15 Online College Programs for High School Students
Structured programs can be a great way to begin preparing for your future while you are still in high school. Often led by colleges or universities, programs let you explore topics beyond the high school curriculum while gaining exposure to skills and a glimpse of what studying a particular major or discipline entails. Whether you are interested in studying medicine, business, writing, or data science, college programs let you explore your interests at a much deeper level than you would in high school.
As a participant, you will also be able to build a strong academic portfolio consisting of research projects, capstone projects, and other original work you create during the program. Additionally, you will be learning directly from college professors, industry professionals, and researchers who are actively working in their fields.
What are the benefits of an online college program?
Online college programs offer you access to advanced coursework and skill-building opportunities across disciplines from anywhere in the world. You may find yourself sharpening your writing skills across genres like fiction, poetry, and screenwriting by attending virtual workshops, conducting at-home experiments in online STEM classes, or learning Python programming and data visualization in remote tech programs. These experiences can prepare you for the rigor of college-level academics. Online programs, being accessible and flexible options, also invite students from around the world, giving you the opportunity to connect with a diverse cohort of peers. You will also get to network with professors, researchers, and professionals without traveling or relocating!
To help you find the right fit, we have put together a list of 15 online college programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span physics, oncology, data science, mathematics, neuroscience, creative writing, journalism, business, computer science, and social leadership, so students with a wide range of academic interests can find a relevant online option regardless of location.
Several programs are free or offer stipends, including Stanford SPINWIP (free), UCLA Bruin Ascent BASE (free for eligible California students), and UChicago Medicine SHE in Oncology (free with a $500 stipend), while others, such as George Mason ASSIP and Stanford Clinical Neuroscience, offer need-based financial aid or fee waivers.
Many programs provide tangible academic outputs, including George Mason ASSIP (three transferable college credits), UCLA BASE (college credit), NYU GSTEM (final data science project), and Stanford SUMaC (final research project), strengthening both college applications and technical portfolios.
Programs vary significantly in length and format, from one-week workshops, such as Columbia CSPA and Yale Young Writers' Workshop, to 12-week courses, such as NYU GSTEM, so students can choose based on their availability and subject interest.
Application deadlines for the most selective programs fall early, including Stanford Clinical Neuroscience (rolling from December 15), Stanford SUMaC (February 2), and Wharton Future of the Business World (January 28 priority), so students should begin researching options in the fall.
1. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Online
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders from anywhere in the world
SPINWIP is a free virtual program hosted by the physics department at the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology. During this three-week program, you will explore fundamental concepts in physics along with current areas of scientific inquiry within physics. The curriculum covers concepts in quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, cosmology, and other physics-related disciplines. Additionally, you will also become familiar with Python coding while completing physics projects during the program. You will connect with Stanford undergraduates, professors, and researchers, and gain access to college planning and professional development support.
2. University of Chicago Medicine’s Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 taxable stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 20 students/year
Dates: July 13 – 25 (tentative)
Application deadline: March 2 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who are residents of Lake, Cook, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County in Indiana
The SHE in Oncology is a free online experience where high schoolers learn about cancer research and patient care through daily learning sessions and hands-on project work. You will attend sessions focusing on cancer science, work on a patient case study, and collaborate with peers on a research project focused on genetics. You will receive a home laboratory kit that you can use to conduct biomedical experiments. The schedule consists of a mix of lectures, panel discussions, and workshops that help you explore paths in biomedical fields.
3. UCLA Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE)
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application deadline: April 15; applications open on February 18.
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who attend a high school in California, have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5, have not received Summer Scholars Support, and come from a household with an adjusted gross income (AGI) equal to or lower than the amount in the relevant category in the Family Income Eligibility Tables
This free UCLA program is designed for academically talented students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, providing the support they need to navigate higher education with ease. As a participant, you will earn college credit by attending a summer course, with options including chemistry, economics, earth science, neuroscience, and political science. You will receive mentorship from UCLA students who will guide you through co-curricular activities designed to enhance your academic and professional development. The schedule includes workshops on financial wellness, college selection, the FAFSA, college admissions, and independent scholarship research.
4. Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by the course—$1,895 – $2,195; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students from around the world who are at least 13 years old
If you are wondering what studying medicine at Harvard looks like, Harvard Medical School’s online certificate program offers various online pre-college courses to help you get a taste of advanced medical academics. You can choose from enrichment or project-based courses in biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, and other biomedical fields. If you want to engage in project-based learning, consider the Becoming a Doctor course, which explores health systems, emerging technologies, and caregiving in depth. You can also choose the Medical Research course, which offers insights into how scientists and doctors collaborate to come up with new therapies. You can attend the program anytime and from anywhere, and you can choose as many courses as you want to build knowledge across different areas.
5. Iowa Young Writers' Studio 6-Week Online Courses
Location: Online
Cost: $475/course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer: June 14 – July 26 | Winter: Mid-January – late February (dates TBA)
Application deadline: April 20 (summer) | September – October (winter)
Eligibility: Rising and current 9th–12th-grade students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; international students who can read and write in English are also eligible.
Run by The University of Iowa, the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio offers a selection of courses designed for aspiring and talented writers. You can choose from courses focused on nonfiction and personal essays, poetry and perception, creative writing, playwriting, TV writing, or different styles of fictional writing. Each course runs for six weeks and is led by Iowa Young Writers’ Studio alumni or students who have previously been in other Iowa writing programs. You will spend three to four hours per week completing writing and reading assignments, critiquing your peers’ work, and engaging in online discussions.
6. Brown Leadership Institute
Location: Online via Canvas (Brown’s Learning Management System)
Cost: $80 non-refundable application fee + $5,778 program fee; application fee waivers and scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 22 – July 17
Application deadline: May 22 or until full
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders, ages 14 – 18 by June 14, from anywhere in the world
The Brown Leadership Institute is designed for high school students interested in fighting for social justice and fostering positive change in their local communities and globally. The program offers various courses covering topics like civic engagement, gender equality, educational access, and social entrepreneurship in detail. As a participant, you will engage in discussions and problem-solving focused on global issues. A key component of the program is a project, for which you will choose a social issue that is affecting your community and devise an action plan to address it with your newly gained knowledge. A year later, you will be expected to share an update on the challenges and wins involved in implementing the Action Plan.
7. NYU Tisch Online High School Screenwriters Workshop
Location: Online
Cost: $75 non-refundable application fee + $8,008 tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 6 – 31 (summer) | Six weeks during the fall
Application deadlines: May 11 (priority application deadline); May 18 (scholarship application deadline); June 10 (regular application deadline) for the summer session
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
NYU Tisch Online High School Screenwriters Workshop covers the foundational skills for writing scripts for onscreen content. Over the course of four weeks, you will learn how to write for film and television while brainstorming story ideas and characters and examining film language and script structure. You will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts. The classes are delivered as pre-recorded lectures that you can watch at your convenience, given that you keep up with daily deliverables and weekly assignments. The experience will culminate with completed written scenes, a short screenplay, and a synopsis for a film and TV series.
8. NYU GSTEM Online Data Science Course
Location: Online
Cost: $2,500; need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: February 3 – May 5
Application deadline: December 14; applications open on November 14.
Eligibility: 11th and 12th graders in the U.S., including students in the country on an F-1 student visa; applicants must have taken or be taking Precalculus (or its equivalent) and AP Computer Science Principles.
This NYU GSTEM course is designed to help you learn about data science and build the skills and the knowledge to gather, process, analyze, and visualize data. Over 12 weeks, you will explore the role of data science in research, build programming skills using Python and Jupyter notebooks, and build, assess, and validate mathematical models. You will be taught by NYU professors, with some sessions being led by data science professionals and women in STEM. You will also get to apply what you learn through assignments and a final project, which you will also present at the end of the program.
9. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Online option available
Cost: $3,750 + ~$100 course fees may apply; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 64 online participants/year
Dates: June 15 – July 3 | July 6 – 24
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 or 11 who are under 18 years of age
SUMaC gives high school students the opportunity to dive into advanced topics that aren’t typically covered in traditional school classrooms. You will explore topics such as abstract algebra, number theory, and algebraic topology through college-level math classes, lectures, guided research, group projects, and daily problem-solving. You will also learn about some of the topics that researchers are currently exploring in the field of mathematics. The curriculum will additionally cover how math is used in science and how the subject has evolved over time. At the end, you will submit a final research project.
10. Stanford University’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience
Location: Virtual (via Zoom) format available
Cost: $1,725; scholarships available
Acceptance rate: 12%
Dates: June 8 – 19 | June 22 – July 3
Application deadline: December 15 – March 1
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18, applying during the summer after 10th, 11th, or 12th grade; international students are also eligible.
In this 10-day virtual program offered by Stanford University, you will explore core topics in the fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology. The curriculum will primarily cover the principles of neuroscience, clinical neuropsychiatry, neuroscience research, psychiatric epidemiology, and behavioral and social sciences through online seminars. To apply what you learn, you will work on a capstone project in which you devise a solution for a selected issue in psychiatry, psychology, or neuroscience along with other students. At the end, you will present your project to an audience of peers, family members, and Stanford faculty. The experience can help you gain exposure to problem-solving techniques in clinical settings.
11. Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Summer Journalism Workshop
Location: Virtual sessions are available
Cost: $1,100/session (financial assistance available for students enrolled in U.S. schools)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 10; July 13 – 17; July 20 – 24
Application deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders from the U.S. or international schools following an American plan of education
Hosted by Columbia University’s CSPA, this annual program prepares high school students for a career in journalism. The workshops will offer exposure to areas like writing, broadcast journalism, digital media, editorial leadership, editing, and reporting. Each session focuses on a specific journalistic area or skill and is led by instructors with journalism experience. Depending on the session, you may engage in exercises and discussions to learn how to write, report, and edit news, prepare for media schools, or build leadership skills.
12. University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Global Youth Program: Future of the Business World
Location: Online
Cost: $100 non-refundable application fee + $4,099 program fee; application fee waivers and scholarships available for Philadelphia students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: January 28 (priority deadline); rolling admissions thereafter
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders from anywhere in the world
The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School hosts a range of online programs designed to introduce you to core business concepts. The Future of the Business World dives into core business topics, including aspects of running a business such as design thinking, scenario planning, and effective collaboration, through structured sessions. You will also learn about research that the Wharton faculty is currently pursuing. You will participate in two business simulations, in which you will apply the theories you learned. At the end of the program, you will submit a final project that demonstrates your idea of what the business world will look like in the future.
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Computer Science Courses
Location: Online
Cost: $3,200; need-based aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; ~16 students/class
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 11 worldwide, ages 13 – 18
Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer high schoolers the opportunity to enroll in a single-subject virtual course conducted entirely online. You can choose from courses in STEM to tracks in writing and philosophy. Over two weeks, you will explore core topics in the chosen track through structured discussion, reading, and project work. You will join small live classes led by Stanford faculty and graduate instructors, where you will examine concepts alongside peers from around the world. All classes combine live discussions and office hours with independent work.
14. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual internships available
Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition for three course credits; fee waivers and financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP lets high school students work on STEM research projects alongside researchers from George Mason University and other institutions over eight weeks in the summer. You can choose from research areas like bioengineering, computational and data sciences, forensic science, mathematics, physics and astronomy, and many more. You will spend the summer engaging in research, practicing scientific writing and communication, and exploring research techniques over virtual work sessions. ASSIP also offers exposure to career paths and opportunities to connect with professors, researchers, and STEM professionals. The program will end with a symposium, where you will present your work. At the end of eight weeks, you will earn three credits from George Mason University.
15. Yale Young Writers' Workshop (YYWW)
Location: Online format available
Cost: $1,380
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – 26
Application deadline: April 1; applications open on January 16
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders between the ages of 16 and 18
Yale Young Writers’ Workshop is a week-long online and in-person program designed to help you build writing skills across different genres. During the week, you will attend online sessions covering topics such as graphic storytelling, fiction and non-fiction writing, creative writing, and poetry. You will learn the tools and techniques you can use to produce a well-written copy. The program instructors will also discuss how professionals improve their writing over time. You will learn alongside peers while also critiquing their work and receiving feedback for yours. In the process, you will become familiar with professional writing processes, including how to refine your work based on insights you receive.
Frequently asked questions
1. What online college programs are available for high school students?
Options include science and research programs, such as Stanford SPINWIP, UChicago Medicine SHE in Oncology, and George Mason ASSIP, mathematics and data science programs, such as Stanford SUMaC and NYU GSTEM, creative writing and journalism programs, such as Iowa Young Writers' Studio, Columbia CSPA, and Yale Young Writers' Workshop, business programs, such as Wharton Future of the Business World, and AI programs, such as Veritas AI and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes.
2. Are there free online college programs for high school students?
Yes, Stanford SPINWIP is free and open to students worldwide, UCLA Bruin Ascent BASE is free for eligible California students, and UChicago Medicine SHE in Oncology is free with a $500 stipend. Harvard Medical School's pre-college program and George Mason ASSIP both offer need-based scholarships or fee waivers.
3. Do any online programs offer college credit?
Yes, George Mason ASSIP awards three transferable credits from George Mason University, and UCLA BASE awards college credit through UCLA coursework. NYU GSTEM and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes are taught at a college level, and UChicago Medicine SHE in Oncology provides a certificate upon completion.
4. Which online programs are open to international students?
Stanford SPINWIP, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes, Brown Leadership Institute, Wharton Future of the Business World, Harvard Medical School Pre-College, Iowa Young Writers' Studio (students who read and write in English), and Stanford Clinical Neuroscience all explicitly welcome international applicants.
5. When should I apply to online college programs for high school students?
The earliest deadlines include Stanford Clinical Neuroscience (rolling from December 15), Wharton Future of the Business World (January 28 priority), Stanford SUMaC (February 2), and George Mason ASSIP (February 15). Programs, such as UCLA BASE (April 15) and Columbia CSPA (June 30), allow more time, but students should begin researching in the fall to stay on track.
If you are looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work one-on-one with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, over 1,000 students chose to learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here and check out a past student’s experience in the program here!