If you’re a high school student interested in coding, free programs can help you build your skills, get hands-on experience, and work with mentors in professional tech environments without spending a ton! These programs are designed to strengthen your programming fundamentals, introduce you to new tools and languages, and help you explore future pathways in software development, data science, AI, and related fields.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 free coding programs for high school students, ranging from summer camps and research immersions to online mentorships and university-led courses. These programs focus on computational thinking, technical fluency, and applied problem solving, and many include access to labs, professional software, and faculty or industry mentorship.
15 Free Coding Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as computer science, data science, AI, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program(Up to 100% financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year; Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; Fellowship applicants should have completed the AI Scholars program or demonstrate familiarity with AI concepts or Python
Founded by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI offers structured programs to help high schoolers dive into artificial intelligence. If you’re new to the field, the AI Scholars track is a 10-session boot camp that provides hands-on, real-world learning of core AI and machine learning concepts. For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase offers a deeper experience. You’ll work one-on-one with a mentor from a top-tier university to develop and execute a unique AI research project. The program includes support from Veritas’s in-house publication team to help you publish your work in high school research journals or present it in online showcases.
3. Girls Who Code: Pathways Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Multiple sessions between June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 16 (tentative)
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade girls and non-binary students, including past Summer Program alumni and seniors
In this live, virtual two-week program, you’ll build foundational and intermediate skills in web development, cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence. You’ll code in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, and apply your skills to real-world problems through project-based learning. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with peers from across the country, attend live events hosted by tech industry leaders, and explore pathways in tech through mentorship and career talks.
4. AI4ALL College Partner Programs
Location: Varies by partner university
Cost: Free (All partner university programs provide full scholarships; AI4ALL makes them low- or no-cost)
Dates: May 19 – October 11 (summer cohort); September 8 – March 2 (fall cohort)
Application Deadline: Summer – April 15; Fall – August 11
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-11), with emphasis on underrepresented groups
AI4ALL partners with leading universities to immerse you in cutting-edge AI coding and research. You’ll code in Python, build an AI technical portfolio through weekly virtual sessions, and collaborate with peers and mentors on socially impactful projects. The program also includes career readiness workshops, technical mentorship, and a final student symposium.
5. George Mason University – ASSIP (Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program)
Location: Fairfax and Manassas campuses (in-person, hybrid, or remote)
Cost: Free (waived $25 application fee for those with financial need)
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students, age 15+ (wet-lab interns must be 16+); no upper age limit
ASSIP is an intensive 8‑week full-time research internship where you’ll gain hands-on experience with sophisticated lab equipment and software, learn scientific writing and data analysis, and explore STEM career paths through mentorship and role-model meetings. You can pursue coding-related projects in areas like machine learning, data mining, cybersecurity, computer modeling, and serious game design. The program concludes with a final poster session and includes optional programming in Galileo’s Science Café speaker series (free monthly research talks with dinner).
6. CodeDay Labs Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Typically June – August
Application Deadline: January/February to early June
Eligibility: High school and early college students with basic CS experience or a strong interest in learning
CodeDay Labs is a 100% online, internship-style program where you’ll be matched with an industry mentor and a small team to work on real-world, open-source software projects. You’ll use professional tools like Git, Docker, GraphQL, Kubernetes, and TypeScript, and contribute to codebases used by millions, such as FreeCodeCamp, Supabase, or Python Requests. Along the way, you’ll attend daily tech talks and career panels, build a polished resume item, and boost your readiness for internships and developer roles.
7. Carnegie Mellon University: AI Scholars (AIS)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21 – July 19
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current juniors), at least 16 years old by program start, U.S. citizens or DACA/permanent residents; No prior coding experience required, just a strong interest in AI
Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars is a four-week, fully funded residential program where you’ll dive into artificial intelligence through classroom instruction, faculty-led hands-on projects, and field trips to industry sites. You’ll take a virtual pre-program Python prep course, attend daily coding labs in ML, and work with peers on group projects culminating in public capstone presentations. The program emphasizes equity in STEM, includes weekly college-readiness seminars, and offers technical mentorship and opportunities to engage in AI ethics and career discussions.
8. Cornell University: Curie Academy (CS Track)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,900 (full scholarships available for selected students)
Dates: July 13 – July 19
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in the U.S. with at least a 3.0 GPA, demonstrating strong math and science skills; Priority for students from underrepresented STEM groups, especially girls facing educational, socio-cultural, or economic barriers
The Curie Academy is a weeklong residential program that immerses you in college-level research and academic experiences in computer science and engineering. You’ll attend daily field sessions across Cornell’s engineering departments, followed by afternoon research projects guided by faculty and graduate mentors. Past CS tracks have explored algorithmic logic, AI and robotics, and computing at the edge.
9. University of Chicago: Data Science Institute Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,800 stipend
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicago area
This highly selective, eight-week summer lab places you in University of Chicago faculty-led research teams working on real-world data science challenges. You’ll apply Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and version control tools to projects in public health analytics, climate modeling, and computational social science. The experience includes weekly seminars in research methods, mentorship with faculty and grad students, and culminates in a polished final presentation.
10. MITES Summer
Location: MIT
Cost: Free
Dates: Mid-June to early August (exact start dates vary)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Current high school juniors, especially those from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds
MITES Summer is a highly competitive six-week residential program where you’ll take five rigorous courses across math, life sciences, physics, humanities, and a project-based elective such as machine learning, architecture, or genomics. Your days will be packed with lectures, labs, problem-solving sessions, and evening activities that build both academic and community strength. The program also includes college admissions counseling, field trips to research labs, and mentorship from MIT faculty, students, and alumni.
11. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person (Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., London, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis)
Cost: Free
Dates: June 2 – August 15 ( 2-week sessions; dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive students, ages 13-18; No prior coding experience required
Kode With Klossy’s flagship summer camps are designed to introduce you to the world of tech through four unique coding tracks—web development, mobile app development, machine learning, and data science. Over two immersive weeks, you’ll collaborate in small cohorts, build real-world projects, and present your work at a Demo Day. With guidance from licensed instructors and alumni mentors, you’ll explore cutting-edge technologies while engaging in activities that support creativity, confidence, and leadership in a fun, inclusive learning environment.
12. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual (online via Stanford)
Cost: $850 participation fee with financial aid covering up to full cost; $40 application fee (waived for eligible applicants)
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grades 9-12 and age 14+ by program start; Strong math or programming background and interest in AI in medicine
In this two-week virtual program, you’ll explore how AI and coding come together to solve problems in healthcare. You’ll attend live technical lectures on machine learning fundamentals, work with real medical data, and use Python to build and evaluate basic diagnostic models. You’ll also collaborate on guided group research, get mentorship from Stanford researchers, and attend career talks from professionals in medical AI, biomedical engineering, and data science. By the end of the program, you’ll have a stronger understanding of how your coding skills can be applied in real-world healthcare settings, and a Certificate of Completion to show for it.
13. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: January 15 for U.S. students; March 15 for international students
Eligibility: High school juniors (rising seniors) with a strong interest in STEM research; More info here
After an intensive first week of seminars and lab rotations, you’ll spend five weeks working on an independent research project that culminates in both a written paper and a symposium-style oral presentation. This STEM program is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 5%, and applicants are expected to demonstrate outstanding academic performance, strong recommendation letters, and prior exposure to research or STEM enrichment. RSI alumni often go on to top-tier universities and careers in science, tech, and innovation.
14. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute: Autonomous RACECAR & Virtual Tech Tracks
Location: Virtual (online) or in-person at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Beaver Works Center, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for families earning under $150,000 (full financial aid); Sliding fee scale up to $2,350 for higher-earning families
Dates: July 7 – August 3 (summer); Online prerequisite courses start early summer
Application Deadline: Online course registration: March 31; Summer program application: March 31
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grade 12 or below (up to junior year); Must complete online prerequisite courses and secure a teacher or mentor recommendation
MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) offers a free, project-based coding immersion into domains like autonomous robotics, cybersecurity, quantum software, and serious AI-driven game development. Before the summer session, you’ll complete self-paced online courses (including Python fundamentals and GitHub workflows), which serve as your gateway to the summer tracks. Across a range of tech-heavy courses—including the Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix, CogWorks (Cognitive Assistance), Medlytics (medical data science), and Quantum Software—you’ll work in teams, attend expert lectures, debug real systems, and build functioning code.
15. Meta Summer Academy (High School Internship Program)
Location: Menlo Park, California (Meta HQ), with a focus on students from East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores with a minimum 2.0 GPA; Open to students from designated local communities
Meta Summer Academy is a selective six-week internship designed to introduce you to professional life at one of the world’s leading tech companies. You’ll work approximately 30 hours a week, paired with a Meta mentor, while contributing to real projects and attending sessions on resume writing, public speaking, and career exploration. The program also includes networking events, exposure to both tech and non-tech roles, and opportunities to develop leadership skills. W
Image source – Girls Who Code