If you’re a high school student interested in coding, joining a summer program can be one of the strongest ways to sharpen your skills in computer science, programming, or software development. Without clashing with your regular school year, these programs give you a chance to build technical experience through hands-on projects, instructor-led workshops, and practical applications of coding theory.
Most of the summer coding programs in the list below are short and focused. You may learn to write Python scripts, build apps, develop websites, or explore areas such as AI or cybersecurity. Some let you work in teams on challenges, while others offer structured classes where you follow a set curriculum and get support from mentors or college instructors.
With that, here are 15 summer coding programs for high school students!
15 Summer Coding Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
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: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers two standout programs for high school students who want to explore artificial intelligence. If you’re just getting started with AI, machine learning, or data science, the AI Scholars program is a solid fit. You’ll learn the fundamentals of AI, including topics like regression, neural networks, and ethics in AI.
If you already know Python or have completed the AI Scholars program, you can take on an independent research project through the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. You’ll work 1:1 with a mentor from a top university to design and build a novel AI model in a field of your interest. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Coding for Game Design Summer High School Program (NYU Steinhardt)
Cost: $2,745 tuition, $250 additional fees; optional housing extra (~$319/week + meals)
Location: NYU Downtown Brooklyn, New York
Dates: Session 1: July 7–July 18; Session 2: July 28–August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled; scholarship deadline was April 30
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with intermediate coding knowledge (minimum B+ in a prior coding class)
Coding for Game Design Summer High School Program teaches you how to build 2D games using C# and Unity. You learn game design principles, scripting, debugging, audio design, and visual aesthetics. Each day includes lessons on mechanics, dynamics, rules, and level design, followed by coding and development time. You work in a team to create a full game and present it at a final showcase. You also explore how game theory shapes player experience and how professional developers approach design and testing.
4. Tufts Pre-College Coding Academy
Cost: $4,225 (commuter); $5,750 (residential)
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville Campus, MA
Dates: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or Spring high school graduates
Tufts Pre-College Coding Academy is a two-week program that focuses on Python for applications in data science, modeling, and user interfaces, with additional sessions introducing AI, robotics, and cybersecurity. You will code individually and in small teams, building toward a final project that is pitched at the close of the program. Daily faculty-led lectures are complemented by hands-on coding labs and “Tech Treks” to local companies like Google and HubSpot. You will also explore computing history, ethics, and emerging trends through guest talks and workshops.
5. Girls Who Code – Summer Immersion Program (SIP)
Cost: Free. $300 needs-based grant available
Location: Online
Dates: Round 1: July 7–July 18; Round 2: July 28–August 8
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade high school students
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a free, two-week virtual course where you learn computer science through game design and user experience. You attend live classes, build short games using p5.js, and explore topics like logic, loops, conditionals, and design principles. You create an interactive avatar, a choose-your-own-adventure game, and a collection-style game, then playtest and improve your work. In the second week, you join a game jam to design a new game based on a prompt. You also take part in career workshops and events hosted by tech companies.
6. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Cost: Free
Location: Online and in-person (Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., London, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis)
Dates: June 2–June 13; July 7–July 18; July 21–August 1; August 4–August 15
Application Deadline: Initial application deadline: March 3; extended final deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive students aged 13–18; no prior coding experience required
Kode With Klossy Summer Camps is meant for students from underrepresented genders looking to explore coding across multiple real-world domains. You can choose from four technical tracks: web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript), AI/ML (Python and NLP), mobile app development (Swift/Xcode), or data science (SQL, Python, and visualization tools). Each curriculum is project-based, with an emphasis on real-world tools and collaborative learning. You will complete a final project that showcases your technical and creative skills, while gaining exposure to UI/UX principles, ethical AI, and product design workflows.
7. Penn Arts and Sciences – Coding Academy
Cost: $9,949; includes tuition and boarding
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Dates: July 5–July 26
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students (specific grade levels not mentioned)
Penn Arts and Sciences – Coding Academy is a three-week course where you learn to build interactive websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You start by exploring how browsers and web servers work, then build pages with text, links, graphics, and scalable vector images. You use CSS tools like Flexbox, Grid, and media queries to create responsive layouts, and learn how to style elements using the box model and animation techniques. You work with Git and GitHub to manage code in teams and resolve merge conflicts. In the second week, you focus on JavaScript – learning variables, loops, functions, and how to use the Document Object Model to make dynamic pages.
8. Stanford University Summer Session
Cost: $8,091 (commuter); $18,443+ (residential with full-time course load)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Dates: June 21–August 17
Application Deadline: February 12; Waitlist window: February 13 – March 7
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors; must be 16–19 years old by program dates
Stanford University Summer Session gives high school students access to college-level courses in computer science and related fields. You enroll in Stanford’s official summer quarter and choose from over 130 courses, including programming, data science, logic, and AI. Options include classes like Programming Methodology (CS106A), Machine Learning (CS229), and Design and Analysis of Algorithms (CS161). You earn college credit and receive an official Stanford transcript. You also get access to campus resources like labs, libraries, maker spaces, and tech facilities.
9. Stanford AI4ALL
Cost: $4,000. Financial aid is available
Location: Online
Dates: June 18–July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Current 9th graders or rising 10th graders, aged 14+ Veritas AIStanford HAI
Stanford AI4ALL lets high school students explore core AI domains through a research-oriented lens. Over two weeks, you will engage with topics such as computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and medical AI, combining lectures with hands-on project work under the guidance of Stanford AI Lab researchers. You’ll work on applied research problems, develop technical and ethical perspectives on AI, and gain exposure to real-world use cases and career paths.
10. UC San Diego – Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)
Cost: $1,500 (financial aid available)
Location: UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Dates: June 16–August 8
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 from San Diego County
UC San Diego – Research Experience for High School Students (REHS) is an eight-week summer program where you join a UCSD lab and work on computational research projects. You focus on areas like data analysis, simulation, visualization, and algorithm testing. You learn how to design experiments, test hypotheses, and present your results using scientific posters. You also attend lab meetings, work with mentors, and take part in group discussions. Most projects require 15–20 hours of work per week and end with a formal showcase. You use tools like version control and scientific computing workflows to support your research.
11. Carnegie Mellon University – AI Scholars
Cost: Fully funded (requires documentation of financial need)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dates: June 21–July 19
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (must be 16+ by June 21)
This program is meant for students with a strong interest in artificial intelligence and its real-world applications. Over four weeks, you will study core topics in machine learning, computer vision, robotics, and natural language processing, with instruction from CMU faculty and researchers. You will complete a hands-on group project addressing a societal challenge using AI and present your work at a final symposium. The experience also includes industry engagement, college prep workshops, and extensive mentorship, all within a collaborative residential setting.
12. Columbia University – Introduction to AI: Search Algorithms (Pre-College Program)
Cost: $7,580 (commuter); additional fees apply for residential housing and meals
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Dates: June 30–July 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising 10th–12th grade) with strong coding proficiency
This course is meant for advanced students ready to explore foundational AI algorithms through applied coding. Taught in Python and Java, the curriculum covers classical search strategies, recursion, object-oriented problem solving, and optimization techniques. You will work on problems like N-Queens, Knapsack, and Chess, applying learned algorithms in structured programming assignments. The course is fast-paced and project-heavy, simulating a college-level computer science experience.
13. Columbia University – Introduction to Programming with Rust
Cost: $2,535
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Dates: August 11–August 15
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising 10th–12th grade); no prior Rust experience required
This course is meant for students interested in systems programming and modern memory-safe languages. You’ll explore Rust’s syntax, ownership model, pattern matching, and error handling through structured lessons and coding projects. Emphasis is placed on secure and performant code design, with practical applications in fields like systems architecture and game development. You will work on individual and group assignments that develop both technical fluency and problem-solving skills in a low-level programming context.
14. Harvard Pre-College Program – Quantum Information and Quantum Computation
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Dates: July 7–July 18 (Session II)
Application Deadline: Early: January 8; Regular: February 12; Late: April 9
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (must be 16 by June 21 and under 19 by July 31)
This course is meant for high school students with strong math foundations who want to explore how quantum mechanics intersects with computer science. You’ll study concepts like superposition, entanglement, and quantum gates, and understand how quantum systems outperform classical ones in specific computational tasks. The course builds from algebra and linear algebra toward key models in quantum computing, taught by a Harvard physics PhD candidate. Ideal for students interested in theoretical CS, cryptography, or physics-heavy computing.
15. Java Programming Summer Program by NextGen Bootcamp
Cost: $1,699 (after early bird discount)
Location: Live Online
Dates: Multiple sessions, typically mid-June to early August (exact dates vary by cohort)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until seats fill (early bird discounts available)
Eligibility: Open to high school students (no prior coding experience required)
This 50-hour immersive bootcamp introduces high school students to Java programming with a strong emphasis on AP Computer Science topics. You’ll build algorithms, apply object-oriented programming (inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation), and work on real-world projects using variables, recursion, control flow, and file I/O. You will complete a portfolio-ready final project and gain a solid foundation in Java syntax, logic, and CS fundamentals. Bonus 1-on-1 mentoring and access to recordings included.
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 – Columbia University