14 Fall STEM Programs for High School Students
Exploring structured STEM opportunities during the school year can help you build technical skills, test your interests, and become comfortable in advanced learning environments. Fall STEM programs for high school students often give you access to projects, professional tools, and subject areas you may not encounter in your regular classes. Many of these opportunities also introduce you to college-level academics, current industry practices, or emerging technologies.
Since fall schedules vary so much, programs come in different formats. Some fall programs for high schoolers run weekly, others follow a short-term intensive model, and a few function like part-time internships. This variety makes it easier to find something that pairs well with your coursework. Participating in a STEM program can also help you stand out in the competitive college admissions process by demonstrating your interest and ability in the field.
In this guide, you’ll find a curated list of 14 fall STEM programs for high school students that highlight experiences across science, tech, engineering, and math.
1. MITES Semester
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 275 students per semester
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the U.S.
This fall STEM program for high school students centers on advanced coursework and structured academic development across several STEM disciplines. You will take two rigorous classes, one project-based and one focused on core concepts like calculus, physics, computer science, or scientific communication. The program integrates research-oriented learning, collaborative problem-solving, and exposure to real scientific fields such as machine learning, thermodynamics, and astrophysics. As the semester progresses, you participate in weekly webinars and guided sessions that emphasize the practical side of STEM and the role it plays in broader societal contexts. You’ll also receive detailed written feedback on your performance.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%; 70 – 100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 – 12 weeks
In this program, you work directly with a start-up on a defined, weeks-long project that evolves from planning to final delivery. Each stage introduces you to how young tech companies organize tasks, iterate on ideas, and use feedback to refine their work. Instead of classroom-style instruction, you learn through hands-on problem-solving with a company coach and mentor who reviews your drafts, helps clarify goals, and keeps the project moving. This format gives you a look at real workflows: setting deliverables, presenting versions, and adjusting to new expectations as the project develops. Throughout the eight weeks, you build professional habits like documenting progress, preparing presentations, and communicating your choices.
3. AMNH’s Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 40 students
Dates: August – June
Application Deadline: Typically, early March
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-graders who live and attend school in New York and have passed classes for the last three or more semesters | Should be taking or have completed a course in any one of the programs listed here
SRMP places you on a year-long research team where you work alongside museum scientists on questions that haven’t been studied before. You meet twice a week, learn how to read scientific literature, collect and analyze data, and use tools that range from DNA extraction kits to astronomical data sets. Since every project is different, you may find yourself exploring anything from species behavior to archaeological evidence to computational models of the universe. Throughout the year, you practice coding, data analysis, and lab techniques while building communication skills through presentations and written updates. The program also emphasizes collaboration; mentors, peers, and staff guide you as you adapt to the expectations of scientific work.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, 1:1 mentoring
Dates: Several cohorts year-round, including Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring; Fall Cohort typically runs between September and November/December
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall Cohort: August 24
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program centers on building a full independent research project with guidance from a university researcher. You begin by narrowing down a topic, then spend several weeks refining a research question through readings and mentor-led discussions. The middle phase focuses on writing, where you draft your paper section by section and incorporate detailed, ongoing feedback. After polishing your final version, you submit it for evaluation and share your work at a symposium. The program’s structure mirrors the academic research process, giving you practice with inquiry, analysis, and formal scientific writing. You can explore an area that fits your interests and be eligible for a UCSD Extended Studies credit at the end.
5. BioBus’s Junior Scientist Internships
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; around 15 interns
Dates: Year–long between July 7 – June 15
Application Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders who live and attend school in NYC
This program blends lab research with science communication, giving you experience on both sides of scientific work. You receive mentorship from researchers while designing your own project, using professional-grade microscopes and other equipment to investigate questions in biology, engineering, or environmental science. Alongside your project, you help lead BioBus outreach sessions for younger students. Since the research topics vary widely, from animal behavior to soil contamination, you get to see how different methods and tools apply across areas of study. By the end, you’ll have practiced experimental design, community engagement, and public communication, all within a structured internship environment that mirrors real scientific workflows.
6. Museum of Science and Industry’s RISE Teen Program
Location: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: October 11 – January 10
Application Deadline: October 1
Eligibility: High school students from the Chicago area
The RISE Teen Program explores the STE(A)M approach, giving you a mix of structured sessions and optional drop-ins that highlight both traditional and unconventional career paths. Instead of following a single track, you move through activities tied to discovery, hands-on experimentation, leadership development, and community engagement. This fall stem program uses museum resources, field experiences, and collaborations with youth organizations to show you how STE(A)M connects to civic issues and real-world challenges. You also get the chance to support museum programming as a volunteer, which helps you practice communication and responsibility in a public-facing environment.
7. Wildlife Conservation Society’s Project TRUE
Location: Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of about $350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Saturdays from September – December
Application Deadline: Typically, early March
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in good academic standing who live in the Bronx
Project TRUE places you on a research team at the Bronx Zoo, where you study wildlife and green spaces through structured, long-term fieldwork. You contribute to ongoing ecological studies led by scientists from Fordham University and the Wildlife Conservation Society, while also designing your own research project within the broader program. Training sessions help you learn how to plan an investigation, collect and analyze data, and prepare results for both scientific and public audiences. The program gives you a full cycle of the scientific process, from field observations to presentations, making it valuable preparation for future environmental or biological studies.
8. Chicago Botanic Garden’s College First Program
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 students
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
College First engages you in environmental science work that blends classroom learning with applied research. You take a college-level course designed to introduce ecological concepts, and you pair that instruction with a long-term project that uses fieldwork and data. The program also brings you into lab and outdoor environments, letting you see how environmental studies operate in practice. Monthly academic-year meetings extend the experience, offering guidance as you prepare for college and continue developing your project skills. This fall STEM program for high school students is especially centered on building your scientific habits: investigation, observation, and presenting your conclusions clearly.
9. NYAS’s Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 5 – 7 members per team
Dates: Typically, September – November
Application Deadline: July
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17
In this fall STEM program for high school students, you join international teams to tackle innovation challenges designed around real-world scientific problems. Instead of following a fixed curriculum, you choose a challenge, form a team on the Academy’s Launchpad platform, and work through phases that mirror a research-and-development cycle. Mentors offer guidance as you explore background materials, plan your approach, test ideas, and prepare your final solution. Since teams include students from many countries, you’ll gain experience navigating cross-cultural collaboration and adapting to different problem-solving styles. Judges from industry and academia evaluate each project at the end of the cycle, giving you feedback grounded in professional standards.
10. NYU Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $100; fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: October 18 – May 2
Application Deadline: Typically, in August/September
Eligibility: High school students who live in New York, have a B average in math, science, and English, and meet the state-determined income criteria
NYU STEP functions as an academic enrichment program where you strengthen your foundation in math, science, and research while gradually adding more advanced work as you progress. You engage in courses ranging from algebra through calculus, plus science and English seminars that sharpen analytical and communication skills. The program also introduces you to supervised research, allowing you to practice scientific methods, use university resources, and present findings at organized events. Alongside coursework, STEP incorporates workshops on standardized tests, college admissions, and career exploration so you understand how your academic choices connect to future pathways.
11. Alley Pond Environmental Center’s Field Biology Internships
Location: Queens, NYC
Cost: $150; financial aid available on request
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Six days across September – November
Application Deadline: August 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old and able to participate in outdoor activities for at least 2 hours
This fall stem internship brings you into New York City ecosystems to study organisms in their natural environments, giving you hands-on experience with scientific observation. You move between sites such as wetlands, forests, and coastal areas while practicing techniques like biodiversity surveys, bird monitoring, soil and water sampling, and macroinvertebrate identification. Each session connects classroom concepts to practical fieldwork, helping you understand how environmental data is collected and interpreted. You also develop research habits like keeping detailed records, comparing data across sites, and discussing your findings with mentors and peers. Along the way, you meet local environmental professionals who introduce you to regional ecological issues and conservation practices.
12. Dolphin Research Center’s Internship Opportunities
Location: Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by department and season
Dates: September – December
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students capable of lifting 50 pounds and working outside
This program gives you a close look at how a marine mammal center actually runs, with internships spread across animal care, education, research, IT, medical work, and visual communications. You spend most of the week in your assigned department and one day helping other teams through the Volunteer Resources Pool, so you learn both specialized tasks and the day-to-day operations that keep the facility moving. You also set an independent study goal, which keeps the experience focused and useful, whether or not you’re earning college credit. This fall STEM program for high school students lets you contribute to an active marine research and training facility.
13. Textron Aviation’s High School Internships
Location: Textron Aviation, Wichita, KS
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, >150 interns
Dates: Part-time internships available from September to November
Application Deadline: Anytime based on business needs
Eligibility: High school students who are 16+ and are U.S. citizens | Fall applicants need a school schedule that allows for internship work during the week
Textron Aviation gives high school students a chance to work at an aviation company. These part-time internships cover everything from engineering and IT to interior design, customer experience, communications, and manufacturing. The school-year schedule is flexible to fit around your class load. You build industry skills early, especially if you’re curious about aerospace, tech, or business operations. This fall STEM program for high school students is a practical way to understand how an aviation company functions while earning experience that translates directly into future technical or corporate paths.
14. NYU Precollege
Location: Virtual/New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: 3-credit course: $6,006; 4-credit course: $8,008; additional costs for international students can be found here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; around 300 placements annually
Dates: September 2 – December 11
Application Deadline: August 15
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th graders with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
NYU Precollege lets you spend a term studying actual undergraduate courses and earning credits while getting a preview of college life. You can explore subjects you’re already drawn to or try something completely new across fields like languages, journalism, engineering, business, and the arts. Fall and spring terms run lighter, with only one course recommended, so you can balance it with high school. There’s also an optional writing workshop taught by NYU faculty for students who want to sharpen their academic writing before college. As a fall STEM program for high school students, it offers a serious academic experience and the chance to work with top-tier faculty while building confidence for future college-level coursework.
Image Source - MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science Logo