15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Washington State
If you are a high school student, free summer programs can be meaningful opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. These programs give you the opportunity to build new skills, explore future pathways, or connect with mentors, without any excessive cost. From science and research to business and leadership development, these programs give you the chance to dive into subjects you might not get to study during the school year.
Offered by reputable universities and organisations in Washington State, free summer programs offer you a wide range of options. You’ll often work on projects, collaborate with peers, or interact with professionals in the field. Some emphasize academic research, while others focus on creativity, technology, or community engagement. If you are a Washington local, you could possibly save on long-distance travel for these programs.
In this guide, you’ll find 15 free summer programs for high school students in Washington State!
15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Washington State
1. Changemakers in Computing (CiC)
Location: University of Washington’s Allen School, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $1200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The previous cohort had approximately 40 students
Dates: July 7 – 31
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors attending Washington state high schools
This is a free summer program for high school students in Washington state that links computing with broader social impact by combining coding with critical thinking about technology’s role in society. Working in small groups led by University of Washington undergraduate mentors, you’ll build projects that link computer science to themes of justice and social change. You’ll explore multiple areas of computing while also gaining practical experience in coding. CiC also provides advising sessions on college and career pathways, showing you different directions your skills might take you.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 weeks; several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
This program introduces you to the core concepts of artificial intelligence through both theory and hands-on projects. The first two weeks emphasize building a foundation in Python programming and the basics of data science workflows. As the program moves forward, you’ll explore machine learning methods such as regression, neural networks, and natural language processing. Alongside coding, you’ll discuss AI ethics, considering how technologies influence society and where challenges arise. The program is structured to take you from beginner-level exposure to more advanced applications, with each stage adding new skills.
3. Institute for Systems Biology Summer Internship
Location: ISB labs, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 4–10 interns will be hired
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Current 11th graders
This free summer program for high school students in Washington state takes place at the Institute for Systems Biology, where you’ll engage with research that combines biology, technology, and systems thinking. You might work on computational modeling, microbiology experiments, or studies in systems medicine, depending on the lab you’re placed in. Alongside the technical work, you’ll build communication skills by creating a public-facing website to share your project in a way others can understand. Throughout, you’ll collaborate with ISB scientists and peers while learning how large-scale research is conducted. You also gain exposure to different career paths within biology and technology, seeing how they intersect in real-world applications.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Virtual
Cost: The program is fully funded
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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 one-on-one 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.
5. Seattle Children’s Research Institute Research Training Program
Location: B. Wayne Hughes Building, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 students are accepted
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Rising juniors with an interest in biology, biochemistry, microbiology, public health, or a related scientific field, who live within commuting distance to downtown Seattle
At Seattle Children’s Research Institute, the Research Training Program places you in a working laboratory environment. You’ll begin with scaffolded lessons on techniques like microscopy, gel electrophoresis, and gene editing. Workshops on biochemistry, immunology, and infectious disease provide a strong scientific foundation while also highlighting current issues in biomedical research. As you gain skills, you’ll apply them to an independent project that culminates in an oral presentation. Alongside lab work, you participate in college readiness and career exploration sessions.
6. Allen School High School Summer Research Intern Program
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 29
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors enrolled in Washington state high schools
In this free summer program for high school students in Washington state, you spend about eight weeks contributing to ongoing computer science research. You’ll be matched with a lab project that fits your background, so both beginners and more experienced students can participate. Current opportunities include robotics and ubiquitous computing, giving you insight into emerging areas of tech research. Under the guidance of a mentor, you’ll learn how to approach open-ended problems and develop research skills that differ from classroom learning. The experience includes close collaboration with graduate students and faculty, exposing you to an academic research culture.
7. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA
Stipend: Students will be paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; admissions open in February
Eligibility: Graduating seniors who are enrolled in a school in Western Washington and live within 50 miles of Redmond, WA, who have completed precalculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a free summer program for high school students in Washington state, where you spend four weeks working in a small team on a project connected to real product development. Your group will focus on the design phase, which gives you direct exposure to areas like software engineering, product management, and UX design. Along the way, you’ll learn how to identify customer needs, define problems clearly, and think through solutions. In addition to project work, you’ll attend discussions on different technologies and interact with employees across the company.
8. University of Puget Sound Summer Academic Challenge
Location: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: 20 days from mid-June to mid-July
Application Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: 7th to 12th graders attending a public school in Tacoma and the greater Pierce County who are first-generation college students or come from underrepresented minority groups/socio-economic status
The Summer Academic Challenge runs for four weeks and brings together project-based learning in STEAM with a focus on local themes. Depending on your grade level, you may study salmon and their ecological role in Puget Sound or investigate how transportation systems have evolved. Each theme combines scientific and mathematical concepts with broader social questions, so you see how classroom material connects to daily life. You might analyze water quality, explore sustainability, or experiment with design solutions for modern transit. Field trips, workshops, and collaborative projects are part of the structure, giving you a mix of lab work, outdoor exploration, and creative teamwork.
9. SEAS Summer Immersion Program (SSIP)
Location: Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
Cost: All students receive a full scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 students are accepted
Dates: July 6 – 11
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors with an interest in math or science
At Gonzaga University’s SEAS Summer Immersion Program, you explore engineering and computer science through a residential, weeklong experience. Each day, you rotate through faculty-led labs, where projects range from wiring robotic cars to testing water quality. Evenings feature talks from professional engineers who share what their careers look like in practice. You’ll learn how engineering principles apply across disciplines, from civil engineering and environmental science to computer systems. The program emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving through research projects and design challenges.
10. Engineering Academy
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: April 27
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors who attend high school in the greater Seattle area
Engineering Academy introduces you to engineering by combining classroom-style learning with hands-on activities. In this free summer program for high school students in Washington state, you’ll take part in design challenges that let you apply problem-solving skills in scenarios that closely simulate real-world challenges. Faculty and current engineering students guide you through workshops and activities, giving you an insight into what studying engineering in college can look like. You’ll also tour the University of Washington campus and explore the many branches of engineering.
11. Systems Thinkers in STEM Ambassadorship
Location: Typically remote with potential in-person opportunities at the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Workshops throughout the summer (and potentially into the year)
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders
This free summer program for high school students in Washington state introduces you to systems thinking through a series of workshops and micro-courses. You begin with “Systems Are Everywhere,” where you practice modeling and explore how scientists use systems approaches to solve complex problems. From there, you can branch into topics like personalized medicine, immunotherapy, or environmental sustainability. Virtual sessions are supplemented by opportunities to join projects or in-person activities, depending on your interests. Over time, you’ll gain experience in research practices, data analysis, and community-based project design.
12. Providence Regional Medical Center High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Providence Regional Medical Center, Everett, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots available
Dates: June through September
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This program combines hospital volunteering with community service. Over the summer, you commit to spending hours in a hospital department, where you observe daily operations and support staff. In addition, you’ll spend one week at Camp Prov, a day camp for children with special needs. There, you act as a “buddy,” helping campers with activities such as crafts, games, and swimming. Through these experiences, you’ll learn about healthcare teamwork, patient interaction, and the wide variety of roles that support medical environments.
13. Talaria Summer Institute
Location: Chapters in several locations, including Washington/virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~13%
Dates: July 1 – August 12
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school students of marginalized genders
At the Talaria Institute, you explore science research by designing and carrying out an independent project. This free summer program for high school students in Washington state pairs you with a mentor who guides you through forming a research question, gathering information, and applying scientific methods to test your ideas. You’ll learn how to analyze data, evaluate results, and present your findings in a structured paper. Collaboration is a key part of the process; you get feedback not only from your mentor but also from peers working on their own projects. By the end of the summer, you’ll have built both technical knowledge and research communication skills that reflect the way science is practiced in real academic settings.
14. DO-IT Scholars
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15–20 students are accepted each year
Dates: Multi-year program
Application Deadline: January 30; rolling admissions after
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with disabilities in Washington state aiming to go to college
DO-IT Scholars is a long-term free summer program for high school students in Washington state that begins with summer study sessions on the University of Washington campus. You’ll live in dorms, navigate campus life, and practice self-advocacy, especially around requesting accommodations. During the school year, you’ll stay connected through mentoring, group projects, and events designed to strengthen your preparation for college. Technology support is another focus, as you work with assistive tools and learn how to apply them in academic and professional environments. As the program progresses, you’ll step into leadership roles by mentoring newer Scholars and building projects that match your interests.
15. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; $300 needs-based grant for eligible students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 20 students per class
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Current 9th to 11th graders
The Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual course where you explore computer science through the lens of game design. Live classes introduce you to coding fundamentals, user experience design, and the step-by-step process of creating a playable game. You’ll also gain exposure to real applications of computer science by hearing from industry professionals and participating in partner events. Throughout the program, you work alongside other high school students to share ideas, solve problems, and refine your projects. In addition to technical learning, the program helps you practice presenting your work and talking about your design choices.