While summer programs remain the most popular option for any high schooler serious about expanding their technical skill repertoire and engaging in professional development, a fall program allows you to utilize the academic semester without the constraints of a summer-only schedule. These programs offer opportunities to interact with university faculty and industry-standard technologies while maintaining your regular high school coursework. By participating in such initiatives, whether in person or virtually, you can build a competitive profile and gain early exposure to professional sectors such as engineering, data science, and humanities research.
Why should you choose Nevada as a high schooler?
Nevada is a hub for both desert research and emerging technology. As a student in this state, you have the opportunity to engage with Tier 1 research institutions like the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), which offer specialized outreach programs to help bridge the gap between secondary education and collegiate-level inquiry. The state’s commitment to Career and Technical Education (CTE) and dual-enrollment pathways ensures that you can earn university credit and industry-recognized certifications at a significantly reduced cost compared to out-of-state alternatives. If you’re serious about community impact, Nevada’s specific geographic challenges—such as water scarcity and renewable energy needs—allow you to participate in research that has immediate, real-world applications within your local community. Utilizing these local resources allows you to establish a professional network within the same region where many national and global tech companies are currently expanding their operations.
While this blog covers a wide variety of fall programs, you can check out the following links for lists of fall programs focused on fields like sociology or technology for a more specialized experience.
Below, you will find our top pick of 15 fall programs for high school students in Nevada.
1. UNR Collegiate Academy
Location: Participating high schools throughout Nevada
Cost: $100 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all qualified students at participating schools
Dates: Classes follow the school district’s academic calendars and start on the first day of instruction
Application Deadline: Varies by semester and school
Eligibility: Nevada high school students with a minimum 2.5 GPA
This program allows you to complete a university-level curriculum within your familiar high school environment through a partnership with UNR. You will earn credits that transfer directly into the Nevada System of Higher Education while fulfilling your secondary graduation requirements. The coursework focuses on core academic disciplines, such as English composition, college algebra, and introductory social sciences. You will utilize the same syllabi and assessment standards as full-time undergraduates attending the Reno campus. Access to the university’s digital archives and the Knowledge Center library is provided to support your research assignments. This experience is designed to calibrate your academic performance to the expectations of a Tier 1 research university.
2. CSN Dual Enrollment Program
Location: College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $92 per course credit, plus any additional technology fee. Reduced pricing is available for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment for qualified students who meet ACT / SAT / CSN Placement score criteria
Dates: Academic calendar
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Similar to UNR’s Collegiate Academy, this program allows you to enroll as a part-time college student at the College of Southern Nevada to undertake specialized technical or academic courses. Available subjects include advanced fields such as information technology, anthropology, sociology, and more, all taught by CSN’s faculty and providing exposure to the same set of tools and methodologies as undergraduate students. The program emphasizes professional autonomy, as you are responsible for managing your own schedule and academic progress. Successful completion yields a permanent college transcript that can accelerate your path toward a degree or professional certification.
3. Washoe County School District (WCSD) CTE Fall Internships
Location: WCSD, Reno/Sparks, NV
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; based on application and interview
Dates: Internships start the second week of each semester and end the week before finals
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in WCSD
This program provides you with a work-based learning experience that places you in a real workplace environment to develop career-related knowledge and skills. You will be matched with local industry partners, nonprofits, or even government institutions, such as the City of Reno, PBS Reno, or Girls on the Run. The internship requires a consistent weekly time commitment and the completion of professional evaluations conducted by site supervisors. You will gain hands-on experience with industry-specific equipment and software while building a professional network in Northern Nevada. It’s a solid opportunity to gain internship experience outside of summer-only programs.
4. Columbia University: Academic Year Weekend Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,810 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September 19 – December 7
Application Deadline: Usually around 5–6 weeks before session start date
Eligibility: Current high school students
This program allows you to enroll as a non-degree student in undergraduate courses offered by Columbia University. You will participate in classes with the same curriculum as taught to Columbia students, and you will adhere to identical grading scales and attendance policies. Available subjects include advanced mathematics, economics, and environmental science. Upon completion, you receive an official transcript that documents your performance in an Ivy League academic setting.
5. The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Semesters run Fall and Spring
Application Deadline: Cohort applications close around 4 weeks before session start
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 from anywhere in the world
At the Junior Academy, you will join an international network of students to address global challenges through scientific innovation and engineering. The program utilizes the Launchpad virtual platform, where you will collaborate with teammates from around the world to design sustainable solutions. You will be assigned a professional mentor from a STEM field who will provide technical guidance and feedback on your project. Challenges can focus on high-impact areas such as biodiversity, access to clean water, and public health infrastructure. You will develop skills in design thinking, cross-cultural communication, and project management. The program culminates in a final presentation that is reviewed by a panel of expert judges.
6. MITES Semester
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents
While beginning in the summer, this six-month program includes a robust fall academic component, during which you complete online courses and a final project. You will work with MIT faculty and mentors on technical tracks, including science writing, engineering, and computer science. The fall phase involves virtual seminars and workshops focused on college admissions and professional development. You will utilize advanced digital tools to collaborate with a national cohort of high-achieving STEM students. The program culminates in a project presentation, providing you with a significant credential for highly selective university applications.
7. MIT PRIMES-USA
Location: Online
Cost: Free!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, fewer than 50 students selected per batch
Dates: Phase 4: September 1 – December 31; Full program: January 1 – December 31
Application Deadline: Early December of the previous year
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in the United States. While not required, it’s preferred that you also be either a USAMO or USAJMO qualifier, have received a grade A for a college-level proof-based math course, participated in a summer math program, or have a letter of recommendation from a college professor of mathematics.
MIT PRIMES-USA has you work on unsolved problems in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology in a year-long research and mentorship program. The fall component focuses on preparing for research papers and professional presentations such as the Fall PRIMES Conference. You will engage in guided reading and problem-solving to build the necessary theoretical foundation for your original research project. The program requires a high degree of mathematical maturity and the ability to work independently on complex theoretical tasks. This phase emphasizes the technical writing skills necessary to contribute to the global scientific body of knowledge. You will interact with MIT mentors via virtual platforms to discuss advanced concepts in areas such as combinatorics or cryptography.
8. UNLV Upward Bound Math & Science
Location: UNLV Campus, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 13–19 with a stated desire to attend a college or university, an academic or personal need for the program, first-generation college goers, with a family income that meets U.S. DOE guidelines
This federally funded program involves you in rigorous Saturday academic sessions held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. You will engage in intensive STEM-based workshops covering subjects such as laboratory physics, advanced calculus, and scientific research methods. The curriculum is designed to supplement your regular high school instruction and prepare you for a university major in the sciences. You will receive mentorship from UNLV faculty and graduate students who guide research projects and college applications.
9. UNR Upward Bound Math Science Programs
Location: UNR Campus, Reno, NV
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 246 students across all target schools and all programs
Dates: Academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Income-qualified or first-generation students at target high schools, aged 13–19. The complete list of requirements is available here
Similar to UNLV Upward Bound, UNR’s Upward Bound has you attend bi-monthly academic sessions at the University of Nevada, Reno to enhance your proficiency in the natural sciences and mathematics. The program focuses on college readiness through standardized test preparation and workshops on university financial aid. You will collaborate with peers on technical challenges and participate in laboratory demonstrations led by university researchers. You will have access to professional counseling to help align your high school course selections with your future career goals.
10. Civics Unplugged Fellowship
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Roughly 750 fellows accepted globally
Dates: 8 weeks from September to November
Application Deadline: Around late August
Eligibility: High school students from across the globe
Civics Unplugged Fellowship is a program for high schoolers interested in the logistics of civic change. It lets you experience a structured curriculum covering environmental justice, digital citizenship, and education, while working closely in a small team on a real community issue. The majority of your time will go towards building a Case Brief of the problem you’re addressing, breaking it down, researching it, and preparing a coherent response with guidance from mentors and field experts. You will collaborate with a global cohort daily using tools such as Slack and Notion.
11. Johns Hopkins CTY Online Courses
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on course format; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Usually around 5–6 weeks before session start date
Eligibility: High schoolers in grades 9-12 who meet JHU’s criteria
This virtual program offers you access to highly specialized courses that often exceed the scope of the standard high school curriculum. You will engage with topics such as advanced math, neurobiology, creative nonfiction, economic volatility, and more through a rigorous digital learning environment. The courses are led by expert instructors who provide detailed feedback on your analytical writing and problem-solving techniques. The program requires a high degree of self-motivation and the ability to independently manage sophisticated intellectual tasks.
12. NYU Precollege
Location: Virtual
Cost: $6,006 for 3-credit courses, $8,008 for 4-credit courses, $300 application fee and deposit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: September 2 – December 11 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: August 15 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
You will take undergraduate courses for college credit while participating in the academic life of New York University from a remote location. The program features over 30 different subject areas, including psychology, business, and advanced mathematics. You will attend synchronous lectures and engage in asynchronous discussion boards with a diverse group of international students. The curriculum is designed to expose you to the pace and depth of university-level research. You will develop critical thinking skills through the analysis of primary texts and the execution of complex data-driven projects.
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,700 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: August 25 – December 12 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: July 28 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students who also meet individual course-specific criteria
You will enroll in credit-bearing university courses that cover advanced topics in mathematics and physics, such as multivariable calculus or modern physics. This program is specifically designed for students who require academic challenges beyond what is typically available in a secondary school setting. You will attend virtual lectures and participate in rigorous problem-solving sessions guided by Stanford-vetted instructors. The curriculum emphasizes theoretical depth and the application of complex mathematical frameworks to physical systems.
14. Writopia Lab’s Teen Intensives
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: Weekly sessions starting November 18, running till March 17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students can apply
Writopia Lab’s Teen Intensives are a series of short, genre-specific small-group writing workshops that let you specialize in specific writing forms. In these intensives, you will dedicate yourself to one specific literary sub-genre and learn to use writing tools such as memory, personal truth, imagery, form, and expressive language to shape narrative voice and structure through exercises, discussions, and group feedback. Every session has a peer discussion component to ensure a free flow of critique. Writopia also runs a series of workshops that teach the commercial aspects of writing, such as publishing paths like contests or teen magazines, and helps you strengthen your work for actual submission.
15. UNLV SISTEM (Student Interactions with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Location: UNLV Campus, Las Vegas, NV, or virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 5 consecutive Wednesdays in the fall
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the website for details, usually around 3–4 weeks before session starts
Eligibility: High school students in Southern Nevada
SISTEM offers a series of five expert talks and seminars hosted either at the UNLV Advanced Engineering Building or remotely, to introduce high schoolers to STEM careers and research. Each session comprises both hands-on activities and lectures by university faculty and industry professionals across specialties like entertainment engineering, computer science, and chemistry. The program provides deep exposure to core STEM theory and the opportunity to learn through direct application in small mini-projects. Attending all five sessions nets you a certificate of completion, a tangible addition to your resume for college applications.
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!
Image source – Columbia University