14 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
If you’re a high school student who loves science, technology, engineering, or math, joining a STEM program is a good way to explore your interests during the summer. These programs let you explore your interests through research projects, experiments, and problem-solving challenges. You’ll get to work with professors, researchers, and professionals who will guide you and help you learn new skills beyond the classroom.
Why should you attend a program in Michigan?
Michigan is a great place to explore STEM because it is home to well-known universities, engineering schools, and science-focused organizations. By joining a program here, you can learn about different STEM subjects, take part in research-focused activities, and see how science and technology are studied at the college level. These programs are a good fit whether you live in Michigan or are coming from another state to experience its academic and professional environment.
To help you get started, here are 14 STEM summer programs for high school students in Michigan.
If you are looking for summer internships in Michigan, check out our blog here.
1. University of Michigan-Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers
Location: University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6- August 1
Application Deadline: Not Specified
Eligibility: High school juniors who are Michigan residents and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This summer program is designed for high school students who want to explore nuclear science and engineering. It gives you an opportunity to take part in experiments, lab tours, and interactive lessons to understand how nuclear energy is used in power, medicine, and safety. You’ll learn about topics like radiation, nuclear fusion, and how reactors work. Throughout the program, you’ll work with Michigan faculty, researchers, and students, getting a real sense of what studying and working in this field is like. You’ll also build practical science and problem-solving skills while discovering how nuclear engineering can help solve global challenges in energy and sustainability.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. University of Michigan-Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program
Location: University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 14-24
Application Deadline: Application will open around December 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are Michigan residents and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at the University of Michigan is a six-week residential program designed for high school students from under-resourced communities in Michigan. This program lets you live on the Ann Arbor campus and work with university scientists in real research labs, gaining experience in areas like molecular biology, biochemistry, and biomedical research. You’ll learn how to design experiments, collect and study data, and share your findings just like real scientists do. Along with lab work, you’ll also take part in mentoring sessions, college preparation workshops, and leadership activities that help you build confidence and prepare for future careers in science and medicine.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: STEM Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type. Full financial aid is available!
Acceptance rate: A selective program with around 500 spots annually
Dates: June–August (Summer Cohort I) | (July–October)
Application Deadline: May 11 (Summer Cohort I) | June 23 (Summer Cohort II)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school | Must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4) | No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
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. Summer High School Research Program-Wayne State University
Location: James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Application deadline: June 20
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer High School Research Program at Wayne State University gives high school students the chance to explore STEM concepts through hands-on projects. Depending on the track you choose, you can work on emerging energy technologies, CAD/3D modelling, or fuel cells. In the Emerging Energy Technology track, you’ll learn about battery science and related technologies, preparing for careers in automotive and energy fields. The CAD/3D Modelling track teaches prototyping, product development, and industry-standard CAD software. The Fuel Cell track focuses on clean energy technologies and real-world energy challenges. You’ll also visit labs, learn from research and industry professionals, and present your progress to mentors and faculty, gaining valuable experience in scientific research.
6. Eastern Michigan University-High School Summer Science Program
Location: Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Cost: None
Acceptance rate: selective program with around 500 spots annually
Dates: June 23-July 14
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Open to high-school students who have completed at least one science class (biology, chemistry, or physics)
The High School Summer Science Program at Eastern Michigan University is designed to give students real research experience in biology, chemistry, or physics. You’ll work in pairs under the guidance of a faculty mentor and an undergraduate researcher, learning how to design experiments, collect and study data, and record your results. During the program, you’ll also learn important lab skills such as safety procedures and how to communicate your scientific work. At the end, you’ll present your research to your mentors and fellow students—helping you build confidence and understand how real scientific research is done.
7. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: NASA centres across the country.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the semester
Application Deadline: Summer: February 27 and Fall: May 22
Eligibility: U.S. citizen and full-time student, have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), minimum age of 16 years at the time of application
The NASA OSTEM Internship Program allows high school students to work on exciting, cutting-edge projects in areas like software system design, algorithm optimization, and robotics. You develop practical skills that are important for a future in computer engineering. Interns collaborate closely with NASA engineers, getting insights into how real-world projects are planned and executed.
8. Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
Cost: None
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
The Third Frontiers in Nuclear Astrophysics Summer School, organised by the Centre for Nuclear Astrophysics and Cosmology (CeNAM), is a four-day program designed for high school students interested in nuclear physics and astrophysics. During the program, you’ll attend interactive morning lectures on topics like quantum many-body physics, density functional methods, effective field theories, and Bayesian uncertainty quantification. In the afternoons, you’ll participate in hands-on experiments in a state-of-the-art rare-isotope laboratory, gaining real experience in cutting-edge nuclear research.
9. Girls Who Code Summer Program
Location: Virtual (Online)
Cost: None
Program Dates: Varies as per sessions
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Girls Who Code Summer Program is a two-week program for international high school students interested in computer science and technology. During the program, you’ll learn the basics of coding with a focus on game design using p5.js, a JavaScript library. You’ll explore beginner to intermediate coding concepts, the design process, and an introduction to user experience (UX) design. The program combines live lessons with independent and group work, helping you build technical skills and creative problem-solving abilities. By the end, you’ll complete a project where you design and create your own simple interactive games using the coding and UX skills you’ve learned.
10. Pathway Programs- Michigan Technological University’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP)
Location: Michigan Technological University
Cost/Stipend: $425
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies as per program
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
The Pathway Programs at Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP) are week-long summer programs for high school students in grades 9–11. In these programs, you’ll explore areas like engineering, science, and technology through hands-on activities, group projects, and presentations. You’ll also work with other students and mentors, learning more about your field of interest. Some programs have a fee, while others are free thanks to sponsorships, so many students can take part.
11. MPulse Girls in Music and Technology (GiMaT)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: $750
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: TBA
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students who are interested in exploring music and technology
The Girls in Music & Technology program lets you explore the connection between music and technology in a hands-on way. You’ll learn about electronic music composition, including its history and the contributions of pioneering women in the field. You’ll also get introduced to musical programming and tools like Max/MSP and sound synthesis. Each week, you’ll attend a showcase where your work, as well as the projects of other participants, will be featured, giving you a chance to share your creations and see what others have made.
12. AI4ALL @ University of Washington
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Program dates: 20 weeks
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors
The 20-week introductory program in data science and machine learning at the University of Washington is designed for high school students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. The program focuses on building technical skills while exploring important topics like bias in AI and promoting fairness in technology. You’ll take part in lessons, hands-on exercises, and small-group discussions led by University of Washington faculty and researchers. By the end, you’ll gain practical coding and analytical skills, develop critical thinking, and learn how technology impacts society, all while preparing for future college and career opportunities in AI and data science.
13. PRIMES-USA AT MIT
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Runs year-round
Application Deadline: November 18
Eligibility: Current High school juniors and seniors residing in the United States outside the Greater Boston area.
The PRIMES-USA program is designed for high school students who love mathematics and want to explore it in depth. You’ll begin with guided exercises to practice reading and writing math, preparing you for research. Then, you’ll work one-on-one or in small groups with mentors who help you tackle challenging problems, give feedback, and guide your projects. You’ll choose research topics based on your interests and work on open problems, developing original solutions and writing your own research paper. The program also helps you grow academically and professionally by teaching you to explain your work clearly, think critically, and gain valuable experience for future studies in mathematics and other STEM fields.
14. Carnegie Mellon OLI Engineering Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; fee of $25 per course taken for credit or certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not competitive
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: High school students with foundational math/science knowledge
The Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) offers self-paced engineering programs for high school students in subjects like Statics, Circuits, and Environmental Technology. In the program, you’ll take part in interactive lessons, virtual labs, simulations, and real-world problem-solving exercises similar to college-level coursework. These courses help you build strong analytical and quantitative skills while learning to apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations. You’ll also explore topics like mechatronics, structural analysis, and electric vehicle systems, giving you a deeper understanding of engineering and technology.
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