20 Computer Science Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you are a high school student in Texas who is interested in computer science, chances are that you are looking for summer programs in your area as a valuable addition to your application.
In this post, we have curated a list of 10 computer science programs in Texas that will enable you to gain hands-on experience, and will make for an excellent learning opportunity. The programs range from free to paid and have different levels of selectivity. There’s something for everyone.
The programs we’ve identified are highly selective and will also look great on your college application!
1. Anson L.Clark Scholars Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program was established in 1963 in honor of Anson L. Clark, a former Texas A&M student and World War II veteran who proceeded to create a successful business career! This 7-week comprehensive research program will allow you to gain hands-on research under the mentorship of Texas Tech faculty. Apart from one-on-one research with faculty, you can participate in weekly seminars, discussions, and field visits!
One of the research areas available for students is the computer science track. Scholars from the 2022 cohort, like Akaash Kolluri, have conducted research in predicting GPU energy consumption using machine learning algorithms. You can view past projects from other scholars here!
The Clark Scholars program is one of the most prestigious and selective programs, with an acceptance rate of less than 3% and only 12 students in each cohort. Therefore, having the title of an Anson L. Clark Scholar will be a valuable add-on to any college application. An additional benefit is the $750 tax-free stipend that is provided!
The Dean of Texas Tech has given advice on how to get into this very prestigious program which you can find here!
Cost: No Cost
Location: Texas Tech University
Application Deadline: February 13 (tentative)
Program Dates: 6 weeks, June 18 - August 3 (tentative)
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate in 2023 or 2024 (U.S. and International)
2. Veritas AI
Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students and our programs are geared towards high school students who want to build their foundations in computer science. In the program, students learn various concepts in data science and artificial intelligence like neural networks, image classification, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, coding using python, and more.
Veritas AI offers up to 100% financial aid for the 10-week AI Scholars program. Through the program students build real-world projects in groups of 3-5 students to showcase their interests and skills. You can also apply for the AI Fellowship where you work 1-1 with mentors from top universities to build unique machine learning projects for a period of 12-15 weeks.
Scholarship Amount: Up to 100%
Location: Remote - you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Rolling basis. (You can apply here!)
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall. No previous knowledge is required!
Note: The financial aid is available for students from households earning less than $60,000 annually (for a typical household of 4) with minimum assets.
3. UT Austin’s Academy for All
UT Austin’s Academy for All is a week-long program where you can explore computer science or game development through classes conducted by existing UT Austin faculty. The program runs in 2 streams - the Standard Edition and the Game Development Edition.
The Standard Edition is perfect for any student intending to pursue Computer Science as the program covers C++, careers in tech, engineering, and project management. You also gain hands-on experience through projects. For example, coding an Arduino microcontroller to put on an LED display light show!
If you're interested in game development, UT Austin also offers a game development edition where you'll cover game development processes - including programming in Java, art, and game design, 2D game development, running and debugging code and exploring game development tools!
Another great aspect of this program is that you’ll be staying in the same residence halls as your mentors. The program has a 10:1 student to mentor ratio so you can expect a decent amount of face time with your mentor.
Cost: No Cost
Location: UT Austin Campus
Application Deadline: While the application deadline is not specified, you can expect it to close a month and a half to a month before the program.
Program Dates: June 4th - June 10th (tentative) or June 11th- June 17th (tentative - Standard Academy Editions)
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
4. Rice University’s Tapia STEM Camps
Named after Professor Richard Tapia, a current professor at Rice University, the Tapia STEM Camp is a 6-day/5-night program where high school students can explore STEM careers through classes conducted by Rice University students, with a curriculum designed by research members.
Throughout the course of a week, students can focus on multiple STEM subjects, design their independent STEM projects, and present them at the end of the program to professors, fellow students, and Dr. Richard Tapia himself. Students also discuss STEM concepts in the context of social equality, and they can gain firsthand experience from professionals and academics on their work and experiences in the STEM field. We’ve gone through a bunch of student testimonials and what most students speak highly about are the building communication skills they pick up and the college advice that’s given to them.
While the Tapia STEM camp is focused on STEM as a whole, you will be able to explore college-level computer science courses and can even choose to do your project in this field!
Bonus - Another option is Rice's one-week ELITE tech camp where you can explore college-level engineering topics such as machine learning, AI, internet of things, data science, 3D printing, deep learning, data analytics and more.
Cost: $1,750 for tuition.
Location: Rice University Campus
Application Deadline (2023): Rolling Admissions
Program Dates (2023): Session 1: July 2 - 7, Sunday - Friday, Session 2: July 9 - 14, Sunday - Friday, Session 3: July 16 - 21, Sunday - Friday, Session 4: July 23 - 28, Sunday - Friday.
Eligibility: Open to all students between grades 8-12.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Programs - Computer Science Track
Founded by Harvard and Oxford PhDs, Lumiere is a selective research program for high school students, where students work one-to-one with a PhD mentor to develop an independent research paper. While it offers programs across an array of disciplines, research areas in computer science span computer networks, human computer interaction, ethics in computer science and so much more!
Due to its one-to-one nature, you can expect to not only learn the most recent developments of various tech industries but also expand your technological skillset, regardless of what level it is at. If you’re interested in doing interdisciplinary research, this would be a good option!
Cost: Lumiere Individual Research Program – $2,600, Lumiere Premium Research and Publication Program – $4,800, Lumiere Research Fellowship – $8,400
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling, Cohort based. You can apply here.
Program Dates: Rolling, Cohort based.
Eligibility: High School Students
6. University of North Texas’ GenCyber Program
The University of North Texas, the National Security Agency, and the National Science Foundation have collaborated for the Texas Edition of the GenCyber Program, which provides free summer cybersecurity camps. These camps are non-residential day camps where students are introduced to the fundamentals of cybersecurity mechanisms, principles of practicing effective cybersecurity, and how cybersecurity policies can be reliably implemented.
Students will explore areas such as cryptography, network security, and digital forensics through games, hands-on labs, animals/simulations, videos, and invited speakers. If you are interested in a career in cyber security, the GenCyber camp is a great introduction to this field!
Cost: No Cost
Location: University of North Texas Campus
Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Program Dates (based on previous years): Session 1: June 5th - June 9th, Session 2: June 12th - June 16th, Session 3: June 19th - June 23, Session 4: June 26th - June 30th.
Eligibility: Open to all students from North Texas middle and high schools who are in grades 8-12.
7. UT Austin’s Academy for Women
UT Austin holds a week-long summer program for girls looking to pursue careers and degrees in computer science. In this camp, you learn foundational computer science concepts from the UT Austin faculty. The topics covered in this camp are C++, project management, teamwork, and women in tech jobs.
Apart from courses, you have the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences through projects such as coding an Arduino microcontroller to put on an LED display light show and explore technologies under the guidance of professors and industry experts! You will also discover future internship and career opportunities from the guest lectures and gain insights into the UT admissions process.
Cost: No Cost
Location: UT Austin Campus
Application Deadline: While the application deadline is not specified, you can expect it to close a month and a half to a month before the program.
Program Dates: June 4th - June 10th or June 11th- June 17th (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who identify as female.
8. University of Texas San Antonio’s Explore!STEM
Supported by the Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation, the Explore!STEM camp at UTSA gives differently abled students the opportunity to learn about STEM concepts and occupations through hands-on activities and instructions.
In the 4-day program, students will delve into basic computer programming concepts and skills, computer vision and data science. Moreover, the camp provides hand-on activities to build autonomous driving AI computer programs!
An added bonus are the guest lectures where students can learn from the expertise of professionals working in STEM fields.
UT Austin also has a tuition based Computer Science Academy! There are currently 4 different specialisations - iOS game development, robotics, web-based game development or graphic programming. If you're interested in covering 1 specific aspect of computer science, this is a great opportunity!
Cost: No Cost
Location: University of Texas, San Antonio North Paseo building
Application Deadline (2023): Rolling Admissions
Program Dates (2023): June 12th - June 16th (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all students between the ages of 14 and 22. Must have a 6th grade level reading ability and can type on a computer.
Note: There are no restrictions on the type of disability.
9. Angelo State University’s Code Camp
The Code Camp by Angelo State University is a free, hands-on, one-week program for students interested in learning the foundations of computer programming. The program is offered both offline and online, where students can take part in either interchangeably. The program itself introduces students to the basics of computer programming through courses offered by ASU’s Computer Science Department.
In the camp, you can expect to:
- Learn to program in Javascript
- Learn to draw and make animations
- Learn to solve problems using computers
The program culminates with a project presentation of the work you have done over the week!
Cost: No Cost
Location: Online/ Angelo State University Campus
Application Deadline: May 29th (tentative)
Program Dates: June 5th - June 9th (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all students.
Note: On-campus seating is limited to 100 students, and completed registrations will be placed on a waiting list according to the date/time submitted.
10. UT Dallas’ Deep Dive AI Workshop
UT Dallas offers an 8-week program for advanced-level high school students where you will explore the foundations of AI and machine learning under current UT Dallas Computer Science graduate students, with supervision by Dr. Anurag Nagar - a computer science professor at UT Dallas.
The list of topics for the course are:
Introduction to Python programming, tools for data analysis such as NumPy, pandas, and graphics, which are essential for machine learning models
Getting started with data processing – various file formats, loading into data frames, and performing basic statistical operations
Introduction to machine learning, with examples and real-life scenarios These will help you identify what problems can be solved using ML
AI/ML model building – decision trees, neural networks, etc
Deep Neural Nets using TensorFlow
Convolution Neural Nets(CNN) and Recursive Neural Nets (RNN)
Model Evaluation – accuracy, error, Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve
An added benefit is that at the end of the 8 weeks, you can request a letter of recommendation based on your performance which can supplement your college application!
Cost: $1,200 (Note, If you cannot afford this, you can email and ask about any financial aid/scholarships available. You can get more information here!)
Location: UT Dallas Campus
Application Deadline (2023): Rolling admission
Program Dates (2023): June 5th - July 28th (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all advanced-level high school students. Prerequisites include familiarity with Python programming and high school level mathematics.
11. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person; sites vary by year
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens who are 13 – 18 years old
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camp is a two-week free program designed to introduce you to coding/programming, data science, software development, and machine learning. You will explore these disciplines through one of four tracks. In the camp’s web development track, you will learn how to work with languages like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML to create an online platform. The machine learning track will help you study and apply concepts such as algorithms, natural language processing, and datasets. In the data science track, you will examine data and draw insights using Python, SQL, and data visualization tools. The mobile app track covers the fundamentals of coding in Swift (Apple’s programming language), allowing you to create an iOS mobile application.
12. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual opportunities available
Cost: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers mentored research opportunities across STEM fields, including computer science. You can indicate your preference for a mentor who offers remote internships and whose research interests lie in computer science or related areas like natural language processing, deep learning, machine learning, and modeling and simulation. Over the course of eight weeks, you will work virtually with your mentor, contributing to computer science research or interdisciplinary computational research while refining scientific writing and communication skills. During the internship, you will also learn about career paths in STEM while interacting with professors and researchers. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about the research your peers conducted over the summer.
13. NASA OSTEM Internship Programs
Location: NASA centers and facilities nationwide + virtual opportunities
Stipend: Availability and amount vary by opportunity
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer, fall, and spring programs; dates vary by opportunity
Application deadline: Varies by internship session
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and are U.S. citizens
The NASA OSTEM Internship Program offers virtual and in-person opportunities to work with NASA scientists, engineers, and other professionals on projects related to space exploration, aeronautics, and research. You will contribute to real projects at NASA centers nationwide while gaining technical, analytical, and teamwork skills essential for STEM careers. Programs are typically available in engineering, computer science, business, and communications. While the exact responsibilities vary based on the program, you will gain insights into tech and space science and assist NASA staff with testing technologies and collecting data.
14. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: TBA; typically three weeks in the summer
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: 9th graders or rising 10th graders over the age of 14; preference will be given to students with math and/or computer skills.
Stanford AI4ALL is a virtual program that allows you to explore artificial intelligence through a combination of mentorship, lectures, and hands-on research projects. You will explore areas like medical AI, robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing while learning about the potential of AI to positively impact society. The program focuses on personal growth and career development through workshops that help you connect with like-minded peers as well as AI professionals and researchers. You will also present your work to peers and professionals, receiving feedback and refining communication skills.
15. UT Dallas Intensive Research Internship in CS Labs
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX
Cost: $1,000; need-based discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students completing grades 10 and 11 who are at least 16 years old
UT Dallas offers various computer science programs for high school students in Texas, including the Intensive Research Internship. As an intern, you will spend 20 to 40 hours every week working in a computer science lab. You may help the lab staff in running simulations, reading research papers, developing apps for various functionalities, and other activities designed to give you first-hand exposure to the different aspects of computer science. You will also contribute to ongoing CS research, gaining insights into the scientific discovery process. You will receive a completion certificate, an experience letter, and a T-shirt for your participation. You will also present your work, standing a chance to receive an award or special certificate based on your performance.
16. UTSA Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Camp
Location: University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Day camp fee: $550 (or $250 with tuition assistance) | Overnight camp fee: $750 (or $450 with tuition assistance)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
This weeklong UTSA summer camp is designed for high school students who want to explore robotics and artificial intelligence through hands-on projects and challenges. You will work under the guidance of members of UTSA’s Robotics and Automation Society on finishing a robotics project from scratch. You will gain experience in coding, assembly, and circuitry. You will also engage in workshops, lab tours, and lessons to explore the applications of AI across industries as well as ongoing AI research. You will test your project while competing with peers.
17. Summer Research Workshops at the University of Texas at Dallas
Location: Virtual or in-person at the University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX
Cost: $700 (in-person) | $600 (virtual)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students completing grades 10 and 11; in-person participants must be at least 16 years old.
Summer Research Workshops are informal college courses designed for students interested in gaining practical exposure to computer science research. You will attend sessions twice a week, gaining insights into topics like quantum computing, natural language processing, computational biology, and data structures. You will also work on a final project or paper within your chosen area of research while accessing professional guidance and university resources. If your presentation or research report is one of the top three submissions, you may receive an award or special certificate in addition to the certificate of completion and experience letter.
18. UT Austin Academy for Machine Learning
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: TBA; two sessions available
Application deadline: Enrollment opens in February
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12 in the fall; some coding experience is required for Session 2.
The Academy for Machine Learning is designed to introduce you to Python programming, as well as the basics of machine learning and its societal impacts. You will learn how to write code to train your own machine learning model under the guidance of professional mentors. You will also gain insights into various career options in tech and machine learning, and engage with the latest technologies. The program allows you to tour the UT campus and get a glimpse into college life while interacting with college students. You will work alongside your peers on various projects, building teamwork skills. The program follows a 10:1 student-to-mentor ratio to offer focused small-group learning experiences.
19. University of Texas Engineering & Computer Science Camp
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,700, which includes materials, snacks, lunch, and a t-shirt
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application deadline: First-come, first-served enrollment
Eligibility: Students who have completed 9th or 10th grade when the program starts
This five-week camp is designed to offer insights into engineering, computational thinking, and technology development. At camp, you will also explore computer programming in Scratch and object-oriented languages like Python. You will engage in career speaker sessions, college and career exploration opportunities, and lab tours during the program. The program offers you access to the mentorship of UT student interns, UT faculty and staff, and instructors.
20. University of North Texas’s Summer Camps
Location: University of North Texas, Frisco, TX
Cost: Fee varies by camp; exact details TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week-long camps in June and July; dates TBA
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
The University of North Texas offers multiple data science and tech-focused camps each year. Here, you will explore concepts like informatics, human-computer interaction, misinformation, and the future of technology. Each day consists of guided activities, lessons, and time to collaborate with peers. You will learn from UNT research faculty and Ph.D. students who specialize in different areas of information science. Additionally, you will gain insights into careers in data science, data analysis, predictive analytics, deep learning, machine learning, and generative AI.
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