16 Fully-Funded STEM Programs for High School Students

Key Takeaways

• These 15 programs span a wide range of STEM fields, from genetics research at JAX and Rockefeller to computer science at Carnegie Mellon and NYU, and mathematics research through PRIMES-USA and CrowdMath, alongside Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs, a virtual research track for students who want a fully remote option with financial aid available.
• Nearly all of these programs are genuinely free or fully funded, with several, including JAX, the University of Washington’s Changemakers in Computing, and Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars, also providing a stipend or travel assistance.
• Since these programs don’t rely on tuition, admission is based almost entirely on merit, making them highly selective but also accessible regardless of a family’s financial situation.
• Program length and format vary considerably, from two-week intensives like MathROOTS to year-long commitments like PRIMES-USA and CrowdMath, so it’s worth factoring in time commitment alongside subject area.
• Many of these programs conclude with a formal research paper, poster session, or presentation, giving you a tangible output to reference in future college applications regardless of which program you choose.

If you’re in high school and want to build a stronger college application, one that actually sets you apart from everyone else applying, a STEM program is a smart move. And if the price tag has kept you from looking into one before, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of STEM programs that are free, fully funded, or offer a stipend, so cost doesn’t have to be the reason you sit this one out.

The biggest advantage of these programs is that they focus on doing, not just learning. You could spend your time building a working app, running experiments that don’t always go as planned, making sense of raw datasets, or tackling engineering challenges that mirror real life. Regular classes rarely leave enough room for this level of practical work.

Why should I choose a fully funded STEM program?

Since these programs don’t depend on tuition to operate, they tend to be genuinely selective. Admission comes down to merit almost entirely, so you’re accepted because you’re good at what you do, not because you could pay your way in.

It also carries real weight for your college applications and resume. A finished project or a mentor’s recommendation gives you something specific to point to, all without adding financial strain to the process.

With that, here is a list of 15 fully funded STEM programs for high school students! If you want a more hands-on experience with a stipend, check out this blog on paid STEM Internships for high school students!

15 Fully-Funded STEM Programs for High School Students

1. MITES Summer – MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science

MITES Summer is a six-week residential program where you study STEM subjects through the same fast-paced style used in MIT classrooms. You will take courses in calculus, physics, biology, engineering, and mathematics, solve challenging problem sets, and spend time in labs carrying out experiments and analysing data. Engineering projects introduce you to areas such as robotics, computational modelling, and design, helping you connect classroom concepts with real applications. Outside class, you will learn from MIT faculty, graduate students, and mentors who share how research is done in university labs. The program ends with a much stronger understanding of college-level STEM and research.

2. JAX Summer Student Program – The Jackson Laboratory

The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program gives you the chance to spend your summer working in an active genetics and genomics research lab. Under the guidance of a JAX scientist, you will design your own research project and learn techniques such as DNA extraction, gene sequencing, molecular cloning, genotyping, and computational genomics. You will also attend seminars, journal clubs, and lab meetings to understand how discoveries are discussed and developed. Throughout the program, you will analyse data, keep research records, and prepare a final scientific report and presentation. Housing, meals, travel, and a $7,500 stipend are all provided.

3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)

Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in subjects such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback you can use to improve future projects. Apply here!

4. ASPIRE – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

ASPIRE at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory places you inside one of the country’s leading research laboratories for a summer internship. You will spend 30 to 40 hours each week working with scientists and engineers on projects related to space science, national security, healthcare, software development, engineering design, or data analysis. Instead of classroom lessons, you learn by helping with ongoing research and solving real technical problems. Mentors explain the science behind your work while introducing you to different STEM careers. The experience also helps you build workplace skills such as technical communication, project planning, and problem-solving.

5. Research Science Institute (RSI)

Research Science Institute (RSI) brings together about 100 high school juniors from around the world for an intensive research experience at MIT. The program begins with lectures in physics, biology, mathematics, computer science, and engineering, followed by a full research placement with a faculty member or researcher. You will spend most of your time designing experiments or computational models, analysing data, reading scientific papers, and meeting regularly with your mentor. The daily schedule feels much like working in a university research lab. At the end of the program, you write a research paper and present your findings to researchers and fellow participants.

6. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) gives you eight weeks of hands-on biomedical research inside a Stanford laboratory. You will join a research group working in fields such as cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, genomics, bioengineering, or translational medicine while learning laboratory techniques including cell culture, PCR, DNA extraction, electrophoresis, and microscopy. Your days are spent planning experiments, recording results, analysing data, and discussing your progress with Stanford researchers. The program also includes research seminars and tours of Stanford’s scientific facilities. You finish the summer by presenting your research through a scientific poster or formal presentation.

7. Simons Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University

Simons Summer Research Program places you in a Stony Brook University research lab for six weeks, where you work on a project in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, engineering, or mathematics. You will spend your days running experiments, analysing data, reading scientific papers, and meeting regularly with faculty mentors to discuss your progress. Depending on your project, you may learn laboratory techniques, computational methods, or theoretical approaches used in university research. The program also includes seminars where researchers talk about their work and current scientific questions. At the end of the summer, you present your research through a written report or formal presentation.

8. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) – Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) is a fully funded six-week program that introduces you to college-level STEM through challenging coursework and engineering projects. You will study advanced mathematics, science, and computing in lectures, recitations, and laboratory sessions taught by Carnegie Mellon instructors. Along with your classes, you will build computational models, write programs, and solve engineering problems through project work. Faculty and mentors also lead sessions on college preparation and careers in STEM. Throughout the program, you will strengthen your scientific writing by preparing essays, reports, and technical assignments.

9. NYU Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)

NYU Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS) introduces New York City high school students to the fundamentals of cybersecurity and computer science through practical activities. You will explore topics such as ethical hacking, cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, online privacy, and network security while writing code and solving security challenges. The lessons explain how cyber attacks happen and how security professionals detect and prevent them. No previous coding experience is required, so the program starts with the basics before moving into more advanced ideas. Throughout the summer, you also meet professionals working in cybersecurity and learn about careers in the field.

10. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) – The Rockefeller University

The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) gives you a full-time place in a biomedical research laboratory for about 35 hours each week. You will work with scientists on research projects in areas such as genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, protein analysis, imaging, and cell biology while learning the techniques used in modern research labs. Your days include carrying out experiments, recording observations, analysing results, and discussing your findings with mentors. The program also includes seminars, journal clubs, and discussions where researchers explain their latest discoveries. At the end of the summer, you present your work during the university’s research symposium.

11. Carnegie Mellon CS Scholars

Carnegie Mellon CS Scholars is a four-week residential program that introduces you to computer science through coding, mathematics, and real programming projects. You will learn Python, algorithms, data structures, and computational thinking while solving programming problems that gradually become more challenging. The program also includes a mathematics course that strengthens the concepts needed for computer science. As the weeks progress, you will build software projects that apply your coding skills to real-world problems. Alongside the coursework, you will meet Carnegie Mellon faculty, researchers, and industry professionals while exploring different paths in computer science.

12. University of Washington Changemakers in Computing

University of Washington’s Changemakers in Computing introduces you to computer science through four weeks of coding, engineering, and problem-solving. You will write code, build programming projects, and explore different areas of computing while learning from University of Washington undergraduate and graduate mentors. The curriculum also examines ethics in technology, helping you understand how computing affects society beyond writing software. College planning sessions cover topics such as financial aid, choosing a major, and preparing for university. Students who complete the program also receive a $1,200 stipend.

13. PRIMES-USA

PRIMES-USA is a year-long online mathematics research program where you work with MIT mathematicians on open research problems. Before beginning your project, you will study advanced topics such as number theory, graph theory, algebra, or combinatorics through guided reading and regular meetings with your mentor. Much of the year is spent writing proofs, testing ideas, refining mathematical arguments, and learning how research mathematicians approach difficult problems. You will communicate using LaTeX, video meetings, and online whiteboards while developing your research paper. The program ends with a written paper and opportunities to present your work in research seminars.

14. MathROOTS

MathROOTS takes place on the MIT campus and introduces high school students to mathematics that goes well beyond a standard classroom. During the two-week program, you will study combinatorics, abstract algebra, discrete geometry, and mathematical proof writing through daily lectures and problem-solving sessions. Instead of memorising formulas, you spend most of your time figuring out why mathematical ideas work and explaining your reasoning clearly. Informal math circles and mathematical games continue the discussions outside class, making mathematics part of the entire day. The program is designed for students who enjoy solving difficult problems and thinking deeply about mathematics.

15. CrowdMath

CrowdMath gives you the chance to work on real mathematics research without leaving home. Run jointly by MIT PRIMES and Art of Problem Solving, the program focuses on topics such as combinatorics, graph theory, and number theory through guided reading and online discussions. You will post ideas, test examples, write proofs, and build on solutions shared by other students from around the world. MIT mentors provide guidance throughout the project, but much of the research is developed through discussions within the group. If the project leads to new mathematical results, contributors may be recognised in research papers or technical reports.

16. Summer Science Program (SSP)

The Summer Science Program (SSP) gives you the chance to experience scientific research much the way professional scientists do. Depending on the campus and track you choose, you will study astrophysics, biochemistry, or bacterial genomics through lectures, laboratory work, and research projects. In the astrophysics track, you calculate the orbit of an asteroid using your own telescope observations. In the life sciences tracks, you work with DNA, enzymes, genetics, and molecular biology using modern laboratory techniques. Long days of experiments, data analysis, and problem-solving make the program feel much like an actual research lab.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of fully-funded STEM programs are available to high school students?

You’ll find a mix of formats, including biomedical research placements like JAX’s Summer Student Program and Stanford’s SIMR, computer science and cybersecurity programs like Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars and NYU’s CS4CS, and pure mathematics research like PRIMES-USA and MathROOTS. Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a different kind of option, letting you conduct independent, mentored research remotely across a wide range of subjects rather than joining a fixed in-person program.

Do you need prior research experience to apply?

Most of these programs don’t require prior research experience, since they’re designed to teach research methods from the ground up. That said, some, like NYU’s CS4CS, explicitly state no previous coding experience is required, while others, like RSI and Simons Summer Research Program, expect strong academic preparation in relevant subjects even without formal research background.

Are these programs actually free, or do some have hidden costs?

All of the programs on this list are genuinely free or fully funded, meaning tuition, and in many cases housing and meals, are covered. Several go further by providing a stipend on top of being free, including JAX’s $7,500 stipend and the University of Washington’s $1,200 stipend upon completion.

Which programs offer the highest stipends?

JAX’s Summer Student Program offers the highest stipend on this list at $7,500, plus room, board, and travel. The University of Washington’s Changemakers in Computing provides a $1,200 stipend upon completion, and Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars offers travel assistance alongside being fully funded.

Which programs are restricted to specific states or regions?

A few of these programs have geographic requirements. NYU’s CS4CS is limited to New York City residents, the University of Washington’s Changemakers in Computing is limited to Washington State students, and PRIMES-USA is specifically for students living outside the Greater Boston area. Most others, like RSI, SIMR, and Horizon, are open to students from anywhere in the U.S. or, in Horizon’s case, globally.

Which programs focus specifically on mathematics research?

If pure mathematics is your focus, PRIMES-USA and CrowdMath both offer year-long, remote research opportunities working with MIT mathematicians on open problems. MathROOTS takes a different approach with an intensive two-week, in-person format on MIT’s campus, so it’s worth choosing based on whether you want a short, immersive experience or a sustained, longer-term research project.

Is there a way to pursue independent research beyond a structured STEM program?

Yes. If you want a mentored research experience without needing to relocate for a summer or commit to a single university’s program, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar to develop a 20-page research paper you can submit for academic publication. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback, and covers over 600 research specializations. You can find the application here.

When should you apply?

Deadlines for these programs are spread throughout the year, so it helps to plan ahead. Rockefeller’s SSRP has one of the earliest deadlines at January 2, followed by JAX (January 26) and Simons Summer Research Program (February 5). Several others cluster around February 1, including MITES Summer, SAMS, and Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars, while NYU’s CS4CS runs later, with an application deadline in April. Horizon, by contrast, has multiple deadlines throughout the year across its Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts, giving you more flexibility if you miss an earlier cutoff.

Image source: Carnegie Mellon University