19 Distinguished (and free) Academic Programs for High School Students

Acceptance into these summer programs will make a big splash on your college applications.

There are many academic and research programs for high school students out there. Top 40 universities and liberal arts colleges offer pre-college programs—where high schoolers can study on their campus for the summer—for a price, and often a hefty one of thousands of dollars.

The academic and research programs here stand out because they are free. Some even cover transportation and boarding costs. A few go the distance of paying a stipend for your participation.

They’re not easy to get into, with acceptance rates that dip below 5%. But for students who receive acceptance, they can provide a big boost for admissions.

Who qualifies?

This is dependent on the parameters of the program. However, most especially encourage first-generation, low-income students and other historically underrepresented groups to apply. Some programs are regional and only admit students within a particular geography.

International students are welcome to apply to some programs, but the programs that provide stipends are typically only open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

What is the application process?

Typically, applications require students to write essays to discuss their interests in the program or relevant academic subject, references from a school teacher and/or counselor, and your transcript. Some programs do include application fees, however, there are also processes to request waiving the fees if it is a financial burden for you.

Name	Deadline	Qualifications	Cost	Description from Website
AI4ALL - University of Washington	Jul 1	Grades 11-12	Free	The University of Washington’s, Taskar Center for Accessible Technology invites students from traditionally underrepresented groups to join us for a free, 20-week data science introductory workshop. At the workshop, students will learn how to understand, analyze, interpret and discuss real-world applications of data science and machine learning with the ultimate goal of understanding impactful technology decisions.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program	Feb 24	Grade 11 and 12 (U.S. citizen and permanent residents only)	Free with stipend of at least $500	"The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week program in which high school students with a broad range of experiences, interests and backgrounds are invited to perform basic research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and researchers on a medically-oriented project. The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in high school students and helping students to understand how scientific research is performed."
Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program	Jan 29	Graduated high school seniors and undergraduates	Free with $6,500 stipend	The Summer Student Program is designed for students who want to immerse themselves in genetics and genomics research. It emphasizes laboratory discovery, communication of knowledge, and professional growth.
Johns Hopkins ISPEED	Mar 1	Grade 11 and 12 (U.S. citizen and permanent residents only)	Free with stipend of $2,400	Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering’s ISPEED program is a residential, four-week summer program for talented high-school students who are passionate about exploring concepts in biomedical engineering. You’ll explore the challenges and opportunities of studying at a leading academic institution, immerse yourself in the exciting world of engineering, and solve real-world problems alongside leaders in the field.
MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science	Feburary 1	Underrepresented students from Grades 7-12	Free	Join MITES Semester (formerly MOSTEC) for a six-month, hybrid learning STEM and college preparation experience. Become part of an inspiring community of intelligent, motivated, like-minded peers—while building the skills and confidence you need for success. Running June through December, this national program will take you through engaging, rigorous online courses and weekly virtual webinars, social events, workshops, and meetings with peers in the fall. You’ll also benefit from college admissions counseling, and learn and network with STEM professionals.
MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)	Jan 15	Juniors	Free with $500 stipend	Each summer, 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI scholars first participate in a week of intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five-week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects.
MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP)	Jan 15	Grade 11	Free if household income under $120,000	A four-week program introducing female high school students to engineering and computer science through hands-on projects.
Princeton - Laboratory Learning Program	Mar 15	Grade 11 and 12 (students in U.S.)	Free (housing and transportation fees not included)	The Laboratory Learning Program is a full-time, free research experience in the sciences or engineering for high school students. Students are included in ongoing research programs where they are closely supervised by Princeton faculty and research staff. The participation dates are customized according to the schedules of the research personnel and the specifics of the project. Internships typically span 5-6 weeks during regular 'office hours' over the summer (no evening or weekend activities). Each research opportunity has its own schedule.
Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program	Feburary 27	Grade 11	Free	The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP), which is housed in the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity at Princeton University, is the only program of its kind offering a free, year-long college preparation and journalism program for high school juniors from limited-income backgrounds. Our mission is to diversify the fields that impact our democracy through the exploration of the important connection between journalism and critical social and political events. Every May, we admit up to 40 students from across the country, who commit to completing a rigorous summer intensive during the summer after their junior year and working with a dedicated college adviser on their college application and selection process through the end of their senior year.
MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science	Feb 1	Underrepresented students from Grades 7-12	Free	Join MITES Semester (formerly MOSTEC) for a six-month, hybrid learning STEM and college preparation experience. Become part of an inspiring community of intelligent, motivated, like-minded peers—while building the skills and confidence you need for success. Running June through December, this national program will take you through engaging, rigorous online courses and weekly virtual webinars, social events, workshops, and meetings with peers in the fall. You’ll also benefit from college admissions counseling, and learn and network with STEM professionals.
MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)	Jan 15	Juniors	Free with $500 stipend	Each summer, 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI scholars first participate in a week of intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five-week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects.
MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP)	Jan 15	Grade 11	Free if household income under $120,000	A four-week program introducing female high school students to engineering and computer science through hands-on projects.
Princeton - Laboratory Learning Program	Mar 15	Grade 11 and 12 (students in U.S.)	Free (housing and transportation fees not included)	The Laboratory Learning Program is a full-time, free research experience in the sciences or engineering for high school students. Students are included in ongoing research programs where they are closely supervised by Princeton faculty and research staff. The participation dates are customized according to the schedules of the research personnel and the specifics of the project. Internships typically span 5-6 weeks during regular 'office hours' over the summer (no evening or weekend activities). Each research opportunity has its own schedule.
Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program	Feb 27	Grade 11	Free	The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP), which is housed in the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity at Princeton University, is the only program of its kind offering a free, year-long college preparation and journalism program for high school juniors from limited-income backgrounds. Our mission is to diversify the fields that impact our democracy through the exploration of the important connection between journalism and critical social and political events. Every May, we admit up to 40 students from across the country, who commit to completing a rigorous summer intensive during the summer after their junior year and working with a dedicated college adviser on their college application and selection process through the end of their senior year.
Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists	Mar 1	Grade 10, 11, and 12	Free for U.S. students if household income is under $80K	PROMYS is a six-week summer program at Boston University designed to encourage strongly motivated high school students to explore in depth the creative world of mathematics in a supportive community of peers, counselors, research mathematicians, and visiting scientists.
SI Summer Lab - UChicago	Feb 12	Chicago-area high school students	Free	The Data Science Institute Summer Lab program is an immersive 8-week paid summer research program at the University of Chicago. In the program, undergraduate students (and Chicago-area high school students) are paired with a data science mentor in various domains, including: computer science, data science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, materials science, and biomedical research.
Simons Summer Research Program	Feb 15	Grade 11 (U.S. citizen or permanent residents only)	$2,500 for transportation and/or dorming cost	Established in 1984 as an outreach program for local high school students, the Simons Summer Research program now attracts applicants from all across the country to the Stony Brook campus: Simons Fellows are matched with Stony Brook faculty mentors, join a research group or team, and assume responsibility for a project. The Simons Fellows conclude their apprenticeship by producing a written research abstract and a research poster.
Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)	Mar 9	Grade 11	Free	As SAMS Scholars, students engage in a rigorous curriculum taught by our renowned faculty and staff who are deeply committed to student success. The program allows students to develop a deeper understanding of STEM via traditional classroom instruction, through hands-on projects, and sustained engagement with world-renowned faculty and skilled staff mentors. In addition to their academic experiences, students also have the opportunity to collaborate and develop meaningful relationships with peers from across the country.
Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) at University of Pennsylvania	Feb 1	Philly students and surrounding counties in Grades 9 and 10	Free	The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program is an award-winning summer college preparatory experience offered to High School students in Philadelphia (and surrounding counties). Admitted students are paired with one of our five affiliate University of Pennsylvania Professional Schools. Participants engage in hands-on, experiential learning, through a creatively designed curricula developed to highlight and offer exploration into various career choices.
Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)	Jan 3	Grades 10 and 11	Free	The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a free, six-week summer educational experience for high school sophomores and juniors. TASS prepares and inspires promising young students to lead and serve through transformative educational experiences rooted in critical thinking and democratic community. Telluride Association covers all program costs for every student, including tuition, books, room and board, field trips, and facilities fees.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program	Feb 18	Grade 11 and 12 (U.S. citizen and permanent residents only)	Free and includes $750 stipend. Does not cover travel expenses	The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is an intensive seven-week summer research program for twelve highly qualified high school juniors and seniors.
USC Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement	Mar 22	LA County high school student	Free	The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement is a four-week summer intensive academy for 26 talented high school students from the communities surrounding the USC University Park and Health Science Campuses. Students are exposed to the equivalent of first-year college-level courses and develop a rich conceptual understanding and practice of the necessary role that media communications and journalism play in fashioning civic-minded thought leaders and innovators.
UT Austin’s McCombs Business School Summer Program	Mar 1	Grades 10 and 11	Free	A free, six-day experience focused on business and leadership that offer rising junior and senior high school students the chance to learn and interact with McCombs students, faculty, and corporate representatives.Outstanding students who are first-generation, and students who have overcome social or economic hardships, are strongly encouraged to apply. However, all students are welcome to apply. This is your chance to see what it’s like to live and learn on campus before you graduate high school!