13 College Programs for High School Students in New York State
College programs can be a useful option if you’re a high school student looking to experience academic study beyond your regular classes. They give you exposure to university-style learning, allowing you to explore subjects in greater depth while developing skills in research, analysis, and independent thinking. Some programs also offer opportunities such as mentorship, collaborative projects, or even college credit, helping you better understand what to expect in higher education.
Why should you attend a program in New York State?
New York State is home to a range of universities and organizations that offer programs across subjects like STEM, the arts, business, and the humanities. Depending on the program, you might attend lectures, contribute to research projects, or take part in discussions and activities that reflect college-level coursework. These opportunities are worth considering, whether you are a local or out-of-state student looking to study in a different academic environment.
To help you navigate the options, we have compiled a list of 13 college programs for high school students in New York State.
If you’re looking for programs in New York State, check out our blog here.
1. NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Remote sessions: June 1 – 25 | In-person lab: July 6 – August 14
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York City residents attending NYC schools
This college program for high school students in New York State introduces you to academic STEM research through a structured progression from foundational training to full lab immersion. ARISE opens with remote instruction focused on lab safety, research ethics, scientific writing, and college readiness. You will then move into an NYU research lab, where you will contribute to an active project under faculty and graduate mentorship. You will assist with experiments, collect and analyze data, and engage in ongoing lab discussions across fields such as engineering, chemistry, environmental science, and machine learning. Workshops on communication and professional development will run alongside your research work. The experience culminates in formal presentations at NYU and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
2. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No participation fee; stipend is available.
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Students currently in their junior year of high school (11th grade) who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program places you directly into a university research lab, where you will join a faculty mentor’s team to work on science, mathematics, or engineering research. Rather than observing from the sidelines, you will assume responsibility for a defined project within an active research group. Your work may involve experimental design, mathematical modeling, or computational analysis, depending on your placement. Weekly faculty lectures and workshops will complement lab hours, helping you understand how professional researchers frame questions and interpret findings. When the program ends, you will submit a written abstract and research poster summarizing your results and present your work at the closing symposium.
3. NYU Tisch Future Artists
Location: New York University campus, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: January 31 – May 9
Application deadline: November 10
Eligibility: High school students who are currently enrolled in grades 9 – 11
NYU Tisch Future Artists brings high school students onto the campus for a semester of intensive, university-level arts training. Conducted on Saturdays, the program allows you to choose from arts tracks, ranging from filmmaking and dramatic writing to dance, game design, and recorded music, and learn directly from Tisch faculty. The coursework mirrors undergraduate rigor, with full-day workshops devoted to technique, creative development, and collaborative critique. If you select the filmmaking track, for example, you will develop storytelling skills through hands-on production exercises that move from concept to screen. This college program for high school students in New York State emphasizes artistic voice and disciplined practice, and by the end of the semester, you will leave with refined work and a broader understanding of the arts.
4. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn (NYC), NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – August 7 (ieSoSc I) | July 13 – August 7 (ieSoSc II)
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 9th to graduating 11th-grade students who are at least 15 years of age and are residents of NYC
This free college program for high school students in New York State blends engineering fundamentals with entrepreneurial thinking in the context of urban innovation. You will begin by learning technical skills such as coding, microcontrollers, circuit design, and sensor integration, all framed around how cities use data and connected devices. Alongside tech-focused instruction, sessions will focus on topics such as product development, branding, intellectual property, and economic feasibility. Midway through the program, you will shift into team-based prototyping, working with a small group to design a device or application that addresses a real urban challenge. Each team receives resources to build and test a functional concept. You will also attend communication workshops to build pitching and presentation skills. The experience culminates in a public showcase of your prototype before engineers and community stakeholders.
5. New York University’s Pre-College Program
Location: Online or at NYU, New York, NY
Cost: $50 application fee + tuition: $700 – $16,016, depending on the number of credits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer: July 1 – August 12 | Fall: September 2 – December 11 | Spring: January 20 – May 5
Application deadline: Summer: June 15 | Fall: August 15 | Spring: January 5
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th grade high school students for the summer sessions | Current 11th or 12th grade students in the fall or spring semesters. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
NYU Precollege allows you to enroll in actual undergraduate courses while still in high school. You can select from disciplines across STEM, business, the humanities, the arts, and the social sciences, and attend classes taught by NYU faculty alongside college students. Assignments, exams, and projects are part of the experience to help you follow standard university expectations and get a realistic preview of academic rigor. Beyond coursework, you will attend College 101 sessions that address admissions strategy, financial aid, and academic planning. Whether you commute or live on campus, you will gain access to NYU’s libraries, tutoring services, and student life resources. This college program for high school students in New York State allows you to earn credit while experiencing the pace and independence of university study.
6. NYU’s High School Law Institute
Location: NYU's Washington Square Park campus, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Saturdays throughout the Fall and Spring semesters
Application deadline: August 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students entering, or currently enrolled in grades 9 – 12 who live within commutable distance to NYU's Washington Square Park campus in NYC's West Village
The High School Law Institute introduces you to the structure and reasoning of the U.S. legal system through discussion-driven Saturday classes on the NYU campus. The curriculum centers on constitutional law, criminal law, and speech and debate, with lessons built around real cases and contemporary policy debates. Instructors, who will be current law and undergraduate students, will guide you through structured argumentation and close reading of legal texts. Written assignments will reinforce evidence-based reasoning and analytical clarity. Over the academic year, you will learn how legal frameworks shape civic life and public policy.
7. Columbia High School Law Institute
Location: Columbia Law School campus, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Saturdays throughout the academic year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Columbia’s High School Law Institute (HSLI) is an opportunity for high schoolers to follow a multi-year legal curriculum delivered through Saturday sessions on the university campus. Your first year at HSLI will focus on constitutional and criminal law, grounding you in foundational doctrines and case analysis. In later stages, you may progress to moot court or specialized seminars exploring topics such as wrongful convictions, criminal procedure, or international human rights. Classes are led by Columbia Law students using advanced curricula modeled on first-year law coursework. Sessions will combine lecture segments with case discussions, classroom simulations, and short written assignments.
8. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Location: The Rockefeller University, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; need-based stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application deadline: January 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are 16+ at program start
In this college program for high school students in New York State, you will join a small research team for an intensive laboratory experience in biomedical science. After an initial training period focused on lab techniques and safety, you will collaborate with scientific trainees to work on a shared research question in STEM. Your tea will operate like a professional lab, with defined roles, regular data analysis, and group discussions about next steps. Elective sessions and guest lectures will help broaden your understanding of research careers and scientific ethics. At the program’s conclusion, you will synthesize your findings into a formal poster to be presented at the closing symposium.
9. NYU’s Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS)
Location: NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in 10th or 11th grade who are residents of New York City or specific regions in New Jersey and Nassau County
CS4CS is a free program offered by NYU that introduces you to the technical and human dimensions of cybersecurity through applied, challenge-based learning. Over three weeks, you will explore topics like ethical hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, and data privacy while completing hands-on security exercises. Capture-the-Flag competitions will simulate real-world cyber threats, requiring you to identify vulnerabilities and defend systems. Sessions also address phishing, identity theft, and social engineering, highlighting how human behavior intersects with digital risk. A distinctive improv-based component led by the Irondale Ensemble Project will help you build communication and public speaking skills.
10. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipends may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Winter/Spring training + 7–10 weeks of summer research
Application deadline: Applications open in October
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in New York City and enrolled in partner programs; preference is given to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.
BRAINYAC places you in a Columbia neuroscience laboratory, where you will work directly with a scientist mentor on an ongoing research project. Training sessions at the outset will introduce lab safety, experimental design, and research ethics, preparing you for hands-on participation. In the summer, you will conduct experiments, analyze data, and attend lab meetings that mirror professional research environments. Cohort workshops emphasize scientific writing and communication, connecting you with peers who share an interest in brain science. This college program for high school students in New York State concludes with presentations that showcase your findings and growth as a developing researcher.
11. Weill Cornell Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship
Location: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 6- or 10-week program from June 1 to August 7
Application deadline: January 5
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students
This internship places you within a pediatric division aligned with your academic interests, offering structured exposure to child health research and clinical practice. Under faculty mentorship, you will review scientific literature, assist with data collection, or observe clinical workflows during patient rounds. Some placements emphasize policy advocacy or patient education, illustrating how research extends beyond the lab into community impact. Regular oversight will ensure that your responsibilities are clearly defined. Over several weeks, you will gain insight into how pediatric research, clinical care, and public health initiatives intersect.
12. NYU’s AI+Art Summer High School Program
Location: NYU's Brooklyn campus, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,145 + $50 non-refundable application fee; scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Application deadline: May 31 (rolling)
Eligibility: High school students who will be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in the Fall
NYU’s AI+Art allows you to explore how artificial intelligence can function as a creative collaborator rather than just a technical tool. Across two weeks, you will study how generative models operate and examine their applications in visual art, music, and animation. Discussions will address not only technical mechanics but also the ethical and social implications of AI-driven creativity. You will attend hands-on sessions where you will experiment with AI tools, adapt simple algorithms, and build interactive, creative systems. In the final phase, you will develop an original project that integrates AI into your artistic process. The program concludes with an exhibition-style presentation of work co-created with intelligent systems.
13. NYU’s IDEA Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York
Cost: Varies based on partnership package
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current 9th graders to graduating 12th graders, ages 15 and up
The IDEA program is designed to help you examine how artificial intelligence can drive practical innovation. You begin by studying foundational AI principles and then analyze case studies that reveal gaps in existing products and services. Sessions focus on how emerging technologies can improve public service sectors, balancing technical feasibility with social impact. As the program progresses, you will transition from ideation to structured team-based project development. Entrepreneurial frameworks such as branding, implementation planning, and market positioning shape how you refine your concept. College visits and academic exposure further contextualize how AI research connects with higher education and future study.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we have had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
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