15 Tech Summer Programs for High School Students

Technology is at the center of nearly every industry today, shaping how we live, work, and solve problems. For high school students who want to explore this field, summer tech programs can be an effective way to build practical skills while exploring advanced concepts. These programs typically involve practical projects, giving you a clearer sense of how classroom knowledge translates into meaningful applications. Alongside technical training, they also expose you to industry professionals, mentors, and peers who share your interests, helping you form valuable connections. 

Many of these programs are hosted by leading universities and organizations. Whether you’re curious about artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, or computational research, you’ll find a program that aligns with your interests. For students who want to deepen their knowledge and explore possible career paths, tech summer programs are a structured place to start.

Below, we have listed 15 tech summer programs for high school students, including a few virtual options.

15 Tech Summer Programs for High School Students

1. Meta Summer Academy

Location: Menlo Park, CA
Stipend: Participants receive a competitive stipend, amount not specified
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are year-round residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City | Minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA

At the Meta Summer Academy, you spend several weeks exploring the inner workings of a major tech company while taking part in projects that reflect real-world challenges. In this tech summer program for high school students, you’ll get an introduction to coding fundamentals and explore how different departments, from media to communications, play a role in technology-driven work. Alongside technical skills, you’ll also develop career-building abilities like networking, collaboration, and self-reflection, which are important in any professional environment. You’ll take part in workshops, mentoring sessions, and interactive discussions designed to expand your view of opportunities in the tech industry. 

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to the program type; full financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, winter, fall, and spring; Summer Cohorts I and II start June 2 and July 14, respectively
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Summer Cohort I: May 12; Summer Cohort II: June 23; apply here
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Through the Ladder Internship Program, you can spend eight weeks working with high-growth startups, many of which focus on fields like artificial intelligence, deep tech, and machine learning. Your projects will be tied directly to the company’s goals, whether that means coding tools, analyzing digital systems, or researching innovative applications of new technology. Instead of just shadowing, you’ll be actively contributing to a startup environment where adaptability and problem-solving are essential. Alongside your internship, you’ll work with a dedicated coach who helps you refine professional skills such as time management and project planning. Ladder’s global startups are usually backed by Y Combinator, whose founders have experience at companies like Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft.

3. Texas Tech University - Anson L. Clark Scholars Program 

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Cost/Stipend: None, except for a $25 application fee / $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students
Dates: June 22 - August 7
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date | U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Graduating this year or next

The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University allows you to dive deeply into research for seven weeks, alongside faculty in an area you choose, which can include technology and engineering fields. During the program, most of your time is spent conducting original research, analyzing data, and preparing a final presentation that reflects your findings. Weekly seminars and discussions add context by exposing you to broader academic and professional perspectives, while field trips offer opportunities to see applied research in action. For those interested in tech, mentors in areas like computer science or engineering can guide your project to align with your interests.

4. Veritas AI Programs

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to the program type; financial assistance is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including in the summer 
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; summer sessions typically have May deadlines
Eligibility: AI Scholars: All high school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity with AI concepts or Python

Veritas AI programs allow you to explore artificial intelligence through a structured, research-focused curriculum designed for high school students. If you’re new to the subject, the AI Scholars program walks you through the fundamentals of machine learning and data science across ten online sessions, with small projects that connect concepts to real-world issues like healthcare and sustainability. If you’re more advanced, the AI Fellowship pairs you one-on-one with a university researcher to design and carry out an independent AI project. Many students choose to focus on applications in fields such as robotics, climate modeling, or financial systems, and you’ll have the option to work toward publication with guidance. 

5. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute 

Location: Virtual and in-person at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None for students belonging to families earning under $150,000; $2,350 for others
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Online courses: February 3 – June 20 | In-person/online summer program: July 7 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year who are U.S. citizens

The Beaver Works Summer Institute at MIT is a four-week residential program centered on project-based learning in advanced STEM fields, particularly robotics and AI. Before the summer session begins, you complete an online prerequisite course covering Python, the Robot Operating System (ROS), and foundational AI concepts. Once on campus, you’ll work in teams on projects such as developing autonomous vehicles, analyzing satellite data, or designing AI-driven applications. Faculty, graduate students, and industry experts provide mentorship while guiding you through technical challenges. The program emphasizes teamwork and creativity, with your final project showcased in a competition-style event at the end. 

6. Amazon Future Engineer

Location: Most internships are conducted in Seattle, WA
Stipend: Scholarship of up to $40,000 ($10,000 per year) towards an undergraduate degree in engineering or computer science
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically January
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to major in computer science or related fields | Should have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale | Should be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or authorized to work in the U.S. | Should demonstrate financial need

As part of the Amazon Future Engineer program, you can receive financial support for college with a paid tech internship at Amazon after your first year of university. During the summer internship, you’ll work on real projects in areas like artificial intelligence, software engineering, or cloud computing, often contributing code or tools that impact Amazon’s platforms. Past interns have been placed on teams developing Alexa technology, optimizing AWS systems, or refining large-scale retail infrastructure. The program pairs you with mentors and teammates so you can build both technical skills and professional connections. 

7. TECH360

Location: New York City, Los Angeles, Miami (virtual + in-person sessions)
Cost/Stipend: None / $500 stipend
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Cycle 1: June 30 – July 17; Cycle 2: July 28 - August 14; Demo Day: August 21
Application Deadline: May 25 for all locations except Atlanta (August)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending a New York City (all boroughs), Los Angeles County, Miami-Dade/Broward County, or Atlanta high school | Aged 15-19 | First-time applicant

TECH360 provides a focused introduction to computer science and AI by combining coding practice with collaborative projects. Over the course of the program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of web development using tools like HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap, as well as explore key AI concepts such as machine learning and predictive models. Alongside technical lessons, you’ll examine how technology affects society, with discussions on ethics, bias, and the future of AI. A highlight of the program is the group project, where you’ll design either a website or an AI-powered solution and then pitch your work to judges during Demo Day. The format is highly interactive, with real-time sessions and teamwork that mimic how tech professionals collaborate. 

8. UCSD’s Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)

Location: UC San Diego campus, CA
Cost: $1,500 with research project, else free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 12 who are Southern California residents and have completed their most recent high school semester | At least 16 years old on or before June 15 of the application year | Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA 

Through UCSD’s REHS program at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, you spend eight weeks contributing to computational research alongside scientists and graduate students. Projects often involve areas like machine learning, computational chemistry, or large-scale data analysis using Python, Jupyter notebooks, and high-performance systems like the Expanse supercomputer. You’ll attend lab meetings, participate in workshops, and practice communicating scientific ideas through technical writing and discussions. The program is highly collaborative, with you working as part of a research team to test hypotheses and analyze results. At the end of the summer, you present your work at a poster symposium.

9. NASA Office of STEM Engagements (OSTEM) Internships

Location: NASA centers across the country
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid based on academic level and session duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May); Summer: 10 weeks (late May – August); Fall: 16 weeks (late August – mid-December)
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Summer: February 27
Eligibility: Full-time high school students | Over 16 years of age | Cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale | U.S. citizens

Through NASA’s OSTEM Internship Program, you can step into ongoing projects at NASA centers across the country, working alongside scientists and engineers. These are paid internships, offered year-round, and come in virtual, hybrid, or in-person formats, giving you flexibility while still contributing to real projects. Depending on your placement, you might code software for spacecraft systems, analyze satellite data, or design robotics used in space missions. The program matches you with a mentor who guides you through tasks that directly support NASA’s goals, whether that involves environmental monitoring, mission planning, or developing aerospace technologies. Along the way, you’ll sharpen your technical abilities in coding, data analysis, and scientific inquiry.

10. Carnegie Mellon University’s AI Scholars

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 or older and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or registered with DACA

At Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars program, you spend four weeks on campus studying artificial intelligence through both lectures and collaborative projects. The curriculum introduces you to machine learning, neural networks, and data-driven systems, with faculty and researchers guiding your learning. You’ll work in teams to design an AI project that tackles a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end of the session. Beyond technical topics, you’ll also take part in conversations about ethics, fairness, and the broader impact of AI. By combining academic coursework with hands-on research, this tech summer program for high school students gives you a strong foundation in both the theory and application of AI.

11. Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,300 + $638 housing fee + $398 mandatory meal plan
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27, Session 2: July 7 – 18, Session 3: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15 (review on a rolling basis)
Eligibility: U.S. and international students, rising 9th–12th graders (age 15+) with strong math background 

SPARC at NYU Tandon is a two-week program that introduces you to robotics and mechatronics through intensive, hands-on learning. You’ll build and program devices such as a robotic car and a manipulator arm, applying coding concepts like loops and conditionals to make them function. The coursework also covers circuit design, microcontrollers, and sensors, showing you how mechanical and electrical systems integrate with software. Each day includes workshops and lab time, where you’ll practice troubleshooting and problem-solving with guidance from faculty and graduate mentors. The program culminates in a final robotics challenge that tests your design and coding skills.

12. Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Online
Cost: $4,000; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Current 9th-graders or rising 10th-graders in the summer | Over 14 years by the start of the program

The Stanford AI4ALL Summer Program is a two-week online course that introduces students to both the technical and social aspects of artificial intelligence. You explore fundamental topics such as robotics, computer vision, natural language processing, and medical AI through lectures led by faculty, coding exercises, and guided research projects. Working closely with Stanford researchers and mentors, you gain practical experience applying AI techniques to real-world problems while also considering the ethical impact of new technologies. The program focuses on collaboration, problem-solving, and communication, providing opportunities to engage directly with professionals and develop both technical knowledge and critical thinking skills.

13. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program (YSP)

Location: Northeastern University, Boston
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are permanent residents of Massachusetts | U.S. Citizens, or Permanent Residents

Through the Young Scholars Program at Northeastern University, you’ll spend six weeks working on advanced research projects in science and engineering fields, often with a strong tech focus. Your work might involve coding, building algorithms, or analyzing experimental data, depending on the lab the program matches you with. Faculty and graduate mentors guide your project while also introducing you to different disciplines through seminars and discussions. In addition to lab work, the program includes site visits to tech companies and government research centers, giving you insight into how academic research connects with industry. You’ll conclude the program by presenting your findings at a poster session. 

14. ASPIRE – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 24 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 15 or older by June 1 | Minimum 2.8 GPA, and live in specific regions of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia | U.S. Citizens

The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in gaining direct research experience in STEM fields. As a participant, you are paired with a mentor and assigned to a project in areas such as artificial intelligence, engineering, or cybersecurity. The projects reflect real-world challenges and can include tasks like developing algorithms for drone detection, coding and testing AI models to identify misinformation, or analyzing datasets to support ongoing research. You’ll attend regular meetings with mentors, document your progress, and work alongside peers and professionals in a collaborative setting.

15. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program

Location: Princeton University, NJ
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 - August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 years of age | Authorised to work in the U.S.

In this internship, you work directly for 8–10 weeks with researchers and engineers studying plasma physics and fusion energy. You may be involved in building or maintaining experimental equipment, running simulations of magnetic confinement systems, or coding tools that help analyze large sets of physics data. A strong background in math, physics, or coding languages like Python and Java is recommended since the projects demand technical precision. You’ll also learn to apply software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD if your work is connected to equipment design. Beyond the technical aspects, you’ll sharpen analytical thinking by troubleshooting experiments and interpreting results.

Image Source - Meta Logo