15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Chicago
If you are a high school student interested in STEM, structured programs can help you explore subjects beyond your regular coursework while gaining exposure to how these fields are studied and applied. Through these opportunities, you can build technical and analytical skills in areas such as computer science, engineering, biology, mathematics, and data science while working on guided projects and research initiatives. These experiences can also help you clarify your academic interests and connect with mentors and peers who share your goals.
Why should you attend a program in Chicago?
Chicago is home to several prestigious institutions like the University of Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Technology, which offer a wide range of STEM learning opportunities. Many programs in the city allow you to contribute to university-led research, participate in structured lab or technology projects, and learn directly from faculty, researchers, and industry professionals across Chicago’s research and innovation ecosystem. These programs are ideal for Chicago students who want to take advantage of the local resources, as well as those from other cities or countries who are looking to build a strong professional network while studying.
Below, we have narrowed the list to 15 STEM programs for high school students in Chicago.
If you are interested in research opportunities in Chicago, check out our blog here.
1. DSI Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: No cost / $5,600 stipend
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students
DSI Summer Lab is an eight-week, in-person summer research program hosted by the University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute. High school students work alongside undergraduates as part of an interdisciplinary research cohort, collaborating with mentors across fields such as data science, computer science, social science, climate and energy policy, and biomedical research. It pairs you with data science mentors to contribute to applied research projects that emphasize real-world problem-solving and teamwork. The program focuses on building research methodologies, technical skills, and collaborative practices within a structured research environment. This program is best suited for Chicago-area students interested in hands-on, paid research experience in data science and related fields.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity 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 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 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. Chicago EYES on Cancer
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $5,000 stipend
Dates: Two consecutive 8-week summers (June – August) plus monthly academic-year sessions (2–4 hours/month)
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 16 years old and reside in Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties
The Chicago EYES on Cancer program at the University of Chicago Medicine allows you to work full-time in labs, focusing on areas such as molecular biology and immunology. Throughout the experience, you attend career-building workshops and academic lectures to sharpen your professional skills. By blending hands-on lab experiments with consistent mentorship and virtual learning, the program provides a clear path for those looking to excel in the medical and research fields. You finish your journey by presenting original findings at a formal symposium, capping off two years of deep scientific immersion.
4. Lumiere Research Scholars Program – STEM Track
Location: Online
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (accepted students typically maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher)
The Lumiere Research Program’s STEM track is an online research-focused program that allows high school students to work on an independent STEM project under the guidance of an experienced mentor. You explore areas such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, biology, data science, or interdisciplinary STEM topics, depending on mentor availability. The program emphasizes research design, academic writing, and critical thinking, with students developing a structured research paper or project over the course of the program. Mentorship is delivered through regular one-on-one or small-group virtual meetings, providing feedback and direction throughout the research process. At the end, you develop a STEM-based research paper and become eligible for a UCSD Extended Studies credit.
5. ResearcHStart
Location: University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, Northwestern University (Downtown Medical Campus), Rush University, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $3,000 stipend
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; at least 16 years old; resident of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
ResearcHStart is a multi-institutional, in-person program that immerses high school students in cutting-edge cancer research across several universities in Illinois. You work full-time in research laboratories, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental therapeutics, and cancer disparities. The program combines rigorous lab training with career development workshops, faculty lectures, and mentorship from both peers and professionals. The program culminates with research presentations at a symposium for family, friends, and members of the scientific community. The program is highly competitive, selecting no more than 30 participants across all sites.
6. Digital Scholars Program
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology (IL Tech Law Center), Chicago, Illinois
Cost: None
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Current 10th–11th grade students or those who will graduate in the application year (Students must attend a mandatory virtual orientation with a parent or guardian)
Digital Scholars is a six-week, in-person pre-college STEM program designed to introduce high school students to computing and technology-focused fields. You enroll in one of several course tracks, including data science, electrical and computer engineering, computer science and coding, iOS app design, or programming in Swift. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through projects such as data visualization, circuit design, coding applications, and mobile app prototyping. Alongside technical coursework, you build college and career readiness skills through daily guest speakers and weekly workshops connected to Chicago’s tech ecosystem. This program is well-suited for students seeking free, in-person exposure to technology careers in a supportive and skill-focused setting!
7. Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $2,500; need-based financial aid is available; for household income below $60,000: tuition fee is waived, and travel is covered; for household income below $125,000: tuition fee is waived, but not travel
Dates: July 26–31
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: 11th-grade students; at least 15 years old; enrolled in a U.S. high school
The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars program is a hybrid enrichment program designed to introduce high school students to STEM research and learning at the University of Chicago. You begin with a virtual mathematics course hosted by schoolhouse.world, then participate in a one-week residential experience on campus. During the residential week, you attend model classes, tour UChicago research facilities, and hear from faculty and alumni working in fields such as molecular engineering, mathematics, and computer science. The program also includes visits to major research centers like Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
8. Engineering Summer Camp
Location: University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $500
Dates: July 27 – July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th-grade students
The Engineering Summer Camp high school track is a one-week, in-person program designed for students interested in exploring engineering through team-based projects. Hosted by UIC’s College of Engineering, the program introduces you to college-level engineering concepts through daily challenges developed by faculty and graduate students. You work in small teams to design, build, test, and refine solutions across areas such as robotics, biomechanics, coding, and applied engineering systems. The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, collaboration, and data-driven design while remaining age-appropriate and structured. You also receive exposure to engineering career pathways and gain insight into what college life in an engineering program looks like through campus and lab tours.
9. Quantum Quickstart
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $2,500; need-based financial aid is available; for household income below $60,000: tuition fee is waived, and travel is covered; for household income below $125,000: tuition fee is waived, but not travel
Dates: July 26–31
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Current 9th-10th grade students; must be at least 14 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school
Quantum Quickstart is a one-week, residential enrichment program designed to introduce high school students to the fundamentals of quantum science and quantum engineering. Hosted by the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the program combines faculty-led lectures with theoretical discussions and guided tours of advanced research facilities. You explore the physical foundations of quantum mechanics, learn how quantum computers work, and examine how quantum technologies are beginning to reach real-world and consumer applications. The program also includes sessions focused on STEM career pathways and meetings with UChicago admissions counselors to discuss selective college admissions.
10. SHARP! Program
Location: University of Illinois Chicago Medical Campus (various research labs); Surgical Innovation Training Laboratory (Chicago)
Cost: $3,500; need-based scholarships may be available
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ at the start of the program
SHARP! is an intensive, year-long biomedical STEM program for high school students interested in research at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and emerging technologies. Offered by the University of Illinois Chicago, the program immerses you in real laboratory environments where you work on projects involving AI, robotics, tissue engineering, and clinical problem-solving. You begin with a full-time summer research experience and continue into the academic year with mentored design work and professional development. The program emphasizes hands-on experimentation, data analysis, teamwork, and exposure to how biomedical research translates into real-world healthcare solutions. Post completing the full program, you earn undergraduate engineering credit.
11. Career Insight: Technology and Innovation (UChicago)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago
Cost: $5,890; need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 15–25
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11
This two-week residential program introduces high school students to emerging STEM fields such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, molecular engineering, nanotechnology, and climate-focused engineering. It blends academic exposure with real-world career insight, helping you understand how scientific and technological interests can translate into future college majors and professions. Mornings are spent with UChicago faculty exploring foundational concepts through lectures, discussions, readings, and hands-on activities across computer science, molecular engineering, and the physical sciences. Afternoons shift toward applied learning, with industry professionals, career treks around Chicago, and guided sessions on skill-building and career planning.
12. Understanding AI: AI Through a Technical, Socio-Ethical, and Career Development Lens (UChicago)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago
Cost: $9,300; need-based financial aid is available
Dates: July 7–23
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11
This three-week residential course offers high school students a structured introduction to artificial intelligence, balancing technical mechanics, societal impact, and future career influences. Designed for students with no prior background in AI or computing, the program blends foundational technical concepts with discussion-based inquiry and hands-on projects. During the first week, you will learn how large language models are trained and apply these principles by designing your own chatbot. The second week shifts focus to the social and ethical implications of AI, culminating in a public-facing media project centered on responsible use. In the final week, you will explore how AI is poised to reshape the professional landscape.
13. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $15,200; need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 13 – July 11
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: 10th-11th grade students who have completed a year of high school biology
The Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) program is a four-week, residential program designed to introduce high school students to laboratory-based research in the biological sciences. The program uses a project-based structure, beginning with training in foundational molecular, microbiological, and cell biology techniques before transitioning into an independent research project. You work in the lab, supported by targeted lectures that provide scientific context for ongoing experiments. Communication is a key component of the program, with weekly writing assignments, detailed lab notebooks, group presentations, and discussions of original research articles. Students also attend weekly lunchtime seminars led by research faculty. The program concludes with a research forum.
14. Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology
Location: Online (multi-institutional program hosted by the University of Chicago in collaboration with partner universities)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $500 stipend
Dates: July 13–24
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Full-time high school students; residents of Cook, Lake, Will, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology is a two-week, virtual program designed to introduce high school students to biomedical research and cancer-focused career pathways. You collaborate on a genetics-based research project and a patient case study, allowing you to explore both the scientific and clinical dimensions of oncology. The program includes daily faculty lectures, panel discussions, and skill-building workshops led by professionals across cancer research and healthcare. You also receive a home laboratory kit to support hands-on learning in a virtual setting. Programming is delivered in collaboration with multiple universities, offering opportunities to connect with peers and mentors nationwide.
15. Research, Inquiry Skills & Experimentation (RISE)
Location: Online (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy)
Cost: $1,280; scholarships are available
Dates: September 15 – May 28
Application Deadline: Early October
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students
Research, Inquiry Skills & Experimentation (RISE) is an academic year-long, online research program designed for high school students interested in conducting independent scientific inquiry. The program focuses on developing research, writing, and presentation skills through a self-directed project on a topic chosen by the student. You work mostly asynchronously on IMSA’s Canvas platform while meeting structured deadlines and milestones throughout the year. You collaborate with an external research mentor and secure access to lab space if required, with guidance provided by RISE instructors early in the program. The experience culminates in opportunities to present findings at spring science symposia.
Image source - UChicago