STEM summer camps are a great way for high school students to build technical skills, explore advanced topics, and connect with peers who share similar interests. Unlike full-length pre-college programs, camps are typically shorter and more targeted, making them ideal if you want to dive into a specific subject like robotics, coding, or environmental science without a long-term commitment.
Many of these programs are free and hosted by top universities or organizations, providing you with access to high-quality instruction, hands-on projects, and mentorship without financial barriers. Whether you’re looking to explore engineering, data science, medicine, or AI,
Here are 13 free STEM summer camps for high school students!
1. University of Minnesota’s IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Current high school students who have completed a year-long course in single variable calculus
The University of Minnesota’s IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp is a free math summer camp for high school students. The program focuses on mathematical models, covering the fundamentals of the field while exploring how they are used to develop solutions to real-world problems. You will engage in the practical application of mathematical models, using them to study diseases, assess the impact of climate change, analyze population trends, and explore potential train routes. In the process, you will also improve your problem-solving and collaborative skills.
2. Carnegie Mellon University’s Statistics and Data Science Camp
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students in Pittsburgh and surrounding districts (preference is given to rising juniors and seniors) who have a good understanding of algebra
Carnegie Mellon University’s Statistics and Data Science Camp introduces high school students to the subject through a combination of classes, hands-on demonstrations, and computer labs. You will learn the basics of R (the programming language) and study topics like data modeling, linear regression, and unstructured data. You will also take a field trip to a company that utilizes data science. Additionally, you will have the chance to explore career pathways in the field and learn how to prepare for a future in data science.
3. Harvard’s Data Science in Action Program
Location: Harvard University, Boston, MA
Cost: $50 registration fee; no tuition fees. Stipends are available for students from low-income backgrounds
Program dates: Part 1: July 21 – August 1 | Part 2: August 4 – 15
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: All high school students who have a basic understanding of algebra. Students from low-income backgrounds are encouraged to apply
Harvard University’s Data Science in Action program is a four-week free STEM summer camp that focuses on statistics, machine learning, and programming. The program consists of a virtual component with self-paced classes, which is followed by the in-person program. It offers a hands-on approach, allowing you to learn about AI and machine learning by training a classification algorithm and developing a self-driving toy car. You will learn about topics like Python, image classification, neural networks, and how to work with a Raspberry Pi.
4. UMKC’s GenCyber Camps for High School Students
Location: University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Cost: Free
Program dates: Camp 1: July 22 – 26 | Camp 2: July 29 – August 2
Application deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 9-12th graders
The University of Missouri’s GenCyber camp is a 1-week program that focuses on cybersecurity basics, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and more. The program combines online instruction with in-person lab sessions, covering topics such as cryptography, password security, steganography, network scanning, blockchain, deepfakes, Minecraft programming, and game development. You can expect plenty of hands-on work, group discussions, and a final competition.
5. SAGE Camp at Stanford University
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 22 – 28
Application deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students in Northern California high schools who are under the age of 18
Standing for Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement, SAGE is a one-week residential STEM camp for high school students. The free STEM camp enables high school students to explore a wide range of STEM subjects, learn about potential career pathways, and establish connections with professionals who could become mentors. You will explore various technologies and scientific concepts while developing your creativity and problem-solving skills. Previous students have created their own motors and also visited an observatory during a field trip.
6. Canada/USA Mathcamp
Location: Varies each year; previously held at Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR
Cost: $0–$6,000 based on family income; financial aid available
Program dates: June 29 – August 3
Application deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13-18
Mathcamp is a five-week STEM camp for high school students that focuses on advanced mathematical concepts from fields like algebra, geometry, discrete mathematics, calculus, and computer science. You will dive into specific topics like graph theory, polytopes, analytic number theory, combinatorial topology, the Banach-Tarski Paradox, relativity, and cryptography. You can also expect hands-on project work, such as building a robot or crocheting a nonorientable surface. Additionally, the program will include social activities and field trips.
7. National Youth Science Camp (NYSC)
Location: Monongahela National Forest, Huttonsville, WV
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 10 – August 2
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The National Youth Science Camp is a residential camp for students across the country to learn about STEM and connect with professionals from the field. The program offers a well-rounded experience through a combination of lectures led by STEM experts, directed studies that delve deeply into a subject, seminars on practical skills such as juggling or cooking, and a range of outdoor activities. The camp has previously invited experts like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Neil Armstrong, and John Nash to teach students.
8. Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camps
Location: Online and in-person camps available in various cities
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 2 – June 13 | July 7 – July 18 | July 21 – August 1 | August 4 – August 15
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens between the ages of 13-18
Kode With Klossy, a non-profit organization, offers this free STEM summer camp for students from underrepresented genders to learn about coding. As a participant, you can choose from one of the four curricula — Web Dev, Mobile App, Machine Learning, and Data Science. Each course dives into the foundational concepts of the field and includes hands-on activities like training a chatbot, improving the UI of a website, or creating a mobile app from scratch. Additionally, you will also attend a series of talks led by women in technology who are experts in the field.
9. UCLA’s NeuroCamp
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Program dates: 2 weeks (June 16 – 18, June 23 – 24 & 26 – 27)
Application deadline: April 27
Eligibility: All high school students
UCLA’s NeuroCamp is a summer camp for high school students interested in neuroscience, which delves into subfields such as neurobiology, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy. You will attend lectures, engage in hands-on activities, and conduct research as part of the program. Previous students have engaged in wet labs involving brain and spinal cord dissections, investigations of c-elegan habituation, and experiments on earthworms and mice. By the end of the program, you will have learned basic lab techniques along with acquiring a solid introduction to neuroscience.
10. Rice Neuroscience Society’s NeuroCamp
Location: Virtual or in-person at Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Program dates: August 9 – 10 (in-person) | July 19 – 20 (online)
Application deadline: Applications generally open in March and close in May
Eligibility: All high school students (the in-person camp accepts students living in the greater Houston area)
Rice University’s NeuroCamp enables high school students to explore neuroscience through a combination of education, mentorship, and research. The camp covers fundamental concepts in the field, including neurons, neurological diseases, neuroanatomy, and neurotransmission, as well as more complex topics such as computational neuroscience. You can expect the program to include interactive lectures, panel discussions, and independent lab experiments through which you will gain hands-on experience. Additionally, the program provides support for college applications and career development.
11. Purdue University Northwest’s Forensic Science Summer Camp
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 16 – 20
Application deadline: Applications generally close in May
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Purdue University Northwest’s Forensic Science Summer Camp allows high school students to learn about forensic science by working to solve a mock crime scene. As a participant, you will take on the role of a forensic scientist, process the crime scene, collect physical evidence, and analyze it in a lab. In the process of your investigation, you will learn various lab techniques while also getting some insight into the law. Previous students have also engaged in activities such as fingerprint collection.
12. Austin Peay State University’s Robotics Camp
Location: Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 2 – 5
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12
Austin Peay State University’s Robotics Camp is a 4-day free STEM summer camp for high school students interested in robotics, electronics, and coding. During the program, you will build and program a robotic car, and then participate in a race against other students. By the end of the program, you will have gained skills in using Scratch, understanding the Internet of Things, and developing soft skills such as project management and planning. Please note that there are only ten spots available.
13. Western New England University’s Golden Bear Summer Camp
Location: Western New England University, Springfield, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13-18
Western New England University’s Golden Bear Summer Camp allows younger students to learn about pharmacy and other healthcare professions. The program has a strong focus on career exploration, delving into topics such as hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutics, neuroscience, occupational therapy, and DNA extraction. Aside from learning how to prepare for a career in healthcare, you will also attend labs, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Carnegie Mellon University