10 STEM Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles, California
If you are a high school student in Los Angeles interested in pursuing STEM, enrolling in a program can be a great way to get a headstart on college academics. Los Angeles is home to many universities and organizations that help high schoolers explore STEM subjects. A STEM program is a good opportunity to learn from industry leaders and professors.
Most STEM programs have a hands-on learning component, allowing you to participate in experiments and other projects. Completing a summer program can also show college admissions officers that you’re committed to learning outside the classroom. The experience can therefore be a good way to explore your interests before committing to a college degree.
We have listed 10 STEM programs below for high school students in Los Angeles, California.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Varies according to the cohort. Applications for the upcoming winter cohort close on December 29, 2024
Program Dates: Dates and the duration vary depending on the cohort and type of program
Individual Research Program: 12 weeks
Premium Research & Publication Program: 16–20 weeks
Research Fellowship: 6–12 months
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: Online!
Cost: Starts at $2,290, financial aid available
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
Application Deadline: Applications for the spring cohort are due on January 5, 2025. Find out more about each program here
Program Dates: Multiple, year-round sessions. For instance, the AI Scholars program runs for 10 weeks and the AI Fellowship program runs for around 12–15 weeks
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: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $5,256 + $44 (application fee) | financial aid is available
Eligibility: California school students in grades 8–12 who excel in math/science
Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
Program Dates: July 6 – August 2, 2025
COSMOS is an in-person program for students interested in STEM fields. The program focuses on exploring topics beyond the regular high school curriculum. Five campuses in the state conduct this program; eligible students in LA can apply to UCLA’s COSMOS program. If selected, you will get to participate in a cluster which covers advanced topics in science, tech, engineering, and math. At UCLA, the six clusters for 2025 are:
Each cluster covers key concepts relevant to the topic through lectures, lab sessions, field trips, and other activities. You will be assigned hands-on project work in each cluster.
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies according to the course, but typically between $3,149 to $7,501; need-based financial aid available
Eligibility: High school students | exact requirements vary for each course
Application Deadline: May 2, 2025, or earlier if funding runs out
Program Dates:
Session 1: June 22 – July 11, 2025
Session 2: July 13 – August 1, 2025
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers enrichment programs for K-12 students. Multiple STEM courses are conducted at the Loyola Marymount University campus in LA. You could opt for the Fast-Paced High School Physics Course, which focuses on mechanics, electricity, and magnetism, covering concepts like kinematics, systems of particles and linear momentum, gravitation, electrostatics, and electromagnetism. You can also choose from other courses like Chemistry in Society, Principles of Engineering Design, Cryptology, and Fast-Paced High School Biology. The courses typically involve discussions, projects, and activities.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: TBA + $461 campus and administrative fees
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old and have a strong background in chemistry and biology
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: Dates TBA. Multiple one-week sessions are conducted for both housing and commuter tracks
The Nanoscience Lab Summer Institute, taught by UCLA faculty, is for students interested in nanosciences and nanotechnology. The program is conducted like a workshop, allowing you to gain hands-on experience. You will learn about key concepts in nanoscience and nanofabrication, fabricate nanostructures, and evaluate properties of certain materials and devices. You will also engage with ongoing research by participating in seminars, hands-on experiments, and data collection. The curriculum explores topics like photolithography, bio-toxicity, and supercapacitors.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $7,812 for commuters and $11,347 for residential participants
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: May 2, 2025Program Dates: June 15 – July 12, 2025
The Discover Engineering Summer Program is a pre-college experience for high school students interested in exploring engineering fields. The program will introduce you to aerospace, chemical, computer, electrical, biomedical, environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering. The program focuses on the engineering design process and can help you decide whether you want to pursue engineering in college. A key part of the program is project work involving designing, building, and testing. In the past, students have worked on projects like designing and building bridges, using 3D printers, programming robots and sensor devices, and more. To learn more about USC’s Pre-College program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $10,500 + $65 application fee
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Application Deadline: March 15, 2025
Program Dates: June 22 – July 18, 2025
The Exploring Engineering program is an opportunity for high schoolers to explore mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering. Along with learning about these fields, you will work with computer applications and other tools to solve engineering problems. You will learn about the Grand Challenges for Engineering—a set of goals for a safer, sustainable planet and future. Additionally, the program offers insight into the use of manual and computer graphics in engineering design. You will work on hands-on projects to develop problem-solving and analytical skills, essential for pursuing a career in engineering. The program offers three units of college credit.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: No details available regarding the cost; a $300 stipend is offered to participants at the end of the program
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the Los Angeles, Lynwood, Compton, or Inglewood school districts
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 (tentative, based on the previous year’s program)
Program Dates: June 17 – July 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the previous year’s program)
The Young Researchers Program is a six-week opportunity for high schoolers interested in STEM. You will work on a university-level research project with the guidance of a mentor. While applying, you can mention three fields of interest, like neuroscience, earth science, biomedical sciences, and more. The program also focuses on enhancing college readiness through workshops and seminars, where you will learn how to apply to colleges and choose from various STEM fields.
Field trips to Catalina Island and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are key parts of the experience. You can learn more about the program and its application process here, and check out our full review of the program here.
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.