15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Missouri

If you’re a high school student looking to build a competitive college admissions profile, participating in a summer program is worth considering. Whether you’re interested in science, tech, art, medicine, or business—or just curious about what’s out there—spending a few weeks in a structured summer program can be helpful. These programs give you access to mentors, labs, and projects beyond typical high school classrooms. A lot of these opportunities are free or come with scholarships, making them accessible to students across Missouri. With so many options available, from engineering camps and medical academies to internships in startups or AI research, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. 

That’s why we’ve put together this curated list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Missouri (with a couple of excellent virtual choices) to help you find the ideal fit.

1. Washington University Summer Focus (Young Scientist Program)

Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Cost/Stipend: $4,500 stipend

Cohort Size: ~15–18 students

Dates: June 2–July 25

Application Deadline: January 27

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors living in the Greater St. Louis area

If you’re a rising high school senior in the St. Louis area interested in the sciences, this eight-week paid research internship is a good opportunity. The program pairs you with a PhD-level mentor and tutor in a Washington University laboratory, where you’ll take on a biomedical or engineering research project. You’ll learn advanced lab techniques, how to analyse data, and how scientists communicate their findings through papers and presentations. Beyond lab work, the program includes workshops on science communication and college readiness, helping you prepare for future academic challenges. At the end of the summer, you’ll present your research at a formal symposium attended by faculty, peers, and community members. With a $4,500 stipend, this program gives you both professional experience and financial support.

2. Veritas AI – AI Scholars & Fellowship 

Location: Virtual (online)

Cost/Stipend: Varies based on program type

Cohort Size: Selective, small groups and individual tracks

Dates: Mid-June – early September (10 weeks, Fellowship runs longer)

Application Deadline: Feb 23

Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), no prior coding required

Artificial Intelligence is one of the fastest-growing fields in STEM, and Veritas AI offers high school students a chance to learn directly from Harvard-affiliated educators. Over the summer, you can join the AI Scholars program, a 10-week virtual bootcamp covering Python, data science, and machine learning concepts through live lessons and guided projects. Advanced students can apply for the AI Fellowship, a 12–15 week one-on-one mentorship program where you build your own AI project—from predicting wildfire risks to analysing social media sentiment. The programs are highly personalized, with a mix of small-group learning and individual mentorship, and they conclude with a polished project that can be included in your portfolio or research competitions.

3. UMSL CLIMB Internship (Collaborative Laboratory Internships)

Location: University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Cost/Stipend: Paid (~$13/hour)

Cohort Size: ~10–15 students

Dates: Mid-June – late July

Application Deadline: Early spring

Eligibility: High school juniors from participating districts (nominated by schools)

Designed for high-achieving juniors from St. Louis-area schools, this six-week paid internship gives you full-time lab experience in biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, or engineering. You’ll spend 40 hours per week conducting experiments under the guidance of faculty and graduate students. Fridays are dedicated to professional development: workshops on scholarship applications, public speaking, and presenting scientific work. The program concludes with a public research showcase, where you share your findings with the academic community. Interns receive approximately $13/hour and transportation support, making this both a career-building and financially rewarding summer.

4. Ladder Internship Program (Virtual)

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies based on program type

Cohort Size: Varies based on program type

Dates: June–August

Application Deadline: Early April

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (ages 16+)

This virtual internship connects high school students with startup teams across tech, marketing, finance, and design. Over 8–12 weeks, you’ll collaborate on projects—like building a website, designing a marketing campaign, or analysing data—with guidance from startup founders and Ladder mentors. The program is remote, flexible, and project-driven, letting you experience work culture while building a professional portfolio for college applications.

5. Missouri S&T – Engineering with Biology Camp

Location: Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO

Cost/Stipend: $600 (includes housing and meals)

Cohort Size: 24 students

Dates: June 1–5

Application Deadline: Mid-May (until full)

Eligibility: Grades 9–12 with interest in biology and engineering

This program bridges biology and engineering, showing you how biotechnology can solve problems. Over five days, students ages 14–18 perform genetic engineering experiments, learn microbiology lab techniques, and participate in bio-design challenges aimed at tackling health or environmental issues. Faculty-led discussions on bioethics give insight into the responsibilities of scientists. The camp’s nature means you’ll leave with tangible lab skills and a clearer picture of how engineering and biology intersect in modern research.

6. Missouri S&T – Nuclear Engineering Camp

Location: Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO

Cost/Stipend: $1,000 (includes housing and meals)

Cohort Size: ~40–50 students

Dates: June 1–6

Application Deadline: May 15

Eligibility: Ages 16–18 (high school juniors and seniors)

If you’re curious about nuclear energy, radiation science, or advanced engineering, this six-day residential camp is a rare opportunity to get exposure to one of the most specialized STEM fields. You’ll visit Missouri S&T’s research reactors, learn about radiation detection, nuclear safety, and medical applications of nuclear technology, and take part in small-group engineering challenges. Guided by professors and graduate students, you’ll see how nuclear science impacts energy production, healthcare, and national security. This camp is particularly helpful for students interested in exploring STEM careers in nuclear engineering or physics.

7. Missouri S&T – Robotics Camp

Location: Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO

Cost/Stipend: $450 (materials, housing, meals included)

Cohort Size: 54 students

Dates: June 10–12

Application Deadline: Early June (first-come, first-served)

Eligibility: Ages 12–16 (middle and high school students)

This three-day residential camp introduces students aged 12–16 to the fascinating world of robotics and programming. You’ll learn the basics of mechanical design and coding while working with LEGO SPIKE or similar kits to build robots capable of performing tasks. Challenges like obstacle navigation or object retrieval teach you the engineering process of design, testing, and iteration. No prior robotics experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment. By the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how software and hardware work together to create intelligent machines.

8. UMKC GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp

Location: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO

Cost/Stipend: Free

Cohort Size: ~20–25 students

Dates: July 21–25

Application Deadline: Early June

Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) with an interest in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand career fields today, and this free week-long camp at UMKC gives high school students training in keeping networks secure. Through roleplay activities, you’ll investigate simulated cyber-attacks, learn to analyse network traffic with real tools like Tshark, and develop basic coding skills to automate security checks. The program blends lectures from cybersecurity professionals with interactive lab exercises, making technical concepts accessible and exciting. It’s a great introduction for anyone interested in cybersecurity, IT, or digital forensics.

9. UMSL STARS Program (Students and Teachers as Research Scientists)

Location: University of Missouri-St. Louis and partner labs, St. Louis, MO

Cost/Stipend: $500 stipend for participants

Cohort Size: ~70 students

Dates: Mid-June – late July (6 weeks)

Application Deadline: January

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a strong science background

This six-week research experience gives talented juniors and seniors a true taste of life as a scientist. Students are matched with top researchers at UMSL or partner institutions like Washington University, St. Louis University, and Danforth Plant Science Centre. You’ll join an active research project, working alongside graduate students and faculty on science in fields such as biology, chemistry, environmental studies, computer science, or engineering. The program includes seminars on scientific ethics and career paths, culminating in a research presentation and paper. It’s an excellent stepping stone for future STEM majors.

10. Kansas City Art Institute – Pre-College ArtLab

Location: Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO

Cost: $2,000 (scholarships available)

Cohort Size: Not available

Dates: June 15–27 or July 13–25

Application Deadline: March 1 

Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders interested in visual arts

This two-week residential art program helps creative students explore studio practices like illustration, painting, digital design, or animation. Guided by professional artists and KCAI faculty, you’ll build technical skills, receive critiques, and create a portfolio-worthy project to showcase. The program also includes field trips to museums and design studios, giving you a view of real-world creative careers.

11. Mizzou Machine Learning & AI Camp

Location: University of Missouri, Columbia (in-person and virtual options)

Cohort Size: ~25 students per session

Dates: June 28–29 (Session I) or August 2–3 (Session II)

Application Deadline: Early June

Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12), no prior coding required

Cost/Stipend: $150 (in-person), $100 (virtual)

This short but impactful two-day camp at the University of Missouri introduces students to data analytics, coding, and AI fundamentals. Through lectures and coding labs, you’ll learn how data is structured, how machine learning models make predictions, and how algorithms can be used in industries like healthcare or finance. You’ll also work on small coding projects to visualise and analyse data using Python. With both in-person and virtual options available, this program is accessible to students at different skill levels and locations.

12. WashU SIFT & TERA Environmental Science Apprenticeships

Location: Tyson Research Centre, Eureka, MO

Cost/Stipend: Free (TERA participants receive a stipend)

Cohort Size: Small, selective

Dates: Spring training (Mar–Apr), Summer apprenticeship (Jun–Jul)

Application Deadline: March

Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors from the St. Louis area interested in environmental science

This unique program connects sophomores and juniors with professional ecologists through a two-phase experience. In spring, you’ll complete the Shaw Institute for Field Training (SIFT), learning outdoor research methods and safety protocols over several weekends. Successful participants are invited to join the Tyson Environmental Research Apprenticeship (TERA) in the summer, where you’ll spend about six weeks conducting ecology research projects—such as wildlife tracking, habitat restoration, and environmental data collection—under the mentorship of scientists at WashU’s Tyson Research Centre. It’s a chance to contribute to real conservation science as a high school student.

13. Missouri State University – Pre‑College STEM Academy

Location: Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Cost/Stipend: $1,200 (includes housing, meals, lab materials)

Cohort Size: ~30 students

Dates: July 6–19

Application Deadline: June 1

Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 with strong math skills (algebra required)

This two-week residential program is designed for high schoolers who want to push themselves academically and technically before entering college. Hosted on the Missouri State campus, the Academy blends classroom instruction with intensive lab experiences in engineering, computer science, robotics, and data analytics. In the mornings, you’ll get foundational lessons on programming (Python and Java), electronics, and design principles. Afternoons are spent applying those skills to real challenges—like coding a sensor system, building prototypes in the engineering workshop, and running simulations to analyse performance data. Faculty mentors and current engineering students guide you through every stage, showing how professional engineers approach complex problems. Evening sessions prepare you for college-level research, from technical writing to collaborative project management, and by the end, you’ll have a multi-component project to showcase.

14. UMKC – Biomedical Sciences Summer Academy

Location: UMKC Health Sciences District, Kansas City, MO

Cost/Stipend: $250 (covers lab access, materials, and daily lunches)

Cohort Size: ~25 students

Dates: July 14–18

Application Deadline: June 10

Eligibility: Rising grades 10–12 with a strong interest in biology, medicine, or data science

This one-week academy is perfect for students considering a future in medicine, biotechnology, or public health. Each day combines lab work with exposure to medical research environments. You’ll learn essential techniques like pipetting, PCR (DNA amplification), and microscopy, while also exploring the growing field of bioinformatics—analysing de-identified patient data to draw meaningful health conclusions. Guest lectures from UMKC medical faculty and researchers give you a glimpse into medical discoveries and career paths in healthcare and biomedical science. The week ends with a team-based capstone, where you and your peers design a research approach to a health-related problem and present your findings to faculty mentors. It’s an opportunity to experience both the experimental and analytical sides of modern medicine.

15. St. Louis Community College – Summer STEM Advancement Program

Location: St. Louis Community College – Forest Park Campus, St. Louis, MO

Cost/Stipend: Free (includes housing, meals, and all materials)

Cohort Size: ~30 students

Dates: June 22–26

Application Deadline: May 15

Eligibility: Missouri residents entering grades 10–12

This free, week-long residential camp focuses on making STEM opportunities accessible to students who may not have had prior exposure to advanced labs or technology. Over five days, you’ll dive into engineering challenges, coding basics, and prototyping using 3D printers and microcontrollers. Workshops are designed to mimic real-world problem-solving in tech companies: brainstorming ideas, testing designs, gathering feedback, and iterating quickly. Beyond technical skills, the program emphasises teamwork and communication, preparing you to work on collaborative projects just like professionals do. Guest sessions with engineers and tech entrepreneurs from local industries show you where STEM careers can lead. College-readiness workshops and campus tours round out the week, helping you envision the next step in your STEM journey.