Are you a high schooler interested in exploring tech beyond the classroom?If so, consider a tech research program!
These programs give you hands-on experience with coding, data analysis, algorithm design, and problem-solving. You will learn to think like a researcher, break down complex challenges, and develop solutions that have real-world impact. You will also develop logical reasoning, teamwork, and clear communication skills, which can come in handy in medicine, engineering, finance, environmental science, and even creative fields like game design and digital media.
To help you get started, here are 13 online tech research programs for high school students!
15 Online Tech Research Programs for High School Students
1. Veritas AI
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
2. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) – Summer Research Internship
Cost: $850 (program fee) and $40 (application fee). Financial aid is available within certain criteria here.
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students over the age of 14, must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or provide documentation of valid visa status.
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program where you explore how AI is used in healthcare. You’ll join lectures that break down core ideas in AI and its role in medical research and work on real group projects guided by Stanford students and researchers. The program also includes mentoring sessions, casual meetups, and talks with professionals across tech and healthcare.
You can apply for extended research if you want to go deeper. You’ll build skills in data analysis, machine learning, and digital health—skills that connect to fields like medicine, tech, public health, and research. If you complete the full program, you receive a Certificate of Completion. Stanford will also run an AI in Medicine Boot Camp for high school students this year. Learn more about the Bootcamp here.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program
Cost: $5,950. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadlines: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four 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.
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!
After selecting your subject track, you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. mentor who will guide you throughout your research. As a participant, you’ll develop a 20-page research paper that you can submit to prestigious journals for publication.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed project feedback to help you refine your skills for future research.
4. MITES Semester
Cost: None
Program Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors with strong STEM interest. Competitive PSAT: 740+ math, 700+ reading/writing; ACT: 33+ math, 34+ verbal.
MITES Semester, offered by MIT, is a six-month hybrid STEM program where you explore advanced science and engineering research. You will choose a project-based course along with a core course in computer science, calculus, physics, science writing, or communication.
The program covers a wide range of topics, including computational biology, embedded systems, machine learning, robotics, thermodynamics, and climate change. You will build skills in research, data analysis, and problem-solving through hands-on projects. At the end of the program, you will receive a detailed evaluation highlighting your strengths, progress, and contributions.
5. National High School Research Program
Cost: $3,995
Application Deadline: Rolling.
Program Dates: Data Science: July 7 – August 8; Quantum Computing: June 23 – July 25; Artificial Intelligence: June 23 – July 25
Eligibility: Incoming 9th — 12th graders and rising college freshmen.
The National High School Research Program is a five-week online summer program that offers training and research experience in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and big data. In the first two weeks, you’ll go through technical training that builds your skills in algorithm development, data analysis, and computational modeling.
For the next three weeks, you’ll use those skills to work on an independent research project using real datasets and tools. You’ll get direct feedback from mentors who work in government, industry, and academia. The program ends with the TCS Summer Research Symposium, where you’ll present your project and gain experience in research communication.
6. Girls Who Code Virtual Internship
Cost: None; $300 need-based grant provided (for eligible students in the U.S.)
Application Deadline: The general application deadline is in late March (tentative, based on last year’s program)
Program Dates: 2 weeks, typically, in July but may vary depending on the program.
Eligibility: All female and non-binary high school students are eligible.
Girls Who Code offers free virtual summer programs that aim to close the gender gap in technology. These programs focus on building practical coding skills through real-world projects while also connecting you with women working in the tech industry.
In the two-week immersion program, you’ll learn computer science basics, user experience design, and how to apply the iterative design process. The six-week self-paced option allows you to focus on either web development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or Python with a focus on cybersecurity or data science.
7. Colorado School of Mines CS@Mines Internship (C4G)
Cost: None
Application Deadline: April 18
Program Dates: June 21 – July 29
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in computer science are eligible to apply.
Colorado School of Mines’ CS@Mines offers a flexible, unpaid summer internship for high school and community college students interested in computer science research. Each summer, a small group of students is selected to join research teams for six weeks, working remotely for 5 to 20 hours per week.
You’ll work with a Mines undergraduate team lead and contribute to ongoing computational projects. The program is structured to help you build technical research skills, understand the research process, and explore areas like data science, software development, or algorithm design through real-world applications.
8. Kode with Klossy Summer Camps
Cost: Free.
Program Dates: Session 1 from June 2 – June 13, Session 2 from July 7 – July 18, Session 3 from July 21 – August 1, Session 4 from August 4 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Girls, gender non-conforming and trans students who are between the ages of 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy is a free two-week summer camp for high school students who identify as young women or non-binary. You’ll pick one track to focus on: web development, mobile app development, machine learning, or data science.
If you choose web or app development, you’ll learn to build websites or apps using tools like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Swift, and Xcode. In the machine learning and data science tracks, you’ll use Python to work on projects that involve real data and simple AI models. You’ll work in teams, build a final project, and get support from instructors and classmates as you learn. No coding experience is needed to join.
9. MIT Beaverworks Summer Institute (BWSI)
Cost: $1,750
Program Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: March 31 (tentative based on previous years)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who attend school in the US
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a free four-week online and in-person program from MIT for high school students. You’ll work on robotics, autonomous systems, and mechanical engineering by working on hands-on projects like building drones or self-driving cars.
Before the summer, you’ll complete an online course to learn the basics. Then, during the summer, you’ll join a team to build and program real systems using tools like Python, ROS (Robot Operating System), and engineering hardware. You’ll learn how to design, test, and improve your project, and you’ll present your final work at the end of the program.
10. Stanford AI4ALL
Cost: $4,000 (Financial aid is available)
Program Dates: June 18th – July 2nd
Application Deadline: January 24th
Eligibility: Open to students entering 10th grade (9th graders in the previous school year), aged 14+, with a preference for those with math or computer skills. Full-day attendance (9 am–3 pm PST) is required; international students are accepted.
Stanford AI4ALL is a free three-week summer program that introduces high school students to artificial intelligence. You’ll learn how AI is used in areas like healthcare, disaster response, and social issues. Each day includes interactive lessons, coding practice, and guest talks from AI researchers.
You’ll also join a small team to work on a research project using real data to solve a problem with AI tools. Along the way, mentors will help you understand technical concepts and guide you through the research process. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project and earn a certificate.
11. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Online Programs
Cost: Varies. Find more information here!
Program Dates: Self-paced.
Application Deadline: Various deadlines depending on the programs.
Eligibility: Open to students in both high school and middle school.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers online programs for high school students who want to study topics beyond what’s usually taught in school. You can choose from subjects like space exploration, forensic science, creative writing, and advanced math. These courses are taught by experienced instructors in live or flexible formats so you can work at your own pace.
As part of the program, you’ll join a global community of students who enjoy learning and tackling academic challenges. You’ll get feedback on your work, build problem-solving skills, and explore new interests in a supportive online environment.
12. Syracuse University’s Summer College Program
Cost: Non credit: $1,995. 3 Credit: $3,165, 4 Credit: $3,905
Program Dates: Session I: July 7 – July 25; Session II: July 21 – August 8; 6-Week Session: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors are eligible to attend Summer College – Online.
Syracuse University’s Accelerated Semester Online gives you the chance to take a tech-focused, college-level course from home in just three weeks. You’ll attend live online classes each weekday, where you’ll work on group projects, take part in discussions, and learn from Syracuse faculty.
You’ll also complete assignments on your schedule, like coding projects, readings, and research-based tasks. Courses may cover areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity. By the end of the program, you’ll have built technical skills and experience in a structured college environment. You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion, and you can request a transcript if you want to apply for college credit.
13. Summer@Brown – Introduction to Engineering and Design
Cost: $3,218. Find more information here!
Program Dates: June 23 – July 03
Application Deadline: Registrations open,
Eligibility: Ages 14 – 18.
The Summer@Brown introductory engineering course gives you the chance to explore engineering by learning how to design and build a working prototype. You’ll follow the engineering design process step by step, using practical techniques to solve problems and develop solutions. Along the way, you’ll get a look at different engineering fields and how they connect. You don’t need previous experience, but it helps to know some classical physics, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
Image source – Brown University
