Are you a high school student looking to build advanced skills or gain more experience in a subject you’re passionate about? University summer programs for high school students in 2025 offer a great opportunity to focus on specific areas like coding, creative writing, engineering, or the arts. These programs let you work with experts, use college-level tools, and get hands-on experience that will help you deepen your knowledge in your chosen field.
Whether you’re looking to explore a new interest or develop advanced skills, these summer programs provide a great environment to grow. Check out these 16 university summer programs for high school students in 2025 to find the right fit for you!
16 University Summer Programs for High School Students
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is a six-week program for high school students interested in science and engineering. It starts with a week of STEM coursework led by MIT professors, covering advanced topics in science and math.
For the next five weeks, you’ll conduct research on an individual project, working closely with professional scientists and engineers. You’ll gain experience in every step of the research process, including formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing results. The program concludes with a written report and an oral presentation where you’ll share your findings and methods.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided, $40 application fee with a need-based refund.
Application deadline: TBA for 2026.
Program dates: 6 weeks, specific dates TBA for 2026.
Eligibility: High School Juniors only (U.S. and International)
2. Princeton Summer Journalism Program
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program gives high school juniors a hands-on introduction to journalism through online and in-person sessions. Starting in July, you’ll join online workshops led by journalists to learn reporting techniques, analyze current events, and build essential skills.
The program then moves to Princeton’s campus for a 10-day residential session with lectures and workshops from industry professionals. You’ll explore topics like humanities and social issues, visit major news organizations, conduct field reporting, and create digital content. The program ends with The Princeton Summer Journal, where you’ll apply your skills in writing, editing, and investigative reporting.
Location: Online and in-person at Princeton University, NJ.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Feb 24, 2025
Program Dates: A multi-week, hybrid summer intensive beginning with online workshops in July and culminating in a 10-day residential experience on Princeton’s campus in early August.
Eligibility: Be a junior in high school at the time of application, live in the United States and intend to attend college here, have a minimum unweighted grade point average equivalent to a 3.5 out of 4.0, have an interest in journalism, meet at least one of the socioeconomic conditions listed here!
3. Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
The Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) at Carnegie Mellon University is a six-week program designed to strengthen your skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). You’ll join high school students from across the country to deepen your understanding of these subjects through traditional classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and sustained engagement with renowned faculty and skilled staff mentors.
The program begins with a virtual pre-residential segment, focusing on building essential skills to prepare you for the in-person experience. Following this, the six-week residential portion includes full-day courses, collaborative projects, and a concluding symposium where you’ll showcase your work.
Note: SAMS Scholars are expected to commit fully to the program and cannot participate in any overlapping programs, whether virtual or in-person, to ensure their complete focus and engagement.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: Mar 1, 2025
Program dates: 6 weeks, Jun 21 – Aug 2, 2025
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors from high school and underrepresented communities can apply.
4. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
ARISE is a 10-week summer program for rising high school sophomores and juniors in New York City who are passionate about STEM. The program focuses on areas like bioengineering, chemical engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, computer science, and machine learning.
You’ll engage in hands-on projects while also learning about college-level research, scientific methods, expository writing, ethics, and professional development. The program is highly competitive, selecting around 80 students each year. The first six weeks involve virtual after-school workshops, allowing students to build foundational knowledge. The final four weeks take place in person at NYU, with full-day sessions from 9 am to 4 pm. This format combines flexibility with intensive in-person learning.
Location: New York University (New York, NY)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded scholarship, but participants are responsible for their meals and transportation in the program.
Application deadline: Feb 21, 2025
Program Dates: 10 weeks, Jun 2 — Aug 8, 2025
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade in June 2025 can apply.
5. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University provides an opportunity for 12 high school juniors and seniors to participate in a 7-week summer research program in a field of their choosing across STEM fields, social sciences, and the humanities. During the program, you will work closely with faculty members on research projects, gaining practical experience in your area of interest. Upon completing your project and submitting a report, you will receive a $750 stipend. Location: Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
Cost/Stipend: No cost, the program provides a $750 stipend. On-campus meals, room and board, and weekend activities/programming are covered.
Application Deadline: February 15, 2025
Program Dates: 7 weeks, June 22 – August 7, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
6. Telluride Association Summer Seminar
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar in Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS) focuses on exploring the histories and cultures of people of African descent. This six-week program offers high school students the chance to study topics like history, politics, literature, and art through seminars led by university professors.
You will examine the African diaspora’s contributions to society and discuss how historical narratives shape contemporary culture. The program emphasizes critical reading, writing, and thinking, helping you approach these topics from multiple perspectives. Admission is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate between 3% and 5%.
Location: Cornell University, and University of Maryland
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: Currently open for 2025! No deadline has been specified. You can apply here.
Program dates: Jun 22 – Jul 26, 2025
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders, usually for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
7. The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program offers high school and undergraduate students the chance to explore genetics and genomics through hands-on lab work and professional development. Each year, around 40 students join this 10-week program.
You’ll work on research projects under expert mentors, design and carry out an independent project, analyze data, and present your findings to researchers, and peers at the end of the program.
Location: The Jackson Laboratory (two campuses: Bar Harbor, Maine & Farmington, Connecticut)
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend of $6,500, room, board, and travel included.
Application Deadline: Jan 27, 2025
Program Dates: 10 weeks, May 31 — Aug 8, 2025
Eligibility: At the time of participation in the program, must have completed grade 12, be at least 18 years old, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
8. Stanford’s Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) program is an 8-week internship for high school juniors and seniors interested in research. During the program, you’ll work alongside mentors at Stanford University’s medical institutes, focusing on one of eight research areas, including Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, and more.
Based on your research interests, you’ll be assigned to a specific institute, where you’ll get to work on real-world projects and gain valuable insights into medical research. SIMR also offers a bioengineering boot camp, which provides hands-on experience in bioengineering without lab research. This program is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate under 3%, making it a great opportunity for students serious about pursuing a career in science and medicine.
Location: Stanford University campus (Stanford, CA)
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee with a need-based refund, stipend of $500 provided ($1500 for need-based students).
Application deadline: Feb 22, 2025
Program dates: 8 weeks, Jun 9 – Jul 31, 2025
Eligibility: To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (with a green card), currently living in the U.S. and attending high school as juniors or seniors (class of 2025 or 2026), and must be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
9. Penn Arts and Sciences Social Justice Research Academy
The Social Justice Research Academy at Penn Arts and Sciences gives you the chance to explore important topics like inequality and resistance. You’ll learn about these issues through lectures and workshops that cover history, politics, and society.
As part of the program, you’ll work on a project where you pick a question related to social justice and research it. Past projects have explored subjects like AAPI representation in Hollywood, redlining, and gun violence. This is a great way to learn, research, and contribute to discussions on critical social issues.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: $9,949. Scholarships are available for selected Philadelphia students!
Application Deadline: Apr 27, 2025
Program Dates: Jul 5 – Jul 26, 2025
Eligibility: Current 9th – 11th grade students are eligible to apply!
10. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute gives students the chance to explore sociology and other humanities fields outside the usual high school curriculum. You’ll develop critical thinking and academic independence by working on original research projects. You will work closely with Stanford professors and mentors to design and execute an independent research project, allowing for in-depth exploration of sociological topics.
One of the featured courses, “Racial Identity in the American Imagination,” examines the development of racial identity in the U.S. using historical, legal, and literary texts, as well as films. By analyzing significant historical shifts, the program helps you build research skills while deepening your understanding of complex social issues, providing a strong foundation for future careers in sociology and related disciplines.
Location: Stanford Campus, CA
Cost: $8,575 (Financial aid is available).
Application Deadline: Feb 3, 2025
Program Dates: 3 weeks, typically between June and August!
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 10 and 11 at the time of application submission. Participants who will be 18 years or older during the program are not eligible.
11. Simons Summer Research Program
The Simons Summer Research Program allows you to participate in research across various fields such as science, math, and engineering. You will be paired with a mentor and work within a research group on specific projects, with your work concluding in the creation of an abstract or poster. Research areas include biochemistry, computer science, geoscience, pharmacological sciences, astronomy, and more, providing a wide range of options.
Throughout the program, you’ll gain hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and research methodologies, giving you a firsthand look at life in a research university setting. The program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate between 5% and 12%, and requires a school nomination along with two recommendation letters.
Location: Stony Brook University, featuring commuter and residential options.
Cost: Free, although students are responsible for their own transportation and residential costs. At the program’s closing symposium, students receive a stipend award.
Application Deadline: Feb 7, 2025
Program Dates: Jun 30 – Aug 8, 2025
Eligibility: Applicants must be in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of application, must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program.
12. Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, and Economics
If you’re interested in understanding how economics, government, and law shape the world, the Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) session is a great place to start. You’ll explore topics like public policy, human rights, market regulation, international relations, and more.
In this program, you’ll learn to think critically about the intersection of politics, law, and economics, applying these frameworks to current global challenges. You will examine topics like political change and the regulation of international economic activities, gaining insights relevant to future academic or career pursuits in these fields.
Location: Yale Campus, CT
Cost: $6500 + $75 Early Action fee or $90 Regular Decision fee
Application Deadline: Jan 10, 2025
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout June to August.
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16-18 years old by July 20, 2025, fluent in English, current high school sophomores or juniors (graduating in 2026 or 2027 from the Northern Hemisphere, or in 2025 or 2026 from the Southern Hemisphere), and first-time participants in YYGS.
13. Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)
If you’re looking to strengthen your academic skills and gain experience in a college environment, the Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS) could be an ideal opportunity. This four-week summer program is followed by three years of continued support to help you succeed in your academic journey.
During the summer, you’ll explore a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, participating in Critical Inquiry seminars led by Pomona College professors. These seminars focus on active participation and require you to complete analytical papers. You’ll also engage in hands-on activities like data collection and Excel modeling, guided by college teaching assistants. Throughout the program, you’ll have opportunities to develop essential skills in writing, analysis, and quantitative reasoning.
Location: Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: Feb 24, 2025
Program Dates: Jun 22 – Jul 18, 2025
Eligibility: To apply, you must be a 9th-grade student residing in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura County, and meet one or more of the following: first-generation college-bound, low-income (qualifying for free/reduced lunch), or currently taking Geometry or Integrated Math II.
14. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
The Laboratory Learning Program gives New Jersey high school students the chance to gain real science and engineering research experience. You’ll work directly with Princeton faculty and research staff on ongoing projects, helping you build practical skills in the field.
In 2024, the program offers two tracks: The Engineering track focuses on how large language models can help solve environmental problems. The Natural Sciences track studies how climate change has affected animal sizes over time. Through this program, you’ll develop skills in research, data analysis, and problem-solving, all of which are valuable for a future career in science, engineering, or medicine.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (commuter program for statewide residents). Please note that this program does not provide housing, so you will need to arrange your transportation and accommodations.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Mar 15, 2025
Program dates: 5–6 weeks over the summer. Exact participation dates are customized according to the schedules of the research personnel and the specifics of the project!
Eligibility: Must be 16 or older by June 15, 2025, currently enrolled in a U.S. high school (or a recent graduate under 18 by June 15, 2025), a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or an international student attending a U.S. high school.
15. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Finance
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania offers the Global Youth Program for high school students to explore business and related fields. The program covers key concepts in finance, including personal and corporate finance, fixed income, equities, risk, capital structure, and valuation models, with a focus on their real-world applications.
You will have the opportunity to engage with Wharton lecturers and PhD students, as well as attend the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series, which features presentations from Wharton faculty. The program also includes group work on an analysis project, and upon completion, you will receive a Wharton Global Youth Program Certificate.
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $7,899 – includes program fees, accommodation, and meals!
Application deadline: Apr 2, 2025
Program dates: The two-week program typically has multiple sessions in the June–August period, letting applicants choose dates that work for them.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 can apply.
16. Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) at The University of Chicago
The University of Chicago’s Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS) program is a four-week pre-college summer course designed to introduce you to research techniques in molecular biology, microbiology, and cellular biology. You will gain practical laboratory experience and work on projects, while also attending lectures that support your learning.
At the end of the program, you will have the opportunity to present your independent project, demonstrating the skills and knowledge you’ve developed throughout the course.
Location: The University of Chicago campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $14,490
Application Deadline: Mar 5, 2025 (regular) | Apr 9, 2025 (extended) | After Apr 15 — May 15, 2025 (rolling)
Program Dates: Jun 14 — Jul 12, 2025
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th-grade students can apply!
If you’re looking for a virtual 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.
