Machine learning is behind some of the most exciting innovations today. Think voice assistants, medical imaging, self-driving cars, and even the recommendations on your favorite apps. For high school students eager to go beyond surface-level curiosity, research programs in machine learning provide the opportunity to explore this fast-growing field and work with the tools that are shaping the future. Instead of just reading about algorithms, you’ll get hands-on experience with coding, analyzing data, and building models that can solve practical problems.
These programs don’t just teach you technical skills, they also help encourage creativity, critical problem-solving, and the confidence to take on advanced projects, all of which can stand out on college applications and prepare you for future academic or career paths. Whether your interests lie in technology, healthcare, finance, or even art and music, machine learning has a role to play, and exploring it now can open doors you might not have imagined. To make the process easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of 15 machine learning research programs designed specifically for high school students ready to take the next step.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas 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 that you can use to work on future projects.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including winter, fall, spring, and summer.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary according to cohort
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers structured online programs where you learn both the theory and practice of artificial intelligence while working in small groups or one-on-one with mentors. The AI Scholars track offers ten sessions focused on machine learning, data science, and applied projects, making it a strong option if you are still building your foundation in the field. For students with prior experience, the AI Fellowship track enables you to pursue an independent research project under the guidance of university mentors, with the chance to explore topics across areas like medicine, finance, or environmental studies. Many participants also aim to publish their work in high school-level research journals.
3. EDIT ML Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Dates: Starts June 15
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students with a demonstrated ability in computer science
The EDIT ML Summer Internship gives you a chance to apply artificial intelligence to real medical data, working with researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Over the course of the summer, you may explore projects ranging from analyzing electronic health records and genomic sequences to developing deep learning methods for cancer detection or image analysis. You’ll gain experience in coding with Python and R, handling high-dimensional datasets, and learning how to scale algorithms using advanced computing tools. The program also includes lectures and seminars on topics like pathology, research ethics, and machine learning pipelines, helping you connect technical skills to clinical applications. Because the internship is research-focused, you’ll also practice documenting your work, presenting findings, and possibly contributing to publications.
4. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost
Dates: June 22–August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors worldwide
Each summer, RSI brings 100 high-achieving students from around the world to MIT for a cost-free, six-week program that blends advanced coursework with hands-on research. The program begins with one week of intensive STEM seminars led by faculty, after which you move into a five-week research internship under the guidance of experienced mentors. During this time, you contribute to an individual research project, making use of MIT’s computing resources and academic networks. If your interests are in machine learning, you may be matched with a project that applies these techniques to practical scientific challenges. The program concludes with written and oral presentations prepared at a level comparable to academic conferences. In addition to research, RSI includes lectures, discussions, and field trips as well.
5. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Cost: No cost; a stipend of $750 is provided
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week summer research experience that allows you to collaborate directly with faculty in an area of your choice. You spend the majority of your time conducting research, analyzing results, and developing a report that reflects your findings, while also taking part in weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips. Students in the program come from across the country and abroad, creating a community of peers with similar academic interests. Those drawn to machine learning or artificial intelligence can select a mentor working in those fields and design a project around them. At the end of the summer, you present your work and reflect on the progress you have made.
6. Princeton University – AI4ALL
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Dates: July 9 – 30
Application deadline: April 9
Eligibility: 10th graders (rising 11th graders) who live in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and qualify as low-income
AI4ALL at Princeton University is a summer program focused on introducing high school students to artificial intelligence through a combination of research, mentorship, and discussions on the societal impacts of technology. Over the course of the program, you attend lectures from Princeton faculty, take part in workshops, and engage in career development sessions. A central component is a small-group research project led by graduate student mentors, where you apply AI methods to questions that have practical implications. The program also includes a two-day trip to Washington, D.C., where you meet with policymakers and organizations working at the intersection of AI and public policy.
7. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University; Remote & hybrid options available
Cost: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old for remote internships and at least 16 years old for in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships
At George Mason University, the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) gives you the chance to work full-time for eight weeks on a current research project under the guidance of faculty and collaborators. You will gain direct experience with laboratory techniques, computational tools, and professional scientific practices while also taking part in workshops on communication, ethics, and career readiness. Research areas are broad, spanning neuroscience, biochemistry, environmental science, computer programming, and data science, with options to focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning if that is your interest. As part of the program, you may also contribute to journal publications or present your work at conferences, depending on the progress of your research.
8. UCSD’s Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)
Location: UC San Diego campus, CA
Cost: $1,500 with research project
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: San Diego high school students
REHS, hosted by the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego, is an eight-week program that introduces you to computational research and scientific problem-solving. You work directly with mentors and graduate students on established projects, which include areas such as computational chemistry, software development, or machine learning applications. Alongside research tasks, you will participate in weekly lab meetings, skill-building workshops, and discussions designed to improve your scientific writing and communication. Many projects involve using Python, Jupyter notebooks, and machine learning frameworks, with access to high-performance computing resources such as the Expanse supercomputer. The program concludes with a poster symposium.
9. ASPIRE – Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost: None
Dates: June 24 – August 21
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 15 or older, have a minimum 2.8 GPA, and live in specific regions of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia
Through the ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins APL, you can get hands-on exposure to what working in a professional research environment feels like. As a high school junior or senior, you’ll be paired with a mentor who guides you through a project in a field you select, such as AI and machine learning, engineering, or cybersecurity. The projects vary widely, from testing AI models that detect online disinformation to coding algorithms for drone detection, so your exact experience will depend on your mentor’s focus. You’ll also practice communicating your ideas clearly, problem-solving independently, and collaborating with professionals in the lab.
10. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: No program fees; additional costs present for residence/commute, detailed on website
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Currently in junior year of high school (11th grade); at least 16 years old by the start of the program
At Stony Brook University, the Simons Summer Research Program allows you to spend six weeks working with faculty mentors on hands-on projects in fields like mathematics, science, and engineering. You become part of an active research group, contributing to ongoing studies and learning the full process of developing and testing a research question. If your interest is in computer science, projects may incorporate data science or machine learning methods, allowing you to apply algorithms and computational tools to real datasets. In addition to research, you will attend faculty lectures and workshops that broaden your exposure to different areas of STEM. The program ends with a written abstract and poster presentation.
11. Carnegie Mellon University’s AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 21 – July 19
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 or older and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or registered with DACA
Carnegie Mellon University’s AI Scholars program is a fully funded, four-week residential experience where you study artificial intelligence through both academic coursework and collaborative research. You will attend lectures led by CMU faculty and researchers, gaining an introduction to topics such as neural networks, natural language processing, and ethical issues in AI. Much of the program is project-based, so you and your peers will work as a team to design and implement an AI solution to a practical problem, which you present at the end of the program. College preparation and readiness seminars are also built into the schedule, giving you insight into admissions, financial aid, and transitioning to university life.
12. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide
Stipend: Paid, varies by site
Dates: Varies by location; typically June – August
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old | Site-specific requirements may apply
Through the AEOP High School Apprenticeship program, you can take part in paid summer research at U.S. Army research laboratories or partner universities. This apprenticeship pairs you with a professional mentor, giving you exposure to advanced research in fields such as materials science, cybersecurity, biology, and artificial intelligence. If your focus is machine learning, some placements include projects in data modeling, coding, and AI-based problem solving. Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to run experiments, use lab equipment, and analyze data while also participating in webinars, career workshops, and networking opportunities.
13. Summer Research Program – Columbia University
Location: Virtual
Cost: To be announced
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Incoming 10th – 12th graders and recent high school graduates
At Columbia University’s Data Science Institute, you can spend five weeks building skills in data science while contributing to active research projects. The program starts with two weeks of training, where you’ll learn coding in R, data cleaning, analysis, and visualization, the same tools professional researchers use. During the following three weeks, you’ll join faculty and PhD researchers as a research assistant, applying your new skills to real data challenges. Along the way, you’ll also develop a project of your own and present it to peers and mentors, gaining experience in both technical problem solving and communication
14. UPenn’s Wharton Data Science Academy
Location: The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,799 + $100 application fee | Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: July 13 – August 2
Application deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 with strong math and coding skills, an interest in data analytics, and preferably some knowledge of statistics
At the Wharton Data Science Academy, you’ll spend your summer learning how to analyze and interpret data while also exploring the role of machine learning in modern research. The program introduces you to the R programming language, which is commonly used by data scientists in both academia and industry. Through lectures, labs, and a team capstone project, you’ll practice wrangling data, creating visualizations, and building predictive models, while also learning how to present your findings clearly. Faculty and teaching assistants provide mentorship, and guest speakers share perspectives on data science careers. By the end, you’ll have both a project and a certificate of completion.
15. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) – Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $840 + $40 application fee (financial aid is available)
Dates: June 16-27
Application deadline: December 9–February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 14 years or older by the program’s start are eligible.
This two-week virtual internship introduces you to the ways AI is shaping healthcare, with a focus on areas like medical imaging and algorithm development. Each day, you’ll take part in a mix of lectures, group research sessions, and mentoring activities guided by Stanford students and faculty. Your main task will be working with a small team to investigate a research question and present your findings, while also learning about the ethical and technical challenges of applying AI in medicine. The program also includes “Career Lunch and Learn” sessions where you’ll hear from professionals in academia, industry, and nonprofit sectors about different career paths in health and AI. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate and, if interested, may be able to continue with an extended research project.
Image source – Carnegie Mellon University