8 University Machine (ML) Programs for Middle School Students
As a middle school student, exploring educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom is a great way to broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding of subjects you’re passionate about. University-run programs provide a unique chance to learn from experts, work on cutting-edge projects, and immerse yourself in areas of study that will help shape your academic future. Whether you're eager to dive into machine learning, AI, or robotics, these programs allow you to engage with challenging topics in an environment that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning.
Here is our pick of 8 university machine-learning programs for middle school students that will not only let you explore AI and machine learning but also give you the space to develop valuable skills that can propel you into future academic and career opportunities. Each program is designed to offer a unique experience, ensuring you gain practical knowledge, technical expertise, and the confidence to pursue your interests further.
1. MIT Beaver Works Middle School Program
The MIT Beaver Works Middle School Program offers an exciting, hands-on introduction to engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML), specifically for middle school students. Here, you’ll dive into fields like robotics and autonomous vehicles, gaining practical experience in building and programming intelligent systems. Through projects like the RACECAR courses, you’ll get to tackle robotics fundamentals. RACECAR 1 is ideal if you’re new to programming, while RACECAR 2 offers a deeper challenge to build on your skills.
In addition, a Python programming course will guide you in creating your own ML applications, and a course on designing for assistive technology will take you through the process of developing prototypes to support individuals with disabilities. This immersive, four-week program emphasizes teamwork, encouraging you to collaborate with like-minded peers while tackling real-world problems. The final weekend event allows you to showcase your completed projects, giving you a taste of AI and ML in action.
Location: Virtual or in-person at MIT campus, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 4 weeks, starting the Monday following the 4th of July weekend
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May
Eligibility: Open to middle school students who are U.S citizens or permanent residents
2. Duke Continuing Studies Program: Technology and AI
Duke’s Continuing Studies Program on Technology and AI provides a dynamic introduction to the principles and applications of AI and ML, tailored specifically for middle school students. Through engaging coursework, you’ll explore how AI and ML are transforming areas, such as business, healthcare, and everyday technology. The program delves into core concepts, including neural networks, data analysis, and machine learning algorithms, along with natural language processing—the technology behind AI tools like ChatGPT.
In addition to technical skills, this program emphasizes decision-making, problem-solving, and collaboration. You’ll participate in practical projects that encourage you to think critically about the societal impact of AI, exploring questions such as how these technologies benefit or challenge our world. By the end of the program, you’ll be equipped with essential skills in AI and machine learning, as well as a deeper awareness of the ethical and practical implications of these advancements in modern life.
Location: Duke University campus, Durham, NC
Cost: As of 2024:
Residential: $1,400 tuition + $750 room and meal fee
Commuter: $1,400 tuition + $125 meal fee
Financial aid available
Program Dates: July 21-26 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: Applications are typically open from December to April.
Eligibility: Open to middle school students in grades 6-8
3. Berkeley Coding Academy: Data Science to AI
Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science to AI program is designed to introduce young minds to the essentials of data science, AI, and ML. Over five weeks, you’ll explore focused topics, beginning with an introduction to Python programming, followed by modules on data analytics, ML, deep learning, and AI applications. The program is tailored for students aged 12-18 and provides one-on-one mentorship to help you tackle each module, understand how to work with data, and create meaningful projects.
In this program, you’ll work in small groups to build projects that bring your learning to life, like designing and training ML models using real data. As you progress through each week, you’ll learn not only how to write Python code for AI applications but also how to analyze and interpret data. This course offers access to valuable resources, like recorded lectures, slides, and project portfolios, which you can use to reinforce your skills and build a portfolio that showcases your understanding of the fundamentals of AI and ML.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,695
Program Dates: TBD | Tentatively, sometime in June to July (based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Open to students aged 12-14
4. UC San Diego’s Sally Ride Science Academy: Raspberry Pi
At UC San Diego’s Sally Ride Science Academy, the Raspberry Pi course engages middle school students in the fundamentals of coding, electronics, and hands-on applications using a Raspberry Pi—a compact computer that allows you to create a wide range of real-world tech projects. In this course, you’ll learn the basics of Python programming, which will help you code interactive applications and build various projects. Starting with an introduction to the Raspberry Pi Model B motherboard, you’ll move on to creating exciting applications, such as a dimmer switch, a camera-based intruder alarm, a digital drum set, and visual games. Each project is designed to give you experience in both coding and basic electronic components, such as resistors, LEDs, and rotary potentiometers.
By working on these projects, you’ll gain a solid foundation in Python scripting and basic electronics, skills that are essential stepping stones toward more advanced studies in programming and app development. The course encourages creativity and problem-solving, showing you how to transform code into practical applications while sparking curiosity about how everyday technology works. As the program concludes, you'll have built a foundation in both programming and hardware, giving you the confidence to take on more complex tech projects in your academic journey.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $275
Program Dates: July 7, 2025 – July 25, 2025
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May
Eligibility: Open to middle school students in grades 6-8
Credits Awarded: 1.50 units
5. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer a range of programs ideal for students eager to explore topics beyond the typical school curriculum. In courses like Philosophy of AI, you’ll dive into the ethical, social, and philosophical dimensions of AI and ML. Through live online sessions, you’ll discuss critical questions about AI’s role in society, such as the ethics of algorithmic decision-making in areas like criminal justice and finance. This course encourages you to engage deeply, think critically, and connect with students who share your intellectual curiosity.
In addition to its rigorous academic environment, the program offers you an interactive classroom experience with knowledgeable instructors passionate about their fields. You’ll participate in discussions, analyze readings, and collaborate on projects that deepen your understanding of AI’s impact on the world. By the end of the program, you’ll have developed a nuanced perspective on the technology shaping our future, gaining insights into AI and machine learning's philosophical and ethical complexities. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a certificate of recognition highlighting your merit.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,050 (tentatively)
Program Dates: 2 weeks | June to July (based on the 2024 dates)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Eligibility: Open to middle school students in 8th grade
6. HarvardX: CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
HarvardX’s CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python is an ideal program for students who want to dive deep into the world of AI and ML. Throughout this course, you’ll explore the foundational concepts and algorithms that power cutting-edge technologies, such as game-playing engines, handwriting recognition, and machine translation. By working on hands-on projects, you’ll learn how to implement graph search algorithms, classification techniques, and machine learning models using Python. The course also covers key topics like Bayesian networks, Markov models, and neural networks, all while guiding you to apply these concepts through practical programming exercises.
By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a solid understanding of AI principles but also gain valuable experience in using ML libraries to design your own intelligent systems. Whether you’re building a project involving natural language processing or reinforcing learning algorithms, this course equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to take your AI skills to the next level.
Location: Virtual via edX
Cost: Free | $299 for certification
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to anyone with sufficient coding experience
MIT's RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education) Workshops are designed to introduce middle and high school students to the rapidly advancing world of AI, placing a strong emphasis on responsible use and the social impact of AI. The program goes beyond just teaching technical skills by also addressing the ethical and social considerations that come with AI. You will explore how AI is transforming various industries, from healthcare and manufacturing to entertainment and logistics, and learn how to think critically about the potential for AI to both empower and if misused, contribute to inequity.
In these workshops, you will engage with hands-on projects that allow you to see AI in action while also learning about the key concepts behind it, such as machine learning, algorithms, and data analysis. The RAISE initiative places a strong emphasis on creating an inclusive and diverse AI workforce by training students to not only use AI but to develop it in ways that benefit society as a whole. By participating in these workshops, you will gain the knowledge and skills to become AI-literate, preparing you for a future where AI plays an integral role in almost every industry.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates and Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
8. Stanford University: Machine Learning Specialization
Stanford University and DeepLearning.AI's Machine Learning Specialization course teaches students the fundamentals of machine learning and how to build real-world AI applications. This program is perfect for those new to machine learning and consists of three courses: Supervised Machine Learning: Regression and Classification, Advanced Learning Algorithms, and Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders, Reinforcement Learning. The course is taught by Andrew Ng who conducted critical research at Stanford University and has done groundbreaking work with Google Brain, Baidu, and Landing.AI.
During the course, you will learn about machine learning concepts like supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and more. You’ll also get access to hands-on learning and get to build machine-learning models in Python using NumPy and scikit-learn, train machine-learning models to perform tasks and so much more.
Location: Virtual via Coursera
Cost: Free | $24-$49 with the certificate
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to everyone, but knowing basic code, arithmetic, and algebra is recommended.
Bonus Program—Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
If you’re looking for a comprehensive, personalized program, check out the AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI. It is a virtual program that teaches middle school students 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 will learn through 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.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,990
Program Dates: 10 weeks | Sundays, Dec 15, 2024 – Feb 16, 2025
Application Deadline: 2024 winter cohort: Dec 1, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-8
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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