15 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
Are you a high school student interested in STEM? Massachusetts is one of the best places in the country to explore it. With world-renowned universities, cutting-edge research labs, and a thriving innovation ecosystem, the state offers you unique opportunities to learn and grow. STEM summer programs in Massachusetts let you explore fields like engineering, biomedicine, mathematics, and neuroscience while giving you hands-on experience through labs, projects, and workshops.
Most programs are structured like college-level courses, so you’ll get a real taste of what higher education is like. You’ll also meet mentors—professors, researchers, and industry professionals—who can guide you on academic and career pathways. Whether you’re aiming to strengthen your college applications, explore career options, or just fuel your curiosity, these programs help you deepen your skills and knowledge.
To make it easier for you, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 of the best STEM summer programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
1. Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Highly Competitive
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer (Exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors with exceptional STEM ability; U.S. & international students
The Research Science Institute is a fully funded summer science and engineering program for high school students who are passionate about science and engineering. The program kicks off with a lecture series and seminars on cutting-edge research topics in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, and even humanities. In the second week, you’ll receive your research assignments and work on lab research under the guidance of a mentor. At the end of the program, you will get the opportunity to present your findings at an academic conference – just like research scientists do. Besides research, Research Science Institute also offers networking opportunities, activities, and field trips to nearby science and technology facilities.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
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 who want a real-world experience of a start-up! In the program, you intern with a high-growth start-up in fields such as tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options on their application form here. Most Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies that have raised over a million dollars in funding. As an intern, you’ll work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work directly to the company – just like any professional. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is fully virtual and runs for about 8 weeks.
3. Massenberg Summer STEM Institute
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Program Dates: July 27–August 9
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders from disadvantaged communities in MA and NJ
The Massenberg Summer STEM Institute is a residential pre-college stem summer program for high school students in Massachusetts who want to dive deeper into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Throughout the program, you’ll explore various academic and career pathways in STEM, while working on hands-on group activities with other students. You will also receive guidance on completing high school successfully, preparing for college and discovering your next career moves. You will also get an opportunity to visit technology companies and see how the STEM concepts you have learnt are applied in the real world, while exploring various career opportunities. At the end of the program, you will work on a project with other students and showcase your learnings through a presentation.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are interested in AI, ML, and data science, the AI Scholars program is a great place to start. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI and data science, and work on real-world projects to put your new knowledge and skills into action.
For more advanced students, Veritas AI also offers the AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase. Through this program, you’ll work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is access to the in-house publication team, who can guide you to publish your work in high-school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
5. Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,700 (financial aid options available)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 29 - August 8
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) program is a six-week stem summer program for high school students in Massachusetts interested in STEM lab research. In the program, you can choose between two tracks: internship and practicum. In the internship track, you’ll spend 40 hours working on research projects in areas such as biology, biomedicine, chemistry, computer science, and neuroscience, and present your research at a poster symposium at the end of the program.
In the Practicum track, you’ll dive into university-level laboratory research on topics such as computational neurobiology or data science. Along with research, you’ll attend lectures, collaborate with groups and present your findings at a poster symposium. No matter which track you choose, you’ll also take part in skill development workshops and weekly field trips, giving you both academic experience and professional exposure.
6. Northeastern Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 22 - July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; Massachusetts residents living within commuting distance; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Young Scholars Program offers rising high school seniors an opportunity to gain practical research experience and explore future career paths in STEM. You’ll work in research labs within Northeastern University in areas including Engineering, Energy, and Biomedical Research. You will get to explore various branches in engineering through seminars on topics such as environmental issues, superconductivity, lasers, microwave materials, biotechnology, chemical analysis, and robotics. Beyond the lab, the program also includes career counselling with mentors and field trips to see engineers at work.
7. BLI Three Week Research Program
Location: Various locations in Massachusetts
Cost: Tuition:$2,500, Residential fee: $2,097
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: Dates vary based on the specific program
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students entering grade 8 through college; U.S. citizens
The Boston Leadership Institute (BLI) provides a three-week research program for high school students to gain practical research experience in their field of interest, including science, engineering and tech, and medicine. You will have an opportunity to explore topics in-depth and learn research methodology, under the guidance of research mentors. The topics you can choose include astrophysics, marine biology, neuroscience, oncology, cardiology, engineering, and applied physics – so you can pick a topic that excites you the most. By the end of the program, you will have real-world experience in your chosen field
8. Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Program Dates: Session I: June 21 – July 2, Session II: July 5 – 17, Session III: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; aged 16-18 during the program
The Harvard Pre-College Program is a two-week summer program for high school students to explore different academic pathways and get a glimpse into college life. You will stay on campus for two weeks and take college-level classes in the course of your choice. There are 30 courses to choose from, including Psychology, Medicine, Public Health, Science, Technology, and Engineering. Apart from classes, you’ll take part in co-curricular and social activities with other students, and get a feel of life at one of the country’s leading universities.
9. MITES Summer
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA,
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Highly Selective
Program Dates: June 15 - July 26
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in November (deadline not specified)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The MITES Summer program is a six-week STEM program for high school students who want to challenge themselves academically and explore future pathways. You’ll take five courses across math, science, and humanities, with options ranging from machine learning and architecture, to genomics and more. The program includes college admissions counselling, lab tours, office hours, and social events. You’ll also attend seminars by STEM professionals and go on field trips to local companies.
10. Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Cost: $6,511
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 29 - August 9
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM) is a six-week mathematics program for high school students who love Math and want to take their skills to the next level. The program follows a college-level math curriculum, with 4 hours of classes each day and evening problem-solving sessions to sharpen your thinking. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with faculty members for solving doubts or seeking advice. Beyond the classroom, the program includes workshops, seminars, informal study, activities with friends, and field trips.
11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Frontiers
Location: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Cost: $4,495
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: Frontiers I: July 6 – 18, Frontiers II: July 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders; English test required for international students
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Frontiers Program offers high school students an opportunity to explore a STEM major along with a humanities, arts, or business minor. You can choose a STEM field such as physics, aerospace engineering, biomedicine, chemical engineering, computer science, and neuroscience. You’ll also be able to attend college-level classes and explore various career pathways. The program includes workshops, social activities, and field trips – making it a well-rounded experience.
12. Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Tuition-free for students from families with income ≤ $120,000. For higher family incomes, tiered fees apply in the range of $2,000 - $15,000
Acceptance rate: Highly Selective
Program Dates: June 28 - July 26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; female students; U.S. residents
The MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP) is a four-week summer program that introduces high school students to the world of Engineering. You’ll learn what engineering is all about through a mix of classes, labs, and team-based projects. The current focus is on Mechanical Engineering, and the program is especially meant for students who have no prior background in engineering but are curious to see if engineering is the right fit for them.
13. Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program
Location: Smith College, Amherst, MA
Cost: One session: $4,864, Both sessions: $9,728
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: Session 1: July 5 – 18; Session 2: July 20 – August 2
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students; female/female-identified or nonbinary students
The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program is a lab-based program for high school students to explore science and engineering in-depth. You can pick from a wide range of courses, including Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science, Public Health, Global Health, Psychology, Physiology, Sports Science, Biology, and Environmental Science. After choosing your course, you’ll be divided into groups and work alongside faculty members, conducting experiments, attending lectures, and going on field visits. Throughout the program, you’ll practice how to formulate questions, work with scientific instruments, and develop critical thinking skills — while gaining experience in how science and engineering are done.
14. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: July 1 - August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Must be 16 years old by July 1; must reside in specified MA cities, including Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, or Quincy
The Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS) is a program for high school students to gain research experience in biomedical engineering. Over six weeks, you’ll learn to conduct research by practising research techniques, testing hypotheses, and making predictions. You’ll also get to observe the work of professional researchers, focus on a particular field during the program, and seek academic guidance from Tufts graduate students and their research mentors. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings.
15. Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Various locations in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Highly Selective
Program Dates: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising high school senior or recent high school graduate; MA residents; U.S. work authorization; Health clearance required
The Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is meant for high school students interested in exploring neuroscience-aligned academic and career pathways. This program begins with a bootcamp where interns will build essential skills through clinical training, research work, and laboratory work. You’ll then be paired with a mentor and work on an ongoing research project under their supervision. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research findings to fellow students, family, and the MGH Neurology department. Along the way, you’ll also take part in weekly sessions led by neurologists, neuroscientists, and other professionals, giving you valuable insights into the world of neuroscience.
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