15 Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
As a high schooler, participating in structured programs is a productive way to explore potential majors and careers before college. These programs often combine practical learning with mentorship, helping you build skills while gaining exposure to different fields. From medicine and engineering to computer science and the humanities, you can explore multiple interests in a guided, supportive environment, often through programs run by prestigious institutions.
Why should you attend a program in New Jersey?
New Jersey offers access to strong academic institutions and research-driven organizations, such as Princeton University and Rutgers University, that give you the chance to work on meaningful projects and develop real skills. You’ll get to conduct academic or scientific research, participate in technical workshops and seminars, explore healthcare, policy, or STEM-focused careers, and work in team-based, project-driven environments. These programs can be worth considering, whether you are a local student looking for opportunities nearby or an out-of-state student interested in exploring a new academic environment.
To make your search easier, we’ve selected 15 programs for high school students in New Jersey.
If you’re looking for college programs in New Jersey, check out our blog here.
1. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES)
Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute, New Brunswick, NJ
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Late June – August 25
Application Deadline: November 4 – February 23 (early); March 8 (regular)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (16+) attending school in NJ, NY, PA, or CT; Must be able to commute to New Brunswick and willing to commit to two consecutive summers
Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) is a highly structured, multi-year research program designed to introduce you to cancer research and healthcare careers through hands-on lab experience. As a high school student, you’ll work in a mentor-supervised research lab, gaining exposure to real biomedical research questions and techniques. You’ll participate in seminars that build your understanding of cancer biology while learning how to read and discuss scientific literature. Throughout the program, you’ll also receive professional development support and take part in community engagement activities beyond the summer. At the end of each research period, you’ll present your work through a poster and a short talk at an annual research event.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should have prior AI/Python experience or have completed the AI Scholars program
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. Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology (GSET)
Location: Rutgers University School of Engineering, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~15-25% of nominees admitted; 62-90 scholars
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: New Jersey high school juniors nominated by their high school; Must have strong academic performance and a demonstrated interest in engineering and technology; More details here
The Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology (GSET) is a highly selective residential program for students interested in engineering and technology. During the program, you’ll live on campus at Rutgers and take part in intensive, team-based coursework in areas like robotics and modern physics, alongside electives that span multiple engineering disciplines. A major focus of the experience is a small-group research or design project, where you’ll work closely with a faculty or industry mentor to tackle an open-ended engineering problem and present your findings at a formal research symposium. You’ll also hear from guest speakers, visit industry sites, and participate in enrichment activities that build both technical and life skills.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort; Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a highly selective, fully online research program designed for motivated high school students interested in pursuing independent academic research. As a participant, you will be paired one-on-one with PhD mentors from top universities to develop an original research project in your chosen field. Subject areas span psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. Over the course of the program, you will receive personalized mentorship, structured guidance, and feedback as you work toward a polished research paper. By the end of the program, you will complete an independent research paper that can serve as a strong academic credential.
5. New Jersey Scholars Program (NJSP)
Location: New Jersey Scholars Program, Lawrenceville, NJ
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 39 scholars selected statewide
Dates: June 21 – July 3 (residential) + late June – early August (online)
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: New Jersey rising high school seniors nominated by their high school
The New Jersey Scholars Program is a five-week, tuition-free summer program for academically exceptional rising seniors who want a deep, interdisciplinary intellectual experience. You’ll take part in lectures and small-group seminars that emphasize discussion, close reading, and analytical writing across multiple disciplines, rather than focusing on a single subject area. Scholars complete substantial reading assignments and work closely with faculty mentors to produce a 10-15 page interdisciplinary research paper. The program is ungraded, creating an environment where curiosity, collaboration, and intellectual risk-taking are prioritized over competition. You’ll also develop your creative side by contributing to an arts festival connected to the program’s central theme.
6. Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Late June – August (5-6 weeks, project-dependent)
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: High school students (16+) attending local New Jersey school districts and able to commute daily to campus
The Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a highly selective, full-time summer research opportunity for local New Jersey high school students interested in science or engineering. During the program, you’ll be placed in an active Princeton research lab, where you’ll work closely with faculty and research staff on ongoing projects. Internships are entirely in person and emphasize real lab work rather than classroom instruction. Projects vary each year based on participating faculty, meaning your experience will closely reflect authentic academic research environments. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a written research summary that documents what you’ve learned and contributed.
7. High School Solo Pianist Week
Location: Rider University – Westminster Conservatory of Music, Lawrenceville, NJ
Cost: $1,400
Cohort Size: 15 students
Dates: June 28 – July 3
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders to graduating 12th graders
High School Solo Pianist Week is an intensive, residential workshop designed for serious young pianists who want to deepen their solo performance skills. Over the course of the week, you’ll receive daily private lessons and take part in studio classes covering piano literature, technique, movement, style, and performance practice. The program also addresses the practical side of being a musician, with sessions on memorization, managing performance anxiety, auditioning for music schools, and exploring careers in music. You’ll work closely with Westminster Conservatory artist faculty while learning alongside peers who share your passion for piano. The experience culminates in a final recital, allowing you to perform in a supportive, professional setting.
8. Rutgers Summer Scholars Program
Location: Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: ~$482 – $551 per credit (in-state); ~$1,162 – $1,338 per credit (out-of-state); $162 student fee; Scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – early July (Session I); July 6 – mid-August (Session II)
Application Deadline: February 2 – May 17 (Session I), June 28 (Session II)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (ages 16-18) with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA; Graduating seniors are not eligible
The Rutgers Summer Scholars Program lets you take real college courses for credit while still in high school. You’ll choose from 60+ program-approved courses across a wide range of subjects. Classes follow the same academic standards as Rutgers undergraduate courses, and you’ll earn college grades and official Rutgers – New Brunswick credit. As a Summer Scholar, you’ll share classrooms with Rutgers undergraduates, giving you an authentic preview of college expectations and pace. You can enroll in up to two courses, typically 3 credits each, allowing you to explore interests or get a head start on potential majors.
9. Stevens Pre-College Program – Biology: Genetics & Medicine
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,350
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 11; July 12 – 18
Application Deadline: March 16 (priority); June 1 (final)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Biology: Genetics & Medicine is a one-week residential program that introduces you to modern genetics through hands-on exploration of gene-editing technology. The course centers on CRISPR/Cas9, a powerful tool that is reshaping medicine by enabling scientists to edit DNA and study genetic disease. You’ll learn how CRISPR works, apply it by editing a gene in E. coli, and discuss real-world medical applications such as cancer treatment and inherited disorders. The program blends lab work with discussions on bioethics, helping you think critically about how genetic technologies should be used. Additional modules may include bioinformatics for designing target DNA sequences, modeling CRISPR systems, and virtual reality tools for gene editing concepts.
10. Artificial Intelligence & Wireless Communications Summer Camp
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $2,200 + $40 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling (early application encouraged)
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in AI, wireless communications, science, math, or engineering
The TCNJ Artificial Intelligence & Wireless Communications Summer Camp is a one-week residential program that introduces you to core ideas behind modern AI and wireless technologies through hands-on learning. Led by Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty, the camp blends short, focused lectures with practical exercises where you’ll implement concepts, often using Python, right after learning them. You’ll explore topics like machine learning and wireless systems while working in small groups, with frequent faculty guidance and support. Outside of lab time, the program includes structured evening activities and supervised residential life, giving you a realistic and supportive taste of college. Your tuition also includes access to engineering lab kits you can continue using after the program ends.
11. Stevens Pre-College Program: Business Explorer
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,350
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 11; July 12 – 18
Application Deadline: March 16 (priority); June 1 (final)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Business Explorer is a one-week residential program that introduces you to core business disciplines through real-world cases and hands-on learning. You’ll learn directly from Stevens School of Business faculty while exploring topics such as marketing, finance, management, ethics, economics, and entrepreneurship. A key part of the experience is working with real tools used in industry, including sessions in the Hanlon Financial Systems Labs, where you’ll engage with market data and simulations. The curriculum emphasizes how business decisions are made in practice, not just in theory, through integrative exercises and discussion-based learning. The program culminates with a guided visit to a New York City–based company, where you’ll meet professionals and get a firsthand look at corporate culture.
12. CCM High School & Dual Enrollment
Location: County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ
Cost: Varies by course
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Late May – August (multiple summer sessions available)
Application Deadline: Rolling (session-based deadlines)
Eligibility: High school students interested in taking college-level courses, including dual enrollment and visiting students
CCM’s High School and Dual Enrollment options allow you to take real college courses while still in high school, either during the summer or the academic year. You can choose from a wide range of courses across STEM, humanities, social sciences, and career-focused fields, with classes offered in person, online, or in hybrid formats. Depending on the session length, courses run from five to ten weeks, giving you flexibility to fit college coursework into your schedule. You’ll learn alongside college students and be taught by CCM faculty, experiencing the expectations and structure of a community college classroom. Credits you earn may be transferable to four-year institutions, depending on the receiving college’s policies.
13. Montclair State University’s Pre-College Summer: Pre-Medical Professions
Location: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $1,900
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – July 18; July 26 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not specified; Opens November 25
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
The Pre-Medical Professions program is a one-week residential experience designed to introduce you to core medical concepts through hands-on, technology-driven learning. During the program, you’ll study human anatomy and physiology using the Anatomage Table, a 3D anatomy visualization system used by medical schools and healthcare institutions. You’ll work in groups to explore all 11 human organ systems, applying foundational anatomical terminology as you virtually dissect the human body layer by layer. The week also includes a gamified academic competition using the Anatomage Table, giving you a chance to test your knowledge in a collaborative, low-pressure setting. Beyond the classroom, you’ll visit a local healthcare facility and interact with medical professionals to better understand real-world medical environments.
14. Early College Summer
Location: Fairleigh Dickinson University – Metropolitan, Teaneck, NJ, and Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham, Madison, NJ (online options available)
Cost: $799 – $1,065 per course
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Late June – early August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
Early College Summer at Fairleigh Dickinson University allows you to earn real college credit while exploring academic interests in a flexible summer format. You can choose from a wide range of credit-bearing courses across STEM, social sciences, business, arts, and humanities, with options offered online, remote, and in person. Depending on the course, you’ll earn 3-4 college credits, and you can take multiple classes to earn up to 12 credits in one summer. Classes are taught by FDU faculty and mirror the rigor and structure of undergraduate coursework, giving you a realistic preview of college academics. You’ll learn alongside other motivated high school students in small classes, with opportunities to engage in discussion, projects, and applied learning.
15. Montclair State University’s Pre-College Summer: AI and Engineering Summer Lab
Location: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $1,900
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 18 (session I); July 26 – August 1 (session II)
Application Deadline: Not specified; Opens November 25
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
The AI and Engineering Summer Lab, a one-week summer lab, gives you a hands-on introduction to AI and engineering in a college setting. Throughout the program, you’ll learn core coding concepts using Python or C while working directly with tools like Raspberry Pi boards, microcontrollers, cameras, and sensors. Instead of focusing only on theory, you’ll explore how AI systems take in information, learn from data, and respond to real-world inputs. You’ll collaborate with other students to design and build an AI-powered project, putting what you’ve learned into practice through a real engineering challenge. At the end of the week, you’ll present your final prototype to classmates and parents, gaining experience explaining technical ideas clearly and confidently.
Image source - Lumiere Education