If you’re a high school student looking to explore subjects you’re interested in and experience college-level learning, summer schools can help you do that. These programs cover a wide range of fields, like computer science, engineering, artificial intelligence, business, entrepreneurship, and the life sciences. Silicon Valley, in particular, offers a variety of summer programs for high schoolers. You might get to write code in Python, build and test engineering projects, analyze scientific data, create business plans, or learn how AI systems work. You might also take part in lectures, hands-on activities, group projects, and labs.
Why should you choose a program in Silicon Valley?
Silicon Valley is home to leading universities such as Stanford University, Santa Clara University, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, as well as major research institutions and some of the world’s most influential technology companies, including Google, Apple, and Nvidia. Many summer programs take advantage of this environment by offering courses on topics actively used in industry, from software development and machine learning to biotechnology and startup creation. You’ll often learn from university instructors, researchers, or professionals working in these fields, making Silicon Valley a particularly interesting place to explore STEM, business, and technology-related subjects.
Here are 15 summer schools for high school students in Silicon Valley.
However, if you’re looking for summer research programs in the Bay Area, you can find them here.
Key Takeaways
- These 15 summer schools span a wide range of fields, from AI and machine learning at Meta and Stanford to medicine, engineering, mathematics, and the humanities across Stanford, Santa Clara University, San Jose State, and UC Santa Cruz.
- Program formats vary considerably, from short one-week introductions like Santa Clara’s Summer Engineering Seminar to longer, credit-bearing college courses like SCU’s Young Scholars Program and UC Santa Cruz’s Summer Session.
- Costs vary widely: some programs like Stanford Young Investigators, Meta Summer Academy, and the Mineta Summer Transportation Academy are completely free, while others, like SUMaC and the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute, charge several thousand dollars, with financial aid available.
- Many of these programs are built around research or project-based learning, pairing you directly with university faculty, graduate students, or industry professionals rather than a traditional lecture-only format.
- If you want a longer, mentored research experience that culminates in an independent paper rather than a single summer course, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offer a structured path toward a formal academic paper across fields such as computer science, data science, and engineering.
15 Summer Schools for High School Students in Silicon Valley
1. Santa Clara University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost: Tuition is $654 per unit ($100 late payment fee)
Cohort size: Small cohort size
Dates: June 17 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 26 (early); April 16 (regular)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Santa Clara University’s Young Scholars Program is an intensive summer experience that includes college courses, advising, and campus engagement. You’ll enroll in one or two lower-division courses during the five-week summer session, attend classes with college students, and earn college credit upon successful completion. Course options may include statistics, calculus, engineering laboratory, ceramic sculpture, microeconomics, engineering, and biological anthropology. You’ll attend classes and learn how to manage college-level coursework and responsibilities with guidance from the program director and academic advisors. You’ll also get to participate in orientation, campus tours, and student events, which will allow you to experience college life, interact with students from different schools, and build relationships within the university community.
2. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford (San Francisco Bay Area), CA
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee (waivable based on financial need); A limited number of need-based stipends are offered
Cohort size: Approximately 50 students
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: December 19 – February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+) who live in and attend high school in the United States and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a green card
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program allows you to work on real medical research with Stanford faculty, researchers, and students. You will get to explore areas such as immunology, cardiovascular biology, genetics, stem cell and regenerative medicine, bioinformatics, neurobiology, bioengineering, and cancer biology. You’ll also receive one-on-one mentoring in a research lab and gain experience working on scientific projects that match your interests. Your days will include morning lectures, afternoon laboratory work, and weekly group discussions where you can share your ideas and learn from one another. Throughout the program, you’ll develop research skills and create a scientific poster based on your project, which you’ll present at the end of the program.
3. San Jose State University’s Mineta Summer Transportation Academy (MiSTA)
Location: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Cost: Free
Cohort size: 29 students participated in last year’s program
Dates: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: March 16 – May 8
Eligibility: Bay Area students in grades 9-12 who are in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and have completed Algebra 1 and a freshman-level science course
San Jose State University’s Mineta Summer Transportation Academy is a free two-week summer program that introduces you to careers in the transportation industry. You’ll learn how transportation systems operate through lectures, STEM activities, group projects, and field trips to local businesses and transit agencies. Subject areas include transportation planning, construction, intermodal systems, environmental impacts, business management, technology, and transportation innovation. You’ll learn how different professionals contribute to the movement of people and goods, and study important concepts in transportation development. The program also gives you a chance to experience university life on the San Jose State campus.
4. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA + Virtual
Cost: $1,725 (Virtual), $3,325 (In-person); Scholarships and financial aid are available
Acceptance rate: Approximately 12%
Dates: CNV-X (Virtual): June 8 – 19, June 22 – July 3; CNI-X (In-person): July 6 – 17, July 20 – 31
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (ages 14-18)
Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience is a summer program for students interested in neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry. Centered on the theme Clinical Neuroscience for the Whole Person, the program introduces you to current brain research and approaches to care through classes taught by Stanford faculty and researchers. You’ll learn about subjects such as clinical neuropsychiatry, psychiatric epidemiology, neuroscience, and behavioral and social sciences, as well as explore ongoing work in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. You’ll work in groups of 8-10 students, examine real-world issues, and develop a capstone project to present at the end of the program. Past topics have included brain stimulation, neuroimaging, trauma, mindfulness, behavioral neuroscience, genetics and mental health, and human rights. You’ll also interact with professionals and learn about careers in science and medicine.
5. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta Headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend offered (amount varies year to year)
Cohort size: 20-30 students per year
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores who have a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
Meta Summer Academy allows you to spend about 30 hours per week learning about artificial intelligence, technology, and the operations of a major social media company. You’ll work on projects involving coding, machine learning, and deep learning under the guidance of Meta professionals. You’ll also learn about financial literacy, career pathways, art and media, and workplace skills such as reflection, networking, and communication. In addition to technical topics, you’ll explore ethical issues related to AI and data use and how these technologies shape digital platforms. You’ll also take part in presentations, community events, and interactions with employees and executives.
6. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA + Virtual
Cost: $8,950 (Residential), $3,750 + up to $100 for additional materials (Online); Need-based financial aid is available
Cohort size: 40 students (Residential); 64 students (Online)
Dates: Online Sessions: June 15 – July 3, July 6 – 24; Residential Session: June 21 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Current 10th-11th graders (15+); Students who will be 18 or older during the program can apply only to the online version
Stanford University’s SUMaC is a summer enrichment program for high school juniors and seniors interested in advanced mathematics. You’ll explore topics like number theory, abstract algebra, and algebraic topology. You’ll also examine current mathematical research, the history of important mathematical ideas, and applications across scientific fields while maintaining a primary focus on mathematics itself. You’ll work with undergraduate and graduate instructional assistants, complete challenging assignments outside class, attend guest lectures, and interact with peers through social activities, field trips, and discussions, depending on the program format.
7. UCSC Summer Session for High School Students
Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, CA + Virtual
Cost: $1,810.67 (One 5-credit course) + $50 nonrefundable registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 8-Week Session: June 22 – July 24, July 27 – August 18, June 22 – August 14; 10-Week Session: June 22 – August 28
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors (14+) who have a minimum GPA of 3.0
UC Santa Cruz Summer Session allows you to earn college credit by enrolling in undergraduate courses that are added to your official college transcript and can transfer to future colleges and universities. You can explore a potential major or focus on an area of interest and develop academic skills such as note-taking and time management. Subject areas include mathematics, computational media, economics, linguistics, and many others. The summer quarter lasts 10 weeks and is divided into four sessions, and most classes are offered in accelerated five-week formats during Session 1 or Session 2. Tuition is charged per credit, with most courses worth five credits, and all students pay a one-time summer campus fee.
8. Stanford Young Investigators
Location: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Cohort size: 6-30 scholars selected, depending on the number of available positions
Dates: 7-8 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 15
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders onwards who live and attend school within 25 driving miles of campus in the San Francisco Bay Area
Stanford Young Investigators allows you to spend your summer conducting research in laboratories on Stanford’s main campus. You’ll learn about sustainability, environmental science, Earth science, and related fields, and work under the supervision of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and lab managers. Research options include oceans, agriculture, energy, environmental science and engineering, social sciences, geology, and the history of life and biodiversity. You’ll work on a schedule arranged with your supervisor and take part in weekly lab tours, field trips, and group discussions that will introduce you to different areas of sustainability research. The program also helps you build connections with Stanford and prepare for college. It is a research-focused experience that includes only a limited number of organized social activities.
9. Santa Clara University’s Summer Engineering Seminar
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost: Free
Cohort size: Limited number of spots
Dates: SES Introduction (Year-One): July 12 – 16, July 19 – 23; SES Advanced (Year-Two): July 26 – 30
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors with limited exposure to engineering and limited access to related opportunities due to financial or resource constraints; SES Introduction program: New participants, with priority given to sophomores and limited space for juniors; SES Advanced program: Returning participants from the previous year
Santa Clara University’s Summer Engineering Seminar is a five-day program for current high school sophomores and juniors who want to explore engineering and college life. You’ll take part in introductory workshops taught by engineering faculty and undergraduate students, as well as lectures, interactive activities, and projects. Subject areas include bioengineering, computer science and engineering, civil, sustainable and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering. You’ll attend workshops to gain broad exposure to different engineering fields and careers and learn about academic expectations in college. The Introduction program is for new participants and is offered in two sessions. It focuses on engineering and the transition from high school to college. Returning students can join the Year Two program, which helps them learn about humanitarian engineering and engineering majors in greater depth.
10. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,850; Need-based financial aid is available
Cohort size: Around 50–65 students per course
Dates: June 21 – July 10; July 12 – 31
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 or 11 between the ages of 15-18
The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a residential summer program for high school students interested in sociology, history, and the humanities. You’ll focus on independent research and build critical thinking skills, academic independence, and a stronger foundation for future studies. You’ll work with Stanford professors, graduate students, and mentors and explore topics in politics, history, literature, global developments, and contemporary society. You’ll be placed into one course from those ranked in your application, with options like The American Enlightenment, The Greeks and Beyond, Books to Bollywood, Racial Identity in the American Imagination, Ancient Rome and Its Legacies, and Revolutions. The program offers two three-week sessions and includes weekend field trips and organized activities.
11. San Jose State University’s CyberAI: Navigating the AI-Empowered Future Summer Camp
Location: San Jose State University (SJSU) Campus labs, San Jose, CA
Cost: Free
Cohort size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: Local high school students completing grades 9-12
SJSU’s CyberAI Summer Camp introduces local high school students to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and related technology fields. You’ll work with physical and virtual devices, including Raspberry Pis, to learn networking basics and simulated penetration testing. Subject areas include cybersecurity, deep learning, digital forensics, machine learning, networking, and Internet of Things security. You’ll explore how AI can identify security risks and help protect systems in interactive labs, and activities with connected devices, such as drones, will show you how cyber threats arise and how to defend against them. You’ll get to investigate mock cyber incidents, trace intrusions, analyze security data, and collect digital evidence. You’ll also collaborate with peers, university students, and professors to solve problems.
12. Stanford Medicine Art and Anatomy Summer Program
Location: Stanford School of Medicine campus, Stanford, CA
Cost: $2,999 (two weeks), $1,499 (one week) + $25 application fee; Limited need-based scholarships available
Cohort size: Small cohort size
Dates: June 15 – 26; July 6 – 17; July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders; No prior drawing or anatomy experience is needed
Stanford Medicine Art & Anatomy Program offers one- and two-week sessions focused on visual storytelling, anatomy, and medical illustration. You’ll learn from physicians, anatomists, artists, and other creative professionals whose work combines art and medicine. The program includes a speaker series, followed by a week of drawing mentorship in which you’ll develop a final illustration. You’ll receive personalized guidance, create medically accurate, expressive artwork with a clear narrative, and strengthen your technical, visual, drawing, and anatomical skills. You’ll also gain insight into Stanford Medicine’s curriculum and how art and science connect in healthcare and education. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project to a panel of artists, museum curators, and physicians and receive an Art and Anatomy Certificate upon completion.
13. SJAWP Teen Writers Institute by the San Jose Area Writing Project
Location: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Cost: $375 (Week 1), $400 (Week 2) + 5% admin fee; refunds and discounts are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 18 (Week 1); June 22 – 26 (Week 2)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12, aged 13-18
The Teen Writers Institute, offered by the San Jose Area Writing Project, is a summer program that helps you develop both creative and academic writing skills across a variety of genres. You can attend one week or both weeks, and each week you’ll choose two specialty classes. Subject areas include humor, horror, science fiction, screenwriting, playwriting, short stories, argument writing, and memoir. Taught by experienced teachers and published authors, the program includes guest speakers, workshops, and live exercises on outlining stories, building worlds, developing characters, writing chapters, and overcoming writer’s block. You’ll get to share your work in small groups or in online discussions, practice giving and receiving feedback, and join open mic sessions where all students read their writing aloud, strengthen presentation skills, and celebrate each other’s work.
14 .Stanford University’s Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $4,000
Cohort size: Small cohort size
Dates: June 8 – 12; June 22 – 26; July 6 – 10; July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: November 1 – March 6
Eligibility: High school students (15+)
The Clinical Anatomy Summer Program at Stanford University is a one-week program that introduces you to human anatomy and health-related careers like medicine, dentistry, surgery, nursing, emergency medical services, biomedical engineering, and physical therapy. You’ll attend anatomy lectures taught by Stanford Medicine faculty, observe surgical demonstrations, participate in laboratory activities, and practice skills such as dissection and suturing on animal tissue. You’ll also meet faculty guest speakers who will discuss different medical careers, although the specialties represented vary by session. Throughout the program, instruction and demonstrations use real human anatomical specimens and cadavers, giving you direct exposure to anatomy and clinical practice.
15. California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS)
Location: University of California campuses: Santa Cruz, San Diego, Davis, Merced, Irvine, or Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $5,518 + $46 application fee; Financial aid is available
Cohort size: Each campus accepts 160-200 students
Dates: UCI, UCSD: July 5 – 31; UCD, UCM, UCLA, UCSC: July 5 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 7 – February 6
Eligibility: California high school students entering grades 9-12 who have a minimum 3.5 GPA
COSMOS is a four-week summer STEM program that helps you explore topics beyond the standard high school curriculum and build skills for future STEM courses and careers. Each University of California campus offers its own version, called a cluster, with subject areas including engineering, robotics, ecology, computer science, mathematics, biomedical sciences, game theory, marine science, materials science, physics, and astronomy. Depending on the cluster, you may study topics like climate science, quantum mechanics, sustainable aviation, chemistry in everyday life, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, mathematical modeling in biology, or video game design. If you are interested in a campus closely connected to Silicon Valley, UC Santa Cruz offers areas such as machine learning in robotics, quantum information science, nanotechnology, sustainable power, and advanced mathematics. Each campus designs its curriculum around its own faculty expertise and research strengths.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of summer schools are available to high school students in Silicon Valley?
You’ll find a mix of program types, including college-credit courses like Santa Clara University’s Young Scholars Program and UC Santa Cruz’s Summer Session, research-focused experiences like the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program and Stanford Young Investigators, and shorter skills-based camps like SJSU’s CyberAI Summer Camp. Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a different kind of option, letting you conduct independent, mentored research remotely across subjects like computer science and data science rather than following a fixed campus course.
Do you need prior experience in a subject to apply?
It depends on the program. Some, like Santa Clara’s Summer Engineering Seminar, are specifically designed for students with limited exposure to engineering, while others, like SUMaC, expect a strong existing background in advanced mathematics. Research-focused programs like Horizon are generally open to students in good academic standing rather than requiring specific subject prerequisites, though a few of Horizon’s specialized tracks do have prerequisites.
Are there free options available?
Yes, several of these programs don’t charge a fee. Stanford Young Investigators, Meta Summer Academy, the Mineta Summer Transportation Academy, Santa Clara’s Summer Engineering Seminar, and SJSU’s CyberAI Summer Camp are all free to attend. Horizon’s cost varies depending on the program type you select, but financial aid is available there as well.
Which programs focus specifically on hands-on research rather than coursework?
If you want a genuine research experience, the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, Stanford Young Investigators, and the Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience all place you in a lab setting with faculty or postdoctoral mentorship, culminating in a poster presentation or capstone project. Programs like SCU’s Young Scholars Program or UC Santa Cruz’s Summer Session, by contrast, focus more on completing college-level coursework than producing original research.
Can you earn college credit through these programs?
Yes, a number of these programs offer transcripted college credit. Santa Clara University’s Young Scholars Program and UC Santa Cruz’s Summer Session both let you enroll in undergraduate courses that appear on an official college transcript and can transfer to future schools. Others, like Stanford Young Investigators and the Mineta Summer Transportation Academy, are non-credit but provide strong research experience and mentorship instead.
Is there a way to pursue independent research beyond a structured summer school?
Yes. If you want to move from a structured course into an original research project, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar to develop a 20-page research paper you can submit for academic publication. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback, and covers over 600 research specializations. You can find the application here.
When should you apply?
Deadlines for these programs are spread throughout the year, so it helps to plan ahead. Several early deadlines fall between November and January, including the Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (November 1 to March 6) and Meta Summer Academy (December 1 to February 14). February brings a cluster of deadlines, including SUMaC and the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (both February 2) and the Stanford Medicine Art and Anatomy Program (February 15), while March and April round out the year with deadlines for the Santa Clara Young Scholars Program and SJSU’s CyberAI Summer Camp. Horizon, by contrast, has multiple deadlines throughout the year across its Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts, giving you more flexibility if you miss an earlier cutoff.
Image source: Santa Clara University