15 Tech Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
Summer tech programs can be a smart way for you to move beyond classroom learning and try out skills like coding, data analysis, engineering design, or lab research. Many of these programs are run by prestigious universities, national labs, and medical centers, which means you get exposure to how research and technology work in real professional settings. You also meet mentors and professionals from the field, enabling you to forge valuable connections for the future.
Why should you attend a program in Illinois?
Illinois is home to major research universities, national laboratories, and medical research centers, which makes it a strong place to explore technology and science in depth. Depending on the program, you could work in research labs, cancer research at university hospitals, or data science projects connected to public policy and health. These programs are great for Illinois residents seeking local opportunities, but they are also open to out-of-state students seeking research and mentorship.
To help with your search, we narrowed this list down to 15 tech programs for high school students in Illinois.
If you’re looking for programs in Illinois, check out our blog here.
1. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $500/wk stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, small cohorts
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors enrolled in Illinois high schools who are U.S. citizens
This program gives you direct exposure to cutting-edge physics, engineering, and AI at a national laboratory. Each week focuses on a new topic, such as particle physics, quantum science, or artificial intelligence, through guided lab work and expert-led sessions. You will analyze real scientific data and tour active research facilities that are normally not open to students. Mentorship is a big part of the program, with scientists helping you understand how research projects are planned and executed. You will also practice presenting technical ideas through posters and talks. Overall, this is one of the most research-intensive options on this list.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small group and 1:1 mentorship formats
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students | AI Fellowship applicants must have completed AI Scholars or show experience with Python/AI concepts
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in 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 have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity 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. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Fellowship payment given, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 30 students
Dates: June 14 – July 31; Online Orientation: May 29, June 10, 11
Application Deadline: Late March
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders from Illinois
This program places you in university research labs working on faculty-led STEMM projects. You join either the SpHERES track, which connects healthcare, engineering, and innovation, or the GEnYuS track, which focuses on physics-based research, such as lasers and quantum systems. Graduate students and faculty guide your daily lab work and research planning. Weekly seminars help you build skills in scientific writing and poster design. You present your findings at a final symposium, practicing professional communication. The program is a good fit if you want structured exposure to real university research environments.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Tech Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Cost varies depending on the program type; 100% financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small mentor groups
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with demonstrated high academic achievement (accepted students typically maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher)
Lumiere Research Scholars Program’s Tech Track pairs you one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to complete an independent technical research project. You choose a topic in areas like data science, computer science, engineering, or physics, depending on your interests. Over 12 weeks, you learn how to review academic literature, design a research question, and apply technical methods. Regular mentor meetings guide your progress and help refine your analysis, and by the end of the program, you complete a full research paper that reflects college-style research standards. This format works well if you want a structured research experience that is flexible and fully remote.
5. University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab
Location: Ryerson Laboratory, University of Chicago, Hyde Park Campus
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $5,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20–50 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students from the Chicago area
The University of Chicago Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab is an immersive, 8-week paid summer research program. focusing on applied data science using real-world datasets. You work on projects related to public policy, climate, health, or social science with guidance from university researchers. Coding, statistics, and basic machine learning are part of the daily work, and group meetings help you learn how to explain technical results clearly. Instead of only writing papers, you also create a professional video presentation of your research. The program is a strong fit if you want both coding skills and research experience.
6. SparkShop’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: SparkShop, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive;
Dates: Two weeks in July
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Chicago-based high school students
This internship introduces you to engineering, business, and community-focused projects through hands-on problem-solving. You work both independently and in small teams to brainstorm, design, and present solutions that connect technical ideas with real-world use. Mentors guide you through professional expectations, project planning, and communication strategies. The program places equal emphasis on technical thinking and workplace skills such as collaboration and self-management. You also practice presenting ideas clearly to different audiences. The program is apt if you want early exposure to how STEM skills are applied beyond classrooms and labs.
7. Argonne National Laboratory’s College Bound Research Program
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $500/week stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, small cohorts
Dates: 8 weeks from early June to early August
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Local Illinois high school seniors who are 18+, GPA 3.75+ (unweighted), U.S. citizens or permanent residents, graduated in May/June, enrolled to attend college full-time in the program year
This program allows you to work directly in Argonne research labs focused on physics, materials, energy, or computing. You assist scientists with data collection, experiment setup, and equipment maintenance in professional lab settings. The experience helps you understand how large research facilities manage complex scientific projects. You also observe collaboration across multiple research groups working toward shared goals. Since this program is tied to college enrollment, it is well-suited for students preparing to transition into undergraduate research. It gives you early exposure to federal research environments that are usually only accessible to college students.
8. Discovery Partners Institute – Digital Scholars Program
Location: IL Tech Law Center, Conviser Building, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Students 16+ who are Chicago residents may be eligible for a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 25–35 students per course
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students who reside in Illinois
The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) – Digital Scholars Program is a free, intensive summer tech program designed for high school and first-year college students in the Chicago area. It introduces you to advanced computing and engineering fields. You choose a track such as computer science, mobile app development, or data science. Classes are taught by faculty and industry partners with hands-on projects, and workshops also cover teamwork and communication skills. Guest speakers share how tech careers work in practice, and the program is a great fit if you want exposure to both academic and industry perspectives.
9. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) SMASH Illinois
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago, IL
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort admitted annually
Dates: July 11–31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current 9th and 10th-grade students
In this program, you participate in a rigorous, project-based curriculum that transforms you from a consumer of technology into a creator. Over the course of the program, you will explore topics such as computer science, Python, HTML, artificial intelligence, and engineering design. Throughout the summer, you will engage in hands-on activities such as writing code, designing a pitch for a mental health app, and building a physical prototype to reduce campus waste. The program's standout feature is its multi-year, tuition-free residential model that pairs you with STEM professionals to solve real-world community problems. By the time you finish, you will have developed practical skills including computational thinking, public speaking, rapid prototyping, and startup pitching.
10. Illinois Tech Cybersecurity Bootcamp
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology (Mies Campus), Chicago, IL
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 25 students per cohort
Dates: July 27–31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th-grade high school students
In this program, you explore critical tech topics including network security, ethical hacking, digital forensics, cryptography, and Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities. You will gain hands-on experience by recovering digital artifacts, hacking simulated smart home networks, conducting password-cracking labs, and competing in a red-team-versus-blue-team challenge. A truly unique feature of the program is the live ransomware simulation conducted in a dedicated virtual penetration testing lab. By the end, you will have learnt adversarial thinking, threat mitigation, and the implementation of layered defense strategies.
11. UIC Engineering Summer Camp
Location: University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: July 27–31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th-grade students
This week-long day camp introduces you to the core fields of chemical, mechanical, industrial, computer, civil, materials, environmental, and biomedical engineering. During the program, you will tackle daily design challenges alongside your peers. Specifically, you will engage in activities such as writing computer code, building robots, testing biomechanical devices, and conducting physical laboratory experiments. You spend each day working directly inside different university research labs instead of a standard classroom. As you collaborate in small groups, you will build concrete skills in analyzing problems, applying math principles to prototypes, and evaluating design constraints.
12. SHARP! (Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program)
Location: University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Chicago, IL
Cost: $3,500; need-based scholarships may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; small cohort size
Dates: 11-month program (6-week summer lab from June 15 – July 24, plus an August–April academic year component)
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the program's start date
As a participant in the SHARP! program, you will explore applied technology at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and tissue engineering. You will dive into topics like biodesign methodology, translational clinical thinking, and core biomedical engineering principles. Throughout the experience, you will execute robotic surgery simulations using intuitive platforms, participate in supervised suturing labs, and iteratively prototype innovative medical devices. Ultimately, you will walk away with technical skills, including practical bench laboratory methods, experimental hypothesis testing, and technology-enabled operative care.
13. Illinois Tech Rocket Engineering 101
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology (Mies Campus), Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,500; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; approximately 8–15 students per instructor
Dates: July 27–31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: All high school students
In the Rocket Engineering 101 program, you will explore the world of aerospace technology by designing and building your own functioning models. You will cover core topics that include the fundamentals of rocket science, structural engineering principles, and flight mechanics. Throughout the week, you will engage in hands-on construction, tackle complex design challenges, and conduct guided experimentation to test your prototypes. You get to utilize Illinois Tech's university-level laboratories while experiencing true college immersion. By the time you finish, you will learn practical technical skills in rapid prototyping, structural problem-solving, and applied engineering design.
14. The Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy (Game Development Track)
Location: Chicago, IL (DePaul University Loop Campus)
Cost: $750 (Includes a $150 deposit); need-based partial scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade by July 1
In the Game Development Track, you will learn how to brainstorm, design, program, and produce assets for a 3D computer game. Throughout the week, you will work collaboratively in teams, taking on various roles to truly understand the complete game production pipeline. You will get hands-on experience using professional game development platforms to actively design and code your own working projects. You are taught directly by full-time, expert DePaul faculty using the latest industry-standard equipment. By the end, you develop skills in game design, 3D programming mechanics, and technical collaboration.
15. Jarvis Game Development Summer Camp
Location: Chicago, IL (DePaul University Jarvis Innovation Center)
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: July 20–24
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until filled
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade by July 1
In the Jarvis Game Development Summer Camp, you will transition from a player to a creator by learning how to build interactive digital worlds. The program covers core technical topics like level design, character art, game mechanics, and computer animation. During the camp, you will map out game levels, design custom 3D environments, animate character assets, and code playable experiences directly into the Fortnite platform using the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). You are mentored not only by DePaul's Innovation Lab staff but also by guest developers currently working in the video game industry. By the end of the camp, you will have developed practical skills in UEFN programming, spatial game design, and digital asset integration.
Image source - Uni of Illinois