15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
If you are a high school student interested in acquiring a new skill or gaining experience in a particular subject area, participating in a summer program can be a valuable opportunity. Summer programs give you access to high-quality resources and project work in the subject of your interest, allowing you to build practical skills and gain valuable industry experience. You also receive mentorship from faculty and industry professionals, helping you build your network.
Illinois is home to many universities and research institutes that offer accessible summer programs. With a diverse range of fields, excellent mentors, and valuable resources, you can explore your areas of interest in depth and establish meaningful professional connections. You can choose from fields like investment banking, coding, data analysis, neurology, and even research in emerging areas. Whether you are a local or an out-of-state student looking to explore the opportunities offered in Illinois, you can benefit from participating in a program over the summer.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Illinois.
1. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Online Orientation: May 29, June 11 and 12; In-person Orientation: June 17 – 18; In-person Research Program: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program is a six-week STEM research experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for high school students. During the program, you’ll gain hands-on experience in cancer immunology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, electrical engineering, and more. The program aims to provide support and empowerment for traditionally excluded populations in STEMM. You’ll participate in research activities with faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, undergraduate students, and local high school teachers, and showcase your research at the end of the experience with a research poster and symposium.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students
Veritas AI, created and led by Harvard graduate students, offers programs specifically for high schoolers keen on exploring artificial intelligence. For those just beginning their journey in AI, machine learning, or data science, the AI Scholars program offers a 10-session boot camp where you’ll learn core concepts and apply them to real-world projects. For more advanced learners, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase provides the chance to work one-on-one with mentors from leading universities on an independent project. You will also benefit from the support of Veritas AI’s in-house publication team if you aim to submit your paper to high school research journals.
3. Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Illinois, Rockford, IL
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years old by May 1
The Summer Programs in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is a program designed to encourage high school students to pursue careers in science. As a participant, you’ll get to understand the process of medical research and its impact on discoveries to cure diseases. It is offered by Thermo Fisher Scientific (Pierce Biotechnology of Rockford) and the College of Medicine. During the program, you’ll work side-by-side with leading scientists in the field and work as part of a research team. Additionally, you’ll attend career-building trainings and build oral and poster presentation skills.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Academically strong high school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-based experience where you’ll design and complete an independent project under the guidance of a PhD mentor. You can choose topics from fields like psychology, physics, economics, data science, engineering, and more. Over twelve weeks, you’ll learn how to frame research questions, review relevant literature, and apply methods to investigate your chosen subject. The program emphasizes critical thinking and academic writing, ending with a formal research paper. You can find more details about the application here.
5. College Bound Research Program
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Illinois high school seniors who are 18 years of age at the start of the appointment
The College Bound Research Program at the Argonne National Laboratory is a summer research participation program for local Illinois high school seniors. During the program, you’ll work in a laboratory or office environment, performing research with scientists and engineers. You’ll get a feel for what it means to work in a national laboratory and learn the process of scientific discovery.
6. Digital Scholars Program
Location: IL Tech Law Center, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students in Chicago
The Digital Scholars Program is a summer program designed for high school students interested in pursuing computer science and tech-related degrees. As a digital scholar, you’ll have the opportunity to enroll in one of five courses: Data Science Discovery, Exploring Electrical and Computer Engineering, Foundations of Computer Science and Coding, iOS App Design, and Programming in Swift. You’ll interact with Chicago’s tech community through daily talks with tech entrepreneurs, technologists, business strategists, and civic leaders. Additionally, you’ll participate in weekly workshops on artificial intelligence and machine learning, entrepreneurship, and data science.
7. Bank of America Student Leader
Location: Multiple sites across the U.S. + Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 15
Eligibility: Currently be a junior or senior in high school; More details here
The Bank of America Student Leader program is an eight-week paid internship that gives you the chance to gain early work experience and workplace exposure. As a participant, you will be placed in a local nonprofit or a charitable organization, where you will work for around 35 hours a week. For around eight weeks, you will witness firsthand how nonprofits, governments, and businesses work together to meet the needs of the local community. You will also develop skills in civic, social, and business leadership. The program culminates in a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, in July.
8. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: On-site and off-site at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500 weekly
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 13 – March 1
Eligibility: Illinois high school seniors
The Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM) is a four-week summer school designed for high school seniors. During the program, you’ll get to explore STEM fields while engaging with Fermilab STEM professionals. You’ll study topics such as particle physics, quantum science, engineering design, and artificial intelligence through activities, expert-led lectures, and tours of Fermilab’s research facilities. You’ll submit a research abstract, a poster, and a final presentation. The program also gives you mentorship, the chance to develop your professional skills, and the opportunity to build your professional network.
9. Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: Varies based on course; Need-based scholarships offered
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students
The Elevate College Prep at the Illinois Institute of Technology is designed to bridge the gap between high school STEM education and college by providing you with a head start on university coursework and experience. Here, you can choose between STEM, law, business, humanities, and more subject-specific courses. You can choose to learn about computer programming, design and engineering, app development, biomedical engineering and drug delivery systems, architecture, robotics, AI, psychology, urban planning, and game design, to name a few. Some courses offer college credit, too!
10. The University of Chicago's Summer Session
Location: UChicago, Chicago, IL (virtual options available)
Cost: Varies based on program type; Scholarships available
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: January 22 (priority); March 5 (regular); April 15 (extended); May 15 (rolling)
Eligibility: High school students
The University of Chicago's Summer Session offers diverse program opportunities designed to challenge high school students across various subject areas. As a participant, you’ll dive into a chosen subject matter and explore the field beyond high school curriculum. You can choose from one of the four: one-week Enrichment, two-week Career Insight, three-week Immersion, and four-week Practicum. You’ll attend workshop discussions, engage in research projects and structured activities, and get a glimpse of university life.
11. Illini Summer Academies (ISA)
Location: University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Cost: Varies based on course
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: High school students
Illini Summer Academies (ISA) is a personal development experience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for high school students seeking to explore their career potential. As a participant, you’ll attend expert-led workshops, discussions, and activities that help you build practical skills. You can choose from science, technology, the arts, or social sciences. You’ll also get to learn alongside like-minded peers and use top university resources, all while being on the university campus.
12. Summer Program in Vascular Neurology
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: 7 days in the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open early May
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
The Summer Program in Vascular Neurology by the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation at the University of Illinois is a seven-day summer program for high school students interested in vascular neurology. During the program, you’ll learn the basics of stroke prevention, approaches to acute neurovascular emergencies, and the interpretation of advanced brain imaging studies. In the morning, you’ll join the stroke service team in assessing patients admitted to the inpatient service or those who present to the Emergency Room with signs and symptoms of acute cerebral ischemia. In the afternoon, you’ll see patients in the outpatient clinic. The program gives you an idea of what a career in medicine would look like.
13. Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students(REACH)
Location: Northwestern University, CIERA, Evanston, IL
Cost: $2,500 for Core Program, +$1,500 for REACH Further
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – July 3; Session 2: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students who are in grades 10-12
The Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA is a highly interactive program for high school students interested in astronomy research. As a participant, you’ll learn in an atmosphere of team-style learning, practical training, and mentorship from professional scientists. You’ll train in the Python programming language and astro-related packages, similar to a coding bootcamp. You will also participate in a college and career panel, observe the sun at Dearborn Observatory, and take part in social activities and games. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to complete a mini research project based on ongoing work at CIERA. The three-week core program is followed by REACH Further, a three-week extended research project with a mentor.
14. Early College Programs Summer Institute
Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,908; Financial assistance available
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 26; Session 2: June 29 – July 10; Session 3: July 13 – 24; Session 4: June 29 – July 24; Session 5: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Opens November 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
The Early College Programs Summer Institute (ECPSI) offers intensive summer classes, which are full-time, ensuring you’ll have a complete studio experience. Twice a week, you’ll participate in workshops designed to help you gain new skills and explore new ideas. You will also have the opportunity to earn college credit while developing your portfolio under the guidance of faculty. This portfolio can be submitted as part of your application to higher education programs. On the final day of sessions, you’ll present your work in an exhibition. Courses include Architecture, Oil Painting, Fashion Design, and Figure Drawing, among others.
15. Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars
Location: The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,500
Dates: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 22 (priority); March 5 (regular); April 15 (extended); May 15 (rolling)
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students who are at least 15 years old
The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Program is a research and academic program in advanced STEM for high school students. The program follows a hybrid structure that combines a virtual mathematics course hosted by ‘schoolhouse.world’, followed by one week on the UChicago campus. During the week on campus, you’ll hear from UChicago faculty and alumni in molecular engineering, mathematics, computer science, and other fields. You’ll also go on day trips to Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
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