15 Best Chemistry Summer Programs for High School Students
For high school students interested in chemistry, summer programs can be an excellent way to explore the subject more deeply. These programs provide practical experience, industry exposure, and the chance to connect with peers and mentors in the field. Many of the best chemistry summer programs for high school students are designed by leading colleges and organizations, ensuring rigor and real-world relevance.
For those interested in chemistry and related sciences, these programs can help you explore advanced topics, conduct lab work, and build academic skills. They also allow you to explore potential career paths in science, which can help you decide if you want to major in chemistry in college. To help you get started, here’s a list of the 15 best chemistry summer programs for high school students that stand out for their quality and impact.
15 Best Chemistry Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies with the program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies depending on the cohort. (May for Summer programs)
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 5-10 hours per week
Through the Ladder Internship Program, you can take part in an 8-week remote internship with a start-up or nonprofit, working directly on projects guided by company managers and supported by a Ladder coach. The program involves research, data analysis, and problem-solving that mirror real-world professional environments, and it concludes with a formal presentation of your work. Since internships are online, you can participate regardless of location, while still gaining direct mentorship and collaboration experience. For students interested in chemistry, placements can also include organizations in biotechnology and health sciences where your understanding of chemical concepts is applied to practical innovation.
2. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students per cohort
Dates: June 22–August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors worldwide
At MIT’s Research Science Institute, you join about 100 high school students from around the world to take part in a rigorous 6-week program that combines intensive coursework with hands-on research. The program begins with one week of advanced STEM classes in areas like biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, followed by five weeks of mentored research in a laboratory setting. During this phase, you’ll design a research plan, study scientific literature, and collect data, ultimately preparing a conference-style presentation and research paper. Chemistry-related projects may focus on areas such as molecular interactions, materials science, or biochemistry, depending on mentor assignments. Ranking as one of the best chemistry summer programs for high school students, you’ll also attend lectures featuring leading scientists and gain access to MIT’s research resources.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies based on the program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Duration: Ranges from 12 weeks to 1 year
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3 or above out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives you the opportunity to develop a full-length research paper under the guidance of a PhD mentor over the course of 12 weeks. Conducted remotely, this program allows you to select your area of focus (any STEM discipline)and work closely with your mentor on defining a research question, analyzing literature, and structuring your findings. Meetings are held regularly to provide feedback and direction, ensuring steady progress toward a professional-quality paper. Since projects are designed to reflect your own academic interests, you might choose to explore a chemistry-centered topic like green energy, materials design, or chemical reactions in biological systems. The program also gives you the option to earn college credit through UC San Diego, and students often submit their work to journals or competitions.
4. The Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS): Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
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
The SAMS program at Carnegie Mellon is a 6-week residential experience that begins with a short virtual component designed to prepare you for the in-person coursework. Once on campus, you engage in quantitative skill-building seminars in math and science, complete a STEM research project under the guidance of faculty or graduate mentors, and participate in workshops that focus on both academic and college preparation. Chemistry is often part of the curriculum, allowing you to explore molecular science as part of the broader STEM focus. The chemistry summer program for high school students also includes mentoring groups, writing workshops, and seminars on topics such as admissions and financial aid. Your summer concludes with a symposium where you present your project to peers, faculty, and families.
5. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person and hybrid at George Mason University, VA (virtual/remote opportunities are also available)
Cost: Free; $25 application fee
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: 15 years or older for the remote internships; 16 years or above for wet-lab in-person/hybrid internships
George Mason’s ASSIP is an 8-week program focused on conducting original research in various disciplines— from proteomics and molecular medicine to chemistry, drug discovery, forensic science, and botany. You’ll work one-on-one with faculty mentors in university or partner institution labs, gaining practical experience in using advanced technology and research methods. The chemistry summer program for high school students also gives you the chance to participate in STEM forum discussions and practice research writing and presentations. Depending on your project, you may contribute to work that is later published in scientific journals or presented at conferences.
6. Texas Tech University - Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Cost: No cost; a stipend of $750 is provided
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 22 - August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date
The Clark Scholars Program is a 7-week research-intensive experience where you work directly with faculty mentors across natural sciences, engineering, medicine, humanities, and fine arts. You will spend the summer engaged in independent research, attending weekly seminars, and taking part in field trips that broaden your perspective. If your interest lies in chemistry, you can work on projects that focus on molecular systems, materials, or biochemistry within the program’s STEM offerings. Since the program emphasizes one-on-one mentorship, you receive close guidance while developing both research and critical thinking skills.
7. American Chemical Society Project SEED Program
Location: Varies based on lab choice here
Cost: Free; $4000 stipend on completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June–August
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates, with one completed high school chemistry course; students whose family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are preferred
The ACS Project SEED program allows you to spend 8 to 10 weeks in an academic or industrial laboratory, contributing to research under the supervision of a professional scientist. Depending on placement, you may work on projects in areas such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, or drug development. In addition to hands-on research, Project SEED offers practical lab experience, virtual enrichment camps that cover topics like lab safety, professional development, and guidance on college preparation. Typically, you finish the chemistry summer program for high school students with stronger laboratory skills and experience that can support college and scholarship applications.
8. University of Pennsylvania’s Chemistry Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: Free for eligible public and charter high school students within the School District of Philadelphia, through the Penn Summer Scholarship program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 5 – 26
Application deadline: February 15 (Tentative)
Eligibility: Current 10th to 11th graders who have completed at least one year of high school chemistry with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA
Penn’s Chemistry Research Academy is designed to strengthen your understanding of chemical concepts while exposing you to practical research work. You spend part of each day in the laboratory gaining hands-on experience with techniques such as spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and synthetic optimization, while the rest of your time is devoted to classroom discussions and research-focused lectures. You will also participate in journal clubs, group presentations, and lab tours, and hear from Penn professors and graduates about their work in nanoscale materials, coordination complexes, and rare earth chemistry.. A capstone project allows you to design your own research proposal.
9. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Summer High School Intern Program
Location: NIST laboratory at Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Boulder, Colorado
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive applicant pool
Dates: June - August, 8 weeks starting the second or third week of June
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are U.S. citizens.
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program is an 8-week session where you can work alongside federal scientists on projects that span chemistry, physics, engineering, and materials science. Depending on your lab placement, you might explore topics such as polymers, nanomaterials, superconductors, renewable energy sources, or chemical forensics. The program connects you with one of NIST’s specialized laboratories, such as the Materials Measurement Laboratory, which studies the properties of polymers and alloys, or the Center for Neutron Research, where neutrons are used to probe the structure of complex materials. Your role often involves assisting with experiments, data analysis, or developing measurement techniques that industries rely on for accuracy and standards.
10. Yale University’s Summer Session
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $5,270
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session A: May 26 - June 27 | Session B: June 30 - August 1
Application deadline: Session A: March 31 | Session B: May 5
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Yale’s Summer Session offers high school students the chance to enroll in credit-bearing courses taught by Yale faculty, including options in chemistry that approach the subject from different perspectives. Chemistry in Context introduces you to fundamental chemical ideas by examining their role in everyday life, from the chemistry of pharmaceuticals and cooking to materials used in art and cleaning products. For a more traditional foundation, General Chemistry I provides a survey of stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, gas laws, and solutions, designed for students who already have some chemistry background. Each course combines lecture and discussion with problem-solving practice, giving you an authentic picture of college-level expectations. You also have the chance to interact with Yale students and faculty in this chemistry summer program for high school students.
11. University of Chicago’s After School Matters STEM Lab Internship
Location: Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, IL
Cost: None; stipend $16.60/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Students attending school in Chicago who are at least 16 years old
This STEM Lab Internship at the University of Chicago gives you a chance to work directly in research labs for 6 weeks. The program begins with a 1-week bootcamp that introduces you to lab safety, basic research methods, and the scientific process, before you spend about 20 hours per week conducting experiments under the guidance of mentors from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. You’ll receive training in science communication, present your work in professional-style settings, and gain support in preparing college applications.
12. University of Notre Dame Summer Scholars – Exploring the World of Chemistry
Location: Notre Dame campus, Indiana
Cost: $5,200; need-based financial aid/scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session I: June 7 - 21 | Session II: June 28 - July 12
Application deadline: February 19
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors with demonstrated excellence in academic and extracurricular activities who are at least 16 years old by or on August 1
At Notre Dame’s Summer Scholars program, you can choose a 2-week chemistry track called Exploring the World of Chemistry, which introduces you to a range of chemical principles through both classroom study and extensive lab work. In lectures and discussions, you cover topics from organic structures to analytical methods, while the laboratory sessions allow you to apply these concepts using modern instruments and hands-on experiments. This dual approach is meant to give you a sense of how theory and practice work together in the chemical sciences. You also earn one transferable college credit for completing the course, giving you a head start on future college coursework.
13. Stanford Summer Session Courses
Location: Stanford University, CA
Cost: $7,235
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Depends on the course; Typically 4 weeks between June 21–August 17
Application deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students
At Stanford Summer Session, you can enroll in credit-bearing 8-week courses (4 weeks each). The programs span more than thirty departments, including a range of chemistry courses such as Structure and Reactivity of Carbon-Based Molecules, Chemical Principles I and II, and Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry. Most courses include lab work where you’ll use advanced equipment to strengthen your technical skills while connecting theory with practice. Outside of class, there are opportunities to attend lectures, tours, and faculty-led events that highlight Stanford’s research culture.
14. Columbia University’s Pre-College Program
Location: Columbia University campus, NY
Cost: $12,764
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who are 16 years or older by the program start date
Columbia’s Pre-College Program in Modern Chemistry is designed for motivated high school students who want to deepen their understanding of the subject while working with faculty in a seminar-style format. The course integrates lectures, small-group discussions, and laboratory experiments to highlight chemistry’s role as the “central science” and its application across fields like chemistry and materials research. You’ll gain experience using advanced tools such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and magnetic resonance, while also learning computational techniques for analyzing chemical systems. Alongside the experimental work, you’ll participate in discussions of current research themes and explore the historical development of chemical concepts. The chemistry summer program for high school students includes a small research project that culminates in a paper and class presentation.
15. Cornell University’s Pre-college Studies
Location: Online or Cornell campus, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Varies based on course length and credits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June-August; based on courses here
Application deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
At Cornell’s Pre-college Studies program, you can take real university courses alongside undergraduates and earn college credit that appears on an official transcript. One of the chemistry courses frequently offered is CHEM 2070: General Chemistry, which emphasizes core chemical principles through topics such as periodic trends, atomic structure, bonding, molecular behavior, and chemical transformations. This 5-week quantitative course prepares you for advanced study in chemistry or related sciences. This allows you to adjust to the expectations of a college-level class while gaining direct exposure to Cornell faculty and their teaching methods.
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