Curious about how data influences our world? As reliance on data grows, so does the need for skilled individuals who can analyze and interpret this information. Studying data science gives you a competitive edge, building problem-solving and critical-thinking skills essential for future research projects and internships. Choosing the right program, however, can be challenging, especially considering the high costs.
To make the process easier for you, we have put together a list of 16 free summer programs in data science. These programs allow you to gain hands-on experience in coding, data analysis, and real-world applications across various fields.
16 Free Data Science Summer Programs for High School Students for 2024-2025
1. Horizon Academic Research Program - Data Science Track
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
- Summer - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
- Fall- October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Deadline: May 21, 2024 (Summer), September 25, 2024 (Fall)
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, public health and safety, social psychology, and medicine. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program includes a letter of recommendation for every student, plus comprehensive feedback on projects that can assist with future work and college applications. Apply here!
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Program Dates: Jun 9 - Aug 11 (Sundays, 11 AM - 1:30 PM EST)
Application Deadline:
- Early Admission - March 24, 2024
- Regular Admission 1 - April 21, 2024
- Regular Admission 2 - May 19, 2024
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience.
Cost: $1790
Run by Harvard graduates, Veritas AI is a program designed to teach ambitious high school students about artificial intelligence. In the AI + Medicine program, you will learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You will get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients in the larger context of public health and wellbeing. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Data Science Track
Subject Areas: STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Cost: $2,800 (12 weeks) | $5,400 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. Selected students will undergo immersive sessions with their mentors, who will help them produce a college-level research paper based on their projects. Support from writing coaches will also be provided.
You can choose your subject track in the application form, such as public health, as well as a specific area of focus, such as astrophysics throughout your research experience!
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Ethics in AI, Social Impact of AI
Location: Stanford University (online for 2024)
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students (rising 10th graders); focuses on increasing diversity, so underrepresented groups in AI are strongly encouraged to apply
Application Deadline: March 25, 2024
Program Dates: July 8 - 26, 2024
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Stanford AI4ALL is a three-week online summer program designed to introduce high school students to artificial intelligence. The curriculum includes lectures from Stanford faculty, hands-on AI research projects, and mentorship from AI professionals. You explore areas such as computer vision, natural language processing, and the societal impacts of AI. With tools like Python, you gain hands-on experience tackling real-world AI challenges, from healthcare solutions to disaster response strategies. Ethical issues in AI, such as facial recognition and algorithmic bias, are also a central part of your learning journey.
5. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute – Autonomous Cognitive Assistance
Subject Areas: Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Science, AI for Cognitive Assistants
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Program Dates: July 8 - August 4, 2024
Cost: Free for families earning less than $150,000; $1,750 fee for others
The Autonomous Cognitive Assistance program (Cog*Works) immerses you in the development of AI-powered cognitive systems, such as virtual assistants. The course integrates theory and hands-on projects, guiding you through modules in Python, machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and neural networks. You construct your cognitive assistants, applying skills in audio processing, visual data recognition, and language modeling. The program concludes with team projects where you compete to design the most advanced assistant system.
Subject Areas: Data Science, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Social Science, Climate Policy, Biomedical Research
Location: University of Chicago
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 program open on November 4, 2024
Program Dates: June 10 – August 2, 2024
Cost: Free (A stipend of $6,000 is given)
The DSI Summer Lab is an immersive 8-week research program that pairs students with data science mentors in various fields such as public policy, materials science, and biomedical research. The program focuses on applied, interdisciplinary research, where yougain hands-on experience in data science techniques, programming, and research methodologies. You are also part of a cohort community, engaging in both professional development and social events. The program concludes with a symposium where you have to present your research findings, offering a platform for communication and teamwork skills.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Machine Learning
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (residential program)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current juniors at the time of application); U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA students; at least 16 years old by June 21, 2025
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Program Dates: June 21 – July 19, 2025
Cost: Free
The AI Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon offers you a four-week immersion into artificial intelligence. You’ll attend lectures by CMU faculty, work on hands-on AI research projects, and visit AI companies. Through seminars, you’ll explore personal development, prepare for college applications, and discuss AI career paths. You’ll also work in groups on research projects, presenting your findings at a symposium to gain real insights into AI applications across various fields.
Subject Areas: Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Information Technology, Engineering, Nanotechnology, and Neutron Research
Location: NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are current high school juniors or seniors at the time of application, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students must live near either NIST campus as the program does not provide housing or transportation.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Program Dates: Second or third week of June to the second week of August
Cost: Free
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to engage in hands-on scientific research. You are mentored by NIST scientists and engineers across diverse fields such as materials science, physics, chemistry, and more. While the program is unpaid, yougain valuable experience working on real-world research projects and presenting your work during the final symposium. You can also enhance your technical skills in areas like Python, electronics, and data analysis.
Subject Areas: Open source software development, various domains depending on the mentor organization (e.g., machine learning, data science, web development)
Location: Global (online)
Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old at the time of registration. Open to students and beginners in open-source development from non-embargoed countries.
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Program Dates: The coding period is 12+ weeks (May through August)
Cost: Free (contributors receive a stipend based on their country’s living standards).
Google Summer of Code is a global, online mentoring program designed to introduce you to open-source software development. You propose and work on coding projects under the guidance of experienced mentors from open-source organizations. Over the summer, you gain hands-on experience in software development while improving your programming and project management skills. Each project focuses on real-world applications, and you are expected to submit code for public use by the end of the program.
Subject Areas: STEM (varied fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering)
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current juniors at the time of application); U.S. citizens and international students
Application Deadline: December 11, 2024
Program Dates: TBA
Cost: Free
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a six-week summer program hosted at MIT that combines rigorous coursework with a five-week research internship. Youare mentored by top scientists and engineers, as you conduct your research projects across various STEM fields, including data science. You can work on projects involving machine learning, computational modeling, or big data analysis, all under expert guidance. By the end of the program, you present your findings through written and oral reports, mimicking professional research presentations.
Subject Areas: Game Design, Web Development, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade students (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) identifying as female or non-binary
Application Deadline: March
Program Dates: 2 weeks in the summer, 6-week self-paced option available
Cost: Free
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is a free, two-week virtual coding program aimed at empowering girls and non-binary students to explore technology. Yougain hands-on experience in coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while also diving into topics like data science and AI topics through projects like game design and web development.
You are mentored by professionals from industry-leading companies helping you develop critical skills for future careers in tech. For those interested in data science, SIP offers opportunities to explore data analytics and machine learning through real-world applications.
Subject Areas: Quantum Computing, Python Programming, Quantum Circuits, Quantum Algorithms
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Incoming 9th-12th grade students
Application Deadline: Not listed
Program Dates: July 29 - August 2, 2024
Cost: $495 (need-based scholarships available)
The QubitxQubit Quantum Computing Summer Camp lets high school and undergraduate students explore quantum computing. Teleportation is no longer just for science fiction; in quantum computing, it's real. With superposition, it’s possible. In this camp, you will explore and learn concepts like these, including the phenomenon of entanglement. You will learn Qiskit, IBM's quantum coding language, and even run code on a real quantum computer.
No prior experience in quantum computing or advanced STEM fields is needed, making it an entry point to the field. You work directly with quantum researchers, providing an opportunity for those interested in tech careers.
Subject Areas: Engineering, Computer Science, Space Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Robotics, and more STEM fields
Location: Hybrid or on-site at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, MD (with some virtual options)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (must be at least 15 years old); U.S. citizens only; minimum GPA of 2.8
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
Program Dates: June 25 – August 22, 2024
Cost: Free
The ASPIRE program at APL allows you to explore STEM careers before committing to a specific area of study in college. As an ASPIRE intern, you will be paired with APL staff mentors to complete projects, solve problems, and develop essential technical and interpersonal skills in a hands-on, professional environment. The program is designed to develop both technical and interpersonal skills in a collaborative environment.
In the program, you must be able to work independently, maintain communication with APL staff and mentors, tackle challenges, and apply innovative thinking.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Medical Imaging, Healthcare Technology
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students (entering grades 9-12), U.S. residents, with strong math, computer programming, or healthcare project experience preferred
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Program Dates: June 16 - 27, 2025
Cost: $850 (financial aid available)
The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week, intensive virtual program designed to engage high school students in AI applications within healthcare. Through lectures, group research projects, and mentoring activities led by Stanford faculty and student leaders, you explore AI's potential to address medical imaging and healthcare challenges. You will gain hands-on experience by working on group projects that tackle real-world healthcare issues. For those interested in data science, AIMI’s research component lets you collaborate on AI-driven solutions in medical contexts. Additionally, you will engage in career talks with professionals from academia, industry, and government sectors to enrich your experience.
Subject Areas: Engineering, Physical Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Business, Public Relations, and more
Location: NASA’s 10 centers and facilities across the U.S., with remote options available
Eligibility: U.S. citizens (students or recent graduates); minimum GPA of 3.0
Application Deadlines: February 28, 2025 (Summer 2025); May 16, 2025 (Fall 2025)
Program Dates: Varies by session; available year-round (summer, fall, and spring sessions)
Cost: Free (stipends based on academic level and duration)
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for students from high school through graduate levels, providing hands-on experience on projects related to space exploration, aeronautics, and technology. You will work alongside NASA scientists, engineers, and other professionals to support NASA’s missions and gain mentorship in specialized fields. The Pathways Program is a multi-term internship that can lead directly to employment at NASA, while the OSTEM internships provide single-session opportunities. NASA internships are structured to help students develop both technical skills and career-ready soft skills, which can be very helpful for students looking to explore data science.
16. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP) - Data Engineering and AI for Real-World Problems
Subject Areas: Software engineering, data engineering, machine learning, AI, data science, social media content generation, and market research.
Location: Virtual program with additional opportunities in the Greater Seattle area, WA. Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and live in the United States
Application Deadline: Applications for summer 2025 will be available in March or April 2025.
Program Dates: 8 to 12 weeks in the summer, to be discussed
Cost: Free
In the Spark Summer Mentorship Program, you have the opportunity to engage in the Data Engineering and AI for Real World Problems initiative. You will have the opportunity to apply AI and machine learning in practical settings, addressing predictive analytics and industry-specific challenges. This program allows you to work on AI and machine learning applications that address industry challenges. You will design data pipelines, verify structured and unstructured data, and explore methods to validate complex datasets. You will also gain experience with essential tools like Python and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP). With a focus on independent research, this program helps you develop technical skills and problem-solving abilities for real-world data engineering issues.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.