If you are a high school student looking to explore physics beyond your regular classes, programs focused on the subject can help you go deeper. They give you time to work through concepts carefully and understand how physics connects to real-world systems.
New Mexico offers a range of physics programs through universities and scientific institutions where high school students can engage with topics in a more practical and structured way. You may work on problems, experiments, or guided projects that reflect how the subject is studied at a higher level.
Why should you choose a program in New Mexico?
New Mexico provides a strong setting for physics because of its link to major research work and scientific infrastructure. Many programs are connected to institutions that focus on real-world applications of physics, giving you early exposure to that environment. Choosing a program in New Mexico can also be more accessible, helping you gain experience without additional travel or housing costs.
To help you navigate these options, here are 15 physics programs for high school students in New Mexico! If you’re looking for online physics programs, you can find them here. You can also check out the best summer programs for high school students in New Mexico here.
15 Physics Programs for High School Students in New Mexico
1. New Mexico School for the Arts Summer Physics Camp
Location: New Mexico School for the Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn a $350 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 8 – 19
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students who live in New Mexico, New Mexico Tribal Communities, or East Hawai‘i Island and have completed Algebra I or a higher-level math course
The New Mexico School for the Arts Summer Physics Camp gives local students a chance to explore STEM through hands-on projects and real-world activities. You’ll learn from scientists and engineers from Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, as well as explore physics, engineering, programming, bioengineering, chemistry, and cybersecurity. You’ll also develop professional skills such as writing a résumé, preparing for job applications and interviews, and learning about college and career paths at local colleges and national laboratories supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. This year’s theme, Invisible Worlds: Physics Beyond What Our Eyes Can See, focuses on forces and systems we cannot directly observe, including electricity, gravitational waves, quantum physics, and microscopic biological processes.
2. Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | High school interns earn $16.89 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Part-time during the school year and full-time for 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: August 1 – September 30 (Fall) | December 1 – February 13 (Spring) | January 12 – April 15 (Summer)
Eligibility: Current or rising high school seniors who attend a New Mexico high school, are at least 16 years old, and have a minimum 2.75 GPA
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s High School Internship Program for New Mexico high school seniors gives them a chance to gain hands-on work experience, build practical skills, and explore different career paths. Internships are available in STEM as well as areas like business and operations support. The program will introduce you to physics concepts through research related to national security, applied science, and computational work. You can choose projects in areas such as RF engineering, nuclear and particle physics applications, thermonuclear plasma physics, materials science, applied mathematics and plasma physics, or theoretical biology and biophysics. When applying, you should review project descriptions and select up to three that match your interests and skills. During the internship, you’ll work closely with a mentor and a co-mentor.
3. New Mexico State University Physics Summer Camp
Location: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
New Mexico State University offers physics-related programs through its Department of Physics and STEM Outreach Center, which gives high school students a chance to explore science through hands-on learning. The Society of Physics Students at NMSU runs a free summer camp for incoming 9th- to 12th-graders that highlights the university’s physics program. You’ll participate in experiments on mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and nuclear physics. You’ll join guided lab tours in Gardiner Hall to see research spaces and participate in sessions that connect physics with chemistry, astronomy, and geology. Past camp activities have included building and launching rockets, exploring ways to create ultrasonic waves, and observing light and sound in a vacuum. The camp also features interactive events such as Physics of Superheroes talks, game-style challenges, and group activities.
4. Internships at Sandia National Laboratories
Location: Multiple locations, including Albuquerque, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | NM high school students earn $17.75 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Summer internships run 10–12 weeks, from May to the last Thursday in August. Year-round internships take place from September to May. Co-op internships generally run for 3 to 8 months during an academic term and may also include the summer term.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the opportunity
Eligibility: Full-time high school students who are U.S. citizens and 16 or older can apply. Applicants for R&D, technical, or business roles must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Those applying for clerical or laborer roles must have a minimum 2.5 GPA
Sandia National Laboratories offers internships for high school students in both technical and business roles. Opportunities include summer, year-round, and co-op internships. You’ll work on projects related to national research and technology goals. Many internships take place through technical institutes that focus on areas such as cybersecurity, engineering design, energy security, and software development. Each institute provides a team to guide and mentor you as you work on projects aligned with your interests. In this research and development environment, you’ll also learn how physics is applied to real problems.
5. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Multiple locations across the United States, including Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn weekly stipends depending on their education level and the General Schedule (GS) pay scale
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: The AFRL Scholars Program mainly offers summer internships, with limited opportunities in the fall and spring. Internships typically last 10 to 12 weeks and require at least 8 weeks, with dates based on participant availability and annual funding.
Application Deadline: October 10 – January 10
Eligibility: Students enrolled in or accepted to a school and taking at least a half-time course load toward a degree or certificate can apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old by the application deadline, have a valid government ID, and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
The AFRL Scholars Program at Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico offers research internships for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as educators. You’ll work with scientists and engineers on projects in the Directed Energy and Space Vehicles directorates and may collaborate with the United States Space Force. The program takes place at Kirtland Air Force Base and includes hands-on research, lab tours, mentorship, and work on real technology development. Projects may involve high-energy lasers, aerospace technologies, microwaves, satellite signal analysis, space weather modeling, optics, and cold-atom research. Through these activities, you’ll gain experience with physics concepts in areas such as photonics, materials science, and aerospace systems. You can explore different opportunities available for high school students in New Mexico here.
6. New Mexico Tech Summer STEM Experience
Location: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
Cost: $675 per session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 10–20 students per class
Dates: June 7 – 12 | July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have completed Algebra I and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Summer STEM Experience gives high school students a chance to experience college life and explore science and engineering disciplines. During this week-long program, you’ll work with other students, faculty, and staff who share an interest in science, engineering, entrepreneurship, technology, and math. Through lectures, lab work, and field trips, you’ll study a specific topic in depth. Past options have included transforming solar power into usable energy, optimizing space rovers, mining, building mini chemical sensors, and scaling chemical discoveries. The program will also allow you to earn college credit. In previous years, the physics-focused curriculum has included topics such as the physics of weather and climate, atmospheric observations, data analysis, and materials engineering.
7. Quantum Systems Accelerator QCaMP
Location: Multiple locations, including Albuquerque, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipends are available for students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 38 students participated in the program last year
Dates: June 29 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 2 – April 3
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program, live in New Mexico, the Navajo Nation in Arizona, or Northern California, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and know basic algebra
The QCaMP program introduces you to quantum computing, physics, and mathematics, and helps you build a foundation in computing concepts. You’ll learn how quantum physics can be used to approach computing problems in new ways and gain hands-on experience creating circuits on a real quantum computer. The program also highlights the growing demand for skills in quantum information science as new technologies continue to develop. Throughout the program, you’ll explore this emerging field early in your education, learn about career paths, and discover resources for continuing in quantum research and technology. You’ll also gain experience with quantum computing, sensing, and communication systems, as well as learn from researchers and speakers.
8. University of New Mexico’s Engineering and Computing Summer Academy
Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 1 – 12 (Commuter Program) | June 22 – July 17 (Residential Program)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising 8th–10th graders can apply for the non-residential program, with priority given to 8th and 9th graders. Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply for the residential program, with preference given to students who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program.
The University of New Mexico Engineering and Computing Summer Academy introduces high school students to engineering and computer science through hands-on projects and activities. The program has two tracks: a commuter option for younger students and a residential option, the Summer Transportation Institute, for older students. You’ll work on themed weekly projects that will help you build skills in engineering and coding, visit transportation and STEM-related workplaces, and learn from faculty, engineering students, and industry professionals. In partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, you’ll also study transportation systems and research methods. You’ll attend workshops on teamwork, problem-solving, and project management. Engineering projects will introduce you to physics concepts such as mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. You may also get to connect with research at Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
9. University of New Mexico’s Experience Nuclear Engineering Program
Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 20 students
Dates: July 12 – 18
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The University of New Mexico offers Experience Nuclear Engineering, a one-week residential program for high school students at its main campus in Albuquerque. The program introduces nuclear science and engineering through hands-on activities with faculty and students from the university’s nuclear engineering department. You’ll learn to take X-ray images, explore plasmas, and visit local facilities that use particle accelerators in medical settings. You’ll also learn to use a research nuclear reactor and a handheld scintillation detector, as well as analyze gamma radiation spectra to study nuclear reactions. Under supervision, you’ll work with radioactive materials and radiation-producing technologies. You’ll also study topics such as radiation interaction with matter, neutron transport, and nuclear reactor theory.
10. Albuquerque Academy Think Summer Program
Location: Albuquerque Academy campus, Albuquerque, NM
Cost: $105–$1,925 per class, depending on the course and its duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies depending on the course
Dates: 6-week session: June 8 – July 17 | 3-week sessions: June 8 – 26 and June 29 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 2 – 20
Eligibility: Current and rising students in grades K–12
Albuquerque Academy Think Summer is an academic enrichment program that helps you build skills and explore new subjects outside regular school classes. You can choose half-day or full-day schedules, with program lengths of three or six weeks. Courses cover a wide range of topics in STEM and the humanities, including sports, mechanical engineering, graphic design, literature, ceramics, and more. If you want to explore physics through engineering, the Building Bridges Intro to Civil Engineering course introduces you to vectors, forces, and statics and allows you to design, build, and test wooden bridge models using simulations and calculations. Another option, Fire Catapults: Intro to Mechanical Engineering, focuses on projectile motion and dynamics as you design and test model catapults with computer simulations before building them.
11. New Mexico State University’s STEM Mavericks
Location: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students may earn a stipend, depending on the available funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 1 – 12
Application Deadline: March 23 (regular) | April 20 (extended); applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
New Mexico State University’s STEM Mavericks is a two-week summer camp for students in grades 10–12 that introduces them to STEM fields and technology-related careers. During the camp, you’ll use STEM kits with the hardware and software needed for projects, and you’ll receive your own kit afterward to keep building skills and exploring technology pathways. The program includes modules on Linux and Python programming, embedded engineering, radio frequency, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering projects, and 3D printing. You’ll also attend a resume workshop, participate in sessions with guest speakers from different STEM fields, and join field trips. Through hands-on projects, you’ll explore applied physics by working with radio waves, sensors, transducers, actuators, robotics, and Raspberry Pi systems that connect programming with physical machines and electronic signals.
12. New Mexico Public Education Department Advanced Placement (AP) Physics Courses
Location: Online or in person across various high schools in New Mexico
Cost: $99 per exam; students with financial need may qualify for a $37 College Board fee reduction per AP Exam. You can check additional details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Courses run throughout the academic year (September – May), and AP exams take place in May
Application Deadline: The exam registration deadline is in the fall, though exact dates can vary by school; students should confirm the deadline with their teacher or AP coordinator
Eligibility: High school students can apply; you can check the individual course pages for specific prerequisites
Advanced Placement, offered by the College Board, allows you to take college-level classes while still in high school. You’ll complete challenging coursework during the school year and take the AP exam in May. If you earn a score of 3 or higher on the five-point scale, you may qualify for college credit. Around 40 AP courses are available, taught by high school teachers on campus or online during the regular school day. In New Mexico, public colleges and universities guarantee credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5. You can still take an AP exam even without the class, though most students test at their own school. If you’re interested in physics, the Mechanics course covers topics like motion, momentum, gravitation, and rotation through conceptual explanations and calculus-based mathematics. Another option is the Electricity and Magnetism course, which will help you learn about electrostatics, capacitors and dielectrics, electric circuits, conductors, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism.
13. New Mexico State University’s Young Women in Computing (YWiC) Summer Program
Location: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 11 – 20 (High School Camp)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Female high school students
New Mexico State University’s Young Women in Computing Program helps high school girls build STEM skills through hands-on activities and team projects. The curriculum covers topics like virtual reality, ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, programming languages, web and game development, and other emerging technologies. You’ll work with interactive software tools, take part in team activities, and explore career and leadership opportunities, as well as learn how technology can address real-world problems. Projects include learning Java basics, exploring cryptography, detecting phishing scams, building games, and creating AI tools such as desktop pets, chatbots, and sign language interpreters. You’ll also experiment with 3D printing and robotics, including VEX systems, which connect coding with physical engineering and introduce careers that combine computing and engineering.
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes — Frontiers in Physics
Location: Virtual (synchronous lectures)
Cost: $3,200 + up to $100 for course materials like textbooks or readers; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average class size is 16 students per class
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 can apply; you can check individual course pages for specific grade-level requirements
The Pre-College Summer Institutes at Stanford University offer a two-week online program with around 75 noncredit courses in fields like physics, math, engineering, chemistry, medicine, computer science, and social justice. You’ll choose one course for the summer and attend about two hours of live instruction each day. You’ll also participate in seminars, assignments, workshops, and other activities. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation and a certificate. If you choose the Frontiers in Physics course, you’ll learn about major developments such as particle physics, quantum mechanics, and Einstein’s special and general relativity. Topics include mass energy equivalence, time dilation, Schrödinger’s equation, quantum experiments, and the Bohr-Einstein debates. You’ll complete several assignments, including conducting an experiment that confirms the wave nature of light, writing a scientific article on relativity, and preparing a general audience article about a topic in modern physics.
15. New Mexico Tech – BuzzCamp
Location: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 120 students
Dates: July 12 – 17 (6th–12th graders) | July 19 – 24 (11th and 12th graders)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 6th–12th grade students
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology hosts BuzzCamp, a free hands-on STEM program for rising 6th–12th-grade students. This year’s Gaming World theme focuses on coding, creativity, and campus innovation. You’ll take part in experiments, workshops, and STEM challenges guided by faculty and current NMT students. Rising 11th and 12th-graders can also earn college credit while building useful academic skills. During the camp, you’ll explore areas such as robotics, engineering, video game design, and technology. Designing games will introduce you to ideas like gravity, motion, and collision detection. Robotics activities involve coding and building machines that apply mechanics and electronics. The program may also include tours of places like the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, where you’ll learn about astrophysics and the tools used to study space.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. 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: New Mexico State University