15 Chemistry Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
If you are curious about chemistry, a summer program in the field can help you spend your school break diving into advanced chemistry concepts beyond the classroom. Chemistry programs often blend laboratory work with lectures and research exposure, and help you develop problem-solving and analytical skills. Many of them are hosted by well-respected institutions and industry partners, allowing you to learn from professors, researchers, and professionals and build your network.
Why should you attend a program in Illinois?
In Illinois, many reputable universities and organizations offer summer programs that allow you to explore chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, and related STEM disciplines. These programs offer you opportunities to work in labs, meet faculty mentors, and explore interdisciplinary fields related to chemistry. If you live in Illinois or are visiting this summer, programs in the state can offer you exposure to its strong research ecosystem, including access to nationally recognized labs and universities.
To help you find the right fit, we have reviewed a wide range of options and shortlisted 15 chemistry summer programs for high school students in Illinois.
If you are looking for internships in Illinois, check out our blog here.
1. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign SpHERES High School Research Program
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Stipend: $2,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: June 17 – August 1 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
In the SpHERES High School Research Program, you will spend six weeks engaging in research and exploring topics that connect medicine, science, and engineering. During the program, you will contribute to ongoing research in chemical and biomolecular engineering, neuroscience, and molecular and integrative physiology, working with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, university students, and local high school teachers. You will attend weekly seminars covering topics like college admissions, scientific communication, and preparing for poster presentations. You will also complete a mentored research project and present it at the program’s closing symposium. This can be an opportunity to gain exposure to research methods and clinical studies and explore careers in medicine and scientific research.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines between April and June for summer cohorts. You can apply to the program here.
Dates: Several 12 to 15-week cohorts run every year, including in the summer
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship requires the completion of the AI Scholars program or some experience 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.
2. Argonne National Laboratory’s College Bound Research Program
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend of $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 28
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Eligibility: High school seniors who will be 18 before the program starts and hold a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale; applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Argonne National Laboratory’s College Bound Research Program is an opportunity for high schoolers to work full-time in a lab or office alongside scientists and engineers. You will work on projects across areas such as chemical sciences, biosciences, advanced computing, energy, discovery science, global security, and accelerator systems. Additionally, you will learn to use specialized tools and work within professional labs while contributing to ongoing research. You will also develop skills in lab work, data analysis, problem-solving, and collaboration. The experience can help you prepare for pursuing a STEM major and future career opportunities.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program : Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: May deadlines for Summer cohorts
Dates: Multiple sessions each year, including cohorts in the summer
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 structured virtual option for high school students interested in conducting independent research. Here, you will work one-on-one with a Ph.D.-level mentor who will guide you through the process of developing and completing your own project. You can choose a research question within chemistry, including specific areas such as organic or inorganic chemistry, chemical kinetics, or reaction dynamics. Over the course of about 12 weeks, you will learn how to formulate a research question, review existing literature, analyze data, and produce a full research paper by the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
4. Argonne National Laboratory’s Exemplary Student Research Program (ESRP)
Location: Participating schools + two mandatory visits to Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, during the school year
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Broader participation details not specified; each team consists of a high school teacher and 4–8 high school students from the same school.
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: School-year program; August – early Spring
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old; only teachers may submit applications. Eligible teachers must hold a valid state teaching certificate for grades 9–12 and should be currently employed by a school.
In the ESRP, you will work with a team of classmates on a year-long research project supported by your teacher and Argonne scientists. Each school can form one team of 4–8 students, and the teacher applies to the program and selects the participants. If selected, you will join a team of peers to develop a research plan, design an experiment, and collect and interpret data, using Argonne lab resources such as the Advanced Photon Source or the Center for Nanoscale Materials. Depending on the project, your research may focus on chemistry, carbon management, or nanoscience. You and your team will also create a research poster and present your findings to members of the Argonne community in the spring.
5. Chicago State University’s Career Exploration Camps: Chemistry Camp
Location: Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No fee; participation stipend is offered (amount unspecified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 17 – July 10 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5/4.0
This four-week summer camp at Chicago State University is intended for high school juniors and seniors who want to learn about careers and research in chemistry. During the program, you will work on projects focusing on natural product extraction, biodegradable polymer synthesis, or recycling methods related to additive manufacturing. Led by CSU faculty and staff, you will undergo hands-on training to learn how to use modern chemical instruments and observe how research teams operate in a university setting. The program also includes workshops on college admissions and FAFSA to help you with academic planning.
6. Western Illinois University Science Summer Camp
Location: Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Cost: $500 (residential tuition) | $350 (commuter tuition)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 – 15 students/year
Application deadline: None; first-come, first-served registration
Dates: July 6 – 11 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
This camp is a five-day residential and commuter program designed for students who want hands-on experience in chemistry and related sciences. Recent versions of the camp have covered topics such as forensic chemistry. During the camp, you will engage in laboratory-based activities, collaborate with peers in small groups, and get a sense of how science is approached in a college setting. The program also introduces you to different scientific career paths and provides opportunities to interact with faculty and current university students.
7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign CURIE: Catalyzing UR Interest in Chemical Engineering Camp
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: Residential: $1,000 + $25 deposit | Commuter: $600 + $25 deposit; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: July 27 – August 2 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12
This weeklong camp introduces you to chemical engineering by examining how scientists and engineers design processes to create useful materials. You will take part in virtual interactive sessions with chemical engineers, learn about methods used in large-scale production, and see how these approaches relate to common products. Activities may include simple hands-on experiments, such as using Silly Putty to study fluid behavior, as well as computer-based exercises that illustrate how proteins function. The camp also provides opportunities to observe chemical plant operations through field trips or virtual tours, giving you a clearer view of how engineers use concepts in practice.
8. Summer at UChicago: Pathways in Molecular Engineering
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to 30 students
Application deadline: February 11 (priority deadline); March 12 (regular deadline)
Dates: July 7 – 23
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are at least 14 years old
In this three-week immersion course at the University of Chicago, you will earn college credit while exploring the fundamentals of molecular engineering. The course examines how chemistry, materials science, physics, and nanotechnology intersect to address challenges in areas such as clean energy, water treatment, and biomedical applications. You will also learn about design principles, modeling, and molecular-level optimization. In addition to attending lectures and discussions, you will participate in lab work and use supercomputers to create and refine models that inform your projects. The course is structured like an undergraduate class, offering you direct access to faculty guidance.
9. Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Summer Programs : Chemistry Track
Location: Illinois Tech, Chicago, IL
Cost: Varies by program —Overnight: $3,000 | Daytime: $2,000 or $4,500, based on the program you choose | Virtual: $300 – $350; need-based financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: Summer programs; duration and dates vary by program
Eligibility: High school students; students over 15 years of age can apply to the overnight programs. Some programs might have additional prerequisites/
At Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep, you can choose from several course options, including programs that focus specifically on chemistry. In the Daytime Chemistry Scholars program, you will work with a faculty adviser on projects that may involve bioanalytical, environmental, forensic, or materials chemistry, with applications tied to areas such as energy, sustainability, health, or technology. In From Lab to Life: A Chemistry Career Exploration, you will study chemical reactions and gain experience using tools such as analytical instruments, chemoinformatics platforms, and computational software. This track also offers insights into how chemistry intersects with fields like biology, physics, and medicine. Both courses offer structured guidance from Illinois Tech faculty and include lab-based activities that help you understand how chemical research is carried out in different disciplines.
10. Summer at UChicago: Organic Chemistry in the Lab and the Field Course
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 11 (priority deadline); March 12 (regular deadline)
Dates: June 15 – July 2
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are at least 14 years old; the course recommends that applicants have completed at least one year of high school chemistry.
This three-week immersion course at the University of Chicago is designed to introduce you to organic chemistry by examining medicinal plants as a case study. Within a lab, you will learn techniques used to analyze the chemical compounds found in plant-based remedies. The course also includes a field visit to a prairie, where you will study local and traditionally used medicinal plants before returning to the lab to investigate their properties. Along with the scientific exploration, you will spend time examining the ecological and cultural contexts of harvesting practices and how they relate to sustainability. During the course, you will complete a project in which you use your chemical observations to design and prepare a simple medicinal salve, gaining experience in research, experimentation, and practical application.
11. Northwestern College Prep: IN FOCUS Seminars — How to Get Away With Murder: Forensic Chemistry
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: $3,625 (Commuter) | $5,235 (Residential) + $60 application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Rolling; application review begins in January.
Dates: July 19 – 31]
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 17, who have completed grades 9–11 and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
Part of Northwestern College Prep’s IN FOCUS Seminars, How to Get Away With Murder: Forensic Chemistry is a two-week course that focuses on the role of chemistry in forensic science. During the program, you will examine both fictional and real cases, applying techniques such as fingerprinting, trace metal analysis, and spectroscopy to analyze evidence. Classes will follow a seminar format, including lectures, discussions, group work, and independent projects. You will also take part in virtual tours of labs and crime scenes, meet guest speakers like medical examiners and forensic anthropologists, and complete a final project that you present to the class. By the end of the seminar, you will gain an understanding of how chemistry supports forensic investigations and experience using analytical methods to assess complex evidence.
12. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual internships available for Illinois students
Cost: $25 application fee; need-based fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 15
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers fully remote research internships to high schoolers across STEM fields, including chemistry and biochemistry. You can choose a mentor engaging in chemistry-focused research and offering a remote internship. Then, you will spend eight weeks engaging in research and learning how to collect and present data while refining your scientific writing and communication skills. During the program, you will learn about STEM career paths while engaging in discussions with professors, researchers, or professionals. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about the research conducted at ASSIP over the summer.
13. Brown University’s Acid/Base Chemistry: From Food to Everyday Phenomena Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218 for the two-week online program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: May 9
Dates: July 14 – 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 – 18
Brown University’s Acid/Base Chemistry course is a two-week virtual course for high schoolers. As a participant, you will first get an overview of core principles and then get to examine the historical development of acid-base theories. You will study acid/base chemistry through real-world contexts, including food systems and environmental issues. You will practice calculating pH, analyzing dissociation constants, and interpreting visual data. Additionally, you will learn about the tools commonly used in labs, such as pH meters and volumetric pipets.
14. Arizona State University’s Introductory Chemistry Universal Learner Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 application fee + a $400 fee that you pay only if you pass
Cohort size: Open enrollment
Application deadline: None; open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; typical commitment of 16 weeks
Eligibility: Open to all learners, including high school students; MAT 117 College Algebra or MAT 142 College Mathematics is recommended as a prerequisite.
This online chemistry course covers the basics, starting with the structure of atoms and how they form all matter. You will learn about molecules that are important in living systems and in various materials, and how their behavior relates to applications in areas such as biochemistry, health, energy, and materials science. The course also covers topics like how blood pH is regulated and why different materials have specific properties. As a participant, you will gain experience in assessing chemical properties, solving molecular-level problems, and applying concepts to energy and health science research. The course combines problem-solving practice, quizzes, video lectures, guided notes, and labs, with feedback.
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