If you are a high school student interested in technology and want to understand what it looks like to study it in college, a university tech program can be a good place to start. These programs take place at universities, where you learn through a mix of classes, skill-building sessions, and projects in areas like coding, AI, and data science
You’ll spend your time doing real tasks, like building apps, finding trends in large sets of data, or learning how AI is used to make predictions in science and medicine. They also give you something concrete to list on your college applications, showing your interest and early experience in tech.
To make your search easier, here are 15 free university tech summer programs for high school students!
15 Free University Tech Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (Financial aid is offered)
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students entering 9th – 12th grade in the Fall; over the age of 14 by the start of the program; preference for students with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine. You will attend technical lectures that introduce core concepts of AI in healthcare and participate in guided working sessions on research projects. The program includes mentorship from Stanford researchers and students, along with career talks from professionals across various fields.
2. Girls Who Code: Pathways Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 16
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Current 9th- 12th graders, including Summer Programs alums and graduating seniors
The Girls Who Code: Pathways Program is a six-week self-paced coding program for high school students. You can explore areas like web development, data science, AI, game design, and cybersecurity while learning coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. The program includes live events with tech professionals, workshops, and project-based learning you can complete on your schedule.
3. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Flexible formats (remote, in-person, or hybrid)
Cost: $25 application fee (Can be waived if needed)
Application Deadline: February 2
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) gives high school and undergraduate students a chance to work on real research projects with George Mason University faculty and affiliated partners. You gain hands-on experience using advanced lab tools in areas like nanoscience, machine learning, computer modeling, cybersecurity, and data science for social impact. Over the course of the program, you also build skills in scientific writing and communication through close mentorship.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a non-profit that offers fully funded research opportunities to high school students from low-income backgrounds. It is part of the larger Lumiere Research Scholar Program, which connects students with PhD mentors for one-on-one research.
The main offering, called the Breakthrough Scholar Program, is a 12-week research experience where you work directly with a PhD mentor to develop an independent research paper. You can choose from a wide range of subjects, including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations. You can apply here!
5. AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (Financial aid is offered)
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Eligibility: High school students entering 9th – 12th grade in the Fall; over the age of 14 by the start of the program
The AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a two-week virtual program designed to introduce high school students to machine learning in healthcare. You’ll learn through online modules, group discussions, and breakout sessions. Key topics include the basics of machine learning, how it’s evaluated, and how it’s applied in healthcare settings. You’ll also explore foundation models and the role of generative AI in health applications. Career-focused events with professionals from academia, industry, and government offer insight into future paths.
6. Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: June 21 – July 19
Eligibility: High school junior at the time of application submission; at least 16 years old by the program start date
Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars (AIS) is a four-week, fully funded residential program for rising high school seniors. You’ll explore artificial intelligence through college-level courses, hands-on projects, and lectures led by CMU faculty and researchers. The program includes weekly seminars on college readiness, admissions, and financial aid. You’ll work on a group project applying AI to real-world challenges, presented at the end of the program.
7. NYU Tandon School of Engineering Cyber Security for Computer Science
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 15
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders residing in NYC and Nassau County
If you’re in high school and want to explore cybersecurity, CS4CS introduces you to its core concepts regardless of your prior experience. Hosted by NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the program covers ethical hacking, cryptography, and digital forensics. You’ll take part in hands-on training sessions that simulate real-world security issues. You’ll also practice coding, gain exposure to data privacy issues, and understand how cybersecurity affects everyday life. Communication workshops with a theater-based format will help you articulate complex ideas more clearly.
8. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 15
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in the upcoming school year; Residing and attending school in NYC
The ARISE program combines academic preparation with real research over 10 weeks. During the first four weeks, you’ll receive instruction in lab safety, writing, and research methodology. Then, you’ll work in an NYU research lab for six weeks, gaining approximately 120 hours of lab experience. The program includes opportunities to present your research to peers and professionals at two separate events. You’ll also interact with faculty and develop soft skills relevant to academic and industry settings. Presentations take place at an NYU Colloquium and at the AMNH Poster Symposium.
9. Academy for all with UT Computer Science
Location: UT Austin Campus, Austin, TX
Cost: Free. You can apply for up to $500 in travel scholarships for transportation to and from Austin.
Application Deadline: Typically due in January
Dates: Academy for All: July 6 – July 12, Machine Learning Edition: July 27 – August 2
Eligibility: Students entering 11th-12th grade in the Fall
At the Academy for All with UT Computer Science, you’ll spend a week exploring coding, teamwork, and project management on the UT Austin campus. You can choose between two tracks: the Standard Edition, which includes Arduino microcontroller programming in C++, or the Machine Learning Edition, which focuses on Python and ML concepts. Both versions include faculty-led workshops, campus tours, and sessions on careers in tech. You’ll write code, manage projects in teams, and connect with UT students.
10. Changemakers In Computing
Location: University of Washington, Seattle Campus
Stipend: Free; $1,200 stipend
Application Deadline: April 3
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from Washington State
Changemakers in Computing is a free summer program hosted by the University of Washington’s Allen School. You’ll be grouped with other high school students and guided by UW undergraduates serving as mentors. The program introduces you to coding through culturally relevant, project-based learning while highlighting how technology can drive social impact. You’ll also explore computing topics, work on meaningful group projects, and develop problem-solving skills.
11. Data Science Institute Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4800 stipend
Application Deadline: January 12
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students based in Chicago
The DSI Summer Lab is an 8-week paid research program where high school and undergraduate students work with data science mentors on active research projects. Hosted by the University of Chicago, the program covers topics like computer science, climate policy, public health, and biomedical research. You are matched with a mentor and take part in research that uses real-world data and questions. You also learn how to work with datasets, build research methods, and apply data tools to solve problems.
12. Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
JHIBS is a five-week virtual internship for high school students interested in neuroscience. The program includes research discussions, lectures, lab technique demos, and group learning activities, all focused on brain sciences. You attend scheduled sessions online and take part in conversations about research, scientific methods, and careers in neuroscience. You also join mentorship and professional development sessions designed to help you understand what working in this field looks like.
13. Multiethnic Introduction to Engineering (MITE)
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: $1,554.78 – $2,895.68 (need-based scholarships are available)
Application Deadline: April 15
Dates: July 6 – July 18
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders
MITE is a two-week residential summer program at Purdue University for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in engineering. You stay on campus, take part in daily academic sessions, and earn two transferable college credits. During the program, you work on research projects, hands-on design challenges, and academic coursework in math, chemistry, and writing.
You also receive SAT prep and use an online math platform that stays available after the program ends. Time management and study skills are built into the schedule to help prepare you for college. You learn about Purdue’s 18 engineering majors and meet current students, faculty, and staff.
14. Research Science Institute at MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 11
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Eligibility: High school juniors
The Research Science Institute is a six-week summer program held at MIT for 100 highly accomplished high school students. During the first week, you’ll take accelerated courses in science, mathematics, and engineering with MIT faculty. The central part of the program involves a five-week research internship, where you’ll carry out an independent project under a mentor’s supervision. You’ll engage in all stages of the research process, from reviewing literature to data analysis. The program concludes with formal presentations of your findings to peers and faculty.
15. CS Scholars at Carnegie Mellon
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: June 21 – July 19
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors can apply!
CS Scholars is a fully funded, four-week summer program at Carnegie Mellon University for rising high school juniors. You’ll study core programming concepts in Python, including algorithms, data structures, and debugging techniques. The curriculum also features a pre-concepts of math course aimed at strengthening foundational skills. Weekly seminars focus on college readiness, admissions, financial aid, and social-emotional wellness. You’ll work on a group project that applies computer science to real-world challenges and present your work to peers and faculty.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Purdue University