14 Data Science Programs for High School Students
Data science is a rapidly evolving field, and the opportunity to explore it while still in high school will provide you with a clearer perspective on your future career trajectory. Applying to data science programs for high school students will give you the chance to learn valuable skills in coding, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.
Many data science programs for high school students provide access to real-world projects and mentorship from experts, allowing you to explore your interests in a more hands-on setting. Moreover, participating in such programs shows initiative and curiosity, which are traits that colleges value.
In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of data science programs for high school students that you can explore. Let’s get into it!
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts from $2,290. Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Dates: Varies according to the cohort; the spring cohort starts in March. More info here
Application Deadline: Rolling. The spring cohort deadline is January 5, 2025
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students from anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should have completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI is run by Harvard graduate students to develop programs tailored for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you’re looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, check out the AI Scholars program. It is a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to the fundamentals of AI & data science and gives you the chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more experienced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. During this program, you will get to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. You will also have access to the in-house publication team, which will help you secure publications in high school research journals. The fellowship encourages you to explore interdisciplinary approaches, enabling you to merge AI with various fields such as finance, medicine, sports, environmental science, and more! You can look at some examples of past projects here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost:
Labs course – $5,950
Seminars course – $5,950
Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts in the year. Spring 2025 cohort: March 3, 2025
Application Date: February 16, 2025, for the Spring 2025 cohort
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA). 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 high school students research programs in data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you’ve decided on your track, Horizon will pair you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university who will act as your mentor. You will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. It also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed project feedback. Apply here!
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,990
Dates: 8 weeks. Winter Cohort II starts from January 20, 2025
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts are available throughout the year. December 29, 2024, for Winter Cohort II
Eligibility: Enrolled in high school. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note. 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. It offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas.
The program will pair you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project for over 12 weeks. 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.
4. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Pre College: CS Scholars Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21 – July 19, 2025
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders in high school during the time of the program; must be 16 years of age by June 21, 2025; U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College CS Scholars Program focuses on computer science, offering a solid foundation in computational and analytical skills essential for data science. As a participant, you will explore key computer science concepts, learn programming languages like Python, and work with data structures and algorithms critical for data analysis.
The program culminates in a hands-on project where you apply your programming and data manipulation skills to solve real-world problems. This makes it a good opportunity to engage with data science principles practically. CS Scholars is good for high school students who are passionate about technology and data-driven problem-solving. It provides a supportive, intellectually engaging environment to build skills valuable for aspiring data scientists.
5. Quinnipiac University’s Data Science Summer Camp
Location: Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT
Cost: $3,360 (residential) | $2,400 (commuter)
Dates: July 7, 2025 – July 18, 2025 (tentative)
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 15 to 18
Quinnipiac University’s Data Science Summer Camp is a 2-week data science program for high school students that offers courses led by Quinnipiac faculty. During this program, you will learn the fundamental principles of big data and data science theory. It is designed to equip you with both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills needed for analyzing complex data sets and give you the chance to explore various career paths in the data science field.
The program concludes with a practical project, allowing you to apply the concepts and techniques you've learned to a real-world setting. This program is ideal for those looking to build a strong foundation in data science while gaining insight into potential career opportunities in the field.
6. Harvard Pre-College Program: Introduction to Data Science with a Focus on Visualization
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,550 program fee + $75 nonrefundable application fee
Dates:
Session I: June 22 – July 3, 2025
Session II: July 6 – July 18, 2025
Session III: July 20 – August 1, 2025
Application Deadline: February 12, 2025. For more info, see here
Eligibility: Academically motivated students graduating from high school in 2026 or 2027; students who are at least 16 by June 21, 2025, and won’t turn 19 before July 31, 2025
The Harvard Pre-College Program offers the “Introduction to Data Science with a Focus on Visualization” course, which provides high school students with a hands-on introduction to data science. The program emphasizes the creation of visualizations to effectively communicate insights and goes on for two weeks.
In the first week, you will learn to gather and clean data from the web, then use Matplotlib, a Python library, to create basic visualizations. The second week will focus on improving your understanding of visualizations and teaching you to create dynamic, interactive visuals using JavaScript. Throughout the course, you will engage in collaborative learning, using real-world data to explore topics like web scraping, data cleaning, and the creation of complex visualizations.
7. Code Connects: Summer Research Program with Columbia University
Location: Virtual
Cost: TBA (financial aid available)
Dates: TBA. 5-week summer program
Application Deadline: TBA. Fill out this interest form to be notified when registration opens.
Eligibility: Incoming 10th – 12th graders. No prior STEM experience required
The Code Connects’ Summer Research Program with Columbia University is a 5-week immersive program for high school students. During the program, you will get to develop your data science skills while working as a research assistant to Ph.D. researchers.
The program is split into two parts. For the first two weeks, you will undergo intensive training in data science, learning key skills like coding in R, data visualization, data cleaning, and data analysis. In the final three weeks, you will put these concepts into practice by assisting Ph.D. researchers with their real-world projects.
An exciting aspect of the program is the possibility of publication in academic journals based on the research contributions made during the program. This hands-on experience in real-world research will help you build a strong foundation in data science while contributing to ongoing academic work.
8. Columbia University Pre-College Programs – Data Science and Machine Learning 1
Location: Virtual or in-person at Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost:
3-week residential program: $12,449
3-week commuter program: $6,300
1-week commuter program: $2,825
3-week online: $3,960 (single course enrollment)
PDates: Multiple sessions in the summer. See more info here
Application Deadline: April to March 2025 depending on the session. See more info here
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12. Prior experience is not required for this course
Columbia University’s Pre-College Programs offer the “Data Science and Machine Learning 1” course for high school students interested in data science and machine learning. The course introduces the basics of both fields and demonstrates how they influence decisions in everyday life and major business strategies. As a participant, you will gain hands-on experience with Python and learn key machine-learning algorithms. Through real-world projects, you will see how data science shapes various industries.
9. The University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab
Location: The John Crerar Library at the UChicago Hyde Park campus
Stipend: $4,800
Dates: June 16 – August 8, 2025
Application Deadline: January 12, 2025
Eligibility: High school students located in the Chicago area. Familiarity with any of the following is preferred: Python, Java, C++, etc.
The Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab Program at the University of Chicago is an immersive, 8-week paid research opportunity for high school students and undergraduate students. During the program, you will be paired with mentors in various fields, including computer science, data science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, materials science, and biomedical research.
This program is open to students with no prior research experience, making it a good opportunity for those eager to learn and develop their skills. This program encourages broad participation, offering valuable exposure to diverse fields and helping students build research and analytical skills.
10. Summer@Brown
Location: Brown University campus in Providence, RI
Cost: Varies, based on program. See more info here
Dates: June 16 to July 25, 2025
Application Deadline: Opens on January 15, 2025, and closes on May 9, 2025. More info here
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14 to 18) finishing grades 9 to 12 by June 15, 2025
Summer@Brown is a pre-college program offered by Brown University. It is open to high school students between the ages of 14 to 18. The program lets you experience the challenge of college-level academics without needing to worry about formal grades and credit. As an added benefit, once you finish your course, you’ll receive a Digital CeCertificate of Completion.
For students interested in learning more about data science, Summer@Brown offers courses, such as Data Skills for Bioinformatics, Introduction to Machine Learning and AI with Python, and Cancer Informatics. By taking part in these courses, you will be able to explore concepts like biomedical research, the applications and impacts of AI and data science, the intersection of cancer research, biology, and data science, and more.
11. Wharton Global Youth’s Data Science Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $100 non-refundable application fee + $9,799 (financial aid available)
Dates: July 13 – August 2, 2025
Application Deadline:
Priority Deadline: January 29, 2025
Final Deadline: April 2, 2025
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11, with a minimum 3.3 GPA and a background in math and coding
The Wharton Data Science Academy offers an immersive learning experience where students are taught by Wharton instructors who are experts in data science. As a participant, you will be able to work with real-world data sets, work on practical case studies, and refine your abilities to analyze and present data effectively.
During the program, you will be expected to engage in a final project, where you will collaborate in teams to apply the techniques you learned and present your findings to your peers. The program also features guest speakers who provide insights into careers in data science, offering valuable advice on how to succeed in the field. Additionally, Wharton undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants will share their experiences, further enriching the experience.
12. Girls Who Code
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free. SIP offers a $300 needs-based grant to eligible students in the U.S.
Dates: 2025 dates TBA
2-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP)
6-week Pathways program
Application Deadline: TBA; fill out this interest form to be notified when the 2025 session launches
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 who identify as female or nonbinary. See here for more info.
Girls Who Code introduces high school girls and nonbinary individuals to essential computer science and coding skills, which are key to understanding data science. You can choose from two main tracks: a two-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP), where you can learn game design in live virtual classrooms, and a six-week Pathways program, where you can independently explore some big topics in tech.
During the two-week SIP, you will learn about the tech world and game design, including beginner to intermediate CS concepts, the basics of UX design, and more. You’ll get to attend live, virtual classes hosted by industry-leading companies like MetLife, Bank of America, Logitech, and Synchrony. The pathways program will have you researching concepts like web development, cyber security, data science, and artificial intelligence. You’ll learn at your own pace and improve your proficiency in programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python.
13. NYU Science and Technology Entry Program
Location: NYU Washington Square Campus, New York, NY
Cost: $200 (tentatively)
Dates: Summer 2025 dates will be announced soon
Application Deadline: Applications for summer 2025 open on March 1, 2025
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 who are New York residents and from underrepresented or underserved communities in STEM
The STEP program offers high school students from underrepresented backgrounds an opportunity to explore STEM subjects, including data science, over four weeks. The program provides both theoretical and practical learning experiences through enrichment classes, project-based learning, college admission prep workshops, and research opportunities.
During the program, you’ll focus on four areas of study: Math, English, Research, and College Preparation. You’ll get to take enrichment classes in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC, and participate in an English Seminar, giving you the chance to hone your communication skills and critical thinking.
The research component is relevant to 11th and 12th graders, allowing you to conduct STEM research at an NYU facility under the mentorship of NYU faculty and students. You’ll eventually have to present your findings at the annual STEP State Conference in Albany, NY. Aside from that, you’ll also be able to attend workshops and seminars that focus on preparing you for the college admissions process.
14. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: In-person at MIT and Virtual
Cost: $1,750 for families with an income of $150,000 or greater (as of 2024)
Dates: July – August (tentatively)
Application Deadline: March 31 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who attend school in the U.S.
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) offers students hands-on experience with real-world projects across a range of topics, from machine learning and artificial intelligence to data visualization. It gives you access to MIT’s advanced technologies, allowing you to work with state-of-the-art tools and gain practical experience. This hands-on learning ensures that you understand both the theory and technical skills needed for data science.
The program also encourages collaboration with peers from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing interdisciplinary projects that combine data science with fields like engineering and computer science. Participating in BWSI can boost your college application, as admissions officers value programs that offer academic rigor, real-world experience, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
You can find more information on the program here.
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!
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