15 Free STEM Programs for High School Students in NYC (New York City)
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring STEM, free programs and internships can help you do that. Several top colleges, labs, and organizations offer fully funded programs for high schoolers, so you can access mentors and resources at no cost. These opportunities allow you to work on projects, learn what different STEM careers involve, and meet people working in the field who can help you figure out your interests. It’s a great way to figure out what you enjoy, especially if you’re curious about areas like biology, engineering, computer science, or research but aren’t sure where to begin.
Free STEM programs in New York City, often hosted by universities like NYU, Columbia, and CUNY colleges, and institutions like The Rockefeller University or the New York Academy of Sciences, provide experience in fields such as AI, robotics, and biomedical research. Free programs are typically more competitive, making them good additions to your college applications. To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 free STEM programs for high school students in NYC that are worth looking into.
1. Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 2%; 20 students
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 14 or older by June, are legally authorized to work in the U.S., live within 25 miles of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New Jersey, New York, or Connecticut, and have a 3.5 GPA in science courses
In this program, you’ll join a biomedical or computational lab and work on an independent research project with support from a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or research technician. Projects cover many fields, including computer science, cancer biology, pharmacology, chemistry, chemical biology, drug development, computational biology, imaging, optics, engineering, immuno-oncology, research tools, immunology, genomics, structural biology, and molecular, cell, and developmental biology. While working on a project connected to the Principal Investigator’s research, you’ll develop your technical skills. You’ll attend lab meetings, program sessions, and events focused on translational medicine and research. You’ll also join tours and training sessions led by MSK experts.
2. Ladder Internships
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program
Location: Remote workshops and in-person lab research at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; around 70 students
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 21 (tentative)
Eligibility: NYC residents who are rising high school juniors or seniors
NYU’s ARISE is a 10-week summer program that gives high school students research experience in STEM. The first four weeks consist of virtual workshops covering research skills, college-level writing, and lab safety. You’ll spend the next six weeks in one of 80+ NYU research labs, where you’ll work on projects in areas like computer science, AI, bioengineering, chemical engineering, robotics, molecular engineering, or machine learning. You’ll help with active research, complete around 120 hours of lab work, and build your communication and public speaking skills. You’ll get to share your work at the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium and the NYU Colloquium. You’ll also receive college application support and mentoring.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation — Breakthrough Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: 100% financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, 1:1 mentor-to-student ratio
Dates: Vary based on the cohort; multiple 12-week cohorts run throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November); apply here
Eligibility: High school students, or those starting college as freshmen in the fall, who demonstrate strong academic achievement
Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program matches high-achieving high school students with PhD mentors for a one-on-one research experience similar to Lumiere’s Individual Research Scholar Program. Over 12 weeks, you’ll work on an independent project, supported by nine research sessions with your mentor and two sessions with a writing coach. You can choose from fields like physics, economics, international relations, psychology, data science, engineering, computer science, chemistry, and others. You’ll also join five workshops on the research process and finish the program with a 15-page research paper. This program is a good fit if you want to explore interdisciplinary research and work toward producing your own individual research paper.
5. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / An OMNY card or MetroCard for NYC transit is provided. Need-based travel stipends are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 32 students
Dates: June 22 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older by the program’s start
The Summer Science Research Program at Rockefeller University allows high school students to work on team-based research projects in cancer biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, immunology, and computational biology. You’ll join a group led by trainees from Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC and use RockEDU labs that are set up with dedicated space and equipment. Your team will be matched with mentors based on research interests. You’ll learn lab techniques, develop a research question, collect and analyze data, and present your project at the final symposium. You’ll also take part in workshops, elective classes, guest talks, and social and networking events.
6. Hk Maker Lab Summer Engineering Design Program
Location: Columbia University, Morningside Campus, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically <30 students
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: December 5
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-graders attending a NYC public or charter high school who can demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage
Hk Maker Lab is a free, two-part summer program for local 10th and 11th-graders. It starts with a three-week SHAPE course at Columbia Engineering, then moves into a two-week Hackathon for Health Equity, where you will design solutions to health challenges. Phase 1 covers weeks one through three and includes a course taught by Columbia Engineering faculty in Biomedical Engineering or Innovation and Design. Phase 2 covers weeks four and five and focuses on the Hackathon for Health Equity. Completing the program will allow you to join NY Bioforce the following year, including a paid summer internship at a major research or health care site.
7. Biorocket Research Internship Program at Genspace
Location: Genspace, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 – 20%; 15 students
Dates: Spring session: February 25 – May 21; Summer session: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and attend an NYC public or charter school within a 45-minute commute to Genspace
The Biorocket Research Internship Program gives high school students experience in genetic engineering and lab biology. Over six months, you’ll work with a team of peers and take on both individual and group projects, guided by scientist mentors. The program covers topics like bioinformatics, DNA sequencing, and genetic modification. You’ll build a solid foundation in the research process and strengthen your lab techniques and analytical skills using advanced equipment. You’ll receive career support from mentors and get to tour labs and biotech companies around the city. The program will help you improve your science communication skills by practicing sharing your work and explaining your findings.
8. YES in THE HEIGHTS Program
Location: Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 1%; typically, small, focused cohorts
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This program aims to increase STEM involvement among underrepresented high school and college students. It matches you with a faculty mentor whose work aligns with your interests. With their guidance, you’ll take part in cancer research projects and write a scientific abstract. If you return for a second summer, you’ll get to present your work. Each week, you’ll join the HICCC Cancer Biology Journal Club to read and discuss research articles with other interns. The program also includes training in scientific and professional skills, orientation sessions, and support in creating an Individual Development Plan. Social and networking events are also part of the experience.
9. Rockefeller University's Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; around 20 students
Dates: August 4 – 15 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students attending a New York City public school who will be 16 or older by the program start date
The program looks at how the brain works and how it connects to everyday life while giving you space to develop your own ideas. You’ll read and present a scientific paper, join interactive lectures, and team up with a mentor and partner to design a neuroscience experiment. You’ll tour labs and core facilities where scientists explain their work and show you experimental animals. You’ll join small group sessions that will help you break down a research article with guidance from a mentor. You’ll also participate in hands-on activities like dissecting a sheep brain and a cow eye to identify the structures covered in class.
10. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 25 – 48 students
Dates: July 7 – August 8 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th graders who live in NYC and are over 15 years old
In this program, you’ll learn how coding, sensors, circuits, and microcontrollers are used in smart city projects. You’ll also dive into the business side by studying economics, planning, branding, pitching, and legal topics like patents and copyrights. You’ll brainstorm, prototype, test ideas, and build your own product or service. Attending communication workshops will help you speak more clearly and present your work with confidence by using theater-based techniques. You’ll gain experience with product development, smart city innovation, and entrepreneurship. You’ll also strengthen your technical and presentation skills by working on projects that connect to community needs.
11. Summer Engineering Awareness Program
Location: Manhattan University, Bronx, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; likely 25 – 50 students
Dates: 10-day program: July 6 – 10, July 13 – 17 | Six-day program 1: June 25 – 27, June 29 – July 1; Six-day program 2: July 20 – 24 & July 27
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from the NYC metro area, especially minority and female students who have strong math and science skills
Manhattan College’s Summer Engineering Awareness Program is a free 10-day experience for local rising juniors and seniors, particularly minority and female students. The program will introduce you to careers in math, engineering, and science through lab work and interactive lessons. You’ll explore fields like computer, environmental, electrical, chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering, along with physics. Topics include AI strategies, robotics, geotech, sustainability, medical law, and computer-aided design. You’ll also get information about the college admissions process, scholarships, and financial aid. You’ll hear from guest speakers, meet industry professionals, and take a field trip to a structural design firm.
12. College Now STEM Research Academy at City Tech
Location: New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,575 stipend for the summer internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies by session
Dates: February 14 – May 16 (Spring Course); the summer internship runs for 6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: December 12
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in NYC public schools can apply for the Spring Course if they have an overall average of 80 or higher; additional academic details are available here | Students who finish the spring course can apply for the summer STEM internship
In this program, you’ll start with a spring pre-college research course where you’ll learn how to ask researchable questions, design experiments, search library databases, and read scientific papers. You’ll run lab experiments, do fieldwork around Brooklyn, and practice forming hypotheses, analyzing data, and presenting scientific results. You can then apply for the STEM Summer Research Internship, where you’ll work in a City Tech research lab four days a week, matched with a faculty member and lab team in your chosen area of interest. You’ll complete a short research project, write a paper about your findings, and present your work at the Summer Science Symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
13. New York City School Construction Authority’s (SCA) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Various locations across New York City, NY
Stipend: $16.50 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; >100 students
Dates: The internship runs for six weeks between June and August, depending on your placement and assignment
Application Deadline: March 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: New York City public high school students in good academic standing and eligible to work in the U.S.
The SCA Summer Internship Program (SIP) offers paid internships for NYC public high school students interested in the business side of construction. The program matches you with an SCA department or a partner organization and will have the opportunity to explore fields such as architecture, engineering, IT, urban planning, construction management, business, and public administration. Before you start, you’ll complete a 10-hour OSHA safety training if your role requires it. You’ll also need a signed parent consent form for site visits. The program pairs you with a college mentor who will guide you throughout your internship. Your tasks may include updating spreadsheets, organizing files, conducting online research, attending meetings, and, sometimes, visiting construction sites.
14. Tech Scholars Programs
Location: The New York Historical, New York, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 15 students
Dates: Year-round opportunities are available
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the opportunity
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who live and attend school in the NYC metro area, including the five boroughs and nearby parts of New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut
The New York Historical Society’s Tech Scholars programs center on student-led digital work like podcasts, websites, and games. You’ll build digital media skills, explore historical figures, artists, and events that continue to influence young people, and collaborate with peers. You’ll also learn from museum staff about history, technology, and storytelling. Year-round options include the Web Design program, where you’ll use HTML and CSS to create a website highlighting women who made a difference in history. The Podcasting program will allow you to work with other students to produce a season of The New York Historical Teen Podcast, Through Fresh Eyes.
15. DNA Learning Center Urban Barcode Research Program
Location: DNA Learning Center, New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Students who finish 55 hours of research and share their work at the Research Symposium receive a $500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; around 36 students
Dates: The first week of lab training runs from August 25 to August 29, with more sessions offered during the school year; the Student Symposium is held on May 20 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 9–12 who are 13 or older
The Urban Barcode Research Program matches you with a scientist mentor for the school year. Together, you’ll plan your schedule, design a project, complete at least 55 hours of research, and present your work at a spring symposium. Your project will use DNA barcoding to explore how biodiversity connects to human activity. Before any lab work begins, you’ll take training sessions in science research, biodiversity, conservation biology, and lab techniques to build a solid foundation before starting your project. With your mentor’s help, you’ll plan and carry out a DNA barcoding study, write a research proposal, collect samples in the field, isolate DNA, amplify barcoding regions, and analyze sequences.
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