If you’re a high school student interested in software engineering, summer can be a great time to explore the field in depth, without interfering with your schoolwork and school year. Whether university-led or backed by tech organizations, these programs give you hands-on experience with advanced tools like Python, GitHub, and machine learning frameworks.
Unlike general tech camps, software engineering summer programs tend to be project-based, mentor-driven, and often cover advanced topics. You’ll work on individual or collaborative projects, learn from industry professionals or researchers, and in some cases, even earn college credit. Many also help you build a portfolio or gain early exposure to careers in tech.
To help you choose the right fit, here’s a curated list of 15 software engineering summer programs for high school students!
15 Software Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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 by Harvard graduate students, offers AI programs for high school students like you who want to explore artificial intelligence. If you’re just getting started, the AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp where you learn the basics of AI, machine learning, and data science. You’ll also work on real-world projects to apply what you’ve learned.
If you’re more advanced, you can join the AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase. You’ll work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university on an individual project. You’ll also get help from Veritas AI’s in-house publication team to submit your work to high school research journals.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program – Computer Science Track
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs where you can dive deep into subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, and more. One unique feature of Horizon is that you can choose to do either quantitative or qualitative research, depending on your interests.
Once you pick a subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor or PhD mentor who will guide you through the entire research process. You’ll work toward completing a 20-page research paper that you can submit to academic journals. You’ll also get a detailed letter of recommendation and in-depth feedback to help you improve and build future projects.
3. Anson L Clark Program
Location: Texas Tech University
Cost: Free. $750 stipend provided
Application deadline: Mid-February
Program dates: June 16 to August 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old
The Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University open to just 12 high school students across the country. If you’re interested in software engineering, you can apply under the computer science track. With an acceptance rate under 3 percent, it’s one of the most selective programs available for high school students interested in advanced research.
Past participants in this area have worked on projects like building 3D visualization tools for neural networks, optimizing GPU performance, and creating decentralized IoT storage systems. You’ll be matched with a faculty mentor and spend most of your time working on a research project.
4. Google Summer of Code
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free, A stipend is paid (project dependent)
Application deadline: April 8
Program dates: June to September
Eligibility: 18 years or older, new to open-source
GSoC is a global, open-source coding program for students and early-stage contributors, offering hands-on experience with real-world projects under the mentorship of top developers. You apply to work with one of 200 open-source organizations and, if selected, spend 12–22 weeks building software used by real communities.
You’ll learn software engineering workflows, version control, community collaboration, and open-source practices. Mentorship begins during the bonding period, followed by multiple rounds of coding and evaluation. With each passed milestone, you receive a stipend, and your work is archived online, making it an impressive portfolio asset for jobs or internships.
5. NYU Tandon SPARC (Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,300
Application deadline: May 15
Program dates: Session 1: June 16–27 | Session 2: July 7–18 | Session 3: July 28–August 8
Eligibility: Open to all US residents and international high school students
SPARC is a two-week, full-day summer program at NYU Tandon where you explore robotics, automation, and programming through hands-on work. You’ll build functional robotic devices using microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators. You’ll also learn basic programming concepts like variables, loops, and conditionals, along with circuits and mechatronic systems.
You’ll work in teams, complete structured lab activities, and get mentorship from NYU engineering faculty. The program ends with a robotics challenge where you test your designs in a group competition. You don’t need robotics experience to join, but you should have a strong interest in STEM.
6. UCLA Computer Science Summer Institute – Intro Track
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA (commuter only)
Cost: $3,291 (includes tuition and fees). Financial aid available
Application deadline: June 13
Program dates: June 23 to July 11
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students (must be 15 or older by June 23)
CSSI at UCLA is a three-week commuter program that gives you a college-level introduction to computer science. You’ll learn how to write programs in Python while building core skills in logic, algorithms, data types, and control structures. The course follows UCLA’s CS 30 curriculum and focuses on using code to solve problems and create projects.
Each day includes lectures, labs, and team-based projects. You’ll wrap up the program by completing a capstone project that shows what you’ve learned. You don’t need any coding experience to apply, but you should be ready to fully commit to the work.
7. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) – Computer Science Track
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,000. Financial aid available
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: July 6 to July 25
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. TOEFL or IELTS is required for international students
At ESAP, the Computer Science track gives you a college-level introduction to how computers solve problems and how to write programs that do the same. Based on Penn’s CIS 110 course, you’ll learn to think algorithmically and work with data while coding in Python. You’ll cover topics like recursion, loops, arrays, modularity, and object-oriented design.
Even if you’re new to computer science, the course helps you build coding skills and confidence through hands-on labs and project work. Classes are fast-paced and supported by teaching assistants. Outside class, you’ll take part in evening talks, workshops, and weekend activities as part of the residential program.
8. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Introduction to C++
Location: Virtual (as of latest offering)
Cost: $3,250
Application deadline: Typically February
Program dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27; Session Two: July 07 – July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 11
This two-week virtual course gives you a solid start in C++ and helps you understand how computers solve problems using code. Designed for students with little or no programming experience, the course covers syntax, control flow, recursion, file handling, and abstract data types. Each day includes live online sessions, optional office hours, and time to work independently on coding tasks.
9. Carnegie Mellon University – SAMS
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free (includes housing, meals, and materials). Full scholarship provided
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: June 21 to August 2
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students (must be 16 or older by June 21)
SAMS is a six-week, fully funded summer program at Carnegie Mellon for rising 12th graders from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. It starts with a two-day virtual Jumpstart, followed by in-person classes, labs, and research work on campus. In the software engineering track, you’ll learn how to design and build software in a team setting. You’ll write, test, and debug code, use tools like Git and GitHub, and follow real software engineering workflows. The program includes college-level courses in math and science, plus writing seminars, mentoring, and workshops on college prep and identity in STEM.
10. Girls Who Code – Summer Immersion Program (SIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free. Need-based $300 grant available
Application deadline: Applications typically open in January
Program dates: Mid-July to early August (2 weeks)
Eligibility: High school girls and non-binary students in grades 9 to 11
SIP is a free, virtual two-week program for high school girls and non-binary students to explore computer science in a beginner-friendly setting. You’ll learn key programming concepts like loops, conditionals, UX design, and the basics of game development through live online classes and hands-on projects.
Each session is supported by a major tech company and includes mentorship, career talks, and optional hours for extra help. You don’t need any coding experience to join. By the end of the program, you’ll have created your interactive digital project and connected with tech professionals.
11. Microsoft TEALS – Summer Coding Workshop
Location: Hybrid or in-person (depending on school district)
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Spring (varies by location)
Program dates: July (dates vary by region and host site)
Eligibility: High school students in TEALS partner schools
TEALS offers regional summer workshops that introduce you to basic and intermediate software engineering skills. You’ll work on projects like game design, web pages, and simple apps while building a strong foundation in programming. Instruction is led by tech industry volunteers and local teachers, and the focus is on computational thinking, debugging, and teamwork.
You’ll get experience in both block-based and text-based programming using languages like Python or JavaScript. These programs are designed to support what you might learn in AP CS or CS Principles. TEALS sessions vary by location, so check with your school to find out if there’s a program available in your district.
12. GitHub Student Developer Pack – Developer Tools for High Schoolers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Rolling
Program dates: One-year access from the approval date
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 or older with a valid school ID or email
The GitHub Student Developer Pack gives you free access to real developer tools like GitHub Pro, Codespaces, JetBrains, and Copilot Pro. You’ll learn version control with Git, automate workflows, and explore cloud-based development at your own pace. You can use these tools to build full-stack projects, test out ideas, or boost other coding programs you’re part of. You’ll also get credits for cloud platforms like Azure and Heroku, so you can deploy apps and work on real projects.
13. Boston Leadership Institute – Engineering Research Program
Location: Olin College of Engineering, MA
Cost: $2,500
Application deadline: Rolling; closes once full
Program dates: July 14 to August 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12 with an interest in engineering or related fields
The Engineering Research Program at Boston Leadership Institute is a three-week summer course where you get hands-on experience with real engineering projects. You’ll learn skills like CAD modeling, microcontroller programming, and how to communicate technical ideas clearly.
You’ll work with tools like Arduino and SolidWorks while building and troubleshooting systems in areas like robotics, circuit design, or mechanical engineering. Each team completes a final research project and gives a formal presentation. The program is instructor-led and includes labs, group research, and technical writing.
14. MITES Summer – MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering & Science
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (includes room, board, and meals; travel to MIT not covered). No stipend available
Application deadline: February
Program dates: June to August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are rising high school seniors (11th grade)
MITES Summer is a fully funded, six-week on-campus program at MIT where you take on college-level STEM coursework and hands-on research. You’ll attend five classes, including math, science, humanities, and project-based electives like machine learning or digital design.
You’ll use tools like Python, breadboards, and circuit prototyping kits, and apply what you learn in lab settings. Throughout the program, you’ll complete design assignments, get written feedback from instructors, and present your work at a final symposium.
15. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) – Computer Graphics
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,000
Application deadline: March 1 (priority and final)
Program dates: July 6 to July 25
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th grade students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. TOEFL or IELTS is required for international students
In the Game Design and Animation track at ESAP, you’ll learn how characters in games and animated media are created from start to finish. You’ll work on design, anatomy, modeling, rigging, texturing, and animation, with a focus on character development. You’ll use tools like Maya, Alias, and Photoshop, starting with sketching and clay modeling.
You’ll also visit Penn’s Human Modeling and Simulation Center and motion capture studio, and meet industry professionals during field trips. By the end of the program, you and your team will create a fully animated character ready for use in a game or simulation.
Image source – University of Pennsylvania