15 Summer Programs for High School Students in California
Summer break is a great time for high schoolers to build skills and make meaningful connections. Many summer programs offer hands-on experiences, through research, internships, or intensive coursework, across fields like STEM, business, and the humanities. Several top universities and organizations host these programs, many of which are free or offer financial aid.
Whether you're interested in coding, lab research, or entrepreneurship, there’s something for you in California. Here are 15 summer programs for high school students in California, both in-person and virtual, that can help you develop your skills.
1. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Acceptance rate / Cohort: Highly selective; 24 students.
Dates: June 23 – July 25.
Application Deadline: March 17.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors from Northern California who are low-income and first-generation college students are eligible to apply.
Cost: Free!
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a free, five-week residential program for low-income, first-generation juniors from Northern California. Hosted at Stanford, it offers college-level coursework in biology and chemistry, hospital tours, anatomy dissections, and a mentored health research project. You'll also receive guidance on college admissions and leadership development. With only 24 spots, the program is highly selective and looks for strong science grades and compelling personal essays. SMYSP fosters a close-knit cohort and connects you with mentors from similar backgrounds, including Stanford medical students and physicians.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including summer.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. May.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world are eligible to apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard alumni, offers structured learning experiences for high school students interested in artificial intelligence and its applications. If you're starting out, the AI Scholars program provides a solid introduction to key topics such as machine learning, data science, and core AI principles through 10 guided sessions that include a final project based on real-world data. If you have prior exposure to the field, you can join the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase, which centers on independent research mentored by professionals from top academic and industry institutions. The fellowship includes editorial support to help you submit your work to high school research publications. The program is built around close mentorship, practical learning, and showcasing outcomes through project deliverables.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective; ~10%.
Dates: June - August.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: High school students worldwide with a strong interest in independent research are eligible to apply.
Cost: Ranges between $2,990–$8,900. Need-based financial aid is available.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects high school students with Ph.D. mentors to conduct original research over a 12-week period. You’ll work one-on-one with your mentor to develop and complete a research paper in a field of your interest–options include areas such as economics, international relations, computer science, psychology, engineering, and more. The program is designed to simulate the research experience of a university-level academic project, providing both structure and flexibility. By the end, you will have produced a formal research paper, which can serve as a valuable academic credential.
4. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Acceptance rate / cohort size: Highly selective; 50 students.
Dates: June 9 – July 31.
Application Deadline: December 15 - February 22.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 16 years or older and are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. Priority is given to local / Bay Area students.
Stipend: $500 minimum stipend. Stipends of $2500 and above are given on a needs-based system from special grants.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an immersive research internship for high school students in California to work in Stanford labs in fields like cancer biology, neuroscience, and bioengineering. Under the mentorship of Stanford scientists, you’ll conduct experiments, analyze data, attend lectures on gene editing or computational biology, and present your research at a symposium. The program is free, offers stipends to local students, and prioritizes applicants from the Bay Area. With limited spots, SIMR is extremely competitive.
5. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center, Duarte, CA.
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 4%; 82 students accepted out of ~2,100 applicants.
Dates: June 2 - August 8.
Application Deadline: March 12.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old before the internship begins are eligible to apply.
Stipend: $4,500.
This is a paid, 10-week biomedical research internship at City of Hope, a cancer center in California. As a student researcher, you’ll be placed in a lab and work full-time on projects related to cancer or translational medicine. You may test new drugs, study immunotherapy, or analyze genomic data, working alongside scientists as part of their research teams. The program includes weekly seminars on oncology and professional development. It culminates in a poster presentation to the City of Hope research community, and some students even earn co-authorship on scientific papers. Admission is extremely competitive, with a focus on students from underrepresented STEM backgrounds.
6. USC Bovard Scholars Program
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Highly selective; 120 students.
Dates: July 15 - August 2.
Application Deadline: January 17.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who hold a 4.0 weighted GPA or above, are enrolled in Algebra II, Trigonometry or above, and demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply.
Cost: Free!
Bovard Scholars is a free, three-week college prep program at the University of Southern California for high-achieving high school students. You’ll live on campus and attend daily sessions on SAT/ACT prep, college essays, and admissions strategy. Each of you will be paired with a dedicated coach who will continue to support you through your senior year and college decision process. The program also includes career exploration activities like site visits to local organizations. Bovard equips you with the tools, mentorship, and guidance to apply to and thrive at top-tier universities.
7. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, or UC Santa Cruz, CA.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20%; 160-200 students per campus.
Dates: July 6–August 2.
Application Deadline: January 8 - February 7.
Eligibility: Rising California 9th through 12th graders are eligible to apply.
Cost: $5,256. Need-based financial aid is available.
COSMOS is a four-week residential program at various UC campuses for California students interested in STEM and scientific research. You’ll choose a "cluster", a focused topic like biomedical engineering, astrophysics, or computer science, and take college-level courses, labs, and a team-based capstone project. Living on campus, you’ll work closely with UC faculty and fellow students during the day, and take part in social events in the evenings. COSMOS is designed to give academically talented students a real taste of college-level science education while building friendships with like-minded peers.
8. Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program
Location: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA.
Cohort size: ~12 students.
Dates: June 16 – August 8.
Application Deadline: December 12 - March 28.
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years and older and reside and attend school in San Diego County are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and have successfully completed at least one year of high school-level chemistry and biology.
Stipend: Paid.
This paid summer program lets San Diego high school students work with top scientists at the Salk Institute. You’ll be placed in research labs focused on molecular biology, neuroscience, genetics, or plant science, where you’ll run experiments, analyze data, and contribute to active research projects. In addition to lab work, the program includes workshops and seminars to strengthen research and communication skills. It concludes with a presentation of your findings.
9. Stanford University Mathematics Camp
Location: Virtual or in-person at Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: ~6%; Residential: 40 students | Virtual: 64 students.
Dates: Session One Online: June 16 - July 4 | Session Two Online: July 7 – 25 | Session One: Residential: June 22 – July 18.
Application Deadline: February 3.
Eligibility: High school students who are in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application and have an exceptional interest in mathematics are eligible to apply.
Cost: Residential: $8,575 | Virtual: $3,580. Need-based financial aid is available.
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) offers high school students the opportunity to engage in advanced, proof-based mathematics with Stanford faculty. It offers two core courses—Abstract Algebra & Number Theory and Topology & Geometry—and emphasizes on rigorous problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, and collaborative exploration. You’ll attend daily lectures, work on guided research problems, and explore historical or unsolved questions in mathematics.
10. The Science Internship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, CA.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort size: 10%; 150 students.
Dates: June 22 – August 9.
Application Deadline: February 1 - 28.
Eligibility: High school students at least 14-17 years of age on the program start date are eligible to apply.
Cost: $4,850. Need-based financial aid is available.
The Science Internship Program (SIP) offers you the chance to work alongside UC Santa Cruz faculty, researchers, and grad students on cutting-edge scientific research. You can choose from astrophysics, chemistry, ecology, engineering, or more, and contribute to ongoing projects. After a week of online training, you’ll spend the remaining weeks in your assigned lab. Depending on your placement, you might be writing code for simulations, synthesizing nanoparticles, or analyzing coastal data in the field. The program also includes guest lectures, lab skills workshops, and culminates in a Final Research Symposium where you will present your work to peers and families.
11. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Acceptance rate: 10%.
Dates: Session One: June 22 - July 11 | Session Two: July 13 - August 1.
Application Deadline: February 3.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 at the time of application submission are eligible to apply.
Cost: $8,575. Need-based financial aid is available.
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a residential program for students passionate about history, literature, or philosophy. You’ll choose one course, such as Ancient Greek Philosophy, Revolutionary America, Race and Identity in American Literature, or more, and explore it in depth. Classes are discussion-based and seminar-style, with a focus on reading primary texts, writing analytical essays, and engaging in critical inquiry. You might also complete a research project. Beyond the classroom, you will participate in enrichment activities like guest lectures, writing workshops, and visits to special library collections.
12. Young Scholars Program
Location: University of California, Davis, CA.
Acceptance Rate / Cohort size: Highly selective; 40 students.
Dates: June 22 – August 2.
Application Deadline: January 15 - March 15.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16 years old by the first day of the program are eligible to apply.
Cost: $7,500. Need-based financial aid is available.
Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential research program for high school students interested in the biological and environmental sciences. You’ll spend about 30 hours per week in the lab or field, either sequencing DNA, collecting environmental samples, analyzing datasets, or breeding plants. Your work contributes to real research goals and you will also get the chance to produce a journal-style paper summarizing your findings. The program also offers workshops on research methods, scientific writing, and college readiness.
13. Girls Who Code - Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; 40 students.
Dates: Session 1: July 7 - 18 | Session 2: July 28 - August 8.
Application Deadline: Early decision: February 26 | Final deadline: April 11.
Eligibility: Female and non-binary high school students in grades 9-11 and interested in coding are eligible to apply.
Cost: Free! $300 needs-based grant for eligible students in the United States.
The Summer Immersion Program is a free, two-week online coding program for high school girls and non-binary students. Through live instruction and collaborative projects, you'll learn core computer science skills and apply them to real-world projects with a social impact focus. Topics include game design, web development, cybersecurity, and more. The program also offers exposure to tech careers through mentorship, virtual company visits, and panels. The program will help you gain programming skills, a sense of community in tech, and a finished project.
14. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA.
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; ~50 students per session.
Dates: Session I: July 5 – 19 | Session II: July 19 – August 2.
Application Deadline: March 1. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders are eligible to apply.
Cost: California Residents: $6,292 | Out-of-State Residents: $7,332. Need-based scholarships are available.
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth is a two-week residential summer entrepreneurship program led by UC Berkeley Haas faculty and seasoned business professionals. You'll collaborate in teams to research, build, and pitch a complete business plan, with hands-on workshops in marketing, finance, and presentation skills. Classes combine interactive instruction with real-world case studies, while dorm life and social events offer a glimpse into college culture. The program culminates in a final pitch to peers, faculty, and industry mentors.
15. Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 16 – August 1.
Application Deadline: December 15 - March 17.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 9th grade by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
Cost: Residential: $11,874 | Commuter: $5,175. Need-based financial aid is available for California residents.
The Research Mentorship Program offers a six-week, immersive experience where you're paired with a UCSB graduate student, postdoc, or faculty mentor to pursue interdisciplinary, university-level research. The program kicks off with a multi-day virtual orientation, then shifts to full-time, hands-on lab or fieldwork. You'll earn 8 college credits through two coordinated courses—one focused on research writing, the other on presentation skills, including GRIT Talk lectures by UCSB researchers. You'll produce a formal research paper and present your work in a final symposium, either through an oral or poster presentation.
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