10 Online Competitive Summer Programs for High School Students
Summer programs offer high school students firsthand experience, industry exposure, and valuable networking opportunities, making them ideal for those looking to explore future career paths. Most of these prestigious organizations do not require applicants to pay fees, and some even provide stipends, enabling participants to work while acquiring experience.
Online opportunities offer even greater flexibility for individuals to participate from their current locations while acquiring research, mentoring, and project work experience. Those aiming for careers in data science, engineering, or medicine can delve deeply into these fields, establishing strong foundations for future careers.
With so many to choose from, selecting the right program proves to be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll go over 10 online competitive summer programs for high school students!
Cost: None
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 24 - August 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.8
The ASPIRE Internship at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to conduct STEM research alongside professionals. You’ll conduct work on actual projects, engage in problem-solving activities with groups, and acquire new skills in specialty workshops during 190 hours, usually six to nine weeks. Mentorship from faculty members is a critical component that helps guide students along the way. Although the internship is typically centered in Baltimore, there is a remote option for students wanting greater flexibility.
In certain instances, interns are able to make the experience year-round by making a commitment to an additional 130 hours of research from September through May. The year-round experience enables students to continue to hone their skills and develop a more sophisticated knowledge in their area of study.
2. Veritas AI
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. 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, students 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, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 - 27
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+; U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Preference is given to applicants with strong math or computer programming skills or experience with a healthcare project.
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging provides a virtual two-week summer internship in AI medicine applications. As a participant, you are exposed to the technical and clinical foundations of AI through interactive lectures, research projects with classmates, and one-on-one mentorship. For students with an interest in longer-term research, the program also provides the opportunity for longer-term, individual research projects.
Interns also work alongside Stanford's top researchers and postdoctoral fellows to get hands-on experience applying AI in the clinic. Guest lecturers from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations also join career lunch talks to provide a variety of viewpoints on AI in medicine.
One of the special aspects of the program is the "Student Lead" title, under which chosen interns are given leadership responsibilities, operating under the supervision of an AIMI mentor to lead projects. The program also covers social events that encourage interactions between participants and mentors.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
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 Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper!
You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Boston University High School Honors Online
Cost: $60 application fee + $6,520 tuition + $485 service fees
Application Deadline: May 23 (March 14 for international students)
Program Dates: May 13 - June 27 | June 30 - August 15
Eligibility: Open to high school rising juniors and seniors
Juniors and seniors can earn college credit for taking a maximum of two Boston University courses online. Developed by BU faculty, these courses allow students to confront challenging coursework, interact with college undergraduates and international peers, and explore a range of academic disciplines.
The modular structure of the course consists of online lectures, discussion forums, and independent learning, so it is best suited for self-starting students with good time management skills. However, as summer courses are intense academically and cover topics at a faster pace, prior commitments should be taken into account before joining.
6. Johns Hopkins Online Pre-College Program
Cost: $1,950 (per credit) + $85 application fee
Application Deadline: March 7
Program Dates:
June 23 - July 4
July 7 - 18
July 21 - August 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students; certain courses may have more specific prerequisites.
Johns Hopkins' Summer at Hopkins online courses allow students to learn various subjects with the guidance of skilled instructors. The courses are predominantly asynchronous, although instructors can provide live sessions to facilitate collaboration and discussion. As a student, you must complete rigorous coursework, such as readings, discussion posts, quizzes, presentations, and written assignments, on a daily or weekly basis. Teachers monitor progress and provide feedback. The same amount of effort as regular courses is required, with an engaging and interactive learning experience.
In addition to academics, some courses offer practical learning, like virtual labs or suturing practice. Course syllabi establish critical expectations, deadlines, and times to engage, all while keeping the students on pace and creating an active and engaged learning environment.
7. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Cost: Interns may receive a stipend dependent on the internship, academic level, and program length.
Application Deadline:
Summer 2025: February 28
Fall 2025: May 16
Program Dates:
Summer Session: 10 weeks, typically from late May or early June to August
Fall Session: 16 weeks, typically from late August or early September to mid-December
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years old at the time of application, have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and are U.S. citizens
OSTEM internships at NASA centers across America offer competitive chances for students to gain hands-on experience in aeronautics, space science, engineering, technology, microbiology, and communications. As an intern, you’ll assist NASA professionals on ongoing projects while developing technical and analytical abilities.
You can engage in tasks such as robotics, aerospace, civil engineering, 3D modeling, experiment design, mission data analysis, and technological innovations. The focus is on skill development, critical thinking, and problem-solving in real scientific and engineering environments.
Moreover, interns can network with veteran engineers and researchers, broadening their professional circle. A detailed listing of available opportunities, including those for high school students, can be viewed online, and applicants can use filter options to assist them in finding matching opportunities.
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: January 24
Program Dates: June 18 - July 2
Eligibility: Open to 9th graders/rising 10th graders
Stanford AI4ALL is a summer program that promotes the diversity and inclusion of artificial intelligence. Through lectures and hands-on research with Stanford faculty and graduate students, you’ll learn about AI applications in robotics, natural language processing, and beyond. The program provides both theoretical understanding and hands-on experience, and students have the opportunity to work directly with the latest technology.
Along with technical education, the program assists in career development through AI workshops and college opportunities. The students also participate in networking sessions, meeting professionals and similar-minded students to form a network of future innovation leaders.
9. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS): Project Pipeline Baltimore
Stipend: $500
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: ~5 weeks through July to August
Eligibility: Open to US high school juniors and seniors
The JHBIS program tries to engage high school students interested in neurological sciences by offering in-person and virtual learning experiences. You’ll be guided by Johns Hopkins neurologists, exposed to crucial laboratory skills, and get your hands dirty with entry-level experiments. The program is particularly beneficial to students who lack much laboratory experience, as it gives them basic hands-on experience.
One of the attributes of JHBIS includes an emphasis on boosting diversity in the area of neuroscience by recruiting underrepresented group students. In addition to working in the laboratories, participants take part in professional development workshops led by JHU faculty members and educational lectures on neuroscience. Learn more about it with our deep dive here!
10. Internships at the American Psychology Association
Cost: No cost; some internships may be paid.
Application Deadline: Deadlines differ by internship; Applicants should check the applicant portal frequently in case anything changes
Program Dates: Year-round
Eligibility: Criteria vary by internship
American Psychological Association (APA), the largest non-profit organization promoting psychology in the US, has internship programs to allow students interested in learning real-world applications in the field. You can engage in a range of domains like public policy, communications, IT, financial services, and operational research. The type of work ranges from conducting research and writing to spearheading projects online, administrative support, and specialty-driven projects based on interests and capabilities.
Throughout the program, you are guided by professionals who provide academic and career development support. Group workshops and projects are also included in the experience to enhance teamwork and the development of critical professional skills.
Image Source - Johns Hopkins Logo