10 Free + Online AI Summer Programs for High School Students
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field, and high school students have the opportunity to explore it through free and online summer programs offered by leading universities and organizations. These programs introduce you to machine learning, AI ethics, and data science through hands-on learning experiences. At the same time, free programs remove financial barriers, while online formats allow students to participate from anywhere.
Whether you are a beginner or have prior coding experience, these summer programs provide a structured and engaging way to develop technical skills. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 10 free online AI summer programs for high school students. If you are curious about how AI is shaping the world, these programs will equip you with the tools to explore and innovate.
1. Girls Who Code Summer Programs
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Dates: Pathways Program: June 30 - August 8 | Summer Immersion Program I: July 7 - July 18 | Summer Immersion Program II: July 28 - August 8.
Eligibility: High school girls and/or non-binary students are eligible to apply.
Girls Who Code offers free, online summer programs for high school students interested in AI and computer science. The Summer Immersion Program (SIP) features a two-week live course covering game design, user experience (UX), and essential coding concepts, taught by expert instructors. Alternatively, the Pathways Program offers a self-paced, six-week course exploring topics like AI and cybersecurity while providing instruction in Python, HTML, and JavaScript.
Both programs include hands-on projects, mentorship from tech industry professionals, and opportunities to connect with a community of like-minded students. You will gain real-world experience, learn from industry leaders, and become part of an alumni network that supports your growth in the tech field.
2. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: March 31.
Dates: June 2 - June 13 | July 7 - July 18 | July 21 - August 1 | August 4 - August 15.
Eligibility: High school girls and gender-expansive students aged 13-18 years are eligible to apply.
Kode With Klossy provides a free, online two-week summer immersive coding experience for high school students from underrepresented genders in STEM. You will explore specialized tracks, including AI, Web Development, Machine Learning, Mobile App Development, and Data Science, gaining hands-on experience with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, and Swift. The program emphasizes practical, project-based learning to help you develop essential coding and problem-solving skills.
Throughout the summer program, you will collaborate with peers, work on real-world projects, and receive mentorship from experienced instructors. By the end of the program, you will have a robust portfolio showcasing your ability to build websites, mobile applications, and data-driven solutions.
3. AI4ALL Open Learning
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: No deadline.
Dates: This is a self-paced program. Each course can be 1-4 hours long.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
AI4ALL is a national nonprofit dedicated to making AI more inclusive and accessible. Through interactive courses, you will explore AI’s impact in fields like dance, facial recognition, digital art, and deep fakes, while developing critical thinking and leadership skills. Courses range from one to four hours and provide hands-on experiences that encourage creativity and ethical AI practices. Designed for high school students from underrepresented communities, this program helps you build confidence and expertise in responsible AI development.
4. Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute - Artificial Intelligence
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $3,080 tuition and $65 application fee. Need-based financial aid and fee waiver are available.
Application Deadline: March 20.
Dates: Session One: June 16 - June 27 | Session Two: July 7 - July 18.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11 at the time of application are eligible to apply. Beginning proficiency with the programming language Python is required.
The Stanford Pre-College online AI summer program offers high school students the opportunity to explore the foundations of artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will study supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning while applying concepts from linear algebra, statistics, and calculus to train AI models. Through hands-on coding in Python, you will implement algorithms using real-world datasets and analyze bias in AI systems.
The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, enabling you to build efficient, ethical AI solutions. Live online sessions are held Monday through Friday, with interactive discussions led by instructors and peers.
5. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Varies based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall of 2023.
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4).
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. You can choose topics from subjects such as computer science, AI, psychology, physics, economics, data science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
6. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $4,000. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Applications open on December 9 and close on January 24.
Dates: June 18 - July 2.
Eligibility: 9th-graders or rising 10th-graders in the summer who are over 14 years by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week online summer program focused on the intersection of AI and societal impact. You will explore topics such as robotics, medical AI, and computer vision through hands-on research and collaboration with mentors from Stanford’s AI Lab. The program provides opportunities to build connections with like-minded peers, develop career skills, and gain insights from leading AI experts. Students with a background in mathematics or computer science are encouraged to apply.
7. 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 full financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you will get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you have access to the in-house publication team to help you secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
8. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $850 tuition and $40 application fee. Need-based financial aid and fee waiver are available.
Application Deadline: February 28.
Dates: June 16 - June 27.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in Fall and over the age of 14 by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship offers a two-week online program for high school students interested in the intersection of AI and medicine. Through introductory lectures, technical workshops, and hands-on research projects, you will explore how AI is transforming healthcare. Participants connect with Stanford mentors and guest speakers from academia, industry, and government, gaining insight into real-world AI applications. The program includes career development activities and social events to help you build a professional network.
9. AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $850 tuition and $40 application fee. Need-based financial aid and fee waiver are available.
Application Deadline: February 28.
Dates: June 16 - June 27.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in Fall and over the age of 14 by the start of the program are eligible to apply.
The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp by Stanford University is a two-week online program introducing high school students to the impact of machine learning on healthcare. You will explore AI’s role in diagnosing diseases, evaluating treatments, and improving patient care through online modules, group discussions, and breakout activities. Industry experts share insights during virtual career sessions, helping you discover career paths in AI and medicine. By the end of the program, you will understand key AI principles, ethical challenges, and real-world healthcare applications.
10. Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute - Introduction to Machine Learning
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $3,080 tuition and $65 application fee. Need-based financial aid and fee waiver are available.
Application Deadline: March 20.
Dates: Session One: June 16 - June 27 | Session Two: July 7 - July 18.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11 at the time of application are eligible to apply. Exposure to a computer programming language and working knowledge of statistics is required.
In Stanford University’s Introduction to Machine Learning online course, high school students explore how real-world AI models are built and optimized. Using Python, you will preprocess and visualize structured data, train and test machine learning models, and fine-tune algorithms for improved performance. The program includes live instruction and hands-on projects, enabling you to apply advanced techniques to real datasets. By the end of the course, you will have a strong foundation in machine learning principles and AI-driven decision-making.
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