10 Free AI Programs for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in tech, applying for AI programs is a great way to explore a fast-growing field and enhance your college applications.
AI is transforming industries like healthcare and entertainment. Gaining hands-on experience now can give you an advantage in both academics and future careers.
Below is a list of free AI programs that allow you to explore cutting-edge technologies, develop valuable skills, and gain real-world exposure—all without the cost.
Whether you’re building a foundation for your STEM future or exploring a passion, these programs are a great way to expand your knowledge and prepare for what’s next.
1. Veritas AI
Subjects Offered: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Finance, Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: AI Scholars: $2,290; AI Fellowship: $5,400. Need-based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; winter cohort deadline is December 1, 2024. Apply here.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Open to high school students. AI Fellowship applicants should have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior AI and Python experience.
Founded by Harvard alumni, Veritas AI offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. In the AI Scholars program, you’ll collaborate with peers on real-world AI projects across industries like healthcare, finance, and education, gaining practical skills through problem-solving. The AI Fellowship provides one-on-one mentorship from PhD experts, guiding you through intensive AI research. You’ll explore AI’s impact in areas like finance, healthcare, and gaming, with opportunities to publish or present your work.
Both programs equip you with valuable skills, helping you build a solid foundation for a career in AI.
2. Carnegie Mellon University AI Scholars
Carnegie Mellon University's AI Scholars program offers high school students a hands-on, immersive introduction to the world of artificial intelligence. This selective, merit-based program is fully grant-funded and emphasizes real-world AI problem-solving. With a cohort of approximately 30 students, the program creates a collaborative learning environment that fosters deep engagement and creativity.
You will gain hands-on experience through group projects, exposure to cutting-edge research, and preparation for both college academics and career opportunities in AI. There are no out-of-pocket tuition fees, though financial documentation is required as part of the application process.
Location: Carnegie Mellon Campus
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Program Dates: June 21 - July 29, 2025
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors (at least 16 years old), U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients; no prior coding experience required
Cost: Free
MIT’s Day of AI, hosted by the Media Lab, is a free annual event for K-12 students to explore artificial intelligence and its real-world applications. Through a combination of curriculum and hands-on activities, participants will learn the fundamentals of AI, its potential benefits and risks, and how to create using AI technology. This event offers an accessible introduction to the growing field of AI for students of all backgrounds. You can register here.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: None
Program Date: November 16, 2024
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: No cost
Princeton AI4ALL is a selective, three-week summer program for high school students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, interested in artificial intelligence and machine learning. With a small cohort of about 30 students, you will engage in hands-on learning, addressing real-world problems and using AI tools to create solutions.
The program’s curriculum emphasizes both the technical skills needed for AI systems and the social and ethical issues related to AI technology.
Location: Princeton campus
Application Deadline: Mid-March 2024
Program Dates: July 14th - August 3rd, 2024, 2025 dates TBA
Eligibility:
Must be in 10th grade at the time of application and transitioning to 11th grade in Fall 2024.
Must reside in the United States or Puerto Rico
Must meet at least one of the following socioeconomic conditions:
Combined household income does not exceed $60,000.
Eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at school.
Eligible for an SAT or ACT fee waiver.
Google’s AI for Everyone course is designed for students new to AI and interested in its real-world applications. This self-paced, online course takes about a month to complete, making it a flexible option for students.
You will cover foundational AI topics like ethics, neural networks, and machine learning. The course can be completed independently or as part of Google’s Machine Learning Certificate Program, which offers a certificate upon completion.
Location: Virtual
Program Length: 2-3 hours/week, for 4 weeks
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
6. AI & Health Summer High School Boot Camp
The AI & Health Summer Boot Camp is a one-week, hands-on program for high school students interested in AI and its application in healthcare. You will participate in daily lectures by MIT faculty, complete a healthcare-focused AI project in groups, and visit leading research organizations. At the end of the program, you'll present your project. While the program is free, you are responsible for transportation and housing as it is non-residential.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Program Length: Two cohorts, one week each
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: To be announced (sign up here for updates)
Cost: Free
NYU’s ARISE program offers high school students the chance to explore STEM research with a focus on machine learning (ML), a key area of artificial intelligence (AI). Through the program, students can learn how ML is applied for social good, such as in disease detection or promoting fairness in the criminal justice system. One of the key research areas is the Machine Learning for Good Laboratory, where students tackle real-world problems using ML techniques.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are residents of New York
Program Dates: Typically between June - August
Location: New York University
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend of $750
The AI Education Project (AIEDU) is a non-profit organization focused on increasing AI literacy among students. Their platform offers interactive, self-paced courses, games, and projects suitable for various time commitments, from a few minutes to several weeks. Many courses are designed to be completed in just five minutes, making it easier for students to incorporate AI learning into their daily routines.
Location: Virtual
Program Length: Flexible
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Application Deadline: N/A
9. Girls Who Code - Summer Immersion Program
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a free, two-week virtual experience for high school students interested in coding and game design. Covering a range of computer science topics from beginner to intermediate levels, the program includes areas like UX design, cybersecurity, AI, data science, and web development. You'll gain hands-on experience with JavaScript while collaborating on coding and game design projects. The program takes place in a supportive, all-girls environment, allowing you to build both technical and creative problem-solving skills.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free! $300 need-based grant available for eligible U.S. students
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Program Dates: Two weeks between June and August
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 - 11
10. Harvard's Pre-College Program: Mathematical Elements of AI
Harvard's Pre-College Program offers a course on the Mathematical Elements of Artificial Intelligence, where students explore the mathematical foundations behind modern AI algorithms using Python. In collaboration with Harvard faculty, you'll dive into topics like calculus, geometry, statistics, and coding, while gaining insight into AI trends. The program allows you to earn university credit, and financial aid is available for eligible students. This is a paid program, and the cohort size ranges from 12-18 students.
Location: Harvard campus
Application Deadline:
Early Application & Priority Financial Aid Deadline: Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Regular Application & Financial Aid Deadline: Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Late Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (or sooner if courses reach full capacity)
Program Dates:
Summer 2025 Session I: June 22–July 3, 2025
Summer 2025 Session II: July 6–July 18, 2024
Summer 2025 Session III: July 20–August 1, 2025
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors, aged 16–19
Cost: $5800; need-based financial aid is available
Tyler Moulton is Head of Academics and Veritas AI Partnerships with 6 years of experience in education consulting, teaching, and astronomy research at Harvard and the University of Cambridge, where they developed a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Tyler is passionate about connecting high-achieving students to advanced AI techniques and helping them build independent, real-world projects in the field of AI!
Image Source - Harvard Logo