Competitive summer programs in computer science offer high school students an exceptional opportunity to develop advanced skills and gain in-depth experience in the field. These programs provide rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies, allowing students to tackle complex problems and collaborate on novel solutions. By engaging with experienced instructors and working on real-world challenges, participants enhance their technical expertise and gain practical knowledge that is crucial for future studies and careers in computer science.
Here are 12 great computer science programs for high school students that you can apply to during the summer!
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) — Computer Science track
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!
Courses offered by Horizon related to computer science include ‘Algorithms, Data Structures, and Python,’ which covers foundational techniques in algorithm design and coding in Python, and ‘Data Science Approaches to Internet Security,’ which focuses on using data science methods to enhance cybersecurity practices.
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. This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
- Summer seminar — June 24, 2024 — September 2, 2024
- Fall seminar — October 23, 2024 — February 19, 2025
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
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.
Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science Scholars (CSS) program is a highly selective free pre-college summer program for high school juniors, offering an immersive experience in computer science. Participants engage in college-level courses, attend guest lectures, seminars, and academic tours, and benefit from field trips and college preparation workshops.
The program emphasizes programming and mathematics, with students working on group projects under the guidance of faculty, staff, and graduate students. The experience culminates in a closing symposium where students present their group projects. Alongside their academic activities, students will also have opportunities to network with peers and explore the city on weekends.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free (includes tuition, room, and board)
Application Deadline: Applications are typically due in March.
Program Dates: June 22, 2024 — July 20, 2024 (4 weeks). TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: High school juniors with a demonstrated financial need who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering offers a distinguished program in computer science with a focus on cybersecurity. This program introduces selected students to the essentials of cybersecurity and computer programming, with no prior experience required. Students will explore topics such as steganography, digital forensics, privacy, data usage, and white-hat hacking.
The curriculum includes hands-on experience with various software and tools to detect cyber threats, as well as training in coding and the use of ciphers to safeguard computer networks. Additionally, students will gain insights into behavioral science to better understand and mitigate cybersecurity threats. The program also includes a mandatory public speaking and communication component called Irondale.
Location: New York University, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in mid-April.
Program Dates: July 15, 2024 — August 9, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: NYC residents who are currently in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grade can apply.
The Computer Science Introductory Track at UCLA offers a blend of hands-on coding experience and lab tours, designed specifically for high school students with an interest in computer science and related fields. The program provides a unique opportunity to explore UCLA’s advanced laboratories while engaging in coursework that covers essential concepts such as data types (integers, strings, and lists), control structures (conditionals and loops), and functional decomposition.
UCLA’s Computer Science Summer Institute simulates a college-level course, using Python to introduce students to programming and the broader field of computing. This program is available only for students who can commute to the UCLA campus, as no on-campus housing is provided. An intermediate track is also available for those with prior experience in the field.
Location: University of California Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,197 (This is a commuter program)
Application Deadline: June 1, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: June 24, 2024 — July 12, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 can apply. All participants must be at least 15 years of age by the first day of Summer Sessions 2024 on June 24th, no exceptions allowed.
SPARC’s summer course offers an immersive experience in robotic programming, blending computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Over two weeks, students will engage in hands-on learning about basic electrical components, circuits, and microcontroller programming, as well as coding fundamentals like variables, conditionals, loops, and data representations.
Participants will apply these skills to build interactive robotic devices. While prior robotics experience is not required, the program seeks academically strong students with a keen interest in robotics and a proactive approach. Key topics include microcontroller applications, interface sensors, and actuators, all explored through practical, hands-on projects.
Location: NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, NY
Cost: $3,000
Application Deadline: May 10, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: Multiple sessions are available. June 17 — June 28, 2024 | July 8 — July 19, 2024 | July 29 — August 9, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Students who are rising 9–12 graders can apply.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, offers a unique 1-on-1 mentorship opportunity for ambitious high school students. This program pairs you with top university PhDs to work on real-world research projects in your chosen field — computer science included. You will select your project topic, which can range from algorithms and artificial intelligence to theoretical foundations and coding.
The program provides a valuable experience for students interested in computer science and independent research. Throughout the program, you and your mentor will engage deeply in the research process, including formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing data, offering a comprehensive insight into both academic and professional aspects of computer science research.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Lumiere Individual Research Program — $2,800 | Lumiere Premium Research and Publication Program — $4,800 | Lumiere Research Fellowship — $8,400. Need-based financial aid is available. Also check out the Lumiere Research Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Application Deadline: Upcoming Fall cohort deadline — Aug 25, 2024. You can apply here! The summer cohort deadline is typically in May.
Program Dates: The summer cohort typically begins in June. The program length depends on which one you choose to attend!
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Columbia’s pre-college program offers a range of computer science courses, available in both in-person and online formats, lasting from 1 to 3 weeks. These courses cover essential fundamentals and technologies, including Java, C, Python, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.
No prior experience is required, making it an excellent opportunity to enhance both your transcript and resume while developing your computer science skills. You can choose from courses such as ‘Introduction to Programming with Java,’ which focuses on building logical reasoning and programming skills through Java, or ‘Introduction to Programming with Python,’ which emphasizes similar skills using Python.
Location: Both in-person (Columbia University, NY) and virtual options are offered.
Cost: $2,700 — $12,154. Varies based on whether you choose to attend in-person (residential or commuter) or online.
Application Deadline: TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: One to three-week courses are available between June 24 and August 9, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: High school students who will be in grades 9–12 in Fall 2024 can apply.
8. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, founded and operated by Harvard graduate students, offers programs tailored for high school students eager to establish a strong foundation in computer science. The curriculum covers a range of data science and artificial intelligence concepts, including neural networks, image classification, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, and Python programming.
The 10-week AI Scholars program provides up to 100% financial aid and involves building real-world projects in small groups of 3–5 students, allowing you to demonstrate your interests and skills. The AI Fellowship offers a 12–15 week experience where you work one-on-one with mentors from top universities to develop unique machine learning projects. These programs are ideal for beginners seeking hands-on learning opportunities in the field.
Location: Virtual
Cost: AI Scholars — $1,790 (financial aid is available) | AI Fellowship — $4,900 | Combination (AI Scholars + AI Fellowship) — $5,900
Application Deadline: Upcoming fall cohort deadline — Aug 14, 2024. You can apply here! The summer cohort deadline is typically in May.
Program Dates: Rolling. Applications for the summer are between February and May.
Eligibility: High school students passionate about AI; Basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars is required for the AI Fellowship program.
The Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy is an excellent choice for high school students interested in computer science and software engineering, regardless of prior coding experience. The program offers an in-depth exploration of coding concepts, collaborative programming, problem-solving, and daily coding challenges.
With Berkeley’s computer science department being highly renowned globally, this selective program boasts a prestigious reputation and a small cohort size. Topics covered include abstraction, functions, number representations, recursion, algorithms, social implications of computing, and Boolean logic. The program concludes with the Code Celebration, where students showcase their individual or group coding projects.
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $5,060 (includes tuition, housing, meals, activities, and health insurance) + $25 application fee. Scholarships to cover tuition, room, and board are available.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: June 16, 2024 — June 28, 2024 (2 weeks). TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Domestic and international students aged 16–17 with an interest in computer science
The Terp Young Scholars program’s Introduction to Computing course provides a foundational learning experience for those new to computer science. This program aims to teach you how to apply computational thinking to develop basic programming skills in a general coding language. You’ll learn to conceptualize problems, design solutions, implement them using fundamental language constructs, document your work, test and refine your implementation, and evaluate the quality of your solution.
Additionally, you’ll gain insight into how these programming skills can be utilized across various domains of computing, such as creative arts, information/data management, security, and community issues. By the end of the course, you will understand the limitations of algorithmic problem-solving, including time and space constraints, and apply mathematical formulas to real-world problems.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $2,500
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: July 8–26, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Tufts Pre-College Engineering and Computer Science Programs offer two specialized tracks in computer science and artificial intelligence. The Engineering with Artificial Intelligence track immerses you in cutting-edge AI and machine learning experiments, both at the university and industry levels. You’ll gain hands-on experience in developing innovative applications and solving contemporary problems using AI and ML.
The Coding Academy track focuses on mastering code for handling and understanding data and models essential in today’s digital landscape. Through data-intensive research methods and practical workshops, you’ll acquire skills applicable to both academic and corporate careers in computer science. By the end of the program, you and your team will design, build, deploy, and pitch a custom app. Additionally, the program includes “Tech Treks,” where you’ll visit Boston-area tech companies like Google and Hubspot to explore career opportunities in software and technology.
Location: Tufts University — Medford / Somerville Campus
Cost: $5,500 (Residential) | $4,000 (Commuter) for both the Engineering Summer Program and the Coding Academy. There is an added $200 Materials Fee for the Engineering Summer Program.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: 2-week program options between July 7 and August 2, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Students must be entering grades 10–12 or be a Spring 2024 high school graduate for both programs.
Stanford University offers pre-college summer courses where students can engage in intensive classes on a range of subjects. The program includes project work, hands-on experience, collaboration, discussions, lectures, and social activities, providing a comprehensive learning experience while expanding students’ networks. With small class sizes and a highly competitive selection process, students interested in computer science can choose from courses such as ‘Introduction to Machine Learning,’ ‘Introduction to AI,’ ‘Introduction to C++,’ and ‘Human-Computer Interaction,’ all featuring group projects and presentations.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,050 + potential course-specific costs not exceeding $100. Financial aid is available based on demonstrated financial need
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: June 17–28, 2024 | July 8–19, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 can apply.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.