Top 15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students
Summer programs and internships offer high school students a valuable way to gain real-world experience, hands-on skills, and industry exposure without the high cost of traditional summer courses. These opportunities allow you to explore career interests, engage with professionals, and build connections that can support your future academic and career goals. Many top universities and organizations provide fully funded or free summer programs for high school students, ensuring that talented students can participate regardless of their financial background.
For students passionate about a particular field—whether in STEM, humanities, business, or the arts—free summer programs for high school students offer a structured way to dive deeper into their interests. Some include mentorship, research projects, site visits, or collaborative initiatives, making them an excellent option for students looking to expand their knowledge outside the classroom. To help you find the best opportunities, we’ve compiled a list of 15 fully funded or free summer programs for high school students that provide you with enriching, cost-free experiences.
1. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University & University of Maryland?
Acceptance Rate: Low selectivity
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: October 15 – December 3
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (ages 15-18); both U.S. and international students
Cost/Stipend: Free; financial aid available to select students
TASS is a fully funded summer program for high school sophomores and juniors interested in exploring power, privilege, and social structures through the humanities and social sciences. The program offers two areas of study: Critical Black Studies (CBS), which examines the history, politics, and cultural contributions of African-descended people, and Anti-Oppressive Studies (AOS), which explores systemic inequalities and societal transformation.
As a participant, you will engage in college-level seminars, collaborative decision-making, public speaking workshops, and community-building exercises. The program fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and democratic leadership in an immersive, discussion-based setting. All costs, including tuition, housing, meals, and materials, are covered.
2. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
Cost: The program is fully funded!
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences as the Lumiere Research Scholar Program does, but at zero cost.
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 Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects like psychology, STEM, economics, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
3. Princeton AI4ALL: Free AI Summer Program for High School Students
Location: Princeton University
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 9 – July 30
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Low-income U.S. high school sophomores who meet the socioeconomic criteria
Cost: Free
Princeton AI4ALL is one of the top free summer programs for high school students. It is an in-person summer camp designed to introduce you to artificial intelligence and its societal impacts. Hosted by Princeton University’s Computer Science Department and Center for Information Technology Policy, the program focuses on AI concepts, ethics, and applications while promoting diversity in the field. As a participant, you will participate in hands-on projects, guest lectures, and a visit to Washington, D.C., gaining exposure to AI research and policy.
Location: Remote
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; the summer cohort starts on July 14
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; the summer cohort deadline is June 23
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours per week
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
The Ladder Internships program offers selective, 8-12-week internships to high school students interested in working with high-growth start-ups. These start-ups typically raise over a million dollars on average and offer internships in a wide variety of industries, including AI/ML, health tech, journalism, marketing, and more. During your internship, you’ll work on a real-world project of relevance to the company while under the mentorship of your start-up manager and a Ladder Coach. At the end of the internship, you’ll get to present your work to the company! Here’s the application form.
5. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 21 – August 2
Application Deadline:
Preferred Deadline: February 1
Final Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently in 11th grade; at least 16 years old by the program start date
Cost: Free
The Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) is a fully funded, six-week residential program that introduces high school students from underrepresented communities to STEM fields. Hosted by the Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, SAMS offers rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, and mentorship from world-renowned faculty. You will engage in college preparation workshops, career exploration sessions, and a credit-bearing course, “Student to Scholar”, which will help you navigate the transition from high school to college.
6. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 40 students/year
Dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school students; 16+ by June 15
Cost: Free
The Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) at Princeton University is one of the best free summer programs for high school students looking for STEM summer research experiences. As a participant, you will be involved in ongoing research projects and will be supervised by researchers and other Princeton faculty. The research projects are subject to change every year; some topics from the previous years include machine learning for green power generation, biofuel oxidation at supercritical pressure, and more. By the end of the program, you’ll be expected to have produced a research summary report.
More details can be found here!
7. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors; 16+ by the start of the program
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend provided at the end of the program
Participating in Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program is a great way to engage with actual research projects while under the guidance of professionals—Stony Brook faculty mentors. As one of the top free summer programs for high school students, this program is competitive and will have you participating in ongoing research projects in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and so on. You’ll learn about the various stages of an investigation, from the hypotheses to the experiments. You’ll also get to participate in weekly faculty research talks, workshops, tours, and events. By the end of the program, you should have a written research abstract and a research poster, which you will present at the closing poster symposium.
For more information on this program, check out this guide!
8. Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 10-11; NYC and Nassau County residents
Cost: Free
The CS4CS is one of the top free summer programs for high school students that the NYU Tandon School of Engineering has to offer. During this program, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of cybersecurity and computer science. Some of the topics covered include “white-hat” hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, privacy, data usage, and more. As a participant, you will experience hands-on cybersecurity training, real-world security analysis, theatre-based communication workshops, and coding and programming practice. The program is open to students with no experience in computer science, so anyone interested in concepts like cybersecurity and ethical hacking is welcome to apply!
9. Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Location: Princeton University
Cohort Size: 40 students/year
Dates: July 1 – August 3
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors with a GPA above 3.5; interested in journalism; should meet one of these socioeconomic conditions. First-generation college students are given priority
Cost: Free
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) offers free summer programs for high school students interested in exploring the field of journalism. During the program, you will attend online workshops and seminars that will set you up with the skills needed to succeed in journalism. Some of these workshops will be led by renowned journalists from across the country, giving you a first-hand experience from professionals in the field.
As a journalism student, you’ll be expected to stay up to date on current world events and will thus be prescribed weekly readings. You’ll also get to work on your articles and create your own newspaper—The Princeton Summer Journal! While on campus, you’ll go on tours to major news organizations like Huffington Post, The New York Times, and more.
10. Native American Science & Engineering Program (NASEP)
Location: The University of Arizona
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 8 – 14 (summer phase), with engagement throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling; priority deadline is March 14
Eligibility:
Rising high school juniors and seniors
Enrolled member or descendant of an AI/AN or Native Hawaiian Tribe
Completion of Physics, Chemistry, & Pre-Calculus with a grade of C or better
Must attend the summer program and year-round NASEP events
Cost: Free
Hosted by The University of Arizona’s Office of Early Academic Outreach, NASEP is a free, year-long STEM program designed for Native American high school students. The program provides college preparation support and hands-on STEM experiences in fields such as environmental sustainability, engineering, and computer science. As a participant, you will engage with university faculty, explore STEM pathways through research projects, and receive ongoing mentorship throughout the year.
11. Spark SMP
Location: In-person in the Greater Seattle area (Virtual options available too)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: May to August
Application Deadline: March or April
Eligibility: High school students across the U.S. (virtual); Applicants from the Greater Seattle area are preferred
Spark SMP is a highly selective program that connects high school students with mentors from diverse fields, like AI/ML, computer science, and more. As a participant, you will gain a hands-on learning experience by working under the guidance of relevant industry experts, educators, or community leaders. These mentors will provide career advice and guidance on your academic journey. The application process is rigorous and strives to connect students with mentors who share their interests and career goals. Some students have even had the chance to co-author IEEE research papers with their mentors and participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and other competitions.
12. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University
Cohort Size: Around 50 students
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility:
Current high school juniors or seniors
Must be at least 16 years old by June 9
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Must currently attend high school in the U.S.
Preference given to Bay Area students
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee (can waive fee if your total gross adjusted household income is less than $80,000 per year); stipend of $500 (minimum)
The Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an 8-week summer internship that offers hands-on research experiences to high school juniors and seniors. As a participant, you will conduct mentored research in top-tier labs at Stanford's Institutes of Medicine and select departments, gaining practical lab experience in biomedical research. You can choose from eight research areas (institutes) and are assigned to a specific institute upon acceptance.
An alternative Bioengineering Bootcamp is available for students interested in hands-on learning without a lab research component.
13. Annenberg Youth Academy (AYA) for Media and Civic Engagement
Location: USC Annenberg Campus
Cohort Size: 26 students
Dates: June 16 – July 3
Application Deadline: March 3 – April 14
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12; Residents of Los Angeles County
Cost: Free
The Annenberg Youth Academy (AYA) for Media and Civic Engagement is an intense three-week program that introduces you to first-year college-level courses that focus on the roles media and journalism play when it comes to creating civic-minded thought leaders and innovators. As a participant, you will develop skills necessary to succeed in the field of journalism, such as writing, public speaking, interviewing, multimedia production, and more. You’ll also get to meet scholars and professionals in the field and learn more about public relations and communication.
For more information, check out this blog!
14. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 100 students/summer
Dates: June 22 – August 2 (tentative)
Application Deadline: December (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors; More details here
Cost: No program fee; $65 application fee (Can be waived for need-based applicants)
MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI) is a highly selective science and engineering program that introduces students to science and technology research. During the first week of RSI, you will attend intense classes and seminars that discuss current research topics in STEM and the humanities. In the evenings, you’ll attend lectures hosted by science and technology leaders.
You will also gain access to MIT resources and learn to prepare scientific papers and conference-style presentations. The remaining weeks, you’ll spend focused on your research projects under the mentorship of experienced scientists and researchers. At the end of the program, you’ll get to present your research projects. Aside from the rigorous academic side of the program, you’ll go on field trips to cultural attractions and various science and technology facilities in Boston.
15. Summer High School Internship Program at The Met
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates:
Bootcamp: July 2
Departmental Placement: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 3 – March 7
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11; Residents of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
Stipend: $1,100
The Met High School Internship Program allows you to connect with art, museums, and professionals while developing key skills, networking, and gaining valuable work experience. As an intern, you’ll be able to work directly with Museum professionals in fields like editorial, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, conservation, and more. The program allows you to explore where your interests overlap with the world of museums and to learn from both peers and professionals.