15 Fall Computer Science Programs for High School Students
Computer science programs for high school students offer an excellent opportunity to explore technology. These programs go beyond classroom learning, allowing you to apply coding and data analysis in projects that reflect industry trends. By joining such a program, you can gain exposure to fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software development while building a strong foundation for future studies.
You’ll have the chance to work with mentors, connect with peers who share your interests, and learn from university faculty or industry professionals. Computer science programs for high school students can help you develop essential skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. By engaging in fall programs, you can gain a deeper understanding of computer science concepts, preparing you for college coursework and competitive career paths. Below, we have put together a list of 15 fall computer science programs for high school students!
15 Fall Computer Science Programs for High School Students
1. MITES Semester (MIT)
Location: MIT / Hybrid
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 275 students per semester
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Semester is a six-month STEM immersion that blends rigorous online coursework, weekly webinars, and campus activities. As a participant, you will learn advanced math/CS/engineering modules, work in teams, attend seminars by MIT faculty, and get college-prep support. It is a tuition-free program designed to broaden access for participants from underrepresented backgrounds. MITES is intensely academic, and it includes social/mentoring components to build a supportive cohort. The program spans the academic year and includes continued coursework, project work, and research preparation.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%; 70 – 100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Fall cohort deadline is August 24
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week, for 8 – 12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students. In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship that is dynamic, often having raised substantial funding, with founders from top accelerators like Y Combinator and companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
3. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual or on-site at NASA centers nationwide (Chicago-area projects at Illinois Space Grant Consortium, Urbana, IL)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid based on their academic level and session duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive; over 3,000 high school interns selected annually
Dates: Year–round; Fall sessions typically are between early September to mid-December
Application Deadline: Fall: May 22
Eligibility: High school students | U.S. citizen | At least 16 years old at the time of application | 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
NASA’s OSTEM internships involve assignments spanning technology and space exploration, often including computer science duties such as developing software critical for missions. You will collaborate directly with NASA scientists and engineers on authentic challenges in fields like aerospace engineering, planetary science, data science, and systems design, making contributions to STEM projects that require coding for data handling or creating simulation models. Technical mentors will supervise your efforts on practical applications within aeronautics computing. Additionally, it incorporates webinars focused on career advancement within computer science. With placements at various nationwide facilities, the program guarantees diverse working environments where you will gain expertise in managing collaborative procedures within high-stakes scientific contexts.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available for AI Scholars
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; AI Scholars: 5:1 student/mentor ratio, AI Fellowship: 1:1 student/mentor ratio
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply to the AI Scholars program. Those with Python experience or who’ve completed AI Scholars can join the AI Fellowship program
Veritas AI, established and directed by Harvard graduates, offers advanced learning pathways centered on research for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. The introductory AI Scholars program spans 10 sessions, offering exposure to AI, machine learning, and data science through engagement with tangible, real-world assignments. For students with foundational knowledge, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase provides a more rigorous opportunity. Within this track, participants work directly with mentors from top universities to conceptualize and execute a unique research endeavor. Furthermore, Veritas AI facilitates the dissemination of this work by providing publication assistance for sharing in high school academic journals. Another benefit is the chance to secure three post-baccalaureate credit units via UC San Diego (UCSD) Extended Studies.
5. Harvard-Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: Harvard / Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (Cambridge, MA); hybrid (in-person as well as virtual mentoring)
Cost: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; about 10 – 16 students annually
Dates: Academic-year research program spanning September – May
Application Deadline: Typically in the summer
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS)
In this program, you will gain hands-on experience with astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to do a year-long research project in astronomy and data science. You will meet weekly with mentors, perform data analysis or coding tasks, attend seminars, and prepare presentations for a final symposium. Project work includes literature review, data gathering, and tool setup. The program also emphasizes authentic research experience and science communication. SRMP fosters deep mentorship and frequently supports students with small stipends and access to CfA resources.
6. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $750–$6,600 depending on project size and participant location
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 1,000 annual participants
Dates: January 27 – November 19 (tentative); 12-22 weeks
Application Deadline: April 8
Eligibility: High school students aged 18 or older who are eligible to work in their country of residence and are not residents of the U.S.-embargoed countries
Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a 12-week commitment that involves working remotely on a coding assignment with one of over 150 participating open-source organizations. You will acquire practical expertise in essential areas such as version control, testing, software licensing, and cooperative development. Beyond writing code, you will cultivate vital professional skills, including technical communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. Some project concepts from 2025 included topics like enhancing web audio APIs, creating AI Chatbots, and implementing Non-GPS Position Estimation Using 3D Camera and Pre-Generated Maps. GSoC's core goal is to expand the worldwide open-source ecosystem while simultaneously enabling you to construct a robust professional portfolio.
7. Amazon Future Engineer
Location: Amazon Headquarters, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Scholarship up to $40,000 ($10K/year) towards an undergraduate degree in engineering or computer science
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; around 400 scholarships each year
Dates: Takes place year–round; scholarship awarded during senior year; internship offered the summer after freshman year of college (8 –12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Typically January
Eligibility: High school seniors in the U.S. who demonstrate financial need | Must have completed or be currently enrolled in a computer science or dual enrollment course (or pass an assessment) | Plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or related fields at an accredited U.S. college | GPA ≥2.3
This program allows high school seniors to earn a renewable scholarship for their computer science or engineering degrees, which also secures a paid internship at Amazon for the summer following their first year of college. During this internship, you collaborate with teams specializing in Amazon's foundational platforms, including AWS, Alexa, and the retail systems, to tackle genuine technical assignments. Beyond contributing to production-level projects alongside engineers, you benefit from attending leadership workshops and receiving guidance from technical mentors. Completing this distinguished scholarship pathway provides both financial support for a university degree and a crucial stepping stone toward an authentic software engineering experience via an Amazon internship.
8. Computer Science Academy - Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Online program provided by Carnegie Mellon University
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced online program
Application Deadline: Not applicable
Eligibility: All high school students
The CMU CS Academy program by Carnegie Mellon University is a free, online, interactive computer science curriculum for high school students that teaches Python programming through engaging graphics and animations. It covers core programming concepts such as variables, functions, conditionals, loops, and basic data structures, organized into 12 units that can be taught as a year-long or semester-based course. You work on activities like coding graphical problems, debugging visual programs, completing exercises to master each topic, and creative projects that encourage exploration of the material in a personalized way. Unique features include a browser-based integrated development environment (IDE) with an autograder capable of evaluating both textual and graphics-based coding tasks, making it accessible and rewarding for beginners.
9. After School Matters
Location: Three locations in Chicago, more details here
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid; more details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; typically large cohort
Dates: Fall session: September 23 – December 13
Application Deadline: Varies as per session; Fall session: September 13
Eligibility: Students who are Chicago residents and attend a Chicago high school | At least 14 years old by the respective session’s start
After School Matters arranges paid internships in STEM disciplines, including information and industrial technology, where you handle computer science assignments within professional settings. Through hands-on projects involving tasks like network setup or resolving software issues, you will gain valuable technical skills. The initiative fosters networking opportunities by connecting you with specialized experts in various computing sectors. Furthermore, it organizes team-based collaborations guided by mentors to advance your proficiency in algorithmic reasoning and data management. The program explores diverse career pathways within computer science and related STEM fields, using placements across different Chicago locations to offer varied exposure to real-world technology applications.
10. Chicago Public Schools Career and Technical Education: Information Technology Pathway
Location: Multiple CPS high schools across Chicago
Cost/Stipend: No cost or stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; typically large cohort
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling; usually aligns with the CPS enrollment cycle
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago Public Schools
The Information Technology Pathway, a component of the Chicago Public School system's Career and Technical Education (CTE) scheme, presents distinct specializations in Networking, Game Creation, Software Development, and Web Design. This curriculum emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning. You will cultivate competencies in architecting and supporting computer networks, engineering mobile applications and games, and coding utilizing Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) languages. Furthermore, the coursework introduces exploration into tangible computing hardware, such as micro:bits, Raspberry Pis, and customizable drones. Over three years, the program delivers instruction in methods for system evaluation, visual aesthetics, and leveraging development frameworks, alongside supplementary utilities for multimedia editing within the context of web production.
11. Microsoft TEALS (Technology Education and Learning Support)
Location: Nationwide, where TEALS partners with U.S. high schools to run classroom CS courses
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size is the size of the CS class at the partnered high school
Dates: Academic year (August/September – May/June)
Application Deadline: No deadline; students register for the TEALS-supported CS course like any other class during their school's course registration period
Eligibility: High-school students at TEALS partner schools
This initiative focuses on creating sustainable and inclusive computer science (CS) education in high schools across the U.S. and Canada, particularly in underserved areas. It operates by pairing volunteers from Microsoft and other companies with existing classroom teachers to co-teach CS courses like Introduction to CS or AP Computer Science. This unique, team-teaching model runs over several academic years, aiming to mentor the classroom teacher to the point where they can eventually lead the CS program independently, thus ensuring the school's computer science offerings are self-perpetuating and long-lasting. You benefit by gaining valuable CS skills and real-world career context from industry professionals.
12. Girls Who Code (GWC) Clubs Program
Location: Globally, hosted in schools, libraries, community centers, and non-profits that apply to become a Club Partner. Students participate at the site hosting the club
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all students who join a local club; 3 – 30 students
Dates: Academic year (September – May)
Application Deadline: Varies by club
Eligibility: Girls and non-binary students in grades 9 – 12
The Girls Who Code (GWC) Clubs program for high school students is a free, after-school initiative designed to close the gender gap in technology by providing a supportive sisterhood where girls can learn computer science in a fun, collaborative environment. The program covers popular tech topics, including web development, cybersecurity, game design, and artificial intelligence (AI). You engage in activities such as completing interactive coding tutorials, building animations or games, and working in teams to create a culminating Girls Who Code Project that solves a real-world problem they care about. Through this program, students develop coding skills in languages like Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and Scratch.
13. Technovation Girls
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $500 for finalist teams, $750 grand prize
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration for teams
Dates: Season runs annually, typically September to April
Application Deadline: March 18
Eligibility: Girls, transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students between the ages of 8–18
Technovation Girls is a global technology entrepreneurship program designed for girls and gender minorities aged 10 to 18. It focuses on teaching participants how to identify real-world problems and create mobile apps using platforms like App Inventor or Thunkable, combined with lessons in AI, coding, entrepreneurship, and pitching. Activities include forming teams to brainstorm ideas, building and coding an app, writing a user adoption and business plan, and pitching the final product, often aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The program also includes mentorship by volunteers, a strong emphasis on teamwork and leadership, and a competition format that encourages innovation.
14. USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not applicable
Dates: Academic year; typically, four monthly contests are held from December through March
Application Deadline: No deadline
Eligibility: All high school students who are U.S. citizens
This competition tests high school students’ algorithmic problem-solving and computer programming skills. It consists of four contests held throughout the academic year, with problems increasing in difficulty across four divisions: Bronze (beginner), Silver (intermediate), Gold (advanced), and Platinum (elite). You engage in activities such as solving complex algorithmic challenges, writing efficient code in languages like C++, Java, or Python, debugging programs, and optimizing solutions for speed and memory. Top performers get the opportunity to qualify for the USA team to compete internationally in the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).
15. American Computer Science League (ACSL)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Team Registration Fee (paid by the school/advisor): $175 per team for Senior, Intermediate, Junior, and Classroom Divisions; $125 for Elementary Division; students compete for FREE once the team is registered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not applicable
Dates: Academic Year. There are four contests held monthly from approximately October through May
Application Deadline: Typically December
Eligibility: All high school students
This prestigious competition is designed to challenge and develop high school students' computer science and programming skills through a series of online contests held throughout the school year. You compete in divisions based on your grade and experience level, with the Senior Division targeted at high schoolers, especially those taking AP Computer Science, covering topics like number systems, Boolean algebra, data structures, recursive functions, algorithms, and computer organization. Activities include a written portion testing theory and problem-solving skills, as well as a programming problem with a 72-hour completion window, fostering both conceptual understanding and coding ability. The competition attracts thousands of students globally, making it a well-respected platform for burgeoning computer scientists.
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