15 Computer Science Summer Programs for High School Students in Texas
As a high school student, a structured computer science summer program can help you develop a foundational understanding of computational logic and technical problem-solving that extends beyond the standard classroom. These programs typically move from basic coding to specialized domains such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics, allowing you to explore the technical landscape early in your academic career. Many of these initiatives also offer opportunities to collaborate with faculty and peers on original software projects or data-driven research, helping you build a professional network before you even enter university.
Why should you attend a computer science program in Texas?
Texas has established itself as one of the most prominent technology corridors in the United States, providing high school students with direct access to a thriving ecosystem of innovation and industrial research. Attending a program in the state places you at the intersection of major industry hubs, such as the Silicon Hills in Austin and the aerospace and energy centers in Houston. Texas programs often grant you access to state-of-the-art facilities, including high-performance computing centers and advanced robotics labs, which are rarely available in a standard high school setting. This can also be your opportunity to connect with local experts, academics, and STEM professionals.
To help you explore your options, we have compiled this list of 15 computer science summer programs for high school students in Texas.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span AI and machine learning, cybersecurity, robotics, data science, game development, software engineering, and high-performance computing, so students with a wide range of computer science interests can find a relevant option in Texas or online.
Several programs are free or low-cost, including UT Austin Academy for Women (free with travel scholarships), Kode With Klossy (free), Texas A&M HPRC Summer Academy ($325), and West Texas A&M Engineering Camp ($375), while programs such as Lumiere and Veritas AI offer full financial aid for eligible students.
Many programs specifically support underrepresented students in computing, including UT Austin Academy for Women (young women, no prior coding required), Kode With Klossy (women and gender expansive teens), and Clark Scholars (need-based support available), so eligible students should take note of these targeted opportunities.
Programs vary in length and format, from one-week intensives, such as UT Austin Game Development Academy, Texas A&M HPRC Camp, and West Texas A&M Engineering Camp, to multi-week research placements, such as Clark Scholars (seven weeks) and UT Dallas Research Program (eight weeks), so students can choose based on their schedule and depth of interest.
Application deadlines for the most selective programs fall early, including UT Austin Academy for Women (December 22), Clark Scholars (February 16), UT Dallas Research Program (March 1), and UT Austin HSRA (March 22), so students should begin preparing materials in the fall.
1. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program @ Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and graduating seniors, ages 17 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Clark Scholars Program pairs high-achieving students with faculty mentors at Texas Tech University for seven weeks of hands-on research. While the program offers research opportunities across a range of disciplines, it features a dedicated Computer Science track and an Electrical and Computer Engineering track. You will spend your summer in university laboratories, gaining hands-on experience with high-performance computing resources and experimental methodologies. The lab experience is supported by weekly seminars on research ethics and professional development. The program culminates in a formal research report and presentation.
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: Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November), and Spring (January). 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, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers a range of online programs for high school students 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 data science and AI fundamentals and 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 get your work published in high school research journals. You can check out examples of a few past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. UT Austin Academy for Women
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: None + need-based travel scholarships of up to $500 available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: May 31 – June 6
Application deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
This computer science summer program in Texas is designed to encourage young women to explore the field of computer science through a curriculum that requires no prior coding experience. You will spend a week living on the UT Austin campus, attending lectures by UT faculty, and working on collaborative programming projects. The curriculum covers foundational logic, computational thinking, and the social impact of technology. You will build technical skills while coding an Arduino microcontroller and putting on an LED display light show. You will also engage in professional development workshops, explore the UT campus, and network with industry professionals.
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, winter, fall, and spring. Options range from 12 weeks to a 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. The program offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a wide 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, engineering, chemistry, psychology, physics, data science, 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. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person camps at various sites, including Dallas, TX (sites can vary by year)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – 12 | July 6 – 17 | July 20 – 31 | August 3 – 14
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy runs free coding camps for teens who want to gain hands-on experience in applying computer science. You will learn through focused tracks in artificial intelligence/machine learning, data science, or web development. Over the course of two weeks, you will work with tools such as SQL, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, algorithms, and natural language processing to build projects like a website, a trained chatbot, and a data visualization. Beyond track-specific learning, you will attend a speaker series led by women working in tech, who will share insights into what careers in the field entail. You will also gain access to the broader Kode With Klossy community upon completing the program.
6. UT Dallas: Research Program for HS Students
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Cost: Lab research internship: $1,500 (discounts available for students from low-income families) | Workshops: $1,000 (in-person) or $900 (virtual)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15 and up
This computer science summer program for high school students in Texas offers two distinct tracks: an intensive research internship in faculty labs or specialized summer research workshops. In the internship track, you will work 20-40 hours per week on active research projects, contributing to simulations, app development, and data analysis. The workshop track serves as an informal college seminar in which you will produce a final research paper or technical project. Topics often include artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data. At the end of the program, you will get a certificate of completion and an experience letter detailing what you have learned, with high performers receiving a recommendation letter as well.
7. UT Austin’s Academy for Robotics
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 26 – 31
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
Hosted at UT Austin’s Gates Dell Complex, this academy focuses on the intersection of hardware and software through the lens of autonomous systems. It is an intensive residential experience that offers a deep dive into the engineering principles behind modern robotics. You will learn how to program in C++ and work within a Linux environment to control sophisticated robotic units. The curriculum includes hands-on labs where you solve navigation and logic puzzles using sensors and computer vision. Instruction will be led by UT Computer Science faculty and assisted by current undergraduate researchers.
8. UT Austin’s Summer High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000; scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 15
Application deadline: March 22
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 15 and up; students who live in Texas are prioritized.
HSRA offers high schoolers an immersive experience within the UT Austin College of Natural Sciences. You can explore applications of computer science through research tracks in data analytics, computational materials science, and bioinformatics. You will join active faculty labs and work alongside university researchers to solve complex problems through computational modeling and large-scale data processing. You will learn how to use programming to work with biological and physical data, often focusing on automation and algorithm development for scientific discovery. The program culminates in a public poster forum where you will present your technical findings and earn three hours of university course credit.
9. Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,899 (residential) | $1,799 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple week-long sessions in June and July
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Rice ELITE (Engineering Leadership and Information Technology Excellence) offers high school students short learning experiences in technical tracks like AI, cybersecurity, engineering, and robotics. Designed by engineers, Ph.D students, and faculty, the curriculum focuses on project-based learning and the development of professional leadership competencies. You will spend a week building a portfolio of projects that can be used for college applications and future internships. The program utilizes Rice’s engineering labs and offers direct interaction with university student instructors. The experience is designed for students looking for a mix of technical skill development and college preparation.
10. UT Austin’s UTeach Engineering & Computer Science Camp
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students completing the 9th and 10th grade with an 85 minimum in Math, Science & English (80 for advanced courses)
This is a rigorous computer science summer program for high school students in Texas that combines core engineering principles with computational thinking. You will spend five weeks exploring object-oriented programming in Python and learning how to use Scratch for rapid prototyping of software concepts. The curriculum is project-based, requiring you to design and build technology-driven solutions to real-world engineering challenges. In addition to daily lab work, the program includes tours of UT research facilities and guest speaker sessions from Silicon Hills tech firms. You will receive support from instructors, UT student interns, and other faculty throughout the program.
11. Texas A&M High Performance Research Computing (HPRC) Summer Computing Academy
Location: Texas A&M University campus, College Station, TX
Cost: $325
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – 5
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 8th to 12th graders
Hosted by Texas A&M’s HPRC, this camp focuses on AI and cybersecurity through the lens of high-performance systems. You will build Raspberry Pi clusters, program Sphero robots, and develop your own AI-powered chatbots over the course of a week. The curriculum emphasizes Python coding as the foundational language for data science and automation. Beyond the classroom, you will take tours of the university’s massive data centers to see how supercomputers operate. This day camp provides a broad yet technical overview of the scope of computing power today. You will also attend sessions by guest speakers and end the program by presenting your group project at a closing ceremony.
12. University of North Texas Working with AI Summer Camp
Location: UNT Frisco Landing, Frisco, TX
Cost: $400 (early bird) | $425 (regular fee)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling; May 11 for early bird pricing
Eligibility: Rising 6th to 12th graders
This camp is part of the University of North Texas College of Information’s summer lineup and focuses on the application of artificial intelligence. You will learn how to work with AI tools to build custom solutions as well as research, summarize, and brainstorm ideas. You will use AI to develop art, music, and multimedia projects. You will also learn how to work with AI to organize and analyze information. The curriculum focuses on the critical examination of AI outputs to identify the limitations and strengths of tools. All sessions are led by UNT college student instructors and counselors.
13. UT Austin’s Academy for Game Development
Location: University of Texas at Austin’s campus, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 10
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
This computer science program for high school students in Texas offers a comprehensive look at the professional game design pipeline, blending artistic creativity with technical programming. You will work in teams to design, prototype, and build your own digital games using industry-standard tools and engines. The curriculum covers game mechanics, narrative design, and the logic required to implement complex user interactions. Faculty members will provide insights into the gaming industry, including career paths in software engineering and digital arts. At the end of the week, you will present your finished projects to peers and instructors.
14. UNT: NexGen DATA Leadership Summer Camp
Location: UNT Frisco Landing, Frisco, TX
Cost: $400 (early bird) | $425 (regular)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application deadline: Rolling; May 11 for early bird pricing
Eligibility: Rising 9th- to 12th-grade students with basic Python programming knowledge
This computer science summer program focuses on the data science pillar of computer science, teaching students how to work with, analyze, and visualize large datasets. You will learn how to use Python for data analysis and use tools to uncover patterns and trends in real-world information. The camp also integrates data leadership, teaching you how to communicate your technical findings effectively to non-technical audiences. Projects involve working with public datasets to solve community problems, such as urban planning or health trends. The curriculum provides exposure to technical data skills as well as insight into data roles like data analysts, engineers, architects, and more.
15. West Texas A&M: Engineering and Computer Science Summer Camp
Location: West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX
Cost: $375
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: 7th to 12th graders
This camp, titled "Dream It, Build It, Break It," focuses on the iterative nature of software and hardware engineering. You will participate in hands-on challenges that involve coding autonomous robots and designing software prototypes. The curriculum encourages a fail-fast mentality: build a system, identify its flaws, and redesign it to be more efficient. Faculty members from the Department of Computer Science will lead the sessions, providing a glimpse into the university’s CS curriculum.
Frequently asked questions
1. What computer science summer programs are available for high school students in Texas?
Options include university research programs, such as Clark Scholars at Texas Tech, UT Dallas Research Program, and UT Austin HSRA, AI and machine learning programs, such as Veritas AI and UNT Working with AI Camp, robotics and engineering programs, such as UT Austin Academy for Robotics and West Texas A&M Engineering Camp, coding programs for underrepresented students, such as UT Austin Academy for Women and Kode With Klossy, and data science programs, such as UNT NexGen DATA Leadership Camp.
2. Are there free computer science summer programs for high school students in Texas?
Yes, UT Austin Academy for Women is free with need-based travel scholarships available, and Kode With Klossy is free for all accepted participants. Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI offer full financial aid, and UT Dallas Research Program offers discounts for students from low-income families.
3. Which Texas computer science programs are best for students interested in AI?
Veritas AI, UNT Working with AI Camp, Texas A&M HPRC Summer Academy, Rice ELITE Tech Camp, and UT Dallas Research Program all include dedicated AI and machine learning content, while Kode With Klossy's AI and ML track offers a free option for women and gender expansive students.
4. Do any Texas computer science programs lead to college credit or research publications?
UT Austin HSRA awards three hours of university course credit upon completion, Lumiere Research Scholar Program guides students through producing an independent research paper with a PhD mentor, and Veritas AI supports students in publishing AI research projects through its in-house publication team.
5. Which Texas computer science programs are open to students outside the state?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI are fully virtual and open to students anywhere in the world, while Clark Scholars at Texas Tech, Rice ELITE, and UT Austin academies accept applications from out-of-state students, though some programs, such as UT Austin HSRA, prioritize Texas residents.
6. When should I apply to computer science summer programs for high school students in Texas?
UT Austin Academy for Women closes December 22, Clark Scholars closes February 16, UT Dallas Research Program closes March 1, Kode With Klossy closes March 31, and UT Austin HSRA closes March 22, so students should begin researching options in the fall and preparing applications over winter break.