12 Tech Summer Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
If you’re a high school student interested in tech, participating in a summer program can help you develop real skills, work on meaningful projects, and clarify where your interests might lead you. Tech programs provide structured learning, access to experienced mentors, and exposure to fields such as computer science, robotics, AI, and software engineering. You may also gain exposure to how technology is applied across different domains while working with mentors and peers who share similar interests.
Why should you attend a program in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts offers a strong academic environment for tech-focused learning, with programs hosted by universities, research institutions, and organizations. You may participate in lab-based research, coding projects, or interdisciplinary courses affiliated with institutions. This setting can help you better understand how technology is studied and applied while experiencing academic environments closely tied to ongoing research and innovation.
To help get you started, we’ve curated a list of 12 tech summer programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
If you’re looking for free programs in Massachusetts, check out our blog here.
1. MITES Semester
Location: Hybrid; Remote and MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 80–100 students
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are high school juniors
MITES Semester is a six-month, highly selective STEM and college-preparation program run by MIT that supports those from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds in science and engineering. The program begins in the summer with an intensive STEM Immersion Phase, during which you’ll take two rigorous, synchronous online courses, one project-based STEM course, and one core course in areas such as calculus, physics, computer science, or science writing. You’ll engage with MIT faculty, researchers, undergraduate mentors, and STEM professionals while building a strong peer community nationwide.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Application Deadline: Rolling. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Middle and high school students with an interest in computer science, artificial intelligence, or applied mathematics
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. Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free; Sliding Scale Fee for families with > $120,000 income
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 27 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: High school rising seniors
The Women’s Technology Program (WTP) is a four-week, intensive summer experience at MIT that offers hands-on, immersive learning to introduce participants to engineering. The program targets those who have demonstrated academic strength in math and science but have had limited opportunities to explore engineering and are unsure about their future academic or career plans. You’ll engage in interactive classes, laboratory work, and collaborative, team-based engineering projects that emphasise problem-solving and real-world applications.
4. Lumiere Research Scholars Program - Tech Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round, including summer
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can find more details about the application here
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics or quantitative STEM fields
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 technology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
5. Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are permanent Massachusetts residents and live within commuting distance of Northeastern University; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Northeastern University Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a six‑week, hands‑on STEM research experience for rising high school seniors on Northeastern’s Boston campus. Participants are placed in active research laboratories across engineering, science, and health sciences, working on projects that range from model compression algorithms to optimizing battery chemistries and evaluating cancer therapies. In addition to lab work, the program includes faculty‑led seminars, field trips to corporate and government labs to see STEM in action, and college and career counseling designed to help students explore different scientific and engineering pathways. Students conclude the summer with a final research presentation, gaining direct exposure to university‑level research and professional workflows in STEM fields.
6. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school Juniors who are US residents
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is one of the most prestigious and selective STEM research programs for you, administered by the Centre for Excellence in Education in collaboration with MIT. Designed for students with exceptional academic ability, RSI combines advanced STEM coursework with an intensive, mentored research experience in mathematics, science, or engineering. You’ll attend lectures taught by leading scientists and researchers before transitioning into individualised research projects conducted under expert supervision.
7. UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College Residential Programs
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
Cost: Tuition-based; program fees vary by course; Limited scholarships and financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June – August; Specific dates vary by course
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores through rising seniors
The UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College Residential Programs offer you an immersive college experience combining rigorous academics with campus life at a flagship public research university. You’ll choose from a wide range of two-week and multi-week courses spanning STEM, humanities, social sciences, business, arts, and professional pathways, including engineering, computer science, health sciences, and design. You’ll get to live in university residence halls, eat in award-winning dining facilities, and receive support from trained residential staff while engaging in evening and weekend activities.
8. Engineering with Artificial Intelligence – Tufts Pre‑College Program
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: Commuter ~$4,425; Residential ~$5,950; Limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: Jul 5 - 17 | Session 2: Jul 19 - 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 or recent high school graduates
Tufts University’s Engineering with Artificial Intelligence pre‑college program is a two‑week summer experience that combines foundational AI and machine learning with hands‑on engineering projects. Participants explore core concepts in AI and ML, build solutions to real‑world problems, and engage with practical applications of data‑driven technologies. The program includes classroom instruction, collaborative work, and project development guided by instructors, providing students with concentrated exposure to how AI methods are used in research and engineering contexts. The session provides insight into both the theoretical and applied aspects of artificial intelligence as they relate to modern technology and engineering.
9. Smith Summer Science & Engineering Program
Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA
Cost: $4,985 per session (2 weeks); $9,970 for both sessions (4 weeks); $50 application fee Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 4 – July 17 | Session 2: July 19 – August 1
Application Deadline: Exact deadline varies by cycle
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 - 12
The Smith Summer Science & Engineering Program (SSEP) is a rigorous, residential pre-college program for those with strong academic interests in science, engineering, and related fields. SSEP emphasises hands-on, lab-based learning in small classes taught by Smith College faculty, with support from undergraduate teaching assistants. You’ll enroll in one intensive two-week course per session and may participate for two or four weeks, gaining exposure to disciplines including engineering, robotics, genetics, neuroscience, chemistry, environmental science, and data analysis.
10. Biotechnology & the Future of Medicine
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: $7,095; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students interested in biotechnology
Biotechnology & the Future of Medicine is an immersive two-week pre-college program at Northeastern University that introduces you to modern biomedical science, drug discovery, and translational research. The program emphasises how biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are reshaping pharmaceutical sciences and healthcare innovation. Through hands-on laboratory activities, faculty-led workshops, and real-world case studies, you’ll explore how scientists identify drug targets, design therapeutic molecules, and translate lab discoveries into patient treatments.
11. Harvard CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
Location: Virtual (Available on edX)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-placed
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to high school students, and is curated for beginners
CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science is Harvard University’s flagship introductory computer science course, offered online through HarvardX on edX. Designed for beginners and advanced learners alike, the course teaches you to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently while introducing foundational computer science concepts, including algorithms, data structures, abstraction, resource management, and software engineering. You’ll gain hands-on experience programming in multiple languages, including C, Python, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, through rigorous problem sets inspired by real-world domains.
12. Computer Science 101 (CS101) - Stanford Online (edX)
Location: Online (via edX)
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; paid certificate available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all learners; designed for students with zero prior programming experience
Computer Science 101 (CS101) is an introductory, self-paced online course offered by Stanford University through Stanford Online and edX, designed for those with zero prior experience in computer science. The course aims to demystify how computers work by focusing on a small set of core patterns and ideas that underlie modern computing. You’ll explore topics including hardware and software fundamentals, program logic, data representation, digital media, internet infrastructure, and computer security through interactive, browser-based exercises.
Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI.