For high school students, summer college programs offer a chance to jump-start academic and career exploration. Not only do these programs provide hands-on experience and a taste of college life, but they can also enhance your college applications and point you toward your future profession. Whether you’re looking to take college-level courses, develop leadership skills, or simply explore an interest, there’s something for every high school student in Phoenix.
In this blog, we’ll highlight 12 summer programs worth considering for high school students in Phoenix. These programs offer hands-on opportunities in areas like engineering, technology, and the arts. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
12 Programs for High School Students in Phoenix
1. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
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! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
2. Summer Engineering Academy
Program Dates: Between June-July. See the list of dates here.
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: Usually in March
Cost: Residential camps: $750, Day Camps: $350. Financial aid is available.
Subject Area: STEM
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
The Summer Engineering Academy offers residential camps for high school students who are interested in engineering. In this program, you’ll have the chance to engage in hands-on projects and research while experiencing life as a Wildcat. You’ll collaborate with mentors and connect with peers who share your interests, all while exploring various engineering careers. Both day and residential options are available, making it a flexible choice for aspiring engineers.
3. Ladder Internship Program
Subject Areas: Technology, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, AI, Healthcare, Software Engineering, and more
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Fully remote—accessible from anywhere
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Year-round cohorts, with the winter cohort starting on December 16
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can commit 10-20 hours per week over 8-12 weeks.
Ladder Internships offers high school students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with high-growth start-ups across industries like tech, AI, and health tech. Throughout the program, you work on real projects with guidance from experienced managers and a dedicated Ladder Coach, culminating in a presentation of your work.
You also receive personalized training in core skills and participate in group sessions with peers. Over the 8-week internship, you gain direct exposure to companies with successful funding backgrounds and influential founders, making it an ideal program for building experience in cutting-edge fields.
4. Native American Science and Engineering Program (NASEP)
Program Dates: June 8-14
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: Generally in February
Cost: Free
Subject Areas: STEM
Eligibility: Current high school senior or junior attending a high school in Arizona
This summer program offers a great opportunity for rising Native American high school juniors and seniors, particularly those enrolled in or descended from AI/AN or Native Hawaiian tribes, interested in STEM. For one week, you will network with Indigenous professionals and take part in hands-on activities, such as building a computer and visiting Biosphere II. This immersive experience will help you develop valuable skills and kick off a year-long engagement, setting the stage for pursuing a STEM degree in college.
5. Business Careers Awareness Program, University of Arizona
Program Dates: June 1-6
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: March 2
Cost: Free
Subject Areas: Business, Accounting
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
The Business Careers Awareness Program at the University of Arizona provides high school juniors from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to explore careers in accounting and business while experiencing college life at the University of Arizona (UA). You can choose between a day-long event or a week-long residential program, both facilitated by UA’s Eller College of Management Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy. This engaging experience will give you a glimpse into the world of business, helping you build connections and gain valuable insights into your future career.
6. Barrow Neurological Institute
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Cost: Free, with scholarships available
Application Deadline: February 14
Internship Dates: May 30-July 3
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old and enrolled full-time in high school
Subject Areas: Medicine, Neurology, Healthcare
The Barrow Neurological Institute, renowned as the largest center for neurological disease treatment and research, offers an exciting Summer High School Internship Program. This volunteer opportunity immerses you in a professional lab environment, where you can work with cutting-edge technology under expert mentorship.
You will not only master advanced scientific techniques but also enhance your skills in analyzing scientific literature and effectively communicating their research findings. The program deepens your understanding of biological principles, disease causes, and potential treatments.
7. Mayo Clinic CARES
Location: Mayo Clinic, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, or virtual
Cost: Free, with a stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 1
Internship Dates:
- In-Person Program: June 4 – 27 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)
- Virtual Program: July 8 – 12 (Monday – Friday)
Eligibility: Open to Arizona high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
Subject Areas: Medicine, STEM
The Mayo Clinic’s CARES Program gives you an exciting opportunity to explore healthcare careers. As an Arizona high school student, you’ll engage in hands-on activities in a hospital setting, connect with professionals, and gain mentorship that extends beyond the summer. During the program, you’ll learn about the wide variety of careers in health care, establish connections, and discover the possibilities for your personal and professional journey.
The program also offers sessions on college prep, resume building, and interviewing skills, with a focus on supporting students from underserved communities.
8. Cybersecurity Internship at Arizona State University
Location: Arizona State University campus
Cost: Free; $1,800 stipend provided upon successful completion of the internship (interns are responsible for transportation costs)
Application Deadline: January 27
Internship Dates: May-July
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a high school in the Phoenix metro area
Subject Areas: Cybersecurity, AI, Coding
In this research internship at Arizona State University, you will be paired with a PhD student who shares your specific research interests. Your mentor will guide you through various project options, whether you’re interested in ongoing research or have ideas to explore and develop. Previous work has included comparing linting tools with ChatGPT for code reviews. Other projects involved creating secure finance bot simulations to identify vulnerabilities in Python and analyzing social media ad scams based on consumer demographics. At the end of the internship, you’ll showcase your research findings in a presentation.
9. The University of Arizona’s Med-Start Summer Program
Subject Areas: Biology
Program Dates: 6 weeks, mid-June to July
Cost: $6,000, with financial scholarships and tuition waivers available.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and one-year Arizona residents who have completed their junior year in high school, maintain a GPA of over 3.0, and have a strong interest in healthcare. The program especially encourages applications from students from underrepresented and ethnic minority backgrounds.
Application Deadline: February 1
This six-week academic enrichment program is designed to deepen your understanding of healthcare careers and broaden your access to them. In this program, you’ll explore healthcare facilities and labs, attend engaging lectures on various health professions, and take introductory college courses in English, Math, and Chemistry, earning transferable credits along the way.
A plus – students will get to stay in Arizona University’s Residential Hall, and have an immersive experience that blends academic learning with real-world healthcare exposure.
10. Summer Scrubs at College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona
Subject Areas: Biology, Medicine
Location: College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona
Program Dates: Residential Camp: June 1 to June 7
Day Camp: June 9-June 13
The Healthcare Team: June 16-20
Cost: Residential Camp: $500 (includes meals, room, and board)
Day Camp: $300 (includes meals, camp activities, scrubs)
The Healthcare Team: $250 (includes meals, camp activities, scrubs)
Eligibility: Available for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: March
If you’re interested in healthcare and medicine, this program is a must-attend. It offers a dynamic mix of interactive workshops, medical simulations, and clinical rotations that provide an in-depth look into the medical field. You’ll have the chance to get hands-on experience with suturing, CPR, anatomy labs, and patient simulations, equipping you with valuable practical skills.
The program also includes guest lectures from healthcare professionals, college readiness workshops, and insights into the medical school application process, ensuring you’re well-prepared for a future in medicine.
11. Colorado Plateau Center for Health Professions (CPCHP)’s Future Health Leaders
Subject Areas: Medicine
Location: Online
Program Dates: Usually either in June or July
Cost: Free to attend
Eligibility: Open to Arizona high school students
Application Deadline: TBD. Get more information here.
The Colorado Plateau Center for Health Professions is a free, week-long virtual summer camp tailored for Arizona high school students. This engaging camp offers a glimpse into various health careers through hands-on activities like First Aid and CPR training, virtual tours of TGen, nurse simulations, and essential college preparation sessions. You will also connect with healthcare professionals and enjoy fun recreational activities like rock climbing and baseball games. This program is perfect for anyone interested in medicine, providing early career insights and practical training that can help shape your future career decisions and college readiness.
12. Midwestern University’s Health Careers Institute for High School Students
Subject Areas: Medicine
Program Dates: 8 days, typically at the end of June (based on previous schedules)
Cost: Free; students are responsible for their transportation to and from the Glendale campus in Arizona.
Eligibility: Open to all Arizona high school students
Application Deadline: TBD, usually around early April. For more information, visit the official site.
Midwestern University’s Glendale campus hosts a complimentary 8-day Health Careers Institute, designed for Arizona high school students interested in various healthcare fields such as Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dental Medicine. Here, you will have the opportunity to engage with faculty and students, gaining valuable insights and practical experience in healthcare careers.
Image Source – University of Arizona Logo
