If you’re a high school student interested in pursuing coding, participating in a free coding program can be a good use of your summer. These programs offer exposure to advanced skills, helping you build a strong foundation in computer science. They are fully funded and hosted by prestigious institutions, which adds value to your college admissions profile. By working on real-world projects, collaborating with peers, and learning from industry experts, you can prepare to study computer science in college. 

Here are the 10 best free summer coding programs for high school students you should consider applying for!

1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation

Location: Remote — You can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Cost: The program is fully funded!

Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)

Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: Accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)

The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost. 

The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here! This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. 

2. CS50x by Harvard University

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Program dates: Self-paced (12 weeks)

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: High school students

Harvard’s CS50x is an online course for high school students who want to learn computer science and programming. Whether you're new to coding or have some experience, this course will teach you essential concepts like abstraction, algorithms, and data structures. You will learn programming languages such as C, Python, and SQL. The course includes nine assignments and a final project. If you complete them successfully, you’ll earn a certificate that can strengthen your college application and make for a solid CV addition.

3. Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)

Location: Various online and offline locations available

Cost: Free

Program dates: The program typically runs from June to August (3 weeks)

Application deadline: February 28

Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a four-year institution in the U.S. or Canada

Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) is a rigorous program for high school graduates interested in computer science. It aims to bridge the gap between high school education and university-level computer science, particularly for students from historically underrepresented groups. The curriculum features daily coding workshops, projects, and development sessions. In addition, you will have the chance to collaborate with peers, receive mentorship from Google engineers, and attend career exploration sessions. The program also provides valuable exposure to Google's internship pipeline, helping you navigate your future in the tech industry.

4. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (GWC SIP)

Location: Online

Cost: Free. Grants of up to $300 available!

Program dates: Round 1: July 7 – July 18; Round 2 (for international students): July 28 – August 8 (2 weeks)

Application deadline: General: April 11; Early: February 26

Eligibility: U.S. current 9th, 10th, or 11th graders who identify as girls or non-binary; International students who are 14-18 years old

The GWC SIP is a two-week virtual program introducing high schoolers to computer science and tech career paths. This year's focus is game design. You will learn intermediate coding concepts, user experience (UX) design, rapid prototyping, and playtesting. If selected, you will engage in interactive virtual courses to develop your technical knowledge and practical skills. Additionally, you can participate in various virtual events hosted by Girls Who Code (GWC) and its partner sponsors. For U.S.-based students, there's also the opportunity to receive a $300 grant. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. 

5. Code Next by Google

Location: Google Code Next Labs located in Oakland, CA; Inglewood, CA; Chelsea, NY; Detroit, MI

Cost: Free

Program dates: Yet to be announced

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: 9th- 12th-grade high school students who are at least 13 years old and live in or near any of the cities where a Code Next Lab is located

Google’s Code Next is a well-known coding program. Mainly targeted at Black, Latinx, and Indigenous high school students, it aims to encourage their participation in computer science-related fields and careers. If selected, you will work on coding projects in one of Google Code Next’s labs under the guidance of a Googler. Topics range from game design to robotics and working with hardware. Their curriculum is divided into two groups—exposure-based and immersion-based. While the former consists of clubs, workshops, and college-prep courses, the latter is more practical and includes programs focusing on building skills. Students who successfully finish the course will present their work to the broader Google community at Demo Days.

6. freeCodeCamp

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Program dates: Self-paced

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: High school students

freeCodeCamp is an online platform that offers virtual coding courses. If you’re a high school student who wants to enroll in a professionally designed coding course to build projects and earn industry-recognized certifications, you can browse their library of programs. Their curriculum includes both basic and advanced coding courses on topics like data structures, data visualization, JavaScript algorithms, back-end development, machine learning, Python, and so on. Enrolling in their courses will also allow you to network with their alumni, students, and educators. 

7. Codecademy

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Program dates: Self-paced

Application deadline: N/A

Eligibility: High school students

Codecademy offers online courses and boot camps on coding, computer science, cybersecurity, and other domains. It is ideal for high school students without prior experience in these fields who are looking for a flexible learning solution. Most of their basic courses—like HTML, JavaScript, and SQL—are free, and you can take them whenever you want to. You will also get access to free cheat sheets, documents, videos, and other learning materials. If you want a certificate of completion for your college applications, you can sign up for one of Codecademy’s paid plans.

8. Code Their Stories Workshop by Black Girls Code

Location: Online

Cost: Free

Program dates: February 21

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 18

Every year, Black Girls Code hosts several free workshops and seminars for high school students. The Code Their Stories workshop is for 14-18-year-old female high schoolers of color. Conducted virtually, it aims to teach participants the basics of block-based coding using Scratch to create animations that celebrate the legacy and contributions of black women. Since the workshop is free to attend, only a few applicants can participate. 

9. Kode with Klossy

Location: Online and in-person

Cost: Free

Program dates: To be announced

Application deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens aged 13-18

Kode with Klossy hosts a series of two-week coding camps for students from underrepresented genders in STEM fields. Depending on availability and prior experience, you will be placed in one of their four tracks—web development, mobile app development, machine learning, and data science. You will learn about programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, artificial intelligence, data structures, data visualization tools, etc. Every course is conducted by two licensed instructors and involves activities apart from classroom learning, like seminars, speaker series, etc. 

10. Changemakers in Computing (CIC)

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Cost: Free. A $1,500 stipend is available!

Program dates: July 7 – August 1 (4 weeks)

Application deadline: April 2

Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA, or have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and are currently enrolled in 10th or 11th grade in a Washington State-based school

Though not a summer coding program, CIC is an excellent opportunity for underrepresented, economically disadvantaged, and first-generation computer science students who wish to explore other facets of the subject, like technology and engineering. You will work with fellow CIC participants and be led by UW undergrads to develop coding skills through projects. Besides this, you will receive mentorship from UW undergrads and faculty, networking opportunities with peers, and guidance on college admissions. Every student receives a $1,500 education stipend for participation, and eligible students also receive a $250 Safeway gift card. 

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.

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