10 STEM Programs for High School Students in Iowa
Participating in STEM programs in high school allows you to explore new fields, engage in hands-on learning, and work alongside university faculty or industry experts. These experiences enhance your understanding of STEM disciplines and can help you stand out in competitive college applications, especially for STEM-focused undergraduate programs.
By joining a STEM program, you can gain exposure to biomedical research, environmental science, advanced engineering, and more. Many of these programs also provide opportunities to conduct lab experiments, participate in field trips, and present your findings at conferences.
Here are 10 STEM programs for high school students in Iowa!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost: $450
Application Deadline: April 19
Program Dates: Session 1: July 13th-18th; Session 2: July 20th-25th
Eligibility: Open to girls who are rising high school juniors or seniors
The RISE with WiSE summer program invites high school girls to explore STEM in a supportive environment. The program is hosted by Iowa State University’s Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) and aims to inspire future innovators and leaders in STEM. During the program, you will engage in hands-on STEM sessions led by ISU faculty, staff, and students. You will learn about real-world applications of science and engineering. Beyond academics, the program provides a glimpse into college life through campus tours and visits to ISU landmarks, such as the ISU Creamery and Cy Bowling.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious 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.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
Cost: Residential: $4,000; Commuter: $3,200
Application Deadline: May
Program Dates: June 15 - July 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as recent high school graduates
The One Course Summer Institute at Cornell College allows high school students to experience college-level academics. This program follows Cornell’s “One Course At A Time” model, allowing you to concentrate on one subject over two and a half weeks while earning three college credit hours. You can choose from various courses in disciplines like Neuroscience, Chemistry, Engineering, and Computer Science. Past activities included brain dissections in neuroscience, culinary experiments in chemistry, CAD design in engineering, and app programming with Python. Beyond academics, the program incorporates social activities and college prep workshops. Students who complete the program are eligible for a $4,000 scholarship if they enroll at Cornell College.
Location: Iowa to Iceland and back.
Cost: Estimated at $5,500 (includes airfare, accommodations, meals, transportation, activities, and college credit)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. Apply through the Worldstrides link
Program Dates: June 10–16
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12 in Iowa state
STEM in Motion combines international travel with STEM experiences, allowing high school students to explore the applications of STEM. The program includes guided educational opportunities, career-oriented workshops, and cultural exploration in Iceland. You will have the chance to earn three college credits in science through coursework completed after the trip provided by George Mason University. You can apply through the WorldStrides platform. Two adult chaperones, typically Iowa 4-H Youth Development staff, will accompany the group.
Location: Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: The program fee is $7,500, which includes room, board, materials, admission to scheduled activities, and three semester hours of undergraduate credit from the University of Iowa. There is also a non-refundable application fee of $95. Financial aid can cover up to 95% of the program's cost. Merit-based and need-based scholarships are also offered.
Application Deadline: February 14
Dates: June 18 – July 26
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 can apply.
SSTP at the University of Iowa offers high school students the chance to conduct research with guidance from faculty. You will attend classes and events that develop your skills as a researcher and scholar. You will work on a project with your research group and present a poster at the end of the program. Research areas typically include anatomy, biology, biomedical engineering, genetics, sustainability sciences, etc. As an SSTP student, you will be enrolled at the University of Iowa and earn 3 semester hours of credit upon successful completion. There will also be planned weekend activities.
Location: The Hutton Program is open to students across all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands. The program matches participants with internships within a 45-minute commute from their homes.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate. Students receive a $3,000 stipend and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit.
Application Deadline: January 19
Dates: The internship lasts 8 weeks, typically from June to late July or August. Specific dates are flexible and arranged between the mentor and the student.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or rising college freshmen who will be at least 16 years old by the start date of their internship are eligible to apply.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week summer internship designed to encourage students to explore careers in fisheries and aquatic sciences. During the program, you will work with professional mentors to learn about conservation issues, aquatic habitat restoration, and fisheries biology. Mentors across the country offer diverse internship opportunities depending on the location and organization. You may work outdoors, on boats, in labs, or in offices. Activities include fish population surveys, habitat restoration, electrofishing, water quality testing, data analysis, and educational outreach. Some internships may involve rigorous fieldwork, including overnight or multi-day trips. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate. Students receive an $8,000 stipend and a small travel allowance.
Application Deadline: November 6
Dates: January 21 – May 16
Eligibility: High school graduating seniors and undergraduate students not currently enrolled at Iowa State University can apply. To participate, you must be enrolled in the Iowa State National Student Exchange program, which allows students from participating schools to join the Iowa State community.
The George Washington Carver Internship Program is an eight-week summer research experience focused on agricultural and life sciences. You will work with faculty mentors from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on research projects in food systems, environmental sustainability, and biological processes. The program includes professional development workshops to support academic and career growth. You’ll learn about agricultural processes, food systems, and the local food industry. You’ll also attend workshops to enhance your career prospects and develop a professional network.
Location: Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: The research proposal is due by January 14
Dates: February 24 – February 25
Eligibility: High school students from the Heartland Region, including Iowa and Nebraska, can participate in Heartland-JSHS. Research papers must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Iowa Research Handbook to qualify for the competition.
The Heartland-JSHS is a science competition for high school students in Iowa and Nebraska. The program includes visits to university research labs, talks from researchers, and opportunities to connect with other students. You will conduct STEM and humanities research following the Science and Engineering Practices of the Next Generation Science Standards. Proposals are reviewed by judges at the University of Iowa. The top 15 students will give oral presentations with slides at Heartland-JSHS. The top five oral presenters at Heartland-JSHS advance to the National Symposium in April to compete for additional scholarships provided by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. The top five finalists receive $750 scholarships to the University of Iowa from the Belin-Blank Center and an expenses-paid trip to the National Symposium.
Location: Iowa Speciality Hospital and Clinic, Iowa
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend
Application Deadline: February 14
Internship Date: June 2-July 25
Eligibility: Students must be entering their junior year in high school or above
Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics (ISH) offers an eight-week paid summer internship for high school students to provide firsthand healthcare exposure. Through this program, you will gain valuable insights and explore potential career paths in healthcare. You will be required to adhere to ISH’s student expectations, dress code, and facility standards of behavior.
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.
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