13 Free Psychology Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in understanding how people think, feel, and behave, psychology summer programs offer a powerful way to explore the field early. These programs introduce you to core topics like cognitive science and behavioral research through interactive workshops, data analysis, and guided research projects.
Hosted by universities, hospitals, and research institutions, these programs give you access to expert mentors, college-level learning, and peers who share your interests. Some of these opportunities are also free of charge or offer financial assistance, allowing you to focus on your work without any financial burden and making the program more accessible. Whether you’re interested in clinical psychology, neuroscience, or social behavior, you’ll find programs that match your needs and goals.
Below are 13 free psychology summer programs for high school students, selected for their academic rigor, accessibility, and ability to introduce you to the applications of psychology.
If you are looking for psychology internships, check out our blog here.
1. American Psychological Association (APA): Remote Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations and remote options
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Paid and unpaid (academic credit) available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Internships are offered year-round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is a registered employer
The APA Remote Internship Program gives you the chance to experience how psychology operates in real-world professional settings, spanning education, research, communications, and public policy. You’ll be placed in one of APA’s departments and contribute to projects such as analyzing psychological data, creating public education materials, or supporting ongoing digital initiatives. Conducted both in-person and virtually, the program enables participation from anywhere while connecting you with experts through workshops and discussions. Each intern works closely with a supervisor who helps shape daily tasks and long-term goals. Depending on the role, you may qualify for a paid position or academic credit.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions of varying lengths (12 weeks – 1 year) available, including summer cohorts
Application deadline: Varies by cohort/multiple cohorts run each year, including in the summer
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
Through the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, you’ll work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor over twelve weeks to create an independent research project in a subject of your choice, including psychology. Whether you’re exploring behavioral science, cognition, or mental health, you’ll learn to form a research question, conduct literature reviews, and write a detailed academic paper. The fully online format allows for flexibility, with personalized guidance and feedback throughout the process. By the program’s end, you’ll have produced a complete scholarly paper in psychology or related fields. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
3. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is an elite seven-week residential experience for twelve outstanding high school juniors and seniors each year. Working closely with faculty mentors, you’ll conduct original research in any discipline, including psychology, and develop critical thinking and analytical skills through weekly seminars, field trips, and discussions. The program takes place across Texas Tech’s academic and health science campuses, allowing you to engage with interdisciplinary research environments. Each student completes a formal research report, often presenting findings at professional venues.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here
HARP provides high school students with the opportunity to conduct university-level research under the mentorship of professors and Ph.D. scholars. If you choose psychology as your focus, you can explore over 70 subtopics ranging from cognitive and developmental psychology to social and clinical areas. You’ll decide whether to pursue a quantitative or qualitative project, depending on your interests, and over a trimester, you’ll produce a detailed 20-page academic paper. The process includes structured feedback, a letter of recommendation, and the option to submit your work to scholarly journals.
5. Child Mind Institute: Youth Mental Health Academy
Location: Summer academy: In-person | Internship: Remote, hybrid, and in-person options available in California
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Stipend up to $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; around 130 students
Dates: Program runs for two summers and through the academic year
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students in California with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher; Applicants should be from marginalized communities as defined in the FAQ
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a 14-month paid program for California high school students, emphasizing both learning and action in mental health. It begins with a five-week summer academy where you’ll study topics like mental health science, communication, and community care, while developing a capstone project. During the following school year, you’ll continue engaging through workshops and mentor meetings. The next summer involves a 100-hour internship with a community or research organization, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned to real mental health projects. Participants receive stipends and mentorship throughout, gaining firsthand experience with research, advocacy, and intervention strategies that reflect psychology in practice.
6. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual or in-person at the UCLA campus
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application deadline: February 9
Eligibility: High school students between grades 9-12
The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program invites students to explore neuroscience through the lens of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, a solid option for those interested in the psychological aspects of memory, cognition, and behavior. Over six weeks, you’ll attend seminars, journal clubs, and neurology grand rounds, and take part in mentorship and research activities. The in-person option includes hands-on sessions such as brain dissections and community outreach, while the virtual format provides the same rich academic engagement. You’ll investigate how neurological and psychological processes intersect in disease prevention and treatment, culminating in a final project that synthesizes your learning.
7. Barrow Neurological Institute’s Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 5 – July 9
Application deadline: February 10
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
At the Barrow Neurological Institute’s Summer High School Internship Program, you’ll immerse yourself in active research exploring areas like neuropsychology, neuro-oncology, and cognitive neuroscience. Working directly with scientists, you’ll learn how to conduct experiments, interpret findings, and use laboratory technologies that professional researchers rely on. The program also introduces you to non-lab roles that support neuroscience research, such as communications and publication work. Mentorship is a central feature, guiding you as you refine scientific thinking and communication skills. Many participants present their work at conferences or contribute to published studies.
8. George Mason University College of Science - Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (may be waived based on financial need) | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students 15 years or older by June 18 (16 years or older for wet-lab internships)
George Mason University’s ASSIP is an eight-week, full-time research experience where you collaborate with university scientists on projects in fields such as psychology and neuroscience. You’ll gain experience in experimental design, data collection, and advanced lab methods related to topics like learning, cognition, or neural behavior. The program also covers scientific communication, helping you develop skills in writing and presenting research findings. The summer experience offers career forums and mentorship, which illustrate the various STEM pathways available.
9. Bethel College Summer Science Institute (Psychology Focus)
Location: Bethel College, North Newton, KS (in-person and online options available)
Cost/Stipend: $60 registration fee (fee waivers are available for students needing financial assistance) | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 18 (in-person) | July 6 – 11 (virtual)
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10-12 and recent high school graduates
At the Bethel College Summer Science Institute, you’ll spend one week exploring research-based learning in subjects like psychology, biology, chemistry, or math. The most recent psychology track allows you to study how filmmakers use psychological principles to build emotion, motivation, and conflict in storytelling. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors to develop a research question, collect and analyze data, and interpret your findings using real-world psychological frameworks. Beyond the psychology focus, the institute emphasizes the fundamentals of scientific research: hypothesis testing, data collection, and statistical analysis. You’ll live on campus, take part in joint science sessions, and interact with Bethel students who assist as counselors.
10. Summer Experience at the Coriell Institute For Medical Research
Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited number of students accepted each year
Dates: Mid-July – Mid-August
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 17 years old and have U.S. citizenship
The Coriell Institute Summer Experience gives high school students an inside look at the world of biomedical and genetic research through a four-week lab internship. If you’re interested in psychology’s biological foundations, this program lets you explore how genetics and molecular biology intersect with behavioral science and mental health. You’ll work alongside professional scientists in research and production labs, handling cell cultures and analyzing biological data while learning about biobanking operations. The program also features professional development activities like public speaking training and a final research presentation to the institute staff. Participants can explore roles in both laboratory and project management settings, understanding how scientific collaboration drives discovery.
11. University of Texas Southwestern: Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 2 weeks in June
Application deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school
UT Southwestern’s Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week online program that introduces high school students to the range of careers in mental health and psychology. You’ll engage in live discussions and Q&A sessions with professionals such as psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and clinical social workers. Before each session, you’ll complete short readings from scientific journals and news sources to prepare for interactive discussions about psychotherapy, neuroscience, and community psychiatry. You’ll also hear directly from clinicians about their academic journeys, financial planning for higher education, and the day-to-day realities of working in mental health care.
12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual (in-person available to students in Baltimore, MD)
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 5 weeks from June – August
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian high school juniors and seniors
JHIBS immerses you in neuroscience and psychology research through hands-on investigation and guided mentorship. The eight-week in-person program, open to Baltimore City students, places you in labs at the School of Medicine to assist in research, attend clinical rotations, and present findings at a final symposium. A national five-week virtual version extends access to students across the U.S., featuring workshops on lab techniques, scientific writing, and data analysis. Both tracks explore how neuroscience connects to mental processes like cognition, memory, and emotion — core topics in psychology. Mentorship from faculty researchers helps you understand how experimental science informs treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions.
13. Columbia Brain Seminar for Teens and Opportunities for Research Mentorship (BrainSTORM)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Seminar Series: September – May (Monthly) | Mentorship Program: June – May (one-year duration)
Application deadline: January 1
Eligibility: All high school students
Columbia University’s BrainSTORM program connects high school students with the study of neuroscience and psychology through expert-led seminars and individualized research mentorship. The monthly virtual seminars run from September to May, introducing you to topics like Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and cognitive experiment design through lectures from specialists in neuropsychology and neurology. Students accepted into the mentorship track engage in one-on-one virtual or hybrid sessions with a researcher to design and execute a personalized project. The program concludes with a symposium where participants present their findings to faculty and peers, replicating the experience of an academic conference.
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. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
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