10 Free University Computer Science Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student who is looking for a structured learning experience in the field of computer science, a university-led program is worth considering.
Today, many computer science programs for high schoolers are quite accessible, available at no cost or at full scholarship. University-led computer science programs can help you learn core computer science concepts and techniques through engaging in hands-on activities like building your own app, analyzing real datasets, or training a simple AI model.
As a participant, you will also get to work with mentors, connect with peers who share your interests, and explore career paths in computer science, AI, machine learning, programming, software development, and other related fields.
To help you get started, here we have listed 10 free university computer science programs for high school students. We have focused on options that help you build practical skills, valuable industry connections, and rigorous learning opportunities.
1. NYU CS4CS Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 living in NYC and Nassau County
New York University’s Cyber Security for Computer Science, or CS4CS, is a free on-campus program for those interested in learning about data privacy, ethical hacking, and computer science basics. Here, you will engage in cybersecurity training and coding and programming sessions. You will also learn about concepts like digital forensics, “white-hat” hacking, steganography, cryptography, data usage, and privacy. This experience can also help you work on your communication skills through theatre-based communication workshops. As a participant, you will also pick up technical computer science skills crucial for pursuing a career in the field.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines for cohorts are scheduled throughout the year. The upcoming deadline is May 25
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in AI
Cost: $2,290 | 100% financial aid available.
Veritas AI’s AI Scholars program is a 10-week boot camp designed to introduce high school students to the basics of AI and machine learning. Established by Harvard graduates, the program combines lectures with hands-on projects, allowing you to apply AI concepts to real problems. Here, you will get to explore topics like computer vision and neural networks, and practice programming with Python. The program is structured to work for students of various skill levels. You will also work on group projects during the program. By the end, you'll have a solid foundation in AI and a project portfolio to showcase your skills.
3. UT Austin Computer Science Summer Academies: Academy for Women
Location: University of Texas at Austin, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: June 8 – 14
Application deadline: Rolling basis; you can fill out this form to get updates regarding the registration
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
The Academy for Women at UT Austin is a free, week-long summer program designed to help high school girls explore computer science. Here, you will dive into coding exercises using C++, engage in project management and teamwork exercises, and learn about the impact of women in tech. The program includes interactive sessions with UT faculty and current students, providing insights into college life and STEM careers. During the program, you will also code an Arduino microcontroller to design an LED display light show. The program also offers insights into college applications and future internship opportunities.
4. Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application deadline: Varies based on the cohort. The upcoming cohort’s applications are due on May 11.
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic record.
Cost: Free
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program pairs high-achieving high school students with PhD mentors to conduct independent research projects. Over 12 weeks, you will delve into a subject of your choice—be it computer science, data science, or another related field—and produce a research paper under expert guidance. You will have access to one-on-one mentorship, which allows for personalized learning and deep exploration of the chosen topic. You will also get to work with a writing coach and attend workshops that cover the research process. By the end of the session, you will have a completed research project to showcase your skills and interests.
5. Carnegie Mellon University’s AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 21 – July 19
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old
The Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars program is a four-week on-campus introduction to artificial intelligence research and real-world applications. The program combines coursework in AI basics with hands-on coding labs and project-based learning. During the program, you will work in a team and develop AI models for tasks like natural language processing, facial recognition, or autonomous navigation. You will also engage in sessions on AI ethics and policy. The program is conducted by CMU faculty and graduate researchers, who will offer you mentorship and guidance throughout the program to help you pick up technical skills.
6. UT Austin Computer Science Summer Academy for All
Location: University of Texas at Austin, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: Standard Edition: July 6 – 12; Machine Learning Edition: July 27 – August 2
Application deadline: Rolling admissions; sign up for updates here
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
The Academy for All at UT Austin is a free, week-long summer program for high school students interested in computer science. During the program, you’ll spend your days writing code, planning projects, and collaborating in teams—just like a real tech startup! The program caters to various skill levels. Here, you will also get to experience college life and interact with UT faculty and current undergraduates. By the end of the week, you will have participated in challenges and have developed an understanding of how data and algorithms shape the world around you.
7. MIT OpenCourseWare: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; self-paced.
Dates: Rolling admissions; self-paced
Application deadline: None.
Eligibility: High school students
MIT OpenCourseWare’s self-paced course is for everyone who wants to experience college-level computer science academics. The course can help you pick up computational thinking and learn to solve problems by writing small Python programs. Each module comes with video lectures, exercises, and exams you can download at no cost. You set your own schedule here, so there’s no pressure to finish the course by a deadline. However, by the time you complete the course, you will have the confidence to tackle more advanced coding challenges.
8. HarvardX CS50 AP®: Computer Science Principles (edX)
Location: Online via edX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; self-paced course
Dates: Rolling admissions; self-paced
Application deadline: None. You can register and view course materials here!
Eligibility: High school students
HarvardX CS50 AP® course on edX is a beginner-friendly introduction to computer science that lines up with the AP® curriculum. You will explore everything from basic algorithms and data structures to the nuts and bolts of web development. You will also tackle problem sets that push you to think like a computer scientist. As the program is self-paced, you decide when and how fast you want to learn without it interfering with your schoolwork. When you wrap up, you will have some familiarity with languages like C, PHP, JavaScript, and more.
9. Carnegie Mellon University’s CS Academy
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; self-paced.
Dates: Flexible; approximately 40 hours of instruction.
Application deadline: None. Register here!
Eligibility: Open to all
Carnegie Mellon University's CS Academy is a free, online program that introduces you to computer science through an interactive, graphics-based curriculum using Python. Designed to make learning engaging and accessible, CS Academy can help you build a foundation in coding while exploring the creative side of technology. The program's CS1 course delves into fundamental programming concepts, teaching you how to write code for animations and graphics. With auto-graded exercises and real-time feedback, you can learn at your own pace. Additionally, the curriculum is developed by Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science, giving you insights into college-level academics.
10. Princeton University’s Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; self-paced
Duration: Flexible; approximately 88 hours to complete
Application deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: None.
Princeton’s “Programming with a Purpose” course is designed to introduce you to the essentials of programming using Java. The self-paced, beginner-friendly course starts with the basics—variables, loops, arrays—and moves on to more advanced topics like recursion and object-oriented programming. The course focuses on not just coding skills but also computational problem-solving, which can help you understand how programming applies to different fields. You will have access to video lectures, readings, and programming assignments, all available for free online. It's a great way to build a strong foundation in computer science, especially if you're interested in exploring how coding intersects with different disciplines.
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