14 Summer Programs in Boston for High School Students
Summer programs for high school students can be a great way to explore academic or career interests, develop skills, and gain exposure to professional environments. Many of these programs are hosted by established institutions (including hospitals, universities, and research centers), providing practical experience and mentorship. Whether focused on STEM, healthcare, business, or the arts, these programs often include collaborative projects, technical training, and opportunities to connect with peers and professionals.
Participating in these programs can help you explore your goals and interests. To make the process of finding the right program easier, we’ve narrowed down our list to the top 14 summer programs in Boston for high school students.
1. LEAH Knox Scholars Program
Location: MIT campus (lab training) and various Boston research labs (internship), MA
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July – August
Application deadline: Applications are typically open from January to March, annually
Eligibility: Boston, Cambridge, or Everett public school students in grades 10–12 who are 16 years old by the first day of the program
Boston area high school students with a serious interest in science and research can consider the LEAH Knox Scholars Program. This multi-year, paid program begins the summer after your sophomore year with an intensive research experience at MIT, where you’ll be immersed in laboratory work. In the following summer, you'll receive help applying to external labs, potentially securing another hands-on placement. During the academic year, you'll have access to a paid STEM Teaching Internship, individual mentorship from STEM professionals, and opportunities to attend lab visits and career panels. The program also supports your path into science careers by offering mentorship, college preparation, real-world lab skills, and college visits.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program, need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
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); Fall application deadline is August 31
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 provides you with a strong pathway to explore artificial intelligence, whether you're new to the field or already building projects on your own. Founded by Harvard graduate students, the AI Scholars program introduces you to core topics like data science, machine learning, and real-world AI applications through a 10-session course that includes mentorship and project-based learning. For students already familiar with the basics, the AI Fellowship program allows you to work one-on-one with a university-level mentor to complete an original project, with optional support for publication in a research journal. You’ll gain access to their in-house publication resources and join a growing network of peers working at the intersection of high school education and cutting-edge technology. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and apply here.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 26% of applications accepted into the program
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June – September)
Application date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites; more details are available here
With the Horizon Academic Research Program, you’ll work one-on-one with a PhD researcher or professor to produce a college-level academic paper in a field of your choice, ranging from Machine Learning to International Politics. This trimester-long program is remote and ideal for high school students looking to develop original research. Once you choose a subject track, you’ll engage in weekly meetings, guided readings, and writing assignments that culminate in a 20-page research paper suitable for publication. Horizon gives you the flexibility to pursue either qualitative or quantitative research depending on your academic interest and experience. At the end of the program, you’ll receive detailed feedback and a recommendation letter, which can be valuable additions to your academic portfolio.
4. Massachusetts General Hospital – Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (or another lab location within Boston)
Cost: Free; stipend provided (amount unspecified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, small cohort
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: November 1 – January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates living or studying in Massachusetts during the program who have work authorization in the U.S.
This full-time, paid summer internship at Mass General Hospital is focused on neurology and neuroscience research and is open to high school students across Massachusetts. The program spans six to eight weeks and starts with a “bootcamp” that orients you to professional lab environments, introduces you to research tools, and matches you with a mentor from MGH Neurology. You’ll then work on ongoing research projects, participate in weekly lectures from leading neurologists, and build your knowledge of the field through interactive sessions and lab work. Interns also create a final presentation summarizing their research experience. Further, the program offers continued support through career guidance, networking, and application resources long after the internship ends.
5. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 1 – August 15 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: March 31 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years of age by the start of the program and reside in one of the following cities or towns in MA: Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, and Quincy
At Tufts University, the TUBERS program allows you to take part in real biomedical engineering research for approximately six weeks during the summer. As a high school student, you’ll join a university lab and work under the guidance of faculty and graduate mentors on questions related to cells, tissues, or organs, depending on your placement. You’ll be learning experimental techniques, running your own experiments, and applying the scientific method, from forming hypotheses to analyzing data. The program encourages students to present their findings to an audience and possibly enter local or national science competitions. Your lab supervisor will directly coordinate your daily schedule.
6. Johns Hopkins Explore Engineering Innovation: Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,115; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: June 30 – August 1 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: May 28 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Current high school students and recent high school graduates; check academic prerequisites here
The Johns Hopkins EEI summer course is an online program that introduces you to college-level engineering concepts through a mix of live instruction and hands-on labs you complete at home. If you enjoy problem-solving in areas like mechanical, civil, or biomedical engineering, this course includes practical projects such as building a spaghetti bridge, creating a bioreactor, and designing an electronic device. Each weekday, you’ll attend a three-hour synchronous session and spend additional time on independent study and assignments. The course also includes lectures and labs related to heat transfer, materials science, and computer engineering, all taught at a level comparable to a first-year engineering course at Johns Hopkins. You’ll collaborate virtually with peers, complete group course projects, and earn three college credits upon completion.
7. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center – CURE
Location: Dana‑Farber and Harvard Cancer Center labs in Boston, MA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 7–11 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Applications will open in the fall
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from MA who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 years old by program start
The CURE Program is a full-time, paid summer internship that places high school students in mentored cancer research settings at Dana-Farber and affiliated institutions. Over the summer, you'll engage directly in laboratory research, working with professional scientists on real biomedical questions. You’ll also attend scientific seminars, journal clubs, and professional development workshops that build your research and communication skills. Each participant is matched with a mentor and expected to contribute to an ongoing project. You will get the opportunity to write an abstract of your scientific work and present it at the program’s final presentation event. The CURE program also includes training in scientific methods, networking opportunities, and access to an alumni network.
8. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide, including Cambridge and Boston, MA
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies by location; typically June – August
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify
Through the AEOP High School Apprenticeship, you can work on research projects at U.S. Army Research Labs or university partner labs in STEM areas such as cybersecurity, materials science, and environmental engineering. These paid summer internships place you in labs where you’ll assist on active research under the supervision of a professional scientist or engineer. You’ll also receive mentorship, guidance on college and career planning, and access to additional AEOP learning resources like webinars and workshops. As an AEOP apprentice, you’ll get firsthand experience with lab equipment, data analysis, and collaborative research, while learning about the broader impact of federal research efforts.
9. Northeastern University - Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 23 – July 31 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: February 20 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors who are permanent residents of Massachusetts and are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents; more information available here
YSP is a six-week summer research program at Northeastern University for rising high school seniors who live within commuting distance of Boston. You’ll work in research labs across engineering, science, or health sciences departments and participate in hands-on projects under the mentorship of university faculty and graduate students. Topics from previous years include cancer therapy development, battery optimization, robotics, and materials design. In addition to your lab work, you’ll take part in seminars, career panels, and field trips to local science and engineering companies and government labs. The program also offers college and career counseling, giving you insights into undergraduate pathways and cooperative education models.
10. Kode With Klossy
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple 2-week sessions available between June 2 and August 15
Application deadline: March; dates vary
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive teens between the ages of 13 and 18
Kode With Klossy runs free two-week summer camps focused on coding and computer science, specifically for students of traditionally underrepresented genders in tech. If you're selected, you’ll choose from one of four specialized curricula: web development, data science, mobile app design, or machine learning. These tracks cover technical foundations, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, or Swift, while also introducing broader concepts like accessibility, algorithmic bias, and user-centered design. At the camp, you’ll build a project such as a website, mobile app, data visualization, or chatbot while learning in a supportive community alongside peers and mentors. Camps are fast-paced but accessible, and they emphasize both technical learning and teamwork. By the end of camp, you'll have tangible coding skills and a completed tech project.
11. Massachusetts Life Science Center – High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Location: Various life‑science workplaces across MA
Cost: Free; part- or full-time internships at $17 per hour for six weeks of full-time work
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approx 150 placements each year
Dates: Internships must occur between May 1 and April 30
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: MA high school students who are at least 16 years old by the internship start date and from underrepresented or low‑income schools
This statewide initiative helps connect underrepresented and low-income high school students with paid summer internships in the life sciences sector. As a participant, you’ll receive pre-internship training in biomedical and professional skills, followed by placement in a paid internship at a biotech company, academic research lab, or other life sciences organization. Training typically takes place during the school year or early summer and helps you build foundational lab techniques, resume writing skills, and an understanding of workplace expectations. You’ll also benefit from exposure to a range of life sciences careers and mentorship from professionals in the field. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center handles the applications and placement while also facilitating the matching process between students and labs.
12. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 18 – July 2 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: December 9 – January 24 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Current 9th graders or rising 10th graders who will be over 14 years old by the start of the program
Stanford AI4ALL is an online summer program focused on increasing diversity in the field of artificial intelligence. If you participate, you’ll attend lectures by Stanford faculty and researchers, work on group research projects, and connect with mentors in AI-related fields. The curriculum covers a range of topics like robotics, computer vision, and medical applications of AI, with an emphasis on how technology can be used to address social issues. You’ll be placed in small groups to collaborate on hands-on research for three weeks, gaining experience with real datasets and machine learning tools while also learning how to present and communicate your findings. The program is designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM and includes career development workshops and community-building events. All instruction is delivered remotely, giving you access to Stanford-level teaching and resources from wherever you are.
13. Columbia’s Pre-College Programs: Online Summer
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,815 (one week); $3,965 (two weeks); find more details here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: Session A: July 7 – 18; Session B: July 21 – August 1; Session C: August 11 – 15
Application deadline: April 20 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Domestic and international students who will be in grades 9–12 in the fall, and students currently enrolled in grade 12
Columbia’s online pre-college program lets you take short, intensive academic courses from the comfort of your home over the summer. You can choose from dozens of subjects ranging from literature and law to cybersecurity, business, and medicine, offered in one- or two-week formats. The courses are taught by Columbia faculty and designed to mirror the structure and challenge of college-level classes, with interactive elements like group projects, simulations, and class discussions. If you’re in the two-week program, you can also take part in the Columbia Writers Academy to work on your college essays. Upon completion, you’ll earn a Certificate of Participation and an evaluation letter that may help support your college applications. Classes are live, online, Monday through Friday, so you’ll need to commit to a schedule, but you’ll also get the chance to meet and collaborate with students from around the world.
14. Boston Children's Hospital – SCOOP (Student Career Opportunity Outreach Program)
Location: Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, 10 positions available
Dates: 6 weeks between July and August
Application deadline: Applications close in late February
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Through the SCOOP program, you can spend six weeks during the summer at Boston Children’s Hospital, gaining firsthand exposure to nursing and other health careers. As a selected high school student, you'll work 24 hours per week, with most of that time spent in patient care units alongside a designated mentor. The program places a strong emphasis on learning through observation and experience. You’ll get to see how healthcare professionals collaborate, how patients are cared for, and how hospital units function day to day. Each intern also develops a project during the program, which you’ll present at a closing event. Once a week, all interns come together for group sessions to reflect on what they’ve learned and share insights.
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