If you’re someone interested in technology and innovation, computer science research programscan help you move beyond classroom learning and gain practical experience in coding, data analysis, and interdisciplinary applications. These programs are designed to help you explore projects in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computational biology, and data science, while working with university professors, researchers, or industry professionals.
If you join a computer science research program for high school students, you may learn to code in languages like Python, Java, or C++, study algorithms, analyze large datasets, build machine learning models, and even contribute to software development that solves real-world problems. Some programs even focus on interdisciplinary research, where computer science research concepts and techniques find applications in other fields like biology, economics, or medicine. Along the way, you’ll also gain experience in data analysis, coding, debugging, critical thinking, scientific presentation, and collaborating with mentors and peers–skills that are essential for both academic and industry careers in computing.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 computer science research programs for high school students.
1. Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab at the University of Chicago
Location: UChicago Hyde Park campus, Chicago, IL
Cost | Stipend: Free | $5,600
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago area high school students (undergraduate students can also apply) | Relevant coursework in areas such as computer science, statistics, and math, as well as familiarity with at least one programming language, such as Python, Java, C++, etc., is preferred
DSI Summer Lab at the University of Chicago is an 8-week paid research program for Chicago-area high school students and undergraduate students. You’ll be paired with a mentor and work on applied data science projects across fields like computer science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, materials science, and biomedical research. You will gain first-hand experience in various data science methodologies and research methods, while sharpening your skills in coding and scientific communication. The program also emphasizes collaboration, exposing you to the interdisciplinary nature of data science and its real-world impact. Weekly programming includes a speaker series featuring leading data science researchers. The experience culminates in an end-of-summer symposium where you’ll present your project results in a final video. Along with technical training, you’ll also take part in professional development activities and networking events that prepare you for future careers in data science and computing.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
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.
3. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,990 (Startup internship program) | $4,990 (CEO internship program) | $7,400 (Combination program: CEO internship + mentored research program) | Financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks; Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships is a virtual, research-driven internship program that connects high school students with startups working in fields such as artificial intelligence, software development, and health tech. You’ll contribute to meaningful projects that may involve coding, data analysis, machine learning, or technical writing, while receiving weekly mentorship from a Ladder Coach. Projects are designed in collaboration with host companies to ensure they provide real-world value to the organization. In fact, past interns have built technical MVPs and created research-based pitch decks for founders. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your work to industry professionals, giving you the chance to showcase both your technical expertise and communication skills in a research-focused setting. Click here to apply!
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) THINK Scholars Program
Location: Virtual | Up to 6 finalists receive an all-expenses paid trip to MIT
Cost | Stipend: Free | Selected finalists are given up to $1,000 in funding
Program Dates: Finalists are announced on February 5 and have until June to finish their projects
Application Deadline: January 1
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who have permanent U.S. residency
The MIT THINK Scholars Program is a semester-long research and innovation program designed for high school students who already have a well-developed STEM research idea but need mentorship and funding to bring it to life. Unlike most programs that require you to join an existing lab project, THINK supports you in carrying out your own proposal, whether it involves designing software applications, developing machine learning models, or building practical devices. The only condition is that your project is feasible within the given time frame and budget. If selected as a finalist, you’ll receive up to $1,000 in funding, weekly virtual mentorship from MIT undergraduates, and technical guidance tailored to your project. Finalists may also be invited to MIT’s campus for an all-expenses-paid trip, where you’ll present your work, meet with professors in your field, and tour research labs. By the end of the program, you’ll submit a detailed final report documenting every stage of your project, gaining experience in planning, executing, and communicating independent research at a level rarely accessible to high school students.
4. New York University’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost | Stipend: Free | $1,000
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from NYC
The ARISE program at NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a 10-week summer research program for New York City high school students. For the first four weeks, you’ll attend online workshops on safety training, research methods, and college preparation. In the following six weeks, you’ll work full-time at one of NYU’s STEM labs for about 120 hours under the guidance of NYU faculty and graduate students. Computer science-related research areas include machine learning, privacy and security automation, responsible data science, behavioral urban informatics, telecommunications and IT systems, smart energy research, and music and audio analysis. In your assigned lab, you’ll contribute to ongoing projects while developing technical skills in programming and data analysis and gain hands-on experience in applied research at a university lab. The program concludes with a colloquium where you’ll present your findings to the NYU community and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
5. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (fee waivers/ scholarships available)
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over the age of 14 | Students with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project are preferred
AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in AI research and its role in healthcare. You’ll take part in lectures on AI fundamentals, work on group research projects, and receive mentorship from Stanford student leads and researchers. The program also includes guest speaker sessions with professionals from academia, industry, government, and non-profit organizations, giving you insight into real-world applications of AI in medicine. Along the way, you will gain valuable insight into both the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare. With only about 25 students selected each year, the program is highly selective. Students who complete the program earn a certificate of completion and may even have the option to continue with an extended independent research internship.
6. UT Dallas Research Program for High School Students – Intensive Research Internship in CS labs
Location: University of Texas, Dallas, TX
Cost: $1,000 (scholarships available)
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Highly motivated high school students, ideally rising juniors and seniors | 15 years or older
The Intensive Research Internship in CS Labs at UT Dallas is a summer program for high school students aged 15 and older who want to explore computer science research. Over the course of two months, you’ll work 20–40 hours per week in a campus lab, collaborating in person with faculty and researchers. Depending on your lab or project, you may read and analyze scientific literature, conduct simulations, or develop apps with specific functionality. You’ll gain experience in computational problem-solving, coding, and applying theoretical concepts to practical projects. Each lab has its own selection process and research goals, and capacity is highly limited, making this a very competitive opportunity for motivated students interested in computer science research.
7. The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost | Stipend: Free, except for a $25 application fee | $750
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old | U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research opportunity at Texas Tech University for twelve highly qualified high school juniors and seniors. You’ll work one-on-one with faculty mentors to complete a hands-on research project in fields such as electrical and computer engineering and computer science. The program also features weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips designed to broaden your exposure to research and professional development. Previous participants have worked on computer science-related research topics like Exploring the Power-Performance Balance: GPU Frequency Scaling in AI Workloads and Feature-Based Multi-Modal Machine Learning for Diabetes Classification in AI-READI. Application details are available here.
8. The Student Research Institute (SRI) by the Harvard Undergraduate OpenBio Laboratory
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free except for a $20 application fee (limited number of fee waivers available)
Program Dates: Weekly sessions throughout the summer
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students from anywhere in the world
SRI is a free, virtual summer program for high school students interested in life science research. Hosted by Harvard Undergraduate OpenBio Laboratory, the program pairs you with a PhD mentor to design and complete an original research project or literature review. While the program emphasizes life sciences, it also offers intersectional research opportunities in areas like computational biology, bioinformatics, and computer science. Over the course of the program, you will have weekly meetings with your mentor to sharpen your research skills, conduct background reading, analyze data, write a 5–6 page research paper, and present your findings to the SRI team and other Harvard undergraduates. Exceptional projects may even be considered for publication in an undergraduate research journal, giving you the chance to share your work with a wider scientific audience.
9. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Program – Practicum Track
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $6,185 for commuter students and $9,785 for residential students (subject to change; check here for the latest information) | There is an additional application fee | Financial aid available
Program Dates: June 28 – August 7 (Residential) | June 29 – August 7 (Commuter) (dates are subject to change; check here)
Application Deadline: Not Specified | Click here for the latest information
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. or legal permanent residents
The RISE Practicum track is a six-week program where high school students can explore computational research at Boston University. You’ll choose between two subject areas: Computational Neurobiology, which combines programming, computational modeling, and wet lab experiments, or Data Science, which focuses on statistical methods, coding, and reproducible scientific computing using datasets from neuroscience, physics, economics, and more. Each day begins with lectures from BU instructors, followed by supervised lab sessions where you’ll apply what you’ve learned to real research problems. Weekly workshops cover topics like research ethics, experimental design, and presenting scientific findings, while industry visits to biotech and pharmaceutical companies give you insight into the real-world applications of computational research. The program concludes with a Poster Symposium, where you’ll present your research to peers and the wider BU research community.
10. Research Mentorship Program (RMP) at UC Santa Barbara
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,175 (Commuter Option) | $12,474 (Residential Option) | Limited number of scholarships available
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1 (A mandatory preparatory webinar is held on May 29 or 31)
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors (outstanding freshmen are accepted on a case-by-case basis) | Required minimum academic weighted GPA is 3.80
Hosted at UC Santa Barbara, RMP gives high school students the opportunity to engage in university-level research across disciplines such as computer science, engineering, and biochemistry. You’ll be paired with a faculty member, graduate student, or postdoc mentor and spend six weeks conducting hands-on research that could include fieldwork, data analysis, and a lot of background reading and research in the university library. Alongside your project, you’ll take courses on technical writing and presentation methods, learning how to structure a research paper, design a poster, and deliver your findings to academic audiences. Weekly GRIT talks will connect you with leading UCSB researchers sharing their latest ground-breaking works. By the end, you’ll complete a formal paper, present your project at an academic symposium, and earn college credits that will become part of your permanent record. Some students even go on to continue their research beyond the program with the guidance and consent of their mentors.
11. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST campuses in Boulder, CO, and Gaithersburg, MD
Cost | Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, as well as graduating high school seniors who have not yet started college | U.S. citizens | Required minimum GPA is 3.0 | Individual labs might have their required coursework | Check here for more information
SHIP is an eight-week internship where you’ll work with NIST researchers on real-world projects in computer science, engineering, and physical sciences. Depending on your placement, you might get to join one of NIST’s six laboratories. If you are interested in computer science and programming, you can choose the Information Technology Laboratory as your first choice. There, you might study areas like computer security, bioinformatics, cryptography, machine learning, or data visualization. Your work could focus on modeling computer networks, testing trustworthy software, analyzing digital forensics, or developing methods for secure data storage and retrieval. The program runs at NIST’s campuses in Boulder, CO, and Gaithersburg, MD, and gives you the chance to contribute to ongoing research in information and communications technology.
12. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus (Manassas, VA), the Potomac Science Center (Woodbridge Campus), or the Fairfax Campus (depends on your mentor)
Cost: Free, except for the $25 application fee (fee waivers available)
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Open to high school and undergraduate students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP is an eight-week research program for high school students interested in STEM research in a wide range of fields, including computer science. You’ll be matched with faculty mentors to work on projects in areas such as cybersecurity, natural language processing, software engineering, bioelectronic interfaces and assistive technology, and data science for social good. Along the way, you will explore different research methodologies, gain hands-on experience in using cutting-edge equipment and technologies, and develop critical thinking skills. The program also includes seminars on research ethics, STEM careers, and scientific writing to support your professional growth. The program ends with a research symposium where you can share your findings with peers and fellow researchers. Some participants even go on to submit their research to scientific conferences and academic journals.
13. Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Science (CS) Scholars Program
Location: CMU campus, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores who are at least 16 years old | U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or students registered with DACA
The CS Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon University is a four-week residential program for rising high school juniors interested in computer science research. You will learn the core principles of programming and problem-solving in Python, including variables, loops, conditionals, lists, and dictionaries, while strengthening your skills in algorithmic thinking, top-down design, and debugging. The program also includes a math readiness course to build your confidence in computational skills, as well as college prep workshops on admissions, financial aid, and academic planning. You’ll engage with CMU faculty, graduate students, and industry leaders through lectures on ongoing computer science research and mentorship opportunities. You will also collaborate with peers on a hands-on group research project that applies computer science concepts to real-world challenges. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your final project to peers and instructors.
14. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen who will be over the age of 14 by the start of the program | Math and/or computer science skills are preferred
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence through lectures, mentoring opportunities, and guided research projects. You’ll dive into core areas like robotics, computer vision, medical AI, and natural language processing (NLP) while exploring how these technologies can be applied to solve real-world problems. Working in collaboration with the Stanford AI Lab, you’ll gain practical experience working on significant AI research projects. The program also features career development workshops and opportunities to connect with leading AI practitioners and researchers.
15. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Program – Internship Track
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $6,185 for commuter students and $9,785 for residential students (subject to change; check here for the latest information) | There is an additional application fee | Financial aid available
Program Dates: June 28 – August 7 (Residential) | June 29 – August 7 (Commuter) (dates are subject to change; check here)
Application Deadline: Application opens on December 15, but the application deadline is TBD | Click here for the latest information
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. or legal permanent residents
Hosted at Boston University, the RISE program’s Internship Track is a six-week, full-time research opportunity for rising high school seniors from across the U.S. You will work 40 hours a week under the mentorship of BU faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or graduate students in fields such as computer science, biomedical engineering, or electrical and computer engineering. You’ll participate in a research project designed by your mentor, gaining technical and analytical skills while learning how to navigate the scientific process. Along the way, you will also gain experience in research ethics, reading scientific papers, and preparing professional posters. The program concludes with a Poster Symposium where you will present your findings to the BU research community, and some participants even go on to submit their work to national science competitions.
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