AI is one of the fastest-growing fields around, shaping everything from self-driving cars to language translation, and much more. As it grows, learning AI could be one of the most important skills in the years to come. Whether you're interested in tech, data, or even the creative side of AI, there are plenty of programs that can help you get into the world of artificial intelligence.
As a high school student, you might not know where to start with AI, but it’s easier than you think. We've compiled a list of 15 AI programs to help you jump right in and start learning through hands-on experience.
15 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) - AI Track
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students, covering a wide range of subjects such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. It is one of the few programs that allows you to choose between quantitative and qualitative research methods.
After selecting your subject and research type, you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university who will guide you throughout the process. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can submit to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program provides a unique chance to dive into specialized fields of research under the mentorship of a leading scholar. You’ll also receive a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback, which will help you improve future projects and strengthen your college applications. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Date: 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.
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 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.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - AI Track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research experience designed specifically for high school students. Through this program, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor who will guide you through an independent research project over 12 weeks. You can choose research topics from subjects such as AI, ML, data science, Psychology, physics, economics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
By the end of the program, you’ll have created an original research paper, gaining valuable skills that will help you in both your academic and professional future. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote .
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16–20 weeks). Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Winter Cohort II application deadline is December 29, 2024!
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and have a strong academic record, with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher. No prior knowledge of your field of interest is required!
3. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, led by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high schoolers who want to explore artificial intelligence. If you're new to the field, the AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp that covers the basics of AI, machine learning, and data science. You'll also get the chance to apply your skills to real-world projects.
If you're more experienced, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase lets you work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on an individual AI project. This program also gives you access to a publication team to help you get your research published in high school journals. You’ll have the chance to explore AI in areas like finance, medicine, sports, environmental science, and more. You can also check out past projects here.
Location: Virtual
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.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. The Spring cohort deadline is January 5, 2025.
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in AI, ML, and related fields can apply!
The Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars Program is a merit-based, grant-funded opportunity for rising high school seniors interested in AI. In this program, you’ll work with faculty, staff, and researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, participating in college-level courses and seminars on AI. You’ll also gain hands-on experience through group projects and get an introduction to ongoing AI research, preparing you for both college and post-graduate studies.
A key strength of the program is its focus on providing opportunities for students from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. You’ll also receive a detailed evaluation of your performance, which can be a great addition to your college applications.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: Mar 1, 2025
Program Dates: Jun 21 - Jul 19, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years of age and U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or registered with DACA can apply. No prior coding experience is required.
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a fully funded, hands-on STEM program hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT’s School of Engineering. It’s designed for high school students interested in AI, machine learning, and computer science.
In this program, you’ll work on real-world challenges in areas like AI, robotics, and cybersecurity through project-based courses. BWSI encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity, giving you valuable experience in advanced technologies that will shape your future studies and career in STEM. You can browse the course listing with 14 courses currently available to choose from.
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: Mar 31, 2025
Program Dates: Jul 7 - Aug 3, 2025
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. high school student, reside in the U.S. during the program, and be no higher than a junior (11th grade).
Princeton’s three-week AI4ALL program is designed to increase diversity in AI, focusing on encouraging students from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds to get involved. During the program, you’ll explore current AI research, its societal impacts, and participate in career development workshops. You’ll also receive mentorship and take part in social activities. Additionally, you’ll work on hands-on research projects at Princeton’s AI Lab, gaining practical experience in the field.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: Applications for 2025 will open in 2025. Specific date TBA.
Program Dates: Jul 14 — Aug 3, 2025
Eligibility: Applicants must be in 10th grade at the time of application and entering 11th grade in Fall 2025, live in the United States, and meet at least one of the following socioeconomic conditions: a combined household income under $60,000, eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, or qualification for an SAT or ACT fee waiver.
Boston University’s AI4ALL program promotes diversity and inclusion in AI and is open to young women, or those who identify as female, in their sophomore or junior year of high school in the Boston area. Over three weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience in AI through team projects, industry field trips, and guest speaker presentations. The program ends with a small group research project and a final presentation. BU AI4ALL aims to encourage diverse participation in AI and provide valuable exposure to the field.
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA.
Cost: Fully funded other than a $100 registration fee for all applicants.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for three weeks from July to August. TBA for 2025.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in May. TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: Young women (or those who identify as female) currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school and who live and attend a high school in Massachusetts can apply.
Georgetown University's Artificial Intelligence Academy is a one-week program designed for high school students who are interested in AI. You’ll hear lectures, hear from guest speakers, join discussions, and work on hands-on projects, exploring AI's history, current applications, and prospects. You’ll also examine the ethical considerations of AI-driven automation and learn about global governance frameworks regulating its use. Each day runs from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., giving you the chance to participate in academic sessions, off-site visits, and optional evening activities.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Cost: Residential: $3,525 | Commuter: $2,730
Application Deadline: Apr 15, 2025
Program Dates: Jul 27 - Aug 2, 2025
Eligibility: Must be a current or rising freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior and have at least a 2.0 GPA.
NYU Tandon’s Machine Learning Summer Program teaches you the basics of machine learning and AI. You’ll explore topics like video and image recognition, voice control, self-driving cars, and medical technologies. You’ll also learn key ideas like building models, linear regressions, and neural networks, and see how math and logic help computers learn and improve. The program focuses on solving real-world problems using these tools, giving you a strong start if you’re interested in AI.
Location: NYU Tandon, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3050
Application deadline: Apr 21, 2025
Program dates: Session 1: Jun 16 - Jun 27 | Session 2: Jul 7 - Jul 18 | Session 3: Jul 28 - Aug 8
Eligibility: Open to high school students with programming experience, a minimum of Algebra 2 & Trigonometry, and preferably prior experience in Precalculus, with advanced courses like AP Statistics or AP Calculus considered a plus.
Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week online program designed to give you an introduction to artificial intelligence through lectures, hands-on projects, and mentoring. During the program, you’ll explore how AI can be applied to real-world issues like healthcare, disaster response, and poverty. With guidance from professionals in the field, you’ll gain a practical understanding of AI applications while collaborating with a diverse group of peers. Through mentorship from researchers and industry experts, you will learn how AI can be used to address important challenges.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000. Some need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Jan 24th, 2025
Program Dates: Jun 18 - Jul 2, 2025
Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be 9th or rising 10th graders, over 14 years old by the program start, with a preference for those with math or computer skills, and must commit to the entire 2-week program; international applicants are welcome.
Wharton’s Data Science Academy is a 2-week program where you’ll learn the basics of data science, like data visualization, data wrangling, and machine learning. You’ll also get to work with the R programming language. The program is designed for students who already have a solid background in math and coding and want to dive deeper into advanced topics. While hands-on experience is limited, you’ll collaborate with graduate students and teaching assistants from Wharton, giving you a better understanding of the field.
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PN
Cost: $9,799. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Apr 2, 2025
Program Dates: Jul 13 — Aug 2, 2025
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 with strong math and coding skills, an interest in data analytics, and preferably some knowledge of statistics; international applicants are welcome.
Berkeley Coding Academy’s “Data Science: The AI Journey” program teaches you how to become a data scientist using Python to solve real-world problems. In this online program, you’ll analyze datasets, create visualizations, and build machine-learning models. Classes are live on Zoom, with extra support available through Slack. You’ll work in small groups based on your coding experience and age, starting with interactive lessons and moving on to hands-on projects. The program wraps up with a final presentation where you’ll showcase your research, code, and findings.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Various packages starting from $1999.
Application Deadline: A deadline isn’t specified, but registration for this course is currently open.
Program Dates: July 14 — Aug 1, 2025
Eligibility: The program is open to ages 12–14 and 15–18, and requires a computer with internet access sufficient for Zoom. Students should have Python knowledge at the level of writing functions and using libraries, but for those new to it, a separate package including ‘Python’ can be chosen.
Brown University’s 3-week summer course on Artificial Intelligence is an easy introduction to key AI concepts, with no advanced math needed. You’ll learn about areas like knowledge representation, planning, machine learning, and how AI is used in fields like natural language processing, robotics, and healthcare. The course also covers basic math concepts like logic, linear algebra, calculus, and probability. Through hands-on Python programming and a group project, you’ll get practical experience and learn about AI’s strengths and limitations.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $8,006 (residential), $6,134 (commuter). Based on the chart provided here.
Application Deadline: May (Tentatively, based on previous years). TBA for 2025. You can check for updates here.
Program Dates: Jul 8 — Jul 26, 2025
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 15, 2025, with at least basic algebra knowledge; familiarity with geometry, functions, and probability is preferred, and no programming experience is required.
The AI Bootcamp is a 5-day program for high-achieving high school students, taught by Harvard graduate researchers and undergraduates. You’ll explore AI and machine learning, work on a mini-research project, and gain experience in generative AI, preparing you for future studies and research. The Winter Bootcamp offers two tracks: Introductory, for students with Python and advanced math skills, and Advanced, for those with prior AI/ML knowledge or PyTorch experience, focusing on independent research.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $495 (regular pricing). $595 (final priority). Applications received after the standard deadline, November 27, will be subject to Final Priority pricing. Some need-based financial aid is available.
Application deadline: Dec 10, 2024. TBA for 2025.
Program Dates: Dec 16–20, 2024. TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: Open to high school students with strong mathematical skills, preferably including calculus, and mandatory proficiency in Python programming, with age-related exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis.
Purdue University’s 5-day Machine Learning for Beginners course, supported by the National Science Foundation, introduces you to the basics of AI and machine learning. You’ll learn foundational topics like Python programming, regressions, pattern recognition, and image processing. This course is perfect if you’re starting your AI journey and want to gain practical programming skills while exploring areas like software development and robotics. While the short duration limits the depth, it’s a great option for a busy summer and a strong first step toward more advanced studies in AI and ML.
Location: Virtual
Cost: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: Jun 10 — Jun 14, 2024. TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: 10th-12th grade high school students and college year 1 students interested in programming and mathematics.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.