15 Summer Programs for High School Students
15 Summer Programs for High School Students
Dec 5, 2025
Author: George Gatsios
Summer programs for high school students are a great way to make the most of your break, explore interests, and strengthen your college applications. From skill-building programs and research projects to work-experience internships and coding bootcamps, summer activities can help you gain exposure, develop new skills, and stand out in the admissions process.
To help you explore different options and choose the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer programs for high school students.
RSI is a program geared toward STEM-focused high school students, allowing them to engage in scientific research at MIT. This is a highly competitive program and is hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education. Each year, 100 students are invited to participate in on-campus coursework in scientific theory along with research in science and technology.
As a participant, you will be a part of intensive STEM classes with professors from MIT and spend five weeks conducting research under the guidance of experienced mentors who are scientists and researchers. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings through written and oral presentations.
Cost: Application fee – $75
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: Second week of December
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet RSI’s academic prerequisites
Delta Careers caters to high school students globally, interested in working on real-world projects and gaining work experience under the guidance of expert mentors. Through the different programs, you get the chance to explore different career fields, work with top companies, build industry projects from scratch, and build your own startup.
Students can pick from the following programs based on what aligns best with their interests:
Discover – Career exploration program for students who want to explore various industries and career fields. Through group sessions and 1:1 personalized guidance, you’ll build a clear roadmap for university and career.
Delve – Work-experience program designed for students looking to gain real-world exposure in their field of interest. You can work with companies like Ferrari, AWS, Adobe, Big Four consulting firms, and more under the guidance of industry experts.
Deepen – Customized mentorship program for high school students who want to dive deep into specific subjects. Through the program, students work with industry professionals on real-world projects in their field of interest.
Delta Founders Academy – Hands-on, pre-incubator program that guides high school students through the process of developing a business idea into a functional startup.
These programs are great for students looking to spend their summer building their portfolio, gain real-world experience, build their networks, and stand out on college applications.
Cost: Discover - $2,000; Delve - $4,900; Deepen - $6,500; Delta Founders Academy - $5,500
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program selected. You can schedule a call to learn more here.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the program selected
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
MITES is a 6-week, on-campus program that introduces students to college life at MIT. As part of the program, you will take five rigorous classes in math, science, and humanities, participate in lab tours, social events, and benefit from college counseling.
This program is designed to give you insight into the value of STEM degrees and careers, while helping you build professional skills necessary to succeed. Throughout the program, you build your network and interact with industry professionals and like-minded peers.
Cost: No cost
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: Late June to early August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SAMS is a program geared towards students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in exploring STEM-related fields. As part of the program, you will have the chance to dive deep into STEM subjects through classroom teaching, immersive projects, and interaction with faculty members and experienced mentors. The program consists of three parts – a virtual component focused on skill-building, a 6-week, in-person program with courses and meetings, and networking and engagement experiences.
With the university’s strong academic standing, this program is a good fit for you if you’re interested in spending your summer diving into advanced coursework, research, collaboration with experts, and experiencing college life.
Cost: Free
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: June 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident and at least 16 years of age by the start of the program
Delta Launch by Delta Institute is designed for high school students interested in technology or in building their public speaking skills through TED talks and podcasts. You can pick from multiple offerings based on your area of interest:
AI Intensive - 5-week program with cohort + 1:1 learning for students in building their foundations in AI and working on personalized projects.
AI Immersive - 12-week, 1:1 mentorship to build a personalized project in any field at the intersection of AI (e.g., AI & finance, AI & medicine, AI & sustainability) from scratch.
Code Intensive - 5-week program with cohort + 1:1 learning for students in building their coding skills and working on personalized projects.
Code Immersive - 12-week, 1:1 mentorship to build a personalized project in any field using code.
Podcast Immersion - Program designed for high school students to immerse themselves in the art of professional podcasting to launch and promote their own podcast.
Speak to Inspire with TEDx - 12 week, 1:1 mentorship program for students passionate about sharing their ideas and honing their communication/public speaking skills. The program prepares students for TEDx events and opens doors for other public speaking opportunities.
This program is a great opportunity for you if you’re interested in building new skills and advancing your technical and soft skills like communication.
Cost: AI/Code Intensive - $2,200; AI/Code Immersive - $4,800; Podcast Immersion - $4,800; Speak to Inspire with TEDx - $4,800
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. You can schedule a call to learn more here.
Program Dates: Throughout the year
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
Indigo is a great fit for students interested in working on unique, individualized research projects. You can choose any field you are passionate about – from data science and AI to social sciences and art. Through the program, you work under the mentorship of a PhD teaching fellow or faculty member to create a publishable research paper.
Indigo’s offerings vary and can be either group-based or 1:1 and run from anywhere between 2 to 50 weeks based on the type of program selected. This program is a great fit for you if you want to get involved with in-depth, college-level research early on, and want to have a tangible outcome to show on college applications.
Cost: Varies depending on the program selected
Location: Virtual or in-person at Oxford
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program selected (usually rolling admissions)
Program Dates: Varies depending on the program selected
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
NYU’s Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC) is an opportunity for high school students to learn the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. Mentored by professors from NYU Tandon’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, you will gain practical experience in robotics through classes, workshops, and access to innovative tools and software.
This 2-week program will introduce you to foundational programming skills, electrical and mechanical engineering, hands-on experience with robotics, and robot competitions and challenges.
Cost: $3,300
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: Grade 9–12 students who have taken AP Math, Algebra 2, Trigonometry. Preference for completion of PreCalc and enrollment in AP Stats/Calculus
PSJP is a summer program offered to high school juniors who are interested in journalism. Through the program, you will attend online workshops and lectures with renowned journalists, complete weekly assignments, write your own articles, and work with assigned college counselors to complete components of their college applications.
Students will also engage in an in-person component where they visit major news organizations such as The New York Times, Huffington Post, and Bloomberg. You will cover a professional sports event and news events in the Princeton area, produce digital content, attend a film or theatre production, conduct an investigative report, author a group blo, and report, write, edit, and design their own newspaper.
Cost: No cost
Location: Princeton, NJ
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: July and August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and have a GPA of 3.5
The Beaver Works Summer Institute, hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT’s School of Engineering offers innovative STEM programs in the summer for high school students to dive into subjects of their choice. As part of the program, you will engage in hands-on, project-based courses that encourage you to solve real-world problems in areas like AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and more. Some of the courses offered include autonomous cognitive assistance, autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix, autonomous underwater vehicles challenge, basics of ASICs, cyber operations, quantum software, remote sensing for disaster response, serious games development with AI.
This program is a great summer option for you if you are a curious student interested in developing skills like teamwork and critical thinking, while working with cutting-edge technologies to succeed in your future studies and careers in STEM.
Cost: $2,350
Location: Online or at MIT, Cambridge, MA (depending on the course selected)
Application Deadline: March 30
Program Dates: July 6 – August 2
Eligibility: 9–11 grade students residing and attending a high school in the U.S.
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a highly selective research program at Texas Tech University for high school students. The program runs for 7 weeks in the summer and only 12 students are accepted. Through the program, you will conduct research in various fields like computer science, mechanical engineering, cancer biology, history, physics, and more.
You will also participate in weekly seminars, field trips, discussions, and social activities. You will work hand-in-hand with faculty on the general academic campus and the Health Science Center in a research-intensive setting.
Cost: Application fee - $25
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Application Deadline: February 16
Program Dates: June 21 – August 5
Eligibility: Students must be at least 17 years of age at the start of the program and be U.S. citizens/permanent residents
HK Maker Lab is an initiative in collaboration with Columbia Engineering for high school juniors and seniors interested in careers in STEAM. The 5-week program is engineering design-focused and involves rigorous coursework and hands-on application of theoretical concepts.
As part of the program, you will gain in-depth knowledge of the fundamental principles of engineering, hands-on experience in design and innovation techniques, and complete projects under the mentorship of experienced instructors at Columbia University. The program is a great opportunity for you to build a strong foundation in engineering design, build a network, and strengthen your college applications for a future in STEAM.
Cost: No cost
Location: Columbia University, NY
Application Deadline: December 5
Program Dates: July – August 7
Eligibility: grade 10 or 11 students attending an NYCDOE public or charter high school and can demonstrate educational and/or economic disadvantage
Harvard University’s Secondary School Program helps high school students experience what it’s like to be a college student for 4–7 weeks. Students can pick from a range of courses based on what aligns best with their interests – economics and entrepreneurship, health and medicine, global problems and solutions, culture and society, creativity and design, science and technology, and more.
You can pick from three formats – residential, commuter, and online. The program is a great fit for students interested in experiencing college-level courses, learning directly from Harvard faculty, exploring new subject areas, and earning college credits.
Cost: $4,180 – $15,735 (depending on the course selected) + $75 application fee
Location: Online or at Harvard University, Boston, MA
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June – August (based on the course selected)
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 16–19
SUMaC is designed for high school students interested in an intensive study of math. As a participant, you will dive deep into mathematics through lectures, guided research, and peer problem-solving. SUMac is a great opportunity for you if you are interested in college-level math and are able to manage advanced coursework and assignments. The program is offered virtually (3 weeks) and in-person (4 weeks) and consists of daily lectures, problem-solving sessions, and culminates in a final research project presentation.
Cost: $3,750 (online); $8,950 (in-person)
Location: Virtual or in-person (Stanford University, San Francisco, CA
Application Deadline: To be announced. Applications open mid-December
Program Dates: June – July
Eligibility: Grade 10 and 11 students
EFL is a program designed to equip high school students with leadership skills and the ability to apply economic analysis to public policy decisions. As part of the program, you are introduced to economic concepts, reasoning, and leadership theory. The goal of the program is to prepare the next generation of leaders who are able to deal with complex public policy challenges.
EFL is a highly competitive program, with 25–40 students accepted at each of their locations. Selection to EFL is a great way to enhance your college applications and stand out.
Cost: Residential - $2,800; Virtual - $900
Location: Online or in-person at one of their locations here.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: Students who are currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school
UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth educates high school students about business through exploratory coursework and team-based experiential learning. As part of the program, students develop critical thinking, leadership acumen, and professional skills under the guidance of faculty and mentors.
Through the 2-week bootcamp, students work in teams to immerse themselves in the startup world, develop essential business vocabulary, foundational concepts, and frameworks necessary for a successful venture.
Cost: Application fee - $85; California resident - $5450; Out-of-state resident - $6450
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: High school students
Author: George Gatsios
Summer programs for high school students are a great way to make the most of your break, explore interests, and strengthen your college applications. From skill-building programs and research projects to work-experience internships and coding bootcamps, summer activities can help you gain exposure, develop new skills, and stand out in the admissions process.
To help you explore different options and choose the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer programs for high school students.
RSI is a program geared toward STEM-focused high school students, allowing them to engage in scientific research at MIT. This is a highly competitive program and is hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education. Each year, 100 students are invited to participate in on-campus coursework in scientific theory along with research in science and technology.
As a participant, you will be a part of intensive STEM classes with professors from MIT and spend five weeks conducting research under the guidance of experienced mentors who are scientists and researchers. At the end of the program, you will present your research findings through written and oral presentations.
Cost: Application fee – $75
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: Second week of December
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet RSI’s academic prerequisites
Delta Careers caters to high school students globally, interested in working on real-world projects and gaining work experience under the guidance of expert mentors. Through the different programs, you get the chance to explore different career fields, work with top companies, build industry projects from scratch, and build your own startup.
Students can pick from the following programs based on what aligns best with their interests:
Discover – Career exploration program for students who want to explore various industries and career fields. Through group sessions and 1:1 personalized guidance, you’ll build a clear roadmap for university and career.
Delve – Work-experience program designed for students looking to gain real-world exposure in their field of interest. You can work with companies like Ferrari, AWS, Adobe, Big Four consulting firms, and more under the guidance of industry experts.
Deepen – Customized mentorship program for high school students who want to dive deep into specific subjects. Through the program, students work with industry professionals on real-world projects in their field of interest.
Delta Founders Academy – Hands-on, pre-incubator program that guides high school students through the process of developing a business idea into a functional startup.
These programs are great for students looking to spend their summer building their portfolio, gain real-world experience, build their networks, and stand out on college applications.
Cost: Discover - $2,000; Delve - $4,900; Deepen - $6,500; Delta Founders Academy - $5,500
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program selected. You can schedule a call to learn more here.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the program selected
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
MITES is a 6-week, on-campus program that introduces students to college life at MIT. As part of the program, you will take five rigorous classes in math, science, and humanities, participate in lab tours, social events, and benefit from college counseling.
This program is designed to give you insight into the value of STEM degrees and careers, while helping you build professional skills necessary to succeed. Throughout the program, you build your network and interact with industry professionals and like-minded peers.
Cost: No cost
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: Late June to early August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SAMS is a program geared towards students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in exploring STEM-related fields. As part of the program, you will have the chance to dive deep into STEM subjects through classroom teaching, immersive projects, and interaction with faculty members and experienced mentors. The program consists of three parts – a virtual component focused on skill-building, a 6-week, in-person program with courses and meetings, and networking and engagement experiences.
With the university’s strong academic standing, this program is a good fit for you if you’re interested in spending your summer diving into advanced coursework, research, collaboration with experts, and experiencing college life.
Cost: Free
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: June 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident and at least 16 years of age by the start of the program
Delta Launch by Delta Institute is designed for high school students interested in technology or in building their public speaking skills through TED talks and podcasts. You can pick from multiple offerings based on your area of interest:
AI Intensive - 5-week program with cohort + 1:1 learning for students in building their foundations in AI and working on personalized projects.
AI Immersive - 12-week, 1:1 mentorship to build a personalized project in any field at the intersection of AI (e.g., AI & finance, AI & medicine, AI & sustainability) from scratch.
Code Intensive - 5-week program with cohort + 1:1 learning for students in building their coding skills and working on personalized projects.
Code Immersive - 12-week, 1:1 mentorship to build a personalized project in any field using code.
Podcast Immersion - Program designed for high school students to immerse themselves in the art of professional podcasting to launch and promote their own podcast.
Speak to Inspire with TEDx - 12 week, 1:1 mentorship program for students passionate about sharing their ideas and honing their communication/public speaking skills. The program prepares students for TEDx events and opens doors for other public speaking opportunities.
This program is a great opportunity for you if you’re interested in building new skills and advancing your technical and soft skills like communication.
Cost: AI/Code Intensive - $2,200; AI/Code Immersive - $4,800; Podcast Immersion - $4,800; Speak to Inspire with TEDx - $4,800
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. You can schedule a call to learn more here.
Program Dates: Throughout the year
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
Indigo is a great fit for students interested in working on unique, individualized research projects. You can choose any field you are passionate about – from data science and AI to social sciences and art. Through the program, you work under the mentorship of a PhD teaching fellow or faculty member to create a publishable research paper.
Indigo’s offerings vary and can be either group-based or 1:1 and run from anywhere between 2 to 50 weeks based on the type of program selected. This program is a great fit for you if you want to get involved with in-depth, college-level research early on, and want to have a tangible outcome to show on college applications.
Cost: Varies depending on the program selected
Location: Virtual or in-person at Oxford
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program selected (usually rolling admissions)
Program Dates: Varies depending on the program selected
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
NYU’s Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC) is an opportunity for high school students to learn the basics of robotics, mechatronics, and programming. Mentored by professors from NYU Tandon’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, you will gain practical experience in robotics through classes, workshops, and access to innovative tools and software.
This 2-week program will introduce you to foundational programming skills, electrical and mechanical engineering, hands-on experience with robotics, and robot competitions and challenges.
Cost: $3,300
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: Grade 9–12 students who have taken AP Math, Algebra 2, Trigonometry. Preference for completion of PreCalc and enrollment in AP Stats/Calculus
PSJP is a summer program offered to high school juniors who are interested in journalism. Through the program, you will attend online workshops and lectures with renowned journalists, complete weekly assignments, write your own articles, and work with assigned college counselors to complete components of their college applications.
Students will also engage in an in-person component where they visit major news organizations such as The New York Times, Huffington Post, and Bloomberg. You will cover a professional sports event and news events in the Princeton area, produce digital content, attend a film or theatre production, conduct an investigative report, author a group blo, and report, write, edit, and design their own newspaper.
Cost: No cost
Location: Princeton, NJ
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: July and August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and have a GPA of 3.5
The Beaver Works Summer Institute, hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT’s School of Engineering offers innovative STEM programs in the summer for high school students to dive into subjects of their choice. As part of the program, you will engage in hands-on, project-based courses that encourage you to solve real-world problems in areas like AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and more. Some of the courses offered include autonomous cognitive assistance, autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix, autonomous underwater vehicles challenge, basics of ASICs, cyber operations, quantum software, remote sensing for disaster response, serious games development with AI.
This program is a great summer option for you if you are a curious student interested in developing skills like teamwork and critical thinking, while working with cutting-edge technologies to succeed in your future studies and careers in STEM.
Cost: $2,350
Location: Online or at MIT, Cambridge, MA (depending on the course selected)
Application Deadline: March 30
Program Dates: July 6 – August 2
Eligibility: 9–11 grade students residing and attending a high school in the U.S.
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a highly selective research program at Texas Tech University for high school students. The program runs for 7 weeks in the summer and only 12 students are accepted. Through the program, you will conduct research in various fields like computer science, mechanical engineering, cancer biology, history, physics, and more.
You will also participate in weekly seminars, field trips, discussions, and social activities. You will work hand-in-hand with faculty on the general academic campus and the Health Science Center in a research-intensive setting.
Cost: Application fee - $25
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Application Deadline: February 16
Program Dates: June 21 – August 5
Eligibility: Students must be at least 17 years of age at the start of the program and be U.S. citizens/permanent residents
HK Maker Lab is an initiative in collaboration with Columbia Engineering for high school juniors and seniors interested in careers in STEAM. The 5-week program is engineering design-focused and involves rigorous coursework and hands-on application of theoretical concepts.
As part of the program, you will gain in-depth knowledge of the fundamental principles of engineering, hands-on experience in design and innovation techniques, and complete projects under the mentorship of experienced instructors at Columbia University. The program is a great opportunity for you to build a strong foundation in engineering design, build a network, and strengthen your college applications for a future in STEAM.
Cost: No cost
Location: Columbia University, NY
Application Deadline: December 5
Program Dates: July – August 7
Eligibility: grade 10 or 11 students attending an NYCDOE public or charter high school and can demonstrate educational and/or economic disadvantage
Harvard University’s Secondary School Program helps high school students experience what it’s like to be a college student for 4–7 weeks. Students can pick from a range of courses based on what aligns best with their interests – economics and entrepreneurship, health and medicine, global problems and solutions, culture and society, creativity and design, science and technology, and more.
You can pick from three formats – residential, commuter, and online. The program is a great fit for students interested in experiencing college-level courses, learning directly from Harvard faculty, exploring new subject areas, and earning college credits.
Cost: $4,180 – $15,735 (depending on the course selected) + $75 application fee
Location: Online or at Harvard University, Boston, MA
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June – August (based on the course selected)
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 16–19
SUMaC is designed for high school students interested in an intensive study of math. As a participant, you will dive deep into mathematics through lectures, guided research, and peer problem-solving. SUMac is a great opportunity for you if you are interested in college-level math and are able to manage advanced coursework and assignments. The program is offered virtually (3 weeks) and in-person (4 weeks) and consists of daily lectures, problem-solving sessions, and culminates in a final research project presentation.
Cost: $3,750 (online); $8,950 (in-person)
Location: Virtual or in-person (Stanford University, San Francisco, CA
Application Deadline: To be announced. Applications open mid-December
Program Dates: June – July
Eligibility: Grade 10 and 11 students
EFL is a program designed to equip high school students with leadership skills and the ability to apply economic analysis to public policy decisions. As part of the program, you are introduced to economic concepts, reasoning, and leadership theory. The goal of the program is to prepare the next generation of leaders who are able to deal with complex public policy challenges.
EFL is a highly competitive program, with 25–40 students accepted at each of their locations. Selection to EFL is a great way to enhance your college applications and stand out.
Cost: Residential - $2,800; Virtual - $900
Location: Online or in-person at one of their locations here.
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: Students who are currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school
UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth educates high school students about business through exploratory coursework and team-based experiential learning. As part of the program, students develop critical thinking, leadership acumen, and professional skills under the guidance of faculty and mentors.
Through the 2-week bootcamp, students work in teams to immerse themselves in the startup world, develop essential business vocabulary, foundational concepts, and frameworks necessary for a successful venture.
Cost: Application fee - $85; California resident - $5450; Out-of-state resident - $6450
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: To be announced
Eligibility: High school students
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