If you’re a high school student in New Jersey looking to get ahead during the academic year, spring programs can offer a short yet focused opportunity to work on your skills, engage with research, and explore advanced topics beyond the standard classroom curriculum. Many spring programs for high school students in New Jersey focus on areas such as computer science, medicine, engineering, social science, and entrepreneurship. They allow you to develop technical fluency and academic confidence without interrupting your school year, or without taking up time during the summer.
New Jersey is home to several universities, research institutions, and organizations that host selective and academically rigorous programs each spring. Whether you’re interested in working on a mentored research project, learning to code, or developing a business idea, there are spring programs that combine structure with challenge.
Here are 15 spring programs for high school students in New Jersey, including virtual and in-person options.
15 Spring Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Program Dates: 12-week cohorts offered during fall, spring, summer, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance
During the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor and will conduct an independent research project in a field of your choice, ranging from machine learning and engineering to neuroscience, economics, and international policy. Across 12 weeks, you’ll work through research design, literature review, and analysis using tools relevant to your field, like Python for CS, SPSS for social science, or PubMed for biomedical research. You’ll finish with a full-length academic paper suitable for submission to high school journals or competitions.
2. Veritas AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Program Dates: 15-week cohorts in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: January (Spring), May (Summer), September (Fall), November (Winter)
Eligibility: High school students with experience in Python or AI, or those who have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program
The Veritas AI Fellowship is a structured remote research program where you’ll work 1-on-1 with a mentor to design and execute a project using AI. You can explore intersections like AI in healthcare, climate science, economics, or creative fields. Weekly sessions focus on developing technical skills, including model training, neural network design, and data preprocessing, utilizing Python-based libraries. You’ll present your project at a virtual showcase and may have opportunities for publication.
3. Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday Lecture Series
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Maeder Hall, Princeton University, NJ
Cost: Free
Program Dates: March 1, March 8, March 15
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students; Must be accompanied by an adult if under 18
This lecture series introduces high school students to advanced STEM topics through weekly presentations by researchers and engineers working in fields such as plasma physics, environmental science, and materials engineering. The talks are designed to convey cutting-edge research in accessible formats, helping you develop a conceptual understanding across scientific disciplines. Sessions are held in person at Princeton University, with recordings available online for independent review afterward.
4. Youth Leadership Somerset
Location: Somerset County, NJ
Cost: Free
Program Dates: September – May
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10-12 in Somerset County
This year-long leadership development program introduces students to public policy, civic engagement, and community problem-solving. Through monthly Saturday sessions, you will engage in structured discussions, team-based challenges, and interactive workshops led by local government officials and nonprofit leaders. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, public speaking, and ethical decision-making within real-world community contexts. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of local governance and work collaboratively to address regional issues.
5. Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership
Location: Drew University, Madison, NJ
Cost: $350
Program Dates: May 30 – June 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school sophomores; Must be nominated by school or community
This short-format leadership seminar centers on structured, skills-based development in personal, group, and service leadership. Across three days, you’ll participate in workshops that challenge your understanding of ethical decision-making, team dynamics, and community-driven impact. Emphasis is placed on leadership values, public speaking, and initiative-based collaboration. The program simulates a campus environment, allowing for experiential learning and interaction with peers across New Jersey.
6. Livingston Township Community Leaders Club
Location: Livingston Senior/Community Center, Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Meetings held throughout the year
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students
This year-round program offers hands-on leadership experience through peer mentorship and community service. You will facilitate activities for younger students, including those with special needs, while developing communication, presentation, and group coordination skills. Sessions also incorporate training from local law enforcement on public safety topics such as social media use and substance abuse. The curriculum emphasizes applied empathy, youth engagement, and public speaking.
7. Early College Scholars Program
Location: Montclair State University, NJ or Online
Cost: $825 per 3-credit course
Program Dates: Fall, spring, and summer semesters
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. high school students
Montclair State’s Early College Scholars Program lets you take real college courses alongside university students across disciplines like anthropology, computer science, and economics. Each term, you can enroll in up to two undergraduate courses on campus or online, and earn transferable college credit. You’ll gain experience navigating college-level syllabi, lectures, and assessments while developing subject-specific knowledge and academic independence.
8. Spring Programs
Location: West Windsor Recreation Department, NJ
Cost: Varies by program; convenience fee applies for credit card payments
Program Dates: Spring (March – June)
Application Deadline: Rolling, based on space availability
Eligibility: Varies by program (ages 6-17 for youth; 18+ for adult programs)
West Windsor Recreation offers a variety of spring extracurriculars that include tennis, martial arts, and basketball for high school students. If you’re in grades 8-11, you can join the Girls Spring Basketball League, which emphasizes team coordination, court strategy, and stamina. Youth tennis and martial arts programs focus on form, discipline, and physical fitness while allowing students to train alongside peers at similar skill levels. While not academic, these programs are useful for building discipline, focus, and commitment.
9. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internship
Location: Various NASA centers; Virtual options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipends awarded based on session and academic level
Dates: Spring: mid-January – early May
Application Deadline: September 12 (spring)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16+ with a 3.0+ GPA; Must be full-time high school or college students
NASA’s OSTEM internships offer high school students the opportunity to contribute directly to agency projects in fields like aerospace engineering, space microbiology, and communication. As a student intern, you’ll gain experience using industry-standard tools, analyzing mission data, or designing prototypes under expert mentorship. The program emphasizes multidisciplinary skill development across STEM and policy sectors. Whether on-site or virtual, the internships offer a highly structured environment where you’ll work alongside NASA researchers to build technical and research fluency.
10. NJCCIC Cybersecurity Internship Program
Location: West Trenton and Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Dates:Spring: part-time (January – May)
Application Deadline: Spring: November
Eligibility: High school students
NJCCIC’s internship introduces students to core cybersecurity domains, including threat intelligence, malware analysis, and email security. You’ll work in a professional government security setting, gaining hands-on experience with industry tools like Splunk, Wireshark, and endpoint protection systems. The program also emphasizes situational analysis and public-facing cybersecurity communication. Mentorship from state professionals helps you build relevant technical and analytic skills that align with future careers in information security and digital forensics.
11. Congressional Internship Program
Location: Newark and Camden, NJ
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 6-week sessions in spring, summer, and fall
Application Deadline: Spring: Rolling; Apply in the fall
Eligibility: High school students (16+) with a 3.0+ GPA; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This internship offers high school students the opportunity to contribute to legislative and constituent services in a real congressional office. You’ll gain exposure to political processes through policy research, memo writing, and public service communications. Tasks include responding to constituents, preparing reports, attending community events, and supporting office operations. The program provides practical insight into public policy, communications, and political organizing, ideal for students interested in law, government, or civic engagement.
12. Junior Academy Innovation Challenges
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Spring (January – May)
Application Deadline: August 27
Eligibility: Students aged 13-17
The Junior Academy offers students a research-driven team challenge focused on global problems tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. You will participate in a 10-week challenge preceded by a virtual boot camp that covers research skills, design thinking, and data analysis. Working in international teams of up to six members, you’ll receive mentorship from a STEM professional while designing a real-world solution. The program emphasizes collaborative research, cross-border problem-solving, and exposure to professional feedback via project judging and publication opportunities.
13. Spring Studios – University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design
Location: Virtual and in-person (Ann Arbor, MI)
Cost: $245 – $295 per studio; Limited financial aid available
Dates: Early May – early June (spring sessions, 1-2 days/week)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students
This spring program offers studio-based intensives where you’ll explore hands-on topics like watercolor, 3D modeling, relief printmaking, and drawing fundamentals. The structure emphasizes individual studio practice, allowing you to develop technical skills and creative fluency under faculty mentorship. Additional lectures and demos complement your project-based work.
14. Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI) – Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,575 tuition + ~$300 lab kit; Very limited financial aid
Dates: Spring dates TBD (approx. 7-10 hours/week)
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, and graduated seniors (exceptional sophomores may apply); Prerequisites apply
Offered by Johns Hopkins University, BMEI is a rigorous, credit-bearing program designed for students interested in biomedical engineering. Over several weeks, you’ll explore how engineers solve biological problems by modeling systems and designing a biosensor project from start to finish. The experience combines asynchronous content, interactive study sessions, and faculty feedback. Despite being fully online, you’ll use a mailed lab kit for hands-on experimentation and culminate your work with a formal research poster presentation.
15. Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) – Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
Location: Online and in-person (Minneapolis, MN)
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies by semester
Application Deadline: December 1 (Spring term)
Eligibility: High school seniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA; In-person option available to students within 50 miles of campus
MCAD’s PSEO program allows high school seniors to earn college credit in visual and liberal arts by enrolling in university-level courses. You can take one 3-credit course per semester in areas such as drawing, design history, creative writing, and graphic design. The experience is academically structured, with classes taught by MCAD faculty and access to college-level critique and feedback. Admission is competitive and requires a portfolio and letters of recommendation. This program is a strong fit for students seeking serious preparation for art and design college pathways.
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 – Johns Hopkins University