15 Physics Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
If you're a high school student curious about how the universe works, physics programs are a good way to move beyond classroom lessons. Physics programs combine lab work, computational projects, and mentorship so that you can build practical skills like experimental technique, data analysis, and scientific writing. They also provide opportunities for you to gain industry or research experience by working with faculty, graduate students, or local labs, and to establish connections that can aid future studies or internships.
Reputable universities, state schools, research institutes, and science centres across Massachusetts run programs in physics and related fields, so you can find options that suit different interests and levels of preparation. Students who live in Massachusetts can find convenient, in-person offerings, while out-of-state students can use summer or virtual programs to avail the benefits of such programs in the state.
Below, we've narrowed the field to 15 physics programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
15 Physics Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
1. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 high school students
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (Grade 11) with strong academic records in math and science. Recommended PSAT scores: Math ≥ 740, Reading & Writing ≥ 700
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is a six-week program that combines intensive coursework with independent research. In the first week, you take classes taught by MIT faculty and researchers that cover core STEM skills such as programming, data analysis, and advanced scientific methods. The remaining five weeks are devoted to designing and completing a research project under the guidance of a mentor, giving you direct experience with the research process. Throughout the program, you will also gain practice in writing formal research papers and presenting your findings to peers and faculty. Collaboration is emphasised, with opportunities to exchange ideas with other participants and professional researchers. Since the program is fully funded, it ensures that cost is not a barrier for accepted students.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program —Physics Track
Location: Remote
Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Cost: Varies based on program type
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in high school; students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4); No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, allows high school students to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project. You’ll get guidance to develop a college-level research paper, with additional support from writing coaches. You can choose subjects like physics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, and more. The program ends with a symposium where you can present your research, with the potential for publication.
3. MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE)
Location: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA & MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Approximately 5–7% acceptance rate with around 18–20 students accepted each year
Dates: July 13 – July 26
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: You must be completing your junior year in high school (i.e., be a rising senior)
You’ll spend two focused weeks at MIT, building and testing your own Doppler and range radar systems under the guidance of scientists and engineers at Lincoln Laboratory. Each day brings a mix of technical lectures and assembly work that lets you engage with electromagnetics, signal processing, and circuit design. In the evenings, you’ll stay in MIT dorms, getting an authentic feel for campus life and a sense of how research environments operate. The program pushes you to use creative problem-solving in tackling engineering challenges, all while working side-by-side with professionals in the field. Although highly competitive, with only about 20 spots available each year, participation offers a unique hands-on introduction to applied physics and radar technology.
4. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
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; see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. You can choose either quantitative or qualitative research methods. After selecting your track, you’ll collaborate one-on-one with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a leading university to develop a 20-page research paper, suitable for journal submission. The program provides specialised field knowledge, expert guidance, a recommendation letter, and feedback to improve future projects and college applications. Apply now for this unique opportunity!
5. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Various NASA locations across the country
Cost/Stipend: Free; a stipend will be provided based on academic level and session duration.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: More than 2000 students accepted annually
Dates: Exact dates vary based on the internship. Summer session runs for approximately 10 weeks from late May or early June through August; Fall session lasts approximately 16 weeks from late August or early September to mid-December
Application Deadline: February 28 (Summer); May 16 (Fall); September 12 (Spring)
Eligibility: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old, and a full-time high school student maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
You’ll be placed in STEM settings across NASA’s facilities, where you will work alongside research scientists, engineers, and other professionals, all eager to help you contribute to NASA’s mission. You will often spend your time working full-time during the week, engaging in tasks like analysing mission data, modelling physical systems, or helping develop engineering solutions. You will also benefit from structured workshops and training on research methods, workplace safety, and career development, building both technical capabilities and professional skills. Depending on the specific placement, some opportunities may be offered remotely, though many require your presence at a NASA centre. By collaborating on projects and learning from professionals, you will experience what working in a research-driven environment looks like. Through this program, you will gain a clear sense of how your scientific and analytical skills can be used in the context of space exploration and innovation.
6. MITES — MIT Introduction to Engineering and Science
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free (no cost to participants)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Approximately 60–80 students are selected each year; the program is highly competitive
Dates: Six-week residential program; typically run from early June through mid-July
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a rising high school junior (completing 11th grade)
You’ll spend six intensive weeks living on MIT’s campus, taking college-level courses in physics, mathematics, life sciences, humanities, and a project-based elective, giving you a well-rounded STEM foundation. Your physics coursework places you in core areas like mechanics, electromagnetism, or more advanced topics, depending on your placement, allowing you to engage deeply with challenging concepts. Through collaborative projects, whether in electronics, architecture, genomics, or engineering design, you will apply theoretical learning to problem-solving. Living among other motivated peers on campus immerses you in college-style academics and life, offering exposure to the MIT environment. While the program is selective, drawing applicants from across the country, being accepted places you in a cohort of around 60–80 students, making it both intimate and robust in its learning setting.
7. Northeastern University – Young Scholar Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA (in-person, commuter-only)
Cost: Free; no tuition or fees required. You remain responsible only for commuting costs.
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: Applications open December 15 and close March 2
Eligibility: You must be a Massachusetts resident attending school in MA (within commuting distance of Northeastern), a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and entering 12th grade in Fall (i.e. a rising senior). A minimum GPA of 3.5 is expected.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Over 350 applicants competed for 32 spots, making the acceptance rate roughly 9%, underscoring its competitiveness.
You’ll spend six weeks working in Northeastern’s research labs, immersed in hands-on projects across disciplines like engineering, environmental science, computational modelling, and physical chemistry. Each week combines laboratory work with a seminar series introducing you to topics ranging from lasers and superconductivity to robotics, giving breadth to your scientific exposure. You’ll also attend field trips to local STEM organisations and companies, bringing context and a real-world perspective to your lab endeavours. Beyond technical skills, you'll participate in career counselling and sessions that ease your transition to college life, helping you navigate academic pathways and potential majors. Though the program comes at no cost, admission is competitive, welcoming only about 32 of over 350 applicants each year. By the end, you'll walk away with research experience, professional insight, and a clearer sense of your STEM future.
8. UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College: Modern Astronomy
Location: UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA (Residential or commuter options available)
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $3,907; Commuter: $2,262 (includes tuition, room & board); plus $45 application fee
Dates: July 27 – August 9
Application Deadline: Program is now full.
Eligibility: Current high school students entering grades 10–12, ages 14–18; no prior Python experience needed
You’ll explore astrophysical topics like star life cycles and galaxy formation in lectures and study sessions, bringing astronomy into your learning environment. In a project-based component, you’ll analyse sky images and conduct simple observational research using Python programming, even if you’ve never coded before. Faculty-led classes and scientific tools help you understand both theoretical and practical aspects of modern astronomy. Whether you live on campus or commute, you experience college-level STEM learning and join a community of other motivated students. By the end, you’ll have a foundational understanding of astrophysical phenomena and the analytical skills to interpret real astronomical data.
9. Northeastern University Exploring Modern Physics Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: $6,895 including program tuition, course materials, housing, meals, and social activities. Need-based financial aid is available in the form of scholarships or program discounts.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: A typical size is 15-30 students per program.
Dates: July 20 – August 1.
Application Deadlines: January 15 (priority); February 28 (regular)
Eligibility: You should understand linear momentum and its conservation, energy conservation in collisions, and basic trigonometry. Calculus is not required.
You’ll explore foundational concepts in modern physics through a mix of lectures, guest presentations, and lab work that dives deeper than typical AP courses. You’ll observe cosmic rays using a cloud chamber and measure their properties with an electronic muon counter, connecting theory to observable phenomena. Topics covered include special relativity, quantum mechanics, particle physics, cosmology, radioactivity, and practical applications like nuclear energy and climate modelling. The program equips you to articulate your academic interests in terms that resonate with university admissions in STEM fields. With a conceptual approach that minimises advanced math, it aims to deepen your understanding without requiring calculus, but still challenges your scientific thinking.
10. Harvard’s Pre-College Summer School Program for High School Students (CS Programs)
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (on campus, residential)
Cost: $5,800 program fee (covers tuition, housing, meals, activities, and insurance) + $75 non-refundable application fee. Need-based scholarships are available.
Dates: Three two-week sessions: Session I: June 21 – July 2; Session II: July 5 – 17; Session III: July 19 – 31
Application Deadlines: Early (priority for scholarship): January 7; Regular: February 11
Late (if space remains): April 1
Eligibility: Must be a rising high school junior or senior, aged 16–18 by program start, and not turn 19 before July 31
You’ll spend two weeks living on Harvard’s campus and attending a college-level, non-credit course with several physics-related options like "Introduction to Quantum Physics" and "Physics of Renewable Energy" available. Through your course, you’ll attend lectures and engage in classroom work that introduces advanced topics like quantum mechanics, relativity, or the physics behind renewable energy technologies. Outside of academics, you’ll participate in workshops and seminars aimed at strengthening your note-taking, time management, and admissions-related skills (like essay writing and understanding financial aid). You’ll also join social events and outings that help you navigate the residential college experience in a low-pressure environment. At the end of the program, you'll receive a written instructor evaluation and a Harvard Summer School transcript noting whether you "Met Requirements" (AR) or "Did Not Meet Requirements" (NM), which can be a helpful supplement to your college applications.
11. Boston Leadership Institute – Applied Physics & Engineering
Location: Olin College / Wellesley, MA (Greater Wellesley area)
Cost/Stipend: $2,500(Day) | $2,097 (Residential)
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students with a strong interest in physics or engineering applications are required to submit an academic transcript, an essay, and a teacher recommendation.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not publicly published
You’ll spend three weeks learning physics and engineering as you design, build, and test model aeroplanes, exploring forces like lift, thrust, drag, and how aerodynamic control surfaces influence flight. Daily lectures and labs introduce the physics behind aerodynamics, including acceleration, centripetal force, and g-force, while hands-on projects let you apply those principles in action. You’ll work with instructors experienced in physics and engineering education, turning abstract equations into planes that can actually fly. You may also take part in outings or group activities tied to aerospace themes, getting a broader view of how engineering projects unfold. Through this selective program, you learn by doing, collaborating with peers, and gaining insight into STEM problem-solving in environments similar to research labs or technical studio spaces. Though competitive to enter, the program’s interactive and project-based nature helps you build both conceptual understanding and practical skills in applied physics.
12. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual (held online via video chat)
Cost: Free — no tuition, fees, or equipment required.
Dates: July 7 – 25 (Monday through Friday)
Application Deadline: Applications are now closed. Typically, around early May
Eligibility: You must be a high school student in grades 9 through 11 at the time you apply. Students from outside the U.S. are eligible to apply. Preference is given to rising seniors and those from under-resourced backgrounds. All genders are welcome to apply.
You’ll spend three weeks participating in live virtual sessions where lectures are delivered by Stanford physics professors and researchers from the Kavli Institute, all via video chat. You’ll learn foundational physics topics that include quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology, all without needing prior experience in physics or coding. You’ll code in Python and then apply those skills to physics-oriented projects, working collaboratively in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates. Alongside the academics, you’ll attend workshops on college planning and career development, and establish mentorship connections with Stanford students and faculty. By the end of the program, you’ll walk away not just with new scientific insight but meaningful support for your future academic path in physics.
13. Stanford’s SHTEM: Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No program fee; application fee (typically $50); limited financial assistance may be available
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors (11th or 12th grade) or full-time community college students in their first three years; applicants must be at least 14 by program start; international students are eligible
Stanford’s SHTEM (Summer Internships for High Schoolers and Community College Students) is an eight-week virtual program where small groups of high school and early community college students collaborate on interdisciplinary research projects. Mentors, including Stanford students, faculty, and staff from the Stanford Compression Forum, guide teams through inquiry spanning fields like physics, computer science, psychology, biology, neuroscience, engineering, design, philosophy, and the arts. Students develop research and teamwork skills, with structured learning through daily workshops and regular mentor sessions. While unpaid, the program does not charge a participation fee, and students experiencing financial hardship may request support. The program concludes with presentation opportunities, letting students share their research outcomes in a formal setting.
14. University of Maryland MathQuantum Fellowship
Location: Fully virtual (online)
Cost: Free — fully funded program
Dates: July 25 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Open to high school students with an interest in mathematics, computer science, physics, or quantum information science; no prior experience required
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Cohort size is 10.
You’ll participate in a two-week online program that explores the foundations of quantum information science (QIS), blending mathematics, physics, and computing. Through lectures, seminars, and interactive activities, you’ll deepen your understanding of quantum concepts, even if you’re new to the field. You’ll work on a mini-project under mentorship from professionals in the QIS space, gaining hands-on experience with meaningful research applications. As a participant, you’ll also receive guidance on exploring further opportunities in quantum science, such as access to the Quantum Computing Summer Camp if selected. By the end of the program, you’ll have expanded both your conceptual understanding and confidence in this cutting-edge domain.
15. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering Program (RISE) – Internship Track
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Application fee (around $50), plus tuition and services; residential and commuter cost details can vary depending on boarding and meals.
Dates: June 29 – August 8 (residential); June 30 – August 8 (commuter)
Application Deadline: February 14 (applications due by 11:59 pm EST; recommendations due by February 21)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering senior year of high school in fall (i.e., rising seniors)
Boston University’s RISE Internship Track is a six-week program where rising high school seniors engage in full-time, in-depth laboratory research, typically around 40 hours per week, with mentorship from faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or graduate students, giving you a direct window into university-level scientific investigation. You may choose research in fields like astronomy, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, engineering (electrical, mechanical), mathematics, medical laboratory research, neuroscience, physics, psychology, public health, earth and environmental science, statistics, and more. Weekly workshops are an integral supplement focused on topics such as the scientific process, research ethics, how to read and discuss scientific papers, scientific communication (like making research posters), and networking within the scientific community. These sessions also include practice with scientific writing and guidance on college admissions and pre-professional health pathways. The program culminates in a Poster Symposium on August 8, where you will present your research results; some students also move forward by submitting their work to national competitions like the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
If you’re 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 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalised projects. In the past year, we have had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - NASA logo