13 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Maryland
If you’re a motivated high school student, summer programs are a great way to build your skills, explore new academic interests, and learn about potential career paths. There are many summer programs for high school students hosted by top universities, established organizations, and research centers. These programs can give you practical experience, mentorship, and projects to highlight in your future college and job applications. Early exposure to different fields through summer programs can play a crucial role in helping you make informed decisions about your future.
Maryland offers a range of free summer programs for high school students through its universities, research institutes, and federal agencies. Whether you’re interested in conducting physics research or solving mathematical problems, there’s a summer program that fits your goals. To help you get started, we’ve put together this list of 13 free summer programs for high school students in Maryland.
1. Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: None; students earn a stipend of $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 8 - August 8
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Baltimore City Public School students living within Baltimore City; summer between junior and senior year or post-senior summer
This is a competitive, paid research program that offers hands-on exposure to quantitative biophysics at Johns Hopkins University. You’ll spend your summer working in state-of-the-art laboratories alongside graduate students, postdocs, and faculty, gaining practical research experience. The program combines both lab work and classroom learning. You start by preparing reagents and learning core techniques, then move to microbiology methods and DNA protein engineering. You’ll also work in a high-tech teaching lab with advanced instruments and be supported by close supervision. By the end of the five weeks, you’ll have developed real scientific skills that many students don’t get until college.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; there is no publicly available acceptance rate
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: January, May, September, November, depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students willing to work 10 - 20 hrs/week
Ladder Internships is a selective, fully remote program where you work directly with a high-growth startup on a meaningful, real-world project. While this program isn’t technically one of the free summer programs for high school students in Maryland, many students receive full financial aid, which makes it appear on this list. You’ll be matched with a startup in areas such as tech, AI/ML, marketing, health tech, journalism, finance, or consulting. During the 8-week internship, you’ll collaborate closely with your startup manager and a ladder coach while contributing to real tasks that matter to the company. At the end of the program, you'll present your final work to the team, giving you a strong portfolio piece and professional experience that can strengthen college applications. Since the program is fully remote, you can participate from anywhere while still building strong professional connections.
3. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 21 - July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; students 15 - 17 years old
If you’re passionate about the humanities or social sciences, TASS offers a fully funded, immersive academic experience. You’ll spend 6 weeks studying complex social issues through discussions, lectures, essays, and group work, led by university faculty. TASS is known for building close-knit academic communities and encouraging students to practice democratic decision-making within residential life. You’ll live on campus, meet peers from across the country, and build your writing and discussion skills. The program is well regarded by admissions officers because of its rigor and selectivity.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None (fully funded)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: January, May, September, November
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic achievement (GPA ~3.3+); no prior research experience required
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers a fully funded research experience for high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. You’ll work one-on-one with a Ph.D. researcher to develop an independent research project from scratch, similar to the work that undergraduates do. Over 12 weeks, you’ll select a topic in fields such as psychology, physics, economics, computer science, engineering, or international relations. Your mentor will guide you through literature review, research design, writing, and analysis so that you complete the program with a real research paper. Since the program is remote, you can participate from Maryland or anywhere in the world. It’s a strong option if you want a deep academic experience without any cost barriers.
5. ASPIRE Program (Johns Hopkins University APL)
Location: Laurel, MD (in-person) plus virtual options
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10%
Dates: Starting from the last week of June
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are U.S. citizens and aged 15+ years with a GPA of 2.8+
ASPIRE connects high school students with mentors at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. You’ll work on a technical project aligned with your interests, gaining experience in areas such as engineering, computer science, or biomedical topics, depending on your placement. The program offers both in-person and virtual internships, though onboarding and equipment pickup may require an in-person visit. You’ll build technical and teamwork skills, attend periodic check-ins, and collaborate with STEM professionals. The biology-related placements are highly competitive, so applying early and demonstrating a strong interest is recommended.
6. WIE Rise Summer Research Program (University of Maryland)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 27 - 31
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Rising 9th - 12th graders
This program introduces students to engineering through online, research-focused learning. You’ll explore different engineering fields and learn from current Maryland Engineering students, who lead the program. Throughout the week, you’ll learn to read scientific papers, complete simple at-home science experiments, and take virtual tours of engineering labs. You’ll also hear from university students about research projects, college experiences, and academic pathways in engineering. Although the program is designed to support women in engineering, it is open to everyone, making it inclusive and supportive.
7. ESTEEM / SER-Quest Summer Program (University of Maryland)
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 - August 1 (tentative)
Application Deadline: April 25th
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders and commuters only; GPA of 3.2+ with no C’s in math or science
This intensive, engineering-focused program gives you hands-on research experience and structured academic training. Over 4 weeks, you’ll work on an engineering research project, learn key concepts in class sessions, and prepare a research proposal with guidance from faculty and student mentors. You’ll also complete literature reviews, build technical writing skills, and participate in career readiness workshops. Students attend the program full-time on weekdays, making it a rigorous and rewarding option if you’re interested in STEM pathways.
8. Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE)
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: None; stipend provided upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 - August 14 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; high school freshmen through seniors from households under 200% of the federal poverty limit
SARE combines lab research at Johns Hopkins with academic tutoring and skill-building. You’ll participate in biomedical research while strengthening your maths, writing, and analytical skills through structured classes, mentorship, and daily assignments. The program focuses on personal and academic growth, with goal setting, receiving ongoing feedback, and building resilience. Since this is a commuter program, you’ll spend each day at Hopkins participating in lab activities and tutoring sessions. Students who complete the program earn a stipend and valuable STEM experience.
9. Summer Academy of Actuarial and Mathematical Sciences (SAAMS)
Location: Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: None; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive (application plus interview)
Dates: June 29 - July 24
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline: February 28 | General Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders or accepted Morgan State freshmen
SAAMS is an academic enrichment program focused on math, actuarial science, and computer science. You’ll take college-style courses, attend field trips, and participate in workshops exploring careers that rely heavily on quantitative skills. The program also develops study skills, time management strategies, and helps you to build a strong pipeline of students into actuarial and mathematics professions. You’ll also gain leadership, teamwork, and civic awareness skills through group projects and discussions. Students will receive a stipend upon completing the program.
10. Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (BACH)
Location: Multiple Baltimore healthcare institutions (Sinai Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Harbor Hospital, Total Health Care - Kirk Health Center, Keswick Multi-Care Center, Mercy Medical Center)
Cost/Stipend: None; students participate in a paid 5-week internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 - August 8
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
The BACH Fellows Summer Program gives students early exposure to healthcare careers through hands-on internships at major hospitals and medical centers in Baltimore. You’ll spend 5 weeks working in healthcare environments, learning about clinical operations, patient care pathways, and the roles that support a functioning hospital. The program is designed for Career and Technology Education (CTE) students, helping you build early workplace experience before you enter the job market. You’ll work on site from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day at locations such as Sinai Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, MedStar Hospitals, and more. If you’re considering a future career in healthcare, this program can give you a realistic look at the field.
11. MathQuantum High School Fellowship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 14 - 25 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: High school students
This program connects high school students with the MathQuantum Research Group at the University of Maryland. You’ll work on a mini research project at the intersection of mathematics and quantum information science, supported by faculty and graduate mentors. You’ll attend workshops on proposal writing, research skills, and quantum computing concepts. Depending on the year, the program also offers a possible free spot in the Qubit by Qubit Summer Camp. You’ll build strong mathematical reasoning skills and meet peers and professionals working in quantum fields.
12. CTE Program: US Coast Guard & Welding Summer Internship
Location: Digital Harbor High School, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students (target cohort)
Dates: July 7 - August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current 10th - 12th grade students in CTE pathways
This internship provides hands-on maritime training through a partnership between Baltimore City Schools and the U.S. Coast Guard Yard. You’ll complete work-based learning hours required for the seagoing/maritime CTE pathway while gaining practical experience in the maritime transportation and technology industry. The program focuses on employability skills, workforce exposure, and technical training in a real industry environment. It is open to 12 students from Benjamin Franklin and Digital Harbor High Schools who are enrolled in Maritime or JROTC pathways. You’ll spend each day learning from industry professionals, building technical skills, and understanding what maritime careers actually look like.
13. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program: Trains for Wind
Location: Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students (target)
Dates: July 7 - August 7
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: Current 10th - 12th graders in CTE pathways at Patterson High School or Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School
The Trains for Wind program is designed to introduce high school students to the growing offshore wind-energy sector. You’ll participate in training, workforce exposure sessions, and technical instruction in engineering, manufacturing, and welding to explore careers related to wind technology. The program is funded through Maryland’s Offshore Wind Workforce Grant, which helps expand access to clean-energy training for students in CTE pathways. You’ll be part of a 30-student cohort from Patterson and Mergenthaler High Schools, working toward earning up to 3 industry-recognized certifications. The schedule runs full days and gives you structured, practical experience with tools, equipment, and concepts used across the wind-energy sector.
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