For students interested in space, physics, or understanding how the universe works, exploring astronomy during high school can be a good starting point. Astronomy programs help you move beyond basic concepts and understand how scientists study celestial objects and large-scale systems.
As a participant, you will work with telescope data, learn how to track planets and stars, and study topics like cosmology, light analysis, and space observation. These experiences help you understand how astronomers collect data, interpret signals, and build explanations about the universe.
Why should you choose a program in NYC?
NYC offers a range of programs through universities, museums, and science institutions that introduce high school students to astronomy. Many of these programs are connected to academic environments, where you can learn from instructors with research experience and access structured learning resources.
These opportunities allow you to gain early exposure to astronomy while interacting with peers who share similar interests. They also add depth to your college applications by showing that you have explored your academic interests in a focused and practical way.
With that in mind, here are 15 astronomy programs for high school students in NYC! For more options, you can go through our online astronomy research opportunities here and online astronomy programs here!
15 Astronomy Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan
Stipend: $2,500
Dates: Year-long program
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Must live and go to school in New York City, be in the 10th or 11th Grade, and be passing your classes for the last three or more semesters; Must either attend an AMNH partner school OR have participated in previous AMNH programs
The Science Research Mentoring Program introduces you to long-term scientific research through sustained work with museum scientists and a small cohort of peers. Early in the experience, you build practical research skills through training in methods such as data analysis, coding, and reading scientific literature. From there, you begin contributing to an original project, which may involve topics connected to astrophysics, planetary science, or other research areas being studied by mentors. You also strengthen your scientific writing, presentation, and analytical thinking through guided feedback and structured support. College readiness and professional development are also built into the experience. The program concludes with students sharing their work through formal presentations and written research outputs.
2. Columbia University Pre-College Program – Astronomy and Astrophysics
Location: Columbia University, Manhattan
Cost: Varies by session and format
Dates: July 21 – August 7
Application Deadline: Early: February 2 | General: April 2
Eligibility: Rising 9th through current 12th grade domestic and international students are invited to apply; NYC Residential Summer is open to students who are 15 years of age or older
Columbia’s Astronomy and Astrophysics course gives you a rigorous introduction to how scientists study the universe, moving well beyond a general overview of space. You begin by tracing how astronomical ideas developed over time and then move into the physical laws that explain motion, gravity, light, and the behavior of celestial objects. As the course progresses, you examine topics such as planetary systems, stars, galaxies, black holes, and the large-scale structure of the universe. The curriculum also connects astronomy to underlying concepts in physics, which helps you understand not just what happens in space, but why. Discussions and coursework further emphasize interpretation and reasoning.
3. Columbia University Pre-college Program – The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by session and format
Dates: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: Early: February 2 | General: April 2
Eligibility: Rising 9th through current 12th grade domestic and international students are invited to apply; NYC Residential Summer is open to students who are 15 years of age or older
The Origin and Evolution of the Universe explores cosmology through a course structure that connects physics, astronomy, and the history of scientific discovery. You study how researchers came to understand that the universe is expanding and how that realization reshaped modern thinking about its origins and future. Along the way, the course examines dark matter, dark energy, black holes, and general relativity, showing how large-scale cosmic questions are tied to fundamental physical laws. The class also includes discussions, problem-solving, and activities that draw from scientific literature.
4. Columbia University Pre-College – Geometric Topology: A Tool for Modeling the Universe
Location: Columbia University, Manhattan
Cost: Varies by session and format
Dates: July 21 – August 7
Application Deadline: Early: February 2 | General: April 2
Eligibility: Rising 9th through current 12th grade domestic and international students are invited to apply; NYC Residential Summer is open to students who are 15 years of age or older
This course approaches astronomy from a different angle by asking how mathematics can help explain the shape and structure of the universe. You spend time investigating ideas such as curvature, space, and whether the universe may be finite or infinite. The class combines mathematical reasoning with experiments, guided activities, and conceptual discussions that connect abstract ideas to physical cosmology. As you work through these questions, you begin to see how topology can serve as a framework for modeling space itself. It also introduces you to a style of reasoning that is common in advanced mathematics and physics, where the goal is to build precise models.
5. CUNY STEM Research Academy
Location: Spring semester pre-college course is offered at 10 CUNY campuses across four boroughs
Stipend: $1,575 stipend
Dates: Spring Semester: February 10 – May 23 | Summer Research: July 6 – August 6
Application deadline: January 16
Eligibility: New York City Public School (NYCPS) students in grades 10-11; Highly motivated 9th-grade NYCPS students are considered on an individual basis
This program combines research training with hands-on lab experience. In the first part, you learn how to ask research questions, interpret evidence, and think through experimental design in a pre-college setting. Students who continue into the summer are then placed in research environments where they apply those skills to active projects under guidance from mentors. Depending on the placement, that work may involve physics-based topics, technical experimentation, or data-driven projects that connect to astronomy-related ideas. The experience concludes with students presenting their findings publicly, which gives them a chance to reflect on and communicate the work they completed.
6. Barnard Pre-College – STEMinist
Location: Barnard College, Manhattan
Cost: Residential: $10,771 | Commuter: $8,160
Dates: Session 1: June 29 – July 17 | Session 2: July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old by the start of the program
Barnard’s STEMinist track lets you spend an entire session immersed in one course, which gives you more time to build skills and engage deeply with a specific area of interest. In the Space and Time course, you explore questions that sit at the intersection of physics, astronomy, and broader intellectual inquiry, using both quantitative and conceptual approaches. The coursework may involve problem solving, discussion, analytical writing, and collaborative activities that help you examine how scientific ideas connect to everyday assumptions about the world. Outside class, you also benefit from academic support, college-readiness programming, and a broader campus community that adds context to the experience.
7. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn
Stipend: $2,000
Dates: June 1 – August 14 (10 weeks)
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: NYC high school students currently in 10th or 11th grade; must live and attend school in NYC
ARISE places you in one of 50+ NYU research labs where you conduct hands-on STEM research under faculty and graduate student mentorship. While research areas span engineering and applied sciences, physics-based and astronomy-adjacent projects are available depending on lab placement. The program begins with four weeks of foundational training in lab safety, research methods, scientific writing, and data analysis, followed by six weeks of full-time lab work. You conclude by presenting your research at a colloquium and the AMNH Poster Symposium.
8. Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP)
Location: Columbia University, Manhattan
Cost: $900 per year
Dates: September – May (Saturday mornings, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students in 10th–12th grade who attend schools in NY, NJ, or CT and live within 75 miles of Columbia’s campus
SHP is one of the most selective and long-running advanced science programs for high school students in New York. You attend Saturday classes throughout the academic year, with course offerings that include astrophysics, quantum physics, relativity, particle physics, and cosmology. Instruction is led by active Columbia researchers, and the curriculum emphasizes deep conceptual understanding, problem solving, and exposure to current research frontiers. The program also includes lab components and prepares students for advanced STEM study at the undergraduate level.
9. Brooklyn College Now STEM Research Academy
Location: Brooklyn College, Brooklyn
Stipend: $1,000+ (for summer research interns)
Dates: Spring course: February – May | Summer research: July – August (6 weeks)
Application deadline: January (annual)
Eligibility: NYC public school students in 10th or 11th grade; 11th graders from schools underserved by STEM initiatives, especially encouraged
This two-semester program begins with a spring pre-college course in Urban Aquatic Ecology that teaches research design, literature review, data collection, and scientific communication. If you complete the spring term, you may apply for a paid six-week summer research internship working alongside CUNY faculty on active projects. While the spring course is ecology-focused, summer research placements can include physics-based topics depending on mentor availability. The program is part of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium and provides MetroCards, meals, and access to AMNH consortium events.
10. Hunter College Now – Astronomy 100
Location: Hunter College, Manhattan
Cost: Free (college credit-bearing)
Dates: Spring or Fall semester (varies by offering)
Application deadline: Rolling (semester-based)
Eligibility: NYC public high school students in 10th–12th grade with an overall 80+ average
This College Now course offers high school students the opportunity to earn three college credits while studying introductory astronomy at Hunter College. The curriculum covers observational astronomy, stellar evolution, galactic structures, dark matter, and cosmology, with an emphasis on qualitative understanding. You explore topics such as the Copernican revolution, planetary motion, and the Big Bang through lectures, discussions, and observational activities. This program provides a rigorous, college-level introduction to astronomy and is especially suitable for students seeking foundational knowledge before pursuing advanced research opportunities.
11. Baruch College Now STEM Research Academy
Location: Baruch College, Manhattan
Stipend: Paid summer internship (amount varies)
Dates: Spring course: January – May | Summer research: July – August (6–7 weeks)
Application deadline: Typically in December
Eligibility: NYC public high school students in 10th or 11th grade with an overall 80+ average
This program combines research training with hands-on lab experience. The spring term focuses on research design, data analysis, scientific writing, and literature review skills. If you continue into summer, you will be placed in mentored research internships at Baruch or partner laboratories, working on active STEM projects. While research areas vary by mentor, physics and astronomy-adjacent projects are available through the consortium network. The program concludes with a symposium where students present their findings. It is part of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium and provides strong preparation for college-level STEM research.
12. Fordham University Summer Pre-College – Introduction to Astronomy
Location: Online
Cost: $1,134 per credit
Dates: May 26 – June 25 | June 30 – August 4
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0/B or better; Exceptional rising juniors may request special consideration
Fordham’s Introduction to Astronomy course gives you the experience of taking a college-style class while studying major topics in space science. The curriculum surveys the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology, while also introducing the tools and physical principles astronomers use to make sense of observations. You encounter topics such as spectroscopy, refraction, and lenses, which help explain how scientists gather information about distant objects. The course also includes an observational lab component, allowing students to connect classroom concepts to the practical side of astronomy.
13. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students between 9th and 11th grade; Preference will be given to first-generation students, those from underrepresented backgrounds in physics
SPINWIP introduces you to advanced areas of physics through a virtual format that combines academic learning with mentorship and community-building. Over the course of the program, you explore subjects such as astrophysics, cosmology, quantum physics, and related research areas through lectures and guided activities. The experience also includes instruction in Python, giving you a chance to apply coding skills to physics-based problems and projects. Small-group discussions led by undergraduate mentors make the program feel more interactive and give you space to ask questions in a less formal setting.
14. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote
Cost: $25 application fee + $1299 for 3 credits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: Typically mid-February
Eligibility: 15 years or older for the remote internships; 16 years or above for wet-lab in-person/hybrid internships
ASSIP places you in a faculty-led research setting where you contribute to an active STEM project and learn how scientific work unfolds over time. Project topics vary by mentor, so your experience may include coding, literature review, data interpretation, technical problem solving, or other forms of research support tied to your assigned area. Students interested in astronomy or related fields can pursue projects that connect to those themes when such placements are available. Throughout the program, you receive feedback from mentors that helps you refine your methods, strengthen your understanding of the subject, and improve how you communicate your findings. The program concludes with a poster presentation, giving you the chance to present your work in a format commonly used in academic research settings.
15. American Museum of Natural History – Science Communication Internship Program (SCIP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan, New York
Stipend: $2000
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current 10th graders who have passed their classes for the last three semesters; Must also come through eligible AMNH pathways/partner schools.
The Science Communication Internship Program trains you to make scientific ideas accessible to a public audience through direct work in a museum setting. The program focuses on how science is interpreted, explained, and discussed with visitors across exhibitions and interactive spaces. You learn how to communicate clearly, respond to questions thoughtfully, and present complex material in ways that feel accurate and engaging. This makes the program especially valuable if you are interested in astronomy or Earth-and-space science but also want to strengthen your public speaking and communication skills.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. 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 – Columbia University