10 Summer College Programs for High School Students
Summer programs for high school students, organized by colleges and universities, offer invaluable opportunities to gain firsthand experience, develop professional skills, and engage with experts in their chosen fields. These programs provide insights into potential career paths through participation in projects, research, and industry exposure.
Prestigious institutions also host numerous summer programs, enabling students to benefit from high-quality mentorship and networking opportunities that can support their future academic and professional pursuits. Students passionate about specific subjects—whether STEM, business, or the humanities—will find summer programs tailored to help them refine their goals and deepen their knowledge. Check out our list of 10 summer programs for high school students offered by leading colleges and universities!
1. MIT - Research Science Institute (RSI)
Cost: $65 application fee that can be waived for need-based applicants.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Application Deadline: December 11.
Program Dates: June 22 - August 2.
Eligibility: High school juniors are eligible to apply.
The RSI is a prestigious, six-week summer program for high school students, offered by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that allows them to conduct research at MIT. Highly competitive and fully funded, the program selects only 70 to 80 participants from thousands of applicants annually. You will begin with a week of college-level STEM classes taught by renowned faculty, providing a solid academic foundation.
The following weeks are dedicated to conducting research projects in mathematics, physics, biology, and engineering. You will develop research plans, conduct experiments, and analyze data under the guidance of experienced mentors. The program culminates in written reports and oral presentations, fostering critical communication skills.
2. Stanford University - Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR)
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee that can be waived based on need. Students receive a stipend of $500.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Application Deadline: February 22.
Program Dates: June 9 - July 31.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 16 years or older and have a U.S. citizenship or residency are eligible to apply.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is a highly selective eight-week summer program that accepts less than 3% of applicants. You will work alongside Stanford graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on hands-on research projects in fields such as neurobiology, cancer biology, and immunology.
The program begins with an orientation and lab placements, followed by intensive laboratory work and interactive biomedical research lectures. Weekly meetings and discussions enrich your understanding of medical science. The program concludes with a formal poster session where you will present your research to faculty and peers.
3. Columbia University - Brain Research Apprenticeships (BRAINYAC)
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Location: The Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Application Deadline: October 29.
Program Dates: July - August.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who live in New York City and are enrolled in one of the New York City-based partner programs are eligible to apply.
The BRAINYAC summer program at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute provides high school students with the opportunity to engage in hands-on neuroscience research. Students are matched with experienced mentors in Columbia's labs, working on specialized projects while developing skills in neuroanatomy, scientific communication, and data analysis.
You will gain valuable insights into the scientific discovery process within real research environments. Applicants must be nominated through partner organizations such as BioBus and S-PREP. This structured summer program deepens students' understanding of neuroscience and helps them explore career paths in research and medicine.
4. MIT - Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers
Cost: Free!
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA.
Application Deadline: March 12.
Program Dates: July 13 - July 26.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
LLRISE is an intensive two-week summer program for high school students that introduces them to radar technology through the construction of small radar systems, such as Doppler and range radar. Guided by MIT engineers and scientists, you will engage in hands-on projects and apply problem-solving techniques to real-world challenges.
You will enhance your understanding of the mathematical principles underpinning radar systems. The program emphasizes engineering skills, allowing you to design and implement functional radar models. Students reside on MIT's campus for the program's duration, commuting daily to Lincoln Laboratory to work directly on radar system development.
5. UT Austin - SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Cost: Free! Students may be eligible to receive transportation scholarships.
Location: University of Texas at Austin, TX.
Application Deadline: February 22.
Program Dates: May 1 - July 22.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply.
The SEES summer internship program offers a highly competitive opportunity for high school students passionate about mathematics and space sciences to collaborate with NASA experts. The program begins virtually, with modules focused on data analysis from NASA satellites and remote sensing technologies.
The internship blends online instruction with practical application, culminating in an on-site segment at UT Austin where you gain hands-on experience. Emphasizing teamwork, data interpretation, and Earth system science, you will present your findings at the Virtual SEES Science Symposium.
7. Stony Brook University - Simons Summer Research Program
Stipend: Students receive a stipend.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
Application Deadline: February 7.
Program Dates: June 30 - August 8.
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 years or older and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply.
The Simons Summer Research Program offers an intensive six-week research experience for high school students interested in STEM. With a selective 5% acceptance rate, participants collaborate with Stony Brook faculty on projects, from hypothesis formation to data analysis. You will conclude the program by presenting your research at a symposium, refining public speaking and presentation abilities. This program offers insights into scientific processes and fosters mentor-mentee relationships critical for research-oriented careers.
8. Carnegie Mellon University - AI Scholars Program
Cost: Free!
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA.
Application Deadline: March 1.
Program Dates: June 21 - July 19.
Eligibility: High school juniors who will be at least 16 years old by the start date are eligible to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA-registered.
AI Scholars is an intensive four-week program for high school students who have a deep interest and passion in the field of artificial intelligence. This fully-funded summer program engages students in practical hands-on learning, including problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
You will attend lectures from renowned faculty covering key AI concepts, emerging technologies, and the societal impact of AI. You will also interact with representatives from leading AI companies, gaining insights into current industry trends and future career opportunities. Through practical projects and professional networking, you will develop a deeper understanding of AI and build connections to support your future pursuits in the field.
9. UC Santa Barbara - Research Mentorship Program
Cost: Residential: $11,874 | Commuter: $4,975.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.
Application Deadline: March 17.
Program Dates: June 16 - August 1.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a GPA of at least 3.8 are eligible to apply.
The Research Mentorship Program at UC Santa Barbara is a six-week, hands-on summer research program for high school students from diverse academic backgrounds. You will work one-on-one with university mentors across various disciplines, learning data analysis, research methodology, technical writing, and presentation techniques.
In addition to research, you will immerse yourself in the university environment and establish valuable academic connections. Participants can also earn UCSB credits, officially recorded on their transcripts. This program offers an intensive introduction to university-level research and professional development.
10. Texas Tech University - The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program
Cost / Stipend: No cost. STudents receive a stipend of $750.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Application Deadline: February 24.
Program Dates: June 22 - August 7.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 17 years or older are eligible to apply.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an exceptionally selective, seven-week summer program for 12 talented high school students. You will conduct hands-on research across STEM, humanities, and social sciences, working directly with faculty mentors. The program emphasizes research practices through modeling, data analysis, and various methodologies. In addition to research, you will participate in seminars, field trips, and networking opportunities. The program concludes with students showcasing their findings.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to 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 AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
AI + Medicine
In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, students learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. Students get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
AI + Finance
Through the AI + Finance Deep Dive, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. They get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
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