15 Online Chemistry Summer Programs for High School Students
As a high school student, summer programs can offer you the chance to gain hands-on skills and academic insights as well as connect with peers and mentors. These experiences provide a balance of practical learning and industry exposure without the heavy cost of more formal options. If you are interested in chemistry, a program in the field can demonstrate how chemistry relates to daily life, health, energy, and technology.
Here, online offerings can be particularly worth exploring as they can help you enroll in advanced coursework while offering the convenience of remote participation. As a participant, you will attend virtual sessions, connect with professors and professionals, and gain insights into pursuing a career in chemistry. Today, many credible universities offer virtual chemistry programs designed for high schoolers from across the country and beyond.
To help guide your search, we have selected 15 online chemistry summer programs for high school students.
1. Johns Hopkins University’s Pre-College Program: Applications of Chemistry in Medicine Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,950 tuition + $85 application fee; financial aid is available.
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – 18 | Session 2: July 21 – August 1
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade before the start of the program and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4; a background in Chemistry and Biology is strongly recommended.
Johns Hopkins University’s Pre-College Online Summer Programs offer high school students a chance to experience college-level academics while earning credit. The Applications of Chemistry in Medicine course explores how chemistry supports healthcare, pharmaceutical sciences, and materials science, with a focus on drug development and medical applications. The program is delivered online in a primarily asynchronous format, giving you flexibility to learn on your own schedule while still meeting set deadlines. Optional live sessions, such as office hours and group discussions, provide opportunities to connect with instructors and peers. Upon successful completion, you will receive one academic credit from Johns Hopkins University.
2. Ladder Internship Program
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. George Mason’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 application fee; waivers are available
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are 15 years or older by June 18
ASSIP, offered by George Mason University, is an opportunity for high schoolers to conduct advanced research alongside faculty mentors. You can indicate your preference for a mentor working on chemistry or biochemistry research projects. Throughout the program, you will gain hands-on experience with modern lab technologies and build research skills. You will engage in activities involving scientific writing, communication, problem-solving, and networking with STEM professionals. You may present your findings at conferences or even publish in scientific journals, adding real academic value to your work. Past projects have covered diverse areas, including robotics, renewable energy, infectious diseases, and exoplanet research.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available | None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August) sessions
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement; accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a personalized research opportunity designed for high school students interested in pursuing independent academic projects. The program pairs you with a Ph.D. mentor for one-on-one guidance as you design and carry out original research. You can choose a topic in chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields. Over 12 weeks or longer, depending on the format you choose, you will participate in research methodology workshops and receive support in writing a full-length paper. By the end of the virtual program, you will have completed and submitted your own research project. You can find application details here.
5. UCLA’s Summer Sessions—Chemistry Courses
Location: Online
Cost: Registration fee: $350 + Course fees: $385/unit + IEI fee: $61 (applicable for students without a bachelor’s degree) + document fee: $50 (for first-time Summer Sessions students)
Dates: Multiple sessions of varying lengths will be available between June 23 and September 12. You can check the exact dates here.
Application deadline: Varies by session and type of students (international/domestic); typically May/June deadlines
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old by the program start date
UCLA’s Summer Sessions allow high school students to enroll in college-level courses, earn credit, and get a head start on fulfilling future chemistry requirements. Starting as early as sophomore year, you can select one or two courses from an approved list of offerings. Chemistry options cover areas such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, drug discovery, pharmaceuticals, and molecular structure. Notable courses include CHEM 14A: General Chemistry for Life Scientists, CHEM 30A: Organic Chemistry I (Structure and Reactivity), and CHEM 20A: Chemical Structure. With nine different sessions available from July through September, and courses lasting 3 to 10 weeks, the program provides a flexible opportunity to explore chemistry at the college level.
6. ASPIRE by the Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Summer session: June 24 – August 21; Academic year session (optional extended opportunity): September 15 – May
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 15 and up, with a minimum GPA of 2.8; applicants must be permanent residents of the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan region who are living in specific counties/regions
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory allows high school juniors and seniors to explore STEM fields before committing to a college major. You will be paired with lab staff mentors to complete projects that strengthen both technical and interpersonal skills. The program offers in-person and virtual internship options, with remote participants completing most work online except for onboarding, troubleshooting, and equipment returns. You can indicate your preference for chemistry-based work to spend the summer working with a mentor on a project within the field. With an acceptance rate of 10%, ASPIRE is a fairly selective STEM opportunity to explore.
7. NASA’s OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual/NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Typically, paid; some opportunities may be unpaid
Dates: Late May/Early June – August (summer)
Application deadline: February 28 (summer)
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who are U.S. citizens, at least 16 at the time of application, and hold a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides internships for high school and college students in fields like science, engineering, IT, business, and finance. Internships span various fields, including aeronautics, space science, astronomy, chemistry, and communications. You may work with the PolCube CubeSat polarimeter to study atmospheric aerosols or explore nuclear materials and space nuclear propulsion projects. You will design experiments, analyze mission data, or help develop technologies while collaborating with researchers or small teams on active NASA projects. Additional opportunities include supporting mission preparations, attending expert lectures, and developing skills for future academic and career pathways.
8. Arizona State University’s Introductory Chemistry Universal Learner Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 application fee and a $400 fee that you pay only if you pass
Dates: Self-paced; typical commitment of 16 weeks
Application deadline: None; open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all learners, including high school students; MAT 117 College Algebra or MAT 142 College Mathematics is recommended as a prerequisite
ASU’s Universal Learner Courses give high school students the chance to earn four college credits while exploring a field of interest. The 16-week Introductory Chemistry course provides a broad foundation in general chemistry, designed for those interested in nursing, kinesiology, or advanced scientific study. Here, you will explore topics such as atomic structure, molecular bonding, and real-world applications like blood pH regulation, all while addressing fundamental questions about matter. The course combines video lectures, guided notes, problem-solving practice, quizzes, and labs, with immediate feedback to support your learning. The course offers experience in solving molecular-level problems, assessing chemical properties, and applying concepts to health sciences and energy research.
9. Columbia University’s Online Summer Pre-College Programs: Introduction to the Physical Sciences
Location: Virtual
Cost: $80 application fee; 1-Week Online Program Cost: $2,815/session 2-Week Online Program Cost: $3,965/session
Dates: July 21 – August 1
Application deadline: Early Registration: March 3 | General Registration: March 17; Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 years of age or older
This Columbia University pre-college course introduces you to fundamental ideas in the physical sciences, focusing on physics and chemistry. You will examine topics like electromagnetic radiation, spectroscopy, and elementary particles, while also delving into quantum mechanics and relativity. You will also explore gravitation and its role in physical systems. Virtual experiments will help you apply theoretical ideas, including the interference of waves and planetary motion. You will also investigate how conservation laws explain natural phenomena. You will learn through a mix of lectures, discussions, and simulations.
10. Brown University’s Acid/Base Chemistry: From Food to Everyday Phenomena Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218 for the two-week online program
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12 who are 14 to 18 years old
Brown University’s Acid/Base Chemistry course is designed to help you understand one of chemistry’s key topics. You will begin with an overview of core principles before examining the historical development of acid-base theories. Real-world contexts, including food systems and environmental issues, will help illustrate applications. Assignments include practicing calculating pH, analyzing dissociation constants, and interpreting visual data. You will also learn about the tools commonly used in labs, such as pH meters and volumetric pipets. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical skills, the course can help you evaluate acid-base reactions in both academic and applied settings.
11. HarvardX: Energy and Thermodynamics
Location: Virtual via edX
Cost: $249 for a certificate
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to all
HarvardX’s Energy and Thermodynamics covers topics within energy, atoms and molecular structure, and thermodynamics, offering you exposure to the intersection of energy and chemistry. Here, you will learn about types of energy like electrical, chemical, potential, kinetic, electromagnetic, thermal, and internal energy. You will also examine topics like Newton’s Second Law of Thermodynamics and energy release and consumption. Through readings, videos, and case studies, you will dive into the study of atoms and learn about electrons and the nucleus, atomic mass, and molecular structure. The course also focuses on thermochemistry, conservation of energy, fossil fuel consumption, and the relationship between energy, heat transfer, and work, offering you some exposure to the ways in which chemistry can inform energy efficiencies.
12. Carnegie Mellon University Open Learning Initiative’s Chemistry 1 Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all
Carnegie Mellon offers online courses, open to learners of all ages through the Open Learning Initiative. Its Chemistry 1 course covers topics typically covered in the first semester of a university-level General Chemistry course. Through text, examples, activities, interactive sessions, simulations, and other exercises, you will explore core chemistry topics, from basics like properties of matter, compounds, and elements to advanced theories of covalent bonding. You will also have access to practice problems, which come with feedback and hints to help you learn and improve chemistry-based problem-solving skills. End-of-unit quizzes will help you track your progress. The course only comes with learning materials, without credits or a certificate.
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Topics in Biochemistry Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080; financial aid available
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11
Stanford offers a wide range of pre-college courses to high school students who want to explore their interests over the summer. Its Topics in Biochemistry course is a two-week introduction to biochemical science. Here, you will learn about proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, and explore how any issues in these macromolecules cause major health issues. Throughout the course, you will attend live lectures, work on asynchronous assignments, participate in small group learning activities, and prepare and deliver group presentations. For the final group project, you will choose a topic that uses concepts from multiple areas of biochemistry, like mRNA vaccines, CRISPR-Cas9, the keto diet, or bacterial antibiotic resistance. This course can help you prepare for post-secondary biochemistry courses, especially if you plan to major in health sciences or medicine.
14. The American Academy’s Chemistry SCI310 course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $238
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students
The American Academy provides fully online high school chemistry courses taught by licensed instructors, allowing you to study at your own pace and fit learning into your schedule. These courses can be taken individually for half a credit or as part of a comprehensive diploma program, making them flexible for both teenagers and adult learners. The first section introduces foundational topics such as states of matter, atomic theory, the periodic table, bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, and the scientific method. The second section builds on this foundation with advanced concepts, including energy flow, reaction rates, equilibrium, acid-base theories, redox reactions, polymerization, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Together, the curriculum focuses on both fundamental and advanced chemistry.
15. DelftX: Pre-University Chemistry
Location: Virtual via edX
Cost: $50 for a certificate
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students who have taken high-school level chemistry and calculus
The DelftX Pre-University Chemistry course offers you the chance to strengthen your understanding of chemistry before beginning university studies in the subject. The course can introduce you to concepts from multiple branches of chemistry. You will review key areas such as general, organic, and inorganic chemistry while practicing how to connect chemistry-focused theory to real-world issues. The course highlights applications in energy transition, health, and new materials to show chemistry’s relevance in solving global challenges. You will also learn to perform quantitative calculations and apply calculus to chemical problems.
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