14 Summer Programs for High School Students in Houston
As a high school student, summer programs can be one of the most practical ways for you to explore subjects outside the classroom. Summer programs allow you to work on projects, sharpen problem-solving skills, and gain experience that helps you understand how classroom learning applies to the real world. They also give you a chance to try out potential career paths, strengthen your college applications, and connect with mentors while still in high school.
Houston is an exciting place for these opportunities, as the city is home to world-class universities, major research hospitals, and thriving industries in energy, space science, and health care. If you’re a local student, these programs let you access resources right in your community. On the other hand, students outside the city can also benefit from joining a program in Houston, utilizing the resources offered by the organizations in the city and exploring the academic culture and professional networks firsthand.
To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed down 14 summer programs for high school students in Houston.
1. Houston Methodist Summer High School Research Internship
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Centre, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application Deadline: December 2 - January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 16+ by the program start date, 3.5+ GPA
In this program, you’ll join a biomedical lab at Houston Methodist and take part in experiments. Researchers and clinicians mentor you in lab methods, data collection, and analysis. You will present your work at departmental seminars or rounds, gaining experience in professional scientific communication. The program emphasizes responsibility, so you’ll be expected to contribute to ongoing projects. It’s one of the most competitive summer programs for high school students in Houston.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks; multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling year-round. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Veritas AI gives you a structured introduction to artificial intelligence through its AI Scholars program, run by Harvard graduate students. You’ll learn programming fundamentals in Python before moving into supervised and unsupervised machine learning models. By the end, you’ll complete a small project, applying AI to solve a problem in areas like medicine, finance, or media. You also get the chance to showcase your project to peers and mentors, making your work more impactful. If you’re more advanced, the AI Fellowship allows you to work one-on-one with mentors to create publishable research.
3. MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800 for the 10-week program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 - August 8
Application Deadline: November 18 - January 15
Eligibility: Texas high‑school seniors, 18+
You’ll work full-time in biomedical research labs under the guidance of full-time faculty, gaining foundational experience in scientific inquiry and hands-on lab techniques. The program also includes seminars, research discussions, and a chance to compete in poster, abstract, and elevator pitch challenges. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your findings during a formal presentation with your peers and mentors.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; up to 100% need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing
Lumiere pairs you one-on-one with a PhD mentor to design and complete an independent research project. Over 12 weeks, you’ll work through stages like literature review, experimental design, and data analysis, ultimately writing a formal research paper. Students may have the chance to present their projects in a virtual showcasepracticingng the skills of professional researchers. The program is flexible, and you can choose topics in STEM, economics, social science, or even interdisciplinary fields. Mentorship is personalized, giving you detailed feedback at every step.
5. Rice University — Digital Health Young Scholars Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 9 - June 26
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11, in the Houston area
In this program, you’ll explore how engineering and computer science are applied to healthcare by building a prototype smartwatch. Using sensors such as pulse oximeters, accelerometers, GPS, and microphones, you’ll learn how devices gather and process health data. Alongside technical training, you’ll also practice scientific communication and writing, which are essential skills for research. Faculty and graduate mentors provide guidance throughout, helping you connect classroom learning with biomedical applications. The program closes with project presentations where you share your work with peers and Rice researchers.
6. University of Houston MohanLab Summer Internship Program
Location: MohanLab, University of Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 - July 25
Application Deadline: March 28th
Eligibility: Rising high‑school seniors
This internship places you directly into ongoing university-level research projects. You’ll work with faculty and graduate students in MohanLab, contributing to experiments, data collection, and literature review. You may present your results in a departmental symposium or lab-wide meeting, giving you presentation practice. The program emphasizes independent responsibility, expecting you to follow lab protocols and troubleshoot as needed.
7. Rice University — Architecture Summer Immersion
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: TBD
Application Deadline: Spring onwards
Eligibility: High school students, in grades 10-11, based in Houston, 16+
In this 2-week program, you’ll step into the design studio and learn architectural thinking from concept through model. Faculty and practitioners lead you through lectures, drafting, and digital tools. You’ll visit design studios and construction sites to see architecture in practice. The program emphasizes how space, material, and form interact, giving you insight into the profession. You’ll finish by presenting your design project to instructors and peers.
8. University of Houston — The Idea Factory (Industrial Design Program)
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 9 - June 13 and June 16 - June 20
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Eligibility: High school students
This program takes you through the steps of creating a product, from brainstorming to prototyping. You’ll explore design thinking, material testing, and hands-on construction in UH’s maker spaces. You will also consult with professionals or visit local design firms to get feedback on their prototypes. Collaboration is central, and you’ll learn how to refine ideas through peer and mentor critique. At the end, you’ll pitch your final product in a showcase. It’s a focused option if you want to understand the realities of industrial design.
9. UH STEM Centre — TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None; Earn up to $1,000 in scholarships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 8 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: A Graduating high school senior who plans to attend UH in the fall, currently taking pre-calculus
In this 9-week program, you’ll immerse yourself in STEM topics with a strong focus on applied research. Faculty and graduate mentors guide you through labs, technical workshops, and project design. You’ll practice data analysis, conduct experiments, and strengthen critical thinking through structured tasks. Students often have opportunities for site visits to UH research centers or local industry partners, providing context beyond the classroom. After completing the program, you will be evaluated for admittance into your first-choice major in NSM or Engineering.
10. Baylor College of Medicine DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: One week in summer (dates vary)
Application Deadline: Starts in March, deadline varies
Eligibility: Rising seniors from South Texas‑affiliated high schools
DocPrep is designed to give high school seniors a firsthand look at the academic demands of medical school. You will take part in lectures and workshops focused on scientific communication, with Rice University graduate students providing instruction and advice on both college and medical school applications. Baylor medical students act as counselors, sharing their perspectives and offering mentorship about life in medical school. Lasting just one week, this program is an ideal choice among summer programs for high school students in Houston.
11. UTHealth Houston Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Texas Health Science Centre, Houston, TX
Stipend: $750 upon successful completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 12 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship offers an immersive research experience that links high school students to university-level science and public health research. Based on your interests, you’ll be paired with a mentor and spend approximately 20 hours each week working on a research project. The program concludes with a final presentation, giving you the chance to share your results.
12. UH STEM - BioTechnology Academy
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $375
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9-June 13
Application Deadline: June 5; latest info here
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
This academy offers a broad mix of biotech domains to explore. You’ll explore biotechnology techniques in labs through guided projects. Instructors include university faculty and graduate students, who provide structured lessons and mentoring. One highlight is the opportunity to tour campus labs or research facilities, connecting classroom learning to real-world science. You’ll also work in small groups to solve STEM challenges, presenting your results at the end of the session.
13. University of Houston — Design Experience Summer Architecture Program (From the Ground Up)
Location: University of Houston Central Campus, Houston, TX
Cost: $1,500; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate (40–50 students)
Dates: June 15 - July 17
Application Deadline: January 1 - June 1; Latest info here
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12, GPA 3.0+
You’ll spend your days exploring how design principles work across disciplines. Faculty guide you through modeling, 3D printing, and collaborative studio sessions. The program often ends with presentations to faculty and local designers, giving you feedback from professionals in the field. Along the way, you’ll practice turning ideas into prototypes and understand how creativity intersects with technical skills. It’s a chance to see what design school might feel like before applying to college.
14. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual. High school students in Houston can participate
Cost: $40 application fee; $850 participation fee; need-based financial aid available for both
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 - 27
Application Deadline: December 9 - February 28 (fee waiver deadline: February 21)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), 14+, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a two-week virtual program that immerses you in the technical and clinical aspects of AI for healthcare. Each day, you’ll engage with expert-led lectures that clarify AI principles in medicine, collaborate in group research sessions under the guidance of Stanford student leads and researchers, and join “career lunch-and-learn” events featuring guest speakers from academia, industry, and government. If you’re especially driven, there may be opportunities to extend your involvement with an independent project beyond the structured schedule.
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