History isn’t just about learning what happened — it’s about figuring out how to ask good questions, look at evidence, and explain ideas clearly. Research lets you dig deeper, helping them build skills in analysis, writing, and critical thinking that are useful in many fields, from law to journalism.
For high school students, online history research programs are a flexible way to get started.
As a high school student, an online history research program gives you the chance to practice these skills early. You learn how to study original documents, interpret sources, and build arguments based on facts. You also develop habits like organizing information, managing a long-term project, and presenting your findings.
To help you choose the best fit, we’ve compiled a list of 15 online history research programs for high school students that you can explore!
While some of the items in this list may not be branded as traditional research programs, they do focus on academic engagement and research-based deliverables!
15 Online History Research Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – History Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Horizon Labs and Seminar courses each cost $5,950. Need-based financial aid is available for Seminar courses only, with up to 90% of tuition waived.
Application Deadline: March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)
Dates: The summer cohort starts on June 16. Lab schedules are flexible, but you need to apply at least four weeks before your preferred start date.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.67 or higher can apply. Most participants are in 10th or 11th grade. Some program tracks have specific prerequisites—you can check those out here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs in history, philosophy, chemistry, physics, data science, and other subjects. With more than 600 topics, you can choose to work with either qualitative or quantitative methods.
If you focus on history, you can choose from areas like Ancient History, where you study Greek and Roman civilizations through the experiences of workers, soldiers, slaves, and elites. Another option is Critical History, which examines how historical narratives are formed. Topics include race, empire, revolution, and concepts such as objectivity and causality.
You’ll select a topic and method, then work one-on-one with a mentor who is a professor or PhD scholar from a major university. At the end, you’ll produce a 20-page college-level research paper, with the option to submit it to academic journals. You’ll get personalized feedback, professional guidance, and a recommendation letter. Apply here.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – History Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,990. Financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Application deadlines depend on the cohort. The upcoming one, for the summer cohort, is May 11.
Dates: The program offers four cohorts: summer (June–August), fall (September–December), winter (December–February), and spring (March–June).
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale are encouraged to apply.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week experience where high school students get to do independent research in a field of their choice, guided by a Ph.D. mentor. The program includes research method workshops and ends with a finished research paper.
You’ll work with your mentor and a writing coach to shape your topic and take part in workshops to build your research skills. The program covers a wide range of subjects like engineering, anthropology, history, gender studies, physics, biology, data science, international relations, and chemistry.
If you’re interested in history, you can explore topics like “Gender & Education in Global & Comparative Perspectives” or “Environmental History of Earth.” If those don’t fit your interests, you can tailor your topic. Details on how to apply are available here.
3. Stanford Online High School – Advanced History Research Seminar
Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition ranges from $6,195 for one course to $30,970 for four or more courses. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: January 9
Dates: The program usually runs from August to June, but you can also choose to enroll in individual courses.
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
The Stanford Online High School (OHS) Program offers live online courses for students in grades 7 through 12. Courses follow a two-semester system, and most run through the full academic year. You can join full-time, part-time, or take individual advanced courses that may not be available at your school.
If you’re interested in historical research, the Advanced History Research Seminar lets you study major themes in recent American and global history. You’ll examine topics like post-war conflicts, economic and social change, and how politics and culture interact. You’ll take part in reading and discussion, then carry out your research. By the end of each semester, you’ll complete a research paper on a historical question you’ve chosen to investigate.
4. Cornell SCE Pre-College Summer/Winter Online Program—Introduction to Western Civilization I
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; online courses are also available
Cost: Tuition is $1,840 per credit, and while Cornell tuition doesn’t include the cost of textbooks, some online courses may also have nonrefundable fees for required materials or supplies.
Application Deadline: Summer session: Deadlines vary by session, with multiple due dates in May and June depending on the course you choose; Winter session: December 2
Dates: Summer session: Several 3-week sessions and one 6-week session are offered between June 2 and August 1; Winter session: January 2 – January 18 (3-week session)
Eligibility: Rising or current high school juniors and seniors between the ages of 15 and 19
Cornell University’s School of Continuing Education (SCE) offers online pre-college courses for high school students. You can earn between 3 and 12 college credits, which may be transferable to Cornell or other universities. You can choose from over 100 undergraduate courses in subjects like history, anthropology, international relations, and others.
If you’re interested in history, Introduction to Western Civilization I is one course to consider. It covers the history of the West from ancient times to the 16th century. You’ll study political, religious, and cultural developments, along with economic and technological change. The course helps you build research and analytical skills through historical reading and writing.
5. UPenn’s Pre-College Online Program – World Film History
Location: Virtual (synchronous)
Cost: The cost is $8,462 for one college credit course unit and $13,858 for two units, plus a non-refundable $100 fee.
Application Deadline: Summer Session I: March 30; Summer Session II: April 27
Dates: Summer Session I: May 27 – July 2; Summer Session II: July 3 – August 8
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students with a minimum 3.5 GPA, including international students
The University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Online Program allows high school students to take credit-bearing undergraduate courses online alongside Penn undergraduates. Courses are taught by Penn faculty, staff, and visiting scholars. You can take one or two course units, with each unit equal to four college credit hours. After completing the course, you can request an official transcript from the university for a fee.
If you’re interested in history and film, the World Film History course examines how cinema has reflected and influenced global history. You’ll study major film movements including early cinema, German Expressionism, Soviet Montage, Italian Neorealism, and contemporary waves from Iran, Taiwan, and Korea. The course explores how film relates to historical change and how the concept of “world cinema” is shaped. You’ll also look at how films represent race, gender, class, and political conflict across different regions.
6. Ecampus at Oregon State University – The Historian’s Craft
Location: Virtual
Cost: The cost is $384 per credit, plus a $30 nonrefundable application fee and additional expenses for books and supplies. You can calculate the total cost here.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the session. You can check here.
Dates: Summer: Multiple sessions are available between June 16 and September 5; Fall: September 24 – December 12; Winter: January 5 – March 20; Spring: March 30 – June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Oregon State University’s Ecampus allows high school students to earn college credit online, giving them access to courses that may not be offered at their school. There are over 100 college courses available in subjects like math, foreign languages, and science, and you’ll be studying alongside degree-seeking students at Oregon State.
If you’re interested in history, Oregon State offers courses like World History, Women in U.S. History, The Arab-Israeli Conflict, and more. For those focused on historical research, The Historian’s Craft is a key course. It covers both the theory and practice of historical work, teaching you how to think and write historically. The course also explores the development of history, different historical philosophies, types of evidence, and factors that influence how history is written.
7. Harvard University’s Secondary School Program—The Long 1960s: Pop Music, Counterculture, and Black Awakening
Location: Available online or in person at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,050–$14,950 + $75 application fee; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Early: January 8; Regular: February 12; Late: April 9
Dates: 4-week session: July 13 – August 9; 7-week session: June 21 – August 9
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 who will graduate and start college in the next three years are eligible to apply. Check individual course pages for specific prerequisites.
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program (SSP) offers high school students the chance to take college-level courses for credit in a 4- or 7-week session. With over 200 courses available, subjects include history, literature, science, economics, and more. Most courses require 8-12 hours of homework per week and include both individual and group projects.
If you’re interested in history, The Long 1960s: Pop Music, Counterculture, and Black Awakening is a great choice. The course explores how the 1960s changed American politics, culture, and society, focusing on movements like civil rights, Black Power, and protests against the Vietnam War. You’ll study how people involved in these movements saw their efforts using music, memoirs, and other sources.
8. TCR (The Concord Review) Online High School History Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,650
Application Deadline: Early: December 31; Regular: February 28
Dates: 2-week sessions: June 9 – June 20 | July 7 – July 18 | July 21 – August 1 | August 4 – August 15; Summer Weekend Camp: June 22 – August 24 (Sundays)
Eligibility: All high school students
The TCR History Camp Summer Session is a two-week online workshop for secondary students focused on historical research and writing. You’ll work with two experienced instructors to write a first draft of a research paper on a topic of your choice. Before the camp, you’ll read 3–5 books and explore online databases like JSTOR, eLibrary, Gale, EBSCO, and Congressional Quarterly to gather sources.
During the camp, you’ll receive personalized coaching to help you choose a topic, develop research questions, analyze sources, organize your essay, and cite properly using the University of Chicago style. Each day includes group Zoom sessions on research and writing, followed by time to apply what you learned. On weekends, you’ll have a one-on-one meeting with an instructor for feedback.
9. Summer@Brown Online Pre-College Programs – Power and the Production of History
Location: Online through Canvas, Brown’s learning management system
Cost: The cost ranges from $3,218 to $6,238, depending on the course length, with additional fees for some courses. Scholarships are available
Application Deadline: May 9
Dates: There are several online courses available from June 16 to July 25, lasting 2 to 6 weeks.
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 9–12 and are aged 14–18 by June 15 can apply. Be sure to check individual course pages for any additional prerequisites.
Summer@Brown Online offers high school students the chance to take over 50 courses in subjects like history, psychology, finance, biology, and political science. You can choose from three learning formats: asynchronous, mostly asynchronous, or blended. The program also includes activities, workshops, and events outside of class to enrich your experience.
If you’re interested in history, Power and the Production of History is a great choice. This course explores the gaps in historical narratives and looks at the power structures, violence, and resistance involved in colonialism, slavery, and genocide. You’ll learn how historians use archival sources to shape these stories and how race, class, and gender influence historical accounts. You’ll also explore the role of museums in teaching history.
10. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – The History of Activism
Location: Virtual (synchronous lectures)
Cost: The program costs $3,080, and some courses may require extra purchases like textbooks or course readers, up to $100. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: March 20
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27; Session 2: July 7 – July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 can apply, though some courses may have specific grade requirements.
Stanford University’s Pre-College Summer Institutes offer a two-week online program where high school students can take one non-credit course. With 60 courses available in subjects like history, engineering, social justice, and more, each course includes two hours of live instruction daily, along with assignments and other activities.
If you’re interested in history, The History of Activism is a great choice. The course covers activism from the late 1800s to today, looking at global movements for civil rights, peace, and justice. You’ll improve your research skills and complete a project, creating a podcast to share your findings.
11. University of Chicago’s Summer Online Program – America in World Civilization II
Location: Virtual
Cost: The cost is $4,790, and need-based financial aid is available, with awards ranging from $500 to $3,500 for the online program.
Application Deadline: Priority: January 22; Regular: March 5; Extended: April 15
Dates: Several three- and five-week online courses are offered between June 16 and August 8.
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students
The University of Chicago’s Summer Online Program lets high school students take undergraduate-level courses from anywhere. You can study subjects like history, political science, biology, economics, and psychology in a live online setting. Each course is equivalent to a full 9-week quarter class, graded and worth 100 UChicago credit units.
America in World Civilization II explores how the idea of America has been debated over time using a wide range of primary sources. You’ll study topics like Indigenous-US relations, religious revivalism, slavery and emancipation, the Civil War, women’s rights, industrial capitalism, and social inequality. The course helps develop historical thinking skills while examining how America’s story has been shaped by different voices and experiences.
12. HSLDA Online Academy – U.S. History
Location: Virtual
Cost: The cost ranges between $224 and $747, depending on the type of course you choose and the time of year when you register.
Application Deadline: Early registration: March 20; Fall and Yearlong courses: August 7; Spring courses: January 2
Dates: Year-long courses run from August 18 to May 1; Spring classes start January 8, and fall classes begin August 19.
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
HSLDA Online Academy offers over 40 online courses for high school homeschoolers, with a focus on developing specific skills. Each week, you’ll engage in live discussions, read 25–40 pages, and complete tests and projects that require critical thinking and effective communication.
The U.S. History course helps you develop skills in historical analysis, research, and writing. You’ll explore key events from early English colonization to today, while learning how to evaluate primary sources, identify historical patterns, and construct well-supported arguments.
13. James Madison High School’s College Prep Diploma—American History
Location: Virtual
Cost: $399
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old
The JMHS College Prep Diploma track offers high school students an accredited online education. The courses are self-paced and fully online, with the option to use printed textbooks. You can prepare for college or work toward personal goals, and you can also take individual courses. You’ll have access to eBooks and lessons through your secure Student Portal, attend optional weekly live lessons, and get extra help from the Learning Resource Center.
If you’re interested in history, the American History course covers key events from exploration to today. You’ll explore topics like the founding of the U.S., the Civil War, industrialization, the Great Depression, and modern issues like technology and current politics. You’ll test your understanding through activities, exams, a research assignment, and a final exam.
14. Cornell SCE Pre-College Studies: Fall & Spring Study –Race and Slavery in the Early Atlantic World
Location: Offered online or in person at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Tuition is $1,840 per credit, and you’ll also need to pay for textbooks and any nonrefundable fees for required materials or supplies.
Application Deadline: Spring session: January 21; Fall session: August 26 (tentative, based on the previous year’s program)
Dates: Spring session: January 21 – May 17; Fall session: August 26 – December 21 (tentative, based on the previous year’s program)
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and older
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education offers high school students the chance to take online or commuter courses and earn college credit. You’ll join regular classes with Cornell undergraduates and get access to campus resources like libraries and facilities. There are over 100 courses to choose from in subjects like history, engineering, business, political science, and health.
If you’re interested in history, the Race and Slavery in the Early Atlantic World course explores how race and slavery developed between 1400 and 1800. You’ll dive into how politics, culture, gender, and law shaped slavery and race. The course compares how different empires like Spain, Portugal, France, and England created their systems of slavery and race in the Americas. You’ll also look at how laws and gender roles influenced racial hierarchies.
15. History U at Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Location: Virtual
Cost: All courses are free, though some courses suggest optional reading materials you can buy.
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 13 years old
The Gilder Lehrman Institute’s History U program offers free American history courses for high school students. Each course includes video lectures from top history professors, primary source readings, and short quizzes to help you check your understanding.
You can explore topics like American Environmental History, Black Women’s History, The Vietnam War, Race and Rights in America, and more. These courses are self-paced, based on the institute’s MA in American History program. They can help strengthen your college applications, support what you’re learning in school, or just let you dive deeper into history. Plus, you’ll get a certificate when you finish a course.
Image source – Cornell University