14 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in STEM, summer programs can be a structured way to explore subjects beyond what is typically covered in school. These programs allow you to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in greater depth while building skills in analysis, problem-solving, and collaboration. Many are hosted by universities, research institutes, and established organizations, giving you exposure to academic environments, industry professionals, and peers who share similar interests.
What are the benefits of a STEM program?
STEM summer programs give you the opportunity to engage with advanced topics through project-based learning, where you might build robots, analyze datasets, develop machine learning models, or conduct scientific experiments. You may also work on research projects and present your findings through papers, posters, or presentations, thereby developing communication and critical thinking skills. In addition, these programs provide access to advanced tools, structured mentorship, and collaborative environments that help you understand how STEM fields are studied and applied.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 14 STEM summer programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online STEM programs, check out our blog here.
1. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program (SSP)
Location: The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, ME
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Stipend: $7,000
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The JAX Summer Student Program provides students with a 10-week, full-time research experience where high school seniors and undergraduate students work on mentored scientific projects in genetics, genomics, and other related areas. The students are part of active research labs, work under the guidance of professional scientists, and are provided with opportunities for scientific work, data analysis, and other professional activities, such as journal clubs, scientific communication, and discussions with professional scientists. The program also includes other co-curricular activities, and students conclude it by presenting their own scientific projects. The program offers students a full-time research experience with no financial constraints, including housing, meals, and travel.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: On a rolling basis – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November)
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 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. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Late June through early August
Application Deadline: Opens in November and is due on February 2
Eligibility: 11th graders who are US citizens or permanent residents
The MITES Summer program is a six-week residential program for high school seniors, designed to engage them in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program allows students to take college-level courses in five areas, including math, science, and humanities, as well as electives, giving them the opportunity to explore subjects beyond the high school curriculum. The program includes sessions on college admissions and professional development, as well as workshops, tours, and mentoring, to engage students in academic and STEM-related activities. There is a final project or symposium presentation where the students will present their work, undertaken on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to the other students.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote (you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | You need to demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Dates: Varies depending on the cohort – summer, fall, winter, or spring | options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines depending on the cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Training Program
Location: Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: A stipend of $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 13 - August 7 | mandatory orientation on May 21
Application Deadline: January 5 - March 8
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who reside within commuting distance of downtown Seattle
This in-person research program gives you an opportunity to conduct experiments related to biomedicine andgain a better understanding of how biological research is performed. You will apply the learning from the program to complete a research project on your own. Additionally, the program will cover topics such as biochemistry, immunotherapy, gene editing, infectious diseases, and more. You will also participate in college-readiness and career-exploration workshops.
6. NYU ARISE
Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: Free to participate; $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive (limited cohort for NYC applicants)
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York City and attend NYC schools
ARISE is a free, summer STEM research program for NYC high school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. Students begin with foundational training in research skills, lab safety, and scientific writing, followed by several weeks of work in NYU research labs under the mentorship of faculty and graduate students. Participants contribute to ongoing research projects, attend workshops on research practices and professional skills, and present their findings at a final symposium. The program combines theoretical preparation with hands‑on experience in real research settings, providing summer exposure to scientific research.
7. HMRI High School STEM Program
Location: Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipends provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 24 | you can choose the morning (9 A.M. to 12 P.M.) or afternoon session (1 P.M. to 4 P.M.)
Application Deadline: Opens in November and is accepted until March 13
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders studying in a Pasadena Unified School District high school
The Huntington Medical Research Institute offers a six-week summer program for high school students from the Pasadena Unified School District, focusing on different STEM topics in science. Each week, the teachers will cover specific themes, including genetics, pathology, radiology, the anatomy of certain organs, and more. Students also learn different research methodologies, laboratory instrumentation, and safety protocols, allowing them to complete independent research projects by the end of the program. You can also earn CPR certifications through the American Heart Association.
8. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: An application fee of $50 will be waived for students whose annual family income is below $80,000 or who are unable to pay the fee due to other special circumstances | need-based stipends will be provided to a limited number of students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically, 50 students
Dates: June 8 - July 30
Application Deadline: December 19 - February 21
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders who are at least 16 years old, US citizens or permanent residents, and live and attend a high school in the U.S. | Students need to live within a commutable distance from the university campus, and given that finding temporary accommodation in the Bay Area can be expensive, the program recommends that out-of-state students stay with a relative or family member
The SIMR program allows students to join the Stanford lab and collaborate with professors, postdoctoral fellows, and other researchers on medical research projects. There are eight research areas for you to choose from, including immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics. Over the course of eight weeks, you receive one-on-one mentorship while learning how to perform scientific research. Organized by the Institutes of Medicine at Stanford University, the program aims to strengthen your interest in medicine and biology.
9. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2450 residential fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 - August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: 11th graders who are US citizens and/or permanent residents and at least 16 years old by the start of the program | interested students need to be nominated by their high school teachers to be able to apply for the program, and each school can only nominate two students
The Simons Summer Research Program provides high school juniors the opportunity to be involved in hands-on STEM research for six weeks on the campus of Stony Brook University. Students who are accepted into the program are assigned to a research group and work under the mentorship of faculty members. The program provides them with hands-on research experience and helps them understand the processes involved in scientific investigation. At the end of the program, the students are required to make written and poster presentations of their work. The program is designed to simulate real-life conditions in a research university.
10. Colorado State University: Designing Your World
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: $500 (limited scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 22 - 26
Application Deadline: May or June (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders from ages 14 to 17 years
The mechanical engineering department at Colorado State University offers several STEM summer programs for middle and high school students. One such program is Designing Your World, where you identify a real-world problem and build a solution, using an Arduino-controlled system or robot. You will work in university facilities, such as the 3-D facility, the mechatronics lab, and the machine shop, to design, prototype, test, and refine the final product. The program aims to develop your skills in critical thinking, time management, and problem-solving.
11. Ohio Supercomputer Center STEM Institute
Location: Ohio Supercomputer Center, Columbus, OH
Cost: $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 31 - June 12
Application Deadline: January 15 - April 1
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who live in Ohio
In this residential program, you will be placed in a small team alongside other participants to complete projects using supercomputers. These may include project activities such as identifying hackers through network forensics, modeling the spread of diseases such as bird flu, or developing your own computer game. The curriculum will also include lectures on Unix, Python, supercomputing, cybersecurity, and other topics. You will also visit the Museum of Biological Diversity, the Byrd Polar Research Center, the Center for Automotive Research, and the State of Ohio Computer Center, providing exposure to advanced research environments.
12. NJIT Summer STEMx High School Programs
Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: A non-refundable application fee of $70 and $725 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 6 - 10 for week 1 | July 13 - 17 for week 2 | July 20 - 24 for week 3 | July 27 - 30 for week 4
Application Deadline: The early deadline is March 1, and the regular deadline is April 10
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who maintain a B or higher grade
The New Jersey Institute of Technology offers STEM summer programs spanning three weeks, during which students can select two subject areas per week. Your options will include artificial intelligence, stem entrepreneurship, materials engineering, sustainable engineering and the environment, cybersecurity, and applied engineering technology. You can attend one or more weeks based on your interests. Students who complete all three weeks are eligible to participate in the fourth, no-cost sessionfocused on college and STEM career readiness.
13. Academy for Data Science Research
Location: The University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: $1400 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 27 - August 7
Application Deadline: There is no application process | students need to enroll for the program | deadline for scholarships is April 15
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders who have studied Python programming for at least one semester
Hosted by the Computer Science Department at The University of Texas at Austin, this program provides a practical introduction to data science. You will work on research projects using real astronomical datasets. The program includes hands-on experience with tools such as Jupyter Notebook, NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. You will also learn how to design a machine learning model using Scikit-Learn so that you can use the skill to work on your independent project. You are expected to bring your own laptop to fully engage with the coursework.
14. STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES)
Location: The University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 for residential program, scholarship available | virtual participation is free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%
Dates: May 15 - July 21 | check the exact dates for the learning modules, internship, virtual projects, and other scheduled events here.
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who are US citizens and will be at least 16 years old by July 5
In this STEM program, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with experts from NASA, along with academic and industry professionals, on research projects focused on the nation’s aerospace industry. You gain exposure to fields such as employing mission fields in aerospace, astronomy, planetary science, and other areas. Before the in-person component, you are expected to complete the online learning modules Earth and Space and Python programming. You also work with your assigned mentor remotely. After the on-site internship at UT, you will continue with virtual projects and present your work at a virtual science symposium.
Image source - MITES Logo