If you’re a high school student passionate about science, free university summer programs are a great way to gain hands-on research experience without the cost of traditional pre-college programs. These opportunities allow you to explore fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or biomedical engineering through hands-on lab work, data analysis, field research, and academic writing.
These programs are often highly selective, so being accepted shows colleges that you’re prepared for rigorous academic work and genuinely committed to the field. Along the way, you’ll also build connections with faculty, mentors, and like-minded peers, which can help with future opportunities and college applications.
Here are 14 free university science summer programs for high school students!
1. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote and in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (may be waived based on needs)
Application deadline: February 2
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: Students at least 15 years of age or older
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an 8-week research internship for high school students. You will work with faculty mentors on projects in areas such as neuroscience, bioengineering, and environmental science. As you work on projects, you can utilize tools such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, Python, and R. The program offers both in-person lab access and remote collaboration options. The program concludes with a research symposium, and selected work may be published or presented at conferences.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Eligibility:
- You must be currently enrolled in high school
- Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
- No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here. Although it isn’t a traditional university initiative, you can earn UCSD credit once you finish the program.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend except the application fee. Stipend: $500 minimum
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Juniors or seniors in the graduating class, at least 16 years old by the program’s start date, and a U.S resident.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week program for high school students held at Stanford. Approximately 50 students are selected each year and placed in labs focused on areas such as genetics, cancer, neuroscience, stem cells, immunology, cardiology, bioengineering, or computational biology. You’ll join a lab team, work with researchers, learn lab techniques and safety protocols, and present your project in a final research poster session. The program provides a $500 stipend and offers optional campus housing.
4. NYU’s ARISE Program
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $1,000 stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who attend NYC public or charter schools and are full-time NYC residents
ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) is a 10-week summer program for NYC public school sophomores and juniors, offering mentorship and lab-based research in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and computational biology. The first four weeks consist of virtual seminars and workshops in research methodology, ethics, and data analysis, followed by six weeks of in-person laboratory work at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Interns collaborate with peer researchers under the guidance of graduate students and faculty, culminating in a poster presentation.
5. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $750 stipend
Application deadline: February 24
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; at least 17 by the program start
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a highly selective summer research experience for about 12 motivated high school juniors and seniors. Participants collaborate closely with Texas Tech faculty in fields spanning computer science, mechanical engineering, and the humanities. You’ll immerse yourself in academic research, which includes conducting background literature reviews, analyzing data, and contributing to ongoing faculty-led projects.
6. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free; students receive a stipend award.
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Applicants must be in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of application, must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is a selective program that allows high school students to engage in research projects across disciplines such as biochemistry, computer science, geoscience, pharmacology, and astronomy. Students gain hands-on experience in lab techniques, computational analysis, or observational data processing and participate in weekly seminars on research ethics and scientific communication. With an acceptance rate under 10%, Simons is highly competitive and prestigious, equipping participants for future academic research and careers in STEM.
7. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 15
Program dates: 5–6 weeks over the summer, depending on the project
Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 years old and be U.S. citizens.
The Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton University offers high school students in New Jersey the chance to work on real research projects in natural sciences and engineering. In the Engineering track, previous projects have involved using large language models to research environmental sustainability. In the Natural Sciences track, students analyze fossil data to explore how animal sizes have evolved in response to changing climate conditions over time. Interns attend seminars, present findings, and collaborate in team environments, gaining familiarity with academic workflows at top research institutions.
8. Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) Pre-College Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free; fully-funded program
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 21 – August 2
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and in their junior year at the time of application
CMU’s SAMS program starts with an online orientation, then continues with six weeks of intensive STEM learning on campus, including classes, labs, and group activities projects. Students engage with subjects like computer science, robotics, mathematics, and bioengineering through coursework and practical projects, with guidance from faculty and graduate mentors. The program concludes with a symposium, where you will present your project.
9. University of Georgia’s Summer Academy Camps: B.L.A.C.K. Engineering
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Cost: Free; fully-funded program
Application Deadline: Typically closes in March
Dates: June 9 – 13
Eligibility: Students in the age group 15–17 belonging to underrepresented and underserved backgrounds.
UGA Summer Academy Camps’ B.L.A.C.K. (Building Leaders through Analysis, Conceptualization, and Knowledge) is a week-long residential program that provides an introduction to engineering via hands-on innovation. You’ll work on a project that challenges you to apply the engineering design process and develop creative, ethical solutions to real-world problems. The residential format introduces students to university resources and peer collaboration while reinforcing academic foundations in math and physics.
10. The University of Arizona’s KEYS Research Internship
Location: The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cost/Stipend: Free + financial aid/resources offered to cover any additional program costs
Application Deadline: December 13
Dates: June 2 – July 18
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older, U.S. citizens or legal residents, and must have lived in Arizona for at least one year
This seven-week summer internship begins with a one-week boot camp in bioscience methods and data analysis, followed by a six-week placement with a faculty mentor for hands-on research. Interns work in labs across disciplines such as biomedical science, environmental health, data science, or engineering, contributing to ongoing projects and learning scientific protocols. You’ll engage in real projects, get mentorship from researchers, and develop skills in science communication and ethics. Competitive with a 13–16% acceptance rate, KEYS is fully funded and offers additional support to cover travel or equipment costs.
11. Cybersecurity Internship at Arizona State University
Location: Hybrid; in-person sessions are held in the CTF lab at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ
Cost: No cost; $1,800 stipend provided
Application Deadline: January 27
Dates: May 27 – July 22
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the Phoenix area
ASU’s eight-week Cybersecurity Internship connects high school juniors and seniors with Ph.D. mentors, working on real-world cybersecurity problems in their CTF lab. Interns assist in developing or assessing tools like secure financial bots and code-review platforms, and they also design experiments to test system vulnerabilities. You’ll attend weekly lab meetings to share progress and get feedback. Past projects have included evaluating code review tools, simulating secure financial bots in Python, and analyzing social media ad scams across consumer groups.
12. Midwestern University’s Health Careers Institute for High School Students
This eight-day immersion program introduces Arizona high school students to a range of health professions like pharmacy, dentistry, and osteopathic medicine. You will engage in faculty-led sessions, simulation training, and fundamental lab techniques to connect biomedical knowledge with clinical practice. The Health Careers Institute is fully funded, removing financial barriers and ensuring equal access for students across the region. It helps students assess fit for various health-related majors before making college decisions.
Location: Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: July 10, 11, and 14 – 19
Eligibility: Arizona high school students
13. Native American Science & Engineering Program (NASEP)
Location: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: June 7 – 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian
NASEP is a culturally-focused week-long program designed for rising junior and senior Indigenous students, blending STEM education with heritage-centered learning. Participants engage with subjects such as environmental science, computing, and engineering through practical projects, like constructing a computer from the ground up, and network with Indigenous STEM professionals from organizations including IBM and others Raytheon. NASEP also includes follow-up activities throughout the year to continue academic and cultural engagement. The program is fully funded and emphasizes both technical skills and community connection.
14. Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) Digital Scholars Program
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 2
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders are eligible to apply. Preference is given to Black, Latinx, women, gender expansive, and first-generation students throughout the Chicagoland area.
The DPI Digital Scholars program is a STEM-focused summer initiative that connects high school students with university researchers and industry mentors to solve real-world technology challenges in areas such as computer science, data science, engineering, or mobile development. Interns engage in weekly workshops on artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, UX design, and professional networking, featuring guest speakers from Chicago’s tech ecosystem. The program emphasizes applied technical skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exposure to industry career pipelines.
Bonus:
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort. You can apply here!
Dates: There are several cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: High school students interested in AI who possess a basic understanding of Python or have completed the AI Scholars program are eligible to apply for the AI Fellowship program.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs specifically designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is for students who want to study AI, machine learning, and data science. This 10-session boot camp covers the basics of AI and data science while offering students the chance to work on real-world projects.
For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase provides the opportunity to collaborate one-on-one with mentors from top universities on an individualized project. A key feature of this fellowship is access to an in-house publication team that can help you get your work published in high school research journals. The program supports interdisciplinary exploration, allowing students to apply AI to diverse fields like finance, medicine, sports, and environmental science. You can also explore examples of past student projects here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
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, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page 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 and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Image source – George Mason University