If you want to build AI models, analyze large datasets, or apply machine learning to robotics, medicine, and finance, an online summer program can help you gain the right skills in high school. These programs focus on practical applications, teaching you how to work with deep learning frameworks, train neural networks, and develop AI-powered tools.
Many of the online summer programs below also introduce AI ethics, algorithmic bias, and the societal impact of automation. You’ll explore how AI influences industries, from self-driving cars to financial forecasting while developing technical skills in Python, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
With that, here are 10 online AI summer programs for high school students!
10 Online AI Summer Programs for High School Students
1. MIT Future Makers
MIT RAISE’s FutureMakers program is a six-week online experience designed to help underrepresented students in STEM develop AI and computational problem-solving skills. In a hackathon-style format, you’ll work with machine learning tools, build AI-driven solutions, and gain hands-on experience in technical prototyping.
The program is split into two phases. During the Training Phase (4 weeks), you’ll learn AI concepts, explore ethical considerations, and develop technical skills using platforms like MIT App Inventor, Python, and TensorFlow. In the Create-a-thon Phase (2 weeks), you’ll collaborate in teams to design AI-based solutions for real-world challenges, presenting your prototype in a pitch competition judged by experts.
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: July 1 – August 9
Eligibility: Underrepresented middle school (grades 6–8), high school (grades 9–12), and first-year undergraduate students in STEM
2. AI Scholars – Carnegie Mellon University
AI Scholars at Carnegie Mellon University is a fully funded, four-week residential program for rising high school seniors. You’ll take college-level courses, work on hands-on AI projects, and connect with industry professionals. The curriculum covers computing, machine learning, and AI applications in real-world fields like robotics, healthcare, and finance.
You’ll work on a group project, applying AI to solve practical problems while gaining experience with data science, neural networks, and algorithm development. The program also includes college prep workshops, faculty-led discussions on AI ethics, and sessions on equity in STEM, helping you understand the broader impact of AI.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Program Dates: June 21 – July 19
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (must be at least 16 by program start); demonstrated financial need required.
3. Stanford AI4ALL
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program that gives you hands-on experience in AI research while focusing on increasing diversity in the field. You’ll work on real-world projects in robotics, computer vision, medical AI, and natural language processing, working with researchers from the Stanford AI Lab.
Beyond technical skills, you’ll explore the ethical and societal impact of AI, learning how algorithms shape industries and influence decision-making. Career development workshops and mentorship sessions will connect you with AI professionals, giving you insights into different career paths and research opportunities.
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Location: Online
Program Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: 9th graders or rising 10th graders, must be 14+ by program start; preference for students with math or programming experience.
NYU Tandon’s Machine Learning summer program is an on-campus experience designed to introduce you to the core concepts of AI and machine learning. You’ll explore computer science, data analysis, and the mathematical techniques behind ML, gaining hands-on experience with algorithms and real-world applications.
The program covers key topics like image and video recognition, autonomous systems, natural language processing, and medical AI. Through interactive labs and projects, you’ll learn how ML models process data, make predictions and solve complex problems.
Cost: $3,050 (tuition-based)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering (On Campus)
Program Dates: Session 1 (June 16–27), Session 2 (July 7–18), and Session 3 (July 28–August 8)
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: Age 14+ by program start (15+ for housing); Algebra 2 and programming experience required
5. Artificial Intelligence for Computational Creativity – NSF Summer REU Site at Brown University
The Artificial Intelligence for Computational Creativity REU Site at Brown University is a fully funded, nine-week residential program that explores AI’s role in creative fields. You’ll work on original research projects with Brown’s faculty and graduate mentors, applying AI to areas like game design, generative models, and detecting fake content.
This program focuses on how AI transforms creative work, from writing and photography to design and architecture. You’ll participate in weekly study groups, research method workshops, and hands-on training with AI tools used in computational creativity.
Cost: Free with a $6,480 stipend; housing and travel costs are covered by the program
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Application Deadline: February (Rolling admissions after the deadline)
Program Dates: June 3 – August 2
Eligibility: High school graduates who have been accepted at an undergraduate institution but who have not yet started their undergraduate study.
6. Veritas AI
Veritas AI offers AI programs designed by Harvard graduate students, giving high school students hands-on experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. If you’re just starting, the AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp where you’ll learn AI fundamentals and apply them to real-world projects.
For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase provides 1:1 mentorship with researchers from top universities. You’ll work on an independent AI project, exploring interdisciplinary applications in fields like finance, medicine, sports, and environmental science. The program also includes access to an in-house publication team to help you publish your research in high school journals.
Location: Online
Dates: 10-weekend sessions (25 hours) or 2-week intensive (25 hours)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to ambitious students (Grades 9-12; middle schoolers with coding experience may apply)
7. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – Machine Learning Track
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs across various subject areas, where you can choose between quantitative and qualitative research. Upon selecting a subject track, you will be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar who will guide you in crafting a 20-page, university-level research paper. The program is designed to develop your research skills and provide valuable feedback on your work.
Throughout the process, you will also receive letters of recommendation, which can benefit your college applications. Additionally, the research paper you produce is intended to meet the standards for prestigious academic journals, further enhancing your educational profile.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA); most participants are 10th or 11th graders
Application Deadline: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 2025! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
8. Columbia’s Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms
Columbia University’s Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms is a three-week pre-college course for students with advanced programming skills. You’ll explore classical AI techniques, focusing on search algorithms, optimization, and probabilistic strategies to tackle computational problems.
The course covers AI history, trade-offs between search methods, and hands-on problem-solving with challenges like N-Queens, Knapsack, Post Correspondence, and Chess. You’ll analyze how different algorithms work in real-world applications and learn to refine their efficiency.
Cost: Residential: $12,154; Commuter: $6,100
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: High school students with a strong programming background, including object-oriented programming and recursion
9. Princeton AI4ALL Summer Program
Princeton’s AI4ALL is a three-week residential program designed to introduce you to artificial intelligence through hands-on research, ethical discussions, and career exploration. You’ll engage in lectures by Princeton AI professors, work on research projects guided by graduate student mentors, and explore AI’s impact on society.
A key part of the program is a two-day field trip to Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet policymakers and learn how AI intersects with public policy. You’ll also participate in career workshops, mentoring sessions, and networking events with AI faculty and researchers. The program ends with student-led presentations on AI-driven research projects tackling real-world issues.
Cost: Fully funded for eligible students
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Application Deadline: TBA, Check here for more details.
Program Dates: July 9 – July 30
Eligibility: Current 10th graders in the U.S. or Puerto Rico from low-income backgrounds (household income under $60,000 or eligible for free/reduced lunch or SAT/ACT fee waiver).
10. Data Science: The AI Journey – Berkeley Coding Academy
Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science: The AI Journey is a three-week program where you’ll learn Python, work with big data, build machine learning models, and create data visualizations. With small cohort projects and 1-on-1 support, you’ll gain hands-on experience and explore original research opportunities. The program focuses on practical AI applications and data-driven problem-solving. By the end, you’ll complete a portfolio project and earn a Data Science Scholar Certificate, showcasing your skills in AI and data science.
Cost: Starting at $2,079
Location: Online
Dates: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to high school students of all coding levels, with cohorts grouped by experience
Image source – MIT logo
