8 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Virginia
Summer programs are a fantastic way for high school students to explore new interests, develop skills, and get a taste of college life. For students in Virginia, there is a variety of free opportunities that focus on areas like STEM, leadership, health sciences, and more. These programs offer hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and access to resources that can lead to both personal and academic growth.
Moreover, fully funded programs tend to be more selective than paid ones, giving them more weight in the college application process. Getting into a free summer program such as the ones listed in this blog can help you stand out from other high school students when applying to college.
In this blog, we’ll explore 8 free summer programs available to high school students across Virginia.
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
Rising Seniors: June 16 – 29, 2024
Rising Sophomores and Juniors: June 23 – 29, 2024
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who will be first-generation college students
This two-week residential camp takes place at Virginia Tech, where you will experience a practical engineering and technology education. You will engage in interactive design challenges and hands-on laboratory work, exploring various branches of engineering and developing essential skills to solve real-world challenges.
Beyond the summer experience, the program provides continuous support, assisting you with the college application process to improve your chances of getting into top engineering programs. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experience university life, gain insight into the engineering curriculum, and become familiar with the campus environment through organized tours and activities.
Location: Virtual and NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: October 26, 2024
Program Dates:
Session 1: June 21 – 27, 2025
Session 2: July 12 – 18, 2025
Session 3: July 26 – August 1, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are Virginia residents, United States citizens, and have a minimum GPA of 2.7
The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars program gives high school students an exceptional opportunity to dive into NASA-centered research. Sponsored by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, NASA Langley Research Center, and other collaborators, the program immerses you in aerospace, engineering, and technological studies.
Throughout the school year, you will study an intense online curriculum that tackles real-world aerospace issues. Those who excel in this coursework may be invited to a week-long Summer Academy, fully funded, at NASA’s Langley Research Center. This experience can play a pivotal role in shaping your academic and career pathways in the aerospace and technology sectors.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: 4 annual cohorts run in fall, spring, summer, and winter
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall
You must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
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, known 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 our flagship program, we pair talented high-school students with world-class PhD 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 particularly solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
Location: Virtual and NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: October 26, 2024
Program Dates:
Session 1: July 5 – 11, 2025
Session 2: July 19 – 25, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are Virginia residents, United States citizens, and have a minimum GPA of 2.7
The Virginia Earth System Science Scholars program is a free educational initiative to empower high school juniors and seniors to become part of the global solution to climate change. Offered by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, this program focuses on giving you an interactive online STEM learning experience that explores NASA's Earth observation satellite missions and how remote sensing helps us understand Earth's systems.
The program includes an online component where you will complete seven modules and a capstone project addressing real-world Earth science challenges. You will have the chance to participate in discussions with NASA scientists. Those who perform well are invited to a seven-day residential Summer Academy at NASA’s Langley Research Center. At this academy, you will work on designing a satellite mission, tour NASA facilities, and receive mentorship from NASA experts. Additionally, you can earn up to five dual-enrolled college credits through Virginia Peninsula Community College.
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 21, 2025 (applications will open in mid-December)
Program Dates:
Session I for Seniors: June 16 – 19, 2025
Session II for Seniors: June 23 – 26, 2025
Session for Juniors: June 30 – July 3, 2025
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, preference is given to underrepresented and/or first-generation students
The Black College Institute (BCI) at Virginia Tech is a summer enrichment program for high-achieving, academically curious rising high school juniors and seniors. It focuses on students from underrepresented and/or first-generation backgrounds, although it is open to any student interested in exploring the opportunities at Virginia Tech. The program features three in-person sessions over a 3-day period, designed to introduce you to university life, academics, and the college application process through a multicultural lens, with an emphasis on African-American identity.
Participants in the BCI engage in a range of academic activities across disciplines like Computational Modeling & Data Analytics, Science Technology Studies, and Industrial and Systems Engineering. With workshops that enhance critical thinking through project-based learning and service-oriented experiences, the program encourages you to apply your knowledge to real-world community impact.
Location: Northern Virginia Community College campuses in VA
Cost: None
Application Deadline: May 10, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Program Dates: 2025 dates will be released soon
Eligibility: Graduating seniors and current juniors
NOVA’s STEM programs aim to foster talent and provide pathways to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math by offering comprehensive support for K-12 students and college attendees. NOVA focuses on bridging the gap in technology fields, such as engineering technology, cybersecurity, and data center operations, with an emphasis on hands-on training and wraparound support services. The college provides state-of-the-art resources, like its Fab Lab, to help you get certifications and prepare you for technology-focused careers.
The program includes options for students to explore different STEM tracks over one or two weeks. The Computer Science/Information Technology (IT/CS) track covers hardware tasks like assembling computers and delves into cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the Engineering Technology/Data Center Operations (ET/DCO) track gives insights into engineering technology and semiconductor manufacturing, and you can even earn an OSHA 10 certificate. Each program includes hands-on activities, industry site visits, and guidance through NOVA’s various campus services.
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: 2025 applications will open on February 1, 2025
Program Dates: July 24 – 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Students who are in 9th and 10th grade at the time of application
The VALHEN STEM Academy, held in partnership with George Mason University and the Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN), offers a pre-college experience for rising high school sophomores and juniors from Virginia. This program provides hands-on sessions in STEM disciplines and is designed to connect you to STEM majors and careers, with a focus on those underrepresented in the STEM workforce.
The theme for 2024 was Sustainable Development, allowing participants to tackle global challenges like hunger, clean water access, pollution, and climate change. You will attend university lectures, collaborate on group research projects, and explore various STEM pathways while interacting with faculty, professionals, and peer guides.
Location: Options include remote, hybrid, and in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA and other collaborating institutions
Cost: No cost; $25 application fee
Application Deadline: February 2, 2025
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8, 2025
Eligibility: Students must be over the age of 15 for remote and computer lab in-person internships and over the age of 16 for “wet-lab” in-person internships
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University offers high school and undergraduate students an immersive research experience in a wide range of scientific disciplines. The program pairs you with a mentor to work on specific research projects in areas such as Earth Science, Molecular Medicine, Cyber Security, Finance, Astronomy, and more. You will gain hands-on experience with advanced technology, develop scientific writing and communication skills, and discuss STEM career paths.
ASSIP spans eight weeks, culminating in a final poster session where you will present your research findings. The program offers flexible formats (remote, in-person, or hybrid) as determined by the project needs. Although the internship is unpaid, the experience often leads to participants contributing to scientific publications and conferences.
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.