15 Free Physics Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in exploring physics, a structured program can be a great way to learn beyond the classroom. Across the country and virtually, universities, laboratories, and research centers offer free physics programs for high school students, opening the door to real-world scientific work. Some programs focus on nuclear physics or astrophysics, while others introduce you to areas like quantum computing or plasma research. You might work independently on a research paper, collaborate with peers in a lab, or attend seminars led by leading scientists. These experiences can give you a clearer sense of whether physics is something you’d like to pursue in college or as a career.
We’ve compiled 15 free physics programs for high school students, allowing you to explore which ones align most closely with your interests.
15 Free Physics Programs for High School Students
1. Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, East Lansing, MI
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24–36 students are accepted
Dates: July 20 – 25
Application Deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: Current high school students
Physics Applications in the Nuclear Field (PAN) is a free program for high school students that dives into the world of physics, exploring everything from the smallest particles to the vast universe. It also provides a glimpse into the cutting-edge research happening at one of the world’s top isotope laboratories. You’ll take part in lectures and experiments designed to introduce you to nuclear science, astrophysics, and cosmology. Faculty and researchers will guide you through hands-on nuclear physics experiments, explaining how their work contributes to larger scientific questions.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program – Physics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Gifted high school students interested in undergraduate-level research
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.
3. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students each summer
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors with exceptional academic ability. Check here for more detailed eligibility requirements
RSI kicks off with a week of seminars covering a range of topics, including physics, chemistry, math, engineering, and more. Next, you'll join a research lab, where you'll dive into academic texts, build models, and work on a project with guidance from a mentor. You’ll write a scientific paper, present your findings in a conference-style setting, and get feedback from your peers and faculty. Throughout the program, you’ll attend lectures by leading scientists and researchers, ranging from Nobel laureates to technology innovators.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program — Physics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Academically strong high school students
In the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, you’ll complete a 12-week project under the guidance of a university researcher. Your schedule includes nine mentoring sessions, two writing coaching sessions, and a set of workshops on research methods. Physics is one of many tracks offered, and you can choose a topic like astrophysics or design one in collaboration with your mentor. The process is structured: you begin by exploring the field, refine a research question, write your paper with feedback, and present it at a symposium. By the end, you’ll have produced a college-level paper and gained experience in independent academic research.
5. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) High School Summer Internship
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free; a stipend will be provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited positions available
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 years old
This free physics program for high school students places you alongside researchers in plasma physics and fusion energy at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. You’ll work on a defined project (experimental, computational, or engineering-based) and learn to contribute to ongoing investigations. Depending on your background, you may apply coding, computational modeling, or CAD tools to your assigned work. The program enables you to witness firsthand how plasma research is conducted and what it takes to bring fusion energy closer to reality.
6. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No program costs; however, a $25 application fee applies. A stipend of $750 will be provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students are accepted
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Highly qualified high school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University places you in a research-intensive environment for seven weeks. You’ll join a small cohort and work directly with faculty across disciplines like physics, chemistry, cancer biology, or engineering. The program combines laboratory research with seminars and discussions that challenge you to connect ideas across fields. Additionally, you'll participate in field trips and group activities, providing a well-rounded experience that combines scientific training with an insight into academic life.
7. NASA Internship Programs
Location: NASA centers nationwide
Stipend: Internships may be paid or unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies depending on assignment
Dates: Cohorts throughout the year in Spring, Summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who are at least 16 years old at the time of applying, with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and are U.S. citizens
NASA offers internship opportunities that allow you to contribute to active projects in science, engineering, computing, and other fields. Mentors will guide you as you develop technical skills and apply them to real-world challenges tied to aeronautics and space exploration. Depending on your placement, you might analyze data, build models, or assist with research that supports ongoing missions. Along the way, you’ll practice career readiness skills like collaboration, problem solving, and scientific communication.
8. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Stipend: Stipends may be awarded to students experiencing financial hardship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students are accepted
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The SSRP brings you into a team-based setting where you spend seven weeks conducting mentored research at Rockefeller University. From the start, you are assigned to a small group of peers and scientific trainees who guide your work in a lab setting. Early weeks focus on mastering research techniques and identifying a question to pursue. Throughout the program, you’ll gather data, examine your findings, and put together a poster to present at a symposium. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage in electives, guest lectures, and workshops.
9. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual or at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $25 application fee (need-based fee waivers available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 for virtual or computer science labs, and at least 16 for wet labs
ASSIP is an eight-week internship where you work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University or partner institutions. Research areas span a wide range, from exoplanet discovery and astrophysics to computational modeling and machine learning. You’ll learn to operate advanced equipment, design experiments, and write about your results in a professional scientific style. Beyond the lab, forums, and meetings, you will be introduced to role models in STEM fields and potential career pathways.
10. Experimental Physics Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Students attending a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school may be able to attend free of charge with a scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 5 – 26
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders
At UPenn’s Experimental Physics Research Academy, you study physics topics such as mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum dynamics, and astrophysics in a university setting. This free physics program for high school students emphasizes understanding concepts through experiments, projects, and philosophical discussions rather than memorizing formulas. You’ll take part in sessions on experimental design, ethics in science, and pathways for continuing your education. Also, weekly research talks by Penn faculty will introduce you to active areas of investigation and give you the chance to ask questions about real work happening in the field.
11. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) — Quantum Software
Location: Virtual
Cost: Students from families earning less than $150,000 can attend for free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 7 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors living and attending high school in the U.S.
The Beaver Works Summer Institute’s Quantum Software track focuses on quantum computing, giving you the chance to learn how to program and simulate quantum algorithms. You’ll begin with an online prerequisite course that covers mathematics and classical computing concepts, and then move into four weeks of intensive work. Each week introduces new material: qubits and superposition, multi-qubit gates, quantum error correction, and communication protocols. The program culminates in a team project where you implement a quantum algorithm from research literature and present it for review.
12. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: Universities and labs across the U.S.
Stipend: Internships are paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies depending on assignment
Dates: 6 to 10 weeks in May – August
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old
AEOP internships offer free physics programs for high school students that place you in research laboratories sponsored by the U.S. Army or in affiliated university labs. You’ll work full-time on projects where you apply classroom knowledge to experimental setups, data analysis, or computational modeling. Mentorship is built into the structure, giving you direct access to scientists and engineers who can guide your work and answer questions about the field. You’ll also gain exposure to advanced equipment, lab culture, and the pace of professional research.
13. Applied Research In Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited spaces available
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who live and attend school in NYC
ARISE at NYU begins with four weeks of training in lab safety, research skills, and academic writing, then shifts into six weeks of hands-on projects. You’ll gain significant lab experience while assisting faculty and graduate students in ongoing research across multiple disciplines. The program develops both technical skills and soft skills, including public speaking, teamwork, and presenting results at professional-style symposia. By the conclusion, you’ll not only showcase your findings but also gain connections through mentorship and networking.
14. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition fees are charged, but the residential option costs $2,360.25. A stipend will be awarded.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
At Stony Brook University, the Simons program places you in an active research group where you assume responsibility for part of a scientific project. You work closely with a faculty mentor, develop laboratory techniques, and learn how to frame your results in professional formats. Weekly talks, workshops, and tours expand your understanding of the broader scientific landscape. By the conclusion, you produce both a written abstract and a research poster to present at a closing symposium.
15. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: Typically in early May
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders of any gender. Preference will be given to rising seniors and students from under-resourced backgrounds
SPINWIP is an online program that introduces you to quantum physics, astrophysics, and cosmology through lectures and collaborative projects. You’ll learn Python coding from the ground up and then use those skills in physics-based simulations and group assignments. Mentorship is a central part of the experience, with Stanford undergraduates guiding small teams and professors giving talks on their research. The program also weaves in sessions on college preparation and career pathways in physics.
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 had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - Princeton University logo