15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Minnesota
If you are a high school student in Minnesota looking to make the most of your summer, a summer program is a great place to start. Whether your interests lie in the arts, sciences, leadership, or career exploration, summer programs are a great opportunity to help you expand your knowledge and strengthen your skills. As a participant, you will also connect with professionals, professors, researchers, and peers from diverse backgrounds!
Minnesota has various reputable universities and organizations that offer summer programs for high school students. These programs cover a wide range of subjects, from STEM research to business and the arts. Depending on the program, you might develop skills that carry over into school or internships, or you might explore how research is conducted, collaborate with mentors, and learn how to apply professional methods. Since these are local, they are accessible, and you can often attend without the costs of long-distance travel. Some programs even offer financial aid or a stipend.
To make your search easier, we have compiled a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Minnesota.
1. Mayo Clinic’s Career Immersion Program
Location: Mayo Clinic campus, Rochester, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 22 – 26
Cohort size: ~30–40 students each year
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors currently attending school in Minnesota
Application deadline: March 15
Mayo Clinic’s Career Immersion Program is a week-long summer opportunity for high school juniors and seniors from Minnesota interested in exploring careers in healthcare. Throughout the week, you will engage in activities in various health science areas, such as histology, phlebotomy, respiratory therapy, MRI, nuclear medicine, and surgical assisting. The program includes tours of Mayo Clinic facilities, small-group workshops, and shadowing-style experiences where you can ask healthcare professionals about their jobs, training, and career paths. You will also make connections with healthcare professionals, learn about the educational paths for different jobs, and gain an inside look at what it’s like to work in these roles.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship programs
Location: Virtual!
Cost: Varies; financial aid offered
Program dates: Multiple sessions, including summer cohorts, are scheduled every year; AI Scholars runs for 10 weeks, and AI Fellowship runs for about 12 to 15 weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Eligibility: High school students; for the AI Fellowship program, you need to have been an AI Scholar participant or have some experience working with AI or Python.
Application deadline: Multiple program cohorts run each year, including in the summer
Veritas AI offers wide-ranging learning opportunities focused on artificial intelligence exploration. These programs have been developed and executed by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If applying to the beginner-friendly AI Scholars program, you will work with Ph.D. students from top institutions and learn about the applications of AI. Here, you will also learn how to work with Python and explore key machine learning, AI, and data science concepts. You can also opt for the AI Fellowship program, which offers you mentorship to help you develop your own unique project. In the past, Veritas AI program participants have worked on interdisciplinary STEM projects that utilize concepts from medicine, AI, environmental science, and mental health. You can check out past projects here.
3. University of Minnesota’s LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free + hourly wages offered
Program dates: June 2 – July 25
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 2 high school students selected from ~70 applicants annually
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 and U.S. citizens
Application deadline: February 15
The LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program at the University of Minnesota’s Lillehei Heart Institute is meant for high school juniors and seniors interested in exploring careers in cardiovascular science and medicine. During the program, you will work closely with a faculty mentor in a real research lab, where you will help with ongoing projects and learn valuable lab techniques. You will also attend weekly seminars led by scientists, doctors, and industry professionals to learn about different career paths in medicine and biomedical research. In addition to lab work, the program offers field trips, activities like heart dissections, and special events like Cardiopalooza, where you will get to present your research.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual!
Cost: Varies; financial assistance offered
Program dates: Multiple sessions, including summer cohorts, are scheduled each year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Eligibility: High school students; accepted students typically have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
Application deadline: Multiple cohorts run each year, including in the summer
This is a rigorous research program meant for high school students who want to explore an area and topic of interest in absolute detail. Here, you will get to work one-on-one with a Ph. D.-level mentor on an independent research project. You can choose research topics from a wide range of subjects, including engineering, computer science, physics, economics, chemistry, psychology, data science, and international relations. You will finalize a research question with support from your mentor and also work with a writing coach to present your findings. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper!. You can find more details about the application and available program formats here.
5. University of Minnesota's Go4Brains High School Neuroscience Summer Program
Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, Minneapolis, MN
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend of $400 available + meals and travel expenses covered
Program dates: July 21 – July 25
Cohort size: Highly selective; 10–12 students
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who have faced barriers to access science and medicine-related opportunities
Application deadline: March 10
The week-long summer camp at the University of Minnesota is designed for high school students interested in science and medicine. Here, you will explore the world of neuroscience through activities like examining a real human brain, undergoing an EEG scan of your own brain, and using virtual reality to learn about human anatomy. You will tour research labs, conduct your own neuroscience experiments, attend short lectures, and work in a team to create and present a research poster. Along the way, you will meet and learn from mentors ranging from graduate students to university professors, and gain insight into careers in neuroscience and other STEM fields.
6. University of Minnesota’s Discover STEM Summer Program
Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 28 – August 1 | August 4 – 8 | August 11 – 15
Cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11 or 12
Application deadline: April 25
The Discover STEM program at the University of Minnesota is designed for high school students curious about STEM disciplines. Here, you will explore different STEM fields by engaging in activities led by university faculty, staff, and students. You will participate in experiments, engineering design challenges, technology demonstrations, and problem-solving tasks to build creativity and teamwork skills. You will also get the chance to tour university labs and facilities, giving you a glimpse into what studying STEM at a university/college is like. The program also offers insights into current topics in STEM research, academic programs in STEM, and career pathways you can explore after high school.
7. University of Saint Thomas’s ThreeSixty Journalism’s Summer Camps
Location: Various sites in St. Paul, MN
Cost: Varies by camp; some camps offer stipends
Program dates: Vary by camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Priority application deadline: April 11; Rolling deadline: May 31 or until full
The ThreeSixty Journalism Summer Programs are meant for high schoolers interested in building skills in storytelling. You will choose from various camps, like Radio Camp, Podcast Camp, or the Multimedia Storytelling Institute, and get to work with real journalists and teachers who will guide you in your chosen track. You will learn how to interview people, write news articles, and use cameras, microphones, and other media tools. The programs are hands-on, so instead of just reading or listening, you will actually practice and create your own stories. By the end, you will have real work to show in the form of written stories, podcast projects, or a TV package, based on the camp you choose.
8. University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Youth Institute (MNYI)
Location: University of Minnesota CFANS campus, St. Paul, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: May 14 (one-day event)
Cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Registration deadline: March 28; Paper submission deadline: April 4
MNYI is a half-day program designed for high school students interested in solving global hunger and food security challenges and exploring the links between agriculture, science, health, economics, and policy. Before the event, you will research a food issue in a specific country, write a short paper, and propose your own solutions. During the event, you will present your ideas to experts, get feedback, and connect with scientists, professors, and industry professionals. Participating in the program makes you eligible to earn a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and opportunities like the Borlaug-Ruan or George Washington Carver internships. You may even be selected to represent Minnesota at the Global Youth Institute, sharing your ideas with people from around the world.
9. BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV)
Location: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Cost: $200 or $300, depending on the date of application submission; financial assistance available
Program dates: Session 1: June 28 – July 3 | Session 2: July 18 – 23
Cohort size: 200/week
Eligibility: High school students
Application deadline: Rolling admission
BestPrep, a non-profit, runs Minnesota Business Venture—a week-long summer program that gives high school students a hands-on introduction to the world of business. You will be placed into small teams or “companies” and work together to come up with a product or service idea, research the market, and create a business plan. During the program, you will join workshops and talks on budgeting, marketing, leadership, personal finance, and entrepreneurship. You will also take part in activities like designing marketing materials, solving business challenges, and practicing mock interviews with real business professionals to build confidence and communication skills. Outside of sessions, you will enjoy networking events, team-building games, and evening activities that help you connect with others and experience campus life.
10. Biomedical Engineering High School Internship Program @ University of Minnesota
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free + stipend offered
Program dates: June 24 – August 1
Cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Minnesota
Application deadline: TBA
This program is designed for high school students who want to explore biomedical engineering through research. Here, you will tour labs, including the Visible Heart Lab, and gain research experience under the guidance of a biomedical engineering graduate student. Throughout the program, you will connect with biomedical engineering faculty and students to gain insights into biological and engineering fields. You will also develop skills in scientific writing and communication. At the program’s poster session, you will present your work to family members and peers.
11. Hamline University High School Microscope Adventure Camp
Location: Hamline University, Saint Paul campus, St. Paul, MN
Cost: $598 (for registering before April 30) or $698 (after April 30); need-based scholarships available
Program dates: July 21 – 25
Cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
Application deadline: May 31
The Microscope Adventure Camp at Hamline University is a summer program designed for students interested in gaining skills in microscope-based observation. At camp, you will work with advanced research-grade microscopes to examine various specimens, from tiny organisms in pond water to intricate details of everyday objects. The camp also covers topics like the principles of light microscopes, electron microscopes, and photomicrography, and allows you to conduct experiments with light microscopes and scanning electron microscopes. You will work with a team and use microscopy and microanalysis techniques to capture, edit, and present images and scientific findings.
12. University of Minnesota’s IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – 27
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (preferably in Minnesota) who have completed a one-year course in single variable calculus
Application deadline: May 31
The IMA-MathCEP camp is a one-week program for high schoolers interested in exploring how mathematical models can help analyze and solve real-world problems. The sessions typically cover the role of math in predicting population and disease trends, the impact of climate on resources, and the effects of traffic on bridges. In the past, the project work has involved analysis of potential routes for a light rail system. This experience can help you explore the applications of math and assess it as a career path.
13. Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $500 taxable stipend is offered
Program dates: July 21 – August 1
Cohort size: 20
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are Minnesota residents
Application deadline: May 30
The SHE in Oncology is a multi-institutional program hosted by cancer centers throughout the country. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center offers this program to 20 high school students interested in learning about careers in biomedicine and oncology. Here, you will attend virtual lectures and discussions on cancer care and cancer science. You will work on a genetics-based research project and a patient case study in collaboration with peers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin. You will also receive your own laboratory kit to conduct experiments from home. Additionally, the program offers professional development and skill-building opportunities as well as panel discussions led by cancer research and care professionals.
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080
Program dates: Session One: June 16 – 27; Session Two: July 7 – 18
Cohort size: 16 students/class
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11
Application deadline: March 20
Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer middle and high school students access to online college-level courses over the summer. You can choose from 70 courses across disciplines, including humanities, science, math, business, and social science, with options ranging from creative writing to biosciences, game design, and C++. Each course typically combines virtual lectures, class discussions, homework, and project work. Some courses allow you to work on problem sets and engage in case study analysis. You will study alongside peers from around the world, gaining skills in cross-cultural collaboration as well as college-level coursework.
15. Cornell University Summer Session
Location: Online
Cost: $1,940/credit
Program dates: 3–6 weeks in the summer; dates vary by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 15–19
Application deadline: Varies by session
The Cornell University Summer Session is an online pre-college program offering high school students the chance to experience what it’s like to study at an Ivy League college. You can choose from courses across subjects, including psychology, cognitive science, and human development. During the program, you will take part in real college-level coursework, just like Cornell students. This includes writing essays, completing quizzes and problem sets, conducting research, and engaging in online discussions with classmates from around the world. You will attend virtual lectures led by Cornell professors, gain insights into your chosen subject, and develop skills in critical thinking, research, and communication.