15 Physics Programs for High School Students in California
If you’re a high school student interested in understanding how the universe works, physics programs can be a great way to explore the subject in more depth. Through experiments, guided projects, and discussions, you can see how the ideas you study in school apply to scientific discoveries and help you strengthen your analytical thinking. Hosted by top institutions, they let you build connections with mentors and help you develop your profile.
Why should you attend a program in California?
In California, universities and research centers offer a variety of physics opportunities, covering areas such as astronomy, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. Through research projects, lab work, and lectures, these programs provide a space to learn from instructors and connect with peers who share your curiosity. Whether you’re a local student looking for programs close to home or visiting from another state to explore California’s strong STEM ecosystem, you can find programs that fit your goals and interests.
To help with your search, we have found 15 physics programs for high school students in California.
If you are interested in summer research programs in California, check out our blog here.
1. QCaMP (Quantum, Computing, Mathematics, & Physics)
Location: Various locations, including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Alameda County, California
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipends provided for participation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies each year
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 1 - March 21
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a basic knowledge in algebra
If you have a particular interest in quantum physics, the QCaMP program is for you. The goal of the program is to teach you some fundamental computing and quantum physics concepts so that you can use them to solve computing problems. During your participation, you will complete projects where you will build circuits on a quantum computer and have the opportunity to access different learning resources, including slides, recordings, activities, and worksheets.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12- to 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12 who have prior knowledge in Python or AI, or have previously completed the Veritas AI Scholars program
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI Scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. SDSU Training Astronomy Research Scholars (STARS)
Location: San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Dates: June 24 - July 19
Application Deadline: January 12 - March 1
Eligibility: High school students who live in the San Diego area
The STARS program is your chance to be involved in astronomy research experiments conducted by faculty at San Diego State University. The program offers research in the following areas: galaxy formation, binary star systems, supernovae, and more. Through this four-week program, you will learn the scientific and programming processes behind astronomy projects while simultaneously becoming well-versed in using telescopes. You will also get to interact and learn from the staff and students of SDSU’s astronomy department.
4. Horizon Academic Research program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
5. Summer Research Connection
Location: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 8 - 10 students
Dates: June to August (exact dates vary each year)
Application Deadline: Early January to late March
Eligibility: High school students from the Pasadena Unified School District
If you wish to be part of a team conducting scientific experiments at Caltech, this program enables you to do so by assigning you to a research lab. A designated research mentor is available to guide you throughout the program. To give you an idea of the different topics you will have the opportunity to conduct your research on, here are some research titles of past participants: ‘Analyzing Dark Matter and Its Indirect Detection,’ ‘Comparison between simulated observational and true radial profiles for FIRE-2 galaxies,’ and more. You must present your research after completion, and Caltech's YouTube channel, Caltech Educational Outreach, will post a recording of your presentation.
6. Quantum Foundry’s Short Courses
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16-20 students
Dates: Mid-September to early-October for the fall sessions and mid-January to early-February for the winter sessions (only on Saturdays)
Application Deadline: August 29 - September 12
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9 to 12
The Quantum Foundry organizes short courses for high school students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular physics or engineering topic. Classes are held during the fall and winter, with a specialized topic chosen for each session, allowing you to explore your course materials in depth. Past topics have included ‘The Physics of Music,’ ‘The Quantum Around Us,’ ‘Optics, Lasers, and Quantum Physics,’ and more. In addition to studying such topics in detail, you will also have the opportunity to interact with engineers and scientists with whom you can also discuss future career options.
7. Physics in and Through Cosmology
Location: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Alameda County, California
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 37 students
Dates: June 16-18 and 20
Application Deadline: Opens on March 18 and closes once all spots are filled
Eligibility: High school students who can commute to LBNL
This intensive program, designed for high school students interested in STEM careers, allows you to research particle physics and cosmology. You can expect to work on projects similar to the past ones, which focused on the Higgs boson, neutrino physics, dark matter, and more. To deepen your understanding, you will attend presentations by LBNB's postdocs and scientists, who will also discuss their research. The program generally invites Nobel Prize in Physics winners to talk about their research as well.
8. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: ASDRP Research Laboratory, Fremont, California
Cost/Stipend: Program costs $1070
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: September 1 - January 15 for the Autumn cohort, January 16 - May 30 for the Spring cohort, and June 1 - August 30 for the Summer cohort
Application Deadline: May - August for the Autumn cohort, August - December for the Spring cohort, and October - April for the Summer cohort (exact dates change every year)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12; priority is given to students with socioeconomic difficulties and who need representation in the STEM field
ASDRP allows you the opportunity to conduct research in your field of interest, including physics. You have scientists and engineers to help you with your research, which you will publish and present. As someone interested in physics, you can opt for the Astrophysics Research Cluster, where you will get to do projects focused on astronomy, including building a Laser Interferometer Gravity Observatory [LIGO], searching for Pulsars & Fast Radio Bursts [FRBs], and other topics. ASDRP also provides you with the advantage of utilizing the data used by NASA, ESA, and other organizations.
9. California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS)
Location: Various campuses under the University of California
Cost/Stipend: Program costs $5,256, and there is an application fee of $44 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 160 - 200 participants per campus
Dates: July 6 - August 1 or August 2 (end date varies based on the UC campus)
Application Deadline: January 8 - February 7
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 8-12 who are enrolled in a high school in California and preferably have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Staying in one of the allocated University of California campuses for four weeks during the summer, you will be immersed in coursework focused on STEM subjects. COSMOS has professors, scientists, and researchers to teach you advanced STEM topics that are generally not covered in high school. In addition to learning new concepts, you will also work on experiments. By the end of the program, you will know which STEM career or education path is right for you.
10. Summer at Saint Francis High School
Location: Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, California
Cost/Stipend: $675 per term
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 28 students per class
Dates: June 8 - June 25 for term I and June 29 - July 16 for term II
Application Deadline: February 26 - May 31
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders (the conceptual physics course is not open to 12th graders)
In this program, you’ll get the chance to explore physics in a hands-on, supportive environment. You can choose between two courses: a traditional Physics class that focuses on matter and energy, or Conceptual Physics, which helps you understand the science behind everyday life. Each course is split into two semesters, with the second semester building directly on the first. If you only want to take Semester 2, you’ll need to be already comfortable with the material from Semester 1. At the end of each semester, you’ll take a final exam, and passing it earns you 5 credits that can strengthen your future college applications. If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of physics, get ahead academically, or earn credits in a focused, small-class setting, this program is a strong opportunity for you.
11. Advanced Physics Summer Program
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; past participants have included students from California
Cost/Stipend: Program costs $375
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 28 - August 8
Application Deadline: Opens in the first week of January
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders to 12th-grade high school students
The Advanced Physics Summer program is packed with numerous physics-related experiments, such as soldering, coding, robotics, and more, that are essential for students who wish to pursue the subject in college or as a profession. During the program, you will also get to visit research labs and explore the different research areas within the field. You will have gained knowledge of numerous physics concepts that are not typically taught in high school by the end of the program.
12. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program
Location: First week is Online and the following seven weeks are in person at UC Santa Cruz
Cost/Stipend: $65 non-refundable application fee and program costs $4,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3 - 5 interns
Dates: June 16 - June 20 for the online sessions; June 23 - August 8 for the in-campus sessions and presentation day on August 9
Application Deadline: February 1 - February 28
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 17
This is a summer research program that lets you contribute to research projects in various fields, including science and engineering, while receiving mentorship from USCS researchers. It’s a hands-on introduction to what a research career actually looks like. Throughout the program, you’ll dive into scientific literature, learn to write and run code for data analysis, and develop both written and oral presentations to share your findings. You won’t just observe research, you’ll practice it. With dedicated mentorship and the opportunity to work on meaningful, ongoing projects, this program helps you build foundational skills, explore potential STEM pathways, and understand how researchers tackle big questions in science and engineering.
13. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 7 - July 25, 2025
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 11; despite the program’s name, students of any gender can apply
Hosted by the Stanford Physics Department and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, this program is designed to get high school students, particularly girls, excited about the prospects of having a career in physics. During the three-week program, where you will attend sessions through online video meetings, you will explore topics such as quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology. You will also study Python and learn how to use the coding language in physics projects. The program also schedules college planning and career development workshops.
14. Digital Circuit Design for High Schoolers
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Approximately $325 per session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Course materials are available 3 weeks in the summer and 10 weeks in the fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Accepted all year round
Eligibility: All high school students
In this self-paced program, you will study three units: Analog electronics fundamentals, Digital logic circuits, and Digital circuit design with High-level Description Languages (HLDs). You will have to finish the three courses as a sequence, one after the other, within a three- to nine-month period. The coursework increases your knowledge in digital circuits and also opens various career opportunities within the physics and computer science fields.
15. Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: The application fee costs $35 and each course costs $1,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: August 25 - December 12
Application Deadline: July 28
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12; each course requires familiarity with certain concepts before enrolling
This Stanford program is suitable for high school students who would like to take advanced physics or mathematics classes that are at a university level. Out of the 13 courses offered, there are four physics courses: light and heat, modern physics, intermediate mechanics I, and intermediate mechanics II. While there are allocated times to complete your midterm and final exams, you can study the provided course material at your own speed. You can meet with Stanford professors online during their office hours if you want to clear any doubts in the course. You can earn Stanford University Continuing Studies credit and an official transcript from the university by passing these exams.
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