15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Houston, TX
If you are a high school student, summer programs can be a worthwhile way to gain industry exposure, build skills, and expand your professional network. Summer programs allow you to work alongside mentors, contribute to projects, and explore fields such as engineering, data science, design, or research. As a participant, you can learn how to conduct research and present your work to an audience.
Houston is home to many universities and research institutes that offer free summer programs for high schoolers. You can participate in internships in fields like biomedical research, engineering, technology, and the arts. Attending a competitive summer program is also a strong signal of academic ability, which can boost your college applications. To help you get started, we’ve compiled 15 free summer programs for high school students in Houston, TX.
1. High School Research Academy (HSRA) Summer Program
Location: University of Texas at Austin, College of Natural Sciences
Cost/Stipend: Free for scholarship recipients; need-based aid and stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited by lab availability
Dates: June 9 – July 16 (leaves on June 19 and July 3–4 for holidays)
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Texas residents aged 15 years or above who are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors; preference for rising juniors or seniors
The High School Research Academy (HSRA) at the University of Texas at Austin is a five-week, hands-on STEM research program for motivated high school students across Texas. Working in active College of Natural Sciences labs, you’ll explore research fields such as genetics, neuroscience, data science, ecology, and genome engineering. You will spend up to 25 hours per week collaborating with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates while earning UT extension course credit. The program also features weekly seminars, professional skill-building workshops, and concludes with a poster presentation at the HSRA Research Symposium. With need-based scholarships that cover tuition and provide stipends, this opportunity offers an accessible introduction into the world of academic research for Houston-area students.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid available for qualifying students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; varies depending on the cohort and company
Dates: Multiple cohorts; Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadlines: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program is a selective virtual internship experience that connects ambitious high school students with fast-growing start-ups worldwide. You’ll work on real-world projects in fields such as AI/ML, engineering, biotech, sustainability, marketing, and consulting, collaborating directly with startup founders and team leads. Throughout the program, you will receive mentorship from both company managers and a Ladder Coach to develop professional, communication, and project management skills. The experience concludes with a presentation of your work to the host company.
3. High School Emerging Researcher Experience
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited to top applicants
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16 years or above with a minimum GPA of 3.5
The High School Emerging Researcher Experience at Houston Methodist Hospital offers an 8-week research internship for motivated high school students interested in biomedical and translational science. You’ll work full-time in a professional research environment alongside undergraduate interns and Houston Methodist faculty, gaining hands-on experience with lab procedures, data analysis, and experimental design. You will be paired with a faculty mentor who guides you through a specialized project and helps develop skills in critical thinking and scientific communication. The program also includes a career and professional development curriculum, networking events, seminars, and a final research symposium where students present their work.
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. High School Summer Research Internship in Infectious Diseases
Location: University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,000 scholarship provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; only two students are selected annually
Dates: Typically runs June – July (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Spring (varies annually)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in math/science; strong interest in microbiology or infectious diseases
The High School Summer Research Internship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy offers high school students rare access to professional biomedical research. Over 8 weeks, you’ll work closely with faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers in infectious disease pharmacotherapy. You will receive hands-on training in laboratory techniques such as biological sample processing, PCR assays, bacterial plating, and data analysis. You will complete weekly written reports and deliver a final oral and written presentation of an independent research project. With only two students selected each year and a $2,000 scholarship, this program offers one of the most rigorous and rewarding free summer STEM programs for high school students in Houston, especially for those students interested in microbiology or pharmaceutical sciences.
6. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; $7,200 stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; only 6 students chosen annually
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors who are 18 years or older by program start; must be available for the full 10 weeks
Hosted by the School of Health Professions at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the King Foundation High School Summer Program offers Texas high school seniors an opportunity to dive into biomedical research. Over 10 weeks, you’ll work full-time in an MD Anderson lab under the mentorship of a faculty researcher, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as pathology, oncology, and molecular biology. In addition to lab work, you will attend faculty seminars and exclusive summer-program events, including poster and elevator-speech competitions. The experience concludes with a final presentation and celebration luncheon.
7. DocPrep Program – Baylor College of Medicine
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60 students and 12 teacher mentors selected annually
Dates: Typically one week in June or July
Application Deadline: March (applications available through affiliated schools)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from affiliated South Texas ISD schools, including DeBakey High School in Houston
The DocPrep Program at Baylor College of Medicine is a week-long academic enrichment experience introducing high school students to the health professions and biomedical sciences. Participants attend medical lectures, simulation lab sessions, and college counseling workshops, while also engaging in communication training led by Rice University graduate students. You’ll work closely with Baylor faculty, physicians, and medical students, who serve as mentors and program counselors throughout the program. Designed for students from partner South Texas high schools — including Houston’s DeBakey High School — DocPrep provides hands-on exposure to healthcare careers and the professional environment of the Texas Medical Center, making it one of the premier free summer programs for high school students in Houston seeking early experience in medicine.
8. Digital Health Young Scholars Program
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; open to students from designated Houston-area schools
Dates: June 9 – 26
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Current 10th-grade and 11th-grade students from selected Houston-area schools; no prior programming experience required
The Digital Health Young Scholars Program at Rice University is a free, 3-week STEM summer program that introduces high school students to digital circuitry, computer science, and engineering research with healthcare applications. Hosted by the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Under-resourced Populations (PATHS-UP) research center, the program helps you explore the intersection of technology and medicine. Under the mentorship of Rice faculty, graduate students, and Houston educators, you’ll design and test biomedical devices using instruments such as pulse oximeters, accelerometers, and GPS modules. The program emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving while providing insight into how digital health technologies are shaping modern medical treatment.
9. MohanLab Summer Internship Program for High School Students (MLSI)
Location: MohanLab, Houston, TX (Sugar Land campus)
Cost/Stipend: Free (no funding provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited placements available
Dates: June 8 – 31
Application Deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (completed 11th grade) with strong academic performance and interest in biomedical sciences, bioengineering, or computer science
The MohanLab Summer Internship Program (MLSI) is an 8-week biomedical and computational research experience for high school students interested in STEM and healthcare innovation. The program begins with one to two weeks of laboratory training covering essential scientific techniques, followed by six weeks of hands-on research under the guidance of scientists and graduate students. You’ll contribute to ongoing research projects in areas such as biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and big data analytics (including AI and image analysis). Interns present their research in an oral symposium at the end of the program, and exceptional projects may lead to co-authorship on publications. Although no stipend is provided, MLSI offers one of the most academically rigorous free summer research opportunities for high school students in Houston, ideal for those aiming to pursue careers in biomedical or computational science.
10. Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship (RGVSSI)
Location: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – School of Public Health (Brownsville) and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville and Edinburg Campuses)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $750 stipend provided upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited to rising juniors and seniors from Rio Grande Valley school districts
Dates: June 12 – 25
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from Rio Grande Valley school districts interested in pursuing science degrees
The Rio Grande Valley Summer Science Internship (RGVSSI) offers Texas high school students a 6-week, hands-on introduction to university-level STEM research through mentorship and practical learning. Interns are paired with faculty mentors from UTHealth School of Public Health and UT Rio Grande Valley, where they contribute to ongoing projects in public health, biology, and biomedical sciences. You will complete at least 120 hours of science-related work and present your findings at a closing symposium. The program focuses on research exposure, scientific writing, and communication while building academic confidence among future scientists. With a $750 completion stipend, RGVSSI provides a fully funded and meaningful summer experience for motivated high school students interested in scientific careers.
11. DACCPM Summer Research Program
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,600 stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited placements available each summer
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: High school students residing in the U.S. only who are 18 years or above and in good academic standing; must be available for the full 8–10-week program
The Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine (DACCPM) Summer Research Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center is a 10-week biomedical research internship for students interested in cancer biology, pharmacology, and translational medicine. Participants are paired with faculty mentors to conduct research on topics such as opioid effects, chemotherapy-induced pain, and immune function in cancer recovery. The program begins with a Cancer Biology Boot Camp and includes workshops on graduate school preparation, research ethics, and data analysis. You will engage in either basic or clinical research depending on your mentor assignment, and present your findings at a concluding poster symposium at the end of the summer. With a $3,600 stipend for high school interns, this competitive program provides a unique opportunity for Houston-area students to gain hands-on experience at one of the nation’s top cancer research institutions.
12. UTHealth Pathway Programs
Location: UTHealth Houston, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited to partnered Houston-area high schools
Dates: Summer sessions and year-round components (vary depending on the program)
Application Deadline: Spring (varies depending on the school)
Eligibility: High school students from partnered Houston-area schools; preference given to first-generation or underrepresented students in healthcare fields
The UTHealth Pathway Programs, including the Emerging Health Professions (EHP) and Healthcare Exploration and Learning (HEAL) initiatives, introduce high school students to healthcare careers through mentorship and hands-on learning. The EHP program is a full-day summer experience that allows you to explore various health professions, interact with medical and dental students, and participate in simulation labs and admissions workshops at UTHealth’s professional schools. The HEAL program runs during the academic year, with McGovern Medical School students leading monthly sessions at local high schools to discuss medical specialties and pathways into healthcare. Both programs are completely free and offer early interest in medicine, dentistry, and public health. This makes them the most accessible free summer programs for high school students in Houston seeking healthcare exposure and mentorship.
13. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Hybrid and in-person placements available nationwide (including New York, Houston)
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid internship opportunities available through partner companies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 150 Fellows selected annually
Dates: Typically May – August (8–10 weeks; exact dates depend on partner company)
Application Deadline: Rolling until April
Eligibility: High school seniors and undergraduate students (graduating Spring in the coming year or later) with a minimum 3.0 GPA; must be at least 18 years old and authorized to work in the U.S.
The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship connects high-achieving students with paid summer internships in the media, entertainment, and technology industries. Each summer, approximately 150 Fellows are placed at leading partner organizations — including broadcasters, production studios, tech firms, and PR agencies — gaining hands-on experience in areas such as journalism, software development, business strategy, and digital media. Fellows also receive ongoing professional mentorship, resume coaching, and networking support from EBF staff and alumni. Open to Houston-area students seeking meaningful career experience, the EBF Fellowship is one of the most prestigious free summer programs interested in technology, media, or communications careers.
14. Moran Ecoteen Volunteer Program – Houston Museum of Natural Science
Location: Houston Museum of Natural Science (Hermann Park, Sugar Land, and George Observatory sites)
Cost/Stipend: Free; volunteer-based
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Large summer cohort; selective depending on application and interview
Dates: Summer sessions; minimum 2-week commitment required
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Rising 9th-grade to 11th-grade students interested in science, education, or community engagement
The Moran Ecoteen Volunteer Program at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) is one of the city’s largest and most engaging free summer opportunities for high school students in Houston. As an Ecoteen, you’ll assist educators with Summer Camps at HMNS, help lead activities, and interact with museum visitors in the exhibit halls. First-year participants volunteer for at least one 2-week session, gaining experience in science communication, teamwork, and leadership. Returning Ecoteens may also lead hands-on presentations using real museum specimens and support outreach events. This program is perfect for students who want to combine their passion for science with community service while building practical teaching and collaboration skills in a fun, museum-based environment.
15. Build Up High School Internship – DPR Construction
Location: Various U.S. construction sites, including Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; hourly wages with a weekly pay cycle
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; placements vary depending on the project and location
Dates: 8-week summer program (35–40 hours per week)
Application Deadline: Opens early in the year, program details released in January
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or recent graduates whose family income falls below the HUD Median Family Income (MFI) in their county; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and able to commute daily to a job site
The Build Up High School Internship by DPR Construction offers a rare opportunity for Houston-area students to gain experience in commercial construction. Over the duration of 8 weeks, interns work alongside project engineers, superintendents, and managers on active job sites, learning the logistics of large-scale construction projects from the ground up. You’ll use professional tools such as BIM 360, CMiC, HammerTech, and Primavera while contributing to tasks in safety, scheduling, and site coordination. The program also emphasizes communication and leadership through mentorship and a final presentation project. Paid hourly and often supplemented with transportation stipends, Build Up is one of the few free summer programs for high school students in Houston that combines hands-on technical learning with career exposure in construction, engineering, and project management.
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