If you’re a high school student in Cleveland, local summer programs can be a meaningful (and affordable) way to explore subjects beyond the school curriculum and gain exposure to different career paths. These programs are offered across a range of fields—from science and medicine to the arts and public service—and often include hands-on projects, group work, and opportunities to learn in professional settings.
Cleveland’s network of universities, hospitals, cultural centers, and growing tech industry provides a strong foundation for these programs. Local students in particular can benefit from the opportunity to access these experiences without the added expense of travel, while still engaging in structured learning and skill-building over the summer.
Here is a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Cleveland:
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
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 high-school students 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 depending on program type. You can apply here.
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.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you have access to the in-house publication team to help secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Cleveland Clinic High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Cleveland Clinic main campus and regional sites across Northeast Ohio
Cost: Free; participants are paid $15/hour
Program Dates: June 9 – July 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, age 15+ by June 1; must attend school and live in eligible Northeast Ohio counties
Application Deadline: February 7
This competitive seven-week internship places you inside the Cleveland Clinic system, where you’ll work alongside healthcare professionals in both patient care and technical fields. Whether you’re interested in nursing, pharmacy, public health, or emerging areas like biomedical engineering or cybersecurity, the program offers exposure to a wide range of healthcare careers. You’ll participate in practical projects while developing workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management. You will be placed across departments and attend professional development sessions focused on leadership and career pathways.
4. Legacy++ Program – Cleveland State University
Location: Cleveland State University, OH (residential)
Cost: Free (includes housing and meals)
Program Dates: June 22–27, 2025
Eligibility: Black high school girls in Ohio planning to take the AP Computer Science Principles exam
Application Deadline: Rolling; limited to 50 students
Legacy++ is a weeklong residential program designed to support Black high school girls in Ohio who are preparing for the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) exam. Hosted at Cleveland State University and backed by the National Science Foundation, the program combines academic preparation with community-building and mentorship. Over six days, you’ll review key AP CSP content through study sessions and interactive activities, while also gaining exposure to real-world applications of computer science. You’ll live on campus, connect with peers also taking the exam, and receive mentorship from Black women in the tech field. The program emphasizes both technical skills and representation, helping you strengthen your understanding of computer science in a supportive environment. For more information, contact [email protected]
5. CSU’s Odyssey Program
Location: Cleveland State University, OH
Cost: Between $1,200 to $3,000; varies by program and mode. See full list here
Program Dates: Varies as per program
Eligibility: High school students ages 13–18
Application Deadline: Rolling; early registration recommended
The Odyssey program at Cleveland State offers hands-on film training for high school students interested in directing, writing, cinematography, or acting. Across one- or three-week intensives, you’ll work on collaborative film projects using professional gear and CSU’s dedicated soundstages and editing suites. Each session is structured around practical skills—storyboarding, lighting, camera work, editing—and ends with a public screening of your final project. Taught by CSU film faculty and advanced film majors, the program emphasizes industry-level techniques while also encouraging creative experimentation. You’ll take part in workshops on visual storytelling, on-set collaboration, performance direction, and scene pacing. Residential students stay in campus dorms and participate in evening activities and guest sessions with filmmakers and professionals in media.
6. Women’s Basketball Camp – Cleveland State University
Location: Cleveland State University, OH
Cost: $90
Program Dates: TBD
Eligibility: Girls entering grades 7–12
Application Deadline: Rolling (based on space availability)
This full-day basketball camp is led by Cleveland State’s women’s basketball team and coaching staff, offering a chance to train alongside the 2023 Horizon League Tournament Champions. You’ll focus on skill-building in areas like ball handling, shooting, defense, and court awareness through structured drills and competitive play. The camp blends instruction, scrimmages, and small-group coaching, with an emphasis on teamwork, leadership, and game IQ. Whether you’re aiming to refine your fundamentals or push your performance further, this is a focused, supportive environment for middle and high school players serious about the game.
7. National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) – Case Western Reserve University
Location: Case Western Reserve University campus, Cleveland, OH
Cost: $95 for Cleveland residents; $185 for non-residents (5-week program)
Program Dates: June 9 – July 11, 2025 (five consecutive weeks)
Eligibility: Youth ages 8–16
Application Deadline: First‑come, first‑served; limited spaces per session
NYSP at CWRU is a free-spirited, five-week summer experience combining athletics, health education, and academic enrichment for more than 300 Cleveland-area youth each year. During the program, you rotate through diverse physical activities, like swimming (mandatory) and sports including basketball, dance, badminton, and golf – to promote fitness and teamwork. Beyond sports, NYSP includes daily educational workshops covering topics like STEM, personal health, nutrition, math and science, and career awareness, all taught in hands-on formats.
8. Project STEP-UP
Location: Case Western Reserve University campus, Cleveland, OH
Cost: N/A
Program Dates: N/A
Eligibility: Youth ages 8–16
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Founded in 1988, Project STEP-UP (Student Tutoring Effort to Promote Utilization of Potential) is a long-standing academic support initiative serving K–12 students across the Cleveland area. The program provides consistent tutoring and mentoring, both in schools and in community settings, to help you strengthen core academic skills and stay on track academically. Tutors, both volunteers and paid work-study students from CWRU, commit to at least one semester of service, working directly with students throughout the school year. All tutors become part of the program’s Student Leadership Team and help deliver weekly academic support to K–12 students. New tutors are required to attend a one-time orientation before they begin. To learn more or get involved, reach out to Darlene Burks at [email protected].
9. thinkSTEM Summer Day Camp – Case Western Reserve University
Location: Sears think[box], Richey Mixon Building, 11201 Cedar Ave., Cleveland, OH
Cost: $400 per student (limited need-based scholarships available)
Program Dates: Orientation & Tour July 10, 2025; Camp July 14–25, weekdays 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9 for Fall 2025; must live and attend school in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, or Summit County
Application Deadline: Currently closed. Applications open during the fall
Over two weeks, thinkSTEM invites local rising middle school students to explore core engineering concepts through hands-on projects in aerospace, chemical, civil, mechanical, biomedical, electrical, environmental, and computer engineering. Each day focuses on a different discipline, teaching you the underlying science and math before guiding you through a related maker project at CWRU’s think[box] innovation lab. You’ll work alongside CWRU faculty and student mentors, tour university labs, and take field trips to institutions in University Circle. By the end of the program, you’ll have built prototypes, gained exposure to multiple engineering fields, and be better equipped to consider future STEM pathways.
10. MITES Semester – MIT
Location: Online (with an in-person capstone conference at MIT)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June – December
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: Fall of junior year
MITES Semester is a rigorous, semester-long online program where you’ll study advanced STEM topics like machine learning, astrophysics, thermodynamics, and science communication. You’ll tackle challenging coursework, attend live sessions, and collaborate with peers across the country, all while receiving one-on-one guidance on college applications, essays, and interviews. The experience culminates in a multi-day conference at MIT, where you’ll meet fellow scholars, network with professionals, and present your work. This is an ideal program if you’re looking to build both technical depth and college-readiness over time.
11. AI4ALL – Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Carnegie Mellon University (online or in-person options)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Summer
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with prior STEM experience
Application Deadline: Contact Natalie Hatcher ([email protected]) for updated details
AI4ALL at CMU is a deep, hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, designed to bring more diverse voices into the future of tech. Over several weeks, you’ll work directly with faculty and researchers to explore neural networks, build your own AI models, and engage with the ethical challenges of modern computing. You’ll also gain exposure to real-world applications through team projects and guest talks. Whether you’re interested in autonomous vehicles, bias in algorithms, or the future of AI in society, this program offers both technical training and critical discussion.
12. Summer Research Program in Data Science – Columbia University
Location: Virtual
Cost: To be announced
Program Dates: Five weeks during summer (dates TBA)
Eligibility: High school students interested in data science
Application Deadline: TBA
In this remote research experience, you’ll work closely with Columbia faculty and graduate students on real data science projects, from data wrangling and web scraping to visualization and statistical modeling in R. You’ll also learn how to communicate research findings effectively through presentations and technical writing. Over five weeks, you’ll contribute to active research, receive mentorship, and design a final project of your own. This is a rigorous opportunity if you’re curious about how data shapes decision-making across science and society.
13. NASA OSTEM High School Internships
Location: Virtual and on-site at various NASA centers
Cost: Free (some positions include stipends)
Program Dates: Vary by position
Eligibility: U.S. citizens in high school
Application Deadlines: February 27 (Summer)
OSTEM internships let you collaborate with NASA engineers and scientists on real research projects tied to space exploration, robotics, air traffic systems, and even AR/VR. Depending on your placement, you might write code for aerospace systems, analyze climate data, or prototype hardware. Opportunities are offered both virtually and in person, and you’ll receive mentorship throughout. With access to NASA labs and professionals, this internship is a great entry point into research-intensive STEM fields.
14. Johns Hopkins Online Engineering Programs
Location: Online
Cost: $4,170 for Online BMEI; $1,290 for Online Intro to Python; $4,115 for Online EEI
Program Dates: Varies as per program
Application Deadline: May 17
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong grades in math/science, Algebra II and trig, and a year of chemistry or physics (with lab)
These online courses from Johns Hopkins offer a self-paced but rigorous introduction to engineering, ideal for high schoolers ready to tackle college-level material. You’ll choose from three tracks: general Engineering Innovation (EEI), Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI), or Intro to Python. Each includes frequent project submissions and access to hands-on experiments, whether through lab kits or virtual tools like circuit builders and simulation software.
15. Summer@Brown Online – Brown University
Location: Online
Cost: $3,218 – $6,238 depending on course length
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25 (exact dates vary by course)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, ages 14–18 by June 15
Application Deadline: May 9
Summer@Brown Online offers over 80 college-level courses modeled after Brown’s Open Curriculum, giving you the freedom to explore subjects across STEM, humanities, and social sciences. You can choose courses in everything from biology and engineering to creative writing and data science, including course-based research experiences (CREs). With flexible formats, fully asynchronous, mostly asynchronous, or blended, you’ll engage in independent learning guided by university instructors. While the program is non-credit and ungraded, it’s academically rigorous and encourages self-driven exploration.
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 – Brown University