A summer program is a structured, time-bound experience that typically runs for a few weeks to a few months. It usually includes a set curriculum, scheduled sessions, and defined outcomes such as a final project or presentation. Many programs also involve mentorship from instructors, researchers, or industry professionals. Programs are different from internships in how your time is spent. In most programs, the focus is on learning concepts, building skills, and completing guided projects. Internships, on the other hand, are usually centered on contributing to an organization’s ongoing work.
What do AI summer programs for high schoolers include?
AI summer programs vary in format, but most combine instruction with hands-on work using programming tools and datasets. You’ll typically spend time learning core concepts like machine learning, data analysis, and algorithm design, then apply them through exercises or projects. Many programs use Python as the primary language, along with libraries such as NumPy, pandas, and TensorFlow or PyTorch for building models.
A common part of these programs is working with data. You might clean datasets, visualize trends, or train models to make predictions. Some programs focus on specific applications like image recognition, natural language processing, or healthcare data analysis. Others introduce broader topics like neural networks, regression models, and classification techniques through structured lessons.
You’ll also encounter the mathematical side of AI, including basic statistics, probability, and linear algebra concepts that support how models work. In more research-focused programs, you may read academic papers, define a research question, and write a formal report. In shorter programs, the focus is usually on completing guided coding exercises or small-scale projects.
Most programs include a final deliverable. This could be a presentation, a written report, or a working project such as a model or application. Some also include discussions on topics like ethics in AI, bias in datasets, and how AI systems are used in real-world settings. The overall structure tends to balance instruction with applied work, with expectations depending on the length and level of the program.
For a detailed, curated list of 15 Artificial Intelligence (AI) pre‑college summer programs aimed at high‑schoolers, you can read this Horizon blog.
15 AI Summer Programs for High School Students
1. AI Scholars Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Estimated <5%; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+) in the U.S.
Over four weeks, you’ll take college-level classes in AI alongside seminars and group-based work. The schedule typically includes lectures, collaborative sessions, and exposure to real applications through guest speakers and site visits. You’ll work in a team to develop a project addressing a real-world problem and present it at a final symposium. The program also includes structured sessions on college admissions and student life. The workload is consistent throughout the program, with a full-day academic schedule. The experience combines classroom instruction with project-based learning in a university environment.
2. Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Application fee: $75
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~2.5%; ~100 students
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet RSI academic requirements
The program begins with a week of advanced STEM lectures, followed by five weeks of independent research under mentorship. Your project may involve computational work, machine learning, theoretical modeling, or data-driven research, depending on your placement. You’ll complete a full research paper and present your findings in both written and oral formats. Most of your time is spent working independently, with guidance from mentors and access to additional lectures and resources. The program also includes field trips and academic talks. The structure closely mirrors an early-stage research experience.
3. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 12 students
Program Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (17+, U.S. citizens or permanent residents)
This seven-week residential program centers on completing an individual research project under faculty supervision. Daily work varies by discipline and may include coding, data analysis, or literature-based research. You will work closely with a faculty mentor on an independent research project in a field of your choice, which can be computer science or AI-related domains. In addition to research, the program includes seminars, discussions, and group activities. At the end, you’ll submit a written report and present your findings. The small cohort size shapes a more individualized experience.
4. AI4ALL
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~30 students
Program Dates: July 9 – 30
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders from low-income backgrounds in the U.S.
This three-week program combines technical instruction in AI with discussions on ethics, policy, and real-world impact. The structure includes lectures, mentorship, and small-group research projects. You’ll work on a project examining how AI interacts with a specific societal issue and present your findings at the end. The program also includes professional development sessions and a policy-focused field experience. Activities are split between academic learning and collaborative work. The curriculum places equal emphasis on technical and social dimensions of AI.
5. New York University’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors attending NYC schools
The program runs for 10 weeks, starting with four weeks of training in research methods, lab skills, and technical writing. This is followed by six weeks of placement in a research lab, where you’ll contribute to ongoing projects that may involve AI or machine learning. You’ll complete a research project and present it at a formal poster symposium. The schedule during the lab phase resembles a full-time research commitment. Additional workshops focus on communication and college preparation. The structure moves from guided instruction to independent lab work.
6. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition; $2,450 housing fee; stipends available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~5%
Program Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+, U.S. citizens or permanent residents)
You’ll join a research group and work on a project in a STEM field, which can include AI or data science. Most of your time is spent in a lab setting, learning techniques and contributing to ongoing research. You’ll prepare a research abstract and present your work as a poster at the closing symposium. The program also includes faculty lectures and workshops on research skills. Projects vary depending on the assigned lab. The experience emphasizes participation in an active research environment.
7. Stanford University’s Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, or Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $4,120 (virtual); $9,800 (residential); financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 15 – 26; July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students
This program introduces core AI concepts through lectures, demonstrations, and collaborative projects. You’ll explore topics such as computer vision, natural language processing, and real-world applications across different fields. You’ll work in a team to develop and present a project based on an applied AI problem. The curriculum also includes sessions on careers and representation in technology. Activities are structured to balance instruction with hands-on work. The program is designed as an introductory experience.
8. MIT Jameel Clinic’s AI & Health Summer High School Bootcamp
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $2,000; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; not specified
Program Dates: One week in the summer
Application Deadline: January (early); March (regular)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
This one-week program focuses on applications of AI in healthcare. You’ll attend lectures, learn foundational programming concepts, and participate in group-based projects. The curriculum centers on using machine learning techniques to analyze medical data and explore clinical applications. Topics may include areas like drug discovery and healthcare systems. The schedule is dense due to the short duration. The program emphasizes applied learning within a specific domain.
9. Artificial Intelligence Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $3,725 (residential); $3,095 (commuter)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students (freshman to senior) with a minimum 2.0 GPA
This one-week program introduces AI through lectures, discussions, and project work. Each day includes academic sessions, guest speakers, and structured activities that run from morning through evening. You’ll explore both technical concepts and policy-related topics such as ethics and governance in AI. The schedule also includes group discussions and off-site visits. Projects are completed in teams and presented at the end. The program combines classroom learning with a broader context around AI applications.
10. Digital Scholars Program
Location: Discovery Partners Institute, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th graders, and recent high school graduates
This six-week program combines coursework in computing, data science, and entrepreneurship through structured tracks. In the Data Science track, you’ll work with Python to analyze and visualize real-world datasets, while other tracks explore areas like mobile development and computer engineering. The schedule includes technical instruction alongside workshops on topics like ethics and career pathways in technology. You’ll complete projects within your chosen track that involve applying programming and data skills to practical problems. The program also includes sessions with professionals from local startups and the tech ecosystem. The structure blends classroom learning with applied project work across different areas of computing
11. Kode with Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person locations across the United States
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June – August (two-week sessions)
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Students ages 13–18 who identify as girls, non-binary, or trans
These two-week camps focus on building programming and machine learning skills through collaborative projects. In the AI-related track, you’ll work with concepts such as natural language processing, neural networks, and algorithm design, primarily using Python. Instruction is delivered through live sessions combined with guided coding activities. You’ll work in a team to build a final project, such as a chatbot or data-based application, and present it at the end of the program. Other tracks allow you to explore web or mobile development. The program is structured around short-term, project-based learning in a group setting.
12. Girls Who Code Summer Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free (grants available for eligible students)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8 (Pathways); July 7 – July 18 (Immersion)
Application Deadline: February (early); April (general)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) who identify as girls or non-binary
This program offers two formats: a two-week instructor-led Immersion track and a six-week self-paced Pathways track. The Immersion program introduces core computer science concepts through structured lessons and projects, while the Pathways option includes topics like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science. You’ll work with programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, and HTML across different activities. Projects are a central part of both tracks, with a focus on building functional applications or tools. The program also includes virtual events and sessions with professionals in the technology industry. The structure varies depending on the track, with either live instruction or flexible pacing.
13. AI High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Virtual)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Starts June 15
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: U.S. high school students with experience in computer science and familiarity with machine learning pipelines
This program focuses on applied research in machine learning within a medical context. You’ll work on projects related to clinical data, including areas like pathology and dermatology, using programming tools such as Python and R. The work involves handling large datasets, including medical images and health records, and applying machine learning techniques to analyze them. You’ll contribute to an ongoing research project and may be involved in developing models for tasks such as disease detection or data analysis. The program also includes lectures and discussions on ethics and the use of AI in healthcare. The structure is centered on research work with additional academic sessions.
14. Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; not specified
Program Dates: July 7 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (up to grade 11) residing in the U.S.
This program offers project-based courses across areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity. You’ll enroll in a specific course track and spend the program working through technical lessons and applied challenges. The schedule includes both instruction and hands-on work, often in teams. You’ll complete a project within your selected course, applying concepts to a defined technical problem. Coursework is structured and moves from foundational material into more applied tasks. The program emphasizes collaborative work within a technical subject area.
15. Machine Learning Summer Program
Location: New York University, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: $3,050
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – June 27; July 6 – July 17; July 20 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 17 and May 1
Eligibility: High school students with programming experience and a math background through Algebra II and Trigonometry
This program introduces machine learning concepts through lectures and guided coding exercises. You’ll explore topics such as regression, neural networks, and applications like image and speech recognition. Sessions typically combine explanation with implementation using programming tools. You’ll work through structured exercises that apply machine learning techniques to real-world-style problems. The curriculum builds from mathematical foundations into applied use cases. The format is classroom-based with a focus on guided practice.
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!
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