If you’re a high school student interested in a rigorous (and affordable) research experience in STEM, consider applying to free STEM programs!
These programs allow you to develop an advanced skillset including data analysis skills, critical thinking, as well as technical software proficiency, all while in high school! Also, free programs usually have a competitive application process, making participation quite a prestigious mention for your resume!
For this blog, we have shortlist 15 of the best free STEM programs for high school students, including STEM internships, STEM pre-college programs, and research opportunities in STEM.
This list highlights 15 free STEM programs for high school students in 2024-2025:
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs specifically designed for high school students in fields such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. You are allowed toselect a subject track and are paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university. Throughout the research journey, you will develop advanced skills in quantitative or qualitative methodologies, culminating in a 20-page university-level research paper. This experience not only enhances your research skills but also prepares you for publication in prestigious journals, making it a solid foundation for furthering your career in academia. future academic pursuits.
Cost: Free
Program Dates:
Summer Seminar: June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall Seminar: October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Deadlines: May 21, 2024 (summer), September 25, 2024 (fall)
Subject Areas: Data Science, Biology, Chemistry, Political Theory, Neuroscience
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA above 3.67.
Highlights: Personalized mentorship, publication opportunities, comprehensive feedback for future projects.
This camp offers students interested in biology and physics hands-on research opportunities. Participants engage in experiments and collaborative projects, attend lectures from prominent scientists, and develop critical thinking and inquiry skills. This experience is invaluable for students who wish to pursue scientific research or advanced studies in STEM fields.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 17 - July 11, 2024
Deadlines: February 15, 2024
Subject Areas: Physics, Biology, Chemistry
Eligibility: High school seniors.
Highlights: Research experience, mentorship from scientists, collaborative learning environment.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: January 2025 (exact dates TBA)
Deadlines: December 2024
Subject Areas: Data Science, Physics, Mathematics
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic backgrounds.
Highlights: Research mentorship, hands-on experience in advanced topics, and development of essential analytical skills.
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
5. Veritas AI
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. You can also check out some examples of 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. Winter cohort deadline - December 1, 2024
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Program selectivity: Moderately selective
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
The Girls Who Code Self-Paced Program allows high school girls to learn computer science fundamentals at their own pace, and build skills that can help them ace national-level competitions, Olympiads, and even land prestigious internships! Participants engage with interactive coding tutorials and projects, focusing on languages like Python and HTML/CSS. This program encourages girls to build their confidence in tech, providing a solid foundation for future studies in computer science. The self-paced format allows flexibility, making it accessible to students with varying schedules.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Ongoing
Deadlines: N/A
Subject Areas: Computer Science, Coding
Eligibility: High school girls.
Highlights: Flexible learning, interactive projects, foundational skills in programming.
This program focuses on cybersecurity, allowing students to defend virtual networks against cyber threats. Participants learn about network security and ethical hacking, developing essential skills for careers in cybersecurity and information technology. This hands-on experience provides a competitive edge in the growing field of cyber defense.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: October 2024 - March 2025
Deadlines: Registration typically opens in September 2024
Subject Areas: Cybersecurity, Information Technology
Eligibility: Middle and high school students.
Highlights: Hands-on cybersecurity training, competitive environment, skill development in IT.
This program offers high school students a chance to engage in biomedical research at the NIH. Interns work in laboratories and gain firsthand experience in conducting scientific experiments, learning important techniques in the life sciences. This opportunity allows students to develop essential research skills and explore potential careers in health and medicine.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June to August 2025 (exact dates TBA)
Deadlines: Applications typically open in January 2025
Subject Areas: Biomedical Research, Health Sciences
Eligibility: High school students interested in health-related fields.
Highlights: Hands-on research experience, mentorship from leading scientists, exposure to biomedical careers.
Offers high school students access to a wide range of courses covering advanced topics in engineering, physics, and mathematics. Students can engage in self-paced learning, which helps them build foundational knowledge in their areas of interest while developing critical analytical skills necessary for future academic pursuits. This resource allows students to prepare for more rigorous college coursework and enhances their competitiveness in STEM fields.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Self-paced
Deadlines: N/A
Subject Areas: Engineering, Physics, Math
Eligibility: High school students.
Highlights: Comprehensive course materials, self-directed learning, foundational knowledge for advanced studies.
This program provides high school students with the opportunity to engage directly with NASA projects, focusing on aerospace engineering and environmental science. Participants analyze satellite data and contribute to real-world space missions. By developing skills in programming (especially Python) and data visualization, students gain practical experience that is directly applicable to future studies and careers in aerospace engineering, environmental monitoring, and data science. This hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology positions students for success in highly competitive fields.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Ongoing, varies by project
Deadlines: Rolling applications
Subject Areas: Aerospace Engineering, Environmental Science
Eligibility: High school students interested in space sciences.
Highlights: Hands-on experience with NASA projects, mentorship from aerospace professionals, development of critical analytical skills.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program offers a unique opportunity for high school students to engage in hands-on research in various fields, including engineering, biology, computer science, history, nutrition, and chemistry. This immersive program selects 12 highly qualified students who receive mentorship from experienced faculty while participating in seminars, workshops, and field visits. The research areas are updated annually, with 2024’s offerings focusing on nutritional sciences, computer science, biology and microbiology, neurobiology, history, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and electrical and computer engineering.
Cost: Free (students receive a stipend of $750, plus free housing and meals)
Program Dates: June 16, 2024 - August 1, 2024 (7 weeks)
Deadlines: Applications close in February 2024
Subject Areas: Engineering, Biology, Computer Science, History, Nutrition, Chemistry
Eligibility: Students who are at least 17 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Highlights: Hands-on research experience, mentorship from faculty, engaging seminars and workshops, stipend provided.
NYU’s ARISE program offers high school students a comprehensive summer experience in STEM fields through a blend of remote workshops and in-person laboratory work. The program features a 4-week remote after-school workshop followed by a 6-week in-person experience in New York City. Participants engage in hands-on projects covering topics such as robotics, chemical engineering, computer science, bio- and molecular engineering, civil and urban engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Each student is matched with a mentor and lab based on their research interests and skills.
Cost: Free, with a minimum $750 stipend
Program Dates: June 3, 2024 - August 9, 2024 (10 weeks)
Deadlines: Applications typically close in March 2024
Subject Areas: STEM
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade by the program start date
Highlights: Hands-on project work in research labs, mentorship, college advising sessions, exposure to scientific ethics and research practices, concluding colloquium with student presentations.
13. Project SEED
Project SEED is a summer program designed to provide high school students from underrepresented backgrounds with opportunities to conduct research in chemistry and related fields. You will work with mentors in laboratories, gaining valuable research experience while developing their understanding of scientific methodologies and principles. This program is instrumental in preparing students for future academic and career paths in STEM.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June to August 2025 (exact dates TBA)
Deadlines: Applications typically open in January 2025
Subject Areas: Chemistry, Environmental Science
Eligibility: High school students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Highlights: Research mentorship, hands-on laboratory experience, exposure to careers in chemistry.
SIMR offers high school students the chance to conduct biomedical research under the mentorship of Stanford faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and researchers. You will gain direct access to advanced laboratories and spend the majority of your time engaged in hands-on research. You can choose from various research areas, including stem cell and regenerative medicine, neurobiology, immunology, bioinformatics, cardiovascular biology, bioengineering, cancer biology, and genetics. The program includes safety training, lectures, lab work, and a final poster session for project presentations, providing a comprehensive introduction to the field of medicine.
Cost: Free. All students receive a minimum stipend of $500; students from underrepresented groups will receive at least $1,500.
Program Dates: June 10, 2024 - August 1, 2024 (8 weeks)
Deadlines: Applications generally close in February 2024
Subject Areas: Medicine
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Highlights: Hands-on biomedical research experience, mentorship from experienced researchers, safety training, and final project presentations.
The MITES Summer program is an intensive experience designed for U.S. high school juniors, offering an estimated acceptance rate of just 3-10%. Participants take one life sciences course, one physics course, a humanities course, and a project-based elective course, with electives varying each year. Previous electives have included architecture, genomics, electronics, engineering design, and computer science. The program includes classes, workshops, recitations, tours, college admissions sessions, and social events. Students gain access to MIT’s state-of-the-art laboratories, providing insights into advanced topics not typically covered in high school curricula. At the end of the program, students receive a written evaluation detailing their performance and progress.
Cost: Free. Housing and meals are provided.
Program Dates: June - August 2024 (6 weeks)
Deadlines: Applications generally close in February 2024
Subject Areas: STEM
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors
Highlights: Intensive STEM curriculum, access to MIT labs, written evaluation, exposure to college-level coursework.
The Research Science Institute, organized by the CEE, is a prestigious summer program for high school students that combines hands-on research in STEM fields with academic coursework, the program has an acceptance rate of 2-5% making it an extremely competitive program. Participants conduct original research in various scientific disciplines under the mentorship of MIT faculty, graduate students, and industry professionals. The program culminates in a symposium where students present their findings. RSI focuses on developing critical thinking, research methodologies, and presentation skills.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 22, 2024 - August 2, 2024 (6 weeks)
Deadlines: Applications generally close in February 2024
Subject Areas: Various STEM disciplines
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11 or 12.
Highlights: Hands-on research experience, mentorship from leading scientists, exposure to advanced scientific techniques, final symposium presentations.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.