15 Online Education Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student, an online education program can be a worthwhile way to explore different subjects. An online education program is a practical way to explore different academic pathways and build learning skills. Online education programs for high school students provide opportunities to participate in courses offered by colleges, universities, nonprofits, and educational organizations. In these programs, you gain experience in areas such as coding, writing, business, science, public speaking, and research. There are several opportunities offered by top colleges and organizations, which makes them excellent options.
For those looking for free education-based internships, look at our blog here, and for those interested in general education internships, check out our blog here.
Why should I do an online education program as a high school student?
An online education program enables you to apply classroom knowledge to new topics and learning systems. It strengthens your resume by demonstrating initiative and commitment, provides useful work samples or certificates for future applications, and can lead to mentorship or recommendation opportunities. Online programs also help you understand your interests, allowing you to make informed decisions about college majors or career paths, and can improve your chances of securing admission to competitive colleges or future opportunities after graduation. Online education programs are accessible to students from many locations and often offer flexible schedules, making them a practical option for high school students balancing school and other commitments.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 online education programs for high school students.
Key takeaways
This list gathers 15 online education programs for high school students spanning Ivy League universities, medical schools, and gifted education organizations, with standout hosts including Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins.
Cost varies enormously, from around $1,295 for a research-focused program up to $14,300 for the most expensive credit-bearing course on this list, so it's worth budgeting carefully depending on which program you choose.
Most of these let you earn a certificate, transcript, or actual college credit by the end, giving you something concrete to add to future applications regardless of which subject area you choose.
All of these are fully online, so location isn't a barrier for any entry on this list, making this one of the more accessible categories for students who can't travel or relocate.
A few of the earliest deadlines fall in April and May for several of the most established university programs, so it's worth starting applications well before spring if a specific summer session interests you.
1. Harvard Summer School Secondary School Program
Cost: $4,180–$8,160 + $75 application fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort varies by program
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically late spring (rolling until filled)
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate academic readiness for college-level coursework
The Harvard Summer School Secondary School Program (Online Option) is a 7-week academic program that allows high school students to take college-level courses remotely through Harvard. You can choose from over 200 courses across subjects such as economics, computer science, literature, and biology, all taught by Harvard faculty. During the program, you enroll in one or two graded, credit-bearing courses and complete assignments similar to those expected of college students. You also gain access to academic resources such as tutoring and writing support, which help you manage rigorous coursework effectively. By the end of the program, you will have developed subject-specific knowledge and demonstrated your ability to succeed in a challenging academic environment, which can strengthen future college applications.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program offers you a fully remote, eight-week opportunity to gain real-world professional experience by working directly with fast-growing global startups. Throughout the program, you can explore diverse industry topics such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, finance, health tech, media, and environmental science. You will actively engage in hands-on activities like coding prototypes, analyzing data, developing market strategies, and presenting a tangible final project to your host company. Its unique features include direct mentorship from startup CEOs with elite backgrounds, tiered participation tracks, and a highly structured virtual format that bypasses geographical constraints. By the end of your internship, you will have developed essential practical skills like complex problem-solving, professional communication, technical proficiency, and project management. Apply now!
3. Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program
Cost: $1,895 (enrichment courses); $3,995 (college credit courses); need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; cohort varies by course
Dates: Year-round (1–12 weeks depending on course)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (One week before the course start date)
Eligibility: High school students aged 13+
The Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program is a structured academic program that allows high school students to explore college-level subjects through guided, faculty-designed coursework. You can choose between enrichment courses (shorter, certificate-based) and college credit courses that offer official Georgetown transcript credit upon completion. The program is fully asynchronous, meaning you can learn on your own schedule while still completing structured assignments, case studies, and a final capstone project. Subject areas include business, medicine, law, international relations, psychology, and STEM, allowing you to explore potential academic and career interests in depth. Throughout the program, you engage with video lectures created by Georgetown faculty and receive mentorship support, making it more structured than typical self-paced courses.
4. Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics
Cost: $1,700 + $35 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited enrollment per course
Dates: Offered year-round in multiple terms. Summer: June 22 – August 14; Fall: Late August to mid-December. Spring: Typically runs January to May
Application Deadline: Varies by term. Summer: May 11; Fall: Late July. Spring: Usually late fall/winter
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who have completed the necessary prerequisite courses for their chosen subject
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics program is an advanced academic program designed for high school students interested in studying college-level mathematics and physics. You enroll in rigorous courses such as multivariable calculus, linear algebra, or advanced physics topics, which are typically not offered in standard high school curricula. These courses are taught by expert instructors and include structured lessons, problem sets, and optional office hours for academic support, creating a guided and interactive learning experience. Unlike general online courses, this program follows a formal academic structure and offers Stanford Continuing Studies credit, meaning you receive an official transcript upon completion.
5. University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Online Program
Cost: $8,692–$14,300 (varies by course and credits)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort varies by class
Dates: Session I: May 26 – July 1; Session II: July 2 – August 7
Application Deadline: Session I: May 1; Session II: June 1 (Admissions are rolling)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11
The University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Online Program allows you to take credit-bearing undergraduate courses alongside Penn students. You attend live online classes multiple times a week and complete assignments such as research papers, exams, and projects. This structured format gives you a realistic experience of Ivy League academics while learning from Penn faculty. You also build subject-specific knowledge and academic writing skills through rigorous coursework. By the end of the program, you will earn an official transcript that can support your college applications.
6. Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program
Cost: $1,895–$2,195 per course; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Multiple sessions year-round (flexible duration)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 13+
The Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program allows you to explore medicine through structured, faculty-designed coursework. You learn through video lessons created by Harvard Medical School faculty and receive mentorship support throughout the program. You study topics such as immunology, neuroscience, and disease diagnosis while completing assignments and quizzes. The program is flexible but still follows a defined structure, making it more rigorous than typical self-paced learning. By the end, you earn a certificate of completion and gain exposure to college-level medical concepts.
7. Wake Forest University – Online Immersion Program
Cost: $1,595; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; cohort sizes are not published
Dates: Multi-length courses (1, 2, and 4-week sessions) available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Wake Forest University Online Immersion Program lets you experience college-style learning entirely through a flexible, self-paced digital classroom. You study asynchronously on the Canvas platform, watching pre-recorded video lessons from Wake Forest University and Wake Forest School of Medicine professors in subjects such as medicine, business, finance, law, psychology, and bioscience. You complete multimedia simulations and curated module assignments, exchange ideas with students worldwide on discussion boards, and receive personalized feedback from a subject-matter mentor through the Canvas Inbox. Each course culminates in a capstone project you present using text, video, photography, or PowerPoint. Along the way, you build online learning skills, time management, and digital communication habits.
8. NC State Online Research Academy
Cost: $1,295; partial scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Winter: January 28 – March 12, Summer: June 29 – July 31 (or July 6 – August 7 depending on the project)
Application Deadline: Winter: November 16 (Early bird), Summer: June 15 (Early bird: April 15)
Eligibility: High school students (rising grades 10–12)
The NC State Online Research Academy allows you to work on a structured research project under faculty mentorship in a fully online format. You choose from interdisciplinary topics and spend around 5–10 hours per week designing and developing your research. You attend research workshops and receive guidance on methodology, analysis, and academic writing. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, where you move from idea development to a final research output. You also engage with a cohort of students while building collaboration and communication skills. By the end, you receive a certificate and a faculty evaluation, which can strengthen your academic profile and future applications.
9. Johns Hopkins – Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs (Online)
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee plus tuition of $3,575 and a lab kit fee of $247.12; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort sizes
Dates: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent high school graduate; As and Bs in high school math and science classes; completed Algebra II and a course covering trigonometric functions; a full year of high school chemistry and/or physics with a lab (or a 4/5 on AP Chemistry or AP Physics 1); proof of English proficiency required for applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Through Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) Online, you take a fully virtual, college-level Johns Hopkins course that can earn you three JHU college credits. Your learning runs through a structured online education stack: course materials on the Canvas learning management system, live video classes in MS Teams, and pre-recorded lectures for independent study. Each week you complete about five hours of independent study, 15 hours of live virtual class meetings, and 7.5 hours of homework, roughly 28 hours total. Hands-on work arrives by mail as a lab kit, letting you build a spaghetti bridge using an online truss simulator, program an Adafruit Circuit Playground Express memory game, and run a chemical processes lab converting cornstarch into fermentable sugars.
10. University of Rochester – Pre-College Online Program
Cost: $1,595; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Offered year-round; 2-week sessions during the northern hemisphere summer and 4-week sessions during fall and spring
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school or U.S.-high-school-equivalent students ages 13 and up
In this program, you engage in fully asynchronous online learning through the Canvas platform, watching pre-recorded video lessons designed and taught by University of Rochester faculty. You study anywhere, anytime, at your own pace, completing roughly 20–30 hours of instruction, multimedia, simulations, and curated assignments per course. You choose subjects such as Personalized Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Orthopedic Medicine, or Video Game Design, finishing module assignments after each unit. A subject-matter mentor supports you through the Canvas Inbox, discussion boards, and feedback on your work. You conclude with a final project presented in text, video, photography, or PowerPoint that you can list on college or internship applications.
11. UC Irvine School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program
Cost: $2.350 per three-week session ($75 discount available for early registration); scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Session One: June 22 – July 10; Session Two: July 13– 31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18 with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
The UC Irvine Summer Online Research Program allows you to explore biomedical research through a structured, mentor-guided format. You learn core concepts such as evidence-based medicine, research ethics, and how to evaluate scientific literature. You work on a research project and develop skills in academic writing and data interpretation. The program includes virtual sessions with faculty and near-peer mentors, providing consistent academic guidance. You also gain exposure to the process of preparing abstracts for potential conference submission. By the end, you will have completed a structured research report and gained foundational experience in medical research.
12. Columbia University Pre-College Online Summer Program
Cost: $2,867 (1-week) | $4,017 (2-week) + $80 application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort sizes
Dates: Session AA (1 Week): June 22–26; Session A (2 Weeks): July 6–17; Session B (2 Weeks): July 20–31
Application Deadline: May 4, May 18, June 1 (Varies based on program)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
The Columbia University Pre-College Online Summer Program allows you to take structured, instructor-led courses in a virtual classroom environment. You choose from 40+ subjects and attend live classes that include discussions, simulations, and group projects. You follow a fixed schedule with daily sessions, making the experience closer to a real college classroom. You also participate in college preparation workshops and student life activities designed to build academic readiness. The program emphasizes collaboration, active participation, and consistent coursework rather than self-paced learning. By the end, you receive a certificate of participation and an evaluation letter that can support your future applications.
13. Brown University Pre-College Online Program (Summer@Brown Online)
Cost: $3,364–$6,520 (varies by course length); scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by course
Dates: June 15 – July 24 (multiple session lengths within this window)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12; ages 14–18 by June 14
The Brown Pre-College Online Program allows you to take structured, non-credit courses taught by Brown instructors in a virtual classroom. You choose from a wide range of subjects and follow a fixed schedule with live sessions, assignments, and discussions. You engage in interactive learning through projects, peer collaboration, and instructor feedback. The program emphasizes academic exploration, allowing you to study niche topics not typically available in school. You also develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and independent learning through guided coursework. By the end, you receive a certificate of completion that can support your academic profile and future applications.
14. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Online Programs
Cost: Varies by format and subject; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically under 10 students for live, instructor-led sessions
Dates: Fall A: Starts September 8; Fall B: Starts October 11; Spring A: Starts January 24; Spring B: Starts March 21; Summer A: Starts June 20; Summer B: Starts July 11
Application Deadline: Fall A: August 11; Fall B: September 15; Spring A: December 8; Spring B: February 16; Summer A: May 10; Summer B: June 7
Eligibility: Students in grades 2–12 who establish eligibility by achieving qualifying scores on an above-grade-level assessment (such as the SCAT, PSAT, SAT, or ACT), typically requiring scores in the 98th percentile for their age group
The Johns Hopkins CTY Online Programs allow you to take advanced, accredited courses designed for academically strong students. You choose from formats like session-based or self-paced courses, depending on how you prefer to learn. You study subjects not typically offered in school, such as cryptology, advanced math, or creative writing, through structured coursework. You receive detailed feedback from instructors and engage with a global community of motivated peers. The program emphasizes academic rigor and intellectual exploration beyond standard school curricula. By the end, you build advanced subject knowledge and develop independent learning skills that support future academic work.
15. Cornell University Pre-College Studies
Cost: $1,940 per credit + $75 nonrefundable application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort varies by course
Dates: 3-week 1: June 1–19; 3-week 2: June 22 – July 10; 3-week 3: July 13–31; 6-week: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: 3-week 1: April 28; 3-week 2 & 6-week: May 5; 3-week 3: June 2
Eligibility: Current high school students prepared for college-level coursework who meet specific course prerequisites
The Cornell Precollege Studies Online Program allows you to enroll in real undergraduate-level courses taught by Cornell faculty. You attend structured classes, complete assignments, and engage in discussions similar to those in a college classroom. You can choose from subjects like business, engineering, humanities, and science, allowing you to explore potential majors in depth. The program compresses a full semester of coursework into a few weeks, making it academically rigorous and fast-paced. You also interact with peers and instructors through discussions and collaborative work, building communication and analytical skills. By the end, you earn 3–12 college credits and receive an official Cornell transcript that can strengthen your academic profile.
Questions students often ask about these programs
1. Do I need strong grades already to apply to these online education programs?
It depends on the program. A few of the most selective options do favor students with a strong academic record, while others are more open to a wider range of students. Check each listing's eligibility section before ruling yourself out.
2. Some of these programs offer actual college credit while others just give a certificate. Does that difference matter?
It can, depending on your goals. College credit programs offer a stronger academic credential and an official transcript, while certificate programs are still valuable for demonstrating initiative on applications. Choose based on whether transferable credit matters to your plans.
3. These programs range widely in cost. How should I decide which one is worth the investment?
Compare what's included, like faculty access, credit value, and program length, rather than looking at price alone. If cost is a major factor, prioritize the more affordable options first and look for available financial aid.