As a motivated high schooler, you have many options to explore your interests over the summer. With a little bit of effort, you don’t need to pay for it either! Free summer camps allow you to explore academic interests, develop practical skills, and gain exposure to potential career paths without incurring significant expenses. Plenty of programs simulate college-level academics and campus life while being fully funded or even offering stipends for your work.

How are camps different from other high school programs? Unlike traditional high school programs or pre-college courses offered by universities, summer camps are shorter, more focused sessions often hosted by independent organizations. There is much more emphasis on learning by doing, more focused mentorship, and insight-sharing by industry professionals. These camps are ideal for students looking to deepen their knowledge and experience in a particular area.

To help with your search, we've curated a list of 10 fully funded summer camps for high school students!

1. Research Science Institute (RSI)

Hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), RSI offers a six-week program where you can engage in scientific research with MIT faculty and graduates. You’ll attend lectures from professors, conduct individual research projects, and present your findings at the program's conclusion. This experience provides a unique opportunity to work in advanced laboratories and gain exposure to the forefront of scientific discovery. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 100 students are selected from over 2,500 applicants.

Dates: Typically from late June to early August.

Application Deadline: Usually in early January.

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a strong background in STEM.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

2. Notre Dame Leadership Seminars

This 10-day program invites students to explore topics related to global issues, such as environmental sustainability, economics, and social justice. The seminars include discussions, seminars led by Notre Dame faculty, and capstone projects and presentations. The program aims to cultivate critical thinking and ethical decision-making among emerging leaders. To learn more about this camp, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 150 students are selected annually.

Dates: Mid to late July.

Application Deadline: Typically in late January.

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors demonstrating leadership and academic excellence.

Location: University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

3. Santa Clara University Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)

SES is a five-day program that introduces high school juniors to engineering. It offers the opportunity to participate in workshops, interact with faculty and industry professionals, and explore various engineering disciplines. The program emphasizes teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, providing a foundational understanding of engineering principles. There is also an advanced SES session for students who have attended the program the previous year, allowing for a deeper dive into engineering. To learn more about this seminar, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 60 students per session.

Dates: Option of two sessions for first-time attendees and an exclusive third session for advanced attendees.

Application Deadline: Usually in early March.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with an interest in engineering.

Location: Santa Clara University, California.

4. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)

TASS offers six-week seminars focusing on critical Black and ethnic studies. At TASS, you will attend a three-hour college-level class each weekday involving intensive reading and discussions. You will develop your analytical and writing skills. The program is a great way to understand social issues deeply, as it encourages you to think critically about societal structures. To learn more about TASS, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 56 students across two programs.

Dates: Late June to late July.

Application Deadline: Early December.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors interested in the humanities and social justice.

Location: Cornell University and University of Maryland.

5. MITES (MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science)

MITES is a rigorous six-week program for rising high school seniors interested in pursuing careers in science and engineering. It offers five advanced courses in math, science, and the humanities, along with mentorship from MIT faculty and students. The program allows you to prepare for college and explore future careers in STEM while significantly deepening your STEM knowledge. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 80 students are selected annually.

Dates: Late June to early August.

Application Deadline: Typically in early February.

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM.

Location: MIT, Massachusetts.

6. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program

Girls Who Code offers virtual two-week programs to close the gender gap in technology by teaching high school girls computer science skills. You will learn to code, attend workshops, and connect with female leaders in tech industries. It focuses on teaching intermediate CS concepts and JavaScript usage, with plenty of virtual engagement opportunities and coding events. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by location; thousands of students participate nationwide.

Dates: Option of one of two rounds of two-week courses, one in early July and one at the end of July.

Application Deadline: Usually in mid-March.

Eligibility: Female-identifying and non-binary high school students.

Location: Fully virtual.

7. The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University

This seven-week research program offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to work on individual research projects in various fields, including STEM, humanities, and arts. You will receive mentorship from Texas Tech faculty in research areas ranging from cancer biology to mechanical engineering and history. The program offers a $750 stipend and includes seminars and field trips to enhance the learning experience. To learn more about this program, check out our review here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Only 12 students are selected annually.

Dates: Mid-June to early August.

Application Deadline: Late February.

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with strong academic backgrounds.

Location: Lubbock, Texas.

8. Bank of America Student Leaders Program

This eight-week program provides students with paid internships at local nonprofits and a leadership summit in Washington, D.C. You will gain practical work experience while developing leadership skills and engaging in community service projects. The program is offered at locations across the country. The culminating leadership seminar aims to show you how government, industry, and nonprofit organizations can work together to improve communities. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 300 students nationwide.

Dates: Late June to early August.

Application Deadline: Typically in late January.

Eligibility: High school juniors committed to community service.

Location: Various cities nationwide.

9. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College AI Scholars Program

This program allows you to explore artificial intelligence through projects and mentorship from Carnegie Mellon faculty. You’ll attend college-level courses, work on real-world AI problems, and gain experience in programming and data analysis. There are also weekly college prep and readiness seminars to help you with college admissions and financial aid. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive, limited cohort size.

Dates: June 21 to July 19.

Application Deadline: March 1.

Eligibility: High school juniors with a strong interest in AI and programming.

Location: CMU, Pennsylvania.

10. National Youth Science Camp (NYSC)

NYSC is a residential science education program for high school seniors. This exclusive opportunity is designed to challenge high schoolers through lectures, expert-directed studies, seminars, and outdoor activities. It also allows networking with noteworthy personalities, with past guests including Neil Armstrong, Nobel laureate John Nash, General Chuck Yeager, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. To learn more about this camp, check out our complete guide here. 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive – 100 students per batch, with two delegates chosen from each state and the District of Columbia.

Dates: Late June to mid-July.

Application Deadline: March 7.

Eligibility: High school seniors with STEM interests.

Location: Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.

Image Source - CMU Logo