If you are a high school student looking for summer programs in Wisconsin, look no further! From immersive pre-college programs to skill-building internships and mentorships, these programs give you hands-on experience across a variety of fields, including science, technology, arts, and leadership. Participating in these programs can sharpen your critical skills, help you explore potential career paths, and set you apart in college applications.
This list of 14 summer programs for high school students in Wisconsin in 2024-2025 highlights opportunities to enrich your learning, build strong networks, and prepare for college and beyond. Whether you’re interested in research, entrepreneurship, or creative pursuits, you will find options to help you deepen your interests.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Data Science, and more
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts, including in the summer. Upcoming dates are:
- Winter seminar: December 2, 2024 onwards
- Spring seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards
- 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 few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 10, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort, and February 9, 2025 for the spring cohort
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. You can choose either quantitative or qualitative research methods. After selecting your track, you’ll collaborate one-on-one with a professor or PhD scholar from a leading university to develop a 20-page research paper suitable for journal submission. The program provides specialized field knowledge, expert guidance, a recommendation letter, and feedback to improve future projects and college applications. Apply now for this unique opportunity!
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Location: Remote
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, allows high school students to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project. You’ll get guidance to develop a college-level research paper, with additional support from writing coaches. You can choose subjects like mathematics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, and more. The program ends with a symposium where you can present your research, with the potential for publication.
3. Veritas AI
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Medicine
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including the summer
Cost:
- $2,290 for the AI Scholars program (10-week bootcamp)
- $5,400 for the AI Fellowship (12–15 weeks, 1:1 mentorship)
- $6,900 for both AI Scholars + Fellowship
- Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students. Students applying to the AI Fellowship program must complete the AI Scholars program or provide evidence of previous experience in AI and Python
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. December 1, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduates, offers two programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program focuses on collaborative learning in AI applications, while the AI Fellowship provides personalized mentorship from PhD experts for independent research projects.
In the AI Fellowship, you’ll examine AI’s influence on fields such as finance, medicine, and gaming, with opportunities to publish or present your work. Previous projects have explored AI in medicine, educational tools, and gaming algorithms. The program emphasizes technical skill-building and applying AI concepts to real-world challenges.
Subject Areas: Business, Entrepreneurship
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including the summer
Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort. You can access the application form here!
The Young Founder's Lab is a start-up boot camp led by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you'll build a revenue-generating start-up that tackles a real-world problem with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and professionals from companies like Google and Microsoft.
Alongside developing your start-up, you'll engage in interactive classes on business fundamentals, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. This program is a great chance to explore the business world in high school, offering a space to learn both theoretical and practical approaches to creating a successful business. Check out the program’s brochure for more details.
Subject areas: Technology, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Medicine, Software Engineering, and more
Location: Remote
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including the summer
Cost: Starting at $2,490. Financial aid is available
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. Summer cohort: May 12, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Ladder Internships is a selective program for high school students to intern with high-growth startups across various industries, including health tech, AI, and marketing. These startups have raised over a million dollars, with some founders being YCombinator alumni or former employees of companies like Microsoft and Google. During the 8-week virtual internship, you'll work closely with managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects, presenting your work to the company. The program also includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, plus group sessions with other interns.
Subject Areas: STEM, Politics, Writing, Philosophy, Leadership, Veterinary Science
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Cost: $2,300 – $4,450, depending on whether you are international or domestic and commuting or residential. Some need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: Summer 2025, specific dates TBA
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9th to 12th
Badger Summer Scholars offers a college preparatory experience for high school students. As a participant, you’ll get a firsthand look at college life, guided by instructors from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Through interactive sessions, you’ll explore different academic fields, discover potential college majors, and gain insights into the college application process, financial aid, and campus living. With small class sizes, you’ll take one non-credit academic course led by UW–Madison staff and Badger Pre-College instructors.
Subject Areas: Medicine, Healthcare, Biomedical Research
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Cost / Stipend: No information available
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Program Dates: June 23 – August 1, 2025
Eligibility: Rising junior, senior, or recent graduate who:
- Has a minimum 3.0 GPA in science and math
- Is at least 16 years old
- Attends a Milwaukee Public School, Milwaukee charter school, Milwaukee area private school, or a school within a nearby suburban district
AIM offers high school students from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds a chance to deepen their interest in careers in medicine, biomedical research, and allied health fields. Throughout this six-week program, you’ll receive mentorship from current medical students and participate in weekly clinical shadowing and simulations.
You’ll also expand your understanding of significant medical issues affecting your community and interact with a range of healthcare professionals and specialists to explore potential career paths. By the end of the program, you’ll develop and present an abstract on a medical condition or disease that interests you, showcasing your knowledge and research skills.
Subject Areas: Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025 summer applications
Program Dates: July 13 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who have completed at least one year of algebra and geometry, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Engineering Summer Program (ESP) is a free, three-week residential experience for high school students who want to explore engineering. Living on the UW-Madison campus, you’ll take a challenging curriculum in math, physics, chemistry, and engineering design guided by UW-Madison faculty. Beyond classes, you’ll engage in hands-on workshops, field trips, and industry site visits. ESP also includes professional development sessions on college admissions and financial aid. Visits to companies like Alliant Energy and GE Healthcare will give you a firsthand look at engineering careers, enriching your experience.
Subject Areas: Music, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Location: Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
Cost: $950 + lodging and meals
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program Dates: July 6 – 13, 2025
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12
Taught by professors at the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, the Lawrence Summer Music Institute gives high-school pianists and string players an opportunity to advance their skills. Throughout this week-long program, you’ll refine your technical abilities, explore musical expression, and refine your approach to performance. This selective program, with a class of 28 students, provides private lessons, group coaching, performance opportunities, and workshops with visiting artists.
Subject Areas: Construction Management, Engineering (Civil, Architectural, Biomedical, Biomolecular, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Software)
Location: MSOE University, Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $950
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program Dates: June 23 – 28, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: High school girls entering 10th through 12th grades
This week-long residential camp invites high school girls to explore various engineering fields, including biomedical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering. Led by MSOE faculty and supported by female engineering students, the program offers hands-on activities, industry tours, and exposure to the real-world applications of engineering. The Women in Technology program mirrors the Explore Summer Program but with an emphasis on the experiences of women in engineering. Evenings are set aside for relaxation, with events like interactive comedy, bowling, Milwaukee tours, and game nights.
Subject Areas: Science
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Cost / Stipend: No information available
Application Deadline: January 17, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: The program typically runs for nine weeks during the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors enrolled at a Madison Metropolitan School District high school
The High School Science Research Internship Program, a collaboration between Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and UW-Madison, offers high school juniors the opportunity to work with researchers at UW-Madison each summer. This internship is designed to give you research experience in science, culminating in the creation of a scientific poster to showcase your findings. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn multiple credits: one full college credit from UW-Madison, one-quarter high school science credit from MMSD, and an additional quarter experiential learning credit for every 45 hours of lab work completed.
Subject Areas: Leadership Development, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving
Location: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program Dates: July 14 – 19, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
At the week-long Inclusive Leadership Academy, you’ll engage in hands-on activities led by UWW Leadership and Career Services designed to enhance your critical thinking, problem-solving, and executive functioning skills. Through a blend of leadership development exercises and stress management strategies, you’ll build the resilience and skills needed for both college and career readiness. You’ll also attend a “Going to College” workshop, which covers essential topics like college applications, career guidance, and financial aid. The program offers classes to help you develop skills that will benefit you inside and outside the classroom.
Subject Areas: Education, Writing, Teaching
Location: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI
Cost: $1,600. Some need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline: March 21, 2025
Program Dates: July 6 – 12, 2025
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 8-12 in the fall of 2025
The Arc of Teaching (AT) program offers academic and professional development courses designed to help you explore careers in education before entering college. The program also focuses on strengthening your writing skills. Through the AT program, you’ll engage in group discussions focused on pressing issues, such as inequalities and injustices within the United States and around the world, working together to seek potential solutions.
Subject Areas: Water Science
Location: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Students receive a stipend
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Program Dates: TTBA for 2025
Eligibility: High school students, including graduating seniors
The High School Freshwater Summer Scholars internship program provides paid opportunities for students to engage with water science. Through a selective application and interview process, students are paired with a UW-Green Bay mentor researching freshwater topics. Alongside your research project, you’ll explore water science careers through field trips and presentations, culminating in a poster presentation at the annual Lakeshore Water Summit on the Manitowoc campus.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.