15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Boston
If you’re a high school student looking for unique ways to explore science, engineering, and technology beyond the classroom, you can consider a STEM summer program. Instead of focusing only on theory, these experiences allow you to see how STEM fields operate in labs, research institutes, and professional settings. You gain exposure to how research questions are formed, how experiments are designed, how data is collected and analyzed, and how teams collaborate to solve complex problems.
Why should you attend a program in Boston?
Many STEM programs for high school students in Boston are designed around mentorship and project-based learning, giving you an early look at both academic and industry pathways. Depending on the program, you may work on lab-based research, computational projects, engineering design challenges, data analysis, or scientific writing and presentations alongside faculty, graduate students, or research staff. Whether you live in the Boston area or are coming from outside the city, these programs offer accessible ways to engage with Boston’s academic and research community.
To help you get started, the list below highlights 15 STEM programs for high school students in Boston.
If you are looking for summer programs in Boston, check out our blog here.
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge (10 minutes from Boston)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~3–5%; 100 students/year
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors worldwide
MIT’s Research Science Institute is a fully funded STEM program in Boston for high school students focused on advanced STEM coursework and mentored research. You’ll begin with an intensive week of classes taught by MIT faculty and researchers to build a shared academic foundation. After that, you work on an individual research project under the guidance of a mentor in a university laboratory. The experience involves reading scientific literature, designing experiments, analyzing results, and documenting your work through written and oral reports. Throughout the program, lectures, seminars, and field trips provide exposure to a wide range of scientific fields and research careers. The program concludes with a formal symposium where you present your research in a conference-style setting.
2. 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, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with 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 get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance 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. Massachusetts General Hospital – Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: January 31
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 six-week paid internship focused on neuroscience and medical research. You’ll begin with a structured bootcamp covering lab safety, research ethics, and professional expectations. After onboarding, you are placed in a neurology research lab and work full-time assisting with ongoing studies. Weekly seminars introduce topics across neurology and neuroscience, led by clinicians and researchers. The schedule also includes workshops, field trips, and opportunities to connect with peers and mentors. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your research, followed by continued advising support as an alumnus.
4. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle/high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. As a participant, you work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. You attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. You can choose from over 20 subjects, including biology, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, you complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
5. LEAH Knox Scholars Program
Location: Cambridge and Boston
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July - August
Application deadline: Applications are typically open from January to March annually
Eligibility: Boston-Area Public School students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the first day of the program
This STEM program in Boston for high school students is a two-year pathway designed for rising juniors and seniors from the greater Boston area who are interested in biomedical research. In the first summer, you complete a paid five-week laboratory skills course at MIT that introduces foundational techniques and scientific workflows. This phase also includes career exploration and professional development workshops. During the second summer, you are placed in a research lab in Boston or Cambridge for a six-week paid internship. Throughout the academic year, the program offers additional opportunities such as STEM teaching internships, mentoring, and monthly enrichment events.
6. Broad Scholars Summer Program
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge
Stipend: $3600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 29 - August 7
Application deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors who are US citizens, Permanent Residents, or non-US citizens with employment authorization (i.e. DACA), attend a high school in MA within commuting distance to the Broad, and have earned a B or higher in science and math classes
The Broad Scholars Summer Program is a six-week research experience hosted by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. You are paired with a scientist and assigned an individual research project in areas such as cancer biology, infectious disease, chemical biology, or computational genomics. The program combines hands-on lab work with tutoring in scientific concepts relevant to your project. You also participate in workshops focused on scientific communication, data analysis, and poster preparation. Lectures, career panels, and social events provide insight into research pathways and college planning. The experience concludes with a poster session where you present your findings to the Broad research community.
7. √Mathroots @ MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge
CostStipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 1–15
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Open to 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 summer mathematics program hosted by MIT PRIMES for students interested in advanced problem-solving. You’ll take part in lectures, collaborative workshops, and group problem sessions that focus on proof-based reasoning and logical structure. The curriculum introduces mathematical topics that are typically not covered in standard high school courses. Rather than focusing on advanced formulas, the program prioritizes how to approach problems creatively and rigorously. Guest lectures from mathematicians provide insight into research and competition-style mathematics. If you participate in this STEM program in Boston for high school students, you’ll be expected to be comfortable with precalculus concepts.
8. Northeastern University - Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
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 or Permanent Residents
Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program is a summer research experience for high school students interested in science, engineering, or health-related fields. As a participant, you are placed in a university research lab where you work under the guidance of faculty and graduate student mentors. Research areas vary and have included topics such as robotics, chemistry, biomedical engineering, and data modeling. Alongside lab work, you attend faculty-led seminars, career exploration sessions, and site visits to local research organizations. College and career advising are integrated throughout the program to support academic planning. The experience ends with a poster presentation where you share your research with peers and mentors.
9. Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
Location: Ragon Institute, Cambridge
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission, small cohort
Dates: June 9 – August 8
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising or graduating seniors who are 16 years old or older
This STEM program in Boston for high school students is a seven-week program that introduces you to immunology and biomedical research. You begin with a one-week orientation covering lab safety, workplace expectations, and the institute’s research focus. For the remainder of the program, you work approximately 25 hours per week in a research lab under faculty supervision. In parallel, you attend an introductory immunology course, journal clubs, and research seminars. Workshops on college readiness, resume development, and career planning are also covered. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your work to the institute community.
10. GROW (Greater Boston Research Opportunities for Young Women)
Location: Boston University
Stipend: Up to $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: Applications open in March
Eligibility: Open to current juniors enrolled in a school in Massachusetts living within a 30-mile radius of Boston who are at least sixteen years old by July 1
GROW is a six-week summer research program at Boston University for rising high school seniors interested in STEM fields. After a short orientation, you are placed in a university lab working on active research projects in disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, or computer science. You collaborate with faculty members, graduate students, and peers while developing research and lab skills. Program staff meet with you regularly to track progress and support project development. Beyond lab work, the program also includes science communication workshops and career panels. The experience culminates in a final symposium where you present your research findings.
11. Massachusetts Life Science Center – High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Location: Various life‑science workplaces across MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; part-time or full-time internships at $17 per hour for six weeks of full-time work
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approx 150 placements each year
Dates: Internships must occur between May 1 and April 30
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: MA high school students who are at least 16 years old by the internship start date and from underrepresented or low‑income schools
The High School Apprenticeship Challenge connects underrepresented and low-income students with paid internships in Massachusetts’ life sciences sector. You may complete pre-internship training focused on basic biotechnology techniques and professional workplace skills. Following training, you are placed in internships at biotech companies, academic labs, or research organizations across the state. Internships typically run for about six weeks during the summer and may be full- or part-time depending on the host site. Mentorship and exposure to a range of life sciences careers are central components of the experience.
12. Harvard Medical School – Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 13 students
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Boston/Cambridge high school juniors and seniors | Over 16 years of age by June 30 | From underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds | GPA of 2.7+ | Completed courses in biology, algebra, and chemistry.
Project Success at Harvard Medical School is a seven-week paid internship for high school students from Boston and Cambridge, with a focus on biomedical research. As an intern, you are placed in a Harvard-affiliated lab or hospital research group where you get to contribute to active scientific projects. The experience allows you to develop technical lab skills while learning about research ethics and scientific methodology. Alongside lab work, you attend seminars on public health, communication, and career development. Site visits to hospitals and biotech organizations provide broader exposure to medical and research careers. College preparation and mentoring are integrated throughout the program to support long-term academic planning.
13. Museum of Science – Summer Youth Internships
Location: Museum of Science, Boston
Stipend: Both paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by placement
Application deadline: Varies by placement
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 19
The Museum of Science in Boston offers paid summer opportunities for students ages 14 to 19 seeking hands-on experience in a professional museum environment. Interns are assigned to specific departments, which may include education programs, visitor services, technical operations, or administrative support. Alongside daily work responsibilities, the program includes skill-building workshops focused on topics such as professional communication, resume development, and financial skills. You’ll also take part in organized visits to other museums and nearby colleges to explore related academic and career pathways. Additional benefits include complimentary museum admission and access to employee discounts throughout the internship period.
14. 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
MIT’s Women’s Technology Program in Mechanical Engineering is a four-week academic experience designed for students with limited prior exposure to engineering. You’ll engage in core mechanical engineering topics such as thermodynamics, materials science, and fluid mechanics through lectures and hands-on labs. This program relies on learning by doing, with activities that include mechanical design, CAD modeling, and basic electronics. Team-based projects allow you to apply theoretical concepts to practical engineering challenges. Workshops in areas like woodworking and design complement the technical curriculum.
15. 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: No information available
Dates: Online courses: February 3 – June 20 | In-person/online summer program: July 7 – August 3
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year who are U.S. citizens
This program is a four-week summer program focused on collaborative, hands-on learning in advanced areas of engineering and computer science. Before arriving on campus, students complete a mandatory online preparatory course that introduces Python programming, core artificial intelligence concepts, and technical skills specific to their selected track. During the residential portion, participants work in teams to develop solutions to real-world challenges in areas such as robotics, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, satellite data analysis, and AI-based technologies. The experience is supported by MIT faculty, graduate researchers, and industry mentors who provide ongoing technical guidance. You’ll conclude the program with a capstone presentation or showcase highlighting student-developed projects.
Image source - MIT