15 Programs for High School Students in Chicago
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring new academic or creative fields, summer programs in Chicago can offer an engaging way to do so. These programs give you the chance to work on projects, learn from experienced mentors, and gain early exposure to college-level study and professional environments. Many also emphasize collaboration, helping you connect with motivated peers while building confidence and practical skills that prepare you for future opportunities.
Why should you attend a program in Chicago?
Chicago’s network of universities, cultural institutions, and industry organizations makes it an ideal place for students to explore a variety of academic and creative fields. Depending on your interests, you might conduct research in university labs, design projects, analyze business challenges, or contribute to community-focused initiatives. Whether you live in the city or are visiting the city, studying in Chicago gives you the chance to learn in an environment that blends academic rigor with cultural diversity and professional exposure.
Below, we’ve narrowed down 15 programs for high school students in Chicago.
If you are interested in research opportunities in Chicago, check out our blog here.
1. UChicago Medicine ResearcHStart
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Max. 30 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
In ResearcHStart, you join a team of high school students working alongside cancer researchers on active laboratory projects. You gain hands-on experience in techniques used in biophysics, immunology, bioengineering, and other areas central to cancer science. Daily lab work is paired with workshops that build skills in scientific communication, data analysis, and professional development. Regular lectures from faculty introduce you to current topics in cancer research and help contextualize the work you’re doing. The program culminates in a research symposium where you present your findings and reflect on what you’ve learned.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students. The AI Fellowship requires completion of the AI Scholars program or prior experience with Python
Veritas AI’s programs for high school students introduce you to the core concepts and tools behind artificial intelligence and machine learning. In the AI Scholars track, you build a foundation in programming and data analysis as you work with peers to design and implement AI systems for real-world problems. The AI Fellowship advances this work by placing you in a one-on-one mentorship setting, where you work on a novel AI project of your choosing. Both tracks integrate instruction on ethical implications and responsible use of AI technologies. The emphasis throughout is on developing both theoretical understanding and practical experience with AI workflows.
3. UChicago’s DSI Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20-25 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicago area
The DSI Summer Lab places you in an interdisciplinary research setting where data science is applied to real academic and policy questions. You are paired with a mentor and a project aligned with your interests, allowing you to contribute meaningfully regardless of prior research experience. Over the course of the program, you develop skills in data analysis, research methodology, and collaborative problem-solving. Projects span multiple domains, including public policy, biomedical research, climate studies, and social science. The structure is ideal for high school students in Chicago interested in practical research workflows rather than classroom-style instruction.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program centers on independent research projects guided by expert mentors. You begin by identifying a topic of interest and then design your own inquiry with structured support, learning how to formulate testable questions and appropriate methods. Weekly meetings with researchers help you refine your approach and interpret data as your project evolves. The program also includes sessions on research communication, teaching you how to write about findings clearly and present them to a scientific audience. By the end of the program, you will have produced a substantial piece of research that reflects both your initiative and analytical skills.
5. Field Museum High School Science and Digital Learning Internship
Location: Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Dates: Late June – early August
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students living in the Chicagoland region
This program for high school students in Chicago allows you to work as junior scientists within the museum's collections and research departments. You’ll be paired with museum experts to work on a 5-week research project using the museum's world-class artifacts and specimens. In addition to scientific research, the program focuses on digital media skills, teaching you how to communicate your findings through modern technology. It provides a unique behind-the-scenes look at museum operations and scientific curation.
6. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Various institutions in Chicago, IL
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~125 students
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who live in Chicago with a minimum B average and a family household income below $80,000/year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute introduces you to professional environments connected to business and financial services. You gain exposure to workplace expectations, professional communication, and foundational business concepts through hands-on experience. You develop practical skills by engaging with real tasks and observing how teams function in professional settings. Alongside this exposure, the program highlights the relationship between education and long-term career preparation. The experience is designed to help you understand what working in business-related fields involves on a day-to-day level.
7. After School Matters
Location: Various locations across Chicago
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring, summer, and fall sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Chicago residents aged 14-18
After School Matters offers programs for high school students in Chicago that introduce them to practical skills across arts, STEM, communication, leadership, and sports. You can choose from apprenticeships or assistantship-style experiences that emphasize applied learning over traditional instruction. Programs are structured around producing tangible work, often in collaboration with peers and mentors. Through these experiences, you build workplace-relevant skills such as teamwork, time management, and project execution.
8. Adler Planetarium Far Horizons Teens
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The previous cohort had 13 students
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Chicago high school students
Far Horizons Teens is a program for high school students in Chicago that engages them in a long-term scientific investigation focused on light pollution and its environmental impact. You participate in data collection and observation using scientific tools to monitor changes in local ecosystems. The program emphasizes inquiry-driven research, encouraging you to ask questions and test hypotheses collaboratively. In addition to fieldwork, you learn how to interpret findings and communicate results to public audiences. Science communication plays a central role, including presentations and creative projects tied to the research.
9. Chicago Shakespeare SLAM
Location: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: >150 students
Dates: Typically September – December
Application Deadline: Registration opens in the fall
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicagoland area
Chicago Shakespeare SLAM brings you into an ensemble-based environment centered on performance, collaboration, and close reading of Shakespeare’s text. You work with peers from different schools to explore language, rhythm, and interpretation through guided workshops. The program introduces practical performance techniques and tools for analyzing dramatic structure and character. After initial instruction, you apply these skills by preparing scenes as part of a team. Public performance is a core component, giving you experience in presenting creative work to a live audience.
10. Chicago Botanic Garden’s Science Career Continuum
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None; College First participants will receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 3-, 4-, and 7-week programs in the summer
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school freshmen or sophomores (Science First)/rising juniors or seniors (College First) enrolled in a Chicago Public School
The Science Career Continuum offers a progression of science-focused programs that introduce you to environmental research at increasing levels of depth. Science First emphasizes hands-on learning in biology, ecology, and environmental systems through group-based projects. The College First program shifts toward research design, data collection, and long-term inquiry in environmental science. You work collaboratively and present findings to public audiences, reinforcing both scientific reasoning and communication skills. Mentorship and academic support are integrated throughout the experience.
11. Illinois Tech Elevate College Prep Summer Programs
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions across June and July
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep programs expose you to a range of STEM subjects through structured coursework and applied projects. You explore topics such as programming, robotics, sustainability, and research methods while developing technical and analytical skills. Learning takes place through hands-on activities that emphasize experimentation and problem-solving. The programs are designed to mirror aspects of college-level learning without assuming prior specialization. This approach allows you to sample multiple disciplines before narrowing your academic interests.
12. Summer at Columbia
Location: Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $3,650 (commuter); $5,820 (residential); limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: June 29 – July 24
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are 15-18 years old
This four-week intensive is designed for high school students in Chicago looking to build a professional-level portfolio in arts and media. Course offerings include Cinema and Television Production, Sustainable Fashion, and Game Development. You earn college credit while working in professional studios and using the same equipment as Columbia’s undergraduates. The program is taught by working artists and media practitioners, providing you with a direct link to the creative industries in Chicago. It focuses on actually practicing art, with daily lab or studio time followed by critique sessions.
13. SHARP! (Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program)
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $3,500 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 11-month program
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Students who are 16+
SHARP! is an intensive program for high school students in Chicago focused on biomedical investigation at the intersection of AI, robotics, and tissue engineering. The summer portion consists of a six-week laboratory apprenticeship where you work on real-world research projects alongside UIC faculty. Beyond lab work, you’ll participate in the Biomed Breakthrough Challenge and workshops on robotic surgery skills and emergency medicine. The program continues through the academic year with monthly professional development and culminates in a research challenge.
14. UChicago 3 Week Immersion
Location: University of Chicago. Chicago, IL
Cost: $9,300 (residential); $6,100 (commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 13 – August 3; Session 2: August 5 – 24
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: 9th, 10th, and 11th graders who are 14+ years old
The UChicago 3 Week Immersion gives you a focused period to delve deeply into a subject through structured coursework and interactive activities. You engage in undergraduate-level classes designed to build both foundational knowledge and analytical skills in areas ranging from creative writing to economic theory. Throughout the three weeks, faculty and researchers lead workshop discussions that emphasize critical thinking and hands-on exploration. You’ll also undertake projects that require you to apply ideas in practical ways, reinforcing concepts introduced in lectures.
15. HiArch Summer High School Architecture Program
Location: UIC School of Architecture, Chicago, IL
Cost: $450 (1 week); $650 (2 weeks); scholarships available to Chicago Public High School students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week 1: July 21 – 25; Week 2: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
HiArch introduces high school students to the culture and practice of architecture through a series of intensive design exercises. You start with foundational skills like hand-drawing and physical model-making before moving into digital drafting and 3D modeling software. The program is taught by UIC faculty and current architecture students, providing a realistic look at the undergraduate studio experience. You’ll also receive one-on-one feedback on your work, helping you build a visual portfolio for college applications. The program concludes with a public exhibition of student designs.
Image source - University of Chicago