15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles
If you’re a high school student in Los Angeles, joining a summer program can be a smart move. These programs allow you to explore various career paths, develop practical skills, and work on projects that extend beyond the classroom. They’re also a solid way to boost your college applications.
Many of the best opportunities for high schoolers are free. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or travel far to get experience. Universities, nonprofits, and major organizations in LA offer summer programs that provide access to labs, studios, or office spaces where professionals work. You’ll learn how different industries function, meet people working in those fields, and build connections that can help later on. Some programs also include college preparation support or mentorship, making them even more valuable as you plan your next steps.
In this blog, we’ve listed 15 free summer programs for high school students in Los Angeles!
1. USC Annenberg: Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement
Location: USC Annenberg
Dates: June 16 – July 3
Application Deadline: March 3 – April 14
Eligibility: Los Angeles County high school students
Cost: Free
The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement offers highly selective summer programs for high school students, typically admitting 26 students every year. During the program, you will attend college-level courses that focus on media communications and journalism. You will have the opportunity to explore potential careers in media and journalism and interact with industry professionals in the fields of communication, journalism, and public relations. You will also enhance your critical thinking skills, as well as your abilities in writing, public speaking and debate, multimedia production, interviewing, and more.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: 100% financial aid offered
Veritas AI runs online programs for high school students who want to learn about artificial intelligence. The programs are led by Harvard graduate students and focus on helping you build real skills through projects and mentorship.
If you’re new to AI, you can join the AI Scholars Program. It’s a 10-session bootcamp where you’ll learn the basics of AI, machine learning, and data science by working on real projects. If you already know Python or have done the Scholars program, you can apply for the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. In this one, you’ll work 1-on-1 with a mentor from a top university on your research project. You’ll get guidance all the way through, and there’s a chance to publish your work in a student journal.
3. USC Bovard Scholars
Location: USC, Los Angeles
Dates: July 15 – August 2
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors (at the time of application); Enrolled in Algebra II or Trigonometry; Have a 4.0 weighted GPA or more; Must demonstrate financial need
Cost: Free
The USC Bovard Scholars program offers three-week summer programs for high school students who want to learn how to thrive in a college environment. As a participant, you will learn about the college application and essay-writing process, receiving hands-on, individualized support whenever you need it. You’ll work in small groups, take full-length practice exams, and attend guest lectures. You’ll also get to participate in social activities that give you a break from learning and help you build connections.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year; 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently 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.
Cost: Full financial aid is available
Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a non-profit program that offers free research opportunities for high school students from low-income backgrounds. It comes from the same team that runs the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, known for helping students work 1-on-1 with PhD mentors. Through the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program, you’ll be matched with a mentor and spend several weeks working on your independent research project. This program is fully funded, so you don’t have to pay anything. It’s a chance to explore topics you are interested in and build something original with expert guidance. You can apply here!
5. Girls Who Code: Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual
Dates: July 7 – 18 (Session 1); July 28 – August 8 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: February 28 (Early); April 16 (General)
Eligibility: High school girls and gender non-conforming students in grades 9-11; More info here
Cost/Stipend: Free; U.S. students receive a $300 needs-based grant
Girls Who Code Summer Programs are free and fully online, made for high school girls and gender non-conforming students who want to explore tech careers. These programs help you learn tech skills, meet other students, and build your professional network. The main offering is the Summer Immersion Program (SIP). It runs for two weeks and teaches you game design, UX design, prototyping, and other computer science basics. You’ll join live sessions led by tech companies and learn how coding works in the real world. You don’t need any previous coding experience to join.
6. Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)
Location: Pomona College
Dates: June 22 – July 18
Application Deadline: November 11 – March 3
Eligibility: Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino County high school students in grade 9
Cost: Free
The Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS) provides free summer programs for high school students that focus on preparing students from historically underrepresented backgrounds for admissions into highly selective colleges. For over four weeks, you will participate in a combination of college-level courses, workshops, projects, field trips, and more.
One of the courses you’ll participate in is the Math/Problem Solving course, which focuses on improving your problem-solving skills, reasoning abilities, and your willingness to work through several possible solutions. You’ll also take part in the Critical Inquiry: Analysis and Writing course, where you will work through and analyze college-level reading material, including poetry, journal articles, and more.
7. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Various medical centers in LA; Virtual options available
Dates: 2 to 4-week sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: December/January – February 14
Eligibility: 11th to 12th graders; Specific requirements vary by faculty
Cost: Free
The Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program is a medical mentorship program for high school students interested in pursuing a medical career. It’s a relatively selective program, admitting around 100-180 students out of 300-450 applicants. As a participant, you will attend in-person or virtual sessions hosted by industry professionals, including pediatricians, specialists, surgeons, nurses, radiologists, pharmacists, and more. Your tasks during the in-person sessions will vary based on the faculty you apply to; you might get to help with medical procedures, treatment plans, and patient care.
8. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 3 – 10
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 15-17; More info here
Cost: Free
The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’s High School Summer Volunteer Program offers free, highly selective summer programs for high school students who have just finished their freshman year. As a volunteer, you will get to work directly with patients, their families, and the hospital staff. Some of your tasks will include escorting patients to their appointments and interacting with patients during the administration process. You will also get to provide administrative support to the hospital staff. Since this is a volunteer program, you will not be shadowing doctors or other professionals or receiving an internship experience.
9. UCLA Health Volunteer Summer Program
Location: Various locations in LA
Dates: June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling; Limited slots available
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16; More details here
Cost: Free
The UCLA Health Volunteer Summer Program offers summer programs for high school students in the healthcare field. The program offers the option to participate in patient transport, wayfinding, or floating deliveries. You will have to commit a minimum of 50 volunteer hours from June to August. As a part of patient transport, you will be responsible for discharging patients, helping with transfers, and assisting the patient transport staff. In wayfinding, you will greet and welcome patients, provide support and guidance, offer wheelchairs, and so on. It’s a task that involves you having good communication and customer service skills.
10. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope Center, Duarte, CA
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,000 stipend
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy is for those looking for biomedical research summer programs for high school students. During the program, you will design and work on your research project while receiving guidance from the City of Hope faculty members. You will also get to work with Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences post-doctorates, graduate students, and lab personnel. The program includes weekly seminars during which you will present your research findings to peers and instructors. You will also write a report by the end of your project.
11. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various labs across the U.S.
Dates: Varies based on lab; 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; 16+ by start date; U.S. citizens; Graduating seniors can apply too
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4,000 – $4,500 stipend
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives high school students the chance to spend their summers participating in real Naval research in various Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories across the U.S. It is a competitive program, placing around 300 students in 38 different labs annually. As a participant, you will get to work with scientists and engineers and receive mentorship, learning about Naval research and technology. You will also get to explore possible careers in DON science and engineering while engaging in meaningful STEM research. Your lab placements will be decided based on your research interests.
12. USC Dornsife’s Young Researchers Program
Location: USC, Los Angeles
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 17 – March 31
Eligibility: Los Angeles, Lynwood, Compton, or Inglewood Unified School District rising high school seniors
Cost: Free
USC Dornsife’s Young Researchers Program offers six-week summer programs for high school students with an interest in scientific research. As a participant, you will get to take part in hands-on university-level research projects and attend workshops that offer advice and information on college applications and what it takes to pursue a career in STEM. During the program, you will be paired with a graduate mentor and will work with them over the summer on a research project in their specialty. You’ll also go on field trips to Catalina Island and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The program ends in a public symposium where you will present your research in the form of a poster to friends and family.
13. MITES Semester
Location: Virtual
Dates: 6 months; June 16 – December 8 (Based on the previous year)
Application Deadline: November – February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Cost: Free
MITES Semester is a highly competitive program that offers high school students a STEM and college-preparation experience. During the program, you will participate in weekly webinars, social events, and workshops, and attend courses on subjects like Machine Learning, Thermodynamics, Astrophysics, and so on. You’ll also attend meetings with fellow peers and benefit from college admissions counseling. As a national pre-college program, MITES Semester gives you the chance to gain insights into prestigious schools, attend mock interviews, and build a network of professionals that’s sure to help you in the future.
14. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Dates: 5 weeks
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in the U.S. or Canada
Cost: Free
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) offers summer programs for high school students in two formats: online and in person. While both these formats offer slightly different experiences, JHIBS fundamentally remains a summer research program for students interested in a career in the neurological sciences. In the virtual experience, you will spend 5 weeks attending educational presentations, mentorship training, and professional development training. You will also get the opportunity to learn basic laboratory techniques and experiments. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
15. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: May 1 (Tentative)
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders; Rising high school seniors and students from under-resourced backgrounds preferred
Cost: Free
The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP) is a three-week virtual summer outreach program that seeks to develop interest in physics. The program is aimed at first-generation students or students from disadvantaged backgrounds. During the program, you will learn about cutting-edge research in fields like quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology. You don’t need prior physics or coding experience to participate, as you will get to learn coding (Python) through hands-on physics-based projects. You’ll also attend lectures hosted by Stanford professors and researchers and workshops that focus on providing college planning and career development.
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