13 Free Online Summer Programs for High School Students
Online summer programs are a valuable way for high school students to develop skills, discover career interests, and connect with mentors. These programs often provide you with exposure to industries and practical training without requiring significant financial investment. Leading universities and organizations offer free options that deliver the same level of rigor and insight as in-person opportunities.
Online programs come with expanded access, letting you learn from experts and peers from around the world. They offer flexibility while providing a meaningful academic and professional experience. We’ve identified the top 13 free online summer programs for high school students worth exploring. These programs cater to a wide range of interests, including marketing, coding, neuroscience, and more.
1. Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors
The Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences is a five-week online program for high school juniors and seniors interested in neuroscience. Through virtual presentations, you will explore key topics in brain science and related areas. The program also features professional development sessions that introduce you to potential STEM career paths. You’ll receive instruction in fundamental lab techniques and learn how research is carried out in neurological studies. If you finish the internship, you’ll get a certificate of completion.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies according to program (100% financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Dates: Multiple 8-12-week cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours per week
Ladder Internships offers you the chance to gain real-world experience by working with fast-growing start-ups across fields such as technology, AI, healthcare, and journalism, among others. Many of these companies are scaling quickly and raising significant funding. Over the course of this eight-week virtual program, you’ll collaborate directly with a start-up team while receiving support from a dedicated Ladder Coach. You’ll work on impactful projects and present your results to the company at the conclusion of the internship. To see the full range of opportunities, you can review the application form.
3. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; waivers are available | None
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University provides you with the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research under the guidance of faculty mentors. During the program, you gain hands-on experience with advanced technologies while exploring areas such as neuroscience, bioengineering, nanoscience, cybersecurity, and climate science, among others. The internship helps you build essential skills in scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving, while also connecting you with STEM professionals. You may get a chance to publish their work in scientific journals or present at conferences. Previous projects have included research in renewable energy, robotics, infectious disease, and even exoplanet discovery.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
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 currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a non-profit initiative designed to provide gifted students from low-income backgrounds with access to high-quality research opportunities at no cost. Building on the well-known Lumiere Research Scholar Program, it offers you a similar individualized mentorship and research experience.
Through the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program, you are paired one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to design and complete an independent research project. Over 12 weeks, you’ll explore a topic of your choice in fields such as psychology, physics, economics, computer science, data science, engineering, chemistry, or international relations. The program concludes with an original research paper reflecting your work. You can apply here!
5. NASA’s OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual / NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Paid; some opportunities are unpaid
Application Deadline: February 28 (summer)
Dates: Late May/Early June – August (summer)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, full-time high school students; at least 16 at the time of application; a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale required
NASA’s OSTEM internships give high school and college students the chance to participate in STEM-focused work. You are matched with mentors ranging from engineers to research scientists while contributing to projects in aeronautics, technology, and space exploration. There could even be part-time or full-time opportunities available at NASA centers and facilities. The program allows you to gain professional experience and develop practical skills while supporting national research initiatives.
6. Girls Who Code SIP Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 16
Dates: July 7 – July 18 (U.S. only); July 28 – August 8 (U.S. and International students)
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th graders
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a two-week online summer program for high school students interested in learning to code. You will work on projects in game design while exploring topics such as web development, user experience, and cybersecurity. The schedule combines live instruction with breakout sessions led by professionals from partner tech companies. In addition, you’ll join workshops focused on college and career preparation while connecting with peers in a supportive community.
7. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: June 2 - June 13 | July 7 - July 18 | July 21 - August 1 | August 4 - August 15
Eligibility: High school girls and gender-expansive students aged 13-18 can apply
Kode With Klossy offers two-week summer camps that introduce high school students of underrepresented genders to coding. You can choose from four tracks: web development, mobile app development, machine learning, and data science. In the web track, you’ll build interactive websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The machine learning option covers Python and natural language processing to create a chatbot, while the data science track teaches SQL and Python for visualizing data. If you select mobile apps, you’ll learn Swift and SwiftUI to design iOS applications. Each camp will end the program with a completed project, for which you don’t need any prior coding experience.
8. Girls Who Code Pathways Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 16
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Current 9th- 12th graders, including graduating seniors
Pathways is a six-week technology program that introduces you to artificial intelligence, web development, and cybersecurity. You’ll work on independent projects while strengthening coding skills in Python, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The program combines self-paced learning with live sessions featuring professionals from leading tech companies. You’ll also connect with peers through virtual meetups and networking events. With its focus on skill building and career exploration, the program helps you apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and develop professional connections.
9. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000. Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: December 9 - January 24
Dates: June 18 - July 2
Eligibility: 9th-graders or rising 10th-graders in the summer who are over 14 years by the program's start are eligible to apply
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program that introduces you to the field of artificial intelligence. You’ll take part in lectures and hands-on research projects focused on topics such as medical AI, robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing. The program is organized with the Stanford AI Lab and provides mentorship from AI experts. You will collaborate with peers, gain exposure to academic and career opportunities in AI, and receive guidance from professionals. Career workshops are also included in the program, giving you the chance to explore how AI technologies can be applied to real-world challenges.
10. American Cancer Society - High School Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None | $500
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the institute
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old when the program starts
The American Cancer Society’s High School Program provides you with a two-week virtual summer experience centered on cancer research. The program, aimed at students interested in healthcare, cancer research, or health sciences, blends practical learning with career exploration. You’ll collaborate with the eCLOSE Institute on research projects and case studies to deepen your understanding of cancer biology and related fields. After the summer, you’ll have an opportunity to stay involved through year-round networking and career development activities. The program offers exposure to research while guiding you toward future opportunities in science and health.
11. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 + $40 application fee (full financial aid available for both application and program fees) | None
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade in the fall, over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week online program during which you’ll take part in technical lectures on AI fundamentals and their medical applications, while also engaging in daily mentoring and group research projects. There would be experts from academia, government, and industry leading guest sessions on emerging technologies in medicine. There will also be career-oriented “Lunch and Learn” events that highlight opportunities at the intersection of technology and healthcare. After the core program, you may choose to continue with extended research experiences. You will also earn a Certificate of Completion in recognition of your work once you complete the internship.
12. Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,500 + $95 application fee; financial aid available
Dates: Program 1: June 23 - July 4 | Program 2: July 14 - 25
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on the first day of the program
The Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship gives you an introduction to cardiothoracic surgery. Through lectures and guided lab sessions, you will study cardiac and thoracic anatomy, physiology, and surgical diseases. Stanford faculty and surgical residents will teach you technical skills such as suturing, knot tying, dissection, valve replacement, and coronary artery bypass. The program also covers ECG interpretation, echocardiography, and imaging techniques to support clinical understanding. In addition, you’ll gain experience handling surgical instruments and examining porcine heart anatomy to explore cardiac structures in detail.
13. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Virtual / In-person at FPRI
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; Rolling
Dates: Spring: February – May | Summer: June – August | Fall: September – December
Eligibility: High school students skilled in writing and research
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) offers online internships for high school students interested in exploring international relations. As an intern, you’ll collaborate with professionals to build specialized skills while strengthening workplace abilities such as communication, teamwork, and time management. You would also attend foreign policy seminars, career workshops, and FPRI-hosted events while contributing to research that may be considered for publication. The program allows you to choose a focus area—research, communications, event planning, or operations—based on your interests. Whether assisting with studies or supporting organizational efforts, you gain valuable exposure to global affairs.
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