40+ STEM Internships for High School Students in 2026

TL;DR

STEM internships put high school students to work in labs, museums, hospitals and field sites, and many of them pay: the Smithsonian's natural history internship pays $700 a week, the J. Craig Venter Institute pays high school interns $18 an hour, and Kaiser Permanente's KP LAUNCH pays at least $25 an hour. Most start at age 16, and 14 of the 40 programs below only take students who live or go to school in a specific city, region or state, so read each eligibility line before anything else. Ladder Internships is fully remote, so where you live has no bearing on whether you can apply.

The lists below start with internships in environmental science and biology, then move to physics and chemistry programs, math summer programs, medical internships and programs, and selective STEM camps and academies. Every one is open to high school students and runs on a regular cycle posted on its own website. If you want a lab research placement specifically, our list of STEM research programs for high school students covers those.

Prefer something you can commute to? We've rounded up STEM internships for high school students in New York City, California, and Texas. If nothing is close by, these free online STEM programs can be done from anywhere.

STEM Internship, Summer Camp or Online Program: Which One Fits You?

Internships: You work in a lab, museum, hospital or field site, usually for pay, as at the J. Craig Venter Institute, BioBus or KP LAUNCH. Most want students who are 16 or older and live nearby, so they suit you best once you know which field you want to test. Our guide on how to apply for an internship in high school walks through the application itself.

Summer camps and academies: These run from one to six weeks and go deep on one subject, like the Ross Mathematics Program, Michigan State's week-long Physics of Atomic Nuclei program or Carnegie Mellon's six-week SAMS. They're a good fit if you're still choosing between fields.

Online programs: NASA's GeneLab for High Schools, Stanford's SPINWIP physics program and The Junior Academy's virtual challenges are free and work from anywhere. You trade a lab placement for flexibility and access.

Who can apply to STEM programs for high school students?

Your address: Many programs recruit only nearby students. BioBus takes students who live and go to school in New York City, Cleveland Clinic's internship takes students from eight Northeast Ohio counties, and Careers in Science is open only to San Francisco public school students. National labs such as Berkeley Lab also post virtual programs for K-12 students, which can help if you live far from a lab.

Your citizenship: Federal programs and several camps require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. NASA's SEES internship takes U.S. citizens only, while SAMS, GeneLab for High Schools and Cleveland Clinic's internship also accept permanent residents. The federal government's STEM workforce training directory lists more agency programs by eligibility.

Your grade and age: Most internships start at 16, and KP LAUNCH takes students from 16 to 19. Younger students have options too: The Junior Academy and Canada/USA Mathcamp accept students from age 13, PROMYS takes students from 14, and Stanford's SPINWIP takes ninth through eleventh graders.

Paid or Unpaid: Which STEM Internships Pay, and What Do Programs Cost?

Paid internships: The Smithsonian's natural history internship pays a $5,600 stipend, the J. Craig Venter Institute pays high school interns $18 an hour, and BioBus and Cleveland Clinic pay $17 and $15 an hour. Private employers are held to the Department of Labor's primary beneficiary test for unpaid internships, which is one reason most of the internships here pay.

Free programs: Carnegie Mellon's SAMS is fully funded, while Michigan State's Physics of Atomic Nuclei program, NASA's GeneLab for High Schools, Stanford's SPINWIP and the National Youth Science Camp charge nothing. PROMYS is free for families earning under $80,000 a year, and Canada/USA Mathcamp is free for U.S. and Canadian households under $100,000.

Tuition and financial aid: The Ross Program's fee is $7,500, SUMaC charges $8,950 on campus or $3,750 online, and Shad's live-in fee is $7,875, though each offers need-based aid. Ask about aid before ruling any program out.

Factor	Paid internships	Tuition-based programs
What you get	A stipend or hourly wage, often $500 to $5,600 for the summer	Instruction, projects and usually housing
Who can apply	Usually local students who are 16 or older	Usually open nationally or internationally
What you do	Work on a team at a lab, museum, hospital or field site	Coursework, problem sets and group projects
Examples	NMNH internship, J. Craig Venter Institute, KP LAUNCH	Ross Mathematics Program, SUMaC, Shad

When Should You Start Applying for STEM Internships?

In the fall: Some of the earliest deadlines come before winter break. Yale Young Global Scholars' Early Action round closes October 15, 2026, Shad's early deadline is November 8, 2026, and KP LAUNCH opens November 16, 2026 and closes January 8, 2027.

From January to March: Most summer programs close in winter. SAMS closes February 1, 2027, Penn's Summer Science Initiative closes February 1, 2027 and HERO closes March 1, 2027, while the 2026 deadlines for SUMaC and PROMYS fell on February 2 and February 27.

In spring: Some deadlines come later. The Welch Summer Scholar Program closes April 4, 2027, MathILy gave full consideration to applications received through April 28 in 2026, and the J. Craig Venter Institute posts its summer internships in early spring, so keep checking those pages after winter break.

How We Selected These Programs

Open to high school students now: Every program's own eligibility rules admit high school students today. When you check a program yourself, read the enrollment requirement rather than the age floor, since a program that says "16 and up" can still require college enrollment.

A current or regular cycle: Each program lists 2026 dates or a 2027 application window on its own site, or describes a summer program it runs every year. A page with no dates and no sign of recent activity doesn't show a program is still running.

Core sciences, internships first: Every program centers on biology, environmental science, physics, chemistry, math or medicine, with internships first and summer programs, camps and academies after them. For coding programs, see our guide to computer science programs for high school students, and for a wider search, Pathways to Science keeps a directory of K-12 STEM internships and camps.

Section	Top programs	Cost	Best for
Environmental Science and Biology Internships	NMNH internship, J. Craig Venter Institute, Hutton Junior Fisheries	Paid, except one $3,190 remote program	Students who want paid lab or field work in biology
Physics and Chemistry Programs	Physics of Atomic Nuclei, Welch Summer Scholar Program, SPINWIP	Free, except one tuition-based academy	Students who want physics or chemistry beyond the classroom
Math Summer Programs and Camps	Ross Mathematics Program, PROMYS, SUMaC	Free with aid to $8,950	Strong math students ready for proof-based problem solving
Medical Internships and Summer Programs	KP LAUNCH, Cleveland Clinic CYCE, Mayo Clinic Career Immersion	Free to $6,580	Students weighing a career in medicine
Summer STEM Camps and Academies	SAMS, YYGS, National Youth Science Camp	Free to $7,875	Strong students who want a selective summer academy

Environmental Science and Biology Internships

Museums, research institutes, fisheries scientists and university labs run these, often outdoors or among natural history collections. Most are paid, and several take students with no lab experience.

1. NMNH Summer High School Internship Program at the Smithsonian

Location: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: $5,600 stipend ($700 per week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 23 to August 14, 2026, Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with fixed start and end dates; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was March 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET; check the program site for the 2027 deadline.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12, ages 15 to 18 at the start, living within commuting distance in D.C., Maryland or Virginia

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History runs this eight-week summer internship for high school students interested in natural history science. You work inside the museum on research and collections four days a week, Tuesday through Friday. Interns earn $700 a week for about 24 hours of work, which comes to roughly $29 an hour. The catch is location, since you need to live within commuting distance in D.C., Maryland or Virginia and be 15 to 18 when the program starts.

Who it's best for: D.C., Maryland and Virginia high schoolers who want a well-paid summer working with Smithsonian natural history collections.

2. STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES)

Location: UT Austin Center for Space Research in Austin, Texas, plus a virtual option
Cost/Stipend: Scholarships cover tuition, meals, housing and activities, and some also cover travel; the paid option costs $2,000; the virtual option is free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 2,000 applicants and 215 students accepted in 2024
Dates: The 2026 on-site internship ran July 5 to July 18, 2026, with a Virtual Science Symposium July 20 to July 21, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was February 22, 2026; check the SEES site in early 2027 for the next deadline.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are U.S. citizens and turn 16 by July 5, 2026

STEM Enhancement in Earth Science is a NASA Earth and space science internship hosted by the Center for Space Research at the University of Texas at Austin. On-site interns spend two weeks in Austin on research tied to NASA science, and the summer wraps up with a virtual science symposium. If you earn a scholarship spot, your main cost is travel to Austin, while the free virtual track lets you take part from home. In 2024, about 2,000 students applied and 215 were accepted, so treat your application seriously. The biggest filter is citizenship, since SEES is open only to U.S. citizens who are current sophomores or juniors.

Who it's best for: U.S. citizen sophomores and juniors who want a NASA-linked Earth or space science internship, either two weeks in Austin or virtually.

3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

Location: Host institutions and mentors across the U.S., including sites in Maryland, Virginia, Southern California and Puerto Rico
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship that also comes with a $3,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application through the AFS awards portal
Dates: Usually eight weeks between June and August, full time; the most recent cycle ran in summer 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was January 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST, so plan to apply in January 2027 for the next cycle.
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old living in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico or Canada; the 2026 cycle accepted only the graduating classes of 2026 and 2027

The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid summer internship and mentoring program that matches high school students with fisheries scientists at host institutions. You spend about eight weeks with a mentor working on fisheries biology and aquatic science, seeing how the field operates day to day. Expect full-time hours of 32 to 40 a week, at placements that have included sites in Maryland, Virginia, Southern California and Puerto Rico. Check your graduation year first, since the 2026 cycle took only the classes of 2026 and 2027, and confirm which classes the 2027 cycle accepts. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: Students 16 or older in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico or Canada who want a paid summer working under a fisheries scientist.

4. Young Scholars Program (YSP) at the University of Georgia

Location: University of Georgia campus in Athens, Griffin or Tifton (non-residential)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship at 30 hours per week; ask the program about the pay rate before you apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 1 to July 7, 2026, followed by a research conference July 8 to 10, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 application window ran November 3, 2025 to January 23, 2026; the 2027 window hasn't been announced.
Eligibility: Completed sophomore year, age 16 by the start date, one lab science and one semester of algebra, and a first-time participant

The Young Scholars Program places high school students in research with scientists at UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). It's a paid, five-week internship at 30 hours a week, and the summer closes with a three-day research conference in July. The program is non-residential, so you'll need to commute daily to the Athens, Griffin or Tifton campus where you're placed. Check the requirements before applying, since you must be 16 by the start, have finished one lab science and a semester of algebra, and never have attended before.

Who it's best for: Students who have finished sophomore year, live within commuting distance of an Athens, Griffin or Tifton campus, and want paid research in agricultural science.

5. Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program at the California Academy of Sciences

Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; after school and weekends during the school year, weekdays in summer
Cost/Stipend: Paid above minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Multi-year and year-round through high school graduation; interns start in June as rising sophomores or juniors, and the next application window opens in February 2027.
Application deadline: Applications are closed; the next window opens in February 2027.
Eligibility: Full-time ninth or tenth grader in an SFUSD school with a 2.5 GPA and a C or higher in science and math, authorized to work in the U.S., and able to commit 2 or 3 years

Careers in Science is a multi-year paid intern program at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, built around science careers and research at a natural history museum. You start in June as a rising sophomore or junior and stay through graduation, working after school and on weekends during the year and on weekdays in the summer. It's open only to SFUSD students, so students at private schools or in other districts can't apply. Expect a commitment of two or three years, along with a 2.5 GPA and at least a C in science and math. You're paid above minimum wage the whole way, which makes it a steady job as well as a science program. If you're interested in learning more, check out our deep-dive here!

Who it's best for: San Francisco public school freshmen and sophomores who want a paid, multi-year science role rather than a single summer.

6. Summer Internships in Computational Biology at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Location: PNNL campus, Richland, Washington (in person)
Cost/Stipend: Pay isn't listed for the high school track, so ask PNNL when the postings open
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; high school students apply through their own posting, with a separate posting for applicants 18 and older
Dates: The 2026 internships ran eight weeks, starting June 2 or June 16, 2026 and ending by August 11, 2026.
Application deadline: Check the program site in early 2027 for the summer 2027 high school postings.
Eligibility: High school students; no previous experience is required, though a demonstrated interest in STEM is preferred

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory runs these eight-week summer internships through its Predictive Phenomics initiative on the Richland campus. You work on a research project with Earth and biological sciences researchers, learning how computation and biology fit together and watching experiments along the way. Interns can also join a two-week morning bootcamp in Python, R and biology, which helps a lot if you've never coded for science before. You present your project progress to mentors and lab leaders during the summer, and no previous experience is required to apply.

Who it's best for: Students near Richland who like biology and want to learn to code for science at a national lab.

7. High School Junior Scientist Internships at BioBus

Location: New York City, with tracks on the Lower East Side, in Harlem and in Washington Heights/Inwood
Cost/Stipend: Paid hourly, at $17 an hour in 2026
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: The 2026 to 2027 cohort runs July 6, 2026 to about June 15, 2027: full time at 30 hours a week for six weeks in summer, then part time after school.
Application deadline: The 2026 application window ran January 15 to March 15, 2026; watch for the 2027 application in January 2027.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 11 who live and go to school in New York City; the Lower East Side track requires neighborhood residence or school, and the Women in STEM track is for students who identify as female, gender non-conforming or non-binary

BioBus is a New York City science nonprofit, and its Junior Scientist Internship mixes scientific research with science communication. You spend six weeks of summer full time, then continue part time after school through the school year, getting mentoring, running your own microscope project and teaching at BioBus outreach events. Junior Scientists are paid $17 an hour, so the year adds up to a real part-time job in science. The internship is open to ninth through eleventh graders, but you must live and go to school in New York City.

Who it's best for: New York City ninth to eleventh graders who want a paid, year-long science role that includes teaching younger students.

8. Summer Internship Program at the J. Craig Venter Institute

Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland; there are no internships at the La Jolla, California site this year
Cost/Stipend: $18 an hour for high school interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; the program is small and highly selective
Dates: Internships run about 10 to 15 weeks between May and August, full time at 40 hours a week; summer 2026 positions were posted in March 2026.
Application deadline: Rolling admissions once positions are posted; watch for summer 2027 postings in early 2027.
Eligibility: At least 16 at the start, a 3.0 or B average with transcripts, and full-time student enrollment for the upcoming school year

The J. Craig Venter Institute is a genomics research institute, and its summer internship takes high school students alongside college students. You join a research project matched to your academic background, with a dedicated mentor guiding your work over a full-time summer of about 10 to 15 weeks. High school interns earn $18 an hour, which makes it one of the better-paid science internships open to teens. Internships are only at the Rockville, Maryland campus this year, and positions are posted one by one, so check the page regularly from early in the year.

Who it's best for: Students 16 and older near Rockville with a B average who want a paid, full-time summer on a genomics research team.

9. Environmentor at RISE (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity)

Location: RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY 11692 (in person)
Cost/Stipend: Up to a $1,200 stipend, plus community service hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; every applicant attends an in-person group interview in May 2027
Dates: June through mid-August 2027, Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Application deadline: The summer 2027 application portal opens in spring 2027.
Eligibility: Ninth to eleventh graders who live in New York City and attend school in or near the Rockaway peninsula; students who attended Shore Corps in the fall and spring get priority

Environmentor is a science research mentorship from RISE in which high school students study Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway shoreline with scientists from local universities and research institutions. After June orientations and workshops, you work four days a week for six weeks in July and August on your own project; 2026 projects covered tern foraging, living shorelines and wave-driven erosion. Along the way you also learn water safety, CPR, kayaking, biking and surfing. Students earn up to a $1,200 stipend, and the program belongs to a New York City science research mentoring consortium led by the American Museum of Natural History.

Who it's best for: Rockaway-area ninth to eleventh graders who want paid, outdoor coastal research close to home.

10. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship

Location: Downtown Seattle, based at the Stadium Light Rail Station or King Street Center
Cost/Stipend: $22 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 30 applicants advance to the interview round; applications go through King County
Dates: Summer 2026 ran July 7 to August 7, 2026, Monday to Friday at about 27 hours a week; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: The 2026 application window ran April 1 to April 22, 2026; check the program site for the 2027 window.
Eligibility: Local high school students at least 16 years old in the Seattle metro area who are new to environmental topics and eligible to work in the U.S.

Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust runs the Clean Water Ambassadors Internship with the King County Wastewater Treatment Division, introducing Seattle-area teens to clean water and wastewater science. You work weekdays for about five weeks, learning about wastewater treatment and environmental science in downtown Seattle. At $22 an hour and roughly 27 hours a week, your pay comes to about $594 per week before taxes. The program looks for students new to environmental topics, so no prior science experience is needed, but you must be at least 16 and eligible to work in the U.S.

Who it's best for: Seattle-area students 16 and older with no environmental background who want a paid summer job in water science.

11. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote, fully online
Cost/Stipend: $3,190 for the basic startup internship program, paid in two installments starting with a $200 deposit; full and partial financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% for the Summer 2023 cohort, with 700 applicants for 70 spots
Dates: Four 8-week cohorts a year (spring, summer, fall and winter); the next winter cohort starts December 7, 2026
Application deadline: November 15, 2026 for the winter cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can commit about 5 to 10 hours a week; a separate program serves university and gap year students

Ladder Internships was founded by Harvard entrepreneurs and places high school students with startups for an 8-week remote project, in fields that include health tech, environmental science, machine learning and AI, and tech and deep tech. Ladder suggests a project based on each applicant's interests and interview, and the student has the final say on the match. The internship follows a set timeline: you define the project with a company coach in week one, present a first deliverable to the company in week four, and present the finished project in week eight. Interns leave with a letter of completion from the host company, and students from families earning $50,000 or less a year can apply for full or partial financial aid.

Who it's best for: A student who can't reach a lab in person and wants a remote startup project in health tech or environmental science with a real team.

Physics and Chemistry Programs

These range from free physics programs at national labs and universities to chemistry research summers, and Stanford's SPINWIP runs fully online. Several are free for every student admitted.

12. Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) at FRIB, Michigan State University

Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; free room and board on campus if you need it
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: PAN 2027 is planned for July 18 to July 23, 2027.
Application deadline: Usually early March, with the application posted each December.
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 9 to 12

PAN is a free, week-long program at Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, a user facility for the Department of Energy Office of Science. You spend the week on activities led by FRIB faculty, staff and students, exploring atomic nuclei and how they connect to astrophysics. Room and board on campus are free if you need them, so your main cost is getting to East Lansing. It's open to ninth through twelfth graders, which makes it one of the few national physics programs you can do before junior year.

Who it's best for: U.S. high schoolers in any grade who want a free week of nuclear physics at a national research facility.

13. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)

Location: Online, through live video meetings
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: The 2026 program ran July 6 to July 24, 2026, Monday to Friday.
Application deadline: The 2026 application is closed; join the program's mailing list to hear when the 2027 application opens.
Eligibility: High school students in 9th through 11th grade when they apply; students from outside the U.S. and students of any gender are welcome

SPINWIP is a free, three-week virtual physics program from the Stanford Physics Department and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology. You attend lectures from Stanford professors and researchers on quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics and cosmology, and you code physics projects in Python in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates. College and career workshops round out the schedule. The program was built to get high school girls excited about physics, but it welcomes students of any gender, and international students can apply too.

Who it's best for: Ninth to eleventh graders anywhere in the world who want a free introduction to physics and Python from Stanford researchers.

14. QCaMP

Location: Berkeley, CA; Albuquerque, NM (drop-off, nonresidential)
Cost/Stipend: Learning stipend; ask the program for the amount
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 29 to July 24, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: The 2026 application window ran February 2 to April 3, 2026; check the program site for the 2027 window.
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older by the start of QCaMP

QCaMP is a four-week summer quantum program funded by the Department of Energy and run jointly by Sandia, Lawrence Berkeley and Los Alamos national labs. You get a primer on computing fundamentals, learn quantum physics by working with quantum circuits, and receive a learning stipend for your time. There's a residency rule: you must live in the Bay Area for the Berkeley camp, or in the New Mexico and Navajo Nation region for the New Mexico camps. It's drop-off only, with no housing, so plan for a daily commute.

Who it's best for: Bay Area or New Mexico students 16 and older who want a paid summer introduction to quantum information science.

15. Experimental Physics Research Academy at the University of Pennsylvania

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (fully residential, with no commuter or online option)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-based; ask Penn about the current fee and financial aid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application, and some academies have prerequisites
Dates: The 2026 three-week academies ran July 11 to August 1, 2026.
Application deadline: Check Penn's Summer Academies site in early 2027 for the 2027 deadline.
Eligibility: Current 9th to 11th graders; some academies have course prerequisites

Penn's School of Arts and Sciences runs this three-week residential academy as part of its summer academies for high school students. You study mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum dynamics and astrophysics through lectures, activities, projects and discussions with your instructors. The academy is fully residential, with no commuter or online option, so you live on Penn's Philadelphia campus for all three weeks. Tuition isn't listed alongside the program description, so ask Penn about the cost and financial aid before you apply.

Who it's best for: Ninth to eleventh graders who want three weeks of college-level physics while living on an Ivy League campus.

16. Project SEED at the American Chemical Society

Location: Host universities and companies at more than 350 participating institutions in 40 U.S. states and territories, plus a virtual summer camp
Cost/Stipend: Pay isn't listed; ask Project SEED about your host site
Acceptance rate/cohort size: More than 350 students take part each year
Dates: Summer research placements run 8 to 10 weeks; the 2026 student application closed April 6, 2026.
Application deadline: Watch the Project SEED page in early 2027 for the summer 2027 student application.
Eligibility: High school students; email projectseed@acs.org for the current eligibility rules before you apply

The American Chemical Society started Project SEED in 1968, and it now places more than 350 students a year in chemistry research with qualified mentors in academia and industry. Research placements last 8 to 10 weeks over the summer, and a virtual summer camp covers college readiness, lab preparation and chemistry career paths. The program has reached more than 11,000 students in 40 states and territories, and its alumni include leading COVID-19 researcher Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett. Use the locator map on the Project SEED page to see whether a host site runs near you.

Who it's best for: Chemistry-curious high schoolers who want a mentored summer in a working research lab near home.

17. Welch Summer Scholar Program

Location: Residential at the University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University
Cost/Stipend: No cost to participate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; selection is competitive and based on academic performance and recommendations
Dates: Usually five weeks in summer, between junior and senior year
Application deadline: April 4, 2027 at 10:59 p.m. CDT, with no extensions.
Eligibility: Students typically between their junior and senior years of high school; past participants can't apply again

The Robert A. Welch Foundation sponsors this five-week residential program, which puts high school students in chemistry labs at five Texas universities. You work on research projects under experienced research chemists, living on campus while you see how academic chemistry works in and out of the lab. Selection is competitive, and the application asks for PSAT, SAT or ACT scores, an essay of at least 250 words, two recommendation letters and a transcript. The April 4, 2027 deadline won't be extended, so line up your recommendations early.

Who it's best for: Rising seniors who want a free, five-week chemistry research summer at a Texas university.

18. Penn Summer Science Initiative (PSSI)

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; commuter only, with no housing or travel support
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 14 students
Dates: Summer 2027 runs July 12 to August 6, 2027, Monday to Thursday.
Application deadline: Applications open in November 2026 and close February 1, 2027.
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in the greater Philadelphia region who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have taken chemistry or physics, and can commute daily

PSSI is a free materials science program run by Penn's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. Over four weeks you attend lectures from Penn faculty and researchers, join materials science workshops and lab report writing seminars, and go on field trips. You also get time on research equipment, including scanning electron and optical microscopes, thermal analysis, mechanical testing and X-ray diffraction. Only 14 students are chosen each summer, based on grades, a resume, interest in science and recommendations.

Who it's best for: Philadelphia-area rising juniors and seniors who want free, lab-heavy time with physics and chemistry instruments.

Math Summer Programs and Camps

These selective summer programs keep you on one area of math for weeks, usually while living on a college campus. Most ask for a qualifying test or problem set, and several are free for lower-income families.

19. Ross Mathematics Program

Location: Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana (residential)
Cost/Stipend: $7,500 program fee; financial aid is available, with the aim that every accepted student can attend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 15% of complete applications were accepted in 2023; about 60 first-year students at each site
Dates: Summer 2026 ran six weeks, June 14 to July 24, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was March 8, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Eligibility: Motivated pre-college students, most of them 15 to 18, plus some mature 14-year-olds; international students are admitted

The Ross Program is a six-week residential summer program in which students concentrate deeply on a single area of math for the whole session. You live in a college dorm at one of two sites, working through challenging problems with support from 12 to 15 counselors at each site. The application asks for short essays, a video, a teacher recommendation, a transcript and your work on a set of hard math problems. Admission is selective, with about 15% of complete applications accepted in 2023, and financial aid is meant to make sure every admitted student can come.

Who it's best for: Math-driven students ages 15 to 18 who want six weeks of intense, proof-based problem solving with peers from around the world.

20. PROMYS at Boston University

Location: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Free, including tuition, room and board, for domestic families earning under $80,000; the full 2026 fee was $8,000, with a sliding scale in between
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 80 students a year, including 60 first-year and 20 returning students
Dates: A six-week summer program; 2026 admissions decisions went out by the end of April 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was February 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least 9th grade and are 14 to 18 by the start of the program

PROMYS is a six-week summer math program at Boston University that uses number theory as its core lens on mathematics. About 25 undergraduate counselors each mentor three or four students, and six faculty members teach, three of them math professors at Boston University. Returning students take advanced seminars and work on original research projects. The application includes a challenging problem set, and the program is free for domestic families earning under $80,000 a year.

Who it's best for: Ninth to eleventh graders who love working through hard problems on their own and want a free or reduced-cost math summer.

21. Canada/USA Mathcamp

Location: Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont, in 2026; the 2027 location is announced in December 2026
Cost/Stipend: $7,500 for 2026, covering tuition, room, board, activities and airport transport; free for U.S. and Canadian households earning under $100,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application, including a qualifying quiz
Dates: Mathcamp 2026 ran June 28 to August 2, 2026; 2027 dates are announced in December 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 application opened January 12 and closed February 23, 2026.
Eligibility: Mathematically talented students ages 13 to 18 from anywhere in the world

Canada/USA Mathcamp is a summer program for mathematically talented students ages 13 to 18, with campers coming from all over the world. The 2026 session ran about five weeks at Champlain College in Vermont, and the camp fee covers tuition, room, board, activities and local airport transport. Mathcamp awards over $100,000 a year in need-based scholarships, and it is free for U.S. and Canadian households earning under $100,000. The application includes a qualifying quiz, so set aside time for it well before the February deadline.

Who it's best for: Strong math students as young as 13, from any country, who want a long, immersive summer with peers.

22. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)

Location: Stanford University (residential) or online
Cost/Stipend: $8,950 residential or $3,750 online for 2026, plus a $65 application fee; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 residential and 64 online participants
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 21 to July 17, 2026 in person, with online sessions June 15 to July 3 and July 6 to July 24, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was February 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Eligibility: Students in 10th or 11th grade when they apply who are at least 15 during the program; residential students must be under 18

Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies runs SUMaC for rising juniors and seniors from around the world, as a four-week residential program or a three-week online session. You study abstract algebra and number theory or algebraic topology, working through daily problem sets with undergraduate and graduate students. Classes average 16 students, and the residential program takes only 40 participants. The application includes an admission exam, transcripts and a math teacher recommendation, and applying for aid doesn't affect your admission decision.

Who it's best for: Sophomores and juniors who want college-level abstract math at Stanford, either in person or from home.

23. Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)

Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts (residential, with single dorm rooms)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition is set each year, and ample need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission depends on your application and your work on the Interesting Test
Dates: The 54th Summer Studies ran six weeks, June 28 to August 8, 2026.
Application deadline: The 2026 application closed April 17, 2026, with Interesting Test work due April 25, 2026.
Eligibility: Talented high school students

HCSSiM is a six-week residential math program at Hampshire College that held its 54th session in 2026. You start in workshops that investigate problems from many areas of math, then move into maxi-courses and mini-courses, with guest lecturers and a weekly program of math films. There are no grades or credit, which keeps the focus on the math itself. After you submit the first application form, you receive the Interesting Test, and your work on it is due about a week after the application deadline.

Who it's best for: High schoolers who want six weeks of exploratory math for its own sake, without grades.

24. MathILy (Mathematical Immersion Lyceum)

Location: Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (residential, with instructors living in the dorm)
Cost/Stipend: $6,175 ($1,235 a week); the full fee can be waived for admitted students with significant need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 45 students
Dates: Summer 2026 ran five weeks, June 28 to August 1, 2026.
Application deadline: Applications received before April 28, 2026 got full consideration.
Eligibility: High school students get preference, and the typical age range is 14 to 17

MathILy is a five-week residential program in undergraduate- and graduate-level math, taught through inquiry-based, individualized instruction. Classes meet about seven hours a day in morning and evening shifts, six days a week, moving from a root class through a "Week of Chaos" into branch classes. Instructors live in the dorm with the roughly 45 students. Admission includes a four-hour readiness exam after a short form, and financial aid is based on need, with priority to U.S. students.

Who it's best for: Math students ages 14 to 17 who want a demanding, college-level summer in a small residential group.

Medical Internships and Summer Programs

Hospitals, health systems and medical schools run these, starting with paid internships and followed by career immersion and summer programs. Our guide on how to get a healthcare internship in high school covers the outreach side.

25. KP LAUNCH

Location: Kaiser Permanente headquarters, hospitals and medical offices across Northern California
Cost/Stipend: At least $25 an hour, full time at up to 40 hours a week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: The 2027 high school program runs June 14 to July 30, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications open November 16, 2026 at 9 a.m. PST and close January 8, 2027 at 5 p.m. PST.
Eligibility: Students ages 16 to 19 by June 1, 2027 who are permanent residents of Northern California and attend a Northern California high school

KP LAUNCH is Kaiser Permanente's paid summer internship, with a high school track separate from its college track that pays at least $25 an hour. You work at Kaiser headquarters, a hospital or a medical office for about seven weeks, learning how a large health system runs day to day. The program centers on non-clinical health care careers, so expect a workplace internship rather than lab research. The application window is short, and you must be ages 16 to 19 by June 1, 2027, so mark November 16 on your calendar. If you're selected, you'll also need a work permit by June 1, 2027.

Who it's best for: Northern California teens who want a paid summer job inside a major health system and are curious about the business side of health care.

26. CYCE High School Summer Internship Program at Cleveland Clinic

Location: Cleveland Clinic, Northeast Ohio
Cost/Stipend: $15 an hour, including orientation hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 8 to July 28, 2026, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Application deadline: The 2026 application is closed; watch for the 2027 application in early 2027.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 who are at least 15 by June 1, live and attend school in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark or Summit County, and are U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals or permanent residents; a 2.5 GPA is preferred

Cleveland Clinic's Center for Youth and College Education runs this seven-week paid summer internship for high school students. You work 30 hours a week on a clinical, non-clinical or advanced technology track, building skills in project management, digital literacy, academic writing and presentation, and teamwork. Interns are paid $15 an hour, including orientation and a paid lunch break. It's open from ninth grade, but you must live and attend school in one of eight Northeast Ohio counties.

Who it's best for: Northeast Ohio students as young as 15 who want a paid summer inside a major academic medical center.

27. Healthcare Experience & Research in Oncology (HERO)

Location: UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: $500 taxable stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 trainees are selected each year.
Dates: The 2027 program runs July 12 to July 23, 2027, on weekdays for four hours a day.
Application deadline: March 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. CT, with interviews in April 2027.
Eligibility: Full-time high school students living in Cook, Lake, Will or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County, Indiana, with a strong interest in research or medicine

HERO is the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center's two-week introduction to cancer research and oncology care, and it was previously called the Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology. You spend four hours each weekday learning how cancer is studied and treated at an academic medical center. Ten weekdays at four hours each works out to about 40 hours, so the $500 stipend comes to roughly $12.50 an hour. Only 20 trainees are selected each year, and finalists interview in April, so treat your written application seriously.

Who it's best for: Chicago-area high schoolers from the five eligible counties who want a short, paid first look at oncology without giving up their whole summer.

28. Alabama Colon & Gastro, P.C. Summer Internship Program

Location: 1105 Eagletree Lane SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; ask the practice about the pay rate when you apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 interns in the 2025 class
Dates: Usually May to August, at least 15 hours a week; the most recent cycle ran in summer 2026.
Application deadline: No fixed deadline; apply early in 2027 for the summer 2027 internships.
Eligibility: High school and college students able to work in person at the practice in Huntsville, Alabama

Alabama Colon & Gastro is a private gastroenterology practice in Huntsville that hires high school and college students as paid summer interns. You spend the summer shadowing and supporting work in a medical office, which gives you a close view of how a specialty clinic treats patients. This is clinical exposure rather than research, and the role asks for at least 15 hours a week from May through August. The practice has taken interns every summer since 2017, and the 2025 class had 18 of them, so you will be one of a sizable summer group.

Who it's best for: Huntsville-area students who want paid, part-time exposure to a working gastroenterology clinic over the summer.

29. Medical Career Collaborative (MC2) at Denver Health

Location: Denver Health and Children's Hospital Colorado sites in Aurora, Broomfield, Highlands Ranch and Colorado Springs
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship of 100 to 120 hours; ask about the hourly rate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; selection weighs essays, activities, community involvement, need, recommendations and GPA
Dates: Runs from junior year through senior year; applications for the 2026 to 2027 program year are closed.
Application deadline: The 2027 to 2028 application opens in mid-January 2027.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs area who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.

MC2 is a multi-year health careers program run by Denver Health with Children's Hospital Colorado for students who apply as sophomores. Starting in junior year you join monthly field trips, workshops and trainings, get one-on-one mentoring from hospital staff, and complete a paid internship of 100 to 120 hours with weekly seminars. In senior year the program helps with college and scholarship applications, and career coaching continues after you graduate. Selection weighs your essays, activities, community involvement, demonstrated need, recommendations and GPA.

Who it's best for: Denver and Colorado Springs sophomores who want a long-term path into health careers, with mentoring and paid hospital work.

30. Career Immersion Program (Minnesota) at Mayo Clinic

Location: Rochester, Minnesota, with student housing provided and transportation from a designated Twin Cities location
Cost/Stipend: Free for admitted students, since scholarships cover the program cost for each student admitted
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs June 13 to June 17, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications open January 1, 2027 and close March 15, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors at a Minnesota high school, charter school or home-based school with at least a 2.5 GPA; applicants must be Minnesota residents and U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science runs this week-long residential program through the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. You live in student housing in Rochester for five days and spend the week exploring medical and health sciences careers on Mayo's home campus. Scholarships cover the full cost, and the program arranges transportation from a set pickup point in the Twin Cities, so families outside Rochester can still take part. The main limit is residency: it is open only to Minnesota residents, and the 2.5 GPA floor is low enough that most motivated students qualify.

Who it's best for: Minnesota sophomores and juniors who want a free, live-in week inside Mayo Clinic before they commit to a health career.

31. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)

Location: Stanford University campus (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students from Northern California each summer
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 22 to July 26, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: The 2026 deadline was March 23, 2026; check the program site for the 2027 deadline.
Eligibility: Low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California

SMYSP is a five-week residential program in medicine and health sciences run by Stanford School of Medicine. You live on the Stanford campus for the summer alongside a small group of peers who share a similar background. The program is tuition-free and invites 24 students from Northern California, so each summer group stays small. It is for low-income, first-generation juniors, so make sure you meet both conditions and live in Northern California before you start an application.

Who it's best for: Northern California juniors who will be the first in their family to attend college and want a free, live-in summer at Stanford Medicine.

32. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship

Location: Stanford University campus or virtual
Cost/Stipend: $95 application fee; tuition is $6,580 on campus, $4,580 virtual and $2,480 for the Fall Intensive
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2026 ran July 13 to July 24, 2026 on campus and July 27 to August 7, 2026 virtually; 2027 programming is announced January 1, 2027.
Application deadline: Applications for 2027 programs open January 1, 2027.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, plus undergraduate pre-medical students

Stanford Medicine offers this tuition-based summer program to teach clinical medicine and healthcare skills to high school and pre-med college students. Each summer session lasts two weeks, and you can choose the on-campus version at Stanford or a virtual track that costs $2,000 less. A shorter Fall Virtual Intensive is also offered for students who can't fit a summer session. This is paid for by families, not a stipend program, so budget for tuition plus the $95 application fee, and expect to share sessions with undergraduates.

Who it's best for: Rising juniors and seniors who can afford tuition and want a structured two-week clinical skills course with a Stanford name, either in person or online.

Summer STEM Camps and Academies

These selective academies, camps and online programs run from one week to a full summer, and several are free for everyone admitted. If you'd rather compete than attend a camp, see our list of STEM competitions for high school students.

33. Summer Academy for Math and Science at Carnegie Mellon University

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded and merit-based; no cost beyond travel to and from Pittsburgh
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by merit-based application
Dates: The 2026 session ran June 26 to August 7, 2026 (six weeks); check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: Applications for summer 2027 close February 1, 2027, with decisions on April 1, 2027.
Eligibility: Students between 11th and 12th grade in summer 2027 who are at least 16 by June 26, 2027, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents

SAMS is a six-week residential summer program in math, science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. You live on campus and study alongside other rising seniors selected on merit. The program is fully funded, so once you're admitted the only expense you cover is getting to and from Pittsburgh. Before you start the application, check the citizenship rule: you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and you must turn 16 by June 26, 2027.

Who it's best for: U.S. citizen or permanent resident rising seniors who want a free, residential math and science summer at Carnegie Mellon.

34. Innovations in Science & Technology (IST) at Yale Young Global Scholars

Location: Yale University campus in New Haven (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Application fee of $85 for Early Action or $100 for Regular Decision; need-based aid covers up to 100% of tuition, and fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: 2027 sessions run June 20 to July 2, July 4 to July 16, and July 18 to July 30, 2027.
Application deadline: Early Action closes October 15, 2026, and Regular Decision closes January 6, 2027, both at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors (or international equivalent), ages 16 to 18 by July 18, 2027, graduating in 2028 or 2029, and attending for the first time

Yale Young Global Scholars is a residential summer academic program at Yale, and Innovations in Science & Technology is its science and technology session. IST runs in each of the three sessions, so you can pick the roughly two-week window that fits your summer. Other YYGS sessions are not STEM, so make sure you apply to IST specifically. The Early Action deadline is October 15, 2026, with decisions and financial aid by December 11, 2026, and need-based aid of up to 100% of tuition is open to international students as well.

Who it's best for: Sophomores and juniors anywhere in the world who want a short residential science and technology program at Yale with need-based aid.

35. Shad

Location: 28 Canadian post-secondary campuses, or virtual
Cost/Stipend: For 2027, $7,875 live-in or $3,975 virtual for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and refugees; $12,475 live-in or $6,750 virtual for international students; income-based fee assistance for domestic students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application
Dates: Summer 2027 runs July 4 to July 30, 2027 for the live-in program (27 days on campus) and July 5 to July 30, 2027 for the virtual program.
Application deadline: The early deadline is November 8, 2026, and the final deadline is January 6, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Eligibility: High school students completing Grade 10 or 11 (Secondaire IV or V in Quebec)

Shad is a month-long summer program in Canada that pairs STEAM enrichment with entrepreneurship. You either live for 27 days on one of 28 partner campuses, with professor lectures, workshops and labs, or join the virtual version, which runs nearly the same weeks. The live-in fee is steep, but 1 in 3 students get financial support based on household income, and families earning under $40,000 can have the full fee covered. International students can apply too, though they pay a higher fee and can't receive Shad's financial aid or scholarships.

Who it's best for: Canadian Grade 10 or 11 students who want a month of STEAM and entrepreneurship living on a university campus.

36. National Youth Science Camp

Location: Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, with a trip to Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Free; housing, meals, transportation and supplies are provided at no cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically two delegates from each state and the District of Columbia, plus international delegates
Dates: The 2026 camp ran July 11 to August 1, 2026.
Application deadline: 2026 applications ran February 19 to March 30, 2026, with later deadlines in some states.
Eligibility: Students graduating from high school between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2027 who can attend all three weeks

The National Youth Science Camp brings about two delegates from each state, chosen by representatives appointed by their governor, to three weeks in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. Each day includes lectures from two STEM experts and directed studies built as mini-courses, and delegates can propose and present their own seminar. Outdoor time includes hiking, caving and kayaking, and the camp includes a trip to Washington, D.C. Everything is free to delegates, including transportation, so selection is the only real hurdle.

Who it's best for: Seniors and recent graduates who want a free, three-week science camp with top students from every state.

37. GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) at NASA

Location: Online and self-paced, run by NASA Ames Research Center
Cost/Stipend: Free; no stipends are offered starting with the 2026 program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Room for up to 1,000 students, with up to 45 teams in the capstone
Dates: The 2026 program ran June 1 to August 28, 2026, with 12 weeks of on-demand training.
Application deadline: The 2026 application opened February 15 and closed March 15, 2026, or sooner once 1,000 applications arrived.
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors or incoming college freshmen at U.S. high schools who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least one high school biology course

GeneLab for High Schools is NASA's free online training program in space biology and bioinformatics. Over 12 weeks you work through pre-recorded lectures and JupyterLab notebooks at about 20 hours a week, learning to analyze omics data from NASA space biology experiments. Students who finish earn a certificate, and up to 45 teams of four join a capstone that ends in a showcase, with the top three teams invited to present at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research meeting. The application closes early once 1,000 students apply, so submit yours as soon as the window opens in February.

Who it's best for: Biology students anywhere in the U.S. who want free, NASA-backed coding experience on real space biology data.

38. The Junior Academy at the New York Academy of Sciences

Location: Virtual, on the Launchpad platform; students join from 100+ countries
Cost/Stipend: Free for participating students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application, and thousands of students apply each year
Dates: The Fall 2026 term runs mid-September to mid-November 2026; spring terms run mid-February to mid-April.
Application deadline: Fall 2026 applications ran April 1 to July 9, 2026; spring applications usually run from November to January.
Eligibility: Ages 13 to 17; strong English required

The Junior Academy is a selective virtual program run by the New York Academy of Sciences. You join a team on its Launchpad platform and work through STEM innovation challenges with guidance from STEM expert mentors, spending three to four hours a week during each challenge period. It is completely free, and your teammates can be anywhere in the world, so expect to coordinate across time zones. The age range starts at 13, which means some teammates may be middle schoolers, and the work is team project design rather than lab research.

Who it's best for: Students 13 to 17 with strong English who want free, mentored STEM team projects online with peers from other countries.

39. Agri-TREK/Sci-TREK at Tuskegee University

Location: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Free, with a small travel stipend of up to $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohorts of 10 to 15 students
Dates: Summer 2026 ran June 7 to June 20, 2026.
Application deadline: Applications for 2026 closed March 31, 2026; check back in early 2027 for the 2027 deadline.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 who return to high school the fall after the program

Tuskegee University runs Agri-TREK/Sci-TREK as a two-week residential summer program built around STEAM, which Tuskegee defines as science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics. You live on campus in Alabama and spend the two weeks on agricultural science research with a small group of peers, since cohorts run 10 to 15 students. It costs nothing to attend, and the travel stipend helps with getting there from out of state. AgDiscovery, a separate track at Tuskegee, is paused and not accepting applications, so Agri-TREK/Sci-TREK is the one to apply for.

Who it's best for: Students in grades 9 to 12 who want a free, two-week residential program focused on agricultural science in Alabama.

40. Helping Orient Indian Students and Teachers into STEM (HOIST)

Location: University of Idaho Moscow campus and McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid on successful completion of the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; admission is by application with a counselor recommendation
Dates: Summer 2026 ran July 6 to July 18, 2026; check the program site for 2027 dates.
Application deadline: Check the HOIST site for the 2027 application deadline, and allow time for your counselor's recommendation.
Eligibility: High school students from the 11 Tribal Reservations with a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Idaho who have completed at least 9th grade

HOIST is a residential STEM orientation program run by the University of Idaho's Tribal Nations Student Affairs office. Over about two weeks, you split your time between the Moscow campus and the McCall Outdoor Science School, so part of your summer happens at an outdoor science school. Students who complete the program receive a stipend, which makes it a paid summer rather than a cost. To apply, you submit the student application and ask your school counselor to complete a recommendation form, and both must arrive for your application to count. Eligibility is narrow: you must come from one of the 11 Tribal Reservations with a Memorandum of Understanding with the university and have finished at least 9th grade.

Who it's best for: High school students from the 11 MOU Tribal Reservations who want a paid, two-week introduction to STEM at the University of Idaho.

Commonly Asked Questions About STEM Internships for High School Students

1. Can a 15-year-old be an intern?

Yes, though most STEM internships start at 16. At 15 you can apply to the Smithsonian's natural history internship (ages 15 to 18), Cleveland Clinic's summer internship, BioBus in New York City as a ninth or tenth grader, or Careers in Science in San Francisco.

2. How can a high schooler find an internship?

Start with labs, museums, hospitals and companies near you, since many internships only take local students, and apply four to six months early. Ladder Internships is remote, with startup projects in AI, software and health tech.

3. What is a STEM internship?

A STEM internship places you in a lab, company, museum or hospital to work on a science, technology, engineering or math project under a mentor. Most run four to ten weeks over the summer, and many pay a stipend or hourly wage.

4. Are STEM internships for high school students paid?

Many are. The Smithsonian's natural history internship pays $700 a week, the J. Craig Venter Institute pays $18 an hour and Clean Water Ambassadors pays $22 an hour, while camps such as the Ross Mathematics Program and SUMaC charge tuition instead.