If you’re in high school and want to get into tech, spending part of your summer in an IT program can be a smart move. You’ll get to learn how complex systems work, things like how networks connect, how data gets stored and moved, or how software runs behind the scenes. It’s also a good way to figure out what part of tech interests you.
Most of these programs are hands-on. You might write code, build simple apps, explore cybersecurity labs, or work on group projects using tools that professionals use. Joining a program like this can also give you something strong to put on your resume. It shows that you’ve done real technical work, learned outside the classroom, and taken steps toward a career in IT.
To help you find a good starting point, here are 15 IT summer programs designed for high school students!
15 Information Technology (IT) Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: 10–15 weeks (summer cohort options available)
Application Deadline: June 22 (for Summer Cohort II)
Eligibility: High school students; Fellowship applicants must have prior Python experience or have completed the AI Scholars
Veritas AI offers project-based learning in machine learning, supervised/unsupervised learning, and data-driven modeling using Python and open-source tools. In the AI Scholars program, you’ll work on applied projects across domains like healthcare and sustainability.
The AI Fellowship allows experienced students to pursue independent research under mentorship, often culminating in a paper or final presentation. The curriculum includes practical exposure to libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and pandas, with an emphasis on responsible AI and real-world problem solving.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by track; financial aid available
Program Dates: June 24 – September 2 (summer); October 23 – February 19 (fall)
Application Deadline: May 21 (summer); September 25 (fall)
Eligibility: High school students with GPA > 3.67/4.0; typically 10th–11th graders
Horizon’s research program allows students to work 1-on-1 with PhD researchers on semester-length projects in fields like data science, machine learning, and computational modeling. In the IT-relevant tracks, you’ll gain hands-on exposure to Python, regression modeling, algorithmic thinking, and occasionally R or SQL, depending on your project.
The seminar phase includes structured literature reviews, research design, and iterative drafting, culminating in a college-ready academic paper. The program emphasizes original research and source-based writing.
3. Princeton AI4ALL Summer Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 9 – July 30
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders in the U.S. or Puerto Rico who meet at least one low-income criteria
Princeton AI4ALL Summer Program is a three-week residential program that offers hands-on training in artificial intelligence with a strong emphasis on ethics and social impact. You’ll attend seminars on machine learning, neural networks, and algorithmic fairness, and participate in team-based research projects.
The program includes a two-day policy-focused trip to Washington, D.C., and ends with group presentations. Curriculum delivery is faculty-led, with additional mentorship from graduate students and industry professionals, making it a focused early exposure to socially responsible AI development.
4. Computer Science Summer Institute – Introductory Track (UCLA)
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,291
Program Dates: June 23 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: 9th–12th grade students (must be at least 15 years old by June 23)
This three-week commuter program gives you an early introduction to computer science through hands-on coding in Python. You’ll learn how to use control structures, work with data types, and break down problems into smaller parts using functional decomposition. You’ll also attend seminars, work on problems with peers, and get exposure to UCLA research labs. The course runs at a college pace, but you don’t need any prior coding experience.
5. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Menlo Park, CA (San Francisco Bay Area)
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores with a 2.0+ GPA; must reside in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
This six-week summer program introduces students to core areas of information technology, including machine learning, data analysis, and software development. You’ll work ~30 hours per week on projects related to product engineering and ethical tech, while gaining exposure to workplace tools and technical workflows used at Meta. Support is provided through digital mentorship, peer presentations, and structured feedback sessions. The program also includes discussions on equity and algorithmic bias.
6. SPARC – Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,300 (plus optional housing/meal plan fees)
Program Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27, Session 2: July 7 – July 18, Session 3: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students aged 15+ (rising 10th–12th graders); U.S. and international students; background in AP Math, Algebra II, Trig preferred
SPARC is a two-week technical immersion in robotics, mechatronics, and programming. You’ll gain hands-on experience designing and coding autonomous robots, working through structured challenges involving motion control, sensor integration, and logic design. Instruction covers foundational programming (likely C/C++ or Python), electrical circuits, and mechanical assembly. The program also includes competitive robot challenges to apply engineering skills in real time.
7. Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA (residential)
Cost: Application: $25 + Program Fee: $5,160
Program Dates: June 23 – July 4
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Students aged 16–17 with little to no prior coding experience
This two-week program introduces students to computer science through UC Berkeley’s Beauty and Joy of Computing (BJC) curriculum. You’ll work with Snap!, a visual programming language, to explore key concepts like abstraction, algorithm design, recursion, and debugging. Daily challenges reinforce core CS ideas, and the final project allows you to design your computing application. Instruction is led by veteran BJC educators, and the program is supported by undergraduate mentors.
8. ASPIRE – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Location: Virtual or Laurel, MD
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 24 – August 21
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (15+), GPA 2.8+, living in the Washington–Baltimore metro area
ASPIRE pairs students with APL mentors to contribute to active research and development projects in areas like cybersecurity, data science, aerospace engineering, and systems analysis. You’ll engage in hands-on work aligned with your academic background and interests, using professional tools and technical workflows. The program supports both remote and on-site formats, providing flexibility. Technical skill development, documentation, and team-based collaboration are key components.
9. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual, hybrid, or in-person at Fairfax, VA
Cost: Application fee: $25, waivable
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February (typical)
Eligibility: Remote: age 15+; In-person/hybrid (labs): 15+ for CS labs, 16+ for wet labs
ASSIP offers an immersive eight-week research experience where you’ll work on a single project in IT-related areas like cybersecurity, data science, or NLP. You’ll use industry-grade tools and programming environments, contribute to technical documentation, and participate in seminars on research ethics and career development. Research is mentored by university faculty and often aligned with current grants or lab initiatives.
10. CS Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; travel assistance available
Program Dates: June 21 – July 19
Application Deadline: Typically in spring
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders; must be age 16+ by June 21 and demonstrate financial need.
CS Scholars is a fully funded, four-week residential program focused on Python programming, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques. You’ll take pre-college courses in computer science and math foundations while participating in team-based research projects and equity discussions in STEM. Technical components include functional programming, debugging, and structured group development using real-world themes. The program also features faculty talks, industry field trips, and community-building sessions that mimic a college academic schedule.
11. AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; travel assistance available
Program Dates: June 21 – July 19
Application Deadline: Typically in spring
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders; must be age 16+ by June 21 and demonstrate financial need.
AI Scholars is a four-week residential program that introduces high school students to artificial intelligence through hands-on group research, lectures, and industry engagement. You’ll build skills in AI-driven problem solving, algorithm design, and computational modeling, while exploring ethical applications of AI in real-world contexts. Core sessions cover topics like neural networks and AI for social good. The program also includes college readiness workshops, tech company visits, and mentorship from CMU faculty.
12. Computer Science Summer Certificate Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,495
Program Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August; options for 4-week or 6-week schedule
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; recommend applying at least 2 weeks before start date
Eligibility: High school students; no prior experience required
This certificate program offers 95 hours of live, project-based instruction in Java and Python with a focus on programming fundamentals, data science, and introductory machine learning. You’ll gain hands-on experience with object-oriented programming, recursion, arrays, and file handling in Java, then shift to working with Python for data visualization and machine learning tasks using libraries like NumPy and Pandas. The program also includes 1-on-1 training and access to class recordings, helping you build skills aligned with AP Computer Science and early college-level courses.
13. Tufts University Responsible AI
Location: Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost/Stipend: $1,949 (non-credit)
Program Dates: July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; additional application materials required after enrollment
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students
This interdisciplinary seminar explores ethical challenges in AI through the lens of philosophy, computer science, visual arts, and policy. You’ll analyze topics such as algorithmic bias, machine-generated art, and responsible AI development, using case studies and frameworks from multiple fields. The course focuses on critical thinking about the societal impact of intelligent systems and is taught in person on Tufts’ Medford campus.
14. Machine Learning and Self-Driving
Location: Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,250 (residential); $1,250 (commuter); discounts available
Program Dates: July 20 – July 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
This one-week program introduces you to the basics of machine learning and autonomous vehicle systems. You’ll work hands-on with RC cars and use PyTorch to build and train deep neural networks like CNNs and ResNet. You’ll go through the full process of data collection, modeling, and testing your models in real-time driving simulations. The program is taught by researchers and engineers and combines AI theory with robotics, control systems, and sensor-based learning.
15. CS4CS – NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders residing in NYC or Nassau County
CS4CS is a four-week cybersecurity summer program that introduces you to ethical hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, and data privacy. Hosted at NYU Tandon, the program features daily instruction, labs, and workshops with a unique integration of communication skills via theater-based training. You’ll explore real-world security challenges while developing technical and critical thinking skills, all in a cohort of local peers. The program is fully funded through DTCC support and is designed to make cybersecurity education more accessible and engaging for underrepresented students.
Image source – Stony Brook University