15 Psychology Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
If you are a high school student interested in psychology, a structured program can be a great option. Psychology programs offer you the opportunity to learn how researchers study the mind, how professionals address mental health, and how psychological concepts shape the world around you. They also help you strengthen critical thinking and communication skills, work with mentors in the field, and connect with peers who share your curiosity about human behavior.
Massachusetts is known for its strong academic culture and offers a wide range of psychology opportunities through respected universities and organizations. From programs that introduce you to clinical practices and counseling to those that emphasize neuroscience, cognitive psychology, or research methods, you can explore different aspects of the field in depth. As an in-state student, you can attend a local program that allows you to access expert instruction and valuable resources close to home, giving you an excellent environment to learn and grow.
To make things easier, we’ve compiled 15 psychology programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
1. MIT – Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 100 students/year
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors with a strong interest in STEM. You can find detailed eligibility requirements here.
At the Research Science Institute hosted by MIT, you join about 100 high-achieving high school students from around the world for a six-week experience that blends coursework with mentored research. The program begins with intensive classes taught by MIT faculty, then transitions into a five-week research internship where you design and conduct an individual project under the guidance of an experienced scientist. You’ll move through the full research cycle, from reviewing literature and creating a plan to conducting experiments and preparing academic papers. If you are interested in psychology, you can focus your research on cognitive science, neuroscience, or another psychology-related field. The program culminates with formal presentations, where you share your findings through both written reports and oral talks. Along the way, you’ll also engage in lectures, field trips, and have access to MIT’s resources.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI is a remote program created by Harvard graduate students that allows you to explore artificial intelligence with a focus on practical, research-driven applications. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session introduction that covers topics such as data science, machine learning, and neural networks, while completing guided projects. If you are ready for a deeper experience, the AI Fellowship pairs you one-on-one with a mentor to pursue an independent project, with the option to submit your work to a journal or present at a showcase. These programs allow you to select a psychology-related topic, such as the analysis of mental health datasets or the study of cognitive models, and then apply AI tools to it. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Boston Leadership Institute: One-Week Clinical Psychology Program
Location: Olin College in Greater Wellesley, Gann Academy/Bentley University in Waltham, The Newman School in Boston
Cost: $699
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15-20 students per class
Dates: Between June and August (exact dates vary by session)
Application deadline: Rolling (reviewed weekly)
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12
The Clinical Psychology program at the Boston Leadership Institute is a one-week introduction to the study of mental illness and treatment. During the program, you will learn about the symptoms, causes, and interventions for a range of psychological disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, depression, eating disorders, and ADHD. This comprehensive psychology program for high school students in Massachusetts often includes a field trip to a psychiatric facility and visits to academic labs, giving you firsthand exposure to clinical settings and ongoing research. Instruction is led by experienced faculty from the Boston area who guide students through discussions, case studies, and applied learning activities.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies based on the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Through the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, you can spend twelve weeks developing a fully independent research project under the mentorship of a Ph.D. mentor. Once you choose your area of interest, such as psychology for topics like behavioral science, cognitive processes, or mental health, you'll develop a research question, perform literature reviews, and write a comprehensive academic paper. The program is flexible and conducted online, with one-on-one meetings that provide guidance and feedback while allowing you to set your own schedule. As you progress, you’ll also gain experience in research methodologies, academic writing, and critical analysis.
5. Harvard Secondary School Program
Location: Virtual or on-campus at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,050 – $14,950 + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application deadline: December 1 – January 7 (early), February 11 (regular), April 1 (late)
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, & juniors (16-18)
Through Harvard’s Secondary School Program, you can spend four or seven weeks taking real college courses for credit. The program offers more than 200 classes across 50 subject areas, including a strong selection in psychology and neuroscience. You might take an introductory psychology course, explore topics like the psychology of close relationships or eating behaviors, or study aesthetics through the lens of cognitive and cultural theory. In the seven-week format, you can enroll in two courses, allowing you to shape your own psychology-focused summer curriculum. Classes are academically rigorous and taught by Harvard faculty, giving you exposure to the same level of material undergraduates experience. Outside of coursework, there are optional activities, events, and workshops.
6. Academic Immersion: Introduction to Experimental Psychology
Location: Boston University, Charles River campus, Boston, MA
Cost: Commuter: $5,708.25 | Residential: $7,245 (may change year by year)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 50 students per track
Dates: Residential: June 28 – July 17 | Commuter: June 29 – July 17
Application deadline: Applications open December 15
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in high school
In this three-week summer course at Boston University, you will be introduced to the principles of experimental psychology while actively engaging in research. Mornings are spent in seminars on BU’s Charles River campus, where you learn about core concepts in psychology and develop skills in research design and data analysis. Afternoons are devoted to team-based projects, where you design, conduct, and analyze your own experiments under faculty supervision. The program includes opportunities to hear from BU researchers, interact with graduate students, and gain insight into career paths in psychology and related disciplines. At the end of the psychology program for high school students in Massachusetts, you and your peers will present findings to the BU community.
7. Tufts University – Introduction to Psychology
Location: Online or on-campus at Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: Non-credit audit: $1,300 | Undergraduate credit: $3,291
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions available year-round
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11–12
At Tufts University, the Introduction to Psychology course gives you a systematic overview of the discipline while developing your ability to analyze human behavior scientifically. Over the span of the course, you cover topics such as perception, motivation, emotion, learning, intelligence, social behavior, and personality. Lectures are combined with films and in-class discussions, helping you see how theories connect to everyday life. You also learn how psychologists use the scientific method and statistics to study the brain and behavior, while engaging with questions about nature versus nurture and the biological basis of thought and action.
8. Discover Psychology: Summer Academy at Clark University
Location: Clark University, Worcester, MA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
This one-week summer academy at Clark University gives you exposure to multiple branches of psychology, from developmental and cognitive psychology to social and clinical perspectives. Faculty lectures and a speaker series introduce you to the field, while interactive activities allow you to see how psychological research connects to real-world issues. A central part of this psychology program for high school students in Massachusetts involves designing a research project, which you can later present at Clark’s Research Festival in the fall. Alongside academic sessions, workshops prepare you for the transition to college, including guidance on writing personal statements and understanding the admissions process.
9. BU Summer Challenge
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $4,920 (tuition $3,585 + service fee $75 + room/board $1,200 + application $60)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 27 | Session 2: July 6 – 18 | Session 3: July 20 – August 1
Application deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: Students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in the fall
Boston University’s Summer Challenge allows you to choose two non-credit seminars, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, over two weeks while experiencing campus life. Psychology is one of the many seminar options, with “Abnormal Psychology” giving you the chance to study mental disorders and their impact on people’s lives. In that seminar, you examine case studies, analyze different forms of psychological disorders, and participate in group discussions that challenge your assumptions about abnormal behavior. Each seminar is structured around lectures, discussions, projects, and field trips, and culminates in a final presentation. Small class sizes make it easier to engage with instructors and peers as you explore the subject in depth. The program also includes admissions workshops and social activities.
10. Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program: Media and Mental Health
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218; Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Rising or recently graduated high school seniors who are age 17 by June 15
Brown’s pre-baccalaureate course on media and mental health examines how media influences individual well-being and public perceptions of psychology. You will investigate portrayals of mental illness and therapy in television, film, news, and social media, considering how these representations contribute to stigma, help-seeking behavior, and cultural attitudes. Coursework includes recorded lectures, group discussions, and independent projects that encourage critical thinking about the ethics and accuracy of media narratives. You will also learn about abnormal psychology and public health by analyzing how media depictions can shape beliefs about clinical care and treatment. The online psychology program for high school students in Massachusetts incorporates a range of sources, including film clips, websites, and research, to help you evaluate the connection between media consumption and psychological outcomes. As a final project, you conduct independent research on a media-related mental health topic of your choice.
11. Boston University High School Honors
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: Commuter: $7,005 | Residential: $10,605
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission
Dates: June 28 – August 7
Application deadline: To be announced; rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
BU’s High School Honors program lets you enroll in undergraduate courses and earn up to eight college credits over a six-week summer term. The program is flexible, allowing you to take classes on campus in Boston or fully online, and you study alongside BU undergraduates and visiting students from around the world. Psychology is a popular option, with courses such as “General Psychology,” which introduces key theories and findings in memory, development, social behavior, and abnormal psychology, or “Perception,” which examines how the brain processes sensory input. Each class includes weekly lectures, discussions, readings, and graded assignments, giving you the same expectations as a college student.
12. Yale Summer Session
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students per class
Dates: Session A: May 26 – June 27 | Session B: June 30 – August 1
Application deadline: Session A: May 2 | Session B: June 6 (rolling)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are 16 years of age or older by the program's start date
Yale’s Summer Session allows you to take undergraduate courses for credit alongside Yale students and visiting participants, with psychology among the available subject areas. Options include “Introduction to Psychology,” which surveys biological, cognitive, social, and emotional approaches to behavior, and “Introduction to Clinical Psychology,” which explores psychopathology across the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. These courses address symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, drawing on psychological, biological, and sociocultural perspectives. In addition to psychology, Yale Summer Session offers a broad range of academic subjects, giving you the chance to combine your psychology interests with other areas of study. Participation also allows you to earn transferable college credit.
13. Dartmouth Pre-College Online Program: Psychology: Explore the Mind & Mental Wellness
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Dartmouth’s online psychology course provides a structured introduction to clinical psychology and its role in understanding mental health. Through case-based learning, you examine diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic methods, with attention to factors like stigma, medication, and positive psychology. The program also covers practical skills, such as building rapport with patients and applying empathy and mindful presence in therapeutic contexts. Coursework explores major subfields of psychology, including neuropsychology, health psychology, and forensic psychology, while addressing how clinicians identify predisposing and precipitating factors in mental illness. You will also learn about intervention frameworks, the stages of behavioral change, and strategies for improving patient well-being in this psychology program for high school students in Massachusetts.
14. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Programs: Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior
Location: Virtual
Cost: Enrichment: $1,795 | College Credit: $3,995; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Georgetown’s online psychology course introduces you to how brain function connects to behavior, emotions, and decision-making. You will study topics such as the brain’s reward system, the effects of drugs, the causes of disorders like anxiety and depression, and the influence of media and product design on perception. The course encourages you to apply psychology to everyday life, including analyzing how social media affects stress, mood, and behavior. A hands-on component involves designing your own behavioral experiment, allowing you to practice the methods psychologists use to study human thought and action. You will also explore memory, learning disorders, sleep, and cognitive health, connecting these ideas to broader psychological theories.
15. Wake Forest University Pre-College Online Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Up to $1,595; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Wake Forest’s online psychology course encourages you to explore the science behind behavior, thought, and emotion while testing common assumptions about how the mind works. The curriculum covers how the brain forms perceptions, how unconscious processes shape decisions, and how memories can sometimes be unreliable. You will also study psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, connecting biological and social factors to their causes and treatments. Projects are designed to be interactive, including designing a survey or creating a video to demonstrate a psychological concept of interest. A key focus is on distinguishing everyday “common sense” ideas from findings grounded in psychological research.
Image Source - Harvard University logo