If you’re a high school student in St. Louis, joining a local summer research program is a practical way to build an advanced skillset and gain experience that goes beyond your classroom curriculum. These programs are designed to help you work on real projects, follow advanced methods and tools in research, and start learning how research or technical work happens in college or professional settings.
St. Louis is home to several universities, hospitals, and research centers that run summer programs for high school students every year. These programs cover a range of fields like medicine, biology, computer science, and engineering. Most are structured around hands-on work and step-by-step learning, so you get a clear idea of how each field works in practice.
Choosing a program in your city can also help you save on travel and housing costs. If you live in St. Louis, you can take part in high-quality programs while staying at home, which makes them more affordable and easier to manage.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer research programs for high school students in St. Louis, MO!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in St. Louis, MO
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — participate from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid is available
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring; options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: 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 depending on program type
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15 week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling; with key start windows in January, May, September, and November
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants should have completed the AI Scholars program or demonstrate prior experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI offers two main programs for high school students who want to explore artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. If you’re just starting, the AI Scholars Program is a 10-session bootcamp that introduces you to core topics like supervised learning, neural networks, and data preprocessing. You’ll use Python and libraries like scikit-learn to build a group project with 3–5 other students.
If you already know Python and want to work independently, the AI Fellowship is a 12–15 week research experience where you’ll work 1-on-1 with a mentor to design and build your own AI project. You’ll meet weekly, explore topics in depth, and get support from Veritas’s publication team to submit your work to high school journals or competitions.
3. BESt Healthcare Institute
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO
Cost: None. Pays a stipend (requires documentation to receive compensation)
Program Dates: Four weeks in the summer (exact start and end dates vary by cohort)
Application Deadline: Typically in March; check here for updates
Eligibility: Must be a high school student living in the St. Louis region; requires submission of a transcript and two references
The BESt Healthcare Institute is a free, four-week summer program for high school students in the St. Louis area who are curious about healthcare careers. You’ll explore anatomy, work through real clinical case studies, and take part in hands-on lab activities to understand how healthcare professionals think and work. You’ll also get ACT prep from Princeton Review, which has helped past students boost their scores by up to six points. The program includes mentorship, medical campus visits, and workshops on leadership and professional development.
4. WashU Rural Scholars Academy
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free (includes tuition, housing, meals, and activities); travel funding available
Program Dates: July 13 – July 19
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores (at least 15 by July 1) attending a rural or small-town high school in the U.S.; all citizenships are eligible
WashU Rural Scholars Academy is a free summer program for high school students from small towns or rural backgrounds. You will build leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills through seminars, workshops, and group projects led by WashU faculty and admissions staff. The program includes sessions on applying to highly selective universities and lets you explore what academic life is like in a large city. You will take part in structured activities on WashU’s campus and learn about research and professional resources in St. Louis.
5. Ancient Studies Institute
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $3,785 (includes housing, meals, and program activities); need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: June 15 – June 28
Application Deadline: Typically closes in early spring
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors (graduating in the next two years) enrolled in rigorous coursework (honors/AP/IB where offered)
The Ancient Studies Institute is a two-week residential program where you will study the literature and culture of ancient Greece through heroes and heroines. You will read epic poems and tragic plays, and examine characters like Achilles, Odysseus, and Antigone to understand how they show both strength and flaw. The program focuses on close reading, group discussions, and cultural analysis. You will build skills in critical thinking, interpretation, and humanities research.
6. Summer Focus – Young Scientist Program at WashU
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $4,500 (pre-tax) for the summer
Program Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 27; recommendation letters due February 3
Eligibility: High school juniors (11th graders) from the Greater St. Louis area, especially those with no prior research experience; students from under-resourced schools and groups historically underrepresented in science are strongly encouraged to apply
Summer Focus is an eight-week research internship for high school students interested in science. You will be matched with a PhD mentor and a tutor, and work on lab projects in fields like cancer biology, neuroscience, microbiology, or biomedical engineering. Depending on your project, you will learn lab skills such as PCR, electrophoresis, or fluorescence microscopy. You will also take a writing course where you read scientific papers, write abstracts, and practice sharing your research. A second course focuses on college admissions and career planning. At the end of the program, you will present your work at a research symposium with other students, families, and lab staff.
7. Architecture Discovery Program
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $4,220 (includes tuition, supplies, housing, meals, and field trips); need-based scholarships available up to full cost
Program Dates: July 13 – July 26
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Architecture Discovery Program is a two-week summer course where you learn the basics of architectural design through studio work, drawing, and feedback from faculty and professionals. You will build skills in spatial thinking, proportion, and orthographic projection, while also exploring how sustainability influences modern design. You will visit architecture firms, galleries, and sites like the Gateway Arch to study the built environment. The program ends with a final design project you can include in your college portfolio. You will also earn two college credits.
8. Portfolio Plus Program
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $6,280 (includes tuition, supplies, housing, meals, and field trips); scholarships available up to full cost
Program Dates: July 13 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Portfolio Plus Program is a three-week summer course for high school juniors and seniors who want to study art and design. You will earn three college credits while building your portfolio and learning new creative skills. In the mornings, you will focus on observational drawing to explore line, form, space, and perspective. In the afternoons, you will choose one area to specialize in: communication design, fashion design, or studio art. Each track gives you hands-on experience with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, garment construction, or studio techniques. You will also visit museums, sculpture parks, and design studios in St. Louis.
9. Gateway to Business
Location: Hybrid: three online sessions plus a one-week residential experience at Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $4,850 (includes tuition, materials, housing, meals, transportation, and activities)
Program Dates: Virtual sessions on June 5, June 12, and June 19; on-campus session July 13 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled; early submission recommended
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors; U.S. residents
Gateway to Business is a hybrid pre-college program where you learn core business skills like leadership, marketing, and team problem-solving. You will work on communication by improving your resume, LinkedIn profile, and college personal statement, and you will also complete a consulting project focused on real client needs. The in-person week at WashU includes workshops with Olin faculty and business professionals, along with group challenges that build strategic thinking and leadership. You will earn college credit after finishing the program, which adds a formal credential to your academic record.
10. Young Scientist Program (YSP) – Washington University School of Medicine
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, and partner schools in the St. Louis area
Stipend: Paid only for select internship tracks
Program Dates: Outreach activities and mentoring run year-round; specific internships like Summer Focus run June-July
Application Deadline: Varies by activity; outreach and mentoring are arranged through partner schools and teachers
Eligibility: K–12 students at participating St. Louis area schools; high school students can access hands-on experiences and lab mentoring
The Young Scientist Program at Washington University in St. Louis offers year-round opportunities for high school students to explore science and research. You’ll get to visit real labs, try hands-on experiments, and learn how scientists ask questions and solve problems. The program includes classroom demos with science kits, field trips to WashU labs, and lab equipment that schools can borrow. You’ll also be matched with mentors – graduate students and postdocs who help guide your learning and talk with you about careers in STEM.
11. Creative Immersion Institute
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $3,785 (includes housing, meals, and all program activities); need-based scholarships and 10% discounts for WashU families/returning students available
Program Dates: June 15 – June 28
Application Deadline: Typically due in early spring; rolling until filled
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who have completed at least two years of high school English
The Creative Immersion Institute is a two-week residential program where you’ll focus on storytelling and creative writing through daily workshops and interdisciplinary sessions. In the mornings, you’ll write across genres like poetry, memoir, scripts, and photo essays, building a strong foundation in voice, character, and structure. In the afternoons, you’ll work with faculty from areas like performing arts, environmental studies, and campus archives to deepen your approach to setting, gesture, and historical context. You’ll learn how to give and receive feedback, revise your work, and think critically about narrative choices.
12. Environmental Studies Institute
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Danforth Campus, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $3,785 (includes housing, meals, and all program activities); need-based scholarships and 10% discounts for WashU families/returning students available
Program Dates: July 13 – July 26
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who have completed at least one year of high school biology
This two-week residential institute provides an interdisciplinary introduction to environmental studies and sustainability, linking ecological theory with social and economic dimensions. You’ll examine topics like population dynamics, energy systems, land and water management, climate science, and toxicology through interactive lectures and small-scale problem-solving projects. Hands-on components develop your ability to analyze ecosystem interdependencies and propose mitigation strategies. With sustainability as a core framework, the program sharpens your understanding of how scientific, policy, and community factors intersect in addressing global environmental challenges.
13. Visiting Young Scholars
Location: Saint Louis University or online
Stipend: None; tuition is $350 per credit hour + lab fees
Program Dates: Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters; up to 11 credit hours per semester
Application Deadline: Varies by semester; check the SLU website for current deadlines
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA; must have parent and school approval, and meet course prerequisites
Visiting Young Scholars is an early college access program that allows you to take real university courses at Saint Louis University while still in high school. You can enroll in 1000- or 2000-level undergraduate courses either on campus, abroad in Spain, or online, gaining college credits that may be transferable or applicable toward a future SLU degree. You will learn alongside college students, have access to university resources such as libraries and labs, and receive official SLU transcripts. The program offers a reduced tuition rate and provides academic advising to help you navigate college-level study and future degree planning.
14. STEM Immersion Experience
Location: Saint Louis University North Campus, 1 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Cost: Full scholarship covers all program costs for accepted students
Program Dates: July 6–11
Application Deadline: Early Spring
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students with a minimum 2.5 GPA; must live within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis
The STEM Immersion Experience is a fully-funded, residential camp designed to support underrepresented high school students exploring STEM careers and college readiness. Over six days, you will engage in hands-on STEM activities, connect with industry professionals, and gain critical insights into the college application and financial aid process. The program emphasizes career exploration and mentorship from STEM role models, aiming to inspire students from diverse backgrounds to pursue future opportunities in science and engineering. All meals, lodging, and programming are included at no cost to accepted students.
15. Rawlings Sport Business Management Summer Institute
Location: Maryville University, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $750
Program Dates: June 9–14
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Rawlings Sport Business Management Summer Institute is a six-day residential program where you’ll dive into the business side of sports through hands-on projects and real-world experience. You’ll work directly with organizations like the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, Rawlings, and St. Louis City SC, solving actual business challenges in areas like marketing, analytics, and event management. You’ll connect with over 30 professionals in the field, explore different career paths, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how sports organizations operate.
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 – Maryville University