15 Programs for High School Students in Virginia
If you're a high school student looking to explore academic interests beyond what's available during the school year, a structured program can be a good option to explore. These programs often combine coursework, research, or project-based work with mentor guidance, helping you build skills, gain exposure to new material, and develop connections. Whether your interests lie in the sciences, humanities, business, or the arts, these programs can help you test out a field before deciding to pursue it further.
Why should you attend a program in Virginia?
Virginia offers programs through institutions like George Mason University, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary. Depending on the program you choose, you could conduct research in a university lab, explore agricultural or environmental science in the field, or study arts and humanities through a college-level course. Whether you live in Virginia or are coming from out of state, you can find a program suited to your interests and experience level.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 programs for high school students in Virginia.
If you’re looking for STEM research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span scientific research, engineering, agriculture, environmental science, dentistry, arts, and history, so students with a wide range of interests can find a relevant option in Virginia.
Several programs are free, including VGSA at Virginia Tech, UVA Wise Governor's School, NOVA E-Summer, and VCU Dental Careers Exploration, while others, such as ASSIP, offer full fee waivers based on financial need.
Programs vary from one-week intensives (VCU Dental, Mason Musical Theater) to multi-month research commitments (ASSIP, Veritas AI, Lumiere), so students can choose based on their availability and depth of interest.
Application deadlines range from February (VGSA) to June (NIAHD Session 2), with several programs, such as Schar School Young Scholars and UVA Inspire Summer, accepting rolling applications year-round.
1. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) – George Mason University
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (in-person or remote)
Cost: $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits; $25 application fee; both fees fully waivable based on financial need
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; competitive; mentors select students after reviewing applications and conducting interviews
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: Typically late January; check website for current cycle
Eligibility: High school students ages 15+; Virginia students can attend in person or remotely; open to domestic and international students
ASSIP pairs students one-on-one with George Mason University faculty mentors for an eight-week research internship across a wide range of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, environmental science, machine learning, cybersecurity, data science, and engineering. Students work full-time on an original research project throughout the program, earning three college credits from GMU upon completion. Virginia students have the added option of attending in person on GMU's Fairfax campus. Past intern research has been published in scientific journals and presented at conferences, and some students have gone on to file patents based on their ASSIP work.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students | The AI Fellowship requires completion of the AI Scholars program or experience with Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Virginia Governor’s School for Agriculture (VGSA)
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 100 students
Dates: June - July
Application Deadline: School/county applications vary (typically in December) | the final program deadline is February 25
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
This four-week program for high school students in Virginia provides an academic deep-dive into modern agricultural science. You select a focus area such as animal science, plant science, agricultural economics, or agricultural engineering and work in laboratories and field research sites to gain hands-on experience. The program includes seminars led by university faculty on global food security, biotechnology, and sustainable resource management. In addition to classroom learning, you’ll participate in field trips to commercial farms and research stations across the state. The experience concludes with a group research project where you present your findings to peers and faculty.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. UVA Wise Governor’s School Program
Location: Breaks Interstate Park & UVA Wise, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students
Dates: June 7 - 21
Application Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders from select Southwest Virginia school divisions and cities, including Wise, Scott, Lee, Dickenson, Buchanan, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Pulaski, Russell, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wythe, Floyd, Patrick, Norton, Radford, Bristol, and Galax
The Governor's School for Natural Sciences at UVA Wise is a free two-week residential program that takes students into the field and laboratory to explore the natural sciences hands-on. The first week is spent camping at Breaks Interstate Park, with mornings dedicated to field experiments and activities covering ecology, forestry, botany, geology, paleontology, and environmental microbiology. The second week moves to the UVA Wise campus, continuing laboratory work and field trips, including a cave tour at Natural Tunnel State Park. Students are loaned iPads throughout the program and are supervised by program instructors and residential counselors for the full two weeks.
6. NOVA E-Summer Program
Location: Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas/Loudoun, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Lottery-based
Dates: June 22 - July 29
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (16+ years) who meet the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) readiness standards for enrollment
This dual enrollment program introduces high school students to STEM careers with a focus on the energy industry. You attend classes on campus twice a week while earning college credit through Northern Virginia Community College. The curriculum covers topics such as power generation, renewable energy technology, and the electrical grid's engineering requirements. You’ll also visit local energy facilities and participate in seminars led by industry professionals from companies such as Dominion Energy. The program helps students build technical knowledge while providing an early introduction to college-level coursework and careers in the energy and engineering sectors.
7. VCU Dental Careers Exploration
Location: VCU School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 - 17
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents, have completed the 9th grade, and have a GPA of 3.0+ | Students outside the Richmond area will be responsible for their own housing/transportation if accepted
This program introduces high school students in Virginia to the clinical and academic aspects of dentistry and dental hygiene. You spend time in the VCU School of Dentistry labs performing hands-on technical tasks such as tooth carving, taking dental impressions, and practicing basic suturing techniques. The curriculum covers the job responsibilities and educational requirements for general dentists and various specialists, including orthodontists and oral surgeons. You also learn digital dentistry tools and modern imaging technology used in contemporary dental practices. The week concludes with a closing event that highlights the professional pathways available within oral healthcare.
8. Schar School Young Scholars Research Program
Location: George Mason University, Arlington/Fairfax/Prince William, VA
Cost/Stipend: Varies by project
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by project
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This program pairs high school students with faculty mentors to conduct university-level research in fields such as political science, bioinformatics, cybersecurity, astronomy, environmental science, and others. You learn formal research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and scientific inference. A significant portion of the program is dedicated to the actual writing and refinement of a professional-quality scholarly research paper. Unlike traditional summer enrichment programs, this is an academic internship that focuses on the publication-track research process.
9. Youth Conservation Camp
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost/Stipend: $550 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70 students
Dates: July 12 - 18
Application Deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Virginia 9th to 12th graders
Sponsored by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, this camp is focused on natural resource management. Most of the learning takes place outdoors, where you will work with conservation professionals to study topics such as forestry, wildlife, and water quality. Activities include canoeing on the New River to study aquatic life and visiting local watersheds to observe conservation infrastructure. You’ll also participate in laboratory sessions led by Virginia Tech faculty to learn about soil composition and environmental engineering. The program is designed for high school students in Virginia who are interested in careers in environmental protection and public policy.
10. National Institute of American History & Democracy (NIAHD) Pre-College History Program
Location: William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Cost/Stipend: $6,950 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 100 students
Dates: Session 1: June 21 - July 11 | Session 2: July 12 - August 1
Application Deadline: May 15 (Session 1) | June 6 (Session 2)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and college freshmen
This three-week residential program immerses students in Early American History through William & Mary and Colonial Williamsburg. You take a full-credit college course that uses the surrounding historic sites and museums as its primary laboratory. The curriculum involves visiting archaeological digs, analyzing primary source documents in the university archives, and participating in seminars led by history faculty. You learn the methods of historical research and interpretation while living in the university’s historic campus housing. The program concludes with a major research project based on original 18th-century materials.
11. Virginia Tech C-Tech²
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 28 - July 11
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
C-Tech² is a residential program that introduces high school students to the diverse fields within the Virginia Tech College of Engineering. You’ll spend your days in university laboratories and participate in hands-on activities such as coding, structural testing, and chemical engineering processing. The program includes workshops on the engineering design process, from initial brainstorming to building prototypes and testing solutions. Faculty members and current engineering students serve as mentors, providing insight into the academic and career pathways in STEM. As part of the program, you’ll also complete a biomedical engineering design project supported by Bloomberg Industry Group.
12. Jefferson Lab High School Summer Honors Program
Location: Jefferson Lab, Newport News, VA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 31
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students (16+ years) who live within 60 miles of Jefferson Lab | have a GPA of 3.50+, and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents (dependents of Jefferson Lab employees are not eligible)
This is a rigorous internship where high school students work alongside world-class scientists and engineers at a national nuclear physics laboratory. You’ll be assigned to a specific project in areas such as experimental physics, accelerator operations, data science, and more. You’ll contribute to real-world tasks such as equipment calibration, software development for particle detectors, or administrative technical support. The program requires a full-time commitment and a strong background in mathematics and physics. It concludes with a professional poster session where you present your technical contributions to the laboratory staff.
13. Mason Community Arts Academy High School Musical Theater Intensive
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $495
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 - 26 (technique intensive) | August 3 - 7 (audition intensive)
Application Deadline: May 15 (early bird deadline)
Eligibility: Students aged 14 - 18 years
This program offers two separate week-long tracks: the Technique Intensive and the Audition Intensive. In the Technique Intensive week, you’ll focus on the core disciplines of acting, vocal health, and dance, and participate in daily workshops designed to strengthen your performance foundation. The Audition Intensive week shifts focus toward professional preparation, helping you select and refine 16 to 32-bar song cuts and monologues for college or professional auditions. Both sessions include masterclasses led by industry professionals and George Mason University faculty. You’ll also engage in mock auditions to receive direct feedback on your presentation and performance choices.
14. UVA Northern Virginia Inspire Summer
Location: UVA, Fairfax, VA, or Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $800 - $5,136 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1 - 4 week sessions through June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
Inspire Summer offers a variety of exploratory courses in high-demand fields such as professional writing, digital marketing, business, engineering, and more. You attend full-day sessions that focus on interactive projects and real-world case studies rather than traditional lectures. In-person sessions include a weekly Friday excursion and daily lunch, providing a college-style environment in a non-residential setting. The program is designed to help students narrow down potential college majors through practical application and one-on-one faculty interaction. At the end of the session, you’ll receive a digital certificate of completion.
15. VCUarts Summer Pre-College Program
Location: VCUarts, Richmond, VA
Cost/Stipend: $4,300 (residential) | $2,900 (commuter) | scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 - 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The VCUarts Summer Pre-College Program is a three-week program at one of the country's top-ranked art and design schools, where students enroll in a single non-credit course taught by VCUarts faculty. Course offerings span fine arts, graphic design, cinema, photography and film, interior design, fashion design, kinetic imaging, theatre, dance, music, and communication arts, giving students the opportunity to build portfolio-ready work and develop performance or audition skills in a professional creative environment. Residential students live on the VCU campus in Richmond and have access to VCUarts studios, facilities, and the broader Richmond arts scene throughout the three weeks. The program does not issue college credit but provides direct exposure to university-level arts education and faculty.
Frequently asked questions
1. What programs are available for high school students in Virginia?
Options include university research programs, such as ASSIP and Schar School Young Scholars, STEM and engineering intensives, such as C-Tech² and Jefferson Lab, environmental and agricultural programs, such as VGSA and Youth Conservation Camp, arts programs, such as VCUarts Pre-College and Mason Musical Theater, and virtual programs open to Virginia students, such as Veritas AI and Lumiere.
2. Are there free programs for high school students in Virginia?
Yes, several programs are free, including VGSA, UVA Wise Governor's School, NOVA E-Summer, and VCU Dental Careers Exploration. ASSIP charges tuition but offers full fee waivers based on financial need, and programs such as Youth Conservation Camp and C-Tech² offer partial scholarships.
3. Which Virginia programs are best for students interested in research?
Students interested in research might consider ASSIP for mentored university research across disciplines, Schar School Young Scholars for publication-track research in policy and social sciences, Jefferson Lab for physics and engineering, and Veritas AI or Lumiere for independent research in AI or other academic fields.
4. When should I apply to programs for high school students in Virginia?
The earliest deadlines are VGSA (February 25) and Virginia Tech C-Tech² (March 8). Others fall in spring, including UVA Wise Governor's School (April 3) and Jefferson Lab (April 30). Students should begin researching options in the fall, as several programs, such as Schar School Young Scholars and UVA Inspire Summer, accept rolling applications.