Physics programs for high school students in Michigan introduce you to the experimental and analytical foundations of physics through hands-on learning. Instead of focusing only on theory, these programs often involve laboratory experiments, data analysis, and computational modeling to explore how physical systems behave. You may work with concepts such as mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, and thermodynamics while learning how scientists design experiments and interpret results.
Many physics programs also include coding tools or simulation platforms used in scientific research. You may analyze datasets using tools like Python or run simulations to visualize wave motion or particle interactions. In addition, you often complete team-based projects or small research investigations, gaining experience in experimental design and scientific communication.
Why should you choose a program in Michigan?
Michigan is home to several major research universities that host STEM outreach programs and summer academies for high school students. Institutions such as the University of Michigan and Michigan State University regularly offer programs that give exposure to university laboratories and research environments. Physics programs for high school students in Michigan often include lab experiments, computational projects, and presentations of research findings. If you’re interested in engineering, astrophysics, materials science, or energy systems, you can explore how physics connects to real technologies.
Here is a list of 15 Physics Programs for High School Students in Michigan. For more information, you can also check our blogs on physics programs here and here.
15 Physics Programs for High School Students in Michigan
1. Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) — FRIB at Michigan State University
Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free (room and board included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students per year (highly competitive)
Dates: July 20 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications open in early December; deadline in late March
Eligibility: Current U.S. high school students who have completed at least one year of high school; no prior nuclear physics knowledge required
PAN is a free week-long program at FRIB on the campus of MSU, where FRIB faculty, staff, and students lead the lectures and experiments. The program introduces you to the fundamentals of atomic nuclei and their connection to astrophysics and cosmology. You’ll conduct hands-on nuclear physics experiments, attend lectures on stellar nucleosynthesis, precision measurement, and nuclear science applications, and interact directly with active researchers. Applications are competitive, PAN accepts 24 students per year, and you need to demonstrate strong motivation for science and secure teacher recommendations. Room and board on MSU’s campus are included for participants who need housing.
2. Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (PING) — Central Michigan University
Location: Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI (with a visit to FRIB at MSU)
Cost/Stipend: Free (NSF-funded; housing, meals, and activities included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 Michigan students (small, mentorship-focused cohort)
Dates: July 14 – July 26
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Michigan high school students; open to pre-college students interested in physics
PING is a two-week summer program for pre-college/high school students, run in partnership with the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). The program includes a two-week experience in nuclear physics at Central Michigan University and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at MSU, with a weekend trip to CMU’s Biological Station on Beaver Island. You work alongside CMU faculty and student mentors on hands-on physics experiments and lab activities. This program is particularly focused on broadening participation in physics and is supported by an NSF grant.
3. Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) — Physics Track
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: $1,300 tuition + $1,000 residential stay (commuter option available); $100 non-refundable application fee; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~15 students per class; admits roughly half of applicants
Dates: June 21 – July 3 | Session 2: July 5 – July 17 | Session 3: July 19 – July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply early as courses fill up; financial aid applicants notified in early April
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors (must have completed at least one year of high school and not yet graduated); open to domestic and international students; no GPA or standardized test requirement
MMSS is designed to expose high school students to current developments and research in the sciences, including physics courses taught by University of Michigan faculty. MMSS features small ~15-student classes, and physics offerings have included topics like Forensic Physics, taught by researchers whose work has been featured in publications like Science News. Each two-week session runs Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with hands-on lab work and access to U-M’s research facilities. You attend one course per session and can register for up to all three sessions.
4. Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers — University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (residential; students live in Bursley Hall)
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 students (2025 cohort)
Dates: July 6 – August 1
Application Deadline: Priority deadline January 31; check the website for the current cycle
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; students from Michigan schools within a 500-mile radius of Ann Arbor, prioritized
This four-week residential program is free of cost, and students receive a stipend. The curriculum balances academic rigor with practical experiences: mornings cover math and science tutoring and college entrance exam preparation, while afternoons include seminars on technical communication, leadership development, and community-engaged design projects. The curriculum includes lab visits to premier U-M facilities such as the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory, ZEUS laser system, and the Virtual Ford Nuclear Reactor. Topics covered include nuclear fission and fusion, radiation detection, reactor physics, and reactor systems. You finish the program with a Community-Engaged Energy Facility Design project and a final exhibition.
5. MSU High School Engineering Institute (HSEI)
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (residential and virtual options)
Cost/Stipend: $1,099
Acceptance rate/cohort size: small cohort
Dates: June 22–26 | Session 2: July 6–10 | Session 3: July 13–17
Application Deadline: June 9 | Session 2: June 23 | Session 3: June 30
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders; U.S. and international students; recent graduates also eligible
HSEI is designed for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors seriously considering engineering as a career. Each day, you learn about an engineering major and spend time with a faculty member, a graduate student, and an undergraduate student through short lectures, demonstrations, hands-on activities, team-based problem solving, and virtual tours. Physics is embedded throughout the curriculum, particularly in mechanical, electrical, and materials engineering tracks. The program also includes presentations by the Honors College, Admissions Office, and the Center for Co-op/Internship and Undergraduate Research Opportunities, as well as tours of engineering research facilities.
6. Eastern Michigan University Summer High School Research Program
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Teams of two students per faculty mentor
Dates: June 23 – July 14
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one science class; open to all area high school students
This three-week program at Eastern Michigan University pairs high school students in teams of two with a faculty mentor and an undergraduate research student to work on an original research project in biology, chemistry, or physics. You learn to perform experimental techniques, design studies, record and analyze data, and communicate scientific results. You generate new scientific knowledge and give a presentation showcasing your accomplishments at the close of the program. Lab safety protocols and scientific documentation are covered throughout. This is one of the few Michigan programs where you contribute to ongoing faculty research rather than completing a pre-designed exercise.
7. Oakland University — Introduction to Quantum Physics Summer Program
Location: Oakland University, Rochester, MI (Hannah Hall, Room 220)
Cost/Stipend: $200 registration fee; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small group; not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 23 – July 3 (weekdays, 1–4 p.m.)
Application Deadline: Submit an interest form; admitted students then complete registration
Eligibility: Rising juniors, rising seniors, and graduating seniors who received an A or B in AP Calculus or an equivalent IB math course; AP Physics background is a plus, but not required
This two-week commuter program at Oakland University covers quantum physics through a lecture series focused on Nobel Prize-winning research, including the photoelectric effect (Einstein), atomic spectra and the Bohr model, wave-particle duality (de Broglie), and blackbody radiation (Planck). Sessions include research seminars from OU faculty covering topics like high-pressure physics, quantum computing, and statistical physics, as well as live lab demonstrations of the photoelectric effect, multi-slit experiments, and emission spectroscopy. Career talks from University of Michigan alumni working in physics and software engineering are built into the schedule.
8. University of Michigan WISE Applied Physics Program (Detroit)
Location: Detroit, MI (hosted by U-M WISE Program)
Cost/Stipend: need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 15 – 19
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students; open to students of any gender identity, designed to encourage and support girls in STEM
U-M WISE hosts an applied physics program specifically for high school students, hosted in the city of Detroit. The program is structured around hands-on physics activities and is taught by University of Michigan faculty and student mentors. Approximately 40% of WISE camp attendees eventually matriculate at U-M. This is one of the few Michigan physics programs specifically designed for high school students with a Detroit-based location, making it accessible to students in the metro area without requiring travel to Ann Arbor.
9. Quantum Motor City Summer Camp — MSU
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free (NSF-funded; on-campus housing and meals included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed; open to all high school students
Dates: July 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: June 5 – 26
Eligibility: High school students; all students are welcome to apply
Quantum Motor City is supported by the National Science Foundation and is free for students, including on-campus housing and meals. The camp introduces high school students to quantum technology, an emerging field at the intersection of physics, mathematics, and computer science. You program a real quantum computer, tour a quantum computing lab, and prepare to apply to college. In addition to hands-on quantum computing sessions, the curriculum covers key concepts relevant to all STEM fields, including quantum mechanics fundamentals, superposition, and entanglement. This is one of the only free residential quantum physics programs in Michigan, specifically designed for high school students.
10. Center for Materials Innovation (CMI) — Research Experience for Youth (REY)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small; selective
Dates: May 27 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: 11th-grade Michigan residents
The CMI Research Experience for Youth (REY) Program places 11th-grade Michigan residents in authentic materials science and physics research experiences at U-M. You work alongside university researchers on projects involving the structure and behavior of materials at the atomic and nanoscale, areas with direct applications in energy, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. The program is designed to give you direct experience with lab instrumentation, experimental data collection, and scientific communication before your senior year, building a foundation that can support college applications in physics, engineering, or materials science.
11. Wayne State University — Summer High School Research Program (Physics/Energy Track)
Location: James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Application Deadline: June 20
Eligibility: High school students
At the Summer High School Research Program, the program offers three tracks: Emerging Energy Technology (battery science, electrode preparation, and battery design), CAD/3D Modeling (using industry-standard CAD software, 3D printing, and basic electronics), and Fuel Cells (hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers, including hands-on experiments on generating hydrogen and converting it to electricity). Depending on the track you choose, you learn from current research and industry professionals. In the Emerging Energy Technology track, you learn about battery science and related technologies to prepare for careers in the automotive battery and energy sectors. The energy and battery science track involves direct engagement with physics concepts, including electrochemistry, materials properties, and energy conversion at the intersection of physics and engineering.
12. GVSU Young PIs Summer Scholar Program
Location: Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI (with tours of Grand Rapids research institutes)
Cost/Stipend: $50
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed; students are paired with undergraduate mentors
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 20
Eligibility: High school students; closed-toe shoes and long pants required for lab activities
The Young PIs Summer Scholar Program at GVSU introduces high school students to lab techniques and research methods. Over the course of a week-long summer camp, you complete labs in biomedical sciences, biology, physics, and chemistry, and are paired with undergraduate mentors to discuss research, college life, and how to excel at the university level. The program includes a community tour of Grand Rapids-based research institutes, exploring careers in STEM. A research poster is created on Thursday and displayed at a Friday poster showcase, giving you experience in presenting scientific work to an audience.
13. Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs — Engineering Scholars Program (ESP)
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI (residential)
Cost/Stipend: $1,125 (live-in); $695 (commuter); + $150 non-refundable deposit; need-based scholarships available (valued over $1,000 covering full tuition, room, board, and supplies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; selective for scholarship track
Dates: June 21 – June 26
Application Deadline: Rolling until full; scholarship applications have earlier deadlines
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 9–11 (current 12th graders and graduates are not eligible)
The Engineering Scholars Program (ESP) gives you a week-long look at engineering careers across nine fields: Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Environmental, Geohazards, Mechanical, Materials Science, and Robotics Engineering, through hands-on projects, group presentations, and applied learning sessions. Physics is embedded throughout, particularly in the electrical, mechanical, and materials tracks. You get inside access from industry role models working in engineering fields and interact with a diverse group of peers from around the country and world, while working in teams for applied project sessions. Over half of the students who attend go on to study engineering or computer science in college.
14. Electrify Tech Camp — “Entangle It” Quantum Mechanics Track (University of Michigan)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (non-residential/commuter)
Cost/Stipend: $900; limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited capacity; high demand — apply early
Dates: July 14 – July 18 (9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily; Monday check-in at 9:00 a.m.; Friday closing presentation 4:00–5:00 p.m.)
Application Deadline: Rolling; fill out the Electrify 2025 interest form at
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school by June 2025 (Grades 10–11 only; incoming 9th graders not eligible); no prior experience required
The Entangle It camp covers quantum mechanics fundamentals, including quantum entanglement and superposition, and explores how quantum behavior enables advanced technologies. Program content is developed and taught by U-M faculty and graduate students from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, one of the top-ranked ECE programs in the country. The instructor specializes in experimental quantum science and teaches Quantum Nanotechnology and Quantum Electromagnetics at the university level. This program requires completion of online training before the program date.
15. Electrify Tech Camp — “Zap It” Laser & Plasma Physics Track (University of Michigan)
Location: University of Michigan ZEUS Laser Facility, Ann Arbor, MI (non-residential/commuter)
Cost/Stipend: $900; limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited capacity; high demand, apply early
Dates: August 11 – August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling; fill out the Electrify 2026 interest form
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school (Grades 10–11; incoming 9th graders not eligible); no prior experience required; multiple online safety and instructional courses must be completed before the program date
Zap It covers laser engineering and plasma science, with hands-on experience at the University of Michigan ZEUS Facility, home to the most powerful laser in the United States. Recent Electrify camps have focused on AI, quantum mechanics, nanotechnology, lasers, and energy, with all content developed and taught by U-M faculty and graduate students. This is one of the only Michigan programs where high school students get direct lab access to a world-class physics research facility used for cutting-edge plasma and high-energy physics research.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in physics, 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 – Oakland University