15 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in NJ (New Jersey)
STEM summer programs give high school students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings while developing problem-solving and research skills. These programs can place you in university labs, let you work on coding and engineering projects, or introduce you to professional mentors who can guide your learning. They also provide valuable experience that can make your college applications stronger by demonstrating your interest and achievements in STEM.
New Jersey is home to universities, medical centers, and research institutions that offer programs for high school students during the summer. The proximity to institutions like Princeton, Rutgers, and NJIT means you can access mentorship from faculty, state-of-the-art laboratories, and STEM research opportunities. You can find programs in everything from biomedical research to plasma physics. To help you get started, we’ve put together this list of the 15 best STEM summer programs for high school students in NJ based on their academic rigor, mentoring opportunities, and reputation.
15 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in NJ (New Jersey)
1. Princeton University – Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 15 – August 20
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Must be 16 years old or more by June 15 | Currently enrolled in a US high school | US citizen or legal permanent resident
The Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a prestigious summer research initiative for high school students who want hands-on experience in STEM fields. It allows you to work directly with Princeton faculty in disciplines like chemistry, physics, engineering, or biology. You’ll spend several weeks in a lab contributing to ongoing projects, learning advanced methods, and gaining exposure to academic research. Placement depends on availability and lab capacity, and you may be asked to present your work at the end of the program.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies based on program type; full need‑based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, spring, winter, and fall; Summer Cohorts I and II start June 2 and July 14, respectively
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; Summer Cohorts I and II have deadlines on May 12 and June 23, respectively
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to work 10-20 hours/week for 8-15 weeks
Ladder Internships places you with startups where you’ll work on real-world projects. Founded by Harvard alumni, the program matches ambitious interns like you with global startup founders, where you work 5–10 hours per week on a real project that the company needs. Ladder’s startups are backed by Y Combinator, whose founders have experience at companies such as Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft. You also attend professional development workshops and receive guidance from venture-backed CEOs and a Ladder Coach. The program concludes with a final presentation of your work to your host organization, giving you practical project experience and industry exposure.
3. Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) Program
Location: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 4th week – August 27 (students commit to two summers)
Application Deadline: March 8 (Rolling until positions filled)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who attend a school in New Jersey | Aged 16 by June 15 | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Rutgers Youth Enjoy Science (RUYES) program is designed to engage high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in cancer research and biomedical sciences through a comprehensive summer internship experience. During the summer, you’ll conduct research in a Rutgers lab, attend seminars on cancer biology and health disparities, and participate in community outreach activities. You’ll work alongside faculty mentors and graduate students, gaining practical experience with lab techniques and data analysis. The program spans 10 weeks during the summer for two consecutive years.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Varies based on program type
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 42.5%
Dates: Multiple 10‑week sessions offered throughout the summer, winter, spring, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; early application recommended
Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students; AI Fellowship accepts applications from those who have completed AI Scholars or have a background in coding
Veritas AI presents an exciting opportunity to explore artificial intelligence under the guidance of experts affiliated with Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. The AI Scholars program is a 10-week virtual bootcamp ideal for beginners, where you learn Python, data science, and machine learning through live lessons and collaborative group projects. For those with more experience, the AI Fellowship provides a 12 to 15-week personalized mentorship, allowing you to design and execute your AI projects with chances to publish or showcase your work. Upon completing either program, you will have a finished project to showcase in your portfolio.
5. NJIT High School Summer Research Internship
Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 24 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors with an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher
The NJIT High School Summer Research Internship is a highly competitive six-week program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in STEM fields. You will explore one of five major research areas: Artificial Intelligence, Bioscience & Bioengineering, Data Science & Management, Environment & Sustainability, or Materials Science & Engineering. It places you on a faculty‑led STEM project where you’ll join a research group, collaborate with undergraduates and graduate students, and experience all stages of the scientific process, from designing experiments to analysing data and presenting results. At the end of the six‑week program, you will present electronic posters at NJIT’s Summer Research Symposium.
6. Stevens Institute of Technology – Pre-College STEM Programs
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: One-week programs: $3,150; Two-week programs: $4,700; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts per track
Dates: June – August; varies based on track (1–2 weeks depending on track)
Application Deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; prior coursework may be required for some tracks
Stevens offers one- and two-week residential summer programs that focus on engineering, computer science, and biomedical fields. You will stay on campus, attend lectures, and complete lab work under the guidance of faculty. Tracks include Biology: Genetics & Medicine, Cybersecurity (Beginner and Advanced), Neuroscience, Engineering Design and Types, Medicinal Chemistry, Computer Science, and Game Design. You’ll work on projects with peers and present your results at the end of the session. The program provides a closer look at college life while immersing you in STEM.
7. Fairleigh Dickinson University – Pre-College STEM Programs
Location: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ
Cost: Varies based on cohort and track; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Three and six-week courses between June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: Varies by track and cohort
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Pre-College STEM Programs for high school students offer opportunities to earn college credits and gain early exposure to STEM fields through engaging, interactive courses. You attend in-person lectures, workshops, and lab sessions led by faculty. Programs are short but intensive, giving you a preview of college-level academics. Depending on the track, you may work on projects such as app development or lab-based experiments. This program is particularly useful if you want a flexible option that fits into a busy summer schedule.
8. Liberty Science Center – Partners in Science
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 50 students each year
Dates: 8 weeks during summer (typically late June – late August)
Application Deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: Rising high 11th or 12th grade high school student by June | 16 years of age by July
Partners in Science is an eight-week research internship that pairs you with a mentor in a university or corporate lab across New Jersey. You commit 40 hours a week to work on authentic research projects in fields like biology, physics, and chemistry, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing experiments or technical work. You’ll also attend professional development seminars and present your work at a final symposium. The program is competitive, providing one of the most prestigious high school STEM research experiences in the state.
9. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory High School Summer Internship
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; small cohort of rising seniors
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors at least 16 years old | Authorised to work in the U.S.
The PPPL (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory) program is designed for outstanding U.S. high school seniors, typically those graduating in the summer. This internship provides you with hands-on research experience in fusion energy and plasma physics at a national laboratory setting. You will work under scientists and engineers, often contributing to ongoing national lab projects, and gain hands-on experience in a national lab setting, working with real scientific equipment and data. By the end of the program, you will present your work in seminars and gain exposure to the environment of a federally funded research lab.
10. Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology
Location: Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 5 – 25
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school juniors living in New Jersey
The Governor’s School of New Jersey in Engineering & Technology is an intensive residential summer program held at Rutgers University for talented and motivated high school juniors from New Jersey. It immerses you in engineering and technology through workshops, faculty lectures, and projects. As a participant, you will visit local companies to see how engineers work, design a research project in a STEM discipline, and present your findings at the end of the program. With nominations required from your high school, be sure to start the application process well before the January deadline.
11. Montclair State University – STEM Summer Academy
Location: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $1,800 per program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate selective
Dates: Session I: July 13 – 19; Session II: July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats are full
Eligibility: All high school students
The Montclair State University STEM Summer Academy is part of the university's pre-college summer offerings, designed to provide high school students with an immersive, college-level STEM learning experience. You are part of focused weekly residential workshops in areas such as biology, chemistry, computer science, and environmental studies. You will participate in labs, hands-on projects, and faculty-led lectures. The academy also emphasizes college readiness by offering sessions on study skills, navigating the college application process, coursework with real-world applications, field trips, and exposure to potential STEM career paths.
12. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 5-6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Must be 16 years old or more by June 15 | Currently enrolled in a US high school | US citizen or legal permanent resident
In the Princeton Laboratory Learning Program, high school students join ongoing research projects in Princeton faculty labs, gaining hands-on experience with scientific equipment, conducting experiments, and analyzing data as part of a research team. You shadow and assist researchers, complete lab safety training, write a two-page research summary, and engage in research discussions. This highly selective program admits only 15-20 students out of over 1,500 applicants annually. You develop crucial skills, including laboratory techniques, data analysis, scientific communication, and teamwork. Being part of this prestigious program enhances college applications by showcasing advanced research experience, initiative, and a strong commitment to STEM fields.
13. M.I.N.D.S. (Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science)
Location: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 6‑week program in July–August
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: Financially disadvantaged high school juniors and seniors
M.I.N.D.S. introduces underrepresented or economically disadvantaged students to careers in medicine. You will participate in medical simulations, earn CPR/BLS certification, and explore how social determinants of health affect patient outcomes. The program includes educational excursions and research projects focused on health disparities in New Jersey. By the end of the six‑week session, you will have developed and implemented a research initiative and gained insights into different medical specialties. The program also focuses on health disparities and social determinants of health, giving you exposure to real-world medical and community health challenges.
14. Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science (RITMS) Summer Research Program
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight‑week program running the third week of June to the second week of August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students entering sophomore, junior, or senior year| At least 16 years old | Minimum GPA of 3.0
The Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science (RITMS) Summer Research Program is an 8-week, tuition-free summer program based at Rutgers University. The program covers topics related to disease mechanisms, drug development, healthcare innovation, and the process of translating scientific discoveries from the laboratory to clinical applications. You participate in activities such as conducting mentored lab experiments, planning and analyzing experiments as part of a research team, presenting your scientific results, and attending career development workshops. You will develop critical skills like laboratory techniques, data analysis, scientific communication, and teamwork.
15. Rutgers Engineering Summer Academy – Civil Engineering Track
Location: Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $2,699
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 13 – 19; July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: High‑school students (rising juniors or seniors) aged 16–18 | Minimum GPA 3.0
Rutgers’ Summer Engineering Academy offers an introduction to various engineering disciplines. They include aerospace, chemical, biomedical, civil, electrical, computer, environmental, industrial, mechanical, materials science, forensic, and systems engineering, as well as the careers associated with them. You’ll stay on campus, participate in lectures and laboratory sessions conducted by Rutgers faculty, and tour research facilities. You’ll develop math and science skills by working with data, building quantitative models, and tackling hands-on projects with real-world applications. Additionally, field trips and guest lectures offer opportunities to meet professional environmental engineers and observe how theoretical concepts are applied in real-world settings.
Image Source - Princeton University Logo