Spring programs for high school students provide a chance to explore an academic or professional interest in a focused way during the school year. These programs are typically structured and project-based, allowing you to build skills and gain experience without waiting until summer. Compared with winter or summer options, spring programs often fit alongside regular coursework and offer a more sustained learning pace.
Why should you do a program in Spring?
Spring programs give you the chance to take part in advanced classes, work with instructors or mentors in a specific field, and complete longer-term projects that emphasize practical application. For high school seniors in particular, participation in a spring program can help develop research, technical, or analytical skills that are relevant for college coursework or future internships. Experience from these programs can also be included in college applications or resumes. With that, here are 15 spring break programs for high school students that offer opportunities for academic and skill development across a range of disciplines.
If you’re looking for more spring programs, you can also check out this guide on 15 Spring Anthropology Programs for High School Students.
15 Spring Break Programs for High School Students
1. MIT Educational Studies Program – Spring HSSP
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Around $60, regardless of the number of classes; Need-based financial aid available
Cohort Size: 100+ students
Application Deadline: February 28 – March 1; Lottery priority for students who register by mid-to-late February
Dates: 6 Saturdays from February 28 – April 11
Eligibility: 7th-12th graders (11+)
MIT’s Spring HSSP is a short-term academic enrichment program that offers you the chance to explore a wide range of subjects in a structured classroom setting. Courses are typically organized into multi-week sessions, and most students choose to enroll in one or two classes, allowing for focused engagement without an overwhelming workload. The program stands out for the breadth of topics available. Course offerings span traditional academic areas such as mathematics, science, humanities, social science, engineering, and computer science, alongside arts-focused and interdisciplinary options. This range makes Spring HSSP well-suited for students who want to deepen an existing interest or try out a new field in a relatively low-commitment format.
2. Dartmouth College’s Community High School Program (CHSP)
Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: March 9
Dates: Starts on March 30 and continues till the end of the term
Eligibility: High school juniors (winter and spring terms) and seniors (fall, winter, and spring terms); Participating schools need to be within 50 miles of the university
This program at Dartmouth allows you to take actual college courses and earn credit while studying alongside undergraduate students. As an Ivy League institution, Dartmouth offers classes across a broad range of disciplines, including astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, philosophy, and world languages, giving you the chance to explore subjects at the college level. Participating can help you better understand how university courses are structured and what academic expectations look like across different fields. The experience is particularly useful if you want early exposure to college academics rather than a separate or simulated high school program. The application process includes specific eligibility requirements, such as involvement from a school counselor.
3. NYU Precollege Program for High School Students
Location: New York University, New York, NY; Virtual options available
Cost: $700 – $16,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: January 5 (tentative)
Dates: January 20 – May 5 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders with a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale)
Through NYU’s spring offerings, you can take university-level courses either to continue an academic interest or to try a new subject. Depending on your enrollment, you may take a single course or a heavier course load, and you’ll attend classes alongside NYU undergraduates while having access to standard campus resources. NYU Precollege also offers you the option to earn college credit during the spring term. Courses are offered across areas such as arts and media, humanities, STEM, and business, with topics that range from history and social movements to introductory engineering and design.
4. University of Michigan’s Spring Pre-College Programs – Spring Studios
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: Starting from $250; Limited full and partial financial aid available; See individual prices here
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: Early May – early June, with one or two sessions per week
Eligibility: High school students
This pre-college program from the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design offers spring and summer studio courses for high school students who want to develop technical skills and prepare a portfolio. You’ll work in a studio-based setting and receive instruction and feedback from Stamps faculty throughout the session. The curriculum includes courses such as drawing, watercolor painting, three-dimensional work, and relief printmaking. Instruction is supported by demonstrations and short lectures, but most of your time is spent working independently in the studio and applying techniques through practice.
5. Columbia College Edge Academic Year Weekend Programs
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY; Virtual options available
Cost: $2,810 per session (single course registration); Additional course is $2,700; Learn more about additional fees here
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: December 15 (tentatively)
Dates: January 23 – March 29 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders
Columbia College’s Edge Academic Year Weekend program gives you the option to take Columbia University courses during the spring semester through live online classes. The program runs alongside the academic year and allows you to earn college credit while completing university-level coursework. You can enroll in subjects such as calculus, linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, physics, and statistics, as well as a broad selection of language courses. Instruction takes place on Columbia’s online learning platform, where you’ll attend classes with other students and participate in scheduled academic and advising sessions that support course planning and next steps.
6. Stanford Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free (typically)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: September – February, with a one-day poster presentation symposium in March
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Andrew P. Hill High School and James Lick High School
During the FAST program, you will be paired with a graduate student mentor from Stanford University. Through regular Saturday meetings, you will work with them to develop research ideas and turn them into experiments or prototypes over the course of the program. As your project progresses, you will prepare to present your work at local and state science fairs, as well as at a symposium held at Stanford. The program also includes online workshops that focus on practical guidance for the college application process.
7. NYU Tisch’s Future Artists Programs
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 10
Dates: January 31 – May 9
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
NYU Tisch’s Future Artists Programs offer arts-focused instruction for students interested in areas such as dance, music, acting, photography, filmmaking, writing, and game design. You’ll take part in a specific track led by NYU faculty, with coursework centered on practical skill development. Sessions are held on Saturdays and are structured around workshops that emphasize collaboration and hands-on work. Depending on the track, the application process may include an audition, along with an application and interview.
8. Medical Immersion Summer & Spring Academy (MISA)
Location: MISA, Oakland, CA
Cost: $1,950 + non-refundable application fee of $75
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: March 16 – 20; April 6 – 10
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old
If you’re interested in healthcare, the Medical Immersion & Surgical Academy (MISA) offers a short spring break program focused on clinical exposure. Over five days, you’ll take part in hands-on training through workshops that introduce skills such as suturing, EKG use, measuring patient vitals, and phlebotomy. The program also includes opportunities to interact with healthcare professionals working in different roles, giving you insight into medical careers and clinical environments. During the session, you may earn certifications such as CPR and First Aid, which are commonly recognized in healthcare settings.
9. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $501.60 – 805.60/week
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Application Deadline: Varies by internship and cohort
Dates: Varies by internship; Opportunities are offered in the spring, summer, and fall
Eligibility: Current high school seniors aged 16+ (18+ for California sites); Must be US citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.0
The AFRL Scholars Program provides spring internships for high school students with an interest in physics, aerospace engineering, and related areas of space science and technology. Through the program, you can apply to up to three internship projects that align with your interests, each supervised by an AFRL researcher who serves as your mentor. Internships focus on specific research topics, such as space vehicles, directed energy, aerospace systems, and other specialized areas. In your role, you’ll contribute to ongoing research supporting space exploration, Air Force operations, and technological development, including work with unmanned aerial systems. The program also offers opportunities to connect with AFRL researchers and attend scientific meetings, where you may interact with the Department of Defense and other federal professionals. Each internship has a designated location and eligibility requirements, so reviewing the details carefully before applying is important.
10. The Met High School Spring Internship Program: Conservation & Scientific Research Placements
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: October 27
Dates: February 10 – May 21 (Introductory Bootcamp on January 31)
Eligibility: 10th-11th graders attending school in NYC; Former interns are ineligible
If you are interested in the intersection of art and science, the Met Museum offers a paid spring research internship for high school students. As an intern, you will be assigned to a specific department, with research-focused opportunities available in Conservation and Scientific Research. In Conservation, you might work with collections such as Arms and Armor, Paintings, Paper, or Textiles, applying techniques like preventive care or assisting with preservation efforts. In the Scientific Research department, you could support curators and preservation scientists by analyzing artworks using microscopes or X-ray equipment, or by helping develop treatment methods for damaged pieces. Alongside your departmental work, the program includes participation in Teen Friday sessions, where you will attend concerts, art classes, and lectures related to museum collections.
11. Beaver Works Spring Saturday Programs
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA; Virtual options available
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Typically 2 weeks before program start date
Dates: Weekly Saturday meetings
Eligibility: Current high school students; Some programs have additional prerequisites and grade level restrictions, and some are only offered for girls
Beaver Works, hosted through MIT, offers spring research programs for high school students interested in STEM. As a participant, you can choose from courses like Digital Logic & Computer Design, Program Cognitive Assistants, or Practical Radio. You will also get to attend weekly Saturday sessions led by MIT faculty, industry professionals, and researchers from Lincoln Laboratory. Projects vary by course and may involve programming an autonomous vehicle, developing a machine learning model, or conducting independent research in biotechnology. For students looking for a longer-term, more intensive experience, Beaver Works also offers a Summer Institute for rising high school seniors.
12. Keller BLOOM (Bigelow Laboratory Orders Of Magnitude) Program
Location: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 16 students
Application Deadline: April 10
Dates: May 17 – 22
Eligibility: Maine home-schooled, public, and private high school juniors interested in ocean or environmental science
The BLOOM Program at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences offers a fully-funded spring research experience for high school students interested in marine and environmental sciences. As a participant, you’ll begin with training in oceanographic methods and equipment, applying these skills on a research vessel in the Sheepscot River Estuary. Over the course of the program, you will conduct laboratory research on samples such as marine viruses and bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton, pigments, and other marine materials. You will also participate in workshops and discussions with Bigelow researchers on topics like research ethics and environmental policy, providing additional context and opportunities to engage with professionals. The program includes a Marine Science Career Night, where you will learn about related college programs and potential career paths. You’ll conclude the experience by presenting your research findings to Bigelow staff, peers, and family members.
13. Saturday Data Science Academy for High School Students
Location: University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC; Virtual options available
Cost: $125
Cohort Size: 25 students
Application Deadline: October 27 – January 9
Dates: January 24 – April 30 (5 Saturdays and 4 Thursdays)
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders able to commute to campus for Saturday sessions
UNC-Charlotte offers a data science program that combines weekend meetings with weekday lectures. You’ll take part in practical classes that cover topics such as machine learning, statistics, and data visualization, applying these skills to case studies and real-world datasets. The program also includes “Virtual Thursday” sessions, where guest speakers, ranging from professional data scientists to researchers, discuss careers and academic paths in data science. Over the course of the program, you’ll carry out an independent research project and present your findings at a Final Project Showcase attended by UNC data scientists, mentors, and other students.
14. Georgetown University’s Law Pre-College Online Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Varies by session; See more here
Dates: Multiple 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Law Program introduces you to the fundamentals of the legal field. The course covers topics relevant to careers such as law, judicial work, or paralegal roles, while giving you practice in analyzing evidence, distinguishing facts from opinions, and constructing evidence-based arguments. You’ll also explore ethical considerations in legal decision-making and work on developing your reasoning skills. Through case studies, you’ll examine how laws define crime, the factors that influence it, and the role of individual and societal values in the legal system.
15. NYU SPS High School Academy – Stock Investing: Valuing Companies and Advanced Research Techniques
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $850; 10% discount available to select applicants
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: February 13; Rolling
Dates: February 28 – March 21
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders able to commute to NYU weekly; Must have a minimum B grade average and some experience in business/investing
The NYU School of Professional Studies offers a spring program for high school students focused on stock investing and finance. In the program, you’ll develop skills in business analytics through project-based work, including company valuation, financial modeling, economic forecasting, and discounted cash flow analysis using real-world financial data. You’ll also learn to apply these skills in practical ways, such as constructing an investment portfolio or exploring the steps involved in starting a business. The program introduces research methods commonly used in finance and investment firms, which you then use to complete your own research projects during the course.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like biology, chemistry, arts, humanities, or mathematics, 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 – University of Michigan