10 Free Coding Programs for High School Students
In today's digital age, coding has become an essential skill, offering students a pathway to innovation, problem-solving, and career opportunities. If you’re a high schooler, participating in a free coding program can teach you valuable skills without the financial burden. Fully funded programs also tend to be more selective than their paid counterparts, making them a useful addition to your college application profile.
In addition to giving you early exposure to coding, many of these programs allow you to complete an independent project. These coding projects can be highlighted in your college essays, portfolio, or scholarship applications, showcasing your experience and interest in computer science.
In this article, we’ve listed 10 free coding programs for high school students, along with key details like their eligibility, dates, and deadlines.
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Location: Remote (worldwide)
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3 or above
Cost: Full financial aid available
Program Dates: Summer Cohort (June–August), Fall Cohort (September–December), Winter Cohort (December–February), Spring Cohort (March–June)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is designed for high-achieving high school students who are passionate about conducting research. It offers personalized 1-on-1 mentorship from PhD students at prestigious universities. You can select from a wide array of research topics such as computer science, data science, AI, and other STEM subjects or even explore fields like social sciences or international relations.
You will work with your mentors over the course of the program to create a research project, write a full academic paper, and gain valuable experience for college applications. The research can be personalized to fit your interests, making it a great option for students looking to deepen their understanding of coding and technology or explore interdisciplinary projects involving coding.
2. Veritas AI
Application Deadline: Winter cohort deadline: December 1, 2024
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Cost: Financial aid available
Program dates: Varies according to cohort
Veritas AI is a program tailored for high school students who want to dive into the world of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science. Founded by Harvard graduates, this program offers a structured pathway to explore and master AI through hands-on learning.
For beginners, the AI Scholars program introduces foundational concepts of AI, ML, and Python programming. Students participate in 10 live sessions where they learn the theory behind AI and complete real-world projects, like building chatbots, image recognition systems, or financial forecasting models.
The AI Fellowship is geared toward more advanced students who want to create individual projects with expert mentors and aim to publish their findings. It involves 15 sessions where students collaborate 1:1 with mentors from top universities, receive support from an in-house publication team, and have their work showcased in high school research journals. Students leave the program with a strong grasp of AI concepts, practical experience in coding, and a standout project that can boost their college applications
Cost: Financial Aid Available
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: November 24, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens aged 13-18
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual and in-person in London and several cities across the U.S.
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Multiple 2-week camps were offered through June – August in 2024
Deadline: March 31, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Kode With Klossy offers a series of free two-week coding camps aimed at students from traditionally underrepresented genders in STEM. The camps feature curricula designed to teach the fundamentals of coding while fostering a lasting interest in STEM. You will choose one of the camp’s four tracks: web development, mobile app, machine learning, and data science. In the web development track, you will learn how to build websites in CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. The mobile app track will teach you how to create iOS apps using Swift, Apple’s programming language.
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Duration: Self-paced
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
CS50x is Harvard University’s introduction to computer science, now available for free online. This course covers fundamental topics like algorithms, data structures, web development, and computer science theory using languages like C, Python, and SQL. You will tackle a series of hands-on problem sets designed to challenge your coding and analytical skills. You can take advantage of this college-level course to deepen your understanding of computer science, enhance your critical thinking, and add a credential to your academic portfolio.
Program dates: TBA for 2025. Three two-week sessions were offered in 2024:
June 14 – 28, 2024
July 8 – 19, 2024
July 29 – August 9, 2024
Eligibility: 9th-11th graders
Cost: Free, $300 needs-based grant for eligible students in the United States
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: March 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual course for high school students focusing on game design and coding skills. Sponsored by companies like MetLife and Bank of America, this program introduces you to beginner to intermediate computer science concepts, UX design, and the design process more broadly. Topics include cybersecurity, data science + AI, and web development. You will design and create your own computer games using JavaScript.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students in 9th through 12th grade who are at least 13 years old
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in July
Program dates: Varies based on program
Location: Google Code Next Labs in Oakland, CA; Inglewood, CA; Chelsea, NY; Detroit, MI
Google’s Code Next offers high school students an intensive computer science curriculum. You have to apply to be a member of one of the four Code Next labs. Accepted students will have access to coaching from Google employees and the chance to complete projects like programming robots and 3D printing chess sets. You can choose from the lab’s programming options, which include summer programs like Launch and year-round programs like Team Edge. Team Edge teaches you computer science basics while providing leadership training and college counseling. Each semester, labs offer clubs that focus on a specific topic, such as robotics and game design. If you live near a Code Next lab, this is a great opportunity to learn how to code for free while meeting people from one of the world’s largest tech companies.
8. FreeCodeCamp
Application Deadline: Open enrolment
Duration: Self-paced
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
FreeCodeCamp is a comprehensive online platform that offers a robust curriculum designed to teach web development skills. It covers essential topics such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with backend development using Node.js. You will engage in hands-on coding challenges and projects that can help you build a portfolio of work. The platform's self-paced structure allows you to progress at your own speed, making it an ideal resource for high school students looking to develop practical coding skills in their free time. With a strong community support system and real-world projects, FreeCodeCamp can help you gain confidence and experience in web development.
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Duration: Self-paced
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Odin Project provides a free, open-source coding curriculum that emphasizes full-stack web development. The program covers a variety of topics, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Ruby on Rails. With an emphasis on hands-on projects, the program encourages you to build your own websites and applications as you progress through the course. The curriculum is designed to guide learners step by step and fosters a collaborative online community of aspiring developers. High school students benefit from the practical approach as they gain valuable skills and experience that can enhance their resumes and college applications.
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Duration: Self-paced
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
MIT OpenCourseWare offers free access to its "Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python" course, ideal for high school students interested in foundational programming skills. The course covers basic programming concepts, problem-solving techniques, and algorithm development using Python. You will have access to comprehensive lecture notes, assignments, and exams, allowing you to learn at your own pace while receiving high-quality instruction. This college-level course gives you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of computer science and prepares you for advanced studies or careers in technology.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.