15 Tech Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in technology, structured programs can be an effective way to gain practical skills, industry exposure, and mentorship. Many tech programs for high school students are designed by top universities, research labs, and organizations, giving you access to advanced projects and tools. A tech program also allows you to explore emerging fields such as AI, software development, robotics, and cybersecurity.
Why should I participate in a tech program in high school?
These experiences help you build foundational competencies, like coding, data analysis, product design, and systems thinking. Many options offered by universities and government-sponsored programs are often free or low-cost, making them financially accessible. This access to training and expert mentors in the field can enhance your college applications and future career readiness in STEM fields.
Our list highlights 15 tech programs for high school students, including both in-person and virtual options to accommodate different schedules and academic goals.
1. Department of Navy – Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Department of Navy research laboratories nationwide
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants
Dates: Eight-week summer research placement (with option to extend up to two additional weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 10–12 (grade 9 students may qualify depending on lab); must be 16+ by the start date; graduating seniors eligible | Check individual lab pages for lab-specific grade, age, citizenship, and other prerequisites
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a competitive, research-intensive summer internship that places high school students in Department of Navy laboratories across the country. You will work alongside professional scientists and engineers on Naval research projects, gaining experience with the tools, challenges, and innovations that shape national defense technologies. You will receive one-on-one mentorship and participate in meaningful STEM tasks rather than shadowing, allowing you to contribute directly to ongoing research efforts. The program is also designed to expose students to long-term STEM pathways within federal research, including potential career trajectories in Naval science and engineering.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple 8–12 week cohorts offered year-round, including winter, spring, summer, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort: Winter (November), Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September)
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 remote internship experience that places motivated students in high-growth start-ups across sectors such as AI/ML, deep tech, digital health, consulting, marketing, and journalism. As an intern, you will work directly with a start-up manager on meaningful, outcome-driven projects that mirror real industry workflows. The structure emphasizes professional skill development, independence, and iterative feedback, culminating in a final presentation of your work to the company team. Interns gain firsthand exposure to early-stage innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and the internal processes of venture-backed companies. It offers a rigorous pathway for students seeking practical experience and mentorship in the tech and start-up ecosystem.
3. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) – ASPIRE Program
Location: Laurel, MD (on-site; no virtual or residential option for summer)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 23 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 15 years old at the program start date | Minimum 2.8 GPA | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The ASPIRE Program is a highly competitive summer internship hosted by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, designed to immerse high school juniors and seniors in real-world STEM problem-solving. It pairs you with APL staff mentors to contribute to ongoing engineering, research, and technology projects while developing teamwork, technical communication, and independent problem-solving skills. You’ll work in a professional environment, using industry tools and participating in projects that reflect the lab’s national security and research mission areas. The program emphasizes creativity and persistence rather than prior experience, making it accessible to motivated students who want exposure to STEM careers.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Dates: 12–15-week cohorts offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students; AI Fellowship applicants must have completed AI Scholars or demonstrate prior experience in Python or foundational AI concepts
Veritas AI offers structured, research-driven training programs designed to introduce high school students to artificial intelligence and machine learning. The AI Scholars program functions as an accessible, 10-session boot camp where you will learn core AI principles, data science techniques, and project-based problem solving through guided instruction from mentors with deep technical backgrounds. For students seeking more advanced engagement, the AI Fellowship provides a rigorous 1:1 research experience in which you collaborate with a mentor from a top university to design and execute an individualized AI project. Fellows receive editorial and technical support from an in-house publication team, allowing you to publish in high school research journals and present your work in formal showcases.
5. University of Missouri-Kansas City – Cybersecurity Camp
Location: Kansas City, MO (University of Missouri–Kansas City)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: Typically, around spring
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
The Cybersecurity Camp is a one-week, NSA-sponsored cybersecurity program designed to introduce high school students to core and emerging concepts in the field. You will learn foundational skills in cryptography, internet safety, password security, and ethical hacking through focused lectures and hands-on labs. As the week progresses, you will explore steganography, Google hacking, scripting, and network scanning to understand how cybersecurity professionals detect and respond to threats. The program also integrates modules on blockchain, deepfakes, and game-based cybersecurity challenges, giving students exposure to real-world applications. Daily sessions emphasize collaboration, problem-solving, and guided instruction, making this a strong introductory option for students curious about cybersecurity careers.
6. GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS)
Location: Virtual (asynchronous)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 2 – August 29
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in U.S high schools; rising juniors, seniors, or college freshmen; minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA; completion of at least one high school biology course
GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) is a 12-week online program that introduces students to NASA space biology research and the computational methods used to analyze omics datasets. You will work through a series of self-paced modules that include video lectures, JupyterLab notebooks, and structured bioinformatics exercises designed to build foundational skills in data processing, visualization, and interpretation. Optional live office hours provide opportunities to receive real-time guidance, ask technical questions, and observe demonstrations from program instructors. If you complete all modules, you earn a digital certificate, and those seeking a deeper research experience may join an optional Capstone Project, where teams analyze real NASA datasets and propose hypothesis-driven research questions.
7. Director’s Apprenticeship Program – Interdisciplinary Pathways to Machine Learning and Data Science (BLDAP: IPMLDS)
Location: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (in-person, non-residential)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 17 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Public school students in grades 10–11 from Alameda, San Francisco, and Contra Costa counties; students from nearby counties may apply but must travel on-site a minimum of four days per week
In this program, you will participate in technical projects, a structured computer science course, and weekly discussions with Berkeley Lab researchers, giving you exposure to the modern applications of machine learning, data science, and scientific computing. The curriculum emphasizes 21st-century research skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and scientific communication while introducing you to ongoing research at the Department of Energy’s national laboratories. After completing the summer apprenticeship, you may be invited to join additional short courses and workshops throughout the school year, with the possibility of returning the following summer for a traditional on-site laboratory internship.
8. University of New Hampshire – TechLeaders
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: No cost for participants through NH CREATES and NSF-funded initiatives
Dates: Week 1: July 14 – 18; Week 2: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: Typically, early June
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12; some projects need completion of Algebra I
TechLeaders is a set of one-week STEM programs that allow high school students to explore applied computing, regenerative medicine, engineering, and data science through project-based learning. In Week 1, you may choose a focused track such as molecular dynamics, the heat equation, and simulation with MATLAB, or creative coding using JavaScript, P5.js, and Phaser. Each project emphasizes conceptual understanding alongside technical execution, allowing you to build simulations, visualize molecules in VR, or develop your own animations and games. In Week 2, tracks shift toward cryopreservation, bioinformatics, or data analytics, fields connected to major research initiatives at UNH. You will work through authentic scientific and computational problems, model biological and physical systems.
9. University of New Hampshire – Manchester Tech Camp
Location: UNH Manchester, 88 Commercial Street, Manchester, NH (in-person, day program)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Week 1: July 28 – August 8; Week 2: August 4 – 8
Application Deadline: Typically, early June
Eligibility: Students entering grades 5–12
Manchester Tech Camp is a hands-on STEAM program designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through project-based, exploratory learning. You will join weeklong tracks that incorporate robotics, anatomy, electronics, computer modeling, microscopy, ecology, and other interdisciplinary topics, all taught by UNH faculty and expert instructors. You participate in focused tracks such as Body Builders, where you construct functional anatomical models with engineering tools, or Zoom Lens, where you design and 3D-print attachments to convert a cell phone into a high-magnification microscope. Students within the Manchester School District who complete all assignments may earn 0.5 science credits toward graduation.
10. George Mason University – Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; select mentors also offer hybrid or remote options
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits (need-based waivers available)
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who have not yet completed a university degree; minimum age 15 for remote/computer-lab work and 16 for wet-lab placements
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an intensive eight-week research experience allowing participants to work one-on-one with faculty researchers across disciplines ranging from molecular medicine and environmental science to cybersecurity, machine learning, and planetary science. As an intern, you will conduct research using advanced laboratory and computational tools while developing skills in scientific writing, experimental design, and data analysis. Weekly discussion forums and career panels introduce pathways within STEM fields and allow you to interact with professional scientists. You will also prepare a research poster and present your work at a formal symposium, gaining experience in scientific communication. You will also earn three undergraduate credits from George Mason University.
11. UCSD Research Experience for High School Students (REHS) – San Diego Supercomputer Center
Location: UC San Diego, San Diego, CA
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 program fee for research tracks; No cost for non-research experience
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 from San Diego County who are at least 16 years old on or before June 15 of the application year, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The UCSD Research Experience for High School Students is an eight-week, research-focused internship hosted by the San Diego Supercomputer Center. As a participant, you will join a research group and contribute to computational, data-driven, or interdisciplinary STEM projects under the guidance of UCSD scientists and graduate researchers. The program emphasizes hypothesis development, computational experimentation, and structured participation in lab meetings to help you build genuine research skills. Throughout the summer, you will collaborate in pairs or small groups and receive consistent technical mentorship tailored to your project area. The experience concludes with a scientific poster presentation where you showcase your findings.
12. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Dates: Two-week session between June and July
Application Deadline: Typically, late January
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders (current 9th graders); must be 14+ by the program start
In this program, you will attend faculty-led lectures, complete guided coding and modeling exercises, and contribute to team-based research projects in areas such as robotics, computer vision, natural language processing, and medical AI. Throughout the program, you will meet researchers and industry professionals, gaining perspective on AI’s applications and its ethical and societal implications. Additional workshops focus on career development, scientific communication, and the pathways into AI-related college programs. The program emphasizes mentorship and structured collaboration, supporting you in building foundational technical skills while exploring how AI can be used responsibly to advance societal good.
13. UCSD Extended Studies – Advanced Machine Learning for High-Schoolers
Location: Virtual
Cost: $390 per course
Dates: Three to nine months; each course runs for 3 weeks during the summer quarter and 10 weeks during the fall, winter, and spring quarters
Application Deadline: Varies according to the cohort
Eligibility: All high school students
Offered through UC San Diego Extended Studies, the Advanced Machine Learning Program provides high schoolers with a three-course exploration of modern AI. The curriculum dives deep into concepts such as Artificial Intelligence, neural network design, and Natural Language Processing (NLP). You will explore advanced architectures like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and Radial Basis Function Networks (RBFNs), understanding their practical applications in complex classification, image processing, and synthetic data generation tasks. The program also delivers a thorough grounding in NLP, specifically covering sequential data modeling using Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models.
14. NYU's Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $200
Dates: October 18 – May 2
Application Deadline: Typically mid-August
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 who live in New York State, have at least a B average in Math, Science, and English, and meet the state’s income requirements
The NYU Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) offers New York high school students preparation for college and STEM professions. The program provides hands-on classes, workshops, and research opportunities, with electives spanning fields such as engineering, internet technology, design, and medicine. Taught by NYU faculty and students, the curriculum includes intensive core subject instruction, Regents exam preparation, and advanced math and science enrichment. You engage in project-based learning and receive mentorship, gaining career insight through encounters with professionals, including brain surgeons and engineers, and through laboratory visits. Comprehensive college admissions support is also a key feature, strengthening your academic and vocational skills.
15. University of Florida – Student Science Training Program (SSTP)
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Residential)
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 + $50 non-refundable application fee; limited need-based scholarships available for Florida high school students
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: Out-of-state/international students: April 1; Florida students: April 15; Eligibility: Rising 12th graders who are at least 16 years old by the program start date and considering STEM careers
In this program, you will spend approximately 30 hours per week conducting research alongside a University of Florida faculty mentor and their research team, gaining exposure to advanced laboratory methods and ongoing scientific investigations. Beyond research, you will attend a daily lecture series, participate in UF Honors Program seminars, and complete structured academic requirements including weekly lab notes, a research paper, two oral presentations, and a final poster presentation. The program also emphasizes professional development through workshops, small-group discussions, and structured mentoring from residential and academic counselors. Weekend field trips, service activities, and social events add to the immersive experience. Students enrolled in Florida high schools may also earn dual enrollment credit.
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