Top 15 AI Research Programs for High School Students
High school students have a unique opportunity to participate in AI research programs that provide hands-on experience, industry insights, and valuable mentorship. These programs, offered by prestigious institutions, allow students to explore artificial intelligence and computer science through practical projects and under expert guidance. They serve as a great gateway for students to develop foundational skills, engage in research, and prepare for future academic and career pursuits.
In this blog, we highlight 15 of the top AI research programs for high school students, each offering rigorous learning experiences and networking opportunities. Whether you are new to AI or looking to deepen your expertise, these programs provide a solid platform for growth and innovation.
1. MIT - Beaver Works Summer Institute
MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a competitive, project-based research program for rising high school seniors. The Serious Games Development with AI course introduces you to machine learning and game design, applying AI to real-world challenges such as self-driving ambulance routing. Over four weeks, you will develop skills in Python, game mechanics, and data analysis while engaging in collaborative projects that integrate AI, ethics, and human factors.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: July 1 – August 3.
Application deadline: March 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with Python experience are eligible to apply.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
The Veritas AI Fellowship provides high school students passionate about artificial intelligence with a robust environment to explore and advance their AI research interests. Over a 15-week period, you will engage in independent research projects that can integrate AI with any other field, supported by collaborative learning, project development, and one-on-one mentorship. The program emphasizes practical, hands-on research experience and offers opportunities to publish findings and showcase innovative projects.
You will benefit from direct mentorship and a structured curriculum that builds on foundational Python skills. Prior completion of the AI Scholars program or demonstrable experience with AI concepts is recommended. Financial aid is available to ensure access for talented students worldwide, making this a comprehensive fellowship for aspiring AI researchers.
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by cohort; multiple cohorts offered throughout the year.
Dates: Various 15-week cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter).
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
3. University of Texas at Austin - SEES High School Summer Intern Program
NASA and The University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research Summer Intern Program (SEES) is a nationally competitive STEM program for high school students. The program offers AI-focused research opportunities, allowing students to collaborate with NASA scientists and engineers. You will use AI to analyze satellite imagery and environmental data related to climate science and space exploration.
The program includes mentorship, hands-on research, and networking opportunities, equipping you with essential skills for STEM careers. The SEES summer intern program will allow you to view and investigate NASA remote sensing data, mission design, analysis of ice sheets, Earth’s gravity field, and other observations while being mentored by project scientists. At the end of the program, you will present your research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium.
Location: Virtual and onsite at University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Cohort size: 215.
Dates: Interns will complete distance learning modules prior to July 1 and work remotely June – July 5, guided by project mentors. The on-site internship will be from July 6 – July 19.
Application deadline: February 22.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with an interest in AI, Earth sciences, or space are eligible to apply.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research initiative designed for high school students, pairing them one-on-one with Ph.D. mentors to conduct independent research across a broad range of disciplines. Over a duration that ranges from 12 weeks to 1 year, you will develop and execute research projects in fields such as AI, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, psychology, physics, economics, and international relations.
The program emphasizes hands-on investigation, critical thinking, and the production of a comprehensive independent research paper. With multiple cohorts available throughout the year, you will receive personalized mentorship and academic resources that nurture their investigative pursuits. This program welcomes high-achieving students with no prior field-specific experience, fostering an inclusive environment for scholarly exploration. You can find more details about the application here!
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by cohort.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Summer: June–August; Fall: September–December; Winter: December–February; Spring: March–June).
Application deadline: Varies by cohort (Spring: January; Summer: May; Fall: September; Winter: November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 are eligible to apply.
5. Carnegie Mellon University - AI Scholars
Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars program provides high school seniors with an immersive AI learning experience through faculty-led lectures, research projects, and mentorship. This four-week, fully funded program emphasizes project-based learning, enabling students to address real-world challenges and present their findings in a final symposium. The program fosters discussions on equity in STEM and encourages an inclusive learning environment.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective.
Dates: June 21 – July 19.
Application deadline: March 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old are eligible to apply.
6. Princeton University - AI4ALL
AI4ALL at Princeton is a three-week summer research program designed to introduce Artificial Intelligence to high school students from underrepresented groups. You will engage in hands-on AI research projects, collaborate with Princeton faculty, and explore ethical issues in technology. You will also participate in field trips, including visits to Washington, D.C., to explore AI policy and governance.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
Dates: July 9 - July 30.
Application deadline: Rolling basis.
Eligibility: Current 10th graders (rising 11th graders) who live in the United States and Puerto Rico and who qualify as low-income are eligible to apply.
7. Stanford University - Summer Research Internship
The Stanford Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program designed for high school students interested in exploring the technical and clinical applications of AI in healthcare. You will engage in a series of introductory and technical lectures covering AI fundamentals in medicine, complemented by mentoring sessions with Stanford student leads and researchers.
You will engage in hands-on group sessions focused on collaborative research projects, complemented by social activities and Virtual Career Lunch and Learn sessions featuring guest speakers from academia, industry, and government. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spaces available; highly competitive.
Dates: June 16–27.
Application deadline: February 28.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9th–12th are eligible to apply.
8. MIT RAISE: Inclusive AI Literacy & Learning
RAISE at MIT offers a self-paced virtual research curriculum designed to build AI literacy among high school students. The Inclusive AI Literacy & Learning module introduces students to AI fundamentals through interactive tutorials and project-based learning. The curriculum promotes ethical AI usage and computational thinking, ensuring an accessible and inclusive learning experience. You can check more research project options on this page!
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies according to the course.
Dates: Varies depending on the course.
Application deadline: Varies depending on the course.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
9. UC San Diego - Research Experience for High School Students
The UCSD Research Experience for High School Students, part of the San Diego Supercomputer Center’s outreach, is an eight-week volunteer program that immerses you in computational science research. You will join established research projects, including in AI, where you learn to formulate and test hypotheses, conduct computational experiments, and analyze data under the mentorship of research scientists.
Weekly lab meetings and group discussions help build critical work readiness skills and foster collaboration. At the end of the program, you will create scientific posters to reflect on your experiences and showcase your research and future career goals.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive.
Dates: June 16–August 8.
Application deadline: March 15.
Eligibility: High school students who are residents of Southern California, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0, and are at least 16 years of age are eligible to apply.
10. UC Santa Barbara - Research Mentorship Program
The Research Mentorship Program at UC Santa Barbara is a competitive summer experience that engages high school students in interdisciplinary and university-level research. Participants are paired with a mentor—graduate student, postdoc, or faculty member—and choose from a broad list of projects spanning computer science, AI, STEM, humanities, and social sciences. Throughout the program, you will gain practical research skills, learn advanced techniques, and attend the GRIT Talks lecture series to hear from leading researchers.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive.
Dates: June 16–August 1.
Application deadline: March 17. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis..
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th or 11th grade (outstanding 9th graders accepted on a case-by-case basis) with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.80 are eligible to apply.
11. The University of Texas at Dallas - AI Workshop
This intensive eight-week research workshop at the University of Texas at Dallas is designed for high school students eager to develop sophisticated AI and data analysis skills. The program provides in-person instruction by UTD CS doctorate and graduate students.
You will explore a range of topics including Python programming, data processing, machine learning model development, deep neural networks using TensorFlow, and model evaluation techniques. The workshop emphasizes both project work and practical application, culminating in a camp completion certificate and a performance-based recommendation letter.
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited in-person enrollment.
Dates: June 9–August 1.
Application deadline: Rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 years or older and who are familiar with Python and high school math are eligible to apply.
12. NYU - Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
The NYU Arise Program offers a seven-week summer experience that blends five-weeks of research immersion in NYU faculty labs with two weeks of workshops and college advising. You will work in research labs such as the Machine Learning for Good Laboratory and the Immersive Computing Lab, applying AI and machine learning to public health, criminal justice, and urban development. The program includes mentorship, technical training, and a final colloquium where students present their research. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.
Dates: June 2–August 8.
Application Deadline: February 17.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors residing in New York City are eligible to apply.
The NYU Tandon Machine Learning Program is a full-day, two-week summer research program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of machine learning and artificial intelligence. The program covers core concepts such as cross-validation, linear regression, neural networks, and engineering problem-solving applied to real-world challenges like image recognition, voice control, and autonomous systems. Through hands-on assignments and projects, you will develop technical skills and apply AI solutions to real-world problems.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.
Dates: Session 1: June 16–27 | Session 2: July 7–18 | Session 3: July 28–August 8.
Application deadline: April 21.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who have completed Algebra 2 and possess some programming experience are eligible to apply. Applicants typically have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
14. Blast AI
Blast AI is an intensive eight-week program designed for aspiring AI researchers. You will spend two weeks studying classical and deep learning techniques before transitioning into research, where you will design and experiment with AI architectures. With mentorship from experienced professionals, you will develop innovative solutions to complex problems, with the potential to present your research at peer-reviewed conferences.
Location: Virtual.
Dates: The program typically runs for 8 weeks. Dates vary based on the cohort.
Application deadline: Early: February 28 | Regular: April 30.
Eligibility: Rising high school students interested in AI are eligible to apply.
15. The Knowledge Society (TKS) - AI Innovators
TKS AI Innovators is a 10-month accelerator for high school students focused on solving real-world challenges using AI. The program includes weekly cohort-based sessions, mentorship, and networking with industry leaders from organizations like Google and Microsoft. You will work on ambitious AI-driven projects, attend workshops, and engage with guest speakers, preparing you for future careers in technology.
Location: Virtual.
Cohort size: ~40 students per cohort.
Dates: The program typically runs for 10 months from September to June.
Application deadline: To be announced.
Eligibility: High school students aged 13-17 years old are eligible to apply.
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