15 Summer Programs for Minority High School Students

If you are a high school student looking to define your interests and develop new skills, a summer program is definitely worth exploring! Summer programs offer you opportunities to engage in advanced coursework and learn from industry experts, professors, and professionals. Many summer programs are designed to be accessible and encourage participation from a diverse group of students, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.

For minority students, these programs can offer access to resources and ongoing support that help them pursue their chosen academic path. These summer programs may also offer low-cost, free, or financial aid-based access, making them accessible for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. 

To help you with your search, here is a list of 15 summer programs for minority high school students. These opportunities are open to students from all backgrounds, with most of them focusing on supporting minority students. 

1. MITES Summer

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Late June – early August; six weeks
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; students from backgrounds

underrepresented in science and engineering, including African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, underserved socioeconomic backgrounds, and minority/rural high schools are encouraged to apply

The MITES Summer program is a six-week residential program at MIT designed for high school juniors interested in exploring STEM fields. Here, ​​you will engage in rigorous coursework in math, science, and humanities, along with electives in topics like engineering design, machine learning, electronics, architecture, and genomics. The program offers access to workshops, social events, and college application counseling, providing you with an introduction to college life and insights into STEM careers. During the program, you will find opportunities to develop valuable skills and connections. You will also tour labs and local companies employing MITES alumni.

2. Veritas AI Programs

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; need-based aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Year-round cohorts running 12–15 weeks each, including in summer
Application deadline: May/June deadlines for summer sessions
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship candidates should have completed AI Scholars or have proven AI/Python experience

Veritas AI, led by Harvard graduates, is an initiative offering driven high schoolers an introduction to artificial intelligence. If you are new to AI, the AI Scholars program offers a foundational 10-session boot camp that covers machine learning and data science concepts, incorporating hands-on project work. For those with prior knowledge of AI or programming experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase offers personalized mentorship. Here, you will work with mentors from top universities on independent projects, while also benefiting from guidance offered by a publication team to help you secure research journal publication. You can find examples of previous Veritas AI participant work here.

3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee, which can be waived on a need-based system; a stipend of at least $500 offered
Cohort size: 50
Dates: June 9 - July 31
Application deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older, U.S. citizens/permanent residents, and living in and attending high school in the U.S.

SIMR is an eight-week program where high school students conduct research alongside Stanford faculty in fields such as cancer biology, neuroscience, and bioengineering. You will gain hands-on experience and insights into medical fields and the research process while contributing to research projects, attending lectures, and networking with professionals. You will work one-on-one with a research mentor in a Stanford lab throughout the program. The program concludes with a poster presentation, where you will share your research with the programming team and peers.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Program lengths range from 12 weeks to 1 year; summer cohorts begin in June/July
Application deadline: May/June for summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records; typically, an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher is preferred

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective experience designed for high school students interested in exploring a field of interest through research. During this 12-week program, you will work directly with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent research project in a field of choice, which could be STEM, business, social science, and other disciplines. You will also work with a writing coach to understand the research process and scientific writing rules. By the end of the program, you will have a complete and original research paper. You can get more details about the application process and program formats here.

5. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) at Carnegie Mellon University

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, no cost to participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies each year
Dates: June 21 – August 2
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens or permanent residents; students from socioeconomic minorities and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply

SAMS is a six-week residential program designed to offer students from underrepresented communities opportunities to explore STEM fields. You will engage in rigorous coursework, hands-on activities, and receive mentorship from university faculty and staff. You will work on a STEM research project under the guidance of STEM faculty and/or graduate students. The program also offers workshops and writing sessions to help you prepare for university education, the college application process, and careers in STEM. The session ends with a symposium, where you will present your projects to peers, faculty, and family members.

6. LEDA Scholars Program 

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: Five weeks during the summer + ongoing around-the-year support
Application deadline: Part I: December 11; Part II: Mid-March
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents from low-income backgrounds and enrolled in a public high school in the U.S

The LEDA Scholars Program offers high school juniors multi-year support and a five-week residential summer institute focused on leadership, academic enrichment, and college preparation. The program targets students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds, providing ongoing support through their senior year and beyond. If selected, you will spend your summer on an Ivy League campus, attend workshops, receive SAT/ACT preparation, and work with college counselors to navigate the application process. You will also engage in mock trials, role-play simulations, debates, and critical thinking games to develop problem-solving and leadership skills. The program provides access to writing sessions, where you will learn how to clearly present university-level written text under the guidance of current or former faculty members from selective colleges or universities.

7. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free + additional financial aid offered to cover travel costs and other expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are at least 15 years old

TASS is a six-week program offering high schoolers opportunities to engage in critical thinking and democratic community activities. You can choose one out of two tracks. The TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) track covers topics in history, politics, literature, art, and more in the context of contributions from people of African descent. The TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies) focuses on systems of power and oppression, such as white supremacy, patriarchy, and classism, and the ways to transform society. In either of the tracks, you will engage in discussions and collaborative projects as well as seminars in the humanities and social sciences. Additionally, you will work with peers on organizing a community service project and participating in a public speaking program.

8. Bank of America Student Leaders

Location: Various nonprofits across the U.S. + Washington, D.C. summit
Stipend: Paid internship + expenses covered for the summit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Eight weeks during the summer, including a week-long summit (July 21 – 26) in Washington, D.C.
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents

This program provides high school students with paid internships at local nonprofits, offering practical experience in community service and leadership. As a participant, you’ll gain practical work experience and attend a national summit in Washington, D.C., to learn about collaboration between nonprofits, government, and businesses. You will also engage in skill-building opportunities and leadership training, learning how to serve your community while working for organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity. The experience will also offer insights into the daily operations of nonprofits.

9. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Tuition-free
Cohort size: 24
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school juniors who are low-income and first-generation students in Northern California

SMYSP is a five-week residential program introducing low-income, first-generation students to the fields of science and medicine. Here, you will engage in lectures, lab work, hospital internships, and public health research projects under the mentorship of medical professionals and college students. During the internship component, you will get to participate in lab activities, shadow medical professionals, and engage with patients, gaining insights into the medical practice. You will also participate in weekly guest lectures, tours, and demonstrations offered by the Stanford medical community to explore topics in ophthalmology, dermatology, gastroenterology, anesthesiology, etc. 

10. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp

Location: CDC headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~7–8%; 27 students/session
Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25
Application deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16

The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is a five-day program introducing high schoolers to public health and epidemiology through classroom instruction and practical activities. You will learn about disease surveillance, outbreak response, and CDC operations during the program. You will also explore topics like public health interventions, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, data analysis, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness. You will explore curriculum topics through short lectures delivered by CDC scientists, lab sessions, mock press conferences, and simulated disease outbreaks.

11. Broad Summer Scholars Program

Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free, with a $3,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: January 22
Eligibility: High school students in Massachusetts

The Broad Summer Scholars Program invites students to conduct research in genomics and biomedical science at the Broad Institute. Here, you will work on original projects in fields like chemical biology, cancer biology, psychiatric disease, computational biology, infectious diseases, etc., and attend scientific talks. The program includes exposure to both computational and experimental techniques, as well as training on creating scientific posters and presenting your research. You will also explore scientific careers and attend a college fair during the program. Social events and team-building activities are also part of the experience.

12. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Virtual or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Cost: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 8

Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 (for remote internships) and at least 16 (for wet lab internships)

ASSIP offers virtual and on-campus research internships in various fields, including medicine, chemistry, engineering, finance, statistics, computer science, and physics. You can choose a mentor to engage in guided research in your preferred field and work in university labs. During the program, you will learn about STEM career paths through discussion forums led by professors, researchers, or professionals. The program ends with the ASSIP Research Symposium and Celebration, where you will get insights into ongoing research and other ASSIP research projects. You may also have the opportunity to publish your work or present it at scientific conferences. The experience can help you exercise and refine your scientific writing and communication skills.

13. Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Cohort size: 40
Dates: Online workshops starting in the first week + residential component: July 24 – August 3
Application deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: High school juniors from low-income backgrounds

PSJP offers students from low-income backgrounds opportunities to explore journalism through workshops, lectures, and hands-on reporting assignments. You will learn how to interview, draft features and news stories, and cover politics, business, economics, race, and other topics, and write your own articles to be published in Princeton Summer Journal. You will engage in workshops and lectures led by Princeton professors, professional journalists, and alumni, offered both virtually and on campus. You will also interact with program counselors who will offer feedback and insights into pursuing journalism as a career. As a participant, you will receive year-round college preparation support after the summer intensive. 

14. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: July 7 – 18 (for U.S. students only) | July 28 – August 8 (for all students)
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls or non-binary 

Girls Who Code offers free online summer programs to high schoolers interested in developing coding skills and exploring careers in tech. The Summer Immersion Program is a two-week opportunity to learn game design and computer science concepts, including UX design basics, rapid prototyping, and playtesting. The program caters to all experience levels, helping you build your own games and test them during the program. You will also present your work and get feedback from peers and mentors. You will also engage in live classes, coding exercises, and events sponsored by industry leaders. 

15. Princeton AI4ALL

Location: Princeton University campus, Princeton, NJ
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 9 – 30
Application deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders from low-income families who live in the U.S. or Puerto Rico

Princeton University’s AI4ALL is a residential program for students interested in learning about AI and its role. Here, you will explore AI basics, research in the field, and the impact of AI through a combination of lectures, field trips, research projects, and mentorship. You will have access to personal and professional development opportunities, like workshops, small-group mentoring sessions, and social events. A highlight of the experience is a field trip to Washington, D.C., where you will visit public and private organizations and explore careers in AI and public policy. You will also work in a small group on a research project focusing on one of the societal effects of AI. At the end of the session, you will present your project work.

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