Top 20 Artificial Intelligence Camps for High School Students
Artificial intelligence is becoming one of the fastest growing fields in the world. For many students, the field sounds interesting - but it can be hard to find ways to get started. We were there. In this article, we lay out 20 camps for you to explore to learn the basics of AI and machine learning. We describe who these camps are, what types of students they are good for, and how you might choose between them.
Why Study AI in High School?
As AI becomes more important in our lives, knowing how to use AI in the broader world becomes increasingly important. As a high school student, exposure to AI early on can help you be better prepared for the future and can be a way for you to build interesting projects. One of the interesting things about AI (as someone who studied AI at Harvard!) is that there really aren’t many experts in it. It’s such a new field that as a high school student you can build real, innovative projects with this technology.
How Do I Choose an AI Program?
There aren’t too many AI camps in the world (we’ve scoured the world to find 20 that are good for you). But, there are options. So, how can you choose? The first step to choosing a great AI camp is to decide whether you are looking for an introductory course to understand the basics of AI or whether you are looking for a more advanced course that lets you work on individual projects, applying what you already know.
In our experience teaching AI, we would recommend looking for a program that has a mix of hands-on project based learning, as well as interaction with real-world AI practitioners or researchers. There are some programs that are more theory based - for first time AI learners, we’d suggest focusing on programs that allow you to build something.
If you already have studied the basics of AI, look for a program that offers application-based or research-based projects! This is the time when you can begin to look into specific applications of AI like AI + Finance, AI + Biology, or deeper models like Large Language Models (what ChatGPT is built on).
We have compiled a list of the top 20 AI camps for you to take a look at and ranked them based on their curriculum, mentorship, practical experience, and technical rigor.
Location: Virtual
Fee: $4,000. Need based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: March (Tentatively, based on previous years). You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: June 26 - July 14 (Tentatively, based on previous years
Eligibility: Current 9th graders (rising 10th graders during the summer of the program) with a keen interest in AI.
Stanford’s three-week online program in partnership with AI4ALL is a highly-regarded program that gives participants the opportunity to dive into the world of AI through a combination of lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring activities. Students will interact with AI experts and gain insights into the latest advancements while exploring applications of AI in areas such as medicine, disaster response, and combating poverty. You can expect to participate in small-group research projects led by graduate students and postdocs in computer science and AI. The research projects focus on how AI can improve pressing problems in society.
Note that this program is a solid choice for students interested in hands-on, application-based learning in the field of AI, and are looking for an opportunity to work on real-world problems while still in high school.
Curious about what life in this virtual program will look like? Check out the daily schedule here.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Fee: AI Scholars (10-session bootcamp) - $1,490, AI Fellowship (12-15 weeks, 1-1 mentorship) - $4,200. Need based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Applications for the summer close on June 25, 2023. Apply here.
Program Dates: Multiple dates on weekdays and weekends from July to September.
Eligibility: High school students (grade 8-12). For the AI Scholars program, no prior experience is required - just a keen interest in AI. For the AI Fellowship program, applicants need to have prior experience with python or need to complete the AI Scholars program.
Veritas AI (our program!) is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI Scholars program, students learn the fundamentals of AI, ML, and python while working on collaborative, real-world projects under the guidance of AI practitioners and researchers. In the AI Fellowship, students work 1-1 with PhDs from top universities to create a personalized AI model over 12-15 weeks. You can find more information about the programs here and some past projects here. Veritas AI offers students the opportunity to work on both AI and interdisciplinary projects, a component that can reflect well on your college application.
As mentioned above, past projects by Veritas AI students have included projects on AI and music, AI and medicine, and even AI and astrophysics! Alongside mentorship, the program offers plenty of breathing space for you to learn and work on your personal project - something that you can include in a variety of ways in your application profile. This program is a great fit for both beginners and those looking to do a deep dive in AI.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here!
4. Pre-College AI Scholars at Carnegie Mellon University
Location: On Campus
Fee: None
Application Deadline: To be announced. You can check here for updates.
Program Dates: Multiple dates on weekdays and weekends from July to September.
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising high school juniors and at least 16 years of age.
Carnegie Mellon’s pre-college AI Scholars program, a CS Pathways initiative, is a four-week residential program where participants engage in lectures and project based learning. They will get a chance to learn about ongoing research projects by CMU faculty and engage with industry leaders to learn more about the exciting opportunities in the field of AI. Students work on a group project through the course that will be presented to the cohort and instructors at the end of the program to showcase skills developed in the classroom.
CMU offers a course only focused on AI and allows you to go deep into the field and its applications in the real world. You should consider this course if you’re looking for a combination of classroom learning and research projects under the guidance of faculty in the field. As for college admissions, adding research work and real-world applications of your classroom learnings in AI may just add a bigger boost to your resume as compared to your peers. Additionally, the program is a residential one, which makes the overall experience a comprehensive one for a budding AI-enthusiast.
5. Columbia University's Big Data, Machine Learning, and their Real World Applications
Location: Virtual
Fee: 1-week program - $2,890, 2-week program - $4,040
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for the summer.
Program Dates: July 17 - July 28, 2023 (2-week program) & August 7 - 11, 2023 (1-week program)
Eligibility: High school students (grade 8 to 12). While not a prerequisite, a basic understanding of algebra, geometry, statistics, and computer programming is recommended.
This introductory level course offered by Columbia University enables students to engage with data and its growing applications as an invaluable asset. Students will develop a strong foundation in data-driven thinking in solving real world problems while learning common AI and ML techniques and develop and evaluate analytical solutions. The course is a great introduction to data science and AI and is taught by industry experts (from the Walt Disney Company), educators, and researchers!
This course is a pretty solid option if you’re already familiar with basic concepts in AI and ML, and are looking for a course that offers a deep dive into more specific topics. The difficulty level of this course will be a bit higher than camps that offer introductory courses on AI, so you should make sure you are prepared to take on the time and learning commitment required. Additionally, this course offers a focused take on the real world applications of big data and ML, and can serve as a useful base if you’re interested in working on projects in the field.
6. Beaver Works Summer Institute, MIT
Location: On Campus (MIT) & Virtual
Fee: None
Application Deadline: To be announced. You can check here for updates.
Program Dates: July 1 - July 28 (tentatively, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Applicants must be in high school with demonstrated technical abilities
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) at MIT is a rigorous four-week STEM program that teaches students STEM skills through project-based, workshop style courses.
The courses are pretty exciting and include “Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix”, and “Autonomous Cognitive Assistance'', and “Serious Game Development with AI''. The latter is designed to help participants understand how to apply machine learning and game-like modeling to quantitatively analyze socially relevant policy questions like disease transmission and self-driving cars.
The BWSI has generally received solid reviews from alumni, owing to the diversity of its cohorts, opportunities for networking and collaboration, as well as the uniqueness of the courses it offers - points that you should consider before applying. Additionally, the program is completely free of cost, which makes it incredibly accessible to students from all backgrounds, from all across the world. Leveraging alumni networks from AI camps can be the biggest advantage of the experience, as you may be able to gain career guidance, guidance on college applications, funding for research opportunities, as well as collaboration on research projects.
7. Berkeley Coding Academy - Data Science to AI
Location: Virtual
Fee: $2,495
Application Deadline: July
Program Dates: July
Eligibility: Ages 12-18. Students must have prior python experience.
Berkeley’s summer course on data science to AI is focused on introducing students to the fundamentals of AI, ML, and big data science. Students learn how to write and evaluate the python code behind AI and build ML models from real data. This course is a great choice for you if you have some experience with python and are looking to take part in a technical skill building course. The course has different levels for students based on their coding background and they work in small groups to create their own projects and models.
If you’re looking to hone your technical and programming skills, and gain access to long term valuable resources like Berkeley coding academy lecture videos, slides, and portfolio projects, consider applying to this program!
8. RAISE at MIT
Location: Virtual
Fee: None
Application Deadline: Varies according to the course.
Program Dates: Varies according to the course.
Eligibility: Open to high school students (and middle school students for some courses).
Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) at MIT offers a variety of valuable tutorials for students starting their AI journey. One of the exciting offerings from RAISE is the Doodlebot, a creative AI platform that utilizes robots to help high school students learn about generative AI by teaching a robot how to draw. Another interesting tutorial is the Personal Image Classifier: PICaboo which helps students learn about the applications of AI and ML in image classification by helping them make their own Personal Image Classification (PIC) model!
RAISE is a curriculum, as opposed to the other programs that we’ve mentioned in this blog, so you might have to reach out to your teacher/instructor for more information regarding some of the curricula offered. Additionally, some of the offerings at RAISE are self-paced, so if you wish to pick up an AI program/self-learning curriculum during your school year instead of the summer, RAISE is a pretty good option for you.
9. NYU’s Summer Program for Machine Learning
Location: On Campus
Fee: $2,500 + $610 for housing (optional)
Application Deadline: To be announced. You can check here for updates.
Program Dates: Session 1: June 20 - June 30, Session 2: July 10 - July 21, Session 3: July 31 - August 11 (tentatively, based on previous years).
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 15 years old and must have completed Algebra 2 or equivalent and have some programming experience.
NYU’s 2-week summer program introduces students to the fundamentals of computer science, data analyses, mathematical techniques, and logic that are widely used in AI and ML. It primarily focuses on exciting topics like video and image recognition technologies, interactive voice control, autonomous vehicles, real-time monitoring and traffic control, and cutting-edge diagnostic medical technologies.
As part of this program, you will be expected to devote two weeks to learning about core principles in ML such as model development through cross-validation, linear regressions, and neural networks. The program lays a very strong emphasis on using these skills to solve social issues, so you should keep in mind the applications of the concepts you’ll learn. If you’re considering a career in social service or non profit management, gaining knowledge about principles in ML can possibly give you a more broad perspective while thinking about solutions to social issues. Additionally, if you choose to work on a social issue based on your learnings, that project can serve as a great addition to your applicant profile. Admissions officers are constantly on the lookout for students that apply their classroom learnings in the real world to solve problems - something you can work on with this program.
10. Artificial Intelligence by Oxford University
Location: On Campus
Fee: $7,535
Application Deadline: June (Tentatively, based on previous years). You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: July
Eligibility: 16 & 17 year old students
Oxford University’s 2-week course on artificial intelligence is geared towards helping students take advantage of the digital age development. It introduces students to key techniques in AI and software development. Students will get the chance to interact with experts in the field, create their own projects and solutions, and understand how to communicate their findings in an impactful manner.
This program is conducted in small groups of 8 students and consists of interactive seminars. Through the course, students are encouraged to think critically and work on two pieces of independent work in the form of essays and problem sheets. This program mimics the format of a university course and allows you to interact with faculty for feedback on your work. This program is a great opportunity for anyone looking to gain an introduction to AI, while also pushing them to work on meaningful projects. The certificate and recommendation letter you receive at the end of the course is also a good way to boost your college applications. Although, keep in mind that the program does emphasize self-learning and a lot of the work will have to be done outside of the classroom!
11. Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute - Artificial Intelligence
Location: Virtual
Fee: $3,050. Need based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: March (Tentatively, based on previous years). You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: June and July
Eligibility: Grades 10 & 11 with beginner-level proficiency in python.
Stanford’s pre-college summer program on artificial intelligence is a 10-day course that focuses on introducing students to what AI is and how systems can be trained to efficiently perform tasks. The course covers a range of fundamental topics in modern AI like supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement algorithms. Students get a practical understanding of these concepts by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the algorithms and learning how bias enters data and algorithms.
If you have some coding experience with python and are looking to learn about relevant AI topics, you should consider applying for this program. It helps you build a foundation in AI through an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of the field. You should note that students are required to put in time and work outside of the class to work on assignments that include readings, group work, and watching pre-recorded lectures.
12. Brown Pre-College Program - Introduction to ML & AI with Python
Location: On Campus
Fee: $5,364 (commuter), $7,038 (residential).
Application Deadline: May (Tentatively, based on previous years). You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: June to July
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders. While not a requirement, algebra and pre-calculus are recommended.
Brown’s introductory course on machine learning and artificial intelligence is designed to help students learn, understand, and practice big data analytics and AI approaches which includes the study of computing big data technologies and ML techniques with a focus on industry applications. By the end of the program, students will have a basic understanding of AI, understand the applications of big data science across various disciplines, use ML techniques, and be able to deploy algorithms for specific research problems.
If you are a beginner and looking to kick start your AI journey with a fairly technical course, you should consider applying to this one. The focus of the course is on the theory and applications of AI and ML without relying on complex math. The classrooms are interactive and do require students to put in some time outside of the class to work on assignments. Note that this course is not very hands-on, and while there is an introduction to computer programming and designing algorithms, you will not be working on a real-world project to apply what you have learned.
13. Machine Learning for Beginners at Purdue University
Location: Virtual
Fee: $200
Application Deadline: July (Tentatively, based on previous years
Program Dates: July (Tentatively, based on previous years)
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders who have taken high school algebra 2. Calculus 1 is recommended, but not required.
Machine learning for beginners by Purdue University, with support from the National Science Foundation 5-day crash course that introduces students to AI and ML. They learn the fundamentals of AI & ML, python, regressions, pattern recognition, and image processing. This is a great fit for students looking to get started on their AI journey and leave the course with proficiency in python programming, while gaining insights into practical applications that includes building softwares and programming robots.
Here's what 5 days at this machine learning crash course looks like!
Since this is a crash course, you may want to plan out the rest of your summer in a way that includes more such programs (possibly at a more advanced level), or research projects based on your learnings at this crash course. This course may be a good fit for you if you’re working with a pretty packed summer schedule, but also want to work on your concepts in AI and ML, possibly to prepare you for further research/internships in the field.
If your focus is classroom learning and research in AI and ML, you want to consider programs that are longer in terms of duration, or offer a deep dive.
14. Princeton AI4ALL
Location: On Campus
Fee: $6,000. Need based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: June (Tentatively, based on previous years). You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: July
Eligibility: Rising 11th grade students
Princeton’s 3-week program serves as an introduction to AI while covering some cutting-edge AI research in depth. The program is largely focused on the societal impacts of AI and how students can leverage this technology, by introducing them to, not only AI practitioners, but also policymakers. There is also a huge emphasis on personal growth and career development through small group sessions with faculty members and AI researchers.
This program is a good choice if you are interested in going deep into the societal impacts of AI and working on a research project in the same field. It gives you a chance to interact with a variety of people working in the field - researcher, practitioners, professors, and Princeton graduate students. You should consider this course if you are looking to gain access to valuable research projects, but not necessarily technical skill sets.
15. Harvard’s Pre-College Program
Location: On Campus
Fee: $5,375. Partial aid available.
Application Deadline: April (Tentatively, based on previous years). You can check here for updates.
Program Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August.
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors and seniors. Participants should be at least 16 years old by June 17, 2024 and not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024. A calculus course covering functions, derivatives, optimization, and some 3D geometry is a prerequisite for this course.
Harvard’s pre-college program is a two-week program that will give students the opportunity to dabble in multiple computer science courses, including “Introduction to Scientific Programming in Python”, “Introduction to Data Science with a Focus on Visualization”, and “Mathematical Elements of Artificial Intelligence”. You will get the opportunity to engage in hands-on projects using python.
The course on mathematical elements of artificial intelligence is great for anyone interested in AI and is designed to help students understand the mathematical aspects of modern data science algorithms.
Interested in learning more about what each course is about? Check out this page!
Harvard’s Pre-College Programs are quite popular due to the accessibility of their course content, as well as the diversity of their cohorts for their courses. However, since most of the courses offered each summer are mostly beginner-level or introductory courses, you may not be able to dive deep into AI.
The pre-college program focuses on both college-level academics, as well as having a safe college experience in the summer after high school, but isn’t too rigorous for a student that is quite familiar with AI and wishes to work on personal projects under mentorship, independent of course credit and assignments. Thus, you may want to factor in the cost of the program, your takeaways, as well as application-based learning before applying.
Location: On Campus
Fee: $100
Application Deadline: May
Program Dates: July to August
Eligibility: Rising Sophomores and juniors
Boston University’s three-week online program in partnership with AI4ALL gives participants the opportunity to dive into the world of AI through team projects, industry field trips, and presentations from guest speakers. The course covers introduction to AI, ML, data science, and looks at data types and bias in more depth.
If you are looking to get an introduction to key topics in AI while engaging with AI researchers and practitioners, this program is a good choice! You will also get the chance to work on group projects to apply your learnings and present it to the larger class, family, and instructors. Note that this is an intensive course that follows a typical classroom structure and will require a big time commitment on your end!
17. Lumiere Education AI Research
Location: Virtual
Fee: Individual Research Program (9 sessions, 1-1 mentorship) - $2,600, Premium Research & publication Program (15 sessions, 1-1 mentorship) - $4,800, Lumiere Research Fellowship (30 sessions, 1-1 mentorship) - $8,400. Need based financial aid available for some of the programs.
Also check out the Lumiere Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Application deadline: four cohorts throughout the year, applications due in February, May, September, and December. Apply here.
Program dates: There are four cohorts throughout the year in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Eligibility: All high school students may apply.
Lumiere has been founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Ambitious high school students can join this program to do research in AI through the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs. Each student is paired with a top PhD in the field and works with their mentor 1-1 to produce a university-level research paper in AI or other fields.
The programs are virtual and vary in duration based on your end goal. The research opportunities range from computer science to specific areas such as AI/ML, data science and much more. This program does not offer any introductory courses and is a good fit if you are looking to conduct research in a particular topic within AI or if it is an interdisciplinary topic!
18. UCSDs and SDSCs Annual Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)
Location: On Campus (UC San Diego) & Virtual
Fee: Program with research project - $1,500, Program without research project - free.
Application Deadline: To be announced. You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: June to August
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders
UC San Diego and the San Diego Supercomputer Center collaborate on this 8-week research program. Students work closely with mentors on a research project of their choice (including AI!) where they learn how to formulate and test hypotheses, conduct computational experiments, and derive conclusions from those experiments. This program offers an excellent opportunity for students to apply their AI knowledge to real-world projects and gain practical experience in the field.
Since the program is an 8-week research opportunity, you should consider applying if you wish to work on a research project in a crisp timeline, under mentorship of UC San Diego faculty. Note that this program does serve an advantage to students who aren’t fully comfortable with conducting research on their own, or need some guidance on how to approach research, and the process that they need to participate in for a successful project. As part of the program, you will be expected to engage in software instruction, assigned scholarly or practical readings and discussions with your mentor and your graduate student team members.
19. UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program
Location: On Campus
Fee: $4,700 (commuter option), $6,599 (housing option)
Application Deadline: To be announced. You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: June to August
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th or 11th grade and have a minimum GPA of 3.8
UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program is a competitive summer program for high school students to engage in interdisciplinary, hands-on, university-level research. Students work closely with mentors to work on a research project of their choice (you can pick AI!) while learning about research techniques and gaining insight into professional research-based opportunities. This program is an excellent opportunity for students interested in exploring the field of AI at the intersection of various other disciplines.
Interdisciplinary research in AI is a good option for you to consider, if you are interested in pursuing a university degree that isn’t strictly computer science or STEM. This program is quite competitive, and offers a solid foundation for you to get started on independent research, all within the span of a few weeks. Apart from conducting research as a program participant, you can spend the rest of the summer after the program refining your research, and presenting your learnings and the impact of your research in your college applications/interviews.
Note that this program does require a basic understanding of AI and ML, which you will have to work on before applying.
20. Wharton Data Science Academy
Location: On Campus
Fee: $9,099. Need based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: April (Tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: July to August
Eligibility: Students in grade 10 & 11 with a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA and a strong background in math and coding.
Wharton’s Data Science Academy is a rigorous 2-week program designed to equip students with the tools to be a data scientist in the 21st century by being able to identify relevant problems, provide sensible analyses, and communicate their findings in a clear and meaningful way. By the end of the course, students learn concepts that create the foundation for AI, including data visualization, data wrangling, and machine learning technologies. Students will also develop skills in the R programming language.
This course is for students who have strong foundations in math and coding and are looking for a more advanced course that allows them to go deep into a few topics. The curriculum for this program is limited and does not include a lot of hands-on experience, but it does give you the chance to work with graduate students and teaching assistants at Wharton.
21. Georgetown University - Artificial Intelligence Academy
Location: On Campus
Fee: $2,500 (commuter option), $3,225 (housing option)
Application Deadline: May (Tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June to August
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th or 11th grade
Georgetown University’s program on artificial intelligence is a largely theoretical course that focuses on the use of AI from a socio-technical perspective. The course covers the science of AI while looking at its future implications, the ethics of AI, regulations of AI, and the politics of AI.
Note that this course does not have a technical component and is geared towards students wanting to gain exposure to the societal and ethical impacts and considerations of AI. You will get a chance to interact with guest speakers and your peers through group discussions. You will also work on a policy design and solution in a focus area of interest within the AI domain
If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!
Image Source: Lumiere Education Logo