8 Online Chemistry Summer Programs for High School Students
For high school students passionate about chemistry, summer is a great time to dive deeper into the subject. Online chemistry summer programs offer a flexible and accessible way to gain hands-on skills, industry exposure, and connections with experts — all from the comfort of home. Unlike in-person programs that may involve travel or scheduling conflicts, these online options eliminate logistical hurdles, making it easier for students to focus on their learning journey.
Whether you aspire to a career in medicine, engineering, or scientific research, these programs provide a strong foundation in chemistry while fostering curiosity and critical thinking.
To help you find the best fit, we’ve curated a list of 8 online chemistry summer programs for high school students that are enriching, practical, and tailored to your academic growth.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, is a highly selective program that allows high school students to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project. You’ll get guidance to develop a college-level research paper, with additional support from writing coaches. You can choose from subjects like chemistry, mathematics, biology, data science, economics, and more.
Research opportunities in chemistry are available in areas such as Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, as well as Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics. The program ends with a symposium where you can present your research, with the potential for publication.
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Summer (June - August)
Application Deadline: Early Admissions - February 18 | Priority Admission - March 17 | Regular Admission I - April 14 | Regular Admission II - May 12.
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA are eligible to apply.
Johns Hopkins University’s Pre-College Online Summer Programs offer a fast-paced introduction to college life, allowing you to earn academic credit from a top university. The Applications of Chemistry in Medicine course highlights chemistry’s critical role in fields like healthcare, pharmaceutical sciences, and materials science, focusing on its applications in medicine and drug development. Delivered online and primarily asynchronously, the program provides flexibility while requiring you to meet assignment deadlines. Optional synchronous sessions, including office hours and group discussions, are available for additional engagement. Students also earn one credit on successful completion of the program.
Cost: $1,950 tuition and $85 application fee. Financial aid is available.
Dates: Session 1: July 7 - July 18 | Session 2: July 21 - August 1.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 9th grade before the start of the program and have a minimum 3.0 out of 4 GPA are eligible to apply. Background in Chemistry and Biology is strongly recommended.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) - Chemistry Track
Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track (such as chemistry), Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
ASU Universal Learner Courses provide high school students with an opportunity to earn four college credits while meeting high school requirements. The Introductory Chemistry is a 16-week online course that offers a comprehensive overview of general chemistry, tailored for students in nursing, kinesiology, or preparing for advanced studies.
You will explore key topics such as atomic structure, molecular formation, and practical applications like blood pH regulation while addressing fundamental questions about the nature of matter. The course emphasizes hands-on learning with video lectures, guided notes, problem-solving exercises, quizzes, and labs, supported by instant feedback. By the end, you’ll gain skills to solve molecular-level problems, predict chemical properties, and evaluate materials for health sciences and alternative energy applications.
Cost: $25 application fee and $400 credit conversion fee that you pay only if you’re satisfied with your grade and want to add it to your transcript.
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. MAT 117 College Algebra or MAT 142 College Mathematics is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.
High school students can earn UCLA credit with the Summer Online program, which is specifically designed and optimized for effective online instruction and learning. The program includes a comprehensive selection of chemistry courses, such as General Chemistry for Life Scientists I and II, General and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and II, Structure of Organic Molecules, Organic Reactions and Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Structure, and Organic Chemistry, which focuses on reactivity, synthesis, and spectroscopy.
Advanced topics such as Catalysis in Modern Drug Discovery and Biochemistry, covering enzyme structure, metabolism, and DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, are also offered.
Cost: $846; Financial aid is available for California high school students.
Dates: Varies depending on the course. The program typically runs for 3, 6, 8, 9, or 10 weeks through June to September.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines depending on the course. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
This 8-week online chemistry summer program for high school students strengthens your understanding of key concepts while preparing you for the next academic year. You can follow a structured schedule designed by expert tutors or customize one to fit your learning needs. Offered by eTutorWorld, the program includes personalized tutoring, interactive sessions, and live classes.
Using the Learning by Design methodology, the course begins with a diagnostic test to assess your strengths and areas for improvement, allowing tutors to tailor lessons accordingly. It covers essential topics such as atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, ions, atomic mass, types of reactions, acids, and bases, building on prior knowledge to ensure a seamless learning experience.
Cost: Starts at $307 for 10 tutoring sessions.
Dates: Self-paced; typically lasts 8 to 10 weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-12 are eligible to apply.
The Chemistry Online Research Programme by Immerse Education pairs high school students with Ivy League experts to develop a university-level research project. Through one-on-one tutorials and workshops, you will explore advanced topics such as carbon properties, acid rain effects, nanofiltration systems, and fuel efficiency. This program enhances key scientific and research skills, preparing you for higher education. Participants present their work at the Immerse Online Symposium and receive a Certificate of Achievement, strengthening their university applications.
Cost: Starts at $3,347
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
The American Academy offers fully online high school chemistry programs taught by state-licensed instructors, allowing you to learn at your own pace and fit classes into your schedule. These courses can be taken individually for 0.5 credit or as part of a full diploma program, making them suitable for both high school students and adult learners.
The first half of the course covers fundamental concepts such as states of matter, atomic theory, the periodic table, chemical bonds and reactions, stoichiometry, and the scientific method’s role in chemistry. The second half explores advanced topics, including the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, energy flow, reaction rates, equilibrium, acid-base theories, oxidation and reduction, polymerization, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.
Cost: $238
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
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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