15 Data Science Summer Programs for High School Students
Data science summer programs allow you to explore how data, technology, and decision-making come together across different fields. They help you build skills in areas such as statistics, programming, and data analysis by working through structured activities and guided projects. You gain exposure to research, mentorship, and collaborative learning, which help you understand your interests and how data science is applied across different contexts.
What can you expect from a data science summer program?
These programs are often offered by universities and organizations, giving you access to structured learning experiences in data science. Depending on the program, you analyze datasets, explore machine learning concepts, or study how data is used to solve problems across different industries. These opportunities are worth considering, whether you are a beginner looking to build foundational skills or a student interested in exploring more advanced topics.
Key takeaways
Several programs are free or fully funded, including MIT's Research Science Institute (RSI), Florida State University's Young Scholars Program, and Carnegie Mellon's Statistics & Data Science Camp, while the University of Chicago's DSI Summer Lab is free and pays a $5,600 stipend, making strong data science experiences accessible regardless of cost.
The programs span a wide range of formats, from selective on-campus research institutes (RSI, UC Santa Cruz SIP, Boston University RISE) to university pre-college courses (Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, Syracuse, Quinnipiac, and Wharton) and flexible virtual options like Veritas AI, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, and Horizon Academic.
Students looking for 1-on-1 mentored research can apply to virtual programs such as Veritas AI, Lumiere, and Horizon, each of which pairs students with mentors and can culminate in an independent research paper or project.
Several programs are tied to a specific region or residency, including Florida State's Young Scholars Program (Florida residents), UChicago's DSI Summer Lab (Chicago area), and Carnegie Mellon's camp (Pittsburgh area), giving local students an advantage when applying.
Costs range widely, from fully funded programs to selective paid options like the Wharton Global Youth Data Science Academy ($10,599), and many paid programs, including Veritas AI and Lumiere, offer financial aid or scholarships.
Most competitive programs have deadlines between December and March, so students should begin identifying programs of interest in the fall and prioritize the earliest-deadline programs first.
To help with your search, here are 15 Data Science Summer Programs for High School Students.
If you’re looking for data science programs and internships, check out our blog here.
1. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Cost: Free (tuition, housing, and meals fully covered; $75 application fee)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Application deadline: December 10
Program dates: June 28 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising seniors (students typically apply in 11th grade); U.S. and international students welcome; current seniors are not eligible
The Research Science Institute, hosted at MIT and run by the Center for Excellence in Education, is a six-week residential summer program where high school students conduct original STEM research. The program opens with a week of intensive coursework in advanced scientific theory before students move into a five-week mentored research internship in MIT and Boston-area labs, working one-on-one with experienced scientists. Students drawn to data science can pursue computational and quantitative projects across fields like mathematics, computer science, and the physical and life sciences. RSI is one of the most selective summer programs in the world, admitting roughly 100 students out of thousands of applicants each year. It concludes with conference-style written papers and oral presentations, and alumni frequently go on to compete in Regeneron STS and ISEF.
For more information on RSI, check out our detailed blog here!
2. Veritas AI
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts 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.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in 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 and data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity 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.
3. Young Scholars Program (Florida State University)
Cost: Free (room, board, and tuition fully covered, valued at over $7,000; a supplemental stipend is available for students with significant financial need)
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Application deadline: February 15
Program dates: June 7 – July 18
Eligibility: Florida high school students who have completed 11th grade, with at least a 3.0 GPA and a math score in the 90th percentile or higher on a standardized exam
The Young Scholars Program at Florida State University is a six-week residential program where high school students explore advanced topics in science, mathematics, and computer science through structured coursework and research. Students take specialized classes designed specifically for the program while also working on independent research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors. Participants pursue hands-on research in areas such as physics, biology, and computing, including data science–oriented projects, gaining real experience in active lab environments. The program concludes with a research presentation, giving students the opportunity to communicate their findings and reflect on their work in a collaborative academic setting.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. The University of Chicago's Data Science Institute Summer Lab
Cost: Free, with a $5,600 stipend
Location: University of Chicago, Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
Application deadline: January 12
Program dates: June 15 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates; high school applicants must reside in the Chicago area
This program is an 8-week, paid research opportunity focused on applied, interdisciplinary data science, open to high school and undergraduate students. High school and undergraduate students are paired with a data science mentor (usually a professor) to develop their research skills and data science methodologies. Participants gain exposure to topics across domains including computer science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, and biomedical research. They hone their skills in research methodologies, data science practices, and collaboration exercises, and the program ends with a presentation of final videos outlining each student's research findings. Past projects have included work such as "Using Social Robots to Reduce Reading Anxiety" and "Self-Driving Telescopes."
For more information on DSI Summer Lab, check out our detailed blog here!
6. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
7. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)
Cost: Fee-based program ($68 application fee); need-based scholarships covering 25–100% of fees available
Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, CA (in-person, with an online prep period)
Application deadline: Application portal opens mid-January (confirm the current cycle's close date on the official SIP site here)
Program dates: June 15 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–17; some projects require interns to be at least 16
The Science Internship Program at UC Santa Cruz places high school students into active university research groups, where they contribute to real, open-ended projects rather than pre-designed classroom labs. Interns work under the close mentorship of UCSC faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, starting with an online research-preparation period before moving into full-time on-campus work. For students focused on data science, SIP runs projects in data-rich fields such as astronomy, bioinformatics, and other computational research areas. The program spans roughly eight to ten weeks and ends with a Presentation Day where interns share their results. Prior research experience is not required, and need-based scholarships covering part or all of the program fees are available.
For more information on the SIP Program, check out our detailed blog here!
8. Boston University RISE (Research in Science & Engineering)
Cost: Tuition required ($5,930 in program fees, plus room and board for residential students; $75 application fee); limited need-based financial aid available, check out cost details here
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA (residential or commuter)
Application deadline: February 4
Program dates: June 29 – August 8 (six weeks)
Eligibility: Rising seniors (currently juniors); U.S. citizens and permanent residents
BU RISE is a six-week summer research program at Boston University with two tracks: an Internship track, where students are matched with a faculty mentor for individual lab research, and a Practicum track, where students collaborate on a structured group research project. For data science students, the Practicum offers a dedicated Data Science option, pairing morning lectures with afternoon sessions that apply programming, statistical tools, and data visualization to a guided research project. Both tracks are full-time commitments of roughly 40 hours per week and conclude with a poster symposium where students present their findings. Students also attend weekly professional development workshops and site visits to Boston-area research and biotech organizations. The program is selective, admitting around 190 students in a recent year.
9. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Data Science
Cost: $3,200 (some courses require up to $100 in additional materials); need-based financial aid available
Location: Virtual (online)
Application deadline: March (single round of admissions)
Program dates: Session 1: June 15 – June 26 | Session 2: July 6 – July 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 (ages 13–19 during the program); some courses have additional grade or prerequisite requirements
Stanford's Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer an online data science course focused on data analysis, visualization, and machine learning. Students learn from Stanford-affiliated instructors and dive into advanced content not typically found in the high school curriculum. Students may rank up to three courses in their application and enroll in one if admitted, with Introduction to Data Science among the offerings. The data science course introduces students to computer algorithms and models, using real datasets to answer real-world questions, with hands-on R programming exercises. Classes are small, synchronous, and discussion-based, connecting students with a global cohort of peers.
10. Harvard Pre-College Program: Data Science
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Application deadline: February 11 (regular); January 7 for priority financial aid
Program dates: Session I: June 21 – July 2 | Session II: July 5 – July 17 | Session III: July 19 – July 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (entering college in 2027 or 2028); ages 16–19 during the program
Harvard's Pre-College Program is a two-week, non-credit residential program where high school students take a single intensive, college-level course taught by Harvard instructors. Students can choose from nearly 30 courses each session, including data science–relevant offerings in statistics, programming, and computational analysis. The program emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical application, immersing students in the pace and expectations of university-level academics. Through structured classes and independent assignments, students build foundational skills in data analysis while experiencing life on a college campus, and each participant receives an instructor evaluation and a Harvard transcript on completion.
11. Columbia University Pre-College Program: Data Science and Machine Learning
Cost: Tuition varies by session length ($80 application fee); need-based scholarships available for eligible NYC Commuter and Online students
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (NYC commuter or online)
Application deadline: Rolling admissions by session; financial aid materials due March 2
Program dates: Multiple summer sessions (1–3 weeks each)
Eligibility: High school students
Columbia's Pre-College Program offers a Data Science and Machine Learning course that introduces high school students to the fundamental principles of data science, its real-world applications, and the career pathways the field opens up. Students work through core concepts in data analysis and machine learning using real datasets, building both the technical foundation and the analytical thinking that university-level data work requires. The course is taught by Columbia-affiliated instructors and emulates an actual college classroom, with an emphasis on discussion and hands-on application. It runs across short summer sessions in either an on-campus NYC commuter format or fully online. Students can choose an introductory course or a more advanced second-level course depending on their experience.
12. Statistics & Data Science Camp for High School Students (Carnegie Mellon University)
Cost: Free
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: June 22 – June 26
Eligibility: High school students (rising juniors and seniors, with sophomores also eligible) from Pittsburgh-area schools with a strong interest in statistics and data science
The Statistics & Data Science Camp at Carnegie Mellon introduces high school students to the fundamentals of data science through structured lessons and hands-on computing activities. Students learn how data is collected, analyzed, and modeled, working with tools like R in guided computer labs to explore real datasets. The program covers key topics such as regression, text analysis, and data-driven decision-making, helping students understand how algorithms and models are applied in practice. Through daily sessions and a field visit to a data-focused company, participants gain a clear view of how data science is used in real-world environments and the career pathways available in the field.
13. Wharton Global Youth Data Science Academy
Cost: $10,599 + $100 application fee; limited need-based scholarships available
Location: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Philadelphia, PA
Application deadline: Priority January 28; final March 18
Program dates: Session 1: June 21 – July 11 | Session 2: July 12 – August 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11 with a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA and a background in math and coding
Wharton's Data Science Academy is a three-week summer program that gives high school students the opportunity to learn from Wharton professors and design their own data science projects. Students explore data science techniques including data visualization, data wrangling, and machine learning, primarily using the R language. These concepts are applied to a final capstone project, which students present to their peers at a Data Science Live showcase at the end of the program. The curriculum mirrors the rigor of upper-level Wharton undergraduate courses while remaining accessible to motivated high school learners, with close support from Penn undergraduate and graduate TAs.
For more information on the Wharton Global Youth Data Science Academy, check out our detailed blog here!
14. Syracuse University's Data Visualization and Analysis Course
Cost: Tuition varies by format (residential or commuter); discounts and scholarships available (confirm current rates on the official site here)
Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Application deadline: May 1
Program dates: One week in July
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (or recent high school graduates)
This noncredit Summer College course focuses on converting raw data into visuals using tools such as Excel and Tableau. Students learn to clean, capture, and explore data, perform basic statistical analysis to generate insights, and gain hands-on experience with Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and more. Participants also gain valuable practice in presenting data to stakeholders in a clear, professional manner. Students who complete the course receive a Certificate of Completion and may request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
15. Quinnipiac University's Data Sciences Lab
Cost: $3,600 (residential, includes room and board); $2,600 (commuter); a $250 deposit reserves a spot, and an early-bird discount is available
Location: Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT
Application deadline: Registration closes June 1
Program dates: Two-week program in July from July 6 to July 17
Eligibility: High school students
Quinnipiac offers a two-week program to introduce students to data science. Students take courses in foundational science theory from Quinnipiac faculty, learning the fundamentals of big data. The program aims to give students an understanding of data science theory and methodology, the skills to analyze datasets, and exposure to career options in the field. At the end of the program, students apply what they've learned by working on a hands-on data science project. The program provides a laptop for use during the program.
Frequently asked questions
What types of data science summer programs are available for high school students?
Options include selective on-campus research institutes (MIT's Research Science Institute, UC Santa Cruz SIP, Boston University RISE), paid research labs (the University of Chicago's DSI Summer Lab), university pre-college courses (Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, Syracuse, Quinnipiac, and Wharton), and flexible virtual programs that offer mentored research, such as Veritas AI, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, and Horizon Academic.
Are there free data science summer programs for high school students?
Yes. MIT's Research Science Institute, Florida State University's Young Scholars Program, and Carnegie Mellon's Statistics & Data Science Camp are all free, and the University of Chicago's DSI Summer Lab is free and pays a $5,600 stipend. Paid programs like Veritas AI, Lumiere, and the Wharton Global Youth Data Science Academy offer financial aid or scholarships for eligible students.
Which programs are best for students interested in research?
For hands-on lab research, MIT's RSI, UChicago's DSI Summer Lab, UC Santa Cruz SIP, and Boston University RISE place students directly into active research settings. For 1-on-1 mentored research that culminates in an independent paper, Veritas AI, Lumiere, and Horizon Academic are strong virtual options, with Veritas AI focused specifically on AI and data science projects with publication support.
Do I need prior experience to join a data science summer program?
Not always. Many programs, including UChicago's DSI Summer Lab and UC Santa Cruz SIP, require no prior research experience, though familiarity with a programming language is helpful. Some pre-college courses, such as Stanford's and Wharton's, recommend a background in math, statistics, or coding. Beginner-friendly options like Veritas AI's AI Scholars program are designed to start from the fundamentals.
Are there virtual or online data science summer programs?
Yes. Veritas AI, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, and Horizon Academic are fully virtual, as are Stanford's Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes and Columbia's online course option. These are good choices for students who live outside the host cities or want a more flexible schedule.
When should I apply to data science summer programs?
Most competitive programs have deadlines between December and March. RSI closes in December, UChicago's DSI Summer Lab in January, and Boston University RISE, Harvard, and Wharton's priority round in February, while Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and Wharton's final round fall in March. Virtual programs like Veritas AI, Lumiere, and Horizon accept rolling applications, so students should begin researching in the fall and prioritize the earliest deadlines first.