If you’re a high school student looking to work on advanced skills in a field, Princeton offers a solid set of summer programs that are open to high schoolers. These programs offer hands-on learning and the chance to dive deep into your interests. You can explore subjects like business, STEM, arts, and build a solid profile for future projects and programs.
Here are 12 summer programs at Princeton for high school students in 2025!
While most of these programs are in-person, in Princeton, we've also included a couple virtual research opportunities and internships for high school students based in Princeton.
Location: Virtual
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: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II); Summer II 2025: June 22, 2024!
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
Location: Remote
Subjects Offered: Technology, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, AI, Healthcare, Software Engineering, and more.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; February 9th, 2025 for the upcoming Spring Cohort. Apply Here.
Program Dates: Year-round cohorts. Spring Cohort begins March 3rd.
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students able to commit 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks.
The Ladder Internship Program gives high school students a chance to gain hands-on experience in fast-growing startups across industries like technology, AI, and health tech. During the 8-week internship, you’ll work on real projects with the guidance of experienced managers and a dedicated Ladder Coach.
You’ll also get personalized training and collaborate with peers, helping you build important skills in a professional setting. The program ends with a presentation where you can showcase your work and what you’ve learned.
Subjects Offered: Athletics
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Varies by camp
Dates: Varies by camp. Details Here.
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Application Deadline: Rolling
Princeton Sports Camps gives you the chance to train in over 20 sports, including baseball, fencing, rowing, soccer, and wrestling. The camps take place on Princeton’s historic campus, where you’ll receive hands-on coaching from varsity coaches, along with support from college-level coaches and players.
You’ll work on improving your skills while living in Princeton dorms and enjoying on-campus dining. It’s a great way to experience collegiate athletics up close.
Subjects Offered: Political Science
Location: Chauncey Conference Center, Princeton, NJ
Cost: $350
Dates: July 6–12, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: February 23, 2025
The James Madison Seminar on the Principles of American Constitutionalism is a week-long program that explores the balance between equality and liberty in American political philosophy. Using primary texts like The Federalist and Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, you’ll examine the principles that shape American constitutionalism.
Discussions focus on the relationship between equality, liberty, law, and civil society. The program emphasizes careful analysis of these sources, helping you gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of American governance.
Subjects Offered: STEM, Leadership, Medicine
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: N/A. Contact admissions@duboisscholars.org for details.
Dates: N/A.
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Application Deadline: N/A. However, students can write to the admissions dept here.
The W.E.B. DuBois Scholars Institute offers three academic tracks: Engineering, Leadership, and Pre-Med/Biological Sciences. Each track provides immersive coursework designed to spark intellectual curiosity and develop critical thinking.
The Engineering Academy focuses on advanced math, physics, and problem-solving. The Leadership Academy covers social issues, public policy, and social theory. The Pre-Med/Biological Sciences Academy dives into biology, neuroscience, and molecular biology. These programs are designed to prepare you for college and careers in STEM, leadership, and medicine.
Subjects Offered: College Prep
Location: Princeton Campus
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Year-long program with a summer institute
Eligibility: Open to students from select NJ high schools, prioritizing first-generation college students from families earning under $55,000 annually.
Application Deadline: Students are selected to apply during the spring of their freshman year of high school
The Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP) is a year-round academic and personal development initiative for low-income high school students. Through weekly sessions, PUPP helps students build collaboration, presentation, and critical thinking skills.
The summer institute enhances this with courses in writing, literature, math, and research. One highlight is the Research Symposium, where students present their scientific and sociological work.
Subjects Offered: STEM
Location: Princeton Campus
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 5-6 weeks in June-July
Eligibility: Must be 16+ by June 15, 2024, and enrolled in high school
Application Deadline: March 15, 2025
The Princeton Laboratory Learning Program offers you the chance to roll up your sleeves and dive deep into real-world research. You'll work directly with Princeton faculty and research staff on active projects, contributing to everything from "Machine Learning Methods for Power Magnetics Modeling" to "Chicken Embryos Lung Development".
This program is a full-time, immersive experience. You’ll get hands-on experience, apply advanced techniques, and learn a lot. The flexible start dates make it easier to fit with the research schedule. There are no weekend or evening activities, so you can focus on your work.
Subjects Offered: Journalism
Location: Online and In-Person
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Multi-week hybrid summer intensive (Online in July, Residential in August)
Eligibility: Must be a high school junior at the time of application, live in the U.S., have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, be interested in journalism, and meet one of the socioeconomic conditions listed on the website
Application Deadline: Applications will open on December 1st, 2024
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a chance to explore professional journalism. You’ll start with online workshops in July, led by top journalists, where you’ll learn reporting, writing, and editing while examining today’s media landscape.
The in-person part at Princeton is where things get hands-on. You’ll live in university dorms, attend lectures from renowned educators, and visit major news organizations like The New York Times and Bloomberg. You’ll also cover local news and major events, contributing to The Princeton Summer Journal, a student-run newspaper.
Subjects Offered: Art
Location: Princeton University Campus, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Dates: July 15-August 2, 2024 (2025 dates not out yet)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors
Application Deadline: Typically by the end of March
This three-week program gives high school students from Trenton Central and Ewing High Schools the chance to explore careers in art museums and visual arts. You’ll connect with mentors, artists, and professionals from Princeton University and the surrounding area.
You’ll dive into themes like identity, power, and social justice by interacting with original works of art. The program ends with a capstone project where you’ll create a piece of art, a poem, a musical composition, or another form of creative expression, which will be shared during a closing celebration.
Subjects Offered: Humanities, STEM
Location: Different locations across the globe
Cost: $500
Dates: Typically around 6 weeks
Eligibility: First-year students, sophomores, and juniors
Application Deadline: Mid to late March. Applications are currently open. Apply here.
Princeton’s Global Seminar on Human Rights and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples offers high school students a chance to explore important global issues. Over two weeks, you’ll examine the challenges faced by indigenous communities around the world, focusing on human rights and social justice.
Through discussions, research projects, and site visits, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of these issues. The seminar helps sharpen your critical thinking skills and empowers you to become an advocate for global change.
Subjects Offered: Physics
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Dates: Nov, 22
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at least 16 years old, and a graduating high school senior
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) High School Summer Internship offers hands-on experience in plasma physics and fusion energy. You will get to work on experimental or computational projects, applying knowledge from physics, chemistry, advanced math, and engineering. Candidates with coding (Python, Java) or CAD skills (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) are especially encouraged. This program bridges classroom learning with real-world research, providing valuable mentorship from experts and preparing students for careers in plasma physics and related fields.
Subjects Offered: Tech, Engineering, Arts, Maths, Humanities
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost: Varies based on the program
Dates: Varies based on the program; typically between June-August
Eligibility: Grades 7-12
Application Deadline: Varies based on the program
Hun Summer Academies at Princeton offers a variety of programs for high school students to explore subjects like business, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), and humanities. These project-based programs allow you to work on practical applications, such as designing superhero concepts with physics or learning business management.
The academy provides two main tracks. The Credit Courses are more intensive, and designed for students who want to earn academic credit. These courses focus on advanced subjects like mathematics, science, and language arts, offering a college-level experience. The Enrichment Classes, on the other hand, are more hands-on and exploratory. These classes let you dive deeper into interests like game design, film production, or entrepreneurship, focusing on creative projects rather than exams.
For more information on specific courses, schedules, and costs, visit their official site here.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.