13 Free Programs for High School Students in New York State
If you are a high school student looking to learn more about your interests, then you should explore a structured program. Academic programs and internships can be a great way for you to explore your interests, gain real-world experience, and build a strong foundation for college applications. Many of these programs are also free of cost or offer financial aid, making them more accessible. You can focus on your work throughout the program without any financial burden.
New York State is uniquely positioned to offer high school students access to some of the country's top universities, cultural institutions, and industry hubs. From computer science initiatives to museum-based research, the state provides a wide range of immersive, cost-free opportunities across disciplines. Whether you're diving into research, practicing creative writing, or learning professional skills, these opportunities give you access to expert mentorship, projects, and a clearer sense of what you might want to pursue in the future.
To help you navigate the options, we’ve curated 13 free programs for high school students in New York State.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Nearly 100 U.S. communities, including New York City
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; typically early June – late/mid August, and a one-week all-expenses-paid Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC
Application Deadline: Typically January
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors permanently residing in one of the eligible counties
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is a highly sought-after, paid summer internship if you’re passionate about making a community impact. Over eight weeks, you’ll gain professional experience through paid internships with local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity. The program includes training and culminates in a weeklong national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where you will network with other student leaders and develop skills in teamwork, communication, and advocacy.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid 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: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, run by Harvard graduate students, offers excellent programs for high schoolers passionate about artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Beginners can check out the AI Scholars program, a 10-session boot camp covering the fundamentals of AI and data science through hands-on, real-world projects. More advanced students can apply for the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase, where they work one-on-one with a top university mentor on a unique research project. A key benefit of the Fellowship is access to an in-house publication team to help secure a spot in high school research journals.
3. Met High School Internship Program
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Dates: June 21 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 or 11 who either reside in or attend a high school or homeschool in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
The Met's High School Internship Program offers opportunities to gain professional skills through departmental placements in areas such as conservation, scientific research, and social media. You will observe, assist, and be mentored by Museum staff as you work on various projects. In addition to project work, you will participate in specialized Career Labs and workshops to build professional readiness and network with your peers.
4. Lumire Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Cost: Fully funded
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts are offered throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, with varying start dates based on yearly cohorts.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) ,and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Current high school students with a demonstrated high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost. The program lasts for 12 weeks, and you will work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to conduct independent research in the area of psychology, physics, computer science, or economics. In total, you will end the program with a completed, independent research paper that you can then use as a substantial piece of research for college applications.
5. ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) – NYU Tandon
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend upon completion
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC schools
The ARISE program at NYU Tandon is a rigorous 10-week summer research experience. The program begins with a month of foundational skill-building in research methods and college writing before you spend six weeks in one of over 80 NYU research labs. You will gain over 120 hours of hands-on lab experience and mentorship in fields like machine learning and biomedical engineering. The program culminates in a presentation of your work at a major venue, such as the American Museum of Natural History.
6. Student Historian Internship Program (New-York Historical Society)
Location: The New-York Historical Society, New York, NY
Stipend: $700
Dates: Academic Year: October 29 – June 24; Summer: Early July – mid-August (dates announced in February)
Application Deadline: Academic Year: August 24; Summer: Opens early February; closes late spring
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (includes the five boroughs, parts of NY State, NJ, and CT)
The Student Historian Internship Program is a competitive, paid after-school program for high school students living in or attending school in New York City. Taking place on Wednesday afternoons during the school year, the program allows interns to learn about American history through a specific theme, such as "Frederick Douglass's America," by conducting historical research and writing. As part of a team, you will collaborate to create a digital project, such as a website or app, that showcases your historical scholarship.
7. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Manhattan, NY
Stipend: Free; Interns will be paid minimum wage
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors who reside in Manhattan
The Manhattan District Attorney's High School Internship Program is a paid, five-week summer opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in Manhattan. The program provides a unique look into the criminal justice system in New York City through workshops and discussions that help you understand the legal process. Interns work Monday through Friday, gaining professional skills in an office setting and participating in a mock trial program.
8. Hk Maker Lab
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders attending NYC public or charter high schools
In this program, you start with a rigorous three-week session from Columbia's SHAPE program, where you'll get hands-on experience with engineering fundamentals like Biomedical Design. This is followed by a two-week digital media phase, where you will work in a team to design and create a digital product, such as an app or website, to address a global health issue. Successfully finishing the program not only connects you to a great alumni network but also gives you the chance for a paid internship the next summer through the NY Bioforce program, setting you up for a strong start in a future tech or science career.
9. Biorocket Research Internship Program
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Dates: Spring: February 25 – May 21 | Summer: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Applications open November 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ who live in or attend a NYC public or charter school
If you’re interested in biology, this is a six-month paid research opportunity hosted by Genspace in Brooklyn. Running from February to August, the program combines after-school sessions in the spring with a summer research intensive, where you get to work in a real lab and study genetic engineering techniques. You'll design your own research project with guidance from scientist mentors and develop essential science communication skills through training like improv.
10. Artslife Internship Program (Museum of Arts and Design)
Location: Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Dates: 6‑week summer program; exact dates vary by year
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors enrolled in NYC public or charter high schools
The Artslife program is a six-week paid summer internship for you if you are interested in the art and museum world. With a cohort of only 10 students, the program offers a focused experience exploring various careers within the art and museum world, from curatorial work to communications. You’ll spend your time on hands-on collaborative projects, such as creating your own artwork with professional artists, developing a podcast series, and leading peer-to-peer tours of the museum.
11. City Limits Investigative Internship Program
Location: Bronx, NY
Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: Offered each semester (e.g., fall, spring), historically 10-week programs in past editions
Application Deadline: Varies depending on session
Eligibility: Bronx high school and college students interested in journalism
In this semester-long paid training opportunity, you’ll learn the essential skills of investigative reporting, including research, interviewing, writing, and fact-checking, all while working on real stories that get published by City Limits. The program provides professional mentorship and the chance to build a strong portfolio of published work focusing on local issues like housing and social justice. This internship empowers young people to use journalism as a powerful tool for civic engagement.
12. Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) – NYU Tandon
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: NYC residents ages 15+
The ieSoSC program at NYU Tandon is a free, five-week summer initiative for NYC high school students. The program is designed for urban innovators, teaching technical skills like coding, electronics, and sensor integration, alongside entrepreneurial skills such as product development and company branding. The curriculum focuses on hands-on prototyping to create "smart city" solutions to real urban challenges. To prepare you for the professional world, the program also offers communication workshops to help perfect your business pitch.
13. CS4CS (Cyber Security for Computer Science) – NYU Tandon
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders who live in NYC or Nassau County
The CS4CS program at NYU Tandon is a free, four-week summer experience that introduces you to the field of cybersecurity. You'll get hands-on training in core technical skills like ethical hacking, digital forensics, and cryptography, practicing with coding and security analysis projects designed for all skill levels. Beyond the tech, the curriculum includes valuable communication workshops to help you develop public speaking and teamwork abilities.
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