If you’re a high school student interested in coding, cybersecurity, AI, or software development, a free online computer science summer program is a solid way to explore the field and build practical skills in an accessible manner.
Why should I do a free + online program as a high school student?
Online programs are a solid way to work on real-world projects and gain advanced skills, especially if you’re unable to apply to/attend an in-person program, or want to simply try out less-demanding programs first!
Free online programs specifically, are super accessible, and ideal for students who cannot afford more expensive in-person programs hosted at universities, but want a rigorous opportunity to add on their resume or portfolio.
What will I do in a free + online computer science summer program as a high schooler?
These programs let you dive into hands-on projects, whether it’s designing a website, training a machine learning model, or cracking cryptography puzzles. You’ll get to code in languages like Python, Java, or C++, analyze data with tools like TensorFlow, and explore how AI is shaping industries. Whether you’re just starting or looking to deepen your knowledge, these programs offer a structured, interactive way to develop your skills.
We’ve put together a list of free, online 15 computer science programs that will help you learn, build, and experiment with tech!
15 Free + Online Computer Science Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (SIP) and Pathways
Cost: Free with a $300 needs-based grant for U.S. students for the SIP track
Application Deadline: April 11
Program Dates: Pathways – June 30 – August 8 (6 weeks); Summer Immersion Program – Round 1: July 7 – July 18, Round 2: July 28 – August 8 (2 weeks)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Pathways – Girls & non-binary, 9th-12th graders; Summer Immersion – Girls & non-binary, 9th-11th graders.
High school girls can explore computer science through Girls Who Code (GWC), a global non-profit offering virtual programs in tech. No coding experience is needed. In the Summer Immersion Program (SIP), you will learn UX design and a specialized JavaScript creative coding language to build interactive games.
The Pathways Program lets you choose from AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, or Web Development, learning coding languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python.
2. Veritas AI
Cost: Need-based financial aid is available for students whose families make less than $60,000 per year (US applicants) or 20 lakh rupees per year (Indian or non-US applicants) for certain tracks. You can apply here.
Application Deadline: The summer early admission application deadline is March 23
Program Dates: Varies according to cohort.
Location: Virtual
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 access to the in-house publication team to help students secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here!
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Cost: Financial aid available
Application Deadlines: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The summer cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with >3.67/4.0 GPA. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! 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 in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. It is one of the few programs that let you choose between quantitative and qualitative research, depending on your interests.
If you are interested in computer science, you can take courses like ‘Algorithms, Data Structures, and Python,’ which introduces algorithm design and Python programming, or ‘Data Science Approaches to Internet Security,’ which applies data science techniques to cybersecurity.
Once you choose your research area, you will be paired with a professor or PhD scholar from a top university who will mentor you. By the end of the program, you will complete a 20-page research paper at a university level, which you can submit to academic journals for publication. Apply here!
4. Johns Hopkins University APL ASPIRE Program
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 24 – August 21
Location: Virtual (in-person onboarding mandatory, visit campus for returning equipment and for major technical issues if necessary)
Eligibility: Current high school junior or senior U.S. citizens in Maryland Counties, minimum 2.8 GPA, minimum 15 years of age by June 1, some programming knowledge preferred
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab offers high school students the opportunity to explore STEM fields through hands-on internships. If you’re interested in computer science, AI, cybersecurity, or data analysis, this program provides a structured way to gain real-world experience. You can choose between in-person or virtual participation, with the option to extend your internship into the academic year.
You’ll work closely with an APL mentor on projects tailored to your selected interests. While applying, you can indicate up to three project types, including coding, hardware design, theoretical computing, or software development. The program assigns mentors and projects based on availability, ensuring you get meaningful exposure to industry-relevant challenges.
5. MIT App Inventor
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Information not available. Check here for updates.
Program Dates: Rolling dates (available throughout the year)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High School Students
MIT’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory offers the App Inventor program, a free, cloud-based platform designed to help beginners learn app development. If you’re a high school student interested in coding, this program provides an accessible way to start building functional apps for Android and iOS devices.
Using beginner-friendly tutorials, you’ll learn how to design apps using interactive components like buttons, sensors, and multimedia elements. You can start with Hour of Code tutorials to build a basic app and gradually advance to incorporating images, color themes, and sound effects.
6. Harvard CS50 for AP Computer Science Principles
Cost: Free Audit track (with a discounted fee on the paid program with a verified certificate for those who cannot afford to pay the full cost)
Application Deadline: Information not available
Program Dates: Rolling dates (5 months)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High School students with completion of Algebra I or its equivalent
This program is for you if you’re new to coding or have some experience. It combines lessons from CS50T (Understanding Technology) and CS50x (Introduction to Computer Science) and includes topics like data science and the impact of computing. You can take the course on edX and complete problem sets and coding exercises at your own pace. You’ll learn the basics of programming, algorithms, and data structures while working with languages like C, Python, SQL, and Java. The course is taught through video lectures by Harvard professors, and you’ll get to solve coding challenges along the way.
7. Code.org App Lab Programs
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Information not available
Program Dates: Rolling dates (self-paced)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
If you are new to programming and want to develop apps, Code.org’s App Lab is a great way to start. This free online program is designed for high school students, especially young women and underrepresented groups, and is created by engineers from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
You can choose between two self-paced App Lab courses that use JavaScript to teach coding basics. In Event-Driven Programming, you will learn how to make apps interactive by setting properties, using variables, and debugging code. In Turtle Programming, you will work with loops, functions, and parameters to create digital art and animations.
8. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute Cyber Operations Program
Cost: Free for those whose family income is less than $150,000
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: Four weeks in July
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising seniors with Linux, Terminal, Python, CS basics, and ASCII/Hex/Binary reading skills.
The BWSI Cyber Operations Program is a virtual course on Zoom that helps you understand cybersecurity threats and how to defend against them. You will learn about system and network administration, digital systems, cryptography, and programming.
If you complete the course, you may qualify for the summer program, where you will dive deeper into computer architecture, advanced cryptography, networking, IoT, cloud computing, and quantum computing. You will finish the program by working on a Capstone project.
9. Kode With Klossy
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 2 – June 13, July 7 – July 18, July 21 – Aug 1, Aug 4 – Aug 15
Location: Virtual (in-person camps in Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., London, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle)
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens ages 13 – 18
Young women and gender-expansive teens can join Kode With Klossy’s free two-week coding camp, which ends with a Capstone project. The program helps you build skills in programming, app development, web design, machine learning, and data science, all under the guidance of mentors who are former K-12 educators.
You will be placed in one of four tracks. In Mobile App, you will use Swift and Xcode to build an iOS app. In Web Development, you will learn to code websites and improve their UI and UX. In Machine Learning, you will explore AI concepts like algorithms, datasets, and natural language processing while training a chatbot in Python. In Data Science, you will work with SQL, Python, and data visualization tools to analyze and interpret information.
10. University of Washington Introduction to Data Visualization
Cost: Financial assistance available with a 15% discount to current UW employees and students
Application Deadline: 2 weeks before the start date
Program Dates: Jun 30 – Jul 11
Location: Virtual in real time on Zoom (no recorded sessions)
Eligibility: Incoming 9th – 12th Graders, familiarity with Microsoft Excel
The Introduction to Data Visualization at the University of Washington is designed for high school students to give them an understanding of how data visualization is used as a tool to understand trends and patterns in a picturized form. You will deep dive into the fundamental design principles and types of data visualizations.
A core element of the program is how to use Tableau software to create charts, graphs, maps and other visual elements to convey information through a visual story, understanding how companies use data visualization for their work. You will also get an insight into the career avenues for professionals with data visualization skills. On completing a short Canvas assessment at the end of the program, you will be awarded a Youth & Teen Programs digital badge which highlights the learning objectives of the course and your new skills and competencies for college applications and resumes for future employers.
11. UChicago Introductory Statistical Methods and Applications for the Social Sciences
Cost: Need-based scholarship assistance available, $50 application fee waiver for financial hardship
Application Deadline: Information not available
Program Dates: June 16 – July 4
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Grades 11 – 12
The University of Chicago’s online course on Statistical Methods and Applications for the Social Sciences introduces you to the connection between computer science and statistics. You will learn how data is collected, analyzed, and used to study social and behavioral patterns through computational language analysis. While most participants are undergraduates, a limited number of spots are available for advanced high school students.
You will use R to apply statistical techniques for data analysis, including descriptive and inferential methods. The program includes interactive discussions, group projects, and activities, allowing you to work with instructors and peers while getting better in statistical computing.
12. George Mason University College of Science ASSIP
Cost: Free (with a $25 application fee – can be waived for students eligible for free/reduced lunch assistance or eligible for Pell Grant financial aid)
Application Deadline: February 2
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Location: Virtual, in-person, or hybrid, as per mentor choice,
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18 (no maximum age limit, but the applicant should not graduate from a university before or during the internship), must be 16 or older by June 18 for wet-lab in-person or hybrid internships
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) gives high school and undergraduate students a chance to conduct hands-on research in computer science and related fields. You will work one-on-one with faculty researchers and experts from collaborating institutions, using advanced technology to explore topics like robotics, computational nanotechnology, wireless security, and human-computer interactions. The program helps you develop key research skills, including scientific writing, data analysis, and technical communication.
13. Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 29 (tentative, based on previous years)
Program Dates: July 11–August 5 (tentative, based on previous years)
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school seniors intending to enroll in a four-year college or university in the U.S. or Canada
Google’s CSSI is a program designed to introduce high school seniors to computer science before they begin their undergraduate studies. You will learn programming fundamentals, including Python and JavaScript, through hands-on projects. The program covers data structures, algorithms, and web development. You will work in teams to build applications and receive mentorship from Google engineers.
14. Joy of Coding
Cost: $149 plus tax; Need-based financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Self-paced; start anytime.
Location: Virtual.
Eligibility: High school students; no prior coding experience required.
This online coding course, created by the University of Michigan Engineering faculty, helps you learn coding from scratch. You’ll get weekly video lectures, readings, and hands-on coding exercises through an interactive cloud-based textbook. You’ll see how coding powers everyday apps and even build your own Snapchat or TikTok-style filters.
The course also connects coding with math concepts, making it easier to understand both. When you finish, you’ll earn a certificate from the University of Michigan’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department.
15. CodeDay Labs
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Early June (tentative, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June through August
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school and college students
CodeDay Labs offers a summer program where students work in teams to contribute to open-source software projects. You will work in a small team on an open-source project with guidance from industry mentors. The program simulates a real-world internship, helping you develop software engineering skills, including version control, agile development, and collaborative coding.
You will use GitHub for project management, participate in code reviews, and gain experience working with APIs and frameworks. At the end of the program, you will present your work to peers and professionals.
Image source: Girls Who Code
