12 Summer Programs for High School Students in Chicago
If you are a high school student, summer programs give you the chance to explore academic and professional interests beyond the classroom. Whether you want to strengthen your skills, experience college-level coursework, or gain exposure to careers, these programs offer structured ways to grow during the break. They can also help you develop time management, teamwork, and communication skills while building confidence in your chosen field.
In a city like Chicago, summer programs come with added advantages: access to world-class universities, active research institutions, and a thriving tech and arts scene. You can learn from experts, explore diverse industries, and experience city life that mirrors what college might feel like. From engineering and medicine to creative writing and design, these programs highlight the academic and professional opportunities Chicago offers.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve narrowed down 12 of the best summer programs for high school students in Chicago.
1. ResearcHStart
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who live in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana, and are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Research Start places you directly in the lab, where you’ll spend your summer working alongside cancer researchers in areas like immunology, bioengineering, and experimental therapeutics. Through this full-time research experience, you’ll learn essential lab techniques and gain an understanding of how scientific questions become experiments, and how experiments lead to insight. Career development sessions, lectures, and mentoring complement the hands-on work, grounding your learning in real applications. The program closes with a research symposium, where participants share their findings with scientists, peers, and family. For students curious about biomedical research careers, this summer program for high school students in Chicago offers a clear view of what working in science looks like day to day.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. The AI Fellowship requires prior completion of the AI Scholars program or working knowledge of Python
At Veritas AI, you’ll learn how artificial intelligence is applied in real-world contexts through structured mentorship and guided projects. The AI Scholars program introduces you to the core concepts of machine learning and data science, helping you understand the foundations of how models work and how to build them. Over ten sessions, you’ll collaborate in small groups to design and implement a project that demonstrates your new technical and analytical skills. For students who are ready to go deeper, the AI Fellowship offers a more independent path. In this track, you’ll work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university to design an original AI project. The program also provides editorial support to help you publish your research in high school-level academic journals.
3. Chicago Botanic Garden Science Career Continuum
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 4 (grades 9–10) or 7 (grades 11–12) weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
The Science Career Continuum connects multiple levels of hands-on science learning for Chicago Public School students, beginning with foundational programs in middle school and extending through college preparation. At the high school level, you’ll spend your summer exploring biology, ecology, and environmental science at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Fieldwork, group projects, and lab activities help you understand how ecosystems function and how scientists investigate environmental change. As part of the continuum, students can continue into more advanced research and college-level coursework in later years. For those drawn to plant science or environmental studies, this summer program for high school students in Chicago offers sustained engagement with real research settings and scientific mentorship.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects you with PhD mentors to explore advanced topics through personalised research. You’ll spend about twelve weeks working on an independent project in a field of your choice, ranging from computer science and data analysis to psychology, economics, or engineering. Each stage of the process, from proposal to final paper, is guided by a mentor who helps you refine your research question and methodology. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a full-length academic paper that reflects both your analytical skills and subject knowledge. This structure mirrors the experience of collegiate research, giving you early exposure to how ideas are developed, tested, and presented in academic contexts.
5. Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS)
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 31 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students from underrepresented communities in the scientific workforce
Through the Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars program, you’ll explore how cancer research connects with issues of equity and access in healthcare. Over eight weeks, you’ll conduct a mentored research project in a University of Illinois lab, where you’ll design experiments, analyse data, and present your findings at the program’s research symposium. The curriculum includes workshops, lectures, and professional development sessions that strengthen your writing, presenting, and critical thinking skills. You’ll also shadow healthcare professionals and participate in discussions on career pathways across biomedicine.
6. Digital Scholars Program
Location: 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students/class
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
Digital Scholars introduces you to computing and data science through intensive coursework, hands-on projects, and direct engagement with Chicago’s tech community. You can choose from courses in topics like data science, iOS app design, computer engineering, or programming in Swift, each designed to strengthen your technical foundation and problem-solving approach. Alongside the coursework, you’ll attend workshops on artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and teamwork, and meet professionals from startups, incubators, and major tech companies. The experience bridges classroom learning with real-world applications in technology.
7. Chicago Green Ambassadors Program
Location: Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Students aged 15–22 from the neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Bronzeville, Little Village, Pilsen, and surrounding communities
The Chicago Green Ambassadors Program focuses on community-based environmental work across neighbourhoods such as Bronzeville, Chinatown, and Pilsen. You’ll collaborate with local organisations to restore natural areas, increase access to green spaces, and connect residents to the South Lakefront Corridor. The program blends ecology, community engagement, and urban planning, encouraging you to think about sustainability as both an environmental and social goal. You’ll gain experience in teamwork, leadership, and project coordination while learning how conservation intersects with public life. This program for high school students in Chicago emphasises both local impact and ecological stewardship.
8. The Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy
Location: DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Cost: $850 + $150 deposit (partial scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: June 10
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their freshman year
Hosted by DePaul University, this program lets you explore creative industries across six tracks: film and TV production, game development, animation, screenwriting, 3D modelling, and sound design. Each track combines technical training with hands-on collaboration, giving you the chance to produce short films, design games, animate characters, or craft scripts. You’ll use professional software and equipment while learning directly from DePaul faculty active in the industry. The structure encourages teamwork between disciplines, mirroring real creative pipelines in media and entertainment. This summer program for high school students in Chicago is designed to help you understand how storytelling and technology intersect across visual media.
9. Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: $100 application fee + $300–$3000 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1, 2, or 4 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders (at least 15 for the residential option; 14 for virtual/commuter)
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep introduces you to university-level STEM concepts through interactive courses in robotics, sustainability, coding, and human sciences. Led by Illinois Tech faculty and industry professionals, the sessions focus on practical, hands-on learning instead of lecture-heavy instruction. You’ll work on applied projects that emphasise problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation while gaining exposure to emerging technologies. The program also offers opportunities to connect with current students and explore the Chicago campus environment.
10. Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,500 (financial aid available). The program is free for students with a household income at or below $120,000 USD; students with a household income at or below $65,000 USD also get travel expenses covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline:
Eligibility: 11th graders who are at least 15 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school
At the University of Chicago, the Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Program combines virtual and on-campus learning to immerse you in the problem-solving mindset that drives modern STEM fields. You’ll begin with a remote mathematics course, then spend a week on campus exploring UChicago’s research spaces and meeting faculty in fields like molecular engineering, computer science, and mathematics. The experience includes facility tours, model classes, and discussions that show how research connects to innovation. You’ll also visit national laboratories and entrepreneurship centres to see how ideas move from theory to practice.
11. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $14,490
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 14 – July 12
Application Deadline: Typically in January
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who have completed high school biology
Research in the Biological Sciences is a four-week intensive lab course at the University of Chicago designed to mirror the structure and pace of real academic research. This summer program immerses high school students in Chicago in both the theory and practice of biological research, preparing them for more advanced laboratory work in the future. You’ll begin by mastering essential molecular and microbiological techniques before moving into an independent research project. Daily lab sessions, reading assignments, and seminars help you build precision, documentation, and scientific communication skills. You’ll also write reports, give group presentations, and maintain a detailed lab notebook to track your process.
12. School of the Art Institute of Chicago Early College Program Summer Institute
Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,908–$7,632 + housing and supply costs (financial aid and scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions across June – July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18 who have completed their sophomore year
The Early College Program Summer Institute at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago provides a structured studio experience to develop your artistic practice while earning college credit. Each course functions like an intensive college-level class, complete with projects, critiques, and independent work. You’ll build a portfolio under the guidance of professional artists and gain experience working in a studio environment. Workshops and evening sessions introduce new techniques and materials, while visits to the Art Institute Museum connect your practice to broader artistic traditions. It’s a rigorous summer program for high school students in Chicago who want to explore art and design in a professional context.
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