15 Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
Structured programs can be your chance to go beyond textbooks and dive into your interests. These programs blend academics with hands-on experience, helping you pick up practical skills, build professional connections, and explore potential career paths long before college begins. As a participant, instead of just studying concepts, you get to apply them—whether that means running experiments in a lab, addressing real-world problems, or working side by side with university mentors. Many such opportunities are hosted by leading institutions, allowing you to gain valuable college and career insights and learn from experts.
Why should you attend a program in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is home to universities and organizations that offer you learning opportunities. From opportunities at biotechnology labs in Worcester to programs led by innovation hubs in Boston and Cambridge, you can explore higher education and gain industry insights at the same time. Whether you’re a local or an out-of-state student, a Massachusetts program can be a great way to build new skills while exploring the academic hub in the state.
To help you with your search, here are 15 programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
If you are looking for internships in Massachusetts, check out our blog here.
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~3–5%; 100 students/year
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors worldwide
The Research Science Institute at MIT is a six-week, fully funded summer program that combines academic coursework with mentored research for 100 of the world’s top high school students. The experience begins with a week of STEM classes taught by leading faculty. Then, you will move on to hands-on research, working within laboratories on your project. You will study current scientific literature, conduct experiments, and prepare both written and oral reports of your findings, following the complete research process from start to finish. Throughout the program, you will attend lectures and seminars, go on field trips, and participate in social events. The program concludes with a conference-style symposium where you will formally present your projects to mentors, scientists, and fellow scholars.
2. Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: January 31; applications open on November 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates who are living or studying in Massachusetts during the program and have U.S. work authorization
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital is a full-time, paid internship designed for students interested in neuroscience and medical research. Spanning six weeks, the program begins with an onboarding “bootcamp” that covers research ethics, laboratory safety, and professional conduct before allowing you to join faculty-led neurology labs. Within labs, you will spend 40 hours per week assisting with ongoing studies under the mentorship of MGH researchers and attending weekly seminars led by neurologists and neuroscientists. The schedule includes field trips, networking sessions, and interactive workshops designed to build both scientific and professional skills. The program concludes with final presentations where you will share your research outcomes with mentors and peers. Following the summer engagement, you will continue to receive long-term support through advising and networking opportunities as a program alumnus.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12- to 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; you can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school; AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program or have some experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers high school students a chance to explore artificial intelligence through guided, project-based learning with mentors from top universities. The AI Scholars program runs 10 live sessions, introducing you to AI theory and practical applications. Here, you will learn how to work with datasets, train models, and interpret results using real-world examples. For advanced learners, the AI Fellowship allows one-on-one mentorship to design an independent research project from scratch, complete with opportunities for publication or participation in a student showcase. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
4. Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
Location: Ragon Institute, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission; small cohort
Dates: Seven weeks; June – August
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising and graduating seniors who are 16 or older and are attending or have attended schools in Boston, Cambridge, Brockton, Everett, Revere, Lynn, Chelsea, or other Massachusetts Gateway cities; college students are also eligible.
The Ragon Institute Summer Experience introduces high school students to the basics of immunology and biomedical research through mentored internships. During the seven-week program, you will spend around 25 hours each week in one of the institute’s research labs, gaining hands-on experience under the guidance of faculty mentors. The experience begins with a week-long orientation covering lab safety, institutional goals, and workplace expectations. In addition to lab work, you will attend an “Introduction to Immunology” course, journal clubs, and lectures from researchers. You will also engage in workshops on college readiness, resume writing, and career planning, and field trips to nearby science institutions. The STEM program for high school students in Massachusetts concludes with a presentation session, where you will share your work with the broader Ragon community.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies based on the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June). Options range from 12 weeks to a year, based on the format you choose.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort—January deadline for Spring cohort, May deadlines for Summer cohorts, September deadlines for Fall cohorts, and November deadline for Winter cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects high school students with Ph.D. mentors for an online research experience focused on independent inquiry and academic writing. You can choose a research topic within a field of interest, whether that is an area in STEM, social science, health, arts, business, or communication. Within your chosen track, you will work one-on-one with your mentor to craft a research question, conduct a literature review, analyze data, and produce a detailed academic paper. Meetings are flexible and tailored to your schedule, allowing you to access consistent feedback while maintaining academic rigor. The program is focused on helping you practice critical thinking and scholarly communication, to prepare you to publish or submit your work to competitions. You can find more details about the application here
6. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard’s Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $3,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: Late January; applications open in mid-November.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance to the Broad Institute; applicants must have a grade of B or better in science and math classes. U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or work authorization is required.
BSSP offers high school students the opportunity to engage in original research alongside scientists at the Broad Institute, a joint venture between MIT and Harvard. You will join a research group as well as work on an independent project in fields such as chemical biology, psychiatric disease, infectious disease, cancer biology, or computational genomics. Additionally, you will attend lectures, career panels, and workshops on data analysis and presentation design. You will also attend a college fair and social events. The program ends with a poster session, where you will present your findings to the Broad research community.
7. √Mathroots @ MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 1 – 15
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or attending high school in the U.S. (before the last year of high school) who are between the ages of 14 and 18
√Mathroots is a free, two-week residential mathematics program hosted by MIT PRIMES for students with a strong interest in problem-solving. You will engage in lectures, collaborative workshops, and group problem-solving sessions led by experienced instructors and mentors. Guest lectures led by mathematicians will provide broader insight into mathematical research and competition problem-solving approaches. The focus of the program is on offering you instruction and the opportunity to explore elegant mathematical ideas and cultivate analytical thinking. The program also emphasizes offering access to a community of like-minded peers who share a passion for discovering new ways of reasoning and problem-solving.
8. UMass Chan High School Health Careers Program
Location: UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~15–20 students/year
Dates: June 28 – July 24
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are Massachusetts residents enrolled in Massachusetts high schools
The High School Health Careers Program at UMass Chan Medical School is a four-week residential initiative for Massachusetts high school sophomores and juniors interested in healthcare, biotechnology, and biomedical research. You will live on campus and take courses in biology, math, IT, and communication, paired with seminars on cultural and public health issues. You will gain firsthand exposure to the medical field through observer internships with healthcare professionals and field trips to research and clinical sites. A central component of the program is the Health Disparities Research Project, which examines healthcare inequities across cultural groups in the state. Regular assessments and faculty feedback help track your progress. You will receive both a stipend and a Certificate of Achievement upon completing the program.
9. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend availability varies by year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; cohort size varies by year
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are permanent residents of Massachusetts and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program is a six-week summer research experience for high school students across Massachusetts interested in science, engineering, or health fields. You will be placed in a university lab and work under the guidance of faculty and graduate mentors on ongoing research in areas such as robotics, chemistry, or biomedical engineering. Alongside lab work, you will attend seminars led by Northeastern faculty, explore STEM career paths, and participate in site visits to local industries and research facilities. The program also offers college and career advising sessions to help you plan future academic steps. Your experience will culminate in a poster presentation, allowing you to share your findings with peers, faculty, and family members.
10. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 1 – August 15 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: March 31 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years of age by the start of the program and reside in Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, or Quincy, MA
The TUBERS program offers high school students a six-week opportunity to work in biomedical engineering labs under the mentorship of faculty and graduate researchers. You will explore how engineering principles apply to biological systems, conducting experiments on cells, tissues, or biomaterials, depending on your assigned lab. You will gain experience with research methods such as microscopy, computational modeling, or mechanical testing while contributing to ongoing projects. At the end of TUBERS, you will present your work to the Tufts community. You may also submit your project to local or national science competitions.
11. MITES Summer
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; national cohort of ~60–80 students
Dates: Late June – early August (six weeks)
Application deadline: Early February; applications open in the fall
Eligibility: Students in their junior year of high school who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
MITES Summer is a free six-week program that allows high schoolers to live and learn at MIT. You will take courses in math, science, and humanities designed to help you prepare for college-level STEAM study. Additionally, you will participate in lab tours, seminars, and workshops, and choose from electives like machine learning, electronics, genomics, and architecture. The program also offers college admissions guidance, networking opportunities, and field trips across the Greater Boston area.
12. MIT’s Women’s Technology Program (WTP): Mechanical Engineering
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with a family income of under $120,000; tiered pricing starts at $2,000 for other applicants. You can check the details here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 20 students/year out of 300+ applications
Dates: June 27 – July 25
Application deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with strong math/science ability, little to no prior engineering experience; women and underrepresented students in STEM are encouraged to apply
The Women’s Technology Program in Mechanical Engineering at MIT is a four-week academic and research experience designed for high school students who have had limited exposure to engineering. Under the guidance of MIT graduate and undergraduate instructors, you’ll explore topics such as thermodynamics, materials science, fluid mechanics, and mechanical design through lectures, labs, and collaborative projects. The program offers hands-on learning opportunities, allowing you to engage in activities such as building cranes, assembling circuits, and using CAD tools like SolidWorks for modeling. Team-based projects allow you to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems while improving your technical skills. Workshops in woodworking, electronics, and design help round out the experience.
13. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Virtual and in-person at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None for students belonging to families earning under $150,000; $2,350 for others
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Online courses: Early February – mid-June | In-person/online summer program: Early July – early August
Application deadline: Typically, the end of March
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year who are U.S. citizens
The Beaver Works Summer Institute at MIT is a four-week intensive program that introduces high school students to engineering and computer science through project-based learning. Before arriving on campus, you will complete online preparatory coursework covering programming, control systems, and foundational technical concepts. During the in-person session, you will enroll in courses like autonomous drones, robotics, cybersecurity, and AI, learning how to apply classroom theory to hands-on projects. You will work in teams to design, build, and test systems while receiving mentorship from MIT faculty and Lincoln Laboratory researchers. Each course concludes with a capstone project or competition, allowing you to showcase your work.
14. Harvard Secondary School Program
Location: Virtual or on-campus at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,180 – $15,735 + $75 application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – August 8 (residential) | June 20 – August 8 (residential/online/commuter)
Application deadline: January 7 (early); February 11 (regular); April 1 (late)
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, ages 16 – 18
Harvard University’s Secondary School Program allows high school students to experience college-level academics through intensive four- or seven-week courses for credit. You can choose from over 200 college-level credit-bearing courses across more than 50 subject areas, including psychology, computer science, creative writing, and neuroscience. Depending on the format you choose, you will study on campus, commute from home, or participate entirely online in live lectures. Courses are taught by Harvard faculty and visiting scholars, providing exposure to rigorous college coursework and discussion-based learning. Outside of academics, the program includes optional workshops, social activities, and college readiness sessions that help you adapt to university life. Upon completion, you will earn official Harvard credits and a transcript.
15. Boston College Experience (BCE)
Location: Virtual or in person at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Cost: Starts at $1,800; tuition varies by program type. Check details here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 30 – July 11; Session 2: July 14 – July 25; Session 3: July 28 – August 8
Application deadline: TBA in December
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 15 – 18 by program start
BCE offers high school students opportunities to experience college life while engaging in coursework and accessing faculty mentorship. Here, you will choose from non-credit courses taught by Boston College faculty in subjects like leadership, business, economics, psychiatry, philosophy, and creative writing. Additionally, BCE offers workshops on resume writing, networking, and college admissions, preparing you for higher education and the workplace. The residential format offers complete campus access and structured weekend trips throughout Boston, while commuter and online options offer flexible participation.
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