12 Free STEM Programs for High School Students in Florida
Free STEM programs can be a useful way for you to explore subjects like coding, engineering, biomedical science, and data analysis outside of your regular classes. These programs often include structured projects, research activities, and mentorship that help you build skills and learn more about different STEM fields. Since many programs are free or offer financial aid, they can make research and academic opportunities more accessible to a wider range of students.
Why should you attend a program in Florida?
Florida is home to universities and research institutions that offer STEM programs across a range of subject areas. Depending on the program, you can explore topics like environmental science, neuroscience, aerospace engineering, or computer science through research, lab activities, and guided projects. These opportunities can be worth considering whether you are a Florida student looking for programs nearby or an out-of-state student interested in exploring a different academic environment.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 free STEM programs for high school students in Florida.
If you’re looking for college programs in Florida, check out our blog here.
1. FSU Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approx. 40 students
Dates: June 7 - July 18
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Florida residents who have completed 11th grade | minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) | 90th percentile or higher in math on a nationally standardized exam | must be enrolled in or have completed Pre-Calculus
The FSU Young Scholars Program is designed for high school students with strong potential in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). During six weeks on the Florida State University campus, you will complete three courses in mathematics, science, and computer programming. The course offerings vary each year, but past options have included Game Theory, which uses mathematical modeling in economics, biology, and strategic decision-making; linear algebra with applications in encryption and dynamic systems; quantum computing and quantum information; and an IDEA Lab where you design and build prototypes using 3D modeling and printing. Science courses have included Modern Molecular Biology, featuring CRISPR gene editing, fluorescent microscopy, and mammalian tissue culture, as well as Fundamentals in Neuroscience, where you measure neural signals using electrophysiology hardware. Programming tracks include Python and R, applied to real research problems such as data analysis, ecological datasets, and scientific visualization.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
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: 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. Through this 10-session boot camp, students 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, students get a chance 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. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience’s High School Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship of $14/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 7
Dates: June 22 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade at a Palm Beach or Martin County high school | must reside in Palm Beach or Martin County | 16 years or above by the program start date
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience High School Internship is a paid, full-time, six-week research experience that places students directly inside one of the most advanced neuroscience research facilities in North America. The program offers four distinct tracks depending on your background and interests. The Neuroscience track puts you in the wet lab doing hands-on work with techniques such as genetic engineering, histological staining, fluorescent microscopy, and microbiology preparations, where the actual methodologies are used by professional researchers studying neural circuits. The Scientific Programming track is designed for students with experience in C/C++, Python, MATLAB, or Java, and focuses on creating software for analyzing the large, complex datasets generated by brain imaging research. The Mechanical Engineering track teaches you to design and manufacture custom lab components using SolidWorks CAD software, while working with expert machinists on parts that directly support ongoing neuroscience experiments. The fourth track focuses on programming for public engagement through the development of web applications and interactive online tools to communicate STEM concepts to educators and students worldwide. Every intern completes a formal scientific abstract and delivers a research presentation at the end of the program, developing scientific communication skills alongside technical capabilities.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort | multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall, and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
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. You can apply here.
5. FIU Summer Research Internship Program’s Cardiovascular Health
Location: Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 - 26 students
Dates: June 12 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school juniors, graduated seniors who have committed to attending FIU, or accepted FIU first-year or transfer students | must be 16 years or above by program start date | unweighted GPA of 3.0
The FIU Summer Research Internship Program is a hands-on cardiovascular health research experience that places students inside an FIU faculty research laboratory during the summer. Before the program begins, students are matched with a faculty mentor and must complete online safety certifications and HR documentation. During the program, your week is divided between curriculum sessions covering case studies, journal clubs, and research methodology workshops, and a minimum of 15 hours per week in your assigned lab. The research labs are interdisciplinary, with basic science work connected to cardiovascular health. Depending on your placement, your work could involve cellular biology, biomedical engineering, computational modeling, or clinical research. At the end of the program, you will write a formal research abstract and deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the program symposium, where awards are given to the top three presenters. Outstanding participants are also invited to present at the MARC U*STAR symposium in December, extending the academic recognition beyond the summer program.
6. FAU Microelectronics Design Boot Camp
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 - 17
Application Deadline: July 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 12
The FAU Microelectronics Design Boot Camp is a week-long program at Florida Atlantic University that introduces students to the core physics of semiconductor devices and the practical skills involved in basic electronics design. Over five days, you'll build and test actual electronic circuits, gaining a functional understanding of how semiconductor components operate in practical applications. The program combines physics concepts directly with hands-on laboratory work, so you are not just learning theory but you will see why it matters by working with physical components. Organized by the FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science, the boot camp is designed to give you a practical entry point into the electrical and computer engineering fields with some of the strongest career demand in Florida's growing technology sector.
7. FAU Building Futures Summer Camp’s Civil, Environmental, and Geomatics Engineering
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 27 - 30
Application Deadline: June 28
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 12
The Building Futures Summer Camp at Florida Atlantic University is a free four-day program that gives high school students hands-on exposure to civil and environmental engineering. The camp covers three distinct areas: environmental engineering, where you will work through solid waste management scenarios and environmental problem-solving; concrete technologies, including both traditional methods and modern 3D printing applications; and transportation engineering, which focuses on traffic systems, simulation tools, and sustainable infrastructure design. Each topic connects engineering principles to real-world challenges, addressing the problems that civil and environmental engineers actually work on in practice. The program is taught by FAU faculty from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatics Engineering, giving you direct access to experienced researchers and instructors who work in the field professionally.
8. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship
Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students
Dates: June 15 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors in good standing from Miami-Dade or Broward-area high schools | must submit a high school transcript, personal statement, two recommendation letters from teachers, biographical information, and responses to four application questions
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship is a paid, eight-week research program at the University of Miami's Human Genomics Institute (HIHG). It places outstanding high school juniors from Miami and Broward counties inside one of the country's leading genomics research centers. Each intern is paired one-on-one with an HIHG staff member, postdoctoral fellow, or faculty scientist and contributes to active research projects throughout the summer. It is not a shadowing program or observation experience, but emphasizes active research participation in biological and computational science.
9. Nicklaus Children's Hospital’s Project GE:NES
Location: South Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Eight-week after-school program
Application Deadline: Reach out to the Overtown Youth Center directly for current cohort openings
Eligibility: High school students in the South Florida community | the program is specifically designed for Black youth in partnership with Overtown Youth Center (OYC)
Project GE:NES is an eight-week program led by the Personalized Medicine and Health Outcomes Research team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. It introduces you to genomic science with a specific focus on health equity and empowering Black youth to engage confidently with their own healthcare and the broader healthcare system. The curriculum covers the biology of DNA and gene function, human genetic diversity, the role of ancestry and ethnicity in medicine, epigenetics, inherited and non-inherited diseases, genetic testing, the importance of family medical history, and the science behind vaccines and COVID-19. Each cohort also includes a Project GE:NES Career Day, where students meet and hear from guest speakers working across a range of STEAM fields in medicine, research, biotechnology, and public health. The program runs in both virtual and in-person formats, making it flexible alongside school commitments, and is designed to complement rather than replace existing after-school programming.
10. Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship
Location: The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Florida
Cost/Stipend: $4,480 as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, last batch accepted 15 students
Dates: June 5 - July 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering 11th or 12th grade at a Palm Beach or Martin County high school | minimum GPA of 3.0 | at least 14 years old
The Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship places you in active research labs where you will contribute to ongoing scientific investigations alongside UF Scripps scientists tackling challenges in fields such as cancer biology, drug discovery, virology, and biomedical engineering. From the start of the program, you are part of an active laboratory team, learning research planning, bench techniques, experimental design, and data analysis under the direct supervision of a UF Scripps researcher. Weekly scientific seminars run throughout the summer, exposing you to a broad range of research topics happening across the institute. The internship concludes with a formal symposium where you submit a written scientific abstract, deliver an oral presentation, and present a research poster to scientists, mentors, and families.
11. UCF Health Leaders Summer Academy (HLSA)
Location: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Program fee applies | financial aid is available for qualifying students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 - 17
Application Deadline: June 29
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 - 12 | minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) | priority given to students from low-income families and first-generation college students
The UCF Health Leaders Summer Academy is a hands-on program offered by the UCF College of Medicine that gives you direct exposure to health sciences, clinical environments, and healthcare careers. The program is designed specifically to support students from low-income communities and first-generation college backgrounds who are considering careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, or biomedical research. During the program, you will tour UCF's medical campus and facilities, participate in clinical activities, and connect with healthcare professionals from a variety of specialties and backgrounds. The program also covers information on health-focused degree pathways at UCF and how to plan an academic route toward a healthcare profession.
12. Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | cohort size varies based on available faculty research mentors
Dates: June 2 – December 3
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors enrolled at a school in Duval County or St. Johns County, Florida | minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5
The Mayo Clinic SPARK Research Mentorship Program is a year-long research mentorship program that places students directly inside active laboratories at Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville campus. You are matched one-on-one with research faculty mentors and contribute to ongoing scientific work in areas such as biochemistry and molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology, neuroscience, drug development, regenerative sciences, epidemiology, or artificial intelligence. During the summer, you will spend a minimum of 25 hours per week in the laboratory. Once the school year begins, students and mentors will determine a flexible schedule to continue and complete their research project. In addition to laboratory work, the program includes a weekly Lunch and Learn series featuring tours of special research facilities such as the Simulation Center and the Brain Bank, along with guest speakers covering college planning, career paths, and presentation skills. At the end of summer, you will present your research plan and early findings through an oral presentation. Your project is then entered into a regional science fair, either the Northeast Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair or the St. Johns County Secondary STEM Fair. Selected participants may advance to compete at the state and international level. The program concludes with a formal poster session and awards ceremony where you present your final research poster alongside fellow scholars, mentors, lab advisors, families, and teachers.