires full participation and awards 3 semester credits, so you must be ready to balance research with classes and events. The application includes essays and letters of recommendation, and you must demonstrate a clear interest in working with a specific faculty mentor.
13. UT Austin – High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $4000; limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9 - July 16
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: High school rising sophomore, junior, or senior, Texas resident, 15+
UT Austin’s HSRA gives you the chance to work in the College of Natural Sciences labs, including chemistry and chemical engineering groups. You will learn lab techniques, collaborate on ongoing projects, and gain insight into academic research. The program is full-time and immersive, with seminars and mentoring built in. At the end of the program, you will present your research in a symposium setting. Over five weeks, you’ll spend 15–25 hours per week in the lab, earn course credit, and attend weekly guest‑speaker seminars to broaden your perspective. Because the program is non‑residential, you must arrange your own housing and transportation in Austin, but benefit from interacting closely with UT faculty and students, making it one of the hands‑on chemistry programs for high school students available in Texas.
14. University of Michigan – Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) – Chemistry Courses
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Application fee: $100, tuition $1,300; residential stay $1,100; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Session 1: June 21 - July 3; Session 2: July 5 - 17; Session 3: July 19 - 31
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
MMSS offers you the chance to study college-level topics with Michigan faculty. Chemistry courses include Organic Chemistry, Sustainable Polymers, and Surface Chemistry, combining lectures with demonstrations and lab activities. You will gain exposure to advanced concepts in a condensed format, making it a good introduction to college-level science. The program is residential, so you’ll also get a taste of campus life at a major research university. The Organic Chemistry Boot Camp focuses on nomenclature, stereochemistry, and reaction mechanisms and includes lab exercises and instruction on instrumentation such as IR and NMR spectroscopy. In the Surface Chemistry or Sustainable Polymers courses, you’ll explore topics like hydrophobicity and catalysis, prepare biodegradable plastics, and create a stop‑motion animation to communicate your findings, highlighting the creative side of chemistry programs for high school students.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
Image Source - University of California, Los Angeles logo