15 Free Math Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in math, consider participating in a free math program. Mathematics goes far beyond classroom equations, and structured math programs offer more advanced learning for high school students. These programs give you the chance to strengthen your mathematical foundation while engaging in problem-solving, workshops, and research. Many of these programs connect you with faculty, professionals, and peers who share your interests, offering you exposure to practical skills and industry knowledge.
Many top colleges and organizations run free math programs for high school students, making it possible to explore advanced concepts and applications of mathematics. To make your search easier, we’ve put together a list of 15 free math programs for high school students.
1. √Mathroots @ MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 1 – 15
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Students, ages 14–18, who are U.S. citizens or attending high school in the U.S. (before the last year of high school)
√Mathroots is a two-week summer program at MIT designed for high school students who want to explore mathematics beyond their regular coursework. The program blends classroom instruction, group problem-solving, and guest lectures to introduce participants to advanced concepts and evidence-based reasoning. You will tackle problems that connect research-style mathematics with competition-level challenges, encouraging both creativity and analytical thinking. A central part of the experience is collaboration, as you will work closely with peers who share a strong interest in mathematics.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies by program (full financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Ladder Internship Program is an eight-week virtual experience that connects high school students with high-growth startups in industries such as artificial intelligence, health technology, marketing, and consulting. You will collaborate directly with company managers on real-world projects while also receiving guidance from a Ladder Coach, who provides feedback and mentorship throughout the program. Alongside project work, you’ll take part in professional development sessions that address workplace skills such as communication, organization, and time management. The program concludes with you presenting your work to the company you were placed with, offering both practical experience and exposure to professional expectations.
3. IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp at The University of Minnesota
Location: University of Minnesota campus (limited remote slots available)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23–27
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Students must currently be enrolled in high school and have completed a year-long course in single variable calculus by the end of the school year; High school seniors who will have graduated by July are also eligible
The IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp at the University of Minnesota is a week-long commuter program that introduces you to mathematical modeling as a tool for solving real-world problems. You’ll work in small teams to analyze scenarios such as predicting the spread of diseases, assessing the environmental impact of climate change, or studying the effects of traffic on infrastructure. Faculty and mentors guide you through the process of applying mathematical concepts to practical issues, from setting up models to interpreting results. The program culminates in presentations where teams share their findings with peers and faculty.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
5. Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 21 – August 2
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors from underrepresented communities who are 16 or older when the program begins
SAMS is a fully funded summer program that supports high school juniors from underrepresented backgrounds in preparing for future studies in STEM. The program begins with a virtual preparatory session in June, followed by a six-week residential experience on the Carnegie Mellon campus. During the summer, you’ll attend seminars in mathematics and science, participate in workshops on college readiness and financial literacy, and engage in a faculty-supervised STEM research project. The coursework is combined with skill-building sessions in writing, quantitative methods, and computational techniques. A central feature of the program is the “Student to Scholar” credit-bearing course, which emphasizes personal and academic development. It concludes with a symposium where you will present your research findings.
6. Mathematical Modeling at Mercy University (M3U)
Location: Mercy University Westchester Campus, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; $800 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly stated; selective
Dates: July 7 – August 2
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 with a B average or higher; women and minority students
M3U introduces high school students to the use of mathematics in addressing practical challenges from the physical, natural, and environmental sciences. You will engage in a mix of classroom instruction, computer-based work, and laboratory activities, applying mathematical tools to study real-world problems. There will be field trips to research centers and museums, which complement the curriculum by providing context and exposure to professional scientific environments. The program also covers talks from guest speakers who discuss ethical issues in science, career pathways, and strategies for college preparation. You’ll get to use various software tools to analyze data, develop models, and complete a research project report that is presented to peers and family members at the program’s conclusion.
7. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 100 students globally
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors with strong grades and test scores—at least 740 in PSAT math and 700 in reading, or 33 in ACT math and 34 in verbal
RSI is a six-week residential program that blends intensive STEM coursework with independent research. The program begins with a week of advanced classes taught by university faculty, followed by five weeks of mentored research under the guidance of scientists and engineers. You will work on projects in fields such as mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering, gaining experience with the full research process from reviewing scientific literature to preparing a final paper and presentation. There will be evening lectures and seminars that will bring you into contact with leading figures in science and technology, including Nobel Prize winners and industry innovators. You would also take part in field trips to local scientific and cultural sites that complement their academic work.
8. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents; At least 16 years by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University enables high school students to participate in faculty-led research across disciplines such as mathematics, science, and engineering. You will be matched with a research group and mentor, and will work on projects that involve hands-on investigation and exposure to professional research methods. For example, if you’re placed in applied mathematics and statistics, you’ll get to study algorithms, machine learning, or mathematical modeling related to biological and medical systems. You’ll need to prepare a research abstract and create a poster to present at the program’s concluding symposium.
9. MIT PRIMES
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-long program which begins in January and ends in the following December/January
Application deadline: November 18
Eligibility: High school students living in the Greater Boston area
MIT PRIMES is a year-long research program that pairs high school students with academic mentors to conduct in-depth projects in mathematics. The program has two main pathways: the research track, which involves advanced study and original research under close mentorship, and the reading track, which focuses on guided exploration of mathematical literature as preparation for future research. You will begin with an advanced reading period in which you work through mentor-assigned material and produce a report. During the active research period, you’ll meet regularly with your mentor to develop and analyze mathematical problems, often connected to topics such as combinatorics, geometry, or number theory. By the end of the year, you’ll submit a written paper and present your work at the PRIMES conference, with some projects going on to appear in competitions or academic journals.
10. MITES Summer
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Late June through early August
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The MITES Summer program offers high school students a six-week residential experience that mirrors the rigor of a college semester. You’ll enroll in five courses, including advanced mathematics, science, and humanities, along with an elective in areas such as architecture, genomics, or electronics. The curriculum includes lab tours, group projects, and seminars with professionals. You would also benefit from workshops and advising sessions that cover the college application process, financial aid, and academic preparation. Living on the MIT campus allows you to experience college life while engaging with peers from across the country.
11. UCLA’s Mathematics Achievement Program
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Dates: This is a four-year program that runs from October to May each year, with sessions held on three Saturdays of each month
Application deadline: April 26
Eligibility: Students currently in the 8th grade who will complete Algebra 1 by June and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Mathematics Achievement Program at UCLA is a long-term initiative designed to support you throughout all four years of high school. It supplements school-based instruction by placing you in math classes that either match your current level or review the prior year’s material. Some of the activities in the program include hands-on workshops, group projects, lab tours, and guest lectures by UCLA faculty, students, and alumni. The program also organizes field trips to companies in fields such as aerospace, energy, and technology to highlight career applications of mathematics.
12. Illinois Tech Elevate College Math in Action: Real-World Problem Solving
Location: Virtual
Cost: $300 + $100 application fee; financial aid available + upon completing the program, you may be eligible to secure a $500 scholarship for future education
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – 20
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders between the ages of 14 and 17
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Math in Action program is an online summer opportunity that emphasizes the practical use of mathematics in everyday problem-solving. You will participate in virtual sessions where abstract concepts are connected to real-world scenarios through demonstrations and guided activities. Over the course of the program, you’ll work through structured problem-solving exercises that illustrate how mathematics underpins applications in science, engineering, and technology. The program highlights the value of mathematical reasoning in addressing challenges beyond the classroom, helping you build both conceptual understanding and applied skills.
13. MathQuantum High School Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 2 weeks in July
Application deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students interested in Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and/or Quantum (Information) Science; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The MathQuantum High School Fellowship is a two-week online summer program supported by the National Science Foundation that introduces you to the mathematical foundations of quantum information science (QIS). The program combines lectures, coding labs, group discussions, and a final mini-project to provide exposure to both theoretical and applied aspects of QIS. Some of the core topics include linear algebra, elements of quantum mechanics, and cryptography, with an emphasis on understanding how these areas connect to current research. You will also explore practical tools, such as QLab, and concepts like ion traps, which are central to modern quantum technologies.
14. Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth
Location: Online and on-campus tracks available
Cost: Ranges from $191 – $2,127 for the online track and from $3,149 – $7,501 for the on-campus track, depending on the course (need-based financial aid is available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring and summer cohorts are available; individually paced courses run through the whole year
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Varies with each course
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers a wide selection of mathematics courses for high school students, available in both online and in-person formats. The program includes foundational courses such as algebra, geometry, and logic, as well as enrichment opportunities that connect mathematics to other disciplines. There are specialized classes that allow you to study areas such as game theory, statistics, economics, and cryptography, while others focus on preparing for competitions or advancing academic standing. The instruction is led by experienced faculty, and you engage in a mix of lessons, assignments, and problem-solving activities. Some courses take a cross-disciplinary approach, such as exploring mathematics through philosophy or computer science.
15. Mathematics Courses by Harvard University
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free; extra fee for a verified certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Varies by course
Application deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Open to all
Harvard University provides access to several free mathematics courses through its Professional and Lifelong Learning platform, with content taught by faculty from Harvard and partner institutions. These courses span a range of advanced topics, including calculus, probability, statistics, and linear algebra, as well as interdisciplinary areas like data science and genomics. Many courses incorporate the use of R programming and other open-source tools, linking mathematical theory with computational practice. You can also take specialized offerings such as functional genomics or reproducible data science, which highlight the role of quantitative reasoning in scientific investigation.
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