10 Online Data Science Programs for High School Students
Online data science programs are a great way for you to immerse yourself in the world of data analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling, providing a solid foundation for further studies or careers in technology and science. Not only do these courses enhance your analytical and problem-solving abilities, but they also make your college applications stand out! Demonstrating a commitment to data science shows colleges your dedication, intellectual curiosity, and readiness for challenging college-level coursework.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of the 10 great online data science summer programs for high school students!
Cost: Free
Program dates: 6 months - Late June to December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors; underrepresented, underserved, and first generation students are especially encouraged to apply.
MITES Semester (formerly MOSTEC) is a six-month learning experience, running from June through December. You'll dive into rigorous online courses, participate in weekly virtual webinars, and enjoy social events and workshops. Through MITES Semester, you will have the opportunity to explore various STEM topics, from machine learning & data science to thermodynamics. You'll engage in two rigorous courses, including a project-based course and a supplemental core course in calculus, physics, computer science, or science writing and communication.
The STEM Immersion Phase (June–early August) offers a chance to complete challenging courses and team projects, culminating in presentations at the MITES Semester Conference. This phase is packed with webinars, discussions, and game nights, fostering a close-knit community with your peers and mentors. The College and Career Prep Phase (August–December) shifts focus towards preparing for college, with mock interviews, essay reviews, and workshops, alongside interactions with faculty, researchers, and STEM professionals.
2. Stanford Pre-College: Introduction to Data Science
Cost: $3050
Program dates: June 17, 2024 - June 28, 2024 or July 08, 2024 - July 19, 2024
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2024
Eligibility: High School Students in grades 9-11
The Stanford pre-college course aims to introduce students to the critical tools and ethical considerations necessary for leveraging technology in data science effectively. You'll delve into the intricacies of computer algorithms, exploring the variety of models they generate, each with its unique strengths and limitations. By applying these models to datasets from the natural and social sciences, you will tackle real-world questions. Through comprehensive R programming exercises, you'll explore various aspects of machine learning, enhancing your ability to discern patterns and insights from complex data.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to confidently investigate and interpret any dataset with strong coding skills and a methodical, scientific approach. Note that it is recommended to have some exposure to a computer programming language and a working knowledge of statistics.
Cost: $1,790 (AI Scholars) & $4900 (AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase). Financial aid is available.
Application deadline: Upcoming deadline for the spring - 25 February & for summer - March 24, 2024 (early admission). You can apply here!
Program Dates: Spring cohort - March 10 to May 5, 2024 & Summer cohort runs from May - August with multiple sessions.
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12
Location: Online
Veritas AI founded and run by Harvard graduate students introduces high school students to foundational concepts in AI, machine learning, and data science. The AI Scholars program is a virtual, 25-hour boot camp that introduces high school students to AI & ML through lectures, coding exercises, and hands-on projects. Students will learn to code using Python and the course material will deep dive into neural networks, deep learning, image classification, AI ethics, and more.
The AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program is a 1-1 mentorship program where students create unique AI projects under the guidance of PhD mentors. Over 12-15 weeks, you can pick a field of interest at the intersection of AI, ML, or data science to produce an individualized research paper, software/model, app, or presentation. Veritas has a publication team available to help students publish their papers in journals. Here are some past projects you can look at!
4. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
5. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Friday, March 22, 2024
Program Dates: 3 different two week sessions are available that run from June 14, 2024 to August 9th, 2024
Eligibility: Female students in grades 9-11
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is a unique two-week virtual experience designed for high school students who are curious about data science and the broader tech industry. Sponsored by leading companies such as MetLife, Bank of America, Logitech, and Synchrony, the SIP offers live, virtual classes that introduce you to a range of computer science concepts—from the basics of game design and UX design to intermediate coding principles.
This program is tailored for current 9th to 11th graders, providing an enriching environment to explore the tech world and the step-by-step design process without requiring any previous computer science experience. Beyond the technical skills, you'll have the chance to meet industry leaders, learn about tech jobs, and become part of a supportive community that fosters sisterhood and mutual growth.
Participants are also eligible for a $300 needs-based grant if they reside in the United States, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder your learning journey. By completing the SIP, you'll gain access to exclusive alumni benefits, including career support through the Girls Who Code Hiring Summit, workforce development, leadership programs, and GWC Talks webinars.
6. Code Connects Summer Research Program with Columbia University
Cost: $3,995
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: To be determined in February 2024 but this is a five week program that typically runs from July to August
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores and recent high school graduates
The Code Connects Summer Research Program is a five-week program that will teach you the essentials of data science. In the first two weeks,you will immerse yourself in intensive data science training, where you'll learn everything from coding in R to data visualization, data cleaning, and thorough data analysis.
Over the following three weeks, you'll apply your newly acquired skills as a research assistant, working alongside Columbia University professors, PhD candidates, and other faculty to contribute to ongoing research projects at the Columbia University Data Science Institute. Upon completing the program, you'll receive a certificate and you will have developed a personal research project.
7. Stanford Code In Place (CiP)
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 10
Program Dates: April 24 - June 10
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible
Stanford's Code In Place (CiP) is a unique opportunity to take the first half of the CS106A course online, completely free of charge. This program is designed for learners who are curious about coding but have no prior programming experience.
Over the six weeks, you'll explore topics ranging from control flow with Karel to more advanced concepts like lists and dictionaries, culminating in the creation of projects like Random Art and the World's Hardest Game. This immersive experience is supported by an extensive network of over 2,100 section leaders, ensuring a favorable 1:10 student to section leader ratio for personalized learning. By joining Code In Place, you're joining a community of 22,000 students from around the globe.
8. IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
Cost: $39 per month
Application Deadline: No deadline
Program Dates: Self paced for 4 months at about 10 hours per week
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible
The IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate program will equip you with the most current practical skills and tools used by data analysts today. You'll master how to visualize data and present findings using Excel, BI tools like IBM Cognos Analytics & Tableau, and develop a working knowledge of Python for data analysis, utilizing libraries such as Pandas and Numpy.
This program not only sets you on a path to an entry-level data analytics role but also lays a solid foundation for future career progression into data science, artificial intelligence, and more. You'll gain hands-on experience through labs and projects, building a portfolio that showcases your ability to manipulate data, apply analytical skills across various scenarios, and effectively communicate your findings.
Upon completion, you'll earn a Professional Certificate from IBM, an IBM Digital badge, and access to career resources including mock interviews and resume support. This program is also ACE and FIBAA recommended, offering the opportunity to earn up to 12 college credits and 6 ECTS credits.
9. Columbia Pre-College Programming with Python
Cost: $3,960
Application Deadline: March 26, 2024
Program Dates: July 01 to July 12, 2024 Monday–Friday, 8:00–11:00 a.m. ET
Eligibility: High School students in grades 9-11
Through the Columbia Pre-College Programming with Python course, you will receive an introduction to Python. It will enable swift and effective execution of tasks across data analysis, machine learning, AI, data visualization, and web development.
Throughout the course, you'll gain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of Python programming. From best programming practices to understanding data representation, storage, data structures, functions, and scripts, every aspect is tailored to equip you with the knowledge to solve real-world problems. The course features a mix of traditional lectures, collaborative group work, and individual programming challenges.
10. Harvard Secondary School Program in Elements of Data Science and Statistical Learning with R
Cost: $3600
Application Deadline: February 14, 2024
Program Dates: 6:30pm-9:30pm (6/24 to 8/9)
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
This program is designed to help you explore how data science innervates various fields from biomedical research and space science to finance, marketing, and beyond. This intensive course offers a comprehensive introduction to various statistical learning methods, utilizing the R programming language—a powerful tool for scientific analysis and data visualization.
You'll start with the fundamentals of statistical testing and learning, and progressively cover advanced topics such as linear and non-linear regression, regularization, unsupervised methods like principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering, as well as supervised classification techniques including support vector machines, random forests, and neural networks. The focus of the course is not solely on theory but also on developing a strong intuition for statistical problems and honing practical skills through hands-on assignments and extensive experimentation.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 6, 2024
Program Dates: 12 weeks starting when your project begins
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible
Through the Google Summer of Code (GSoC), you will have the opportunity to apply your coding skills to real-world data science projects, under the mentorship of experienced professionals from over 850 open-source organizations worldwide.
Interested contributors are encouraged to propose a programming project that aligns with your interests and the needs of an open-source organization. Once accepted, you'll spend the summer (12+ weeks) coding, learning, and growing as a developer. Beyond just coding, GSoC offers you the chance to attend lectures and workshops on a variety of topics within open-source software, including specialized areas like data science.
By the end of the program, you'll share your project with the world, adding to the 45 million+ lines of code written by over 20,000 new contributors from 116 countries over GSoC's 19-year history.
If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - MITES Logo