15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles, California
Exploring STEM programs is a strong option for high school students who want to deepen their academic interests and gain exposure to practical, industry-relevant skills. These programs often help you build networks, observe how STEM fields operate beyond the classroom, and better gauge your future academic or career pathways. Offered by universities and organizations, they also give you a chance to experience high-quality instruction and project work.
Why should you attend a program in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles hosts several universities, research institutes, and organisations that offer rigorous opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Across these programs, you can work in fields such as neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and engineering, often under the guidance of university faculty, clinicians, and research teams. Whether you are based in Los Angeles or traveling from another city, these programs offer structured access to the region’s academic resources and learning environments.
We have curated a list of 15 STEM programs for high school students in Los Angeles, California.
If you are looking for engineering internships in Los Angeles, check out our blog here.
1. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles - Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
Stipend: Paid.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: College counselling will begin in April. In-lab internships: June 16 - August 1. College counselling will continue through the academic (senior) year.
Application Deadline: November 3 - February 1.
Eligibility: Current juniors at a public high school in Los Angeles County are eligible to apply.
The Samuels Family LA-HIP program is a yearlong internship designed to expand access to careers in science and medicine by providing high school students with laboratory-based research experience and comprehensive college preparation. You will receive college-level instruction in biology, SAT preparation, and guidance on the college application process, while conducting biomedical research at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles during the summer before your senior year. Over the seven-week summer component, you will work full-time in faculty laboratories on projects related to pediatric health and disease, such as regenerative medicine, oncology, haematology, diabetes, and neuroscience. You will learn advanced research techniques, maintain laboratory notebooks, participate in lab meetings, and contribute to ongoing scientific work. The program culminates with a written abstract and a presentation at the annual Science Symposium. Throughout the year, you will also receive individualised support from college-preparation professionals, including assistance with applications, financial aid, and academic planning.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit 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. University of Southern California - Young Researchers Program
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Free.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 16 – July 25.
Application Deadline: January 17 - March 31.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the Los Angeles, Lynwood, Compton, or Inglewood Unified School Districts are eligible to apply.
The Young Researchers Program is a six-week summer initiative in which rising high school seniors engage in hands-on scientific research at the University of Southern California. The program provides mentored research experiences aimed at strengthening interest in STEM fields among groups traditionally underrepresented in these disciplines. Each of you will work closely with a graduate mentor on a specialised research project and present your findings at a public poster symposium at the end of the summer. In addition to research, you will attend weekly seminars covering topics such as the college application process, scholarship opportunities, academic success strategies, and STEM career pathways. The program also includes field experiences, including a trip to Catalina Island to explore earth and environmental science and a visit to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - STEM Track
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
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 that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with PhD 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, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, biology, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Los Angeles Pediatric Society - Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Adventist Health White Memorial, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center, or UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Free.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 100-180 students.
Dates: Program 1: July 7 - 18 | Program 2: July 21 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students who are 17 years old at the start of the program are eligible to apply
This STEM program is designed to motivate high school students to pursue careers in the health professions by providing structured mentorship and exposure to a wide range of medical fields. You will take part in daily sessions featuring presentations and interactive discussions with professionals such as general paediatricians, medical specialists, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, infectious disease experts, ophthalmologists, radiologists, child life specialists, and various therapists, including those in physical, speech, occupational, and cognitive therapy. The program functions as a medical mentoring experience, offering you a broad view of clinical practice and allied health roles. At the conclusion of the program, each participant receives a certificate of completion, and one student is awarded a $500 scholarship.
6. Children's Hospital Los Angeles - High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Free.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 students.
Dates: June 16 - August 1.
Application Deadline: February 3 - February 10.
Eligibility: High school students who are 15-17 years of age by June 16 are eligible to apply.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles offers a summer program for high school students, giving them the opportunity to support patients, families, and hospital staff while developing confidence and practical experience. You will contribute to the hospital’s mission by assisting with services that enhance the patient and family experience, including escorting patients to appointments, welcoming families upon arrival, distributing age-appropriate items to children, and providing administrative assistance. You are required to serve 16 hours per week across four consistent time blocks, with shifts generally scheduled Monday through Thursday. Over the seven-week session, you must complete a total of 105 service hours.
7. UCLA - COSMOS Pre-College Program
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: $5,518 tuition and $46 application fee. Need-based financial aid is available.
Cohort size: 160-200 students.
Dates: July 5 – August 1.
Application Deadline: January 7 - February 6.
Eligibility: California high school students who excel in mathematics/science are eligible.
COSMOS at UCLA is a four-week residential pre-college program designed for high school students who show strong potential in STEM. The program allows you to study advanced STEM subjects under the guidance of UCLA faculty, researchers, and scientists while working in modern laboratories and research spaces. Its curriculum is both rigorous and hands-on, encouraging you to deepen your skills, explore possible academic and professional pathways, and engage with material that extends well beyond typical high school offerings. You are admitted into specific academic “clusters,” each focused on an advanced STEM theme such as engineering, biomedical sciences, computer science, mathematics, physics, astronomy, robotics, materials science, marine science, ecology, game theory, and related fields.
8. University of Southern California - Discover Engineering
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Residential: $11,570 | Commuter: $8,130. The application fee is $85.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 22 - July 17.
Application Deadline: International Student Deadline: March 13 | Domestic Student Deadline: May 8. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on projects, high school students will explore multiple engineering disciplines while learning core concepts such as computational thinking, engineering design, teamwork, and research methods grounded in design thinking and the engineering design process. The curriculum introduces areas including aerospace, biomedical, chemical, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering, giving you insight into the breadth of the profession. You will complete practical assignments that may involve prototyping, modelling, programming, and building, and you will apply engineering principles to solve real-world challenges. The program also includes visits to sites around Los Angeles where you will observe professional engineers at work, helping you understand the opportunities and constraints that shape engineering practice.
9. UCLA - BrainSPORT Internship
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Check here for more information.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 9 - August 1.
Application Deadline: Check here for more information.
Eligibility: Rising juniors, with the intent that one may be a mentor for a rising junior next year, are eligible to apply.
This internship offers high school students the chance to work with the multidisciplinary BrainSPORT team, which includes research scientists, clinicians, a nurse practitioner, and investigators engaged in one of the most extensive studies of adolescents with persistent post-concussion symptoms. The study examines neuroimaging, blood biomarkers, autonomic function, and cognitive performance, alongside additional ongoing research projects. You will assist BrainSPORT staff with participant recruitment, data entry, and implementation of study protocols, gaining exposure to the day-to-day processes of clinical research. You will also attend weekly traumatic brain injury lab meetings, providing insight into current research practices and scientific collaboration. Throughout the program, you will work with peers, undergraduate researchers, and medical students, and conclude the internship by presenting a final project on a research topic of your choosing.
10. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth - Chemistry in Society
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Residential cost: $7,501 | Commuter cost: $6,701 | Additional fees: $180. Need-based financial aid is available
Cohort size: 18-20 students
Dates: Session I: June 22 - July 11 | Session II: July 13 - August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 are eligible to apply
This STEM program examines how chemistry contributes to addressing practical challenges, drawing connections between everyday materials—from artificial sweeteners to electric vehicle batteries—and the scientific principles that underpin them. You will study foundational topics such as the periodic table, atomic structure, and chemical bonding while applying these concepts in laboratory investigations. Coursework includes analysing solubility, testing water samples for contaminants, and engaging in a simulated town hall discussion on protecting a community water source. In the lab, you will explore how chemistry informs areas such as alternative fuels, food biochemistry, and pharmaceuticals through scenario-based activities. You will conduct calorimetric experiments, produce biodiesel to evaluate renewable energy sources, and synthesise aspirin while examining its therapeutic and toxic effects. By the end of the program, you will gain practical experience that prepares you for high school chemistry.
11. University of Southern California - The Science of Food, Nutrition and the Biological World
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Residential: $11,570 | Commuter: $8,130. The application fee is $85.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 22 - July 17.
Application Deadline: International Student Deadline: March 13 | Domestic Student Deadline: May 8. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade by the start of the program are eligible to apply. Students are required to have completed at least one year of high school biology with a grade of B or above.
This summer science program offers high school students a practical introduction to how food supports human health by examining the biological and chemical principles underlying nutrition. You will study macronutrients and how the body derives energy from them, explore the functions of micronutrients, and investigate how cooking and food-processing methods influence nutritional value. The curriculum also situates these concepts within broader societal discussions, such as the environmental effects of agriculture and the development and use of genetically modified foods. You will engage with topics including plant, animal, and microbial biology; genetics and the history of GMOs; environmental impacts of food systems; and the chemistry of food molecules, taste, and smell. Through laboratory and analytical activities, you will calculate dietary needs, interpret food labels, investigate fermentation, and examine gene inheritance and mutation. Hands-on work includes designing experiments, extracting DNA, and performing PCR and gel electrophoresis.
12. California State University - LaunchPad Summer Program
Location: California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Check here for updates.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: July 7 - 18.
Application Deadline: Check here for updates.
Eligibility: High school rising seniors are eligible to apply.
LaunchPad is a two-week, in-person summer program that introduces high school students to the ways engineers and computer scientists contribute to solving real-world challenges. You will explore disciplines such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, as well as computer and materials science, gaining a clearer understanding of what studying these fields in college and pursuing related careers entails. The program features sessions with industry professionals who describe their work, answer questions, and offer insight into the pathways available within engineering and technology. Faculty members, practitioners, and current students share their academic and career experiences, helping you envision your own futures in these disciplines and understand the value of internships and hands-on learning. You will work in small teams led by learning facilitators, who provide support throughout the program and guide you in developing your final “Futurathon” project.
13. UCLA - Summer Sessions: STEM Track
Location: Virtual or in-person at the University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Varies depending on the length of the course. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Varies depending on the course.
Application Deadline: Registration opens on February 15.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
UCLA offers high school students access to a wide range of courses that reflect the university’s depth and rigour. You will learn from experienced instructors who embody UCLA’s academic standards and engage with a diverse community of faculty and students who share similar intellectual interests. Through this program, you may select one or two courses from the approved offerings, allowing you to experience university-level study. The STEM track offers multiple courses, including Astronomy, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Chemistry, Community Health Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and more.
14. University of Southern California - The Brain: Introduction to Neuroscience
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Residential: $11,570 | Commuter: $8,130. The application fee is $85.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 22 - July 17.
Application Deadline: International Student Deadline: March 13 | Domestic Student Deadline: May 8. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
This neuroscience pre-college program introduces high school students to key questions about human behaviour, cognition, and ageing through a combination of lectures, laboratory work, and guided investigations. You will explore how biological mechanisms shape brain function, gain introductory research and analytical skills, and observe neuroscientific methods during visits to USC laboratories. The curriculum covers topics such as the scope of neuroscience, memory and learning, typical and atypical neural function, development and ageing, brain structure, neurological disorders, and ethical issues in the field. You will learn to explain how neural systems influence behaviour, examine molecular processes related to learning and memory, evaluate the biological basis of neurodiversity and aging, interpret experimental data, design and conduct lab experiments, and communicate findings through professional reports and structured presentations. The program culminates in a mock trial where you will present and defend your scientific conclusions.
15. Loyola Marymount University - Exploring Engineering
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: $11,100 tuition and $65 application fee.
Cohort size: 10-25 students.
Dates: June 21 - July 17.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors are eligible to apply. Students must have completed algebra before the start of this program to attend.
This summer engineering program offers high school students an introduction to core ideas in mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering while providing an opportunity to explore the field in an academic setting. The curriculum is designed to build foundational technical, analytical, design, teamwork, and communication skills that are essential to engineering practice. You will learn problem-solving techniques, apply computer-based tools such as spreadsheets and design software, and work with both manual and digital graphics in the context of engineering design. The program also familiarises you with contemporary engineering innovations and major global challenges that the field seeks to address, encouraging you to consider how engineering solutions can support societal needs. Those who complete the program earn three units of college credit.
Image source - USC Logo