15 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles, California
If you’re a high school student interested in STEM, enrolling in a summer program can help you gain advanced knowledge and explore future career opportunities in a discipline of your choice. These programs allow you to explore advanced topics, work on projects, and learn directly from university faculty and researchers. You’ll also get to connect with mentors and peers who share your curiosity, helping you grow academically and prepare for future opportunities.
Why should you attend a program in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is home to many reputable universities and institutes that offer summer programs in STEM and related fields. You can gain experience through exposure to practical settings such as hospitals, research labs, and ecological fields, and develop skills in engineering, learn laboratory techniques, and explore research methodologies. Whether you are a local student or visiting Los Angeles during the summer, you can benefit from the various STEM opportunities offered in the city.
To make your search easier, we have 15 STEM summer programs for high school students in Los Angeles.
If you are looking for engineering internships in Los Angeles, check out our blog here.
1. Occidental College Research Early Access Program (REAP)
Location: Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: $6,000 study award
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: March 19 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores
The Occidental College Research Early Access Program (REAP) is a 10-week summer program for high school students. You will get the opportunity to work on interesting faculty-mentored research in biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, and cognitive science. You will get to learn laboratory techniques, research methodologies, and data analysis. You will get trained in research ethics, network with professionals and mentors, and submit a final research report. At the conclusion of the program, you will get the opportunity to give a presentation at the Oxy Summer Research Conference.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
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). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. 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. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, you would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. A more advanced option is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals.
3. INSPIRE High School Program at Cedars Sinai
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a stipend is paid
Dates: June 30 – September 5 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+
Inspiring New Scientists through Professional Internships and Research Experience (INSPIRE) High School Program is a no-cost, paid summer program for high school students. The program will introduce you to research in healthcare settings, engage in hands-on training, and attend virtual workshops. You will learn in-depth about research fundamentals, including principles of the research process, appropriate use of protected health information (PHI), Scientific literature review process, research discussions, and presentation skills (lab meetings, Journal Clubs), and more. You will get the opportunity to explore careers, network with professionals and peers, and build valuable skills.
4. Lumiere’s STEM Track
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
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, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. UCLA BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship
Location: UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Concussion Program, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; An unspecified stipend is paid
Dates: June 9 – August 1 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: April 4 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors
The UCLA BrainSport Summer High School Research Internship is a free, in-person program for high school students. The program will allow you to learn from a multidisciplinary team of BrainSport researchers, clinicians, research scientists, and a nurse practitioner. Your responsibilities will include the recruitment of patients, conducting study protocols, and entering research data, all while working directly with the BrainSport study staff. You will get to attend the Traumatic Brain Injury lab meetings with the BrainSPORT team every week. At the conclusion of the internship, you will present a project based on a research topic of your choice.
6. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: High School Summer Volunteer Program
Location: Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: 15-17-year-old high school students aged
Children's Hospital Los Angeles- High School Summer Volunteer Program is a free, in-person program for high school students. The program will allow you to work directly with patients and their families. You will be responsible for providing special services to patients, including escorting them to hospital appointments, greeting them with warmth and friendliness, sharing developmentally appropriate items with them, and providing them with administrative support. Though the program allows limited interaction with patients, it's a great opportunity to gain practical experience as a volunteer in a hospital setting.
7. USC Dornsife’s Young Researchers Program
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school rising senior students in the Los Angeles, Lynwood, Compton, or Inglewood Unified School Districts
University of Southern California (USC) Dornsife’s Young Researchers Program is a six-week, no-cost summer program for high school students. The program will allow you to engage in hands-on university-level STEM research projects, attend weekly workshops, and receive mentorships from research graduates. You will get the opportunity to go on field trips, explore different career paths in the STEM fields, and present your research project as a poster at a public symposium on the conclusion of the program.
8. UCLA Brain Research Institute’s NeuroCamp Summer High School Program
Location: University of California Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free of cost
Dates: Week 1: June 16 – 18, Week 2: June 23 – 24, 26 – 27 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: April 27 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students
UCLA Brain Research Institute’s NeuroCamp is a free summer outreach program for high school students. The program will allow you to learn basic lab techniques in Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroanatomy, and Neurophysiology. You will gain a better understanding of fundamental neuroscience concepts, get introduced to research in neuroscience, and develop an interest in educational careers in science. The program will allow you to engage in hands-on lab activities, learn in-depth about the workings of the human brain, and build a healthy network with professionals and peers.
9. UCLA Health Pre-Med Summer Scholar Program
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $1,450
Dates: Session 1: June 23 – 27; Session 2: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Current U.S.A. high school juniors, sophomores, and seniors, minimum age - 16 years
The UCLA Health Pre-Med Summer Scholar Program is an educational, in-person program for high school students. The program will allow you to engage in hands-on activities, listen to medical guest speakers, and gain a better understanding of different medical professions. Some of the interesting topics discussed in the program over the years include image lesion, pathology, CPR training, basic science research lab tours, and more. The program will also include lab activities, social events, and trips. It is a great opportunity for you to explore a suitable career path in medicine.
10. LMU Pre-College Programs: Python for Building AI-Powered Applications
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $6,125+ $65 Application fee
Dates: June 22 – July 3 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Not announced yet
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and sophomores
LMU’s Python for Building AI-Powered Applications is a two-week, in-person program for high school students. It will allow you to develop foundational Python programming skills, learn important computer science topics, including control structures, data types, data structures, functions, and principles of object-oriented programming. You will explore in-depth the integration of APIs and work on a project focused on the integration of different AI technologies. The project will involve the development of interactive chatbots, question-answering assistants, text-based adventure games, and personalized recommendation systems. The program is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with coding exercises, attend structured lessons, and pursue a future career in computer science with confidence.
11. California State Summer School for Math and Science (COSMOS)
Location: University of California Campuses, including Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $5,518 + $46 Application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: UCI, UCSD: July 5 – 31; UCD, UCLA, UCM, UCSC: July 5 – August 1 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: California high school students, 3.5 or above GPA
California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) is a fully residential program for California high school students interested in STEM subjects. The program spans four weeks and will allow you to work with established researchers, scientists, and faculty in state-of-the-art facilities. You will get the opportunity to explore advanced topics in STEM, develop valuable skills, and learn about the different career paths you can choose from in the field of STEM. The program is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience through laboratory activities.
12. Loyola Marymount University Environmental Science: The Living City
Location: Loyola Marymount University Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $6,500 + $65 Application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: July 5 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Loyola Marymount University's Environmental Science: The Living City is an on-campus summer program for high school students interested in natural and social sciences. You will be exposed to the research conducted in LMU-CURes’ Lab by faculty and undergraduates on topics including tree health and growth, coyote management, hummingbird torpor and behavior, water quality, mosquito abundance, social stewardship mapping, and more. The program takes place in the backdrop of the Ballona Wetlands and will introduce you to the diverse flora and fauna present there. The program is a great learning opportunity to find solutions to complex environmental challenges and prepare a painted hummingbird cast.
13. Northwestern Pre-college Online Program: Engineering
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: A week before each session begins
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
The Northwestern Pre-College Online Program: Engineering will allow you to work on real case studies, apply design processes, and solve engineering problems. You will get the opportunity to learn how engineers solve problems through science, develop skills in civil and environmental engineering, and understand the impact of material selection on design decisions. The program will allow you to learn in-depth about mechanical engineering and how prototypes and sketches help in bringing designs to life. You will also get to learn about the impact of biomedical engineering in solving medical issues. At the conclusion of the program, you will apply your learnings to solve a practical problem.
14. Dartmouth Precollege Online STEM Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895/course
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: Varying-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
The Dartmouth Precollege Online STEM Programs allow you to learn about STEM through flexible schedules from anywhere in the world. You will get to learn topics in psychology, biology, regenerative medicine, and more. You will gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills through support from mentors and engaging video lessons. You can enrol in a course of your choice and receive a Dartmouth certificate of completion. At the conclusion of the program, you will get to present a Capstone project to demonstrate your learning.
15. Rice University Pre-College Online STEM Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795/course
Dates: Varying-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students, ages 13+
Rice University Pre-College Online STEM Programs is an online, flexible program for high school students. The program will allow you to explore your interest in different STEM subjects before you choose a college major. The different subjects you can explore include genome engineering, aerospace, medicine, engineering, psychology, and physiology. You will have the opportunity to learn from renowned Rice University professors, supportive mentors, and earn a certificate of completion from Rice University that will be helpful in your college applications. You will get to present your STEM skills and knowledge learnt during the program by completing a Capstone project.
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