As a high school student interested in software and problem-solving, joining a coding program over the summer can help you build skills beyond the classroom. You might work on a real project, learn tools like Python or web development frameworks, and practice communicating your ideas clearly in a technical setting.

To help you get started, here are 10 coding summer programs for high school students. 

1. Delta Launch Code by Delta Institute 

Delta Launch Code is a structured coding pathway for high school students who want consistent guidance and want to build a portfolio ready project. Students can choose a pathway such as web development, game development, data science, or app development, then build a project with group sessions and mentor support. 

A common outcome is a polished project you can point to in applications, including a live demo, a GitHub repository, and project documentation that explains what you built and why it works. If you want a longer format, Delta also offers a 1:1 mentorship track designed for students who want to build a more advanced project over a longer period. 

Cost: Code Intensive $2,200; Code Immersive $4,800 

Location: Virtual 

Application Deadline: March 29 (summer round early decision) 

Program Dates: May 2 – May 31; June 13 – July 12

Eligibility: High school students (global cohorts; see program page for current details) 

2. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps 

Kode With Klossy runs free, two-week coding camps designed for students who want a beginner-friendly entry point and a clear start-to-finish build. Camps are structured around hands-on learning, so you spend your time coding, building a project, and presenting what you made at the end. 

Camps run virtually for students, and the organization also hosts in-person camps in select locations depending on the session. If you are looking for a supportive environment and want to leave the summer with a completed project and more confidence writing code, this is a practical option. 

Cost: Free 

Location: Virtual with some in-person locations (varies by session) 

Application Deadline: March 31 

Program Dates: June 1 – June 12; July 6 – July 17; July 20 – July 31; August 3 – August 14 

Eligibility: Ages 13 – 18; young women and gender expansive teens

3. Girls Who Code Pathways 

Pathways is a free virtual coding program designed for high school students who want flexibility while still working toward real projects. Instead of a fixed daily schedule, students complete course projects at their own pace during the program window, which can make it easier to balance sports, travel, family plans, or other summer responsibilities. 

Pathways includes multiple tracks (such as web development, cybersecurity, data science, AI, and game design), plus a virtual community where students can connect with peers and join optional events. If you want a low-pressure way to keep building skills consistently over the summer, this format can work well. 

Cost: Free 

Location: Virtual 

Application Deadline: February 27 (early); April 10 (general) 

Program Dates: June 29 – August 14 

Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls or non-binary 

4. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) 

BWSI is a four-week summer program built around hands-on, project-based courses that involve substantial coding in advanced STEM areas. Course themes can include topics such as AI, autonomy, radar, or satellite-related work, and the experience is designed for high-achieving students entering their senior year of high school. 

The application process starts with online prerequisite coursework, and students need a teacher or mentor recommendation for the July summer portion. If you are aiming for a program that feels closer to college-level work and you are ready for a rigorous pace, BWSI is one to consider. 

Cost: $2,400 with scholarship opportunities for families under $200,000 income

Location: Online prerequisites + summer program in July (courses may be in-person or virtual, depending on the course) 

Application Deadline: April 3 

Program Dates: July (four-week summer program; course-specific dates vary) 

Eligibility: Students entering senior year; summer program acceptance is limited to students attending school in the U.S. and living in the U.S. during July 

5. CS4CS (Cyber Security for Computer Science) at NYU Tandon 

CS4CS is a summer program that teaches coding and problem-solving through a cybersecurity lens. Students work on hands-on security challenges, participate in Capture The Flag-style competitions, and build a portfolio of security-related work that reflects real-world tasks in the field. 

This is a strong option if you want a program that blends coding with practical applications like scripting and automation. It is also highly location-specific, so it is best for students who live in the eligible NY Metro areas listed on the program page. 

Cost: No cost (full scholarship; sponsor-funded) 

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 

Application Deadline: May 15 

Program Dates: July 13–August 7 

Eligibility: Students currently in 10th or 11th grade who meet the NY Metro area residency criteria listed on the page 

6. Engineering & Computer Science Camp at UT Austin

The University of Texas Engineering & Computer Science Camp is a multi-week summer program for students who will have graduated from 9th or 10th grade by summer. Over the program, students work on computational thinking and programming, including Scratch and object-oriented languages such as Python, alongside engineering-focused activities. 

Cost: $2,700 (early bird pricing listed; includes materials, snacks, lunch, and a t-shirt) 

Location: The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX) 

Application Deadline: Rolling (seats fill first come, first served) 

Program Dates: June 15 – July 23 (Mon–Thurs; no camp June 18; no camp June 29 – July 3) 

Eligibility: Students who will have graduated from 9th or 10th grade by summer 

7. Wolfram High School Summer Research Program 

The Wolfram High School Summer Research Program is a residential, project-based program where students strengthen programming and problem-solving skills by working on a structured research project. Students spend the program building and testing computational ideas, then finish with written and interactive outputs that document what they built and how they approached the problem. 

• Cost: $5,500 (includes room and board; need-based financial aid available) 

• Location: Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts (near Boston) 

• Application Deadline: March 22 (Regular Decision) 

• Program Dates: June 24 – July 11

• Eligibility: Ages 14 – 17; must be under 18 during the program; international students eligible 

8. Deep-dive AI workshop at The University of Texas, Dallas

This option is part of UT Dallas’ summer research programming for advanced high school students and is designed for students who already have some Python familiarity and want to go deeper into machine learning. The deep-dive workshop runs as a full-day program and moves from core ML concepts to deep learning topics, with a capstone-style project and presentations at the end. 

The workshop shifts from core models (like regression and tree-based methods) to neural networks and modern AI topics as it progresses, including computer vision and an introduction to transformers and generative AI concepts. Students typically work toward a final project, and participants receive a completion certificate and a performance-based write-up/letter. 

Cost: $2,000 (50% discount available for low-income families) 

Location: The University of Texas at Dallas (Richardson, TX) 

Application Deadline: March 1 (priority; applications may be processed after this date as long as possible) 

Program Dates: June 8 – July 31 

Eligibility: Advanced high school students; in-person participation is limited to students who are age 15+ by June 8 

9. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes 

Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers two-week online courses where students focus deeply on one subject area. Students attend live online classes with small groups, complete assignments between sessions, and take part in a structured classroom-style experience that can feel closer to a college course than a typical camp. 

Because the course catalog includes computer science and AI-related options, this can be a good choice if you want guided instruction, a set schedule, and focused learning in a specific topic area.

Cost: $3,200 (course materials may add up to $100) 

Location: Online 

Application Deadline: March 13 

Program Dates: June 15 – June 26; July 6 – July 17 

Eligibility: Current grades 8 – 11 

10. AI for Equity at Seattle University

Seattle University’s AI for Equity is an overnight pre-college summer program that introduces students to machine learning fundamentals and how AI is used in real systems, with a focus on fairness and bias in criminal justice contexts. Students work through technical and ethical questions, then apply what they learn by creating AI-based solutions and presenting their work as a group. 

The program emphasizes applied learning, including working with datasets and exploring how different techniques behave in common scenarios, then building an AI-focused solution to a defined social problem. It also includes guest speakers from the Seattle area and offers two college credits upon completion. 

Cost: $1,500 (plus a $50 nonrefundable deposit applied toward the total cost) 

Location: Seattle University, Seattle, WA (overnight program) 

Application Deadline: April 25 (priority) 

Program Dates: July 12–July 17 

Eligibility: High school students entering sophomore year or higher