15 Prestigious Research Opportunities in Colleges for High School Students in 2025
Research opportunities in colleges for high school students provide an invaluable gateway to learning outside the classroom. These programs allow you to acquire practical skills, gain exposure to real-world industry challenges, and foster connections with mentors and professionals. Engaging in these research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025 helps you develop critical thinking, teamwork, and analytical skills, which can set the foundation for future academic and career success.
Many prestigious institutions offer research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025. These opportunities are not only an excellent way to explore potential career paths but also a chance to stand out in college applications. In this blog post, we’ve listed 15 of the most prestigious research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025. Let’s get into it!
1. Stanford University’s Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee. You will receive a minimum stipend of $500, with needs-based stipends available up to $1,500.
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors aged 16 and older; U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Preference is given to applicants from the Bay Area.
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Acceptance Rate: 3%
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an intensive 8-week research program designed for motivated high school students interested in exploring biomedical science. As a participant, you will collaborate closely with a mentor—either a Stanford graduate student or postdoctoral researcher—on specialized research projects across eight available focus areas.
The program begins with a comprehensive orientation, followed by two weeks of engaging morning lectures and lab sessions. The remaining weeks are devoted to hands-on lab work, collaborative lectures, and preparation for the program’s capstone event: a research poster presentation. During this presentation, you will share your findings with peers, mentors, family, and members of the Stanford community.
SIMR is one of the more prestigious research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025 and is highly selective, accepting only about 3% of applicants, resulting in an annual cohort of approximately 50 students. You will dedicate approximately 40 hours per week on campus, making it a rigorous yet rewarding experience for future scientists.
2. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students. It is recommended that your PSAT math score be 740 or higher, your evidence-based reading and writing score be 700 or higher, your ACT math score be at least 33, and your verbal score at least 34. For more info, see here.
Application Deadline: December 11
Program Dates: June 22 – August 2
Acceptance Rate: Less than 5%
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is a globally renowned summer research program that brings together 80 of the most talented high school juniors from across the globe. Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE), RSI provides a fully-funded, six-week deep dive into STEM fields, making it one of the most prestigious and selective research opportunities, with an acceptance rate of under 5%.
The program kicks off with a week of engaging STEM classes led by expert faculty, covering both foundational concepts and advanced topics. For the following five weeks, you will participate in independent research projects in fields such as engineering, computer science, and mathematics. Each student is paired with a mentor, typically a leading scientist or researcher, ensuring a tailored and enriching learning experience.
The program culminates in a formal research presentation, where you showcase your findings through professional-style oral and written reports. As one of the more prestigious research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025, the program’s unique structure mirrors real-world scientific conferences, preparing students for future academic endeavors.
3. Young Scientist Program: Summer Focus at Washington University in St. Louis
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $4,500
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the Greater St. Louis area (Missouri and Illinois), especially those from under-resourced schools or traditionally underrepresented groups in science. More information here.
Application Deadline: January 27
Program Dates: June 2 – July 25
Acceptance Rate: Low, only selects 16-18 students per cohort
The Young Scientist Program’s Summer Focus at Washington University is an 8-week research initiative designed to empower students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. Open to high school seniors in the Greater St. Louis area, this program provides an immersive experience for a cohort of 16-18 students, combining hands-on research with mentorship and academic enrichment.
You are matched with a mentor—often a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or research staff—who guides you through a biomedical research project. Additionally, you will receive personalized tutoring to enhance your understanding of complex topics. The program includes coursework on science communication and college readiness, ensuring you leave with both academic and practical skills.
You have to dedicate 40 hours per week to your projects, culminating in a final research symposium, where you will present your findings to an audience of peers, mentors, and lab colleagues. One of many research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025, this program offers access to research areas like genetics, developmental biology, cancer biology, microbiology, and biomedical engineering.
4. Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: On-campus participants pay $2,781.50 for accommodation and meals. A stipend may be provided at the program’s conclusion (amount unspecified).
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Acceptance Rate: Low
The Simons Summer Research Program offers high school juniors a chance to dive into advanced STEM research at Stony Brook University. It is one of those research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025 that give you the opportunity to collaborate with experienced mentors in diverse fields such as biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, medicine, physics, neurobiology, and geosciences. During the application process, you have to review potential mentors and select your top three preferences, ensuring alignment with your interests.
Throughout the six-week program, you will gain hands-on experience by contributing to ongoing research projects while mastering essential laboratory and computational techniques. Weekly faculty talks, workshops, and guided campus tours enrich the learning experience. The program culminates in a final symposium, where you will present your work through research abstracts and posters, showcasing your findings to an academic audience. This program is ideal for students eager to explore scientific inquiry while developing their research and presentation skills in a university setting.
5. Project Success by Harvard Medical School
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Stipend: Students receive a stipend; the exact amount is not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Boston and Cambridge who are at least 16 years old and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7. The program encourages applications from students underrepresented in medicine or those facing disadvantages.
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: June 30 – August 15
Acceptance Rate: Low with a rigorous selection process
Harvard Medical School’s Project Success is a six-week, paid research internship designed for high school students in the Boston and Cambridge areas who are interested in pursuing biomedical careers. During the program, you will be placed in a lab at Harvard Medical School or an affiliated institution, where you'll receive mentorship from experts in the field.
The program includes seminars led by researchers and physicians, visits to hospitals and biotech organizations, and opportunities to enhance your writing, speaking, and computer skills. You will also engage in hands-on research while participating in academic seminars and special programs. Project Success aims to connect you with professionals in the biomedical field, offering career guidance and helping you assess your interest in pursuing a career in biomedical science.
6. Summer Science Research Program at Rockefeller University
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Stipend: Travel expenses are covered, and need-based stipends may be available
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 3
Program Dates: June 24 – August 7
Cohort Size: Approximately 32 students per cohort
The Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) at Rockefeller University offers biomedical research experience for high school students. The program typically hosts 32 students, who are divided into teams and mentored by scientists. Working alongside your team, you'll explore a specific biomedical research topic, simulate a lab environment, master essential lab techniques, and analyze data.
In addition to hands-on research, SSRP is one of those research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025 that give you access to elective science courses, guest lectures, and social events that enhance your learning experience. At the program’s conclusion, each team will present their research findings, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase your work.
7. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Eligibility:
Permanent Massachusetts residents (must live and attend school in MA year-round)
Current juniors entering 12th grade in the fall
U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: February 20
Program Dates: June 23 – July 31
Acceptance Rate: Moderate but intensive selection process
The Young Scholars Program at Northeastern University offers an opportunity to study advanced research across the colleges of engineering, science, and health sciences. As a participant, you'll work closely with a professor in a research lab, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to ongoing projects. For example, a 2023 project focused on “Programmable Signal Acquisition and Calibration of Temperature Sensors for Detection of Power Dissipation on Chips.”
Alongside your research experience, you'll participate in the "Introduction to Engineering" seminar series, which covers a range of engineering disciplines like robotics, chemical analysis, and microwave materials. The program also includes field trips and career counseling sessions hosted by the Department of Cooperative Education, providing you with a well-rounded and enriching summer experience.
8. Johns Hopkins’ Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Stipend: $15/hour
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing in Baltimore City who have taken chemistry by the summer. Biology and physics coursework is recommended. More info here.
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: July 8 – August 8
Acceptance Rate: Moderate intake
The Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT) program at Johns Hopkins University is a paid summer internship designed to engage Baltimore City high school students in the exciting field of biophysics and biomedical research. As an intern, you’ll gain hands-on laboratory experience, learning techniques in microbiology, DNA manipulation, and protein engineering while assisting with experiments and preparing materials for biophysical studies.
This immersive program goes beyond technical skills, offering opportunities to interact with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty. These connections allow you to explore scientific career paths, receive personalized mentorship, and gain insights into academic and professional research environments. BRBT also provides a supportive platform for young scientists to develop foundational skills in biophysics and a clearer understanding of potential careers in the biomedical sciences.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; participants receive a $750 stipend
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors residing in New York City
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) program is a highly selective seven-week research experience designed for New York City high school students entering 11th or 12th grade. As a prestigious research opportunity in a college for high school students in 2025, the program offers the opportunity to collaborate with NYU faculty in cutting-edge fields such as computer science, robotics, machine learning, and environmental engineering.
As a participant, you will benefit from early exposure to advanced research methodologies. ARISE begins with two weeks of preparatory workshops, providing foundational knowledge and research skills. Over the next five weeks, you will dive into hands-on laboratory work, conducting real-world research under the guidance of experienced mentors.
Additional professional development activities, such as research methods training, panel discussions, and professional workshops, ensure you develop both technical expertise and valuable soft skills. The program culminates in a final presentation, allowing you to showcase your research to faculty, peers, and mentors.
10. UCSD’s Research Experience for High School Students
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA + Virtual
Cost:
Program with research project: $1,500
Program without research project: Free
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders. While the program primarily serves students from San Diego County, applications will be accepted from others with summer housing accommodations.
Application Deadline: March 15 (tentative, based on the 2024 deadline)
Program Dates: June 19 – August 11 (tentative, based on 2024dates)
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
The University of California, San Diego, in collaboration with the San Diego Supercomputer Center, offers an immersive 8-week research program focused on advanced topics in computer science and artificial intelligence. This program provides you with the tools and mentorship needed to tackle complex research questions, working closely with UCSD faculty mentors to design and execute a project aligned with your interests.
You’ll gain critical research skills, such as formulating hypotheses, conducting computational experiments, and analyzing data. This hands-on experience bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application, helping you develop a deeper understanding of computer science and its real-world challenges.
11. High School Research Academy (HSRA) Summer Program
Location: University of Texas at Austin, TX (non-residential)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified but need-based scholarships are available that will include a stipend + free tuition to HSRA
Eligibility: High school students interested in STEM fields who are 15 years or older by June 1
Application Deadline: March 23
Program Dates: June 9 – July 16
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
The High School Research Academy (HSRA) offers an immersive, five-week summer research experience at the University of Texas at Austin. As a prestigious research opportunity in a college for high school students in 2025, this interdisciplinary program will place you in active College of Natural Sciences (CNS) labs. You will get to work on projects in fields like biochemistry, biology, neuroscience, genetics, genome engineering, data analytics, environmental science, and more.
This program includes conducting authentic research in a UT laboratory, collaborating with peers, undergraduates, and faculty, and earning NSC309 UT extension course credit. You’ll also participate in weekly seminars hosted by UT guest speakers and design and present a research poster at the HSRA Research Symposium (with a printed copy to take home). This hands-on program provides a unique opportunity to explore STEM fields, develop research skills, and connect with the UT Austin academic community.
12. Genomics Research Internship Program for High School Students (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free to participate; need-based scholarships are available
Eligibility:
Residents from Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties
16 or older by the start of the internship
Unweighted GPA of at least 3.0
Some prior knowledge of biology, chemistry, or computer programming (via coursework or extracurriculars)
Students from under-resourced high schools are strongly encouraged to apply
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 – August 7
Acceptance Rate: Low
The Genomics Research Internship Program for High School Students (GRIPS) is an eight-week research-intensive experience where participants engage in cutting-edge genomics research under the mentorship of lab scientists at Stanford University. The program conducts genomics research in a Stanford lab. You’ll get to gain hands-on experience, attend weekly cohort sessions, career panels, and seminars on biomedical research, and participate in regular check-ins with your lab mentor.
13. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Location: Duke University West Campus, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15 years old by the program start date and live within commuting distance of Duke University’s West Campus in North Carolina
Application Deadline: February 9
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
The Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE) is a paid, eight-week internship designed to fully engage high school students in neuroscience research. As a participant, you will collaborate closely with professional scientists in Duke’s neuroscience labs, working on specific research projects and acquiring practical experience in scientific exploration.
The program requires a full-time, 40-hour weekly commitment, centered on hands-on research activities. Beyond lab work, you will attend workshops that focus on professional development, covering areas such as college admissions, career planning, and pathways in academia, medicine, and industry. The experience concludes with a poster presentation, where you will showcase your research to peers, family, and Duke faculty, refining your skills in scientific communication.
14. Zuckerman Institute Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia University (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Approximately $6,000, with need-based financial aid available (100% from external sources)
Eligibility: High school students in 10th or 11th grade in New York City; currently enrolled in a partner organization. Applicants from upper Manhattan and the South Bronx are preferred. See more info here.
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: June 29 – August 8
Acceptance Rate: Low
The BRAINYAC program is one of those research opportunities in colleges for high school students in 2025 that offers the unique opportunity to engage in hands-on neuroscience research at Columbia University. The program provides a rare chance to develop essential laboratory skills, engage with real-world science, and build a strong foundation for future STEM endeavors.
As a participant, you will work in university labs, gaining a deeper understanding of scientific discovery while connecting with professional scientists, learning advanced research techniques, and exploring groundbreaking advancements in neuroscience. The program emphasizes opportunities to connect with real scientists, learn key skills required to work in a research environment and become part of the Columbia University community.
15. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee. $750 stipend upon completion of research project reportEligibility: High school students who are at least 17 by the program start date; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Application Deadline: February 24
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Cohort Size: 12 participants
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an intensive summer research opportunity designed for twelve highly motivated high school juniors and seniors. Over seven weeks, you will work closely with experienced faculty at Texas Tech University, engaging in hands-on research and gaining valuable insights into their chosen field of study. You can choose from a diverse range of research fields, including cell and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, engineering, history, and more.
To apply, you must complete an online application with short essays, provide high school transcripts, submit test scores (at least a PSAT if no others are available), secure three recommendations (with at least two from teachers), and list their top five activities. This highly regarded program offers a transformative research experience, equipping students with valuable skills and preparing them for advanced academic and professional endeavors.
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