If you are a high school student who wants to challenge yourself academically without worrying about the cost, free Ivy League summer programs can be an amazing opportunity. These programs give you a chance to experience what learning is really like at some of the world’s most respected universities. You get to work on advanced topics, take part in hands-on projects, and learn directly from professors and researchers.
One of the biggest benefits is that you get early exposure to the pace and expectations of top colleges. You learn how to manage higher-level coursework, think critically, and push your limits in a supportive but challenging environment. This kind of experience not only builds your confidence but also helps you stand out when applying to selective colleges.
On top of that, participating in an Ivy League program shows admissions officers that you are motivated, curious, and ready for rigorous academic work. These schools are known for being extremely selective, so being part of a program connected to them signals that you can thrive in a highly competitive setting. And the best part is that these opportunities are completely free, making them accessible to students from all backgrounds.
If you’re more interested in research-based opportunities, you can also check out our list of Ivy League summer research programs here.
14 Free Ivy League Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Yale University – Yale Pathways Research Internships
Location: Varies depending on the host lab
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $2,500 stipend
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years old by June 26 | Must be a Yale Pathways to Science Scholar | Minimum 3.0 GPA
The Yale Pathways Research Internships program gives you a seven-week placement in a Yale research lab where you participate in ongoing scientific projects. You will work under the guidance of Yale graduate student mentors who help you navigate experimental design and analytical techniques. The program includes workshops that build core skills in data interpretation, scientific communication, and research methodology. Through this experience, you gain exposure to a range of scientific disciplines while learning how research questions are developed and tested. The structure is designed to strengthen your confidence in laboratory environments and improve your overall readiness for college-level STEM work.
2. Princeton University – Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 15 – August 20
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years old or more by June 15, are currently enrolled in a US high school, and are US citizens or legal permanent residents
Princeton’s Laboratory Learning Program offers high school students an immersive 5 to 6-week summer internship where they join a research team under the mentorship of faculty. You contribute to ongoing science or engineering projects by assisting with experiments, data collection, and analysis, gaining practical experience with advanced lab techniques and environments. The program’s schedule is tailored to the lab’s needs, providing you with hands-on exposure to professional research settings. This unique opportunity deepens understanding of scientific processes and prepares students for future academic and career success in STEM fields.
3. Columbia University – State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP)
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid in the BRAINYAC program, amount not specified
Dates: Summer Session: July
Application Deadline: Summer session: April 15
Eligibility: Students in the 7th to the 12th grade who are New York State residents and have an 80% grade average in math and science
Columbia University’s State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) is a free, rigorous academic and college preparatory initiative for students in grades 7 through 12 interested in medicine or STEM careers. The program offers enrichment courses in subjects like Anatomy, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Brain & Cognitive Science, Physics, Psychology, and various mathematics levels. You learn through lectures, labs, and group activities, combined with career and college preparation. Additionally, you benefit from guest lectures, site visits to labs and medical centers, and connections with professionals, providing comprehensive academic and experiential growth.
4. University of Pennsylvania – Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically, in February
Eligibility: Local high school students in grades 9–11 who have a minimum 3.0 GPA
The TREES program is a rigorous, six-week summer opportunity that integrates fieldwork, laboratory training, and independent scientific exploration in environmental science and public health. Guided by experienced mentors, you execute a research study from initial concept through final presentation, thereby developing expertise in experimental design, data collection, and results presentation. The curriculum covers key areas such as toxicology and environmental monitoring, supplemented by practical field excursions for sampling. This experience cultivates analytical thinking and technical skills through close collaboration with faculty and graduate researchers, blending indoor investigation with outdoor practice.
5. Columbia University – HK Maker Lab
Location: Columbia University campus (Hypothekids), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high‑school juniors and seniors who attend NYC public or charter schools
The HK Maker Lab provides an engineering design experience, focusing on biomedical engineering fundamentals and applying them to solve genuine health problems. You select either a biomedical engineering or an innovation and design focus, addressing health or social issues through digital prototyping, collaboration, and entrepreneurial skills. This provides valuable, practical experience in problem-solving, supported by mentorship from Columbia professors and graduate students. The program culminates in a final pitch competition, where student teams present their prototype concepts to experts in engineering and healthcare.
6. University of Pennsylvania – Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: Typically late February
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th-grade students in Philadelphia Public, Catholic, Private, or Charter schools | Minimum GPA 3.0
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program is a month-long college and career exploration experience that places you in one of five Penn graduate or professional schools aligned with your interests. You will work on hands-on projects that introduce you to fields such as medicine, engineering, law, or education through guided, experiential learning. The program also includes structured support in financial literacy, study strategies, time management, SAT preparation, and personal statement writing. This combination helps you build core academic and practical skills that prepare you for college. The program ends with a campus college fair that connects you with admissions representatives and additional resources.
7. Princeton University – Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Location: Hybrid (virtual + Princeton University campus)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 24 – August 3
Application Deadline: Typically, in February
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live in the U.S. and plan to attend college there | Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA | Meet one or more socioeconomic criteria listed here
For students keen on current events and journalism, the Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) provides a rich opportunity to explore these passions while preparing for university. The experience kicks off with virtual lectures and workshops on world affairs and critical social issues, led by Princeton professors, professional reporters, and program alumni. The highlight is a 10-day residential session on the Princeton campus, where you collaborate to produce the Princeton Summer Journal. Beyond journalistic training, the program matches you with a personal college adviser who offers dedicated guidance throughout your entire senior year.
8. Yale University – Pathways to Arts and Humanities Summer Scholars Program
Location: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 11 attending public schools in New Haven, West Haven, or Orange (Amity)
The Pathways to Arts and Humanities Summer Scholars Program is a free, two-week academic experience that introduces local high school students to Yale’s arts and humanities resources. You will take part in small-group workshops led by Yale faculty, graduate students, and staff while exploring university collections, museums, and studios. Activities may include studying rare archives in the Beinecke Library, analyzing works in the Yale University Art Gallery, or examining illustrated materials at the Yale Center for British Art. You also develop practical skills through sessions in photography, graphic design, or ancient languages.
9. Yale University – Morse Summer Music Academy
Location: Yale School of Music, New Haven, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 24 – July 19
Application Deadline: Typically, spring
Eligibility: New Haven public high school students; enrolled in their school’s music program | Have a recommendation from their school’s music teacher
The Morse Summer Music Academy is a free program for intermediate and advanced high school musicians who want structured training in band, choir, or orchestra. You will study with teaching artists and educators from the Yale School of Music, gaining focused practice in musicianship and technique. The curriculum includes ensemble performance, chamber music, theory instruction, and an introduction to composition. You will also participate in an in-person audition to determine the ensemble that fits your current skill level. The program is designed to support your musical growth while giving you experience with college-style expectations and rehearsal processes.
10. Yale University – Citizens Thinkers Writers
Location: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $500 stipend
Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from New Haven public schools
Citizens Thinkers Writers allows you to live on the Yale campus for two weeks while taking part in a seminar-based study of classical and contemporary political thought. You will read texts from ancient Greece and Rome and connect their ideas to modern issues of justice within your own community. Discussion-based classes help you build skills in close reading, analytical writing, and constructive debate across varied political viewpoints. After the summer session, you continue as a CTW Fellow throughout the academic year. The program also offers guidance on college applications, helping you adapt your new academic skills to the admissions process.
11. Brown University – Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual or in-person at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Cost/Stipend: Tuition fees apply, but scholarship opportunities are available that cover 100% of costs
Dates: On-campus Session I: June 22 – July 2; On-campus Session II: July 12 – July 24; Virtual: June 22 – July 17
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 between ages 14 – 18 by June 14 | Other prerequisites for receiving 100% financial aid may apply
The Brown Leadership Institute introduces you to college-level discussions around social issues while helping you develop practical leadership skills. You can join either a two-week campus experience or a four-week online version, both of which are built around small-group dialogue and collaborative problem-solving. Course topics span areas such as educational equity, civic engagement, and global justice, and you examine each issue through case studies, readings, and guided reflection. Throughout the program, you practice communicating across differences, designing community-focused ideas, and applying analytical skills to social challenges. When you complete the course, you receive a digital certificate, and students in longer courses also get a detailed performance report.
12. Yale University – Yale Young Global Scholars
Location: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: tuition fees apply, but need-based financial aid is available to cover full costs
Dates: Session I: June 21 – July 3; Session II: July 5 – 17; Session III: July 19 – August 31
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors between ages 16 – 18 by July 19 and are first-time participants
Yale Young Global Scholars is a two-week academic program where you study in an interdisciplinary setting alongside peers from around the world. You choose a track that aligns with your interests in STEM, the humanities, the social sciences, or a blended field, and spend each day moving between lectures, seminars, and hands-on exercises. The format emphasizes discussion and collaborative work, giving you practice in analyzing complex topics from multiple angles. With a low student-to-instructor ratio, you get frequent interaction with teaching staff and structured support during group projects and problem-solving activities. The program is designed to help you broaden your academic perspective, strengthen research and communication skills, and engage with global questions in a college-style learning environment.
13. Brown University – STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition fees apply, but scholarship opportunities are available that cover 100% of costs
Dates: July 12 – 24
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising 9th and 10th grade-high school students between ages 13 – 15 by June 14
This two-week STEM program introduces you to advanced scientific thinking through labs, collaborative problem-solving, and guided research. You work with peers who share your interests while exploring topics that span engineering, biology, data science, and other STEM fields. Each course combines academic content with experimentation or fieldwork, incorporating a central research question or design task. You may also interact with Brown graduate students who provide insight into ongoing research and academic pathways. The experience ends with a final presentation where you share your project or findings with instructors, peers, and families. Students who complete the program receive a Digital Certificate of Completion along with a Course Performance Report.
14. Dartmouth College – Precollege Online STEM Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition fees apply, but need-based scholarships are available for students unable to pay full tuition
Dates: Multi-length courses offered year-round, including summer
Application Deadline: Tolling admissions
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and older
The Dartmouth Precollege Online STEM Programs allow you the flexibility to study advanced science topics from anywhere while learning directly from Dartmouth faculty and expert mentors. Course options cover areas such as regenerative medicine, neuroscience, biology, and psychology, each designed to strengthen analytical and scientific reasoning skills. You move through interactive modules at your own pace, supported by structured guidance and opportunities for feedback. Every course ends with a capstone project where you apply what you learned to a real-world question or scientific scenario. After completing the course requirements, you earn a Dartmouth Certificate of Completion.
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 – Dartmouth College