10 Summer Tech Programs for High School Students in New Jersey (NJ)
If you are a high school student in New Jersey looking to develop your coding, AI, or programming skills this summer, a tech program is worth considering! Summer programs for high school students can be a great way to explore new interests, build skills, and make meaningful connections—all without committing to a lengthy academic year course! These programs typically focus on practical learning, mentorship, and industry exposure, giving you a better sense of what it’s like to study or work in tech.
In addition to helping you boost your college admissions profile, a summer tech program can help you develop key skills in a practical format. Some options are hosted by top colleges or national organizations, and many come with flexible features, such as rolling admissions or remote access. Whether you are interested in data science, game design, robotics, AI, or programming, you will find a program that aligns with your interests.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 10 summer tech programs for high school students in New Jersey.
1. Princeton University’s AI4ALL
Location: Princeton University campus, Princeton, NJ
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact details not disclosed
Cost: Free!
Dates: July 9 – 30
Application deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders from low-income families residing in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
Princeton University’s AI4ALL is a three-week residential program for students interested in developing skills in AI. Here, you will explore AI topics, cutting-edge research in the field, and the societal impacts of AI through a combination of lectures, field trips, hands-on research projects, and mentorship. You will also engage in personal and professional development workshops, small-group mentoring sessions, and social events. A key component of the program is a field trip to Washington, D.C., where you will visit public and private organizations and learn about key topics and careers in AI and public policy. You will also work in a small group on a research project focusing on the societal impact of AI. At the end of the program, you will get to present your project work.
2. Veritas AI Programs: AI Scholars and AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified, but small group mentorship in a 5:1 ratio offered
Dates: Vary by cohort; summer sessions typically begin in June/July and last 10–15 weeks
Application deadline: June 22 for the next cohort.
Eligibility: High school students and middle schoolers with a strong academic background; the AI Fellowship program requires prior Python knowledge or participation in AI Scholars
Cost: AI Scholars: $2,290 | AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase: $5,400 | $6,900 for both; need-based financial aid is available
Veritas AI offers multiple AI-based programs to high schoolers. Its AI Scholars Program is a flexible, fully remote program that teaches high school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. Over the course of the 10-week AI Scholars program, you will attend live online classes in small groups and receive personalized mentorship from AI practitioners. You will work on hands-on projects covering areas like computer vision, neural networks, and machine learning. By the end, you will complete and present a group-based AI research project on a real-world topic. Veritas AI also offers opportunities to continue with independent research and get published through the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. This program is meant for those with some experience with coding/Python.
3. Game Design Academy @ Rider University
Location: Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Cohort size: 36 students per week
Dates: July 6 – 11
Application deadline: Rolling. You can register here!
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $1,450, which includes room and board
The Game Design Academy at Rider University is a one-week summer program for high school students interested in learning how to build their own playable video game from scratch. During the program, you will participate in hands-on sessions in game design, art, animation, and programming using industry-standard software in Rider’s Game Production Lab. A key highlight of the program is a 48-hour Game Jam where you’ll collaborate with peers to design and present a finished game! During the program, you will also get a taste of college life by staying in residence halls and exploring campus facilities. The environment is small and supportive, capped at 36 students to ensure personalized guidance from instructors. This experience can offer you some insights into game development, storytelling, and interactive media.
4. The College of New Jersey’s Artificial Intelligence & Wireless Communications Camp
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: July 6 – 11
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who rank in the top 30% of their class, demonstrate an interest in engineering, and have completed one year of math and science coursework
Cost: $2,100 + a $40 non-refundable application fee
The Artificial Intelligence and Wireless Communications Camp offered by TCNJ is a week-long residential opportunity to explore electrical and computer engineering. Here, you will attend lectures on machine learning, wireless technology, etc., and engage in hands-on tasks like developing machine learning algorithms. You will also have access to TCNJ’s engineering labs and faculty during the program. The program also offers detailed insights into concepts such as the development of intelligent handwriting and facial recognition hardware and software, as well as microstrip antennas. Project presentations and on-campus social activities are also part of the experience, helping you develop communication and collaboration skills.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance/Cohort size: Selective; one-on-one mentorship
Dates: Multiple cohorts; summer cohorts typically begin in June/July and can last anywhere between 12 weeks and a year, depending on the program format you choose
Application deadline: June 23 for the next cohort. Apply here!
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $2,990; financial aid is available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an individualized online experience for students interested in pursuing independent research. Here, research opportunities are also available in fields like computer science, AI, engineering, and other tech fields. During the program, you will get to work one-on-one with a PhD researcher to design and complete a college-level research paper. The program can help you with literature reviews and research planning through weekly mentorship and sessions with a writing coach. By the end of the session, you will have a completed research paper! You will also have the opportunity to present at a virtual research symposium and get support and resources to publish your work.
6. Rutgers University Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; 62–90 students
Dates: July 5 – 25
Application deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in New Jersey who are nominated by their schools
Cost: None
Hosted by Rutgers University, the Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology is a four-week residential program for top-performing high school juniors in the state. During the program, you will take rigorous courses in areas such as robotics, cybersecurity, and data analysis taught by university faculty. You will also work in a team on a research project and present your findings at a final symposium! The program includes campus tours, lab visits, and guest lectures from industry professionals. This can be an opportunity to learn about career paths and connect with university faculty.
7. Seton Hall University’s Giant LEAP STEM Program
Location: Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $1,200; limited scholarships available
The Giant LEAP STEM Program at Seton Hall University offers focused summer workshop-like courses in areas like weather, climate, and sustainability; robotics and electronics; and mechanics. Held in person on campus, these science-based workshops combine project-based learning with problem-solving and experimentation. Here, you will get to learn how to build programmable robots and how climate change models work through interactive lab sessions. Instructors will provide you with guidance to navigate design challenges and engineering exercises. The program also offers insights into 3D printing and forensic science.
8. CodeDay Labs
Location: Virtual
Acceptance/Cohort Size: Not selective; open enrollment
Dates: Flexible start dates; six-week sessions
Application deadline: June 13; you can apply to the Intermediate/Advanced track here
Eligibility: High school and college students
Cost: None
CodeDay Labs is a remote, project-based summer experience where high school students collaborate on open-source tech projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. Over six weeks, you will build real applications using languages like Python and JavaScript and also learn about industry tools like GitHub and code review processes. You’ll participate in weekly check-ins, sprint planning, and demos—just like in a real software team! The program is beginner-friendly and designed to simulate a professional internship setting. You’ll walk away having made actual contributions to open-source repositories and a portfolio to showcase. This can be an opportunity to get a structured introduction to software development.
9. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program dates: June 2 – 13 | July 7 – 18 | July 21 – August 1 | August 4 – 15
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens who are 13 to 18 years old
Cost: Free
Kode With Klossy, a nonprofit, offers various free programs to students interested in developing coding and tech skills. The organization’s Summer Camp is a two-week experience that offers hands-on exposure to coding, machine learning, and programming languages. As a participant, you will learn how to code through one of the four tracks. In the web development track, you will get to learn how to work with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create an online site. The machine learning track covers AI/ML basics like natural language processing, algorithms, and data sets. In the data science track, you will explore concepts like data visualisation. Finally, the mobile app track will help you learn how to code in Swift, which is Apple’s programming language, using the SwiftUI framework, and create an iOS mobile app.
10. Girls Who Code Summer Programs
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer Immersion Program: July 28 – August 8 | Pathways: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: Early acceptance: February 28 | General application: April 16
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12 (only 9th – 11th graders accepted for Summer Immersion) who are between the ages of 14 and 18 and identify as girls or non-binary individuals
Cost: Free
Girls Who Code offers two free virtual summer programs to high school students interested in computer science. The Summer Immersion Program is a two-week, instructor-led experience covering game design and foundational coding concepts. It offers insights into beginner to intermediate level computer science, the game design process, and the basics of UX design. Another option in the summer is Girls Who Code’s Pathways Program—a six-week, self-paced program covering topics such as cybersecurity, web development, data science, and AI. Both programs offer you access to industry-led events, opportunities to build real-world projects, and exposure to coding languages like Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Image Source - Princeton University