15 Free Tech Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in technology, a structured summer program can help you explore the field beyond classroom learning. These programs introduce you to areas such as coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analysis while helping you build technical and analytical skills. Many of these opportunities are free or offer full financial aid, making them accessible to a wider range of students.
What are the benefits of a tech program?
Through structured projects and coursework offered by tech programs, you may learn programming languages such as Python, study machine learning concepts, analyze technical datasets, or develop software applications. Many are hosted by universities, research institutions, or technology organizations that provide access to instructors and structured coursework. Participating in a program like this can also help you identify which areas of technology you may want to pursue in college.
To help you with your search, here is our curated list of 15 free tech summer programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~5% applicants (30 students)/year
Dates: June 14 – July 31, with an online orientation on May 29, June 10, and June 11 (tentative; subject to change)
Application deadline: Priority deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, or Wisconsin
This program is designed for rising 10th–12th graders interested in gaining hands-on research experience in science, engineering, and technology. You will spend six weeks working on the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign campus in faculty-led research groups focused on artificial intelligence, quantum science, computer science, bioengineering, electrical engineering, materials science, and physics. Under the guidance of faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, you will contribute to ongoing research projects while gaining experience in lab, computational, and analytical techniques used in university research settings. Alongside research, you will participate in weekly seminars that build college and career-ready skills, including scientific communication, research poster presentations, and understanding the college application process. The program concludes with a research poster symposium where you will present your work to the university community.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 – 15-week cohorts run several times each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students 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 & 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. NYU’s Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors from NYC and specific New Jersey and Nassau
CountiesCS4CS is a tuition-free, three-week summer program conducted at NYU Tandon School of Engineering that introduces high school students to core computer science and cybersecurity concepts. During the program, you will take part in hands-on technical work, including Capture The Flag competitions, security-focused scripting, and real-world cybersecurity challenges. The coursework covers applied topics such as digital forensics, cryptography, steganography, and ethical (“white-hat”) hacking, all taught by NYU faculty and graduate students. You will also conduct a small research project and gain experience communicating technical ideas, with opportunities to present work at academic conferences. The program emphasizes mentorship and collaboration, helping you learn how cybersecurity problems are approached in academic and professional environments.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Tech Track
Location: Virtual!
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions, including summer, spring, fall, and winter cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 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 tech, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend of $4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~300 total placements in 38+ labs
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 1; applications open on August 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as graduating seniors who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens; labs may make exceptions or have additional requirements.
SEAP is an eight-week paid summer research internship that places high schoolers in DoN laboratories across the U.S. You will work directly in a professional research environment, contributing to ongoing science and engineering projects under the mentorship of Navy scientists and engineers. Depending on your placement, you may engage in technology-related research areas such as software development, data analysis, robotics, cybersecurity, systems engineering, ocean engineering, or applied physics. Throughout the program, you will gain professional exposure through lab meetings, technical briefings, seminars, networking events, facility tours, and other professional development activities that reflect how large government research labs operate. In the process, you will also gain exposure to how STEM research supports national defense and applied technology development.
6. NIST Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST campuses in Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10.4%; around 35 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0/4.0; applicants must live within a 50-mile radius of their host campus.SHIP is a seven-week research internship that places high school students in the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories to work alongside NIST scientists and engineers on individual research projects. You will join one of several laboratories, with options in technology including the Information Technology Laboratory, Communications Technology Laboratory, Engineering Laboratory, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Material Measurement Laboratory, or the NIST Center for Neutron Research. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to projects focused on computer security, cryptography, machine learning, wireless communications, advanced manufacturing technologies, semiconductor materials, nanotechnology, or quantum-based measurement technologies. Throughout the internship, you will apply skills in programming, data analysis, electronics, physics, or chemistry while participating in ongoing research.
7. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program @ NYU
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, with a limited number of spots
Dates: June 1 – August 14 + an orientation on May 29
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: NYC high school students entering their junior or senior year in the upcoming school year
ARISE is a tuition-free, 10-week summer research program at NYU designed for NYC high school students. You will begin with four weeks of remote workshops focused on research fundamentals, lab safety, and college-level writing skills, followed by six weeks of in-person research in NYU labs. Placements are typically available in a wide range of technology and engineering-focused labs, including machine learning, robotics, cybersecurity, biomedical engineering, urban systems, data science, and materials science, where you assist faculty and graduate researchers with ongoing projects. Throughout the program, you will gain hands-on lab experience, build research and professional communication skills, and work closely with faculty mentors. The program culminates in formal research presentations, including a colloquium at NYU and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History. You will also receive college application support and a $1,000 stipend funded by the Pinkerton Foundation.
8. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Cost/Stipend: No participation fee; stipend available
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and are at least 16 when the program starts
The Simons Summer Research Program is an in-person STEM research program for high school students. It offers you the opportunity to conduct research in various fields, including computer science and engineering. During the program, you will join a Stony Brook University research team and contribute to a project while learning how to use laboratory techniques and tools. You will attend faculty talks to learn about STEM fields and workshops to sharpen your research skills. You will submit and present a research abstract and poster at the end of the program.
9. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL (the program also includes an off-site work schedule)
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend of $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: March 1; application opens on January 13.
Eligibility: Current and graduating high school seniors from Illinois who are U.S. citizens
Fermilab’s PRISM is a four-week summer program that introduces high school students in Illinois to research in physics, engineering, and technology at a national laboratory. You will explore weekly themes such as particle physics, quantum science, artificial intelligence, and data analysis through hands-on lab activities, guided research projects, and expert-led talks. Throughout the program, you will analyze real scientific data, tour Fermilab research facilities, and learn how large-scale experiments are designed and conducted. Mentorship is a central component, with Fermilab researchers supporting you as you navigate scientific problem-solving and professional research environments. The experience culminates in presentations and posters that reflect how research findings are shared in academic and lab settings.
10. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free except for a $25 application fee; stipend of $750 available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and graduating high school seniors, ages 17 and above, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week, fully funded summer research program for high schoolers. You will work one-on-one with university faculty on an original research project in an area of your choice, including tech-focused options such as computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and computational biology. Past projects have focused on topics like GPU performance optimization for AI workloads, radar-based motion classification, and machine learning for biomedical data. In addition to daily lab or research work, you will participate in seminars, discussions, and field trips designed to deepen your understanding of academic research and career pathways. At the end of the program, you will submit a formal research report and receive a stipend upon successful completion.
11. Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) @ MIT
Location: Virtual or in-person at MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for applicants with a family income of less than $200,000; $2,400 otherwise
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Online prerequisites courses: February 2 – June 19; Summer program: July 6 – August 2
Application deadline: March 30; application opens on March 2, and registration for online courses begins in December.
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 9 – 11 who have completed the online prerequisite courses; check course-specific prerequisites here.
BWSI is an intensive, four-week summer program for high school students who are interested in advanced technology and engineering. You will enroll in a focused, project-based course in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, robotics, cybersecurity, quantum software, or microelectronics, depending on your track. Throughout the program, you will work in teams to design, build, and test technical systems, applying concepts from programming, applied mathematics, and engineering. Instruction is supported by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT School of Engineering staff, who will offer you exposure to professional research and engineering practices. At the end of the program, you will present a capstone project demonstrating the work your team developed over the summer.
12. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or in-person in select cities across the world (exact sites TBA)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 31 (tentative; based on previous years)
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy Summer Camps are free, two-week intensives for young women and gender-expansive teens interested in exploring coding and technology. You will join one of four tracks—Web Development, Machine Learning, Mobile App Development, or Data Science—where you will learn programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, SQL, or Swift through hands-on instruction. Throughout the camp, you will build a final project, such as a responsive website, a trained chatbot, iOS-capable mobile apps, or data visualization on a topic of interest. Camps are co-taught by licensed educators with instructional assistants. Additionally, you will learn from women in technology through a speaker series, gaining insight into career pathways and professional experiences in STEM.
13. America On Tech (AOT)’s TECH360: Intro to AI
Location: Mostly virtual, with some in-person sessions in Midtown NYC, NY; Downtown Los Angeles, CA; Downtown Miami, FL; West Midtown Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not Specified
Dates: Various sessions in June and July (exact dates vary by location)
Application deadline: Typically, May
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors currently attending New York City (all boroughs), Los Angeles County, Miami-Dade/ Broward County, or Atlanta high schools and participating in AOT program for the first time; priority is given to students who attend schools that meet the program’s Economic Needs Index, who demonstrate financial need/limited career development or tech education access, and/or are first-generation college students.
AOT’s TECH360: Intro to AI is a summer bootcamp designed for high school students who want a structured introduction to artificial intelligence and its real-world applications. During the program, you will explore how generative and predictive AI models are developed, learn core concepts in data science and machine learning, and engage in discussions on ethical and effective AI use. You will work collaboratively on hands-on activities that mirror how AI tools are designed and evaluated in professional settings. Throughout the experience, mentors and instructors will guide you through both technical concepts and broader questions about how AI is shaping industries and careers. The program concludes with a group capstone project in which you pitch an AI-powered tool to mock clients, with selected teams presenting their work at a Demo Day.
14. The Marillyn A. Hewson Cybersecurity Summer Camp
Location: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – 5 (Camp 1) | June 8 – 12 (Camp 2)
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students in the Tuscaloosa area
The Marillyn A. Hewson Cybersecurity Summer Camp is an in-person learning experience for high school students who are interested in cybersecurity and related STEM fields. During the program, you will explore the fundamentals of cybersecurity and web infrastructure, with the option to pursue an advanced track that introduces more complex technical challenges. You may engage in hands-on activities focused on securing virtual systems and understanding how cyber threats are identified and addressed. The camp is connected to CyberPatriot, a National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association, and offers you the chance to participate in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. The camp also offers insights into pathways into cyber and STEM careers.
15. St. Mary’s University’s Summer Tech Camps
Location: St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 18 students per camp
Dates: One-week summer camps; dates vary by camp.
Application deadline: First-come, first-served registration
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 and above; preference is given to students in underrepresented groups in technology. Some camps give preference to female students.
St. Mary’s University’s Summer Tech Camps are week-long, hands-on programs for high school students that focus on applied learning in computer science and engineering. You will join themed camps centered on topics such as game development, mobile programming and cybersecurity, machine learning for online safety, robotics, Java and web development, engineering with 3D printing, drones and automation, or computational thinking with C, depending on your interests. Throughout the week, you will build a concrete project, such as a computer game, mobile app, trained classification model, programmed robot, functional website, or flyable drone while engaging with St. Mary’s School of Science, Engineering, and Technology faculty. You will also visit technology laboratories across the campus. The program ends with a project showcase, where you will present your work to family and peers.
Image source - NYU Tandon