14 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in California
Free summer programs for high school students are an excellent way to gain skills, industry exposure, and connections—all without cost. Summer programs allow you to explore your chosen field in greater depth than the standard high school curriculum allows. With prestigious organizations and institutions, California offers various in-person and virtual opportunities tailored to a wide range of interests.
Free programs are typically selective, making them a good indicator of your abilities for college admissions. Participating in one of the programs listed below can help you stand out in a competitive college admissions pool. Summer programs are also a great way to demonstrate your curiosity and willingness to learn.
To help you make the most of these opportunities, we’ve compiled a list of the 14 best free summer programs for high school students in California!
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.
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The BAIR Lab High School Summer Program offers a free experience in AI for students entering grades 10–12. You will learn about concepts in machine learning, computer vision, and robotics, guided by UC Berkeley researchers. The program includes guest lectures, lab visits, and collaborative activities as well as campus tours and dining. Designed for students with limited STEM opportunities, the program aims to provide a hands-on exploration of AI technologies. Admission is selective and based on application.
Location: BAIR Lab, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: July 8 – 12
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April
Eligibility: Bay area high school youth entering grades 10–12. Check more details here.
3. Veritas AI
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.
Location: Virtual
Cost: 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.
SIMR is an 8-week summer program for high school students in California. You will engage in research with a Stanford mentor in fields such as stem cell medicine, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioinformatics, and more. You will also attend lectures, work in state-of-the-art labs, and conclude the program with a research poster presentation. The program offers a stipend, prioritizing underrepresented students in biomedical research. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Institutes of Medicine at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: The application fee is $40 (fee waiver available). All students will receive $500 for the summer.
Dates: July 9 – 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors aged 16 years or older are eligible.
PAYS is a free summer program aimed at preparing underrepresented and low-income students for admission to selective colleges. This residential program includes college-level courses in critical inquiry and math, along with cultural events, workshops, and field trips. You will benefit from guidance from teaching assistants and continue receiving academic and college preparation support for three years. PAYS offers long-term mentorship and supports readiness for higher education. To learn more about PAYS, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Claremont, CA
Cost: No cost.
Dates: June 22 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Be a current 9th-grade student residing within Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, or Ventura County.
Dive into healthcare career exploration with this Free Summer Program for High School Students in California, offered twice each summer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Over five days, you will participate in activities like CPR and first aid training, attend sessions with healthcare professionals to learn about career paths, and gain insights into CHLA’s operations. This camp provides opportunities to network with like-minded peers while exploring healthcare in a real-world hospital setting.
Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Cost: No cost.
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in high school who live in Los Angeles County are eligible to apply
The UC Irvine Math ExpLR Summer Research Program is a 6-week program that introduces high school students to computational biology research. You will work in small teams with UC Irvine undergraduates and a principal investigator on projects involving mathematical modeling and programming in Matlab. The program includes workshops on research skills, such as creating research presentations and writing papers. While the program is free, it does not provide housing, meals, or transportation.
Location: UC Irvine
Cost: No cost.
Dates: June 17 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Eligibility: Applicants must currently be high school students and not be graduating in spring.
SMYSP is a summer program for low-income, first-generation high school juniors from Northern California. Focused on science and medicine, it features faculty lectures, workshops, networking events, and a research project on public health disparities. You will travel to Stanford’s campus during the week and be mentored by health professionals and college students. The program aims to empower participants to prepare for college and pursue medical careers. To learn more about this program, check out our full review here.
Location: Stanford’s campus
Cost: No cost.
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in Northern California.
This program introduces participants to careers in healthcare through a 6–8-week medical mentorship. The program offers daily online sessions with presentations from healthcare professionals, including pediatricians, pharmacists, radiologists, dietitians, and therapists. You will complete a final presentation and receive a certificate of completion, with one participant earning a $500 scholarship. Some shadowing opportunities may also be included, making it a valuable program for students who want to become healthcare professionals.
Location: Vary by facilities
Cost: No cost. A $500 scholarship will be awarded after the end of the program.
Dates: The program runs between June and August.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Eligibility: Current 11th and 12th grade students can apply.
TIP offers an 8-week paid internship for students in Los Angeles County. You will work in fields like data science, healthcare, engineering, and the arts while earning college credit. The program includes mentorship, projects, and workshops on resume building, interview skills, and workplace professionalism. TIP prioritizes high-need students, connecting them with industries to explore career paths and develop professional skills over the summer.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: No cost; a stipend will be provided.
Dates: Multiple cohorts. The spring program runs from January 23 to March 29.
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts. The spring program deadline is December 13. Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in LA.
The SAGE Camp at SLAC offers a one-week residential experience to promote diversity in STEM. Open to students from all backgrounds, the camp focuses on fostering creativity and increasing women’s participation in science and engineering. You will connect with STEM professionals, explore careers, and engage in activities that highlight the intersection of science with art, athletics, and creative fields. This camp builds a supportive community to guide your educational and career journeys.
Location: SLAC and Stanford Campuses (Menlo Park and Palo Alto)
Cost: No cost; a stipend will be provided.
Dates: June 22 – 28
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: All high school girls are eligible.
The Meta Summer Academy is a selective program designed to inspire sophomores through hands-on experience in the tech industry. Over six weeks, you will intern at Meta's headquarters, learning coding, exploring tech careers, and developing soft skills. You will receive mentorship from Meta employees and gain insight into the day-to-day operations of a global social media company. The program aims to promote economic success and early career exploration. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Meta Headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Cost: No cost.
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Sophomores in high school residing in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City.
The Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program at the Salk Institute is an 8-week research experience. You will work on individual projects under the mentorship of Salk scientists, gaining skills in wet lab techniques, bioinformatics, data analysis, and science communication. Additional activities include biotech site visits, seminars, and workshops. Scholars conclude the program by presenting their research at the Summer Scholars Research Symposium through oral presentations or scientific posters.
Location: Salk Institute, San Diego, CA
Cost: No cost.
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 5
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope offers high school students the chance to conduct biomedical research. You will design your own research project and receive mentorship from scientists. You will also develop communication skills, including scientific writing and presenting research findings. The program includes seminars on various topics, such as DNA repair, and you will produce a written report of your work. It’s a highly competitive program, with less than 5% of applicants accepted. For tips on how to get in, check out our full guide here.
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Cost: No cost; a $4,000 stipend will be provided after the completion of the program
Dates: June 3 – August 9
Application Deadline: Application typically closes in March
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
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.