14 Summer Programs for High School Students Bay Area
If you’re a high school student looking to build new skills or explore future majors, summer programs are a great way to learn in a structured environment. These programs give you access to college-level learning, skill-building, and industry exposure. They can also add to your college applications by demonstrating interest in your field.
The Bay Area is one of the best places for high schoolers to pursue a program because of its mix of world-class universities, leading tech companies, and innovation-focused nonprofits. Whether you’re interested in STEM, entrepreneurship, the arts, or research, you’ll find options that let you explore your interests in depth and with guidance. In this blog, we’ve compiled 14 summer programs for high school students in the Bay Area. We focused on programs that offer academic rigor and opportunities to engage with professionals in relevant industries.
14 Summer Programs for High School Students Bay Area
1. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford Campus, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Eligibility: Low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California
SMYSP is a five-week academic enrichment experience for first-generation and low-income high school juniors who want to explore careers in medicine and public health. You’ll divide your time between a Stanford Hospital internship, faculty-led academic seminars, and a public health disparities research project where your group writes a college-level paper and presents your findings. The program includes professional development workshops, Stanford Medicine networking events, and immersive educational activities that introduce you to real clinical environments. Throughout the summer, you’re supported by mentors, counselors, health professionals, and college students who guide you through academic planning, financial aid, and building leadership skills. Alongside the academics, SMYSP offers team-building activities and a strong community that continues to support you even after the program ends.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
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 an 8-week virtual program where you work with high-growth startups in areas like AI/ML, deep tech, health tech, and more, contributing directly to real-world projects. Throughout the internship, you’ll receive guidance from both a company manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach, helping you build skills in research, data analysis, communication, and project management. The fast-paced startup environment gives you exposure to how early-stage companies operate, especially those that have already raised significant funding. You’ll also take part in professional development workshops designed to strengthen your workplace readiness. The program concludes with a final presentation to the partner company, giving you a chance to showcase your work and reflect on your experience.
3. UCSF Summer Student Research Program
Location: San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA | Hybrid options available
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students in their junior or senior year (16 years or older), with at least one completed year in math and biology; must have a good academic standing (typically 3.0 or better GPA)
The UCSF Summer Student Research Program is a nine-week experience that places Bay Area high school students in clinical or biomedical research settings. You’ll work closely with a UCSF mentor, spending each day handling hands-on lab tasks, running experiments, conducting data analysis, and participating in structured academic activities like journal clubs and research seminars. Throughout the program, you’ll complete guided writing assignments, including an abstract, personal statement, and research proposal, that support your final presentation at a formal research symposium. Students also participate in weekly sessions led by MDs, PhDs, and healthcare professionals, providing exposure to real scientific careers and current research questions. With one-on-one mentorship, access to UCSF labs and clinical environments, and opportunities to present your work to the scientific community, the program offers a structured and immersive introduction to biomedical research.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts, ranging from 12 weeks to 1 year, available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives you the chance to work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to design and complete an independent research project in a field you care about. Over the course of the program, you’ll build skills in academic writing, data analysis, and research methodology while exploring topics ranging from economics and computer science to psychology, engineering, and international relations. You’ll follow a structured but flexible process that includes regular mentorship meetings, project milestones, and feedback on your work. Many students also work toward publishing or presenting their final papers through journals, competitions, or conferences. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a polished research paper and gain experience that closely mirrors undergraduate-level research.
5. Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 positions (~2-3%)
Dates: June 15 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Local students from Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Santa Cruz counties (16 years or older) having prior knowledge in biology, chemistry, or programming, and holding a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA
GRIPS is an eight-week, research-focused summer program for Bay Area high school students interested in computational genetics and genomics. You’ll spend around 20 hours per week working in a Stanford research lab, where you’ll learn to analyze genomic data, use computational tools, and contribute to an ongoing project under the guidance of a dedicated lab mentor. Alongside your lab work, you’ll participate in weekly cohort sessions, seminars on biomedical research careers, and professional development workshops. The program also includes regular check-ins with your mentor to help you navigate the research process and build technical skills. With its small cohort size and structured support, GRIPS offers an immersive and academically rigorous introduction to real genomics research.
6. UCSF High School Intern Program (HIP)
Location: UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $3,200 (25 hours/week), $4,500 (35 hours/week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current juniors attending an SFUSD school or an SF charter school
The UCSF High School Intern Program (HIP) is an eight-week paid summer research internship for rising seniors attending public or charter schools in San Francisco. You’ll be matched with a UCSF scientist mentor and spend the summer doing original research in areas such as neuroscience, infectious disease, molecular biology, or regenerative medicine. Alongside your lab project, the program includes college counseling, resume workshops, and a group college tour, support designed especially for students who are low-income or first-generation to college. HIP focuses on helping you build confidence, understand the research process, and present your work at the end-of-summer symposium. With funding from programs like CIRM SPARK and the NIH, the cohort remains small and hands-on, giving you practical exposure to biomedical science and strong academic support.
7. Experiences in Research
Location: Berkeley Lab, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $500 stipend per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th and 12th grade students enrolled in Northern California; must be at least 16 years or older
Experiences in Research (EinR) is a six-week summer internship at Berkeley Lab where high school students work on projects alongside STEM professionals. Depending on your interests, you may be matched with projects in experimental research, data science, coding, administration, or science communication, giving you exposure to different pathways within STEM and STEM-adjacent fields. Throughout the program, you collaborate with lab mentors, build practical skills, and learn how research teams communicate and problem-solve. You also participate in group assignments and professional development activities designed to prepare you for future academic or career opportunities.
8. Stanford STaRS Internship
Location: Stanford University Campus, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~ 20 students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Students at least 16 years old by program start
The Stanford STaRS Internship is a seven-week, in-person research program that introduces high school students to careers in healthcare and biomedical science. You work alongside Stanford clinicians and scientists on laboratory or clinical research projects, gaining practical experience while contributing to ongoing work in reconstructive surgery and related fields. Throughout the program, you attend seminars on research methods and healthcare systems and receive close mentorship from professionals who guide your academic and career exploration. STaRS is designed to challenge and support emerging scientists, giving you early exposure to real research environments and the opportunity to learn directly from experts in medicine and biomedical research.
9. Santa Clara Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) Program
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 13 – 17 | Session 2: July 20 – 24 | SES Advanced (for returning students): July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students who will have completed their sophomore or junior year of high school by July
The Santa Clara Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) is a five-day residential program for high school sophomores and juniors who want to explore different branches of engineering. You will participate in introductory workshops led by faculty from Santa Clara University, featuring a mix of lectures and activities in fields such as bioengineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering. Throughout the week, you live in campus dorms, collaborate with other motivated students, and take part in group activities that give you a realistic glimpse of college life. SES offers three sessions each summer: the initial two for new applicants and a third for returning students seeking a more in-depth second-year experience.
10. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) - Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students over the age of 14 by the start of the program; preference will be given to students with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in how AI is transforming medicine. You’ll learn from Stanford researchers through lectures on AI applications in healthcare, work on collaborative research projects, and receive close guidance from faculty and student mentors. The program also includes Virtual Career Lunch-and-Learns, giving you access to professionals from academia, industry, nonprofits, and government who share how AI is used across sectors.
11. Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP) at Stanford University
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: Session 1: June 8 – 12 | Session 2: June 22 – 26 | Session 3: July 6 – July 10 | Session 4: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 years or older
CASP at Stanford University is a week-long experience that introduces you to human anatomy and a wide range of medical and health-related careers. You’ll attend faculty-led lectures, participate in hands-on anatomy lab sessions, and observe surgical demonstrations that provide a realistic look into clinical practice. The program also includes surgical skills workshops, such as basic dissection and suturing on animal tissue, to help you build foundational technical skills. Throughout the week, you’ll meet Stanford physicians and guest speakers who share insights into fields like medicine, nursing, biomedical engineering, and emergency care. Using human anatomical specimens and real clinical tools, CASP offers an authentic, immersive learning environment that mirrors early medical training.
12. Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Track
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: 8-week session: $15,950 | 6-week session: $14,650
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 23 – August 15 | Session 2: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Students who have completed the 10th or 11th grade by the start of summer classes (16 years or older); Have an overall B average (3.0, weighted or unweighted) in all of their high school coursework. Check more details here
The Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Track gives you the chance to live on campus at UC Berkeley, take two college-level courses, and earn official Berkeley credit while exploring potential majors. Alongside your academic work, you’ll join excursions, workshops, and student-life activities designed to help you build community and adjust to a university environment. Resident Assistants and Mentors (RAMS) provide daily support, helping you navigate both academics and campus life. You will also take part in admissions-led sessions that provide advice on college applications and academic planning.
13. California College of the Arts – Pre-College Program
Location: California College of the Arts Campus, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Residential: ~$8,075 | Commuter: ~$5,615 (Need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: February 24 | Regular deadline: June 10
Eligibility: Current high school students who will complete their sophomore, junior, or senior year by summer, aged 15 to 18 years
The California College of the Arts (CCA) Pre-College Program lets high school students explore art and design in a college setting while earning three college credits. You’ll learn from experienced faculty, build portfolio-ready work, and collaborate with other creative students who share your interests. The program focuses on helping you develop your artistic voice and understanding how your creative work relates to larger community issues. Participants can choose to live on campus in San Francisco or commute, and both domestic and international students are encouraged to join. With access to college-level studios, resources, and optional tuition scholarships, the program provides a practical opportunity to experience CCA’s supportive, design-centered environment.
14. B-BAY Summer Entrepreneurship
Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: 2 weeks in summer, exact dates TBA
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Eligibility: High school students
B-BAY, hosted by UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, is a two-week program where 50 high school students from around the world learn how to turn an idea into a full business plan. You’ll attend lectures led by Berkeley professors, hear from industry guests, and work in teams to research, design, and pitch your own venture. The program also includes sessions with undergraduate students and admissions advisors, helping you understand college life and the UC application process. Outside the classroom, you’ll get a feel for Berkeley through campus tours, social events, and group activities. By the end, you walk away with hands-on experience in teamwork, communication, and business fundamentals, plus a polished business plan and a network of motivated peers.
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