If you’re a high school student serious about mathematics, a structured summer program can push you far beyond standard coursework. Instead of routine assignments, you’ll likely spend your time working through proof-based problems, exploring topics like number theory or combinatorics, and engaging in small-group discussions where you’re expected to defend your reasoning. Some programs emphasize competition preparation for exams like the AMC or AIME, while others introduce college-level material such as linear algebra, probability, or discrete math. A few even integrate computational tools, asking you to use coding to model mathematical systems.
Why should you spend your summer in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is particularly well-suited for this kind of experience because of its concentration of universities and research institutions. Many summer math programs are hosted on university campuses, taught by faculty or graduate students, and connected to broader academic communities. The state offers a wide range of formats, from competition-focused intensives to credit-bearing pre-college courses and federally funded access initiatives. Whether residential or commuter-based, these programs place you in an environment shaped by serious mathematical study.
To help get you started, we’ve put together a list of 13 math programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
13 Math Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
1. G2 (Girls Together) Math Program – Independent Program
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; housing, meals, and up to $500 of airfare are all covered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 10 – 26
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Students who identify as female or non-binary, entering grades 9–12, at least 14 years old by the first day of the program, and U.S. or Canadian citizens or residents or attending school in the U.S. or Canada
For about two and a half weeks in July, you’ll spend your days working through olympiad-style math, focusing on proof-based topics similar to those found on the USA(J)MO. The program brings together high school students who are serious about competitive math, and the teaching staff includes former top women competitors who now serve as instructors and mentors. You don’t need to have qualified for the USA(J)MO to apply, but you should be genuinely interested in deep problem-solving and abstract reasoning. The focus is on building skills and forming a strong peer community of girls and non-binary students who care about math.
2. √mathroots – MIT PRIMES, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 1 – 15
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: High school students; the program encourages applicants who have demonstrated resilience, resourcefulness, and initiative in overcoming barriers to learning
√mathroots is a 14-day, in-person summer program hosted by MIT PRIMES through the MIT Mathematics Department. During the program, you’ll explore creative topics in mathematics and work through challenging problem-solving sessions on MIT’s campus. The structure is intensive and short, so you should expect full days focused on mathematical thinking rather than competition test prep. The program centers on developing deeper problem-solving habits and engaging with unfamiliar mathematical ideas in a concentrated format. Because it is hosted through MIT PRIMES and takes place on MIT’s campus, participation can signal sustained interest in advanced mathematics, especially if you continue pursuing math research or competitions afterward.
3. Menezes Challenge PRIMES Circle – MIT Mathematics Department
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $5 SlideRoom application fee (fee waivers available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: February – May (weekly meetings)
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: High school students living within commuting distance of Boston; selection based on academic record, recommendations, demonstrated math ability and interest, and resilience in overcoming barriers to learning; past participants may not reapply
Menezes Challenge PRIMES Circle is a four-month after-school math program that runs from February through May. You meet once per week on MIT’s campus in small groups, typically two students per undergraduate mentor, for a two-hour session focused on advanced mathematical reading and problem solving beyond the high school curriculum. Students are expected to commit 5–7 hours per week, including meetings and independent work. Mentors assign readings and problem sets, discuss solutions, and adjust the pace based on your background. At the end of the program, you submit an expository paper and present your work at a mini-conference. The structure is a guided study group centered on depth of understanding in a specific area of math.
4. MIT PRIMES – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Location: Cambridge, MA (Greater Boston area; primarily remote meetings with mentors, conference at MIT)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small number of students admitted; exact number not specified
Program Dates: January – December (year-long)
Application Deadline: January 28
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores (or homeschooled students of the same age) residing in Greater Boston
MIT PRIMES is a year-long, after-school research program in mathematics for students in the Greater Boston area. You are matched with a mentor, typically an MIT graduate student or postdoctoral scholar, and begin with an advanced reading phase before moving into original research on an unsolved problem in pure or applied mathematics. During the first two phases, you should expect to commit at least 10 hours per week, including a weekly meeting with your mentor. Over the course of the year, you submit a reading report, an interim research report, present your work at a fall conference, and complete a final paper. By the end of the program, you produce a formal research paper that may be submitted to science competitions or research journals.
5. PRIMES STEP (Solve–Theorize–Explore–Prove) – MIT Mathematics Department (MIT PRIMES)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $2,700/year (need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Two groups of 10 students each (20 total)
Program Dates: School-year program; weekly sessions on Mondays or Thursdays, 6:00–8:00 pm
Application Deadline: May 26
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 in the spring (entering 7th–9th grade in September), including homeschooled students of the same age
PRIMES STEP is an after-school math program where you meet on MIT’s campus once a week for a two-hour session in a small group. You’ll spend most meetings solving non-routine logic and olympiad-style problems and learning strategies for approaching them. The program also includes activities that mimic parts of research, like creating new problems and trying to solve them first. Cohorts are capped at 20 students total, split into two groups that meet on either Mondays or Thursdays. Admission includes an in-person entrance quiz on campus and requires one recommendation letter.
6. Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM) – Hampshire College
Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Cost: TBA; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Talented and highly motivated high school students
HCSSiM is a six-week residential math program where you spend most of your day actively doing college-level mathematics. Mornings run Monday through Saturday with four hours of class, followed by a daily “Prime Time Theorem” before dinner and evening problem sessions. You’ll be immersed in math for much of the day, working through challenging problems and engaging directly with faculty who are accessible in and out of class. Afternoons are more flexible, with time for reading, informal study, rest, and time outdoors on campus. Students live together in the dorms at Hampshire College, and the program emphasizes both collaboration and independence.
7. IDEA MATH Summer Program
Location: Greater Boston Area (MA/NH)
Cost/Stipend: $2,285 (early enrollment) or $2,385 (regular enrollment) for the 60-hour day program; $100 scholarship for eligible MATHCOUNTS National Round participants and USA(J)MO qualifiers
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; classes capped at 16 students (PC0/PCA) or 20 students (other courses)
Program Dates: June 29 – July 3 and July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: March 30 (early enrollment); April 30 (regular enrollment)
Eligibility: Rising 6th to rising 12th graders; placement test required for most applicants
This 10-day in-person math program emphasizes enrichment and contest prep. Participants attend six hours of classes daily, divided into morning and afternoon sessions, totaling 60 hours of instruction. Placement depends on your academic background and a necessary placement test. Classes follow a seminar style, requiring you to frequently present solutions and justify your reasoning at the board. The program is for those preparing for math competitions or seeking advanced, structured coursework beyond school, offering intensive practice in algebra, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory. The program includes lunch and short recreational breaks during the day.
8. MathExploration Summer Program – MathAltitude School of Mathematics
Location: Worcester, MA and online
Cost/Stipend: $660 (most high school math courses); $966 (Pre-Calculus or High School Physics); $1,548 (Intensive Pre-Calculus); see tuition chart for other courses
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: K–12 students; placement test required for new students
For high school students, the summer program offers twice-weekly courses in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Math Olympiad, SAT prep, High School Physics, and ELA. Most classes run over six weeks, with options for in-person or online attendance. The Intensive Pre-Calculus course meets four days per week for 2.5 hours per day and covers a full pre-calculus curriculum in one summer. SAT courses include diagnostic testing and are split by level based on performance.
9. Achieve In Math (AIM) – Massachusetts Bay Community College
Location: MassBay Wellesley Hills Campus, Wellesley Hills, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free (includes textbook and support services)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays; June 24 – July 24
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students placed into MA90, MA95, or MA98, or recent high school graduates who did not pass the MCAS; non-STEM students planning to enroll in a Fall math course at MassBay
AIM is a five-week, in-person summer program designed to help you strengthen your math skills before starting fall classes at MassBay. You’ll attend class twice a week from 9 am to 12 pm, with optional homework support or tutoring from 12 to 2 pm. The focus is on preparing you for college-level math and improving placement outcomes. If you perform well, you may be able to place into a higher-level math course, which can reduce the number of required classes. After the summer session, you’re encouraged to continue using the Academic Achievement Center for ongoing support.
10. CyberMath Academy Summer Math Camp
Location: Boston, MA; Silicon Valley, CA; Oxford, UK (day and residential options)
Cost/Stipend: Day: $3,299 – $3,999 | Residential: $6,799 – $7,699 (tiered pricing by registration window). Additional fees may apply: international fee $585, airport pickup/dropoff $150 each way, day-student lunch fee $350 (optional), evening activities for day students $890 (optional)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Boston: July 20 – 31 | Silicon Valley: July 6 – 17 | Oxford: July 5 – 18
Application Deadline: Up to the end of May (pricing tiers: end of February, March, April, end of May)
Eligibility: Ages 11–18 (residential) and 9–18 (day); Advanced High School Math track recommended for advanced grades 9–12
CyberMath runs intensive summer sessions with math classes in the morning and structured activities or study time in the afternoon, with residential evening study time available. Students take an in-person placement exam right before instruction starts, and final placement is based on the exam plus your application background. For high school students, the main option is Advanced High School Math, with Foundations and Mastery levels determined by the placement exam. The program also offers an AI and Machine Learning track (listed as available in Boston and Silicon Valley), plus guest lectures and scheduled tours/visits depending on the location.
11. PZ Math Number Theory Summer Camp (PZMC) – PZ Math
Location: Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Cost: $3,100
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 30–35 students
Program Dates: June 29 – July 10
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: High school students who have completed or are currently enrolled in Algebra 2 or equivalent
PZMC is a residential summer camp focused primarily on number theory and mathematical reasoning. Over the course of the program, you’ll explore topics by working through examples, identifying patterns, forming conjectures, and writing proofs. The core emphasis is on “The Art of Mathematical Thinking,” with number theory as the central subject area. In addition to the main coursework, students attend colloquia and other math-related activities. Admission requires a statement of interest, challenge questions, a transcript, and two recommendation letters. If you’re comfortable with Algebra 2 and interested in proof-based math, this program is designed to move you beyond computational work into structured mathematical argument.
12. Discovering Mathematics Through Computer Experiments – UMass Amherst Pre-College
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA (residential or commuter)
Cost: $4,119 (residential) | $2,299 (commuter)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong algebra skills
This two-week, in-person course introduces you to using Python to explore mathematical problems through simulation. You’ll start by learning core Python skills, then apply them to topics such as dynamical systems, probability, mathematical physics, and math biology. The focus is on turning mathematical ideas into code, running computational experiments, and forming your own hypotheses based on what you observe. Classes run Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and include lectures, small-group work, and coding practice. By the end, you’ll be able to write Python programs for mathematical algorithms and present your findings using plots and graphics.
13. Assumption Institute of Math (AIM) – Assumption University
Location: Assumption University, Worcester, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free (lunch provided)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 30 students (13:30 mentor-to-student ratio)
Program Dates: July 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th or 10th graders; typically referred by a math teacher; strong performance and/or interest in mathematics
AIM is a five-day, on-campus math day camp focused on discovery topics in pre-calculus and probability. You’ll work in a hands-on setting with guidance from Assumption professors and undergraduate mentors, with a relatively high mentor-to-student ratio. Assumption also encourages applications from students who are underrepresented or underserved in mathematics. If you’re in 9th or 10th grade and want a short, structured introduction to higher-level math concepts in a small group setting, this is a focused, weeklong academic experience.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like math, trigonometry, calculus, 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: University of Massachusetts, Amherst