If you’re a high school student in Providence, Rhode Island, looking for something to do outside of school hours, you’re in luck! You can choose from a range of educational programs designed for high school students to make the most of your free time, without having to spend a ton on relocation/travel.
Local universities, research institutions, and organizations in Providence offer some great learning programs, research mentorships, and internships that you can explore each year. These programs also allow you to build new skills, meet like-minded peers, and learn something new in focused academic and professional environments.
Choosing a program close to home can be a great way to benefit from in-person learning experiences without worrying about high costs and logistical challenges typically involved in out-of-state opportunities.
Below is a compiled list of 15 programs for high school students in Providence, Rhode Island. Here you will find a wide range of opportunities, ranging from STEM research internships to arts and humanities pre-college programs.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, cohort sizes vary
Dates: Year-round cohorts lasting 12 weeks to a year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records (recommended GPA 3.3+)
In this virtual program, you will design and conduct an independent research project in the field of your choice, with options including social sciences, biology, chemistry, math, engineering, or neuroscience. You will work one-on-one with a mentor to choose a topic/research question, conduct a literature review, and engage in scientific writing. The program offers support for both experimental and computational research methods. Through structured workshops and personalized guidance, you will develop skills in research design, data analysis, and academic writing. Your final deliverable is a publication-ready paper showcasing your technical and analytical capabilities.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12; no prior experience needed for AI Scholars; Familiarity with Python or AI Scholars completion required for AI Fellowship
For students interested in exploring artificial intelligence, Veritas AI offers multiple learning options. As a high school student, you can choose from two focused AI tracks. The AI Scholars is a bootcamp that covers core AI/ML concepts and Python programming through 10 live sessions and practical coding exercises. The AI Fellowship extends over 12–15 weeks, pairing you with Ph.D.-level mentors to develop tailored AI projects in finance, medicine, gaming, or sports analytics. As an AI Fellowship participant, you will apply advanced machine learning techniques and research practices to a publishable or presentable project.
3. Brown Summer High School
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: Free
Cohort size: ~150–200 students
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: Applicants accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until full
Eligibility: High school students who are entering grades 9–12 and are at least 14 years old by September; priority given to Providence and Central Falls public school students within commuting distance
Brown Summer High School is a morning enrichment program that offers project-based courses in English, math, science, and social studies designed to help high schoolers develop critical thinking and hands-on skills. You will engage in collaborative discussions, creative projects such as zine-making, and applied investigations like freshwater quality testing. The curriculum focuses on relevant social issues like equity and justice and integrates quantitative and qualitative analysis into the syllabus. Optional afternoon sessions are available in areas like math-art mosaics, fabrication using design workshop tools, and athletic fundamentals. Classes are led by Brown MAT candidates under experienced mentorship.
4. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Pre-College Program
Location: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Cost: Residential fee: $12,095 | Commuter fee: $9,300 + Application fee $60 + estimated cost of art supplies: $800 + short-term health insurance: $222; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~ 550 students accepted annually
Dates: June 28 (check-in) – August 2 (residential move-out); Classes: June 30 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
RISD Pre-College offers a five-week, college-level curriculum focusing on studio classes, critiques, and projects to help you define and hone your personal creative process. You will engage in interdisciplinary studio-based learning and liberal arts studies, using RISD’s design resources and working alongside peers from around the world. You will enroll in mandatory foundation courses that cover the basics of drawing, design, and critical analysis of art. Then, you will move on to a major of your choice, gaining exposure to animation, ceramics, textile design, printmaking, interior design, or any other art form. The program also incorporates critique, analysis, and discussions into the curriculum.
5. Summer@Brown
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $2,960–$10,386, depending on the program format and session length you choose; check details here; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Large cohort; 5,900+ participants globally
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application deadline: January 15 – Rolling till filled
Eligibility: Students who are completing grades 9–12 and are 14–18 years old by June 15
Summer@Brown offers high schoolers the chance to choose from over 230 non-credit college-level courses spanning multiple disciplines aligned with Brown’s Open Curriculum. You will engage in college-level academics without the pressure of formal grades or credit, focusing on independent research, critical thinking, and student-centered learning. Courses run in one-, two-, and three-week on-campus sessions or a five-week hybrid format combining online and on-campus instruction. You can choose from medicine, STEM, and research courses, to options in the arts, political science, and literature. The program focuses on offering exposure to a diverse, global community, collaborative learning, and a college environment.
6. RISD Advanced Program Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition varies by course; full certificate (four courses) fee: $5,520; estimated supplies: $200 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment for grades 10–12, ages 15–18; cohort size varies by course
Dates: Session I: June 14 – July 12 | Session II: July 13 – August 10
Application deadline: June 12 (Session I) | July 10 (Session II)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores through recent high school graduates who are 15–18 years old
RISD’s Advanced Program Online offers high schoolers a series of intensive, collegiate-level online courses focusing on art and design. Here, you will first enroll in one or two courses covering the fundamentals of drawing and design, and then move on to concentrated courses focusing on a specific medium and liberal arts. Featured Topics courses span art forms, including animation, illustration, mixed media, and graphic design. In the process, you will work on adopting a flexible mindset while engaging in experimentation and innovation, and apply design methods to problem-solving. The program also helps you prepare for advanced art and design academics through structured coursework and expert instructor feedback.
7. RISD Teen Online Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort sizes vary by course
Dates: Fall semester starts October 11; registration opens July 29; enroll by October 9
Application deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Students, ages 13–17
A part of RISD’s Youth Programs, the Teen Online Courses are synchronous programs, where you will meet weekly, attend live instruction, complete assignments, and engage in discussion forums. You will explore foundational and advanced topics in areas like animation, graphic design, fashion, architecture, drawing, or filmmaking, based on the course you choose. Courses focus on allowing you to build creative problem-solving and career readiness with the help of tailored instructor feedback. The program also offers opportunities to connect with peers and professional artists while developing skills and gaining exposure to industry-relevant digital tools.
8. Brown Environmental Leadership Lab (BELL): Rhode Island
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI + Round the Bend Farm, Dartmouth, MA (~40 minutes away from Providence) + field trip sites in Southern New England
Cost: $6,002; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 – July 3
Application deadline: Priority deadline: March 31 or sooner if full; final deadline: May 9; application opens on January 15
Eligibility: Students who are completing grades 10–12 and are 16–18 years old by June 15
BELL is a two-week program that integrates environmental science with leadership training, helping high schoolers get practical exposure to socially responsible environmental advocacy. You will participate in lecture-style lessons, group discussions, and site visits to diverse ecosystems across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. A core experience is a primitive camping retreat at Round the Bend Farm, where you will develop community-building skills while engaging directly with natural surroundings. The curriculum focuses on helping you develop environmental justice literacy. The program culminates in an Action Plan, where you will come up with a structured solution for a local environmental issue.
9. RISD Teen In-Person Courses
Location: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Cost: Varies by course; art supplies provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort sizes vary by course
Dates: Five weekly sessions: July 7 – 11; July 14 – 18; July 21 – 25; July 28 – August 1; August 4 – 8
Application deadline: Rolling until classes fill
Eligibility: Students, ages 13–17
The Teen In-Person Courses at RISD are daytime summer classes led by practicing artists and teaching assistants who offer instruction in studio art and design. Classes utilize RISD’s resources, including the Museum and Nature Lab. You can choose from various art and design courses based on your interests, i.e., the specific medium you want to explore. You will receive daily feedback and an end-of-week performance review. The experience can help you dive into advanced academics and develop technical skills and creative expression through projects in various media.
10. Providence Public Schools Summer Programs
Location: Various locations including Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA), Central High School, Classical High School, and Alvarez Community Center, Providence, RI
Cost: Free; New Urban Arts program offers $400 stipends, and PASA’s Hub Financial Literacy Camp offers financial literacy credit + stipend.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program,
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application deadline: Varies; some programs accept students by invitation only, others offer open enrollment/rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12; some programs target specific groups—for instance, P2K is designed for young men of color
Providence Public Schools offers several summer learning and enrichment programs designed to support academic credit recovery, creative skill-building, leadership development, and career exploration. In terms of high school programming, credit recovery initiatives at PCTA and OAUC provide targeted instruction to help you stay on track for graduation, emphasizing flexible, supportive learning environments. DownCity Design program engages you in community-centered design projects, while New Urban Arts offers art inquiry and leadership activities with stipends and transportation support. The PASA Hub Financial Literacy Camp will help you build practical economic skills in partnership with Fidelity Investments. Princes 2 Kings (P2K) mentors young men of color through creative and civic engagement focused on leadership and social justice.
11. Rhode Island College Upward Bound Program
Location: Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~70 students selected annually
Dates: Academic year sessions + a mandatory six-week summer residential program; three-week summer internship in August open to select participants
Application deadline: Varies; ongoing recruitment cycles
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 at targeted high schools (Central Falls HS, Central HS, East Providence HS, Hope HS, Mount Pleasant HS, and Shea HS); applicants must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents, low-income or first-generation college-bound, and under 19 years old
Upward Bound is a federally funded program that offers support to low-income, first-generation high school students in building academic skills and college readiness through year-round tutoring, Saturday classes, counseling, and a summer residential experience. You will receive personalized academic advising, support for college applications, and financial aid guidance. Program completion will be a part of high school transcripts along with comprehensive evaluations, which will be shared with colleges and scholarship agencies. You will also spend six weeks on the Rhode Island College campus attending classes in science, foreign language, math, literature, writing, and study skills. You will also attend workshops and college prep sessions. You may also secure a three-week summer internship once the residential component ends.
12. PrepareRI’s High School Internship Program
Location: Rhode Island
Stipend: Paid internship at $15.00/hour; commitment of up to 280 hours with a $4,200 maximum stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by year
Dates: June 23 – August 15 (40-hour work-readiness bootcamp: June 23 – 27 + 6-week internship: July 7 – August 15)
Application deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Rhode Island public, charter, or home-schooled juniors who are residents of Rhode Island, at least 16 by March 30, and eligible to work in the U.S.
PrepareRI places high school juniors in paid summer internships across 200+ employer partners in Rhode Island. The program offers real-world work experience with a mandatory 40-hour boot camp focused on helping you build work readiness. As a participant, you will develop workplace skills, explore career paths, and earn a competitive wage in a professional setting. The program supports learners of all abilities and provides coaching for application and interview preparation. A flexible summer schedule is offered to help you complete at least 150 internship hours.
13. Brown Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual or at the Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Cost: Residential: $5,788 | Commuter: $4,540 | Online: $5,528; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by session
Dates: On-campus: June 29 – July 11 or July 13 – 25 | Online: June 23 – July 18
Application deadline: May 9; applications open on January 15
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12 who are 14–18 years old by June 15
Brown Leadership Institute is an opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary leadership courses focusing on topics such as social justice, gender equity, civic engagement, and intercultural communication. You can choose between two participation modes: a two-week residential experience on Brown’s campus and a four-week online course conducted via Canvas LMS. Either way, you will engage in a curriculum that covers social issues and helps you build collaborative leadership, active listening, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. During the program, you will develop a personalized Action Plan aimed at fostering social change in your community. The program operates without formal grades but awards digital certificates and performance reports upon completion.
14. Roger Williams University’s High School Summer Academy in Architecture
Location: Roger Williams University, Providence, RI
Cost: TBA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Application deadline: June 5
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year
The High School Summer Academy in Architecture is an on-campus opportunity to explore architecture as an area of college study and a career path. You will attend architecture classes led by Roger Williams University faculty, earn three college credits, and engage in studio and field work. You will explore architectural principles, digital drawing and modeling techniques, and contemporary architecture practice through assignments. Current undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants will offer mentorship throughout the program.
A key part of the program is the team design challenge, which allows you to collaborate with RWU Cummings School of Architecture students on a project. Keynote lectures, college admission and portfolio development guidance, extracurricular activities, and virtual field trips to built environments and buildings are also core parts of the experience.
15. Brown STEM 9/10 Program
Location: Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $5,788; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: July 13 – 25
Application deadline: May 9; applications open on January 15
Eligibility: Students who are completing grades 8 and 9 and are 13–15 years old by June 15
The 12-day STEM 9/10 Program is an opportunity to explore STEM through research projects, experiments, and design-build challenges. You will engage in advanced academic content combined with lab or field exercises, collaborating with peers and interacting with Brown graduate students. The program culminates in a final presentation of your project to peers, families, and instructors. There are no formal grades, allowing you to focus on learning and intellectual growth without worrying about performance.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Brown University