15 Computer Science Programs for High School Students in Indiana
If you are a high school student planning for a future in computer science, participating in a specialized program can be a valuable way to explore the field beyond the classroom. Computer science programs often combine projects with mentorship from professors, researchers, or industry professionals, helping you build practical skills while gaining exposure to applications of technology. As a participant, you may learn programming languages, work on software or AI projects, explore cybersecurity concepts, or develop problem-solving and computational thinking skills that are widely used across STEM fields.
Why should you attend a program in Indiana?
Indiana is home to several credible universities, research institutions, and pre-college initiatives that offer accessible summer and academic year computer science opportunities for high school students. Areas of study typically include artificial intelligence, machine learning, game development, robotics, data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity. With a growing technology ecosystem and strong academic institutions like Purdue University, Indiana University, and Notre Dame, you can explore different areas of computer science while building technical skills and professional connections early.
To help you get started, we have put together a list of 15 computer science programs for high school students in Indiana.
If you’re looking for STEM programs in Indiana, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span AI and machine learning, cybersecurity, robotics, game development, data science, software engineering, and research computing, so students with a wide range of computer science interests can find a relevant option in Indiana or online.
Several programs are free or paid, including Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM (up to $4,000 stipend), SEAP ($4,000 to $4,500 stipend), EARN Indiana (paid internship), IU RISE ($600 stipend), Ivy Tech STEM Camp (free), Ivy Tech Community College Camps (free), and Kode With Klossy (free), making computer science experiences accessible without significant financial barriers.
Programs vary in length and format, from four-day introductory camps, such as Ivy Tech STEM Summer Youth Camp, to eight-week research placements, such as Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM and SEAP, and 12-week to year-long mentored research programs, such as Lumiere, so students can choose based on their schedule and depth of interest.
Several programs produce tangible academic or professional outputs, including Lumiere Research Scholar Program (independent research paper), Veritas AI (published AI research project), Notre Dame RADIANT (capstone project and presentation), and UT Austin HSRA (university course credit), which can directly strengthen college applications.
Application deadlines for the most selective programs fall early, including SEAP (November 1), Notre Dame Leadership Seminars (January 21), Notre Dame Summer Scholars (February 18), and Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM (March 1), so students should begin researching options in the fall.
1. Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM Summer Program
Location: Indiana CTSI at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN + partner research institutions, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Free; eligible students (whose family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) may receive stipends up to $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Indiana high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have completed at least one high school chemistry course
Indiana CTSI’s SEED STEM Program gives you the opportunity to explore STEM research and scientific problem-solving through hands-on learning experiences connected to Indiana’s biomedical research ecosystem. During the program, you will work with mentors, participate in research-focused activities in computer science or other STEM fields, and gain exposure to areas like data analysis, scientific communication, and interdisciplinary STEM applications. The program can also introduce you to research environments at major Indiana academic and medical institutions, helping you better understand how STEM fields intersect with healthcare and innovation. You will present your work at a poster session at the end of the summer.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by 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: Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May), 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, started and run by Harvard graduate students, offers various online programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, 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. During 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. EARN Indiana High School Program
Location: Multiple employer sites across Indiana
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Opportunities are available year-round
Application deadline: Varies by posting
Eligibility: Indiana residents enrolled at an accredited secondary school and working with a school or career center counselor
EARN Indiana gives students the opportunity to gain real-world work experience while exploring career pathways across technology, STEM, business, and other industries in Indiana. Through the program, you can apply for paid internships with participating employers and build practical skills in professional environments rather than classroom-based settings alone. Depending on your placement, you may gain exposure to areas like IT support, software tools, data management, engineering operations, or other technology-focused work. The program also promotes career readiness by helping you strengthen communication, collaboration, and workplace skills while gaining early professional experience.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Computer Science Track
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, spring, and winter. Options range from 12 weeks to one year.
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school who demonstrate strong academic performance
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. It offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a broad range of subjects that you can explore as a high schooler. The program will pair you with Ph.D. mentors to work one-on-one on a research project. At the end, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose from areas such as computer science, data science, engineering, physics, chemistry, psychology, international relations, economics, and more. You can learn more about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Department of the Navy labs across the U.S., including in Indiana
Stipend: New participants: $4,000 | Returning participants: $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~300 students across the U.S. placed annually; Indiana-specific numbers are not available.
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 who are 16 or older and U.S. citizens
SEAP gives you the opportunity to work alongside scientists and engineers in active Department of the Navy research laboratories while exploring real-world STEM and computing challenges. Depending on the lab you join, you will contribute to projects connected to computer science, programming, robotics, cybersecurity, engineering systems, or data-driven research while receiving mentorship from technical professionals. Unlike classroom-based enrichment programs, SEAP places a strong emphasis on applied research, allowing you to experience how scientific and computational work is conducted in professional laboratory settings. You will also get to shadow researchers, attend professional development seminars, engage in lab meetings, and present your work.
6. Ivy Tech STEM Summer Youth Camp
Location: Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 20 students (first-come, first-served basis)
Dates: July 13 – 16 (STEM camp)
Application deadline: Open until full
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 16; no prior STEM experience required
This four-day program at Ivy Tech Indianapolis lets you explore a wide range of science and technology concepts through interactive, hands-on activities and collaborative projects. You will learn about robotics and engineering, among other STEM topics, while building skills in 3D printing, robot programming, and electrical circuit design. The camp focuses on experimentation, allowing you to engage directly with real-world STEM applications in a beginner-friendly environment. In addition to camp activities, you will visit the world’s largest children’s museum, which will introduce you to real-world science and innovation.
7. Ivy Tech Community College Summer Camps
Location: Ivy Tech Columbus campus or other sites in Columbus, IN
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 – 15 students/camp
Dates: Summer; dates vary by camp
Application deadline: No fixed deadline; first-come, first-served registration
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
The free summer camps offered by Ivy Tech let you explore disciplines like robotics, cybersecurity, information technology, and engineering through projects and problem-solving challenges. You will learn core concepts relevant to the camp theme, with each session focused on a different hands-on activity. The camps are led by Ivy Tech faculty or professionals who will guide you through exercises and academic exploration. The camps also offer insights into career paths in computer science and tech fields.
8. Indiana University Luddy Pre-College Summer STEM Camp
Location: Indiana University Bloomington’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Bloomington, IN
Cost: $950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 26 – August 1
Application deadline: TBA; application window opens in January.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12
Indiana University’s Luddy Precollege Summer STEM Camp gives you the opportunity to explore computer science and emerging technologies through an immersive residential experience on the IU Bloomington campus. During the program, you will work on hands-on projects in areas like artificial intelligence, programming, cybersecurity, robotics, game development, and data science while learning from Luddy faculty and instructors. The camp will also introduce you to collaborative problem-solving and project-based learning, allowing you to apply technical concepts in practical settings. You will also connect with faculty, current college students, and tech professionals while engaging in activities tailored to your experience level.
9. University of Notre Dame’s Summer Scholars Program
Location: University of Notre Dame campus, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: $5,200 + $75 non-refundable application fee; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Session I: June 6 – 20 | Session II: June 27 – July 11
Application deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are at least 16 by August 1
Notre Dame’s Summer Scholars program gives you the opportunity to study specialized academic topics in a college-level environment while living on campus and learning alongside other high-achieving students for two weeks. You can choose seminars on data science, cryptography engineering, analytics, and emerging technologies through discussion-based and project-oriented coursework led by Notre Dame faculty. The program places a strong emphasis on intellectual exploration rather than introductory coding instruction alone, making it especially valuable if you want exposure to how computing intersects with research, society, and innovation. You will engage with the same material as Notre Dame undergraduates, gaining firsthand insight into what studying at a university looks like. The schedule combines coursework with campus activities and field trips relevant to your field of study.
10. IU Indianapolis’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering Summer Technology Camps
Location: IU Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: $399 per camp/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 6 – 10 | July 13 – 17
Application deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12
IU Indianapolis’ Luddy Summer Camps give you the opportunity to explore various areas in computer science through short, hands-on learning experiences designed specifically for high school students. Depending on the camp you choose, you may work with programming languages, cybersecurity tools, robotics systems, AI concepts, or game design software while building projects in collaborative classroom settings. Each camp is designed like a workshop, letting you apply core concepts to projects, designs, and prototypes. For instance, in the game development camp, you will create a fully playable, original 3D world, while in the Python and machine learning camp, you will build a web app.
11. Indiana University Bloomington’s Jim Holland Research Initiative in STEM Education (RISE)
Location: Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Cost/Stipend: $125 non-refundable registration fee; $600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 3
Application deadline: April (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with at least a 3.2 GPA who are taking or have taken science and math courses
RISE gives you the opportunity to participate in university-level scientific research while working closely with faculty mentors and research teams at Indiana University Bloomington. During the program, you will contribute to active research projects, learn laboratory and analytical techniques, and strengthen your understanding of how scientific investigations are conducted in academic settings. Although the program is primarily rooted in biomedical and life sciences research, you may also gain exposure to data analysis, research computing, and interdisciplinary STEM methods, depending on your lab placement. The experience is designed to help you build confidence in research environments while exploring future pathways in STEM and higher education. You will also attend college-planning workshops during the program.
12. Purdue University’s Summer College for High School Students
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: ~$744 – $3,109 for residential short-term programs + a $60 application fee; exact cost varies by course type and student residency status;
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 1,000+ spots available
Dates: June 21 – July 31 (Various sessions and courses within this window)
Application deadline: Priority deadline February 1; final deadline April 1
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 – 17; grade-level requirements and prerequisites (such as prior biology or chemistry) may apply to individual courses.
Purdue University’s Summer High School Programs give you the opportunity to explore computer science and related STEM fields through a wide range of pre-college experiences hosted across the university. Depending on the track you choose, you may study areas like programming, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering design, robotics, or data-driven problem-solving while learning from Purdue faculty and instructors. You will apply what you learn through labs, collaborative projects, and technical workshops. For instance, in the cybersecurity track, you will take on encryption challenges, cybersecurity escape rooms, and ethical hacking simulations. If you choose the coding and data science track, you will learn how to write your own Python code for data prediction, processing, and visualization.
13. University of Notre Dame’s Leadership Seminars: RADIANT Track
Location: University of Notre Dame campus, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: $75 application fee + $150 enrollment fee upon admission
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~150 students accepted for Leadership Seminars overall; numbers for specific tracks are not specified.
Dates: July 18 – 29
Application deadline: January 21, 2026
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are at least 16; applicants should ideally be in the top 10% of their class with a mid-range SAT score of 1300 – 1500 or ACT score of 31 and above (standardized test scores preferred but not required), and demonstrated leadership abilities in school, community, or social organizations
This is a 10-day hands-on program where you will explore data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning alongside Notre Dame faculty researchers. You will learn R programming, data visualization, and analytics techniques while working on real-world projects like analyzing climate change data or tracking misinformation. In the second week, your focus will shift to AI, machine learning, and geographic information systems (GIS), and you will train simple AI models and explore how technology impacts society. Through workshops and ethical discussions, you will consider the broader implications of AI tools in the real world. The experience will conclude with a capstone project where you will apply your knowledge to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings to instructors and peers.
14. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Operation Catapult
Location: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN
Cost: $2,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: Session 1: June 8 – 18 | Session 2: June 22 – July 2 | Session 3: July 14 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling until full; first-come, first-served admission
Eligibility: Students completing 10th or 11th grade with at least one year of chemistry or physics coursework
Operation Catapult gives you the opportunity to experience college-level STEM learning through an intensive residential summer program built around hands-on experimentation and collaborative projects. You will join a project group focused on a specialized area such as computer programming with Python, robotics, wind tunnel testing, engineering mechanics, or electronics. Rather than emphasizing lectures alone, the program is structured around building, testing, analyzing, and presenting projects using university-level equipment and laboratory spaces. Over two weeks, you will work on technical projects that may involve robotics, machine design, and experimental engineering while collaborating with faculty and peers.
15. Kode With Klossy Camps
Location: Virtual + in‑person options available; sites vary by year
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple two‑week sessions each summer
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Young girls and gender‑expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy runs free, two-week summer coding camps for students interested in exploring computer science. Conducted virtually, the program introduces foundational programming concepts through project-based learning in tracks such as web development, machine learning, and data science. Depending on the track, you may work with tools and languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or beginner ML frameworks while building hands-on projects. Throughout the experience, you will hear from women in tech, collaborate with peers, connect with mentors, and strengthen problem-solving skills in a beginner-friendly virtual environment.
Frequently asked questions
1. What computer science programs are available for high school students in Indiana?
Options include paid research internships, such as Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM, SEAP, and EARN Indiana, university-based computer science camps, such as IU Luddy, IU Indianapolis Luddy Camps, Purdue Summer College, and Rose-Hulman Operation Catapult, AI and data science programs, such as Veritas AI, Notre Dame RADIANT, and Notre Dame Summer Scholars, free coding programs, such as Ivy Tech camps and Kode With Klossy, and mentored research programs, such as Lumiere.
2. Are there free computer science programs for high school students in Indiana?
Yes, Ivy Tech STEM Summer Youth Camp and Ivy Tech Community College Camps are free, Kode With Klossy is free for accepted participants, Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM is free to attend and provides stipends for eligible students, and EARN Indiana provides paid internship placements. Lumiere and Veritas AI also offer full financial aid for eligible students.
3. Which Indiana computer science programs are best for students interested in AI and machine learning?
Veritas AI, Notre Dame RADIANT, IU Luddy Pre-College Summer Camp, and Purdue Summer College all include dedicated AI and machine learning tracks, while Kode With Klossy offers a free ML-focused coding track for women and gender expansive students.
4. Do any Indiana computer science programs lead to research papers, publications, or college credit?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program guides students through producing an independent research paper with a PhD mentor, Veritas AI supports students in publishing AI research projects, Purdue Summer College awards official Purdue university credit, and Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM concludes with a poster presentation that mirrors professional research communication.
5. Which programs are open to students outside Indiana?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI are fully virtual and open to students anywhere in the world, Kode With Klossy offers virtual camps accessible to students nationwide, and Notre Dame Summer Scholars and Rose-Hulman Operation Catapult accept applications from out-of-state students.
6. When should I apply to computer science programs for high school students in Indiana?
SEAP closes November 1, Notre Dame Leadership Seminars close January 21, Purdue Summer College has a priority deadline of February 1, Notre Dame Summer Scholars closes February 18, and Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM closes March 1, so students should begin researching options in the fall and preparing applications over winter break.