If you are a high school student interested in technology, coding summer camps provide a focused way to develop technical skills beyond the classroom. Unlike longer extracurricular programs, the coding summer camps for high school students are typically shorter, tightly structured, and centered on a single subject area. This format allows you to dive deeply into coding — web development, mobile app design, or data science – while applying concepts through actual projects.
The coding summer camps for high school students often blend classes with collaborative problem-solving, project-building, and opportunities to present your work. You may also gain exposure to tools and programming languages rarely covered in high school courses, giving you both breadth and depth in computer science. If you are considering STEM majors or careers, the coding summer camps for higher school students would provide a clear, intensive introduction to how computational skills are used in real-world settings.
1. Coding for Game Design Summer High School Program – NYU Steinhardt
Location: NYU Downtown Brooklyn, New York
Cost: $2,745 tuition; optional housing (~$319/week + meals)
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7 – 18 | Session 2: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled; scholarship deadline April 30
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with intermediate coding background (minimum B+ in a prior coding course)
In this two two weeks coding camp for high school students, you will dive into the world of game development with C# and Unity. You will learn how to bring ideas to life through game mechanics, scripting, debugging, level design, audio, and visual design. Daily sessions will include guided lessons along with structured time to code and build your own projects. Working in small teams, you will create a complete 2D game and present it in a final showcase. You will also learn game theory and real industry techniques for design and testing.
2. Tufts Pre-College Coding Academy
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: $4,225 (commuter) | $5,750 (residential)
Program Dates: July 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: Currently not accepting applications
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or recent high school graduates
In this two-week summer coding camp for high school students, you will study Python and see how it powers domains such as modeling, data science, and user interface design. You will also be introduced to areas such as AI, robotics, and cybersecurity. Each day combines faculty-led lectures with hands-on coding labs, and small-group project work that leads to a final presentation. Beyond the classroom, you will go on “Tech Treks” to companies such as Google and HubSpot, and participate in workshops on ethics and computing history. The program is designed to give you both technical knowledge and deeper understanding about how computing shapes society.
3. Girls Who Code – Summer Immersion Program (SIP)
Location: Online
Cost: Free; $300 needs-based grant available
Program Dates: 6 weeks
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade high school students
This free two-week virtual program introduces you to computer science through coding projects in game design and user experience. You will work with p5.js to create interactive projects such as custom avatars, choose-your-own-adventure stories, and collection-style games. Each day includes live instruction, playtesting, and revision of your work. In the second week, you will team up with other students for a game jam to develop a new project around a surprise theme. You will also take part in career workshops and connect with tech professionals who will share their experiences of working in the tech industry.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA). Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon gives high school students an opportunity to pursue trimester-long research programs in areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Unlike most similar research programs, Horizon lets you choose to focus on either quantitative or qualitative research, depending on your interests and strengths.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who will mentor you throughout your research journey. By the end of the program, you will have written a 20-page research paper that you can even submit 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.
6. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Cost: Free
Location: Online and in-person (Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., London, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis)
Program Dates: TBA. Join waitlist here
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive students ages 13–18; no prior coding experience required
Kode With Klossy offers free summer camps for students from underrepresented genders to build coding skills in a fun, hands-on environment. You can choose from four technical tracks: web development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; AI/ML with Python and natural language processing; mobile app development with Swift and Xcode; or data science using SQL, Python, and visualization tools.
The program focuses on collaboration, design thinking, and exposure to tools used by professionals in the real world. Beyond coding, you will explore topics such as UI/UX design, ethical issues in AI, and how products develop from start to finish. Each camp concludes with a final project presentation, integrating both technical skills and creativity.
7. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Online
Cost: $4,000; financial aid available
Program Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Current 9th graders or rising 10th graders, age 14+
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week program that introduces you to artificial intelligence through academics and hands-on research. You will study areas such as computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and how AI is transforming healthcare.
Each day, you will have faculty lectures with coding sessions and guided research projects, led by Stanford AI Lab mentors. Beyond the technical side, you will also explore the ethical and societal dimensions of AI, helping you to see how technical developments affect the world around us. By the end of the program, you will have applied AI methods to real-world problems and gained insights into future study and career paths in the field.
8. Carnegie Mellon University – AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded (requires documentation of financial need)
Program Dates: June 21 – July 19
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (must be 16+ by June 21)
This four-week residential program lets you dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence through coursework, applied projects, and mentorship. Guided by the Carnegie Mellon faculty and researchers, you will study core areas including machine learning, computer vision, robotics, and natural language processing.
A highlight of the program is the team project, where you will work with your team mates to design an AI solution to a societal issue and present the findings in a symposium. Beyond the technical training, you will also take part in college readiness workshops and connect with AI professionals. With its focus on collaboration, exposure to industry practices, and preparation for advanced study in AI, the program is an opportunity to experience life as a student and AI researcher.
9. Columbia University – Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms (Pre-College Program)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $6,310 (commuter); additional fees for residential housing and meals
Program Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: High school students (rising 10th–12th grade) with strong coding proficiency
This intensive course is designed for students with prior programming experience who want to study the fundamentals of AI through algorithmic problem-solving. Using Python and Java, you will explore key concepts such as search strategies, recursion, optimization, and object-oriented techniques.
Through assignments, you will tackle classical problems such as N-Queens, Knapsack, and Chess — testing various algorithmic approaches along the way. The program emphasizes structured projects, debugging, and mathematical reasoning, giving you a feel for the pace and rigor of a college-level computer science course.
10. Java Programming Summer Program by NextGen Bootcamp
Location: Live Online
Cost: $1,699 (after early bird discount)
Program Dates: Multiple sessions mid-June to early August (varies by cohort)
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats fill (early bird discounts available)
Eligibility: Open to high school students; no prior coding experience required
This 50-hour bootcamp introduces you to Java programming while building skills that directly connect with AP Computer Science. You will practice core concepts including control flow, recursion, and file I/O and go on to learn object-oriented programming features such as inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.
You will have regular lectures, live coding sessions, and actual project work, with a final project aimed at showcasing your programming abilities. You will also have access to class recordings and optional one-on-one mentoring, allowing you to review material and sharpen your problem-solving skills at your own pace.
11. National Institute of Standards & Technology – Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Through SHIP, you’ll spend eight weeks working side-by-side with NIST scientists on research in areas such as communications technology, information technology, and statistics. With guidance from a mentor, you will take on your own independent research project, gaining experience in experimental design and data analysis.
If you are into computing, you can request projects that use Python, Java, or web development – tools that have been used by past students to solve real problems. Beyond your project, you can tour labs and facilities on the campus, thus gaining a peek into the wider research environment.
12. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Department of Navy laboratories across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000
Program Dates: 8 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old, completed grade 9
SEAP gives you an opportunity to spend time in Navy research labs, working on ongoing projects in fields such as programming, robotics, and computer science. Under the mentorship of scientists and engineers, you’ll participate in guided research, tackle technical problems, and see first-hand what it is like to work in a lab environment.
Beyond your research, you will attend lab seminars and technical meetings, join professional development events and connect with fellow interns. You will also get to tour facilities and explore different career paths in defense-related STEM fields.
13. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Varies (in-person, remote, or hybrid options)
Cost: $25 application fee
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Students 15+ for remote/computer lab projects; 16+ for wet-lab work
ASSIP offers research internships where you will team up with faculty mentors on projects in fields such as cybersecurity, robotics, computer modeling, and game design. Depending on your placement, you’ll gain experience using advanced lab tools or computing platforms..
The program also helps you develop research writing and presentation skills, preparing you to document and share your findings. Along the way, you will join career panels, networking events, and discussions with STEM professionals. In some cases, your work may also contribute to conference presentations or co-authored publication..
14. NYU Cyber Security for Computer Science
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11
In this 4-week program, you will dive into the foundations of cybersecurity through hands-on coursework and coding exercises. You’ll explore topics such as cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, and privacy, while also practicing ethical hacking and system security analysis.
Through programming assignments and lab work, you will gain direct experience with real-world security challenges and how to resolve them. The program also includes theatre-based workshops designed to strengthen your communication and teamwork skills.
15. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores residing in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City with a GPA of 2.0 or higher
Meta Summer Academy is a six weeks program that gives you an inside look at careers in technology and what it is like to work in a major tech company. You’ll take part in coding workshops, skill-building sessions, and career exploration activities led by industry professionals.
The program places a strong focus on teamwork and professional communication, giving you opportunities to collaborate with peers while sharpening both your technical and soft skills. Along the way, you will receive guidance on planning your future career path in the tech sector.
Image source – Meta