15 STEM Programs for High School Students in New York State
If you are a high school student interested in STEM-related fields, then a summer program is a good place to start. These programs give you experience in labs and classrooms, connect you with professional mentors, and let you test out career paths in a supportive environment. They allow you to collaborate with peers on projects of interest, helping you develop practical skills and build connections.
Many of these programs are offered by top universities, research centres, and cultural institutions across New York State. From computer science and robotics to biomedical engineering and environmental science, these opportunities allow you to explore a wide range of STEM fields in a supportive and inspiring setting. Along the way, you’ll gain exposure to research and see practical applications of the theory you learn in the classroom.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve narrowed down a list of the top 15 STEM programs for high school students in New York State.
15 STEM Programs for High School Students in New York State
1. Rockefeller University — Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 - August 7
Application Deadline: October 14 - January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors, 16+
In SSRP, you’ll join a Rockefeller lab as a full-time research assistant for the summer. You’ll start with orientation and safety training, then work under the mentorship of graduate students and postdocs. You’ll also attend weekly seminars and career development workshops. At the end, you’ll present your findings at a poster session modelled after professional research conferences.
2. Veritas AI - AI Scholars
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks; multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling year-round
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
In this program, you’ll be matched with mentors who’ll guide you through projects in Artificial Intelligence. You’ll learn core technical concepts, then apply them by designing your own project with a group of 3-5 other students. You’ll join group sessions with peers, allowing you to collaborate and share your progress with them. By the end of the program, you’ll present your project, gaining confidence in both technical and communication skills.
3. NYU Tandon ARISE
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1000 upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks; June 2 - August 8
Application Deadline: January 6 - February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending NYC schools
At ARISE, you’ll start with a three-week crash course in STEM labs and research skills before joining a faculty lab for seven weeks of mentored work. You’ll learn techniques in areas like computer science, robotics, or bioengineering, depending on your placement. Professional development workshops will help you build resumes and practice public speaking. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your research project at a symposium, gaining experience similar to a college-level lab intern.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program — STEM Tracks
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10-15 weeks; offered year-round
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students with high academic standing
If you take part in any one of Horizon Academic’s STEM tracks, you’ll conduct independent research under the mentorship of a professor. You’ll learn how to conduct a literature review, formulate a research question, and design your own project in an area of your interest. Weekly meetings with your mentor will guide you through the process, and you’ll write a formal research paper by the end. This program is designed to give you a deep dive into how academic research is done.
5. American Museum of Natural History — Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Stipend: $2500 upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: 1 year; June to August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school 10th and 11th graders attending NYC schools, and taking at least one program from this list
In SRMP, you’ll be paired with a scientist at AMNH to work on a research project in fields like astrophysics, conservation, or genetics. You’ll attend a four-week summer institute to learn basic coding and research skills before beginning your year-long project. Throughout the school year, you’ll continue working on your project during weekly sessions. The program ends with a symposium where you present your research to the AMNH community.
6. Columbia University Zuckerman Institute — BRAINYAC
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Vary each year
Application Deadline: Fall via partner program (exact dates vary each year)
Eligibility: Current 10th–11th grade students from NYC partner schools/programs
Through BRAINYAC, you’ll be placed in a Columbia neuroscience lab for the summer. You’ll learn how to run experiments, keep a lab notebook, and analyse brain data with the help of mentors. The program also includes Saturday workshops to prepare you for lab work. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research to scientists, mentors, and peers at a public symposium.
7. NYU Tandon CS4CS (Computer Science for Cyber Security)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 14 - August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 10th–11th-grade NYC and Nassau County students
In CS4CS, you’ll learn the basics of cybersecurity and computer science. You’ll explore cryptography, digital forensics, and ethical hacking through labs and team projects. Instructors will introduce you to the social and legal aspects of cybersecurity, helping you understand the field beyond just coding. By the end of the program, you’ll present what you’ve learned in a final showcase, highlighting both your technical skills and teamwork.
8. Stony Brook University — Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend awarded upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors, 16+; US citizens
If you join the Simons Program, you’ll work alongside Stony Brook faculty on independent research in science, math, or engineering. You’ll learn advanced lab techniques, attend seminars, and explore possible STEM careers. Your summer will culminate in both a written research abstract and a presentation at a closing symposium. This program is highly competitive and ideal if you’re serious about pursuing research at the college level.
9. Brookhaven National Laboratory — High School Research Program (HSRP)
Location: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Six weeks; varies yearly
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 11th grade, 16+, US citizens
If you’re accepted into Brookhaven’s HSRP, you’ll work directly with scientists on research projects in physics, chemistry, biology, or environmental science. You’ll learn to use lab equipment, analyse data, and keep a research log as part of your training. Weekly seminars will introduce you to different areas of STEM and research careers. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your project to lab staff and peers.
10. Stony Brook University — Garcia Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $50 Registration fee + $4,000 Lab fee + other applicable fees (board/meal/health)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 26 - August 8
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Eligibility: High school students, 16+, GPA 3.8+, SAT 60%+, taken 3 of the following subjects (Honours or AP a plus): English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics, Biology
At Garcia, you’ll be conducting materials science and engineering research. You’ll start with intensive instruction in lab techniques, then design a project in polymer science with a faculty mentor. You’ll collaborate with other students to test hypotheses and analyse data. By the end of the program, you’ll prepare a research poster and present your results at a symposium. Many students also submit their work to national competitions.
11. The Cooper Union — Summer STEM
Location: The Cooper Union, New York, NY
Cost: $2,000–$3,000 depending on the course; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 - August 13
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11
At Cooper Union’s Summer STEM program, you’ll choose a track such as engineering design, robotics, or data science. You’ll spend several weeks working on projects that challenge you to design, build, and test solutions. Faculty and graduate students will guide you through labs and lectures, while you collaborate with peers on group assignments. By the end of the program, you’ll present your project, gaining practice in both technical work and communication.
12. NYU GSTEM (Girls in STEM)
Location: NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York, NY
Cost: $5500; optional housing with meal: $3,840; financial aid available for tuition, not housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Spring: February 3 – May 5; Summer: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 1 - March 2
Eligibility: High school juniors
In GSTEM, you’ll join a faculty-led research project at NYU in fields such as mathematics, computer science, or data science. You’ll spend six weeks working in labs, learning research methods, and collaborating with graduate mentors. Professional development workshops will help you build skills in presenting and writing about your work. You’ll finish the program with a presentation of your research project at a closing symposium.
13. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — PREFACE Summer Engineering Design Program
Location: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Cost: $4,000, includes room, meals, tuition, supplies; limited financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 20 - August 2
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, US citizens
At PREFACE, you’ll explore engineering design through team-based projects. Faculty and graduate students will guide you as you learn how to approach technical challenges, design solutions, and test prototypes. You’ll also attend lectures and industry panels that introduce you to different areas of engineering. By the end, you’ll present your design project, showing how your team solved a specific problem.
14. Columbia Engineering SHAPE
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $5880 Commuter; $10,705 Residential; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 7 - July 25; July 28 - August 15
Application Deadline: November 18 - March 3
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors
If you attend SHAPE, you’ll take college-level engineering courses while also completing projects. You’ll work in Columbia’s engineering labs, learn from faculty, and explore fields such as robotics, computer science, and electrical engineering. You’ll also join workshops on college readiness and STEM careers. At the end of the session, you’ll present your project to peers and instructors, showing how your skills have developed over the program.
15. New York Academy of Sciences — The Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Year-round challenges; new cohorts every fall and spring (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Fall: March 27 - July 8
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 worldwide
In The Junior Academy, you’ll work on challenges in science, technology, and engineering, depending on your chosen interest. You’ll join a team of students from around the world and collaborate online under the guidance of STEM mentors. Over the course of the program, you’ll develop solutions to real-world problems, such as climate change or biomedical innovation. You’ll present your team’s project to experts and receive feedback on your approach.
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