An online winter program is a flexible and efficient way to make productive use of the winter break while continuing to learn or build new skills. They allow you to study from anywhere, eliminating travel and accommodation costs. These programs often offer short, focused courses that help you strengthen academic foundations or explore new interests in a low-pressure timeframe.
Who should consider online winter programs?
Online winter programs are ideal for you if you want to stay academically engaged during the break, but without committing to a full semester. If you prefer self-paced or remote learning environments, you may find these programs especially beneficial. They also give you the chance to form valuable connections with other students or mentors from around the world. All in all, online winter programs provide a convenient and accessible way to grow academically and professionally during the winter season. With that, here are 15 online winter programs for high school students worth paying attention to.
You can also check out this blog on online camps for high school students.
15 Online Winter Programs for High School Students
1. Cornell SCE Precollege Studies Summer/Winter Online Program
Location: Online
Cost: 3 credits: $5,820; 4 credits: $7,760
Application Deadline: December 1 (tentative)
Dates: January 2 – 17
Eligibility: Rising or current high school juniors and seniors ages 15 to 19
If you want to earn college credit during winter break, Cornell University’s School of Continuing Education provides online pre-college courses designed for high school students. The program offers more than 100 courses across fields such as history, veterinary medicine, engineering, health, business, and hospitality. You can enroll in one or multiple college-level classes and earn between 3 and 12 credits, depending on your course load. After you complete the program, you’ll receive an official Cornell transcript that may be considered for credit by other colleges, subject to their policies. Classes are delivered through Cornell’s Canvas learning platform, where you communicate with instructors and peers through email, discussion boards, chats, video meetings, and phone calls. Some courses follow a scheduled live format, while others are available in recorded sessions.
2. UCSD Research Scholars Life Sciences Program
Location: Online (hybrid options offered)
Cost: Varies by course
Application Deadline: Winter: January 1
Dates: Varies by course
Eligibility: High school students
During this program, you’ll engage in research-based learning in life sciences with Boz Institute instructors. Courses include Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Neurogenomics of a Developing Brain, Marine Biology: Mammalian Chemistry and Genomics, and Applied Bioinformatics. You’ll explore molecular biology through fieldwork, lab techniques, bioinformatics, and statistical analysis. You’ll conduct literature reviews, develop hypotheses, design experiments, collect/process samples, analyze data, and communicate findings. You’ll also present research via a formal poster to scientists and professionals. You’ll earn non-credit pre-college units potentially transferable for school credit.
3. Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI) Program
Location: Online (virtual internship options available)
Cost: None; Limited need-based scholarships offered
Application Deadline: September 9 – December 12
Dates: January 14 – May 27
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (16+) residing in Oregon and the Portland metro area (including select Washington counties)
During this program, you will attend weekly two-hour virtual lectures that cover ongoing research projects by OHSU scientists. You will receive mentorship from a researcher and gain knowledge of research methods. You’ll also get to present a published research article in journal club format and develop your own research proposal. Regular attendance is required, with only one excused absence allowed, alongside 1-5 hours weekly for assignments. The course earns high school credit arranged through local officials. A mandatory poster symposium occurs in August, where you present research or a literature review. An optional summer internship follows, requiring at least 250 hours in labs or clinical research.
4. Oregon State Ecampus College Courses for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course
Application Deadline: Varies by term
Dates: Winter term starts on January 5
Eligibility: High school students applying as nondegree-seeking
You can register for a wide selection of online college courses offered by Oregon State University, covering areas such as mathematics, languages, sciences, and business. These courses allow you to earn university credits that may transfer toward degree requirements, depending on institutional policies. You participate in classes through Ecampus and learn alongside students who are enrolled in degree programs. To get started, you’ll apply through university admissions as a nondegree-seeking student.
5. The APA Internal Internship Program (IIP)
Location: Online
Stipend: Paid and unpaid (for academic credit) internships
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year, including winter
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in APA-registered states; Needs a D.C. Work Permit if under 18
The American Psychological Association runs an Internal Internship Program (IIP) that includes paid and unpaid internship options for high school students with an interest in psychology. You’ll work within the organization and gain exposure to areas such as research, public policy, and communications. Through your assignments, you’ll build practical skills in writing, teamwork, and analytical thinking while witnessing how psychological principles are used in professional settings. You’ll also take part in collaborative projects, structured workshops, and group discussions with other interns. During the application process, you may indicate up to three internship roles that align with your interests.
6. NSLI-Y Virtual
Location: Virtual
Cost None; fully funded by the U.S. Department of State
Application Deadline: November 12
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (ages 15-18)
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Virtual is an online language program supported by the U.S. Department of State. Over the course of 10 weeks, you study a critical language—such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, or Russian—with instructors who are native speakers. Your coursework includes scheduled live classes as well as activities focused on cultural context and exchange. Through these sessions, you’ll practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing in real-world situations. By participating, you’ll gain structured language instruction and experience that you can reference in your academic and extracurricular records.
7. Jackson Lab Academic Year Fellowships
Location: Online (in-person and hybrid options available)
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Depends on the project; Opportunities are available from fall to spring
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16+) in good academic standing
The Jackson Laboratory’s Academic Year Fellowships allow you to take part in biomedical research during the academic year. As a fellow, you’ll join an active JAX research group and learn core laboratory methods while supporting ongoing studies. With guidance from mentors such as faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students, you’ll design and complete an independent research project connected to the lab’s area of study. Throughout the fellowship, you’ll be involved in planning experiments, analyzing data, documenting findings, and participating in group discussions. By the conclusion of the program, you’ll gain experience in problem-solving, scientific writing and presentation, time management, and collaborative work.
8. Thinkport Research Learning Modules
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not applicable
Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: High school students (a few modules are open to students in grades 6-12)
Thinkport offers Research Learning Modules that you can complete online at your own pace. These lessons are designed to help you develop practical research skills, particularly if you are working on medical or scientific projects. You’ll begin by learning how to identify and differentiate between primary and secondary sources. From there, you’ll practice forming a clear thesis statement and organizing your ideas into a logical structure. The modules also explain how to document sources properly, avoid plagiarism, and assess the reliability of historical documents. In addition, you’ll review different formats for presenting your work, such as writing a scientific paper or creating an exhibit. Throughout the program, you’ll focus on building a step-by-step understanding of the research process so you can apply these skills to your own projects.
9. Burke Neurological Institute’s Introduction to Neuroscience
Location: Online
Cost: $700; Full scholarships offered
Application Deadline: January 31
Dates: February 3 – April 9
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the NYS Regents Living Environment or equivalent Biology class
The Burke Neurological Institute offers an online Introduction to Neuroscience course for high school students who want to learn about the mammalian nervous system. Classes meet twice each week and address topics such as motor control, sensory systems, memory, and learning. You’ll study the organization of the nervous system, review how strokes alter brain function, and examine the effects of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. The course is taught by faculty members, which may allow for academic guidance and feedback. Coursework also connects to current areas of neuroscience research, helping you build background knowledge that may be useful for future laboratory or research experiences.
10. Stanford Daily Pre-Collegiate Winter Workshops
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Discounts are offered for bundling multiple programs together; Fee waivers are available; More info here under FAQs
Application Deadline: December 7
Dates: December 15 – January 9
Eligibility: High school students
The Stanford Daily runs remote winter workshops for high school students in journalism, technology, and multimedia. You’ll take part in weekly sessions that focus on skills such as news reporting, newsroom web development, and visual design. In the journalism track, you’ll complete reporting assignments and receive guidance from Stanford Daily editors. The technology workshop introduces core concepts in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and data visualization as they relate to media organizations. Prior coding experience is not required to enroll in the program.
11. University of Rochester’s Online Medical Courses
Location: Online
Cost: $1,595; Need-based scholarships available
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in a year, including during the winter
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and above, including gap year students
The University of Rochester offers online medical programs where you can explore topics in medicine and healthcare through self-paced, asynchronous courses. You’ll study subjects from the Public Health Sciences department and advanced certificate programs, including Clinical Research Methods. The coursework covers areas such as data management and analysis using tools like SAS and R, survey design, and applying epidemiological principles to case studies. Faculty mentors provide support on assignments, capstone projects, scientific writing, and grant preparation. You’ll also engage with the Biopsychosocial Model as it applies to medical education. Throughout the program, you’ll build skills in critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, data analysis, and understanding community health contexts.
12. The Coding School: Foundations of Data Science & Machine Learning for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: $995; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: September – December (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school students (18 years & under)
In this program, you’ll explore areas such as robotics, machine learning, and data science through hands-on, project-based activities. You’ll work on developing coding skills and applying them to tasks in data analysis, algorithms, and engineering. The program includes structured lab sessions and guidance from mentors with technical experience. You will also have opportunities to learn about technology careers and professional practices from experts working in the field.
13. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money
Location: Online
Cost: $329
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Self-paced; 13-15 hours
Eligibility: High school students
The University of Pennsylvania offers Understanding Your Money, a self-paced online course that covers fundamental financial concepts such as investing and money management. You will work through video lessons taught by Wharton faculty, along with readings and interactive quizzes, to develop skills relevant to everyday financial decisions. The course is hosted on the Wharton Online Learning platform and includes four modules, 16 topic units, and 55 lecture videos. It typically takes 13 to 15 hours to complete. Throughout the course, you study subjects including supply and demand, budgeting, retirement planning, risk versus return, and asset allocation.
14. Interlochen’s Acting Techniques Certificate Program
Location: Online
Cost: $999
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Multiple four-week sessions
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-12
The Acting Techniques Certificate Program includes three four-week courses for teens and adults, with separate groups for students under 18 and those 18 or older. You can take the courses in any order: Monologues, Scene Study, and Improvisation. In the Monologues course, you work on analyzing scripts and developing characters for stage and screen while learning foundational acting techniques. The course also covers the history and methods of acting across different cultures. The Scene Study course focuses on script analysis, understanding character motivations, and practicing dialogue delivery. You’ll also work on incorporating movement and maintaining engagement during performances. In the Improvisation course, you’ll develop improv skills and apply them to scripted scenes to support character development and improve your overall performance.
15. Art of Problem Solving (AoPS): Online Courses
Location: Online
Cost: Varies based on program
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohorts
Dates: Vary based on cohorts
Eligibility: High school students (exact prerequisites vary by course)
AoPS offers live online courses in advanced mathematics and computer science. You can select from topics such as number theory, competitive math, or programming. Classes are led by instructors with experience preparing students for competitions like the AMC or USACO. The courses combine live instruction with interactive problem-solving sessions and homework assignments. This program provides an opportunity to strengthen your math or computer science skills during the school year.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like science, humanities or arts, 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 – Cornell SCE