Artificial Intelligence is one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing fields in the world. As a high school student, gaining foundational understanding of AI can provide you a significant competitive edge, helping you develop critical skills like problem-solving, analytical thinking, and technical expertise. Early exposure to AI can set you apart, whether you choose a STEM career path or venture into other fields where analytical skills are in high demand.

University-level AI programs offer an ideal bridge between high school and college, providing you with valuable insights and practical experience. These programs don’t just look good on college applications—they empower you to think beyond traditional boundaries, foster an independent mindset, and shape your future career aspirations. Here’s a curated list of 10 university AI programs for high school students.

1. Stanford University - Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Virtual.

Cost: $4,000. Some need-based financial aid is available. 

Program Dates: The program typically runs for three weeks in July.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March. 

Eligibility: Current 9th grade high school students and rising 10th graders during the summer are eligible to apply.

Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week online program that offers an immersive experience in AI through a blend of lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring. You’ll explore how AI can address real-world issues like healthcare, disaster response, and poverty. Guided by leading professionals, you’ll dive deep into AI applications while connecting with a diverse community of peers. Through mentorship from leading researchers and industry experts, you will learn how to use AI to tackle meaningful challenges.

2. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute - Serious Games Development with Artificial Intelligence

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.

Cost: Free!

Program Dates: The program typically runs for four weeks in the summer.

Application Deadline: Applications for online courses open in December 2024 and close in January 2025. Applications for Summer Institute open on March 3, 2025 and close on March 31, 2025.

Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year are eligible to apply. Understanding of Python is required.

The Serious Games Development with AI course introduces high school students to dive deep into the core elements of serious gaming, including experimental design, game creation, and application development. Over the course of a month, you’ll explore various game types, learn how to extract valuable data, and get an introduction to User Interface (UI) design, rule development, and playtesting. The program also introduces you to Agile project management. 

By the end of the course, you’ll gain a solid foundation in software development, project management, human-centered design, game mechanics, and technical teamwork. Additionally, you’ll explore cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence and the growing field of serious games.

3. Harvard University - AI Bootcamp

Location: Virtual.

Cost: $495. Some need-based financial aid is available.

Program Dates: December 16-20, 2024.

Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can apply here!

Eligibility: High school students who have a strong familiarity with mathematics and experience with Calculus are eligible to apply.

The AI Bootcamp is an intensive 5-day program designed for high-achieving high school students and taught by leading Harvard graduate researchers and undergraduates. The bootcamp immerses you in cutting-edge AI and machine learning topics. You’ll experience what it’s like to be a Harvard student, fast-track your understanding of generative AI, and develop your own mini-research project. This program is tailored to prepare you for college and advanced AI research.

The Winter Bootcamp offers two tracks: Introductory and Advanced. The Introductory track is designed for students who are comfortable with Python and advanced mathematical reasoning. The Advanced track, on the other hand, is ideal for students who are already familiar with AI/ML concepts or have experience using PyTorch, as it focuses more heavily on independent research projects at the forefront of AI.

4. Carnegie Mellon University - AI Scholars

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

Cost: Free!

Program Dates: June 21 - July 19, 2025. 

Application deadline: March 1, 2025.

Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older at the start of the program are eligible to apply.

Carnegie Mellon University’s four-week residential AI Scholars program is an immersive experience for rising high school seniors. During the program, you’ll collaborate on group research projects guided by CMU faculty, staff, and graduate students, gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge AI topics. You’ll also participate in a field trip to leading AI companies, where you’ll meet industry professionals, explore emerging technologies, and learn about potential career paths. The program culminates in a capstone presentation, where you and your team will showcase the skills and knowledge you’ve developed. These presentations will be shared publicly at the AIS closing symposium.

5. Brown University - Introduction to Machine Learning and AI with Python

Location: Brown University, Providence, RI.

Cost: Commuter: $5,682 | Residential:  $7,452.

Application deadline: Applications typically close in April.

Program Dates: The program typically runs for three weeks in July.

Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program are eligible to apply.

Introduction to Machine Learning and AI with Python is a three-week course that teaches high school students to analyze big data and apply artificial intelligence concepts without diving into complex math. By the end of this course, you will have a solid grasp of fundamental AI concepts and a clear understanding of how data science applies across various fields. You’ll learn to use key machine learning techniques and gain insights into machine learning algorithms. Additionally, you’ll be equipped to select and apply the right algorithms to tackle specific research challenges. The course will also help you develop a roadmap for pursuing a college career in data science, setting a strong foundation for future studies.

6. Princeton University - Princeton AI4ALL

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. 

Cost: Free!

Program Dates: The program typically runs for three weeks from July to August.

Application deadline: Applications typically close in May.

Eligibility: Rising low-income 11th grade students living and attending high school in the U.S. or Puerto Rico are eligible to apply.

Princeton’s three-week AI4ALL program focuses on increasing diversity in the AI field, particularly encouraging participation from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds. You’ll explore cutting-edge AI research and its societal impacts while participating in career development workshops, mentorship sessions, and social events. Additionally, hands-on research projects in Princeton’s AI Lab provide real-world experience.

7. Boston University - BU AI4ALL

Location: Boston University, Boston, MA.

Cost: Free!

Program Dates: The program typically runs for three weeks from July to August.

Application deadline: Applications typically close in May.

Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors enrolled in a high school in Massachusetts are eligible to apply.

Boston University’s AI4ALL program aims to foster diversity and inclusion in the field of AI, and is open to young women, or those who identify as female, currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school in the Boston area. Over the course of three weeks, you will gain hands-on experience in AI through collaborative team projects, industry field trips, and presentations from guest speakers. The program culminates in a small group research project and a final presentation. BU AI4ALL is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of AI innovators and promoting a more diverse AI workforce. 

8. Georgetown University - Artificial Intelligence Academy

Location: Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

Cost: Residential: $3,389 | Commuter: $2,625.

Program Dates: The program typically runs for a week between July and August.

Application Deadline: Applications for the Summer 2025 program will open in late fall.

Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years or older are eligible to apply.

Georgetown University’s Artificial Intelligence Academy offers a comprehensive exploration of AI, from its origins to its future. Through engaging lectures, guest speakers, discussion sessions, and hands-on projects, you'll not only delve into the science behind AI but also examine the ethical implications of AI-driven automation. The program will also provide an in-depth look at the emerging global governance frameworks designed to regulate its use.

 9. Stanford University - AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp

Location: Virtual.

Cost: The cost includes $850 for tuition and $40 as registration fee. Some need-based financial aid is available.

Program dates: June 16 - 27, 2025. 

Application deadline: Applications open on December 20, 2024 and close on February 28, 2025.

Eligibility: High school students entering 9 -12 grades in Fall 202 are eligible to apply. 

The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp at Stanford University is an intensive two-week program that explores the intersection of AI, machine learning, and healthcare. Participants engage in group discussions, interactive online modules, and insightful sessions with industry experts and thought leaders. The curriculum delves into the critical role of machine learning in transforming healthcare, addressing both its potential and the challenges it presents. Key topics include the application of Foundation Models and Generative AI in healthcare, providing participants with cutting-edge knowledge and practical strategies to navigate this rapidly evolving field. 

10. UCLA - Generative AI Summer Institute

Location: Virtual.

Cost: $3,020. Some need-based financial aid is available. 

Program Dates: The program typically runs for three weeks in July.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in June. 

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 and who are at least 15 years old are eligible to apply.

The Generative AI Summer Institute at UCLA is designed for high school students passionate about technology, artificial intelligence, and creative expression. In this hands-on institute, you’ll explore generative AI for text, learning core concepts like neural networks, deep learning, and natural language processing. Through interactive lectures, workshops, and projects, you’ll understand how AI can generate stories, jokes, and lyrics. You’ll work with generative models such as Transformer networks and pre-trained models like BERT, BART, and GPT-3. The program also covers creative applications in art, music, and poetry, while emphasizing ethical considerations like responsible use and bias mitigation. 

If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!

Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduate students, offers a chance to dive into the basics of AI and computer science while working on real-world projects. You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate one-on-one with mentors from top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to create personalized projects. Over 1,000 students have already explored data science and AI through their programs. 

Ready to join them? Apply here!

Image source - Standford University