15 STEM Programs for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, a structured program can be a great way to explore your curiosity and build new skills. These programs often go beyond classroom theory, offering practical skill-building through experiments, coding projects, robotics, and real-world problem-solving. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with mentors, connect with peers who share your interests, and start exploring potential career paths.
Many STEM programs are supported by leading universities, research labs, and tech companies, giving you early exposure to industry practices and innovations. In addition to skill development, you can begin building networks with peers and mentors who share your interests, helping you gain valuable insight into potential future careers.
We’ve carefully researched and curated a list of 15 STEM programs for middle school students.
1. dynaMIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: February 10
Dates: Rising 6th and 7th graders: August 11 – 15 | Rising 8th and 9th graders: August 18 – 22
Eligibility: Rising 6th–9th-grade students
dynaMIT is a free, week-long summer program created and led by MIT undergraduates for middle school students interested in STEM. Throughout the week, you’ll participate in hands-on activities, group engineering tasks, and lessons that connect science and math concepts to everyday applications. The program includes opportunities to visit MIT labs and talk with students involved in ongoing research. You’ll work in teams to complete projects, which you’ll present at the end of the program during a group showcase.
2. Veritas AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Dates: Various cohorts available throughout the year
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual learning opportunity that introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Across 25 hours of instruction, you’ll learn the basics of Python and work with topics such as data analysis, regression, neural networks, image classification, and the ethical considerations of AI. The program combines live instruction with group work, and you’ll be placed in a small cohort for mentorship and collaboration. Participants will complete a final project, applying their new skills to create tools such as music-related applications or recommendation systems. Financial aid covering up to the full cost is available based on need, helping to ensure broader access to the program. You can apply to the program here.
3. Pasadena City College Math Academy for Middle School Students
Location: Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: May 31
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders
Pasadena City College’s Math Academy offers a free summer program for middle school students to deepen their understanding of key math subjects in a focused academic setting. You will select a specific track, such as math fundamentals, pre-algebra, algebra, or geometry, and attend classes that include homework, testing, and feedback. With a class size limited to about 25 students, the program supports personalized instruction and peer collaboration. Courses are hosted on the college campus, giving participants early exposure to higher education environments. Each student receives a letter grade at the end of the session, offering a concrete record of achievement and readiness for future coursework.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter)
Eligibility: Middle school students (Grades 6–8)
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week research-based opportunity for middle school students interested in exploring STEM topics through individual mentorship. You’ll meet regularly with a mentor to learn about four subjects within a specific track, such as mathematics, engineering, artificial intelligence, or data science. After gaining a broad overview, you’ll choose one topic to study in more detail and develop a related project with your mentor’s guidance. The program is designed to support skill-building in research, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Mentors are researchers or advanced students from universities including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and others.
5. NYS 4-H Animal Science Programs
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Dates: Varies depending on the program
Eligibility: Open to current middle school students
The NYS 4-H Animal Science Programs at Cornell University introduce middle school students to key topics in veterinary science and animal biology. During the program, you’ll study areas such as animal anatomy, nutrition, agriculture, and the fundamentals of veterinary care through hands-on labs and workshops. You’ll also have the chance to work with animals like cows, goats, horses, dogs, and rabbits, gaining experience in basic animal handling and care. Most activities are held on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, where you’ll use university facilities and learn from faculty and staff involved in animal science. The program is especially relevant if you’re considering future studies or careers related to biology, farming, or veterinary work.
6. Summer Engineering Experience (SEE)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: April 10
Dates: July 7 – 11
Eligibility: Rising 8th and 9th-grade students
The Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) at Carnegie Mellon University offers a free introduction to several engineering fields for middle school students. You’ll collaborate with others on projects that involve mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, with guidance from CMU faculty and industry professionals. The program focuses on developing problem-solving abilities and technical skills through hands-on work. In addition to project activities, you’ll visit CMU research labs, participate in lectures about current technologies, and become familiar with campus facilities.
7. Science of Smart Cities (SoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: May 15
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Eligibility: NYC residents aged 12–14 years by the program start date
The Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) program at NYU Tandon is a four-week summer course that introduces you to STEM concepts related to urban technology and innovation. You’ll learn about circuitry, microcontrollers, sensors, and environmental science through hands-on workshops guided by NYU faculty and graduate students. Working in teams, you’ll develop a final project focused on addressing a practical urban challenge, such as improving energy use or transportation. The program also includes Irondale, a communication training course based on improv techniques, which helps you build confidence in public speaking and presenting your ideas. SoSC combines technical skills with teamwork and problem-solving in a city-focused context.
8. Physics Inside Out
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: April 17
Dates: June 9 – 13
Eligibility: Current 7th and 8th-grade students
Physics Inside Out is a four-day summer program at Purdue University designed for middle school students interested in physics. During the program, you will study topics such as motion, energy, sound, and light through hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and group activities. The focus is on exploring scientific methods by asking questions, conducting tests, and learning from results. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit Purdue’s research labs to see ongoing work in applied physics and interact with faculty and researchers. The program is offered free of charge.
9. Sounds of New York City (SONYC)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: April 14
Dates: July 8 – August 4
Eligibility: New York City residents aged 12–14 at the start of the program
The Sounds of New York City (SONYC) program at NYU offers middle school students an introduction to the study of urban noise and its impact on city life. You’ll work with audio tools and software to collect and analyze sound data from different neighborhoods. Through fieldwork and activities like sound walks, you’ll explore how noise levels vary across environments and what that means for public health and daily living. The program combines technical training in data analysis with lessons in environmental science, helping you understand how sound fits into broader urban systems.
10. Data Science Summer Camp
Location: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: March 30
Dates: July 7 – 11
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9 in the fall who attend school in the State of Ohio
The Data Science Summer Camp at The Ohio State University is a week-long program that introduces middle school students to the basics of data science through team-based activities. You’ll learn how data is used to address real-world questions in areas like healthcare, biology, business, and city planning. Working in small groups with guidance from mentors, you’ll apply problem-solving strategies and practice interpreting data in meaningful ways. The camp also includes talks from researchers and students who use data science in their work, giving you a chance to see how these skills apply in different fields. Topics such as Imageomics are included to show how data tools are used in current scientific research.
11. Math Corps
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: April 18
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Eligibility: 6th–8th graders attending school in the Ypsilanti area
Math Corps at the University of Michigan offers a math-focused learning experience designed for middle school students. You’ll work in small groups with guidance from high school and college mentors, focusing on both core math skills and more advanced topics like robotics and modular arithmetic. The program includes a mix of structured lessons and hands-on activities, such as using math in puzzles or games. You’ll have the chance to build your problem-solving abilities in a supportive setting that values teamwork and consistent effort. Many students return in later years to serve as mentors, creating a cycle of peer-led learning.
12. Data Science: The AI Journey — Berkeley Coding Academy
Location: Online (remote instruction; cohort collaboration facilitated virtually)
Cost: $2,699
Application Deadline: Rolling, until program reaches capacity
Dates: July 14 – August 1
Eligibility: Students aged 12-18 (cohorts grouped by age and coding background)
This three-week summer intensive introduces students to foundational skills in data science, artificial intelligence, and Python programming. The curriculum covers building and evaluating machine learning models, data visualization using pandas, matplotlib, and seaborn, and AI applications in real-world contexts. Students engage in both lectures and project-based cohort work, with an average of six students per cohort to encourage collaboration and focused learning. Final projects require students to create original research presentations using visualizations and machine learning, culminating in a Data Science Scholar Certificate.
13. UCSD’s Introduction to Python Programming and Machine Learning
Location: UCSD Campus, San Diego, CA
Cost: Not specified. More info here
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: July 7 – 25. More info here
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
UC San Diego offers a summer course designed for middle school students, introducing them to the fundamentals of Python programming and its application in machine learning, specifically image classification. You’ll start by learning how to write Python scripts that include mathematical operations, conditional logic, loops, and functions. As the course progresses, you’ll use the Google Teachable Machine to create a simple image classification model with multiple categories. Once your model is built, you’ll work on integrating it into a basic application framework, both through a webpage and on a Raspberry Pi device. By the end of the program, you’ll have experience developing and testing a machine learning model and applying it in different environments using your own code.
14. AI for Oceans
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: None; only registration is required when you start a course
Program Dates: The courses are available all year round
Eligibility: Open to all
AI for Oceans, a project by Code.org and Microsoft, combines marine biology with artificial intelligence to provide a practical learning experience. In this program, you will work with machine learning models, including enhancing and customizing a pre-trained model from the TensorFlow MobileNet project and using a Support-Vector Machine. You’ll study aspects of marine ecosystems and explore how AI tools can be applied to understand and address challenges such as pollution and climate change. The program helps you develop skills in analyzing ocean data, building AI models related to marine life, and creating technology-based solutions for environmental issues. Whether your interests lie in computer science, marine biology, or environmental science, this program offers hands-on experience with AI in a real-world context.
15. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program: Real-Life Applications to Mathematics
Location: Virtual
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: March 20
Dates: Summer: July 7 – 25 | Fall: August 27 – December 10
Eligibility: U.S.-based students in grades 6 and 7 from low-income backgrounds
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program combines summer and fall coursework with a focus on advanced math and academic development. In the Real-Life Applications to Mathematics course, you’ll explore subjects like cryptography, modular arithmetic, and financial modeling to see how mathematical concepts are used in everyday contexts. The program is held entirely online and emphasizes group discussions and collaborative problem-solving. Alongside academic content, you’ll also receive guidance on applying to competitive high schools and planning for future academic goals. With a small group of around 12 students, the program allows for focused instruction and regular interaction with mentors and instructors.
Image Source - Veritas AI logo