15 Free Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
If you are a high school student willing to learn something new beyond the school curriculum, a free program can be a good opportunity. During these programs, you can engage in your field of interest, learn practical skills, gain experience, and receive mentorship opportunities in new fields. Offered by prestigious organisations, some of these programs are free of cost or offer financial aid, making them accessible to a wider range of students. Whether you’re interested in law, STEM, or even filmmaking, you have a variety of options to discover your interests before college.
Reputable universities and organizations in Massachusetts, such as MIT, Harvard, and the University of Massachusetts, offer free or fully funded programs that provide rigorous academic experiences, research opportunities, and industry exposure. Attending a program in Massachusetts gives you access to world-class faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and a vibrant community. These programs are valuable for both Massachusetts residents and out-of-state students seeking to experience the state’s educational environment and networking opportunities.
To help you find the best fit, we’ve compiled a list of 15 free programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
If you are looking for programs in Massachusetts, check out our blogs here and here.
1. Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Various locations in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school senior or recent high school graduate; MA residents; U.S. work authorization and health clearance required
The Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a highly selective program designed for high school students interested in exploring a career in neuroscience. You will begin with a boot camp where you’ll develop the necessary skills through clinical training, research work, and laboratory work. You’ll work on an ongoing research project under the supervision of an assigned mentor. You’ll attend sessions led by neurologists and neuroscientists to gain insight into the world of neuroscience. Finally, you present your research findings to your peers, family, and the MGH Neurology department.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid is available.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. You are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. You also have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals.
3. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $75 non-refundable application fee (can be waived)
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are 16 years old by the start of the program. You can view additional requirements here
At the Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT, you will join around 100 talented high school students for a rigorous STEM opportunity. You begin with a week of seminars taught by leading faculty and researchers on current research areas in humanities, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering. For the next five weeks, you will conduct an independent research internship project under the guidance of an assigned mentor. You’ll review scientific literature, design experiments, carry out investigations, and finally present the research findings in both a written and oral format. Additionally, there are evening lectures by Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs, and other science leaders to complement your research, along with excursions around Boston to add to the experience.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Fully-funded program
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Vary based on yearly cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school seniors who are typically from low-income families
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers a zero-cost opportunity for high school students to create an independent research paper over 12 weeks. It pairs talented high school students with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here.
5. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $3,600 stipend
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Rising seniors attending high school in Massachusetts within commuting distance to the Broad | B or better in math and science | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or students with work authorization
The Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) is a fairly selective, paid summer program that allows high school students to conduct original research at the Broad Institute. You begin by being matched with a Broad scientist to work on ongoing projects in the field of cancer biology, computational biology, chemical biology, and infectious diseases. Apart from lab-based research, you will train in making scientific posters and delivering conference-style presentations. You’ll attend seminars by leading scientists, participate in social activities, and attend a college fair. At the culminating Research Symposium, you’ll present your findings to the scientific community at Broad.
6. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 1 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Massachusetts residents age 16+; must live in Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, or Quincy
The Tufts Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS) program is a highly competitive, six-week program for high school students to engage in biomedical engineering research. You’ll join a Tufts research lab, investigate topics like cells, tissues, and organs, learn core research techniques, and experimental design. You’ll develop hypotheses and conduct experiments under the guidance of faculty and graduate mentors, and present your findings to the community. You can apply to state and national science competitions, such as the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair, with the help of your TUBERS research project.
7. Judicial Youth Corps Program
Location: Courthouses in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: 6 weeks between July – August
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines, typically April
Eligibility: High school students who are residents of Boston or attend high schools in Worcester or Springfield | Specific requirements vary by location
The Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program is a fairly selective, six-week internship and educational program that introduces high school students to the Massachusetts court system. You’ll work alongside judges, clerks, probation officers, and attorneys in a courthouse in Boston, Springfield, or Worcester, based on your placement. You will participate in mock trials and group discussions to increase your understanding of the law. Paid educational sessions are scheduled weekly with a focus on legal concepts and civic responsibility. A key part of the program is the solid mentorship support, with court personnel volunteering their time to guide you through the program.
8. Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Massachusetts residents entering 12th grade and living within commuting distance of Northeastern University | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) at Northeastern University is a highly selective five-week program that provides rising high school seniors from Massachusetts the chance to engage in STEM research. Here, you work in university research labs within the Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences. You’ll join a faculty-led project in areas including robotics, biotechnology, cancer therapies, and materials science. Apart from research, you will be introduced to the different branches of engineering through a seminar series. The program includes college and career counseling sessions to help you with both academic and industry opportunities, and field trips to companies like Biogen, Akamai, or government sites such as the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center.
9. Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program
Location: Multiple sites across Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Tuesday/Thursday after school from January – May
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions and enrollment
Eligibility: Teens ages 13–19
The Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program offers high school students the opportunity to practice filmmaking skills through hands-on projects. The program is structured to highlight all stages of the production process, including pre-production work, lights and camera work, and post-production, to help you get accustomed to the entire filmmaking cycle and thus build a portfolio of projects. You might create social media videos, direct music videos, script documentaries, or even film scenes tied to real productions. You will meet Hollywood professionals to make way for future mentorship and networking opportunities. Career workshops and film-set etiquette sessions give you the necessary professional skills required for a career in the field.
10. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Late June – Early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply
The MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) Summer is a six-week, residential program at MIT for high school juniors willing to learn advanced mathematics, science, and engineering. The university-level curriculum includes one mathematics, one life sciences, one physics, and one humanities course each, along with one project-based elective course. Electives include Architecture, Engineering Design, Machine Learning, Genomics, and Electronics, among others. You will tour MIT labs, attend evening workshops, and receive college admissions guidance from faculty. At the end of the program, you receive a written evaluation that you can submit with college applications.
11. Women’s Technology Program - Mechanical Engineering (WTP-ME)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost for students with family adjusted gross income of $120,000 or less
Dates: June 27 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: 11th-grade students who identify as female | U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
MIT’s Women’s Technology Program Mechanical Engineering (WTP-ME) is a highly selective, four-week residential program that introduces female rising high school seniors to the field of engineering. The focus is on mechanical engineering, wherein you’ll engage in practice-based classwork, labs, and design projects under the guidance of MIT graduate and undergraduate students. You’ll live in MIT dorms, experience a packed schedule of work and activities, and build practical problem-solving skills. WTP is structured to provide an academically intensive introduction to engineering for students from underrepresented backgrounds and help them pursue careers in STEM.
12. Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: U.S. citizens completing junior year of high school; strong interest in STEM
The Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE) is a highly selective, two-week summer residential workshop that introduces rising high school seniors to radar technology. You will learn to apply creative problem-solving strategies to design and build small radar systems, including the Doppler and range radar at the Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington. Engineers and scientists at the lab will guide you throughout hands-on sessions. After completion, you will have learnt to assemble functioning radar systems and have gained practical insights into electrical engineering and applied physics.
13. Massenberg Summer STEM Institute
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 27 – August 9
Application Deadline: April 11 (Nomination Deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders from disadvantaged communities in MA and NJ
The Massenberg Summer STEM Institute is a highly competitive, residential summer program for high school students in Massachusetts who want to pursue a career in STEM. Throughout, you will work on a team project with your peers. The program includes guidance on completing high school successfully, along with sessions for college and career readiness. Field visits to technology companies complement your understanding of the STEM concepts you have learnt and their real-life applications. At the end of the program, you will showcase your project learnings through a presentation.
14. Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE)
Location: Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; weekly stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: 7- 11 weeks, typically June – August
Application Deadline: Typically early February
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (age 16+); must reside in or attend school in MA and commute to Boston
The Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) program offers a full-time, paid, seven to eleven-week summer research internship to high school students in Massachusetts interested in pursuing a career in scientific research. You’ll work with leading scientists and graduate student mentors. Alongside lab work, the program includes research seminars, professional development workshops, and journal clubs to help you cultivate scientific communication skills. You will attend networking events and finally, present your findings at the research-conference style closing symposium. The standout part of the program is the structured mentorship and exposure to active cancer research projects.
15. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school female students and others of all minority genders in grades 9–11 | Preference will be given to rising seniors and students from under-resourced backgrounds
The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP) is a three-week virtual program for high schoolers interested in modern physics research and the applications of coding. Here, you will learn Python for coding in physics projects and attend lectures on topics like astrophysics, cosmology, quantum physics, and quantum computing. Stanford undergraduates mentor you in small groups on both technical skills and college planning. The program’s key aim is to encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in STEM.
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