15 Free Programs for High School Students in Houston, Texas
Structured programs can be a strong option if you want to explore interests beyond the classroom in a guided and meaningful way. Many of these opportunities include projects, research experiences, and mentorship that help you build technical, analytical, and communication skills. Some programs are fully free or offer full financial aid, making them accessible and allowing you to focus on learning without any financial burden.
Why should you attend a program in Houston, Texas?
Houston has a wide range of universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and research organizations that offer free programs for high school students. Depending on the opportunity, you might participate in laboratory research, data analysis, engineering design, leadership initiatives, or interdisciplinary projects. These programs are open to both local and out-of-city students who want to engage with Houston’s academic and research community.
We have narrowed the list to 15 free programs for high school students in Houston, Texas.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. High School Emerging Researcher Experience @ Houston Methodist
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, with a minimum 3.5 GPA
This summer research program is designed to introduce high schoolers to translational and biomedical research. You will work alongside undergraduate research interns at the Houston Methodist Hospital and join a mentor from Houston Methodist’s faculty to contribute to a research project. Over the course of the program, you will learn about lab tools and techniques, research methods, and problem-solving. You will attend seminars that cover current topics in medical research and healthcare innovation. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will present a poster showcasing your research findings.
2. Veritas AI Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10-week cohorts multiple times each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
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. Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program @ UT MD Anderson
Location: University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 stipend (for 10 weeks) | $6,480 (for nine weeks)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum of six students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application deadline: Typically, January
Eligibility: Texas high school seniors, ages 18 and up
This is a paid opportunity for high school seniors interested in research and biomedical sciences. As a participant, you will work on a biomedical research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Over the course of nine or 10 weeks, you will gain exposure to the full scientific investigation process. You will spend time in the lab, engaging in activities designed to help you learn about the daily lives of biomedical researchers. You will also attend seminars on various research topics and participate in activities such as abstract and poster preparation and elevator speech competitions. At the end of the program, you will present your findings.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation’s Breakthrough Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: None. The program is fully funded!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year; spring, summer, winter, and fall sessions available
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement and financial hardship
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
5. MD Anderson Cancer Center’s UPWARDS Summer Program: High School Track
Location: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students/year
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer; dates not specified
Application deadline: January 14; applications open on November 17.
Eligibility: High school current juniors/rising seniors from underserved backgrounds who will be 18 or older during the program
The UPWARDS Summer Program is designed for high schoolers seeking hands-on research experience within labs. You will work closely with a faculty member within their lab, contributing to biomedical and cancer research. While applying, you can indicate your preference for an area or topic within cancer research that you want to explore. Along with lab work, you will complete coursework, receive training, and get some support for college and career planning. Additionally, you will attend career development events, seminars, and scientific lectures. The program will conclude with a poster session, where you will share your work with peers and faculty.
6. University of Houston MohanLab Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Houston MohanLab, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
This is a summer research opportunity for rising high school seniors looking for early exposure to lab-based research. You will begin with one to two weeks of training to learn about key lab techniques and research practices. Then, you will contribute to bench research under the close mentorship of a scientist or graduate student. You will work on ongoing research projects in areas such as big data analytics, biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, and neuroscience. Depending on the project's scope and outcomes, you may contribute to research publications. At the end of the program, you will deliver an oral presentation discussing your research experience.
7. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
Location: Virtual components + residential experience at NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year.
Dates: Virtual course: October 6 – March 8 + Virtual Moonshot: June 1 – 5 or June 8 – 12 + Residential experience: July
Application deadline: September 27
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens and residents of Texas
HAS is a free year-long STEM experience focused on space exploration, engineering, and aerospace science. The program begins with a virtual learning phase during the academic year, and the highest-performing participants here earn an invitation to an all-expenses-paid, in-person residential experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. If selected for the residential experience, you will participate in team-based engineering and design challenges related to NASA’s Moon to Mars and Artemis missions. Through close collaboration with NASA scientists and engineers, you will learn about space science and engineering, and use what you learned throughout the year in challenges focused on coding, computer-aided design, and problem-solving.
8. University of Houston’s TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: None; opportunity to earn a $1,000 scholarship is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~55 students/year
Dates: June 8 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are planning to attend the University of Houston
The TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy is a nine-week program offering rigorous coursework in calculus, chemistry, and college prep. You will attend classes, lectures, and small-group review sessions designed to help you dive into mathematical concepts and develop strong study habits. Upon completion of the program and final exam, you will also earn college credit for Calculus I. Beyond academics, the program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and self-management, and offers support through peer mentorship, tutoring sessions, and workshops.
9. Rice STEM Academy Sustainable Futures Academy
Location: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: June 7
Eligibility: High school students entering 10th or 11th grade; the primary focus is on high school girls, but high school boys and non-binary students are also eligible.
The Sustainable Futures Academy is a free, one-week summer program designed to introduce high school students to scientific and engineering principles through a sustainability lens. Throughout the week, you will engage in labs, engineering challenges, and faculty-led discussions with Rice University researchers and graduate students. The curriculum focuses on sustainability-focused problem-solving, encouraging you to think critically about the environmental impact and design trade-offs. You will explore these concepts through activities such as designing roller coasters, building and testing engineering landing capsules, using Micro:bits and TI-Nspire, and working with TI-Nspire Rovers.
10. University of Houston Computational Biomedicine Lab Summer Internship
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 6 – 12 weeks in June – September
Application deadline: Rolling; applications are accepted via email.
Eligibility: High school students with basic coding experience
As an intern at the University of Houston Computational Biomedicine Lab, you will learn how machine learning and artificial intelligence can help with real-world healthcare and societal challenges. You will join research projects in areas like AI accountability, biomedical computation, and health analytics. In the process, you will gain experience forming hypotheses, designing experiments, and coding in Python while collaborating with graduate researchers in a lab setting. The program also offers insights into computational research and AI models within the context of healthcare innovation.
11. Rice University’s Young Scholars Invent
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: None (the program has a designated funding source)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 15 – 16
Application deadline: April 3
Eligibility: 9th to 11th-grade students who live in the Houston area
Young Scholars Invent is a 1.5-day workshop where you will work on real-world challenges to learn about the design process. During the workshop, you will engage in hands-on design work, build and test prototypes, and present your solution to a panel of judges. You will choose your teammates, who will be your peers from other schools, and work with them throughout the program. The program offers exposure to engineering research, scientific communication, and collaborative problem-solving. You can bring a laptop for research and creating presentations.
12. Houston Methodist Hospital’s Caring Teen Volunteer Program
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 26
Application deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Teens
The Caring Teen Volunteer Program is a summer volunteer experience designed to introduce teens to healthcare environments. You will join a clinical support area, an administrative service, or a customer-facing department to assist hospital staff with non-clinical tasks that support patient care and daily operations. While direct observation and shadowing are not part of the experience, the program can offer some firsthand insight into how a major hospital operates. You will also find opportunities to build workplace and service-oriented skills while working alongside professionals.
13. Baylor College of Medicine DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60 students from partner schools
Dates: One week in the summer
Application deadline: Opens in March; exact date varies by school
Eligibility: Rising seniors from partner high schools; school nomination is required to participate.
DocPrep is a free, brief program that provides academic enrichment and college preparation support to students interested in medicine. As a participant, you will learn about medical careers through faculty-led lectures, simulations, and lab activities. A course taught by Rice graduate students will offer insights into healthcare-related communication skills. Medical students will also act as mentors throughout the program. The program offers a broad overview of medical education and provides you with early exposure to healthcare.
14. University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – 5 + June 8 – 12 (tentative)
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in the U.S. or on U.S. armed forces bases or diplomatic posts
This free program, offered by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, is designed for high school students interested in learning about career prospects in mental health. Over the course of two weeks, you will join online sessions to connect with mental health professionals, including neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, licensed social workers, and physician assistants. These professionals will share their experiences in psychology and offer insights into what it takes to build a career in the field. Additionally, you will learn about areas like psychotherapy, community psychiatry, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and neuropsychological testing during the program.
15. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person; sites can vary each year
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camps are two-week programs focused on coding/programming, software/app development, and machine learning. You will explore these disciplines through one of four tracks: data science, machine learning, web development, or app development. Each track covers core tech concepts and allows you to practice what you learn through hands-on project work involving creating an app, programming a chatbot, working with datasets, and developing an online platform. You will learn from licensed educators and connect with women in tech through the camps’ speaker series.