13 Free Data Science Programs for High School Students
If you are in high school and interested in data science, several programs offer free training in coding, data analysis, and statistics. Universities, research labs, and non-profit organizations organize these programs. You can learn how to work with data, build models, and understand how data is used in fields like healthcare, climate research, and business.
Some programs take place on college campuses, others run online. A few offer stipends or cover all costs, including housing and meals. All of them are free to attend. These programs are designed to give you practical skills, research experience, and a better understanding of how data science works in the real world.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down 13 free data science programs for high school students!
1. Google Summer of Code
Google Summer of Code is an international online program that introduces you to open-source software development. With GSoC, you can work with an open-source organization on a 12+ week programming project under the guidance of mentors. You will work with mentors to set suitable goals for the program, as mentor engagement plays an essential role during the period. You can also pitch your own project idea to work on. You can learn software engineering techniques to enhance your resume and help you in college.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; participants receive a stipend ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, adjusted based on their country's purchasing power parity.
Application Deadline: April 8
Program Dates: January 27 – November 19
Eligibility: Individuals aged 18 and above must be eligible to work in their country of residence during the program.
2. Code Connects Summer Research Program
The Coding School offers the Summer Research Program with Columbia University, designed to teach you skills like coding, data cleaning, visualization, analysis, and more. You can work with experienced faculty and graduates on different projects and as research assistants to professors and PhD scholars. Working on these projects can also help you in your college applications.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,995; need-based scholarships are available for eligible U.S.-based students.
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: July 8 – August 9
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident, high school students (incoming 10th–12th graders), and college freshmen with a strong academic record and interest in research.
3. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (SIP)
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion program is a two-week virtual program. You will get to attend online classes daily except on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday). You will learn coding and work on projects like creative coding and game design.
As you work on various projects, you will also attend different educational sessions by industry professionals. This program can help you build computer science skills and a strong portfolio, helping you in your college application. You will have access to optional events and mentorship opportunities to enhance your understanding of the tech field.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; eligible U.S. students may receive a need-based grant of $300.
Application Deadline: Applications open by mid-January. Early acceptance is due by mid-February. General application deadline in late March.. Click here for more details
Program Dates: 2 weeks, typically in July but may vary depending on the program.
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9 through 11; no prior coding experience required.
4. The Carnegie Mellon Pre-College AI Scholars Program
The Carnegie Mellon pre-college AI program lasts four weeks and takes place on campus. This program allows you to explore artificial intelligence while interacting with faculty, staff, and researchers on coding workshops and research projects.
As an AI Scholar, you will participate in project-based learning, attend lectures on computing and AI, and collaborate on a group project, which you will present at the end of the program. Before the program, you must complete a Python course to prepare.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 21 – July 19
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (students between 11th and 12th grade) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be at least 16 years old by June 21
5. University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab
The Data Science Institute Summer Lab program is an immersive 8-week paid summer research program at the University of Chicago. This program provides you with research experience in data science while you work with mentors from different fields, like computer science, social science, data science, and biomedical research. Through this pairing, you will enhance your skills in research methodologies, practices, and teamwork.
Location: University of Chicago, Hyde Park, IL
Cost: Free; stipend of $5,600
Application Deadline: January 12
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago
6. National High School Research Program – Data Science Track
The National High School Research Program from the Coding School offers technical skills in cutting-edge tech fields, AI, quantum computing, and big data. You will work on foundational concepts in data analysis, statistical modeling, and machine learning.
You will work with mentors from government, industry, and academia through lectures, workshops, and hands-on projects. You will present your project at the TCS Summer Research Symposium, which can be included in your college application.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 13
Program Dates: July 7 – August 8
Eligibility: Incoming 9th–12th graders and college freshmen
7. Collaborative Interactive Data Science Academy – SACS Meharry
The Collaborative Interactive Data Science Academy at Meharry Medical College is a free, weeklong summer program for high school students. Funded by NASA through the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), the program is designed to introduce you to data science, robotics, and immersive technologies like virtual, augmented, and mixed reality.
During the program, you will engage in activities that include programming Sphero Bolt robots to simulate planetary orbits, building and testing rubber-band-powered space rovers, and flying drones. You will also experience the Apollo 11 moon landing through a Meta Quest VR headset, combining original audio and video to provide an immersive learning experience.
Location: SACS Meharry, Nashville, TN
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not specified. Click here
Program Dates: June 16 – June 20
Eligibility: High school students
8. Data Science in Action — Harvard CELEHS
Data Science in Action is a four-week programming and machine learning program hosted by Harvard’s Translational Data Science Center for a Learning Health System (CELEHS). This two-part program begins with self-paced virtual classes introducing Python programming and progresses to hands-on statistical analysis and machine learning projects.
The second part of the program is in-person, focusing on machine learning methods and algorithms, along with their applications across different fields, including biomedicine. During this two-week phase, students will collaborate in teams on programming exercises ranging from beginner coding tasks to image classification. Teaching assistants will offer hands-on programming and technical assistance throughout the in-person camp.
Location: Virtual and in-person at Countway Library, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: Part 1: July 21 – August 1 | Part 2: August 4 – 15
Eligibility: High school students who have completed basic algebra
9. AR Tech-DaSH Program
The AR Tech-DaSH Program, hosted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is a two-week summer day camp designed to immerse rising 10th-grade students in the intersection of health, medicine, and data science. During the first week, you will learn how to use stethoscopes, blood pressure devices, handheld ultrasound tools, and conduct dissections.
You’ll also explore medical imaging technologies like CT scans and learn about the anatomical basis of diseases through clinician-patient simulations. The second week focuses on data science, where you’ll analyze health-related datasets using software like Orange to perform exploratory data analysis, data transformation, data mining, and machine learning.
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 12
Program Dates: June 2 – 13
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students (rising 10th graders) attending school in Washington or Benton counties, Northwest Arkansas
10. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP)
The Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP) is a selective internship where you work on real-world projects using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data engineering. You can choose up to five projects that match your interests, with internships available in ML Workflow, Data Engineering, and AI addressing Real-World Issues. The program is designed for high school students who want hands-on experience with advanced technology tools and concepts.
Location: Various locations; virtual options are also available
Cost: Free; some projects offer stipends.
Application Deadline: Typically in March or April
Program Dates: June - August (~6 to 8 weeks); exact dates vary depending on opportunity
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S.
11. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute – Autonomous Cognitive Assistant (CogWorks)
The Autonomous Cognitive Assistant (CogWorks) course is part of the MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI), a rigorous STEM program for high school students entering their senior year. This four-week course explores machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision to create cognitive assistants. The course is divided into modules focusing on machine learning applications in audio, vision, and language.
Students work in teams to develop cognitive systems that leverage professional cognition services and open-source tools. The program culminates in a final project where teams present their cognitive assistants.
Location: Remote — participation is possible from anywhere in the United States.
Cost: Free; no tuition fees.
Application Deadline: Varies; typically in January. Click here for more information.
Program Dates: Self-paced; typically from February to June. Click here for more information.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year. Completion of the online course is mandatory to participate in the Summer Institute.
12. NASA Internship Program
The NASA Internship Program offers an opportunity to engage directly with NASA missions and projects. Internships are available in various areas such as science, engineering, IT, and business. Your responsibilities may involve data analysis, software development, laboratory experiments, or project management.
You can visit the website to see available positions.
Location: Various NASA centers in the country. There are also options for remote participation, depending on the project.
Cost: Free, may provide a stipend
Application Deadlines:
Fall 2025: May 16
Spring 2026: September 12
Summer 2026: February 27
Fall 2026: May 22
Program Dates: Spring: March–May; Summer: June–August; Fall: September–November.
Eligibility: High school students and recent graduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0
13. Johns Hopkins ASPIRE Program
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) allows you to explore STEM careers through a hands-on, 190-hour internship. If you are a high school junior or senior, you get matched with a mentor at APL who helps guide your work.
You can participate in projects involving data analysis, software development, and lab experiments. You’ll also build technical skills while contributing to APL’s research and development efforts.
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 24 – August 21
Eligibility: High school junior or senior, at least 15 years old by June 1, a U.S. citizen, and have a minimum 2.8 GPA. You must live in specific Maryland counties, certain Virginia counties or cities, or the District of Columbia.