If you are drawn to astrophysics but want to understand what studying it actually involves, winter programs can be a practical place to start. They give high school students focused time to work through real scientific ideas without the pressure of exams or grades. You learn how physical laws are applied to astronomical systems and how scientists reason through uncertainty.
How are winter programs different from summer programs?
Winter programs are shorter and more focused by design. They usually take place during school breaks and aim to make efficient use of limited time. Unlike summer programs, which often span several weeks and blend academics with enrichment activities, winter programs tend to move quickly into core concepts. Students are introduced to foundational physics, basic computational tools, or data analysis early on. The pace can feel intense, but the emphasis is on understanding how things work rather than covering a wide range of topics.
How can winter programs help me before my college applications?
These programs help bridge the gap between high school coursework and college-level science. They make advanced topics feel more approachable and help you develop habits such as careful reasoning and independent problem-solving. Winter programs also give you a clearer sense of whether astrophysics is a field you want to pursue long-term.
With that, here are 15 astrophysics winter programs for high school students! If you’re looking for other interesting programs to pursue in the winter, we also have 12 Winter Robotics Programs for High School Students. (Many programs often span the school year, with winter components, and focus on related fields like aerospace.)
15 Astrophysics Winter Programs for High School Students
1. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
Location: Virtual (residential option in Houston, TX)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: High for Online Course (Phase 1); Competitive for Summer Experience
Dates: Year-long
Application Deadline: September 27
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens and Texas residents.
NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) is a year-long program where you work through structured online modules focused on space exploration engineering. You study topics like propulsion, orbital motion, and payload design, using physics and algebra to solve mission-style problems. The work includes calculations and design challenges that mirror how real space missions are planned. If you perform well in the winter online phase, you can be selected for the virtual summer experience, where you collaborate on a final design challenge with mentors from NASA.
2. AMNH Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York
Cost: Free. A stipend of $2,500 upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive
Dates: Academic year (August – June)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 10–11. Additionally, students need to have either completed/be taking a course in one of six programs, or be attending one of SRMP’s partner schools or programs.
The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at the American Museum of Natural History is a year-long research program where you work on real scientific projects with museum scientists. You spend about four hours each week learning how research is done, including using programming languages like Python and R. You work with real data on topics such as stars, brown dwarfs, or space measurements, not practice datasets. During the winter, you focus on analysis and preparing your final research presentation.
3. Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive, requires you to clear a two-hour-long entrance examination
Dates: Every Saturday from September – May
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9–11) living within 75 miles of the Columbia campus
The Science Honors Program (SHP) at Columbia University runs on Saturdays during the school year and offers college-level courses in subjects like astronomy and astrophysics. You study topics such as celestial mechanics, stellar structure, and the physics of the early universe. You work through problem sets similar to undergraduate coursework, using calculus and physics to apply theory rather than just read about it. The program is demanding and focused, built for students who want a serious introduction to how modern astrophysics is studied at the university level.
4. Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS)
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: November – May
Application Deadline: October 26
Eligibility: Virginia high school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.7
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is a year-long program that introduces you to aerospace engineering and mission design through work connected to NASA Langley Research Center. From late fall through spring, you complete a series of structured modules that focus on the systems behind human spaceflight. You study topics like entry, descent, and landing, and work with technical data to calculate launch windows, fuel needs, and power budgets for spacecraft. The coursework is demanding and writing-heavy, with a strong focus on systems thinking. Students who perform well in the winter phase can be selected for the residential summer academy at NASA Langley.
5. Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS)
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 50% of Phase 1 participants advance to Phase 2 summer residency
Dates: November – March
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the website for details for the next batch
Eligibility: Washington state high school juniors
Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is a winter program focused on learning how space missions are designed from an engineering perspective. You complete eight self-paced lessons that introduce aerospace concepts through math-based problems and hands-on lab work. The coursework covers how different engineering systems come together in spaceflight, from mechanics to mission planning. If your final project is selected, you can attend a six-day summer residency at the Museum of Flight, where you work in person on applied aerospace challenges.
6. Johns Hopkins CTY Online Programs
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course and length
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Offered year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Varies by course
The Astrophysics courses from the Center for Talented Youth let you study advanced physics at your own pace. You work through topics like stellar fusion, black holes, and relativity using math-based problem sets. You use simulations to see how spacetime behaves and analyze real data to spot exoplanet transits. The course is built for students who have already gone beyond what their school physics classes offer and want deeper, technical work.
7. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Dual Enrollment
Location: Online
Cost: $250 per credit hour, with most courses being 3-4 credit hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 2.75.
The spring dual enrollment program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University lets you take real aerospace courses while still in high school. You study subjects like aerospace safety, space flight, avionics, and flight systems through college-level instruction. You learn how flight works by calculating lift and drag, studying jet propulsion, and understanding orbital mechanics and satellite systems. The focus stays on technical skills and how aerospace engineering is applied in industry, giving you direct exposure to how the field is taught at a professional level.
8. Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD) – Online Honors Program
Location: Online
Cost: $835 for 1-credit, $1,425 for 2-credit courses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: January 21 – May 20 for 1-credit, January 21 – August 14 for 2-credit
Application Deadline: January 28
Eligibility: High school students who meet CTD’s rigorous testing criteria
The Online Honors Program at the Northwestern Center for Talent Development offers a winter course focused on aerospace mechanics. You study how aircraft and spacecraft move, covering topics like aerodynamic forces, navigation, orbits, and rocket propulsion. The course is math-based and structured like an honors science class, with clear expectations and steady pacing. You complete a full credit of advanced physics and astronomy coursework online in a short timeframe, making it a direct way to go beyond standard high school classes.
9. International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) Campaigns
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open applications
Dates: Monthly campaigns
Application Deadline: Rolling, you just need to register 1 month before the campaign
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
The International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) runs asteroid search campaigns where you analyze real telescope data as part of a citizen science team. You work with image sets from the Pan-STARRS project and learn to use Astrometrica software to spot moving objects in space. You practice astrometry by measuring the precise positions of objects and separating real asteroids from noise in the data. Your findings are submitted to the Minor Planet Center, meaning your work contributes to an active scientific record.
10. Space Center Houston “Space Center U” Camps
Location: Houston, TX
Cost: Varies by camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open Registration
Dates: Various 3 and 5 day camps throughout winter
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Students ages 11–18
Space Center U Camps are multi-day STEM experiences at Space Center Houston for students ages 11–18. You take part in hands-on activities inspired by NASA missions, acting as scientists, engineers, and explorers while you build, test, and solve space-related challenges. You work with real tools and data, go on behind-the-scenes tours of NASA facilities when available, and hear from space professionals. Projects focus on teamwork, technology, and problem-solving tied to space exploration tasks like rocketry, robotics, and mission planning. The camp runs in different formats – short 3-day sessions and week-long missions, so you can choose what fits your schedule.
11. AMNH Science Alliance High School Program
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Cost: $1,000 with 50% of seats reserved for need-based financial aid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration
Dates: Sessions in Fall, Winter, and Spring, with classes held twice a week over the semester
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Distinct from the SRMP internship, the Science Alliance offers rigorous courses that meet weekly during the winter session. Curriculum tracks include subjects like Astrophysics or Evolutionary Biology, letting you engage in laboratory activities and exhibition-based research. You will delve into specific topics such as spectroscopy, stellar classification, and exoplanet detection methods, utilizing the museum’s Rose Center for Earth and Space facilities. While it is a paid program, the lower cost, availability of financial aid, and a more flexible schedule make it a worthwhile option to consider.
12. Dartmouth College Community High School Program
Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Cost: Tuition-free, you pay for books/materials only
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Courses start January 5 for the winter program
Application Deadline: Student and counselor must submit the Program Registration form before classes begin
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors living within ~50 miles of Hanover, NH
This program allows local high school students to enroll directly in full-credit Dartmouth undergraduate courses during the winter term. You can take rigorous classes such as “Introductory Astronomy” or “Stars and Galaxies,” sitting alongside Ivy League undergraduates. You will be held to the same academic standards, tackling problem sets that involve celestial mechanics, blackbody radiation calculations, and data analysis from professional observatories.
13. Case Western Reserve University Pre-College Astrophysics
Location: Online
Cost: $1,595, but need-based scholarships are available for talented students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Multiple two- and four-week sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling, you need to register 2 weeks before the start
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
“Astrophysics and Evolutionary Biology: The Origins of Life” is a pre-college course offered by Case Western Reserve University. You study how stars, planets, and biological systems form, moving from stellar lifecycles to the chemistry behind the origin of life. The course runs through 20 to 25 hours of virtual lessons and includes one-on-one mentorship. You apply what you learn in a final project, such as designing a board game or creating a poster, and receive direct feedback on your work.
14. HiSPARC (High School Project on Astrophysics Research with Cosmics)
Location: Participating schools
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by participating school
Dates: Year-round, it is active during the Winter academic term
Application Deadline: Rolling, though it’s the school that must join the network and not the student
Eligibility: Students at participating high schools
HiSPARC is a large-scale research initiative where high school students maintain and operate cosmic ray detectors installed on their school rooftops. You will be responsible for the technical upkeep of the scintillator detectors and the analysis of the real-time data they generate. You will learn to process large datasets to identify air showers initiated by high-energy cosmic protons, analyzing variables like arrival direction and energy density. The program connects you to a global network and lets you collaborate with experts on actual particle physics research.
15. University of Illinois Dual Credit Astronomy Course (ASTR 150)
Location: Select high schools in Illinois
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by participating school
Dates: Various sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by school; contact your high school counselor
Eligibility: Illinois high school sophomores and juniors
The dual credit ASTR 150 course from the University of Illinois lets you earn real college credit while diving into the dramatic side of astrophysics, focusing on cosmic events that could wipe out life on Earth. You explore topics like asteroid collisions, supernova explosions, black hole threats, and the eventual death of our Sun, working through the physics and data behind these scenarios. Taught in your high school classroom but aligned with university standards, this year-long program builds analytical skills with problem-solving and real astronomical concepts.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like computational modeling, data science, physics, cosmology, and space-related research, 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 – Dartmouth College