30 Math and Science Summer Programs for High School Students
For high school students interested in problem-solving, discovery, and innovation, math and science summer programs offer a great opportunity to learn beyond the traditional classroom setting. These programs give you the chance to explore subjects in depth, practice research methods, and learn from faculty and professionals in STEM fields.
Many of these programs are hosted by top universities and research institutions, while others are run by national labs and museums. Doing a program at an established organization can boost your resume, especially if the program has a low acceptance rate. Some programs take place on university campuses, while others are offered virtually, allowing you to connect with mentors and peers from anywhere.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down 30 math and science summer programs for high school students. Many programs are free or offer stipends, while others provide financial aid to make them more accessible.
30 Math and Science Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~100 students selected worldwide
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: High school juniors with competitive standardized test scores
At RSI, you will spend six weeks at MIT combining intensive coursework with independent research. You’ll begin with a week of lectures in science and math before joining a lab or research group for hands-on projects. You will work under the mentorship of scientists and graduate students, learning how to apply theory to real problems. Weekly seminars and enrichment activities will expand your understanding of STEM careers. By the end, you’ll produce a written research paper and present your work at a symposium.
2. Ladder Internships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15%
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts in a year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines that vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students available for ~10–20 hours/week over the summer
Through Ladder Internships, you will be matched with a startup in fields like health tech, biotech, or other science-driven industries. You’ll take on real projects under the supervision of a startup manager while also receiving mentorship from a Ladder Coach. Over the course of the program, you’ll develop practical skills in research, data analysis, and communication. At the end, you’ll present your project to your team, gaining valuable experience in both science and professional collaboration.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive (~3%); ~50 students
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $500-$1,500, based on financial need
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 16+, U.S citizens/permanent residents
This program offers an intensive 8-week research experience for high school students at Stanford’s labs in various fields of medicine and biomedicine. You can choose a track based on your interests and conduct structured lab work, attend department seminars, and receive mentorship from faculty and grad students, while you conduct research on an independent project in your field. The program concludes with a research poster and oral presentation, where you share your research with peers and faculty.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies with program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines; varies with cohort
Eligibility: High school students; preferred GPA 3.3+
In this program, you will work one-on-one with a PhD-level mentor to complete an independent research project in math or science. You’ll learn how to conduct a literature review, frame a research question, and apply methods in your chosen field. Weekly meetings with your mentor will help guide your progress and ensure your project is rigorous. At the end of the program, you’ll produce a formal research paper that can be submitted to competitions or journals.
5. Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – Department of Navy (DoN)
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive; ~300 placements across 38 labs
Location: Varies based on lab locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend – $4,000 (new participant) | $4,500 (returning participant)
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; exact dates vary with the lab
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (age 16+), U.S. citizens, strong academic background in STEM
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives you the chance to spend 8 weeks working alongside scientists and engineers in Department of Navy (DoN) labs. You’ll be matched with a mentor and will engage in real research projects in areas like cybersecurity, engineering, robotics, and environmental science. Based on your placement, your work may include data analysis, modeling, or hands-on experimental design. During this program, you’ll develop technical and problem-solving skills while learning how research is applied in defense and national security. Many labs also host tours or activities that give you a broader view of naval science.
6. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; ~8 students per year for in-person program
Location: In-person (Baltimore, MD) | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost; in-person interns are paid at $15/hour, and virtual interns receive a $500 stipend
Dates: 8 weeks, June – August (in-person) | 5 weeks, July – August (virtual)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing in Baltimore City (for the in-person program), and across the U.S. (for the virtual program)
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) gives you the chance to dive into neuroscience through a mix of lab research, clinical observation, and mentorship from faculty. You’ll explore areas like neurodevelopment, neuroimaging, and clinical neurobiology while building skills in lab techniques and research methods. Alongside your project work, weekly seminars and mentorship sessions will help deepen your understanding of brain science and research careers. If you attend the program in person, you’ll also take part in hospital rotations to see clinical practice up close. The program wraps up with a capstone presentation, where you present your work to mentors, peers, and the wider scientific community.
7. Princeton University – Laboratory Learning Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 5 – 6 weeks in the summer (exact dates vary by project)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in a U.S. high school; at least 16 years old by June 15
Through Princeton’s Laboratory Learning Program, you will join a faculty research lab and assist with ongoing science projects. Working full-time on weekdays for 5-6 weeks, you will gain experience in experimental techniques, data collection, and scientific writing. The exact schedule is project-dependent. Depending on your placement, you may work in fields like molecular biology, physics, or engineering. By the end of the program, you’ll present your contributions to your lab group, gaining first-hand experience in research.
8. UC COSMOS – California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz), CA
Cost: $42 application fee + $5,007 tuition; financial aid available
Dates: Varies by campus and program
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: California High school students in grades 8-12, GPA 3.8
UC COSMOS offers cluster-based summer experiences, with several tracks focused on chemistry, chemical engineering, nanochemistry, and materials science. You will live on campus, attend lectures, and conduct lab experiments guided by faculty. Clusters are small and research-oriented, encouraging teamwork and mentorship. The program concludes with group presentations.
9. University of Iowa – Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $7,500; financial aid available
Dates: June 17 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school student in grades 10-11
SSTP places you in active research labs at the University of Iowa, including the chemistry and biochemistry departments. You’ll conduct experiments, attend professional development workshops, and receive mentoring from faculty and graduate students. You will write a research abstract and present it at the program’s closing symposium. The experience mirrors authentic university-level research, making it a strong option among science programs for high school students.
10. UT Austin – High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000; limited scholarships available
Dates: June 9 – July 16
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: High school rising sophomore, junior, or senior, Texas resident, 15+
UT Austin’s HSRA gives you the chance to work in the College of Natural Sciences labs, including chemistry and chemical engineering groups. You will learn lab techniques, collaborate on ongoing projects, and gain insight into academic research. The program is full-time and immersive, with seminars and mentoring built in. At the end of the program, you will present your research in a symposium setting.
11. University of Michigan – Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) – Chemistry Courses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $2,500; financial aid available
Dates: Session 1: June 21 – July 3; Session 2: July 5 – 17; Session 3: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
MMSS offers you the chance to study college-level topics with Michigan faculty. Chemistry courses include Organic Chemistry, Sustainable Polymers, and Surface Chemistry, combining lectures with demonstrations and lab activities. You will gain exposure to advanced concepts in a condensed format, making it a good introduction to college-level science. The program is residential, so you’ll also get a taste of campus life at a major research university.
12. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Stipend: Undisclosed stipend awarded at closing symposium
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school students currently in their junior year, 16+, US citizens or permanent residents
At Simons, you will work in a Stony Brook research lab under the mentorship of faculty and graduate students. You’ll learn how to use lab equipment, analyze data, and design experiments. Weekly seminars will expose you to different STEM disciplines. Upon completion of your apprenticeship, you will submit a formal research abstract and present your work at the program's closing poster symposium. A stipend will be awarded in recognition of your contributions.
13. Rockefeller University – Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; need-based stipends available to eligible students
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+)
As a participant in the Summer Science Research Program (SSRP), you will get to integrate yourself full-time into a Rockefeller research laboratory. Throughout your time in the lab, you will be paired with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. These experienced scientists will serve as your mentors, guiding you through laboratory techniques, experimental design, and the rigorous process of data collection and analysis. You will develop a robust set of practical lab skills, gaining proficiency in methodologies commonly employed in scientific investigation. Beyond the lab, the program includes seminars covering a range of scientific topics along with career development workshops.
14. Stony Brook University – Garcia Summer Research Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $50 registration fee + $4,000 lab fee; optional room and board at extra cost
Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.8+, ages 16+, who have taken at least 3 of the following subjects (Honors or AP a plus): English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics, Biology, and standardized test scores 60%+
At Garcia, you will study polymer science and materials engineering through both coursework and lab research. You’ll begin with training in research techniques, covering everything from experimental design to data analysis. Following this, you'll design your own independent project as faculty meticulously test your hypotheses and analyze your results. Many participants also submit their work to national competitions.
15. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Summer Student Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors in NYC, GPA 3.5+
In this program, you’ll work alongside researchers studying the biology of cancer. You’ll gain exposure to oncology, molecular biology, and lab techniques used in cancer research. The program also includes weekly lectures on cancer science and treatment. By the end, you’ll present your findings in a poster session to faculty, researchers, and peers, mirroring professional scientific conferences.
16. NIH STEP-UP Summer Research Program
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Location: Varies – you conduct research in your local area
Stipend: Paid research internship (stipend provided by NIH; not disclosed)
Dates: 8 weeks in summer (flexible, typically June–August)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (must be 16+)
At SIP, you will conduct research alongside NIH scientists in areas like genetics, neuroscience, or biochemistry. You’ll learn how to design experiments, record data, and write about your findings. Interns also attend seminars and career panels throughout the summer. By the end, you’ll share your research with your peers and mentors in a final presentation.
17. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — Summer Student Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Location: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 8 weeks; June – August (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school students in NYC
At Mount Sinai’s Summer Student Program, you’ll be placed in a biomedical lab under the supervision of researchers. You’ll learn lab techniques such as PCR, tissue culture, and data analysis, while contributing to real projects in molecular biology or genetics. Weekly seminars will expose you to different medical research topics and career paths. By the end, you’ll present your project at a symposium, gaining both scientific and communication skills.
18. Scripps Research High School Internship Program
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $4,830
Dates: 7 weeks; Late-June to early-August
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: High school students from partner schools in San Diego; 16+ by program start; minimum grade point average of 3.0
This internship offers high school students an introduction to biomedical science through lab tours, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive presentations. The program offers practical research experience through a laboratory placement, pairing you with a mentor to explore current topics in translational science, precision medicine, digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement. Under your mentor’s guidance, you will learn key lab techniques, study design, and data analysis methods relevant to translational research, including genomic and genetic association studies, and follow the process of proposing, designing, conducting, and analyzing clinical trials. The program concludes with an opportunity to present your research to peers and mentors.
19. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive (3%); 12 students
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $750
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Students who will be at least 17 years old by the program start date, will graduate this year or the next, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a highly competitive, seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University for motivated high school students. Scholars work one-on-one with faculty mentors on independent projects across diverse fields, including biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, medicine, physics, history, and the humanities. Throughout the program, you’ll gain hands-on research experience, deepen your understanding of the subject, and learn directly from experienced scientists and researchers. Beyond the lab, you’ll participate in weekly seminars, discussions, field trips, and social activities.
20. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Location: Various marine and freshwater sites across the U.S. (students will be placed within a 45-minute commute from where they live)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3,000 + an all-expenses paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, 16+
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers high school students an eight-week experience focused on fisheries and aquatic science. As a Hutton Scholar, you will work closely with a local mentor across a variety of settings, including outdoor and overnight field trips. You’ll gain hands-on experience conducting fish population surveys, creating aquatic habitats, electrofishing, snorkeling, examining specimens under a microscope, testing water quality, and processing data. The program schedule is flexible and tailored to your work with your mentor. Toward the end of the internship, you’ll also attend the Scholars’ Summit, where you can share your experiences and connect with fellow participants.
21. PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $7,000; free for domestic students whose families make under $80,000/year
Dates: June 29 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics, grades 10 onwards
At PROMYS, you will immerse yourself in advanced mathematical problem-solving and number theory. You’ll spend much of your time working on challenging problem sets and discussing them with peers and mentors. Lectures and seminars will introduce new concepts that expand your understanding of mathematical research. By the end of the summer, you will gain a deeper appreciation of mathematical discovery and collaboration.
22. Ross Mathematics Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Otterbein University in Columbus, OH, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN
Cost: $7,000; need-based financial aid available
Dates: June 15 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students, 15-18
In the Ross Program, you will explore number theory and abstract mathematics through intensive problem solving. You’ll work on daily problem sets designed to encourage independent thinking and persistence. Faculty and graduate students will mentor you as you learn how mathematicians approach new ideas. By the end, you can strengthen your proof-writing skills and mathematical reasoning.
23. Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Cost: $6,511; financial aid available and free for all domestic students whose family household income is under $85,000
Dates: June 29 – August 9
Application Deadline: January onwards
Eligibility: High school students with strong math ability and interest
At HCSSiM, you will spend six weeks studying mathematics at a college level. Daily workshops and problem sessions will immerse you in advanced topics such as combinatorics, algebra, and graph theory. Faculty will encourage you to approach mathematics creatively and collaboratively. You’ll also participate in math-related activities outside of class, such as talks and problem-solving groups.
24. Canada/USA Mathcamp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Rotates between U.S. and Canadian campuses (most recently Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR)
Cost: $6,600; financial aid available; free for families earning under $100,000
Dates: June 29 – August 3
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: High school students aged 13–18
At Mathcamp, you can explore advanced mathematics in an open, flexible learning environment. You’ll choose from dozens of advanced courses taught by professors, graduate students, and researchers. Beyond classes, you’ll attend guest lectures, math contests, and collaborative problem-solving sessions. By the program's conclusion, you will have cultivated better mathematical understanding and self-reliance.
25. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Location: In-person (Fairfax, VA) | Hybrid | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Remote internships and in-person/hybrid computer lab internships; 15 years or older by June. Wet-lab in-person or hybrid internships: 16 or older by June
ASSIP is an eight-week summer program where high school students can collaborate individually with faculty researchers and design their own independent research project. In the lab, you’ll gain practical experience using advanced equipment, analyzing data, and writing about your findings. You’ll also develop communication skills through presentations and research summaries, preparing you to share your work with a wider audience. Past interns have contributed to projects in areas such as antibiotic development, tuberculosis diagnosis, nanoscience, robotics, and game design. Exceptional projects may even be published in a scientific journal.
26. MathILy (Mathematics Infused with Levity)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 45
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
Cost: $5,300; financial aid available
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: April 29 until full; rolling admissions starting in the Spring
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
At MathILy, you will study advanced math topics in a collaborative environment. You’ll work on challenging problems in areas such as combinatorics, logic, and graph theory. The program is structured around two weeks of core coursework, followed by a "Week of Chaos" offering shorter, exploratory classes, and concluding with two final weeks of advanced instruction. By the end, you’ll gain experience in writing proofs and presenting your ideas clearly.
27. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive (4%); 82 students accepted from 2,100 applications last year
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $4,500
Dates: 10 weeks starting from June 2
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school or undergraduate students, 16+, who have completed high school courses in chemistry and biology
This 10-week summer internship invites high school students to conduct their own research projects under renowned physicians and scientists in the field of biomedicine. As an intern, you will also attend weekly seminars, laboratory sessions with the staff, workshops on ethics and making research posters, and network with peers and professionals. The program ends with the completion of your research paper, which you then present. Previous interns have contributed to published research papers, while some have patented and sold their program-specific inventions.
28. NYU Langone Health — High School Bioethics Project
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: Virtual
Stipend: ~$500 stipend upon completion
Dates: October 20 – December 12
Application Deadline: September 30
Eligibility: High school juniors in NYC
At NYU’s Bioethics Project, you’ll learn how ethical decision-making shapes modern healthcare. Through workshops and readings, you’ll study issues such as patient consent, genetic testing, and access to treatment. You’ll also work on a research project where you analyze a medical ethics case and present your findings. The program emphasizes writing, debate, and critical thinking skills that are valuable for future medical study. Although this is not a summer program, it is worth considering for its unique offerings in the field of medical ethics.
29. Carnegie Mellon — Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors from underrepresented communities who are 16 or older when the program begins
At SAMS, you will take courses in mathematics and science while also working on group projects. Faculty will mentor you as you explore subjects such as calculus, biology, and computer science. In addition to seminars and group discussions, the program culminates in a final event where participants present their work. Prior to the summer, virtual sessions are held to introduce essential skills such as academic writing, time management, and the use of digital tools.
30. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Location: University of California, San Francisco and its affiliated hospitals, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend of $3,000–$4,300, which varies with student eligibility and funding
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, 16+; GPA 3.0+, must have completed at least one year each of biology and math by program start; underrepresented background
UCSF’s program offers one-on-one mentorship with health care providers and researchers across various fields, including genetics, neuroscience, epidemiology, and public health. You’ll work in a university lab or at one of its affiliated hospitals, design experiments, learn how to analyse data, and contribute to projects alongside peers and mentors. With weekly seminars, career panels, workshops, simulations, and networking opportunities to supplement your research work, the program ends with a research presentation session.
Image Source - Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Science Institute Logo