15 Summer Programs for High School Students in the Bay Area
If you're a high school student in the Bay Area, summer is a great time to explore different careers and gain experience. Whether you're interested in medicine, engineering, business, computer science, or research, there are programs that let you try out your interests. You can work in labs, meet mentors, attend college-level lectures, or even build your project from scratch.
Many Bay Area programs are hosted by top universities like Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSF, and Santa Clara University. Some focus on STEM, while others cover healthcare, entrepreneurship, and clinical training. You can learn how to suture, read scientific papers, or pitch a business idea, all while living on campus or joining virtually.
To help you with your search, we have listed the 15 best summer programs for high school students in the Bay Area!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in the Bay Area
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers two online programs for high school students who want to learn and explore artificial intelligence and data science. If you're just starting, the AI Scholars program introduces you to key topics like machine learning, neural networks, and data analysis. It includes ten live sessions with instructors and hands-on projects where you apply what you learn to real-world problems.
If you already have some experience or want to focus on a deeper topic, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase lets you work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university. You’ll design and complete your research project, with support along the way. There’s also help available if you want to submit your work to a student research journal or take part in a final showcase. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
2. Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 16 – August 7
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to local students from Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Santa Cruz counties. Must be 16+ by start date, have prior knowledge in biology, chemistry, or programming, and hold a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA.
The Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS) is an eight-week summer internship for high school students in the Bay Area who are interested in genetics, biology, and data science. As a participant, you’ll join a Stanford research lab and work on projects in computational genetics and genomics.
You’ll spend about four hours a day in the lab, learning how to analyze genomic data and use computational tools. You’ll also attend weekly sessions with other interns, take part in seminars on biomedical careers, and hear from researchers during panel discussions. You’ll meet regularly with your mentor to talk about your progress and learn more about how research works.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $2,990
Dates: Multiple cohorts in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in high school with a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4).
Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience where you work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to explore a topic of your choice. You can choose from a wide range of subjects including computer science, biology, psychology, economics, political science, and more.
Once your topic is set, you’ll learn how to do a proper literature review, develop a research question, design your project, analyze data, and write a full academic paper. Throughout the program, your mentor will guide you with regular check-ins and feedback. You’ll also get support in improving your writing and presentation skills. Many students use their final papers to submit to student research journals or include in college applications.
4. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Location: San Francisco, CA, and Oakland, CA
Cost: None; stipend provided
Dates: February 14
Application deadline: June 2 – August 1
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors or seniors, age 16+ by June 1, with at least one year of completed math and biology
UCSF Summer Student Research Program is a nine-week, full-time research program for high school students in the Bay Area who are interested in clinical or biomedical research. You’ll be matched with a mentor at UCSF and spend each day working on a research project in either a lab or clinical setting. Your schedule will include hands-on lab work, data analysis, and academic activities like journal clubs and research seminars.
You’ll also complete writing assignments, including an abstract, personal statement, and research proposal, all of which lead up to a final presentation at a formal research symposium. Each week, you’ll take part in events led by researchers and healthcare professionals who will share their work and talk about career paths in science and medicine.
5. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA
Cost: $0 – $1070 (For students who meet financial need eligibility criteria, there is no cost to attending ASDRP )
Program dates: June 1 – August 24
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) gives you the chance to take part in research across areas like biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering. You work with research faculty and professionals from industry using the same tools and methods found in college and professional labs.
You design and carry out your research project, read and analyze scientific papers, and write a research report. Some participants also submit their work to journals or present at conferences. The program functions like a research lab, and you receive ongoing support from mentors. At the end of the program, you present your work publicly.
6. Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP) at Stanford University
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $4,000
Program dates: Session 1: June 9 – June 13 | Session 2: June 23 – June 27 | Session 3: July 7 – July 11
Application deadline: March 8
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 years or older.
The Clinical Anatomy Summer Program at Stanford is a one-week, in-person program for students interested in medicine and healthcare. Each day you attend lectures from Stanford faculty and take part in lab sessions that include dissections, surgical demos, and clinical skill workshops.
You study systems like the cardiovascular and nervous systems through hands-on activities such as suturing, CPR training, and surgical simulations. The program also includes art-based learning like anatomical drawing and group activities such as Anatomy Jeopardy.
7. UCSF High School Intern Program (HIP)
Location: UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cost: None
Program dates: June 9 – August 1
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Open to current juniors attending an SFUSD school or an SF charter school
The High School Internship Program (HIP) at UCSF is an eight-week paid research internship for rising seniors at public high schools in San Francisco. You work with a scientist mentor and do original research in fields like neuroscience, infectious disease, or molecular biology.
Along with lab work, you take part in college counseling, resume workshops, and a group college tour. At the end, you present your research and learn about careers in biomedical science while building connections that support you in school and beyond.
8. B-BAY
Location: Berkeley (CA)
Cost: California Resident $6,292 | Out of State Resident $7,332
Program dates: Session I: July 5 –19 | Session II: July 19–August 2
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students
B-BAY is a two-week summer program for high school students who want to learn how to create and pitch a business idea. It’s hosted by UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and brings together 50 students from different parts of the world. You attend lectures from business professors, work on group projects, and build a business plan with your team from the ground up. Outside of the classroom, you take part in campus activities like scavenger hunts and social events. You hear from undergraduate students and admissions staff and get a sense of life at UC Berkeley while working on ideas that could turn into real ventures.
9. Experiences in Research
Location: Berkeley Lab
Cost: None; stipend $500 per week
Application deadline: March 17
Program dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: This program is for current 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students enrolled in Northern California with experience in independent work.
The Experiences in Research program at Berkeley Lab is a six-week summer opportunity where you explore STEM and related careers by working on real projects with lab professionals. Based on your interests, you might take part in experimental research, science communication, data science, or administration. You share your preferences when you apply, and the program matches you with a project that fits. Alongside the technical work, you also develop professional skills through communication exercises and group assignments.
10. Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Track
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: 8-week session: $15,950 | 6-week session: $14,650
Program dates: Session 1: June 23 – August 15 | Session 2: July 7 – August 15
Application deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Students must have completed 10th or 11th grade by summer, have a 3.0 GPA (weighted or unweighted), and be at least 16 years old.
The Berkeley Pre-College Scholars Summer Residential track puts you on campus for a summer term. You take two college-level courses in subjects like business, law, engineering, or philosophy, taught by Berkeley faculty through the Summer Sessions program. You live in university housing with other students from around the world. Outside of class, you take part in workshops led by admissions staff, go on excursions, join social events, and attend college prep activities. When the program ends, you get a Berkeley transcript and may be able to transfer the credits to another college later.
11. Medical Immersion Scholars Academy (MISA)
Location: Medical Immersion Scholars Academy Office, Oakland, CA
Cost: $1,800
Program dates: Multiple cohorts in the summer and spring. Check all dates here.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 15 and older
MISA gives you hands-on experience in clinical and healthcare training. You take part in activities like EKG reading, suturing, splinting, and tracking vital signs and can also earn certifications in CPR and Teen Mental Health First Aid. Through simulation labs, you practice bedside manners and technical skills with support from professionals. You join sessions focused on career development and networking, helping you build skills and grow more confident in a medical setting.
12. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford Campus, CA
Cost: None
Program dates: June 23 – July 25
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Open to low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California.
SMYSP is a five-week summer program for first-generation and low-income high school juniors who are interested in medicine. You attend lectures, join academic workshops, and work on a public health research project with your group. You shadow professionals in hospital departments at Stanford, gaining real exposure to clinical settings. The program also helps you with academic planning, financial aid, and college applications. Your group researches health disparities, and together you write a college-level paper and present your findings.
13. Santa Clara Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) Program
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost: None
Program dates: Session One: July 13 – 17 | Session Two: July 20 – 24 | SES Advanced (for returning students): July 27 – 31
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students who will have completed their sophomore or junior year of high school by July
The Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) at Santa Clara University is a five-day residential program for high school sophomores and juniors who want to explore engineering. You live on campus, attend workshops taught by faculty in fields like bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, and work on hands-on projects with other students. You also take part in casual events and group activities that give you a feel for college life. SES offers multiple sessions during the summer and has a second-year option if you return.
14. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $840 + $40 application fee (Financial aid available)
Dates: June 16–27
Application deadline: December 9–February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are 14 years or older by the start of the program are eligible.
This two-week virtual STEM internship explores how artificial intelligence is used in healthcare. You attend lectures, work on group projects, and join mentorship sessions to learn how AI supports clinical areas like diagnostics and imaging. Each day includes technical tutorials, small group collaboration, and talks from professionals in academia, tech, government, and nonprofits. Some students are invited to continue with extended research projects after the main program ends.
15. Stanford STaRS Internship
Location: Stanford University Campus
Cost: None
Application deadline: Not specified
Program dates: June 23 – August 8
Eligibility: High school or community college students, age 16+, interested in biomedical, biological sciences, or healthcare careers.
STaRS is a seven-week, in-person program for high school students interested in biomedical research and healthcare. You work with Stanford clinicians or scientists on lab or clinical projects and gain research experience. You attend seminars and learn about healthcare systems from mentors who work in the field. The program focuses on early exposure to science and mentorship, helping guide your academic and career decisions in medicine.
Image source - Stenford University