10 STEM Summer School Programs for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student interested in STEM, summer programs can provide an opportunity to explore subjects beyond what is typically covered during the school year. You can study topics such as engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, health sciences, or artificial intelligence through projects, experiments, research activities, and specialized coursework. These experiences can help you develop problem-solving and analytical skills while discovering which STEM fields interest you most.
What are the benefits of a STEM summer program?
Programs hosted by organizations such as MIT, Purdue University, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University allow students to explore STEM subjects in a more focused setting than a typical school course. Depending on the program, you may learn programming, study advanced mathematics, explore engineering design, conduct scientific investigations, or complete an independent research project with guidance from instructors and mentors. These experiences can help you build subject-specific skills, explore new academic interests, and gain a better understanding of different STEM pathways.
If you’re a middle school student interested in STEM, here are 10 STEM summer school programs for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online courses, check out our blog here.
Quick Picks
Best for AI/ML: Veritas AI Trailblazers (virtual, rolling deadlines, financial aid available)
Best free options: MIT dynaMIT, Purdue Physics Inside Out, CMU SEE, NYU College & Career Lab
Best virtual options: Veritas AI Trailblazers, Lumiere Junior Explorer , Stanford Pre-Collegiate
Best for research: Lumiere Junior Explorer (independent research paper with PhD mentor)
How to choose a program
Want to learn AI? Veritas AI Trailblazers is the only program on this list dedicated to artificial intelligence and machine learning — fully virtual, open to grades 6–8, and available year-round with financial aid
Budget: Free options are MIT dynaMIT, Purdue, CMU SEE, and NYU CCL. Paid options range from $400 to $3,200
Location: Most programs are local. Virtual options including Veritas AI, Lumiere, and Stanford Pre-Collegiate are open globally
Duration: One-week programs are best for a first experience; NYU CCL, CTY, and Lumiere offer deeper immersion over multiple weeks
1. MIT dynaMIT
MIT dynaMIT is a free one-week STEM program hosted on MIT's campus and run by current MIT undergraduates. Students engage in hands-on activities across health, engineering, mathematics, and technology, with access to MIT labs and facilities throughout the week. The curriculum varies each summer and combines group learning activities with project work.
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: August 17 – August 21
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising grade 6-9 students from the Boston area
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
3. Purdue University’s Physics Inside Out Program
Physics Inside Out is a free five-day program at Purdue's Department of Physics and Astronomy, where current 7th and 8th graders work through hands-on experiments guided by Purdue faculty and graduate researchers. Sessions cover topics spanning nano to astro, including graphene exfoliation, ferrofluid synthesis, atomic force microscopy, magnetism, astrophysics, and infrared light detection. Faculty share their personal paths into science alongside the technical content, giving students exposure to what careers in physics and astronomy look like.
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: Free
Dates: June 8 – June 12
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising grade 7 and 8 students can apply (student eligibility rotates each year; grade 9-12 students attended the camp in the previous year)
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Dates: Eight weeks | Timing varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
5. Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) – Carnegie Mellon University
SEE Session 1 is a free week-long program at Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering themed around Making and Engineering, where students complete two design projects, one structured group project and one individual project, focused on building problem-solving and design skills using everyday materials. Each day combines hands-on project work with exposure to engineering concepts and the broader CMU campus environment.
Location: Carnegie Mellon campus
Cost: Free
Dates: July 13 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Rising grade 8-9 students
6. College and Career Lab (CCL) – NYU
The NYU College and Career Lab is a free, six-year program for New York City middle and high school students that begins with the Exploratory Stage, a four-week summer intensive for rising 8th and 9th graders. During the summer, students attend college-style lectures and workshops led by NYU faculty, explore academic subjects ranging from neuroscience to philosophy, and engage in career exploration activities simulating roles such as immigration lawyer, physical therapist, and game designer. The summer component connects to year-round Practice Labs that build professional and soft skills throughout the school year.
Location: NYU Campus, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 6 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: NYC residents attending school in one of the five boroughs; Exploratory Stage open to rising 8th and 9th graders
7. Georgia Institute of Technology’s Summer P.E.A.K.S.
The Summer P.E.A.K.S. (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEAM) helps participants develop STEAM (STEM + arts) knowledge through accessible and engaging activities. For middle school students, Georgia offers a week-long program with experiential activities. Students can build functioning LEGO robots to introduce robotics and electrical engineering, visit Six Flags to understand the physics of roller coasters, and learn coding by hacking Minecraft with a Raspberry Pi.
Location: Georgia Tech Atlanta campus
Cost: $400-$550. Financial aid is available
Dates: Weekly programs in June and July
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Rising grade 6-8 students
8. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes is a two-week online program where students in grades 8–11 take a single intensive course from a catalog of over 75 subjects, taught by expert instructors in live daily sessions with an average class size of 16. Course offerings span artificial intelligence, engineering, mathematics, philosophy, creative writing, and many other fields, covering advanced content not typically found in the high school curriculum. Courses are ungraded and do not carry academic credit, allowing students to explore subjects without the pressure of grades.
Location: Texas A&M campus
Cost: $3,200
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – June 26; Session 2: July 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 8–11; open to domestic and international students; students may only attend one course per summer
9. John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s Summer Programs
CTY is a three-week program run by Johns Hopkins University that brings together advanced learners on college and school campuses across the country to take a single intensive course in a subject of their choice. Course offerings span STEM, mathematics, engineering, humanities, bioethics, public health, writing, and the arts, all designed to go well beyond what is typically covered in school. Students attend class each weekday, with residential participants living on campus and taking part in supervised afternoon and weekend activities alongside peers. Admission requires qualifying test scores, and students who have previously participated can return to take different courses each summer.
Location: Multiple universities across the U.S.; online courses also available
Cost: Varies by site and format; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Varies by course
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: All middle school students
10. John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth’s Summer Programs
The MSM S.T.E.A.M. Academy is a four-week summer program at Morehouse School of Medicine designed to introduce elementary and middle school students to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics with a focus on health careers. The curriculum covers pre-exposure to rising grade level content alongside thematic programming in areas including engineering, technology, health sciences, sports science, financial literacy, and coding. Students also take part in regular dissections and inquiry-based activities that connect classroom content to real-world applications. The program is part of MSM's broader pipeline initiative to increase access and opportunity for students underrepresented in medicine and the health professions.
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine Campus, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $850
Dates: June 1 – June 26
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Students who have completed 4th grade through 8th grade; must meet or exceed grade level requirements