15 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in California
For high school students in California who want to build a solid academic profile, summer programs offer a prime opportunity to explore STEM subjects beyond the classroom. These programs offer lab experiences, college-level coursework, and a chance to engage with campus life.
Many competitive programs are hosted by prestigious universities, research centers, or tech organizations, blending academic rigor with practical challenges in science, engineering, and technology. Whether you're interested in robotics, environmental research, AI, or biomedical science, these experiences help build critical thinking, technical skills, and a stronger college application.
To help you get started, we’ve curated 15 STEM summer programs for high school students in California!
1. Veritas AI
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies; small group classes and 1-on-1 mentorship options.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. 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.
2. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive selection, around 50 students accepted
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free; a stipend of at least $500 is provided
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program
SIMR is a comprehensive eight-week program providing high school students with an immersive, hands-on research experience in the medical field at Stanford School of Medicine. It is one of the most prestigious research-focused STEM summer programs for high school students in California. You will be assigned to one of eight research areas, such as immunology, cancer biology, or neuroscience, working closely with faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. The program aims to develop a strong understanding of scientific methods and give you a glimpse into a research scientist's life. Besides lab work, you will attend lectures and workshops and present your research at a poster session at the end of the program.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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 high school students with Ph.D. 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, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Salk Institute High School Scholars Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective, small cohort
Location: Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Students living in San Diego County who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program, have completed one year of high school biology and chemistry, attend a local high school, and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
The Salk Institute, a world-leading biological research institute founded by polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk, offers a highly competitive summer program for high school students. The High School Scholars program offers a unique chance to spend eight weeks engaged in paid, practical research within a real Salk laboratory. Guided by a mentor who is a globally recognized Salk scientist, you will work in a professional setting and actively contribute to ongoing research projects. The internship also offers seminars, workshops, biotech site visits, and other activities designed to provide exposure to biological science. This is one of the most prestigious biomedical research opportunities available to high school students in California.
5. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $12,474 (residential option) | $5,175 (commuter option); limited scholarships are available, with priority for California residents
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders with a GPA of 3.8 or higher. Outstanding 9th graders may also be considered. Accepted students must attend an RMP Prep Webinar before the program begins.
The Research Mentorship Program (RMP) at UC Santa Barbara is an intensive six-week program that pairs students with mentors to conduct original research in a STEM field. You will be involved in a research project within fields such as biology, engineering, global studies, or astrophysics, and develop a formal research paper. This project will be carried out under the supervision of a mentor, such as a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty member, and will conclude with presenting your findings at a final symposium. The program is renowned for its academic rigor and offers a genuine experience of graduate-level research. It also features the GRIT Talks lecture series, which connects you to some of the top researchers and scientists in the UC Santa Barbara research community, exposing you to groundbreaking research and providing valuable networking opportunities.
6. UC Davis Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~8-10% acceptance rate; ~40 students.
Location: University of California, Davis, CA
Cost: $7,500
Dates: June 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16 and above
The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential research initiative designed for high-achieving high school students. It offers an intensive introduction to the biological and natural sciences. Participants will work directly with UC Davis research faculty or doctoral/postdoctoral researchers in cutting-edge laboratories on individual projects. Beyond the lab, the program also includes access to lectures, workshops on career development, and social activities, creating a comprehensive pre-college experience. This is another excellent, research-intensive STEM summer program for high school students in California.
7. City of Hope Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, less than a 10% selection rate
Location: City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
Cost: Free; participants receive a $4,500 stipend
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: U.S. Students who are at least 16 years old and have completed courses in chemistry and biology.
This 10-week program offers a unique opportunity to conduct biomedical research with leading scientists at City of Hope, a renowned cancer research center. Participants will engage in projects related to cancer, diabetes, or other serious diseases. The program is highly immersive, requiring full-time work in a research laboratory. There are also numerous seminars and professional development workshops to take advantage of, and you will have the opportunity to present your work at an end-of-program symposium. This program is fully funded and provides a stipend of $4,500.
8. COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20-30% acceptance rate; ~160-200 students per campus.
Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz.
Cost: $5,256; generous financial aid is available based on family income.
Dates: July 6 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Students finishing grades 8-12, though most are rising juniors and seniors.
COSMOS is a four-week residential program for California high school students, hosted at four University of California campuses: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz. Each campus offers unique "clusters" focusing on specific STEM topics, such as astrophysics, robotics, biotechnology, or computer science. You will work closely with university faculty and researchers, attending lectures and conducting hands-on research in the facility laboratories. COSMOS is one of the most well-known and prestigious STEM summer programs for high school students in California, and can be an excellent addition to any resume.
9. Stanford AI4ALL
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000, but scholarships are available to cover the full cost for qualifying students.
Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Current 9th-graders and rising 10th-graders aged 14 and older.
Stanford AI4ALL offers a fully online, three-week program focused on enhancing diversity and inclusion within Artificial Intelligence. It’s an excellent chance to grasp the fundamentals of AI through a mix of lectures, practical research projects, and mentorship from Stanford experts. The curriculum emphasizes the potential of AI to address pressing societal problems in areas such as healthcare, disaster response, and poverty alleviation. The program is project-based, allowing students to collaborate in small groups to build their own AI application.
10. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) Experiences in Research Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Location: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA
Cost: None, interns are paid $500 a week as a stipend
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th and 12th graders from the Northern California area
The Experiences in Research Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provides a chance for high school students to take part in a paid research internship at a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory. For six weeks, you will get to work alongside world-class scientists and engineers on a project from a wide range of disciplines, from computing and energy technologies to biosciences and physics. This program is designed to provide an authentic, hands-on research experience and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders. You will work 30-35 hours per week as a full-time intern, contributing to research and earning a stipend of $500 per week.
11. UCLA Summer Sessions
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA, or virtual, depending on the program.
Cost: Varies by program
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students; specific criteria vary by program.
UCLA offers a vast selection of summer programs for high school students, ranging from over 100 in-person courses and online learning modules to three-week intensive credit-awarding programs and immersive pre-college institutes. Regardless of the subject and format you are interested in, you will be able to find what you need at UCLA. UCLA’s faculty and undergraduates will instruct you, providing in-depth, college-level experience in your chosen subject, and you'll also have access to UCLA facilities if attending in person. UCLA also has a comprehensive financial aid program, making the Summer Sessions even more accessible.
12. AwesomeMath Summer Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; requires a qualifying test score for admission
Location: Virtual
Cost: Between $1,275 to $1,575 per course, depending on how early you apply
Dates: Session 1: June 9 – 27 | Session 2: June 30 – July 18 | Session 3: July 21 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 16 – May 27
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who can pass the admission test
AwesomeMath is a three-week online intensive designed for mathematically gifted students. The curriculum challenges students with advanced topics like number theory, combinatorics, and geometry, which are usually not covered in high school. You will participate in live, instructor-led lectures and daily problem-solving sessions over three weeks for each course, complemented by structured homework and assessments to monitor your progress. It’s a valuable opportunity to join a community of passionate peers and instructors, enhance your problem-solving skills, and get ready for leading math competitions.
13. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Applications are not judged on a competitive basis but on interest; early application is encouraged.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions throughout the summer.
Application Deadline: The application usually opens in January and closes in March
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade girls and non-binary students
Girls Who Code offers a two-week introductory program for students interested in computer science. The program teaches the fundamentals of coding, including languages like Python, HTML, and CSS, in a supportive, all-female environment. Participants work in teams to design and build a final project that addresses a real-world issue they care about. The program is completely free to attend. This fact, combined with the virtual nature of the program, makes it extremely accessible for high school students in California interested in coding and computer science.
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $3,080; financial assistance available
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27 | Session 2: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11; some courses have specific academic prerequisites
Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes provides a variety of two-week residential courses in STEM, covering topics such as Quantum Mechanics, Bioscience, and Cryptography. These courses don’t award grades or credit, but the focus is on in-depth, discussion-based learning with Stanford instructors and peers from around the world. You will engage in live video classes and small-group activities designed to promote exploration and critical thinking. For example, in the Introduction to Structural Engineering course, you'll undertake a bridge-building challenge and a final project to learn how to construct resilient structures.
15. Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Track
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: 8-week session: $15,950 | 6-week session: $14,650
Dates: Session 1: June 23 – August 15 | Session 2: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Students must have completed 10th or 11th grade by summer, have a 3.0 GPA (weighted or unweighted), and be at least 16 years old
The Berkeley Pre-College Scholars program allows high school students to enroll in undergraduate courses at UC Berkeley for college credit. You enroll in two college-level courses in fields such as business, law, engineering, or philosophy, offered by Berkeley faculty through the Summer Sessions program. The residential track offers a comprehensive college experience, featuring dorm living, campus facilities, and the opportunity to study alongside undergraduate students. Outside of class, you participate in workshops led by admissions staff, go on excursions, join social events, and attend college preparation activities.