8 University Data Science Programs for Middle School Students
Suppose you’re a middle school student eager to explore your areas of interest in the field of data science. In that case, university programs provide a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and exposure to advanced topics beyond your regular school curriculum. As you discover your future career paths, these programs allow you to explore your passions in an academic setting, learn under the guidance of university faculty, and get a feel for college-level work.
In today’s technology-driven environment, data science is critical across almost every industry, from business and healthcare to gaming and sports. Early exposure to the field can help you gain skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving, which can set you apart academically. By participating in a university data science program, you not only learn about cutting-edge tools and techniques but also develop a crucial skill set that can help you excel in high school and beyond.
In this blog, we’ve put together a list of 8 university data science programs for middle school students that are worth checking out. Let’s get into it!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,695 for Advanced 1-1 classes, which are available year-round
Application Deadline: Dates for 2025 TBD
Dates: June 2025
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 12-14
UC Berkeley’s Coding Academy is a virtual program for students interested in exploring the fields of Python, Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI. The program’s curriculum is unique to Berkeley and comprises a 4K video library, slides, daily guidelines, problem sets, project guidelines, and check questions. As a participant, you will engage in live online lectures and access extensive chat support and real-time one-on-one support.
The course teaches you to apply coding concepts to coding notebooks that are then developed into portfolio projects. These projects can be used for school applications, internships, job applications, resume building, and science fairs. Some of the year-round advanced classes offered in the program focus on Advanced Machine Learning, Deep Learning, AI Applications, and Advanced Research Projects.
2. UCSD’s Sally Ride Science Academy: Introduction to Python Programming and Machine Learning
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost: TBD
Application Deadline: Dates for 2025 TBD
Dates: July 7, 2025 – July 25, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 9-12
Sally Ride Science Academy offers middle school students several STEM programs at UC San Diego. One of the courses in this program is Introduction to Python Programming and Machine Learning, wherein you are introduced to programming in Python, the language of Machine Learning, and one of the most common applications in Machine Learning, the image classifier.
In this course, you get to create a basic image classifier using the Google Teachable Machine tool and integrate it into an application framework, both on a web page and on a Raspberry Pi platform. Some of the other key takeaways from this course include learning how to write Python scripts executing basic math operations, conditional statements, and loops, and writing Python functions and calling them from a main program.
3. Lawrence Hall of Science Summer Teen Research Programs
Location: Berkeley, CA
Cost: $1,350 or $1,215 (reduced) | For those who choose the residential program, the residential tuition is an additional $1,150 or $1,035 (reduced)
Application Deadline: Dates for 2025 are TBD; based on the 2024 program dates, registration should open in December.
Dates: A week in June (tentative, based on the 2024 program dates)
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 7-9
The Science Summer Teen Research Program at UC Berkeley is a 1-week immersive science education program designed to give you hands-on, research-based experience to understand the practical applications of science in daily life. During the program, you will get early exposure to the college experience through campus tours, lab visits, networking opportunities, and career exploration in the STEM field.
The Coding and Engineering Nano-Satellites program teaches you the real-world applications of computer programming. You’ll learn about block-based coding and how it can be used to overcome engineering challenges as you build and program your own model satellite for deep space exploration. The week culminates with students engaging in coding and building a model satellite of their own.
4. Data Science Summer Camp @ Ohio State University
Location: Pomerene Hall, Columbus, Ohio
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Dates: 5 days in July (tentatively)
Eligibility: Open to middle school students entering grades 7-9 in autumn; students from Columbus City Schools and from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
The Data Science Summer Camp is a free, 5-day summer camp hosted by The Translational Data Analytics Institute at Ohio State University. The program is designed for middle school students looking to learn more about data science and analytics.
During the program, you will learn all about how data science uses scientific methods and processes to extract new knowledge from data. The program also discusses concepts like gender, race, and cultural biases in data, and within our community. You’ll get to work in teams led by mentors and develop analytical and problem-solving skills. You’ll also get to learn from scientists and college students in the field of data science and explore future educational and career opportunities in this field.
5. Oregon State University STEM Academy Middle School Summer Camps
Location: Corvallis, OR
Cost: $60-$320, depending on the camp selected. Need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Information about the 2025 camps will be available after January 1, 2025.
Dates: Varies depending on the camp selected. The program typically runs in June and July.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-8
STEM Academy at Oregon State University is designed for middle school students interested in learning more about STEM. The Middle School Summer Camps offer several programs like Physics Camp, Engineering Camp, Activity BotsCamp, Making with Microcontrollers, and Making Arcade Games.
In the Making Arcade Games program, you will learn how to code by creating arcade-style games using the MakeCode programming platform, which has both block and text-based (javascript) programming support. On the other hand, Making with Microcontrollers is a course where you will learn to build and program physical devices that can interact with their environment in a variety of ways. No prior coding or programming experience is required to apply for any camp in this program.
6. Tech Camp by the University of New Hampshire
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Cost: Non-sponsored programs cost $700/week for day students and $1,350/week for residential students
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025 (Tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates: July 7 – July 25, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 5-12
The College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire hosts Tech Camp, offering students access to cutting-edge facilities, innovative technology, and experienced university faculty. Through hands-on, collaborative projects and a focus on experiential learning, Tech Camp allows participants to explore a range of STEM fields.
The TechSpolrers program offers you the chance to dive into various STEM subjects through immersive, day-long activities. Highlights of this program include hands-on experiences in computer coding, where you can learn foundational programming skills, as well as areas like forensic science, robotics, environmental science, and structural engineering.
7. Applied Data Science with Python at UCLA
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $1,500 enrollment fee + $100 application fee
Application Deadline: Applications are open currently. The deadline is not specified.
Dates: June 29 – 18 August, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-8
Summer Discovery offers a course on Applied Data Science with Python at UCLA for middle school students. The course begins with the foundation of programming such as binary computation, problem-solving, algorithms, and data types such as expressions, variables, and functions. You also learn about Python and create modules to implement object-oriented design and problem-solving and begin implementing code.
As the course progresses, the curriculum combines principles from computer engineering, math, AI, and statistics to explore how data science can be applied to innovations in various industries. After building a strong coding foundation, you'll delve into data visualization, machine learning, and an understanding of data types, using your programming skills to develop insights and solve real-world problems.
Location: New Haven, CN
Cost: Commuter: $6,499 | Residential: $8,999
Application Deadline: There is currently no information available.
Dates: July 6 – July 25, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-8
Summer at Yale, hosted by Summer Discovery, offers middle school students an engaging experience where they can explore subjects of interest. This program combines academic enrichment with opportunities for off-campus trips, daily workshops, and campus activities, helping you build essential skills for a solid foundation in high school.
This program offers an Applied Data Science with Python course, starting with programming basics like binary computation, algorithms, and data types. You’ll learn Python fundamentals and develop modules to implement object-oriented problem-solving. As the course advances, you will explore the intersection of data science with computer engineering, math, AI, and statistics. By the end, participants use their coding skills for data visualization, machine learning, and creating insights to address real-world challenges.
Bonus Program—Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Online
Cost: $1,990
Application Deadline: 2024 winter cohort: Dec 1, 2024
Dates: 10 weeks | Sundays, Dec 15, 2024 – Feb 16, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program is a virtual program designed to teach middle school students about the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. For over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You’ll get to learn with lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio and will have worked on a hands-on project by the end of the program.
Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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