9 Summer Programs in San Francisco for High School Students
For high school students interested in learning beyond the classroom, summer programs offer a valuable way to develop new skills, explore academic interests, and build experience that stands out on college applications. These programs often include projects, guidance from experts, and chances to explore subjects usually not covered during the school year, like data science, engineering, filmmaking, or urban design.
San Francisco, with its blend of technology, creativity, and academic institutions, is an excellent place to take part in one of these experiences. The city’s startups, universities, museums, and advocacy organizations give students a chance to learn in professional settings and connect with experts in their fields. Whether you’re interested in coding, climate science, entrepreneurship, or the arts, summer programs in San Francisco allow you to explore those interests.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 9 summer programs in San Francisco for high school students!
1. UC San Francisco (UCSF) High School Internship Program
Location: UC San Francisco (UCSF campus labs)
Stipend: $3,200 (25 hrs/week) or $4,500 (35 hrs/week) upon full completion
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective; cohort of 25 students
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (rising seniors) enrolled in an SFUSD high school, SF public charter school, or College Track San Francisco; no GPA, experience, or career-intent requirement
The UCSF High School Intern Program (HIP) is an intensive 8-week paid research internship designed to introduce high school students to real biomedical science. Interns are paired with UCSF scientist mentors to work on original research projects in areas such as infectious disease, neuroscience, molecular biology, cancer, immunology, stem cell biology, and developmental biology. Interns also participate in college counseling, resume and personal statement workshops, financial aid sessions, and a day-long college visit. During the summer, students have the opportunity to enhance their scientific communication skills, expand their professional network, and become part of a community of 25 peers. The program has a long track record of impact, with alumni attending college at very high rates and many pursuing STEM degrees.
2. Ladder Internships
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. California Academy of Sciences Careers in Science Internship
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid (above minimum wage)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified (selective, multi-year commitment)
Dates: Year-round, multi-year program (begins each June)
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: 9th–10th grade SFUSD students with a 2.5 GPA; must be authorized to work in the U.S.; must commit for 2–3 years; no prior experience required
The Careers in Science (CiS) Internship is a multi-year, paid program designed for San Francisco high school students from groups underrepresented in STEM. Interns dedicate the school year and summer to conducting fieldwork, helping visitors learn about science, and engaging in training at the California Academy of Sciences. The program emphasizes science communication, real-world research exposure, career exploration, and personal development through workshops, college guidance, and mentorship from STEM professionals. As students advance, they join research or environmental action project groups, take on leadership roles, and may participate in individualized mentorships with Academy experts. CiS interns graduate with strong STEM skills, confidence, and experience in public engagement and scientific inquiry.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year, including summer
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Exploratorium High School Summer Institute
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: ~130 positions across summer + school-year cohorts
Dates: Summer cohort or School-year cohort (exact dates vary annually)
Application Deadline: Summer applications typically open in March
Eligibility: High school students (15–18 for first-timers, up to 20 for returnees) who can obtain a work permit, attend all training dates, and commit to the full session; no science background required
The High School Explainer Program at the Exploratorium offers a unique paid opportunity for students to assist visitors with exhibits, lead demonstrations, and support museum functions. Embracing the museum’s hands-on learning approach, Explainers cultivate their curiosity while guiding others. Participants receive over 60 hours of specialized training in science content, facilitation, career readiness, and youth development. The program is known for its strong commitment to diversity, welcoming students of varied cultures, interests, and backgrounds.
6. NASA’s OSTEM Internships
Location: Remote or in-person at NASA centers across the U.S.
Stipend: Stipend paid based on their academic level and session duration
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very competitive; over 3,000 high school interns selected annually
Dates: Spring: January – May | Summer: May – August | Fall: August – December
Application deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Eligibility: U.S. high school and college students who are at least 16 and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides high school and college students opportunities to contribute to aerospace, engineering, and science missions. You will work with NASA scientists, engineers, and mentors across multiple centers, gaining technical experience while supporting real projects. Your responsibilities will vary based on the site and role you are assigned, but you may work on tasks involving research, coding, and data analysis. This paid internship can help you prepare for STEM careers in government, academia, or industry.
7. Hack the Hood Programs
Location: Oakland, CA (Hybrid; mix of online and in-person sessions)
Cost/Stipend: Free; most programs include a learning stipend and a free laptop
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified; programs are selective and community-focused
Dates: Varies by program (Fall, Year-long, and Summer/Fall cohorts)
Application Deadline: Rolling, typically before program start dates
Eligibility: Black, Latinx, AAPI, and Indigenous learners ages 14–25, with programs suited for beginners through intermediate learners
Hack the Hood offers a suite of tech-focused programs designed to build foundational and advanced skills across software development, web development, and data science. Through hands-on coding, socio-technical learning, mentorship, and real-world projects, students develop technical confidence while exploring how technology can support community-driven solutions. Programs blend structured lectures, peer collaboration, workshops, and career exposure panels with industry professionals. Learners can start with beginner-friendly courses like Hustle: Tech Foundations, advance into Hustle 2.0 (Web Development), or dive deeper with Build (Data Science). For those seeking long-term pathways, Drive provides a full year of academic, technical, and professional support leading to a Certificate of Achievement in Data Science. This program is based in Oakland rather than San Francisco, but it serves Bay Area students broadly and is easily accessible to SF teens.
8. embARC Summer Design Academy
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Domestic: $5,136 | International: $8,096 (housing not included; on-campus housing approx. $5,300)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Competitive; limited residential spots
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors and exceptional rising juniors; minimum age 16 by July 5; GPA 3.0+; no design experience required
embARC is a four-week, college-level program introducing students to architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design. Participants engage in studio work, design/build projects, interdisciplinary workshops, and field trips around the Bay Area. The curriculum includes architecture and urban design studios, materials exploration, digital design, and sustainable city planning, giving students a strong foundation in environmental design. One-on-one reviews with instructors and talks by faculty and professionals deepen students’ understanding of the field. A highlight of the program is the Community Build project, where students design for a local nonprofit and make a tangible impact. Although embARC takes place at UC Berkeley rather than in San Francisco itself, it is a close and relevant option for students in the Bay Area.
9. UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars Program
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Tuition-based (cost varies by track)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Competitive; large multi-track cohort
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary by track)
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students who will be 16–18 years old by program start, from the U.S. and around the world
The UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars Summer Program offers high school students an opportunity to experience life at a top-tier university, earn college credits, and pursue academic interests. Students have four options: Residential, Commuter, Virtual, or a short-term Non-Credit Track, each providing academic challenge and an experience of Berkeley student life. Participants learn from UC Berkeley faculty, attend college-level classes alongside peers from around the world, and engage in workshops, excursions, and community-building activities. This program is held on UC Berkeley’s campus rather than in San Francisco, but it remains accessible to Bay Area students seeking a nearby summer experience.
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