9 AI Research Programs for High School Students
In today’s rapidly advancing world, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is more critical than ever. With technological breakthroughs shaping industries, students need to build a strong foundation in these fields to stay ahead.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an explosive growth area that impacts everything from healthcare to entertainment. Additionally, early exposure to research boosts a student’s problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. By working on research projects in AI, students can build academic skills that will prepare them for college while learning about a pivotal field. Successfully completing such projects can also help them stand out during college admissions.
Below are 9 AI research programs designed for high school students that offer these advantages and more.
Location: Online
Cost: $2,990 (financial aid available)
Eligibility: High school students globally
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Dates/Duration: Varies according to cohort
Lumiere offers a one-on-one mentorship program where students work alongside expert researchers from top universities. The program is highly flexible, allowing students to choose their research focus, including AI topics like machine learning and neural networks. Cohorts are small, ensuring individualized attention and a deep dive into research projects. With guidance from a PhD-level mentor, students work on an independent AI research project, resulting in a final research paper that could be published. Previous AI research topics include autonomous driving algorithms and AI-driven climate modeling.
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Application Deadline: November 10, 2024 for the winter cohort, February 9, 2025 for the spring cohort
Dates/Duration:
December 2, 2024 onwards for the winter cohort
March 3, 2025 onwards for the spring cohort
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Horizon’s Academic Research Program focuses on providing students with a structured research experience. Students work in small cohorts, guided by a mentor who helps them formulate a research question, design experiments, and compile their findings into a comprehensive paper. Students interested in AI can take the Data Science and Machine Learning course, which uses Python to apply ML to real data. AI projects typically focus on machine learning, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program ends with students producing a ready-to-publish research paper, adding a unique and powerful element to their college applications.
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. Winter cohort deadline: December 1, 2024
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort
Eligibility: High school students 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 offers students a deep dive into AI through a structured research project. The program features personalized mentorship from AI researchers from prestigious universities, including Harvard and MIT. Students learn how to use machine learning algorithms and build projects such as AI models for image recognition. This program is ideal for students who want a comprehensive introduction to AI with projects that have real-world applications. Students gain hands-on experience through Python-based AI projects, exploring algorithms, natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision. Participants also collaborate on group projects.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: March 25, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates/Duration: July 8 – 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Stanford AI4ALL is a selective program aimed at high school juniors and seniors interested in AI. You will participate in hands-on AI research, learning from Stanford faculty, PhD students, and industry experts. The program focuses on ethical AI, and you will develop projects that address social issues. Topics include AI ethics, reinforcement learning, and AI's societal impact. Field trips to tech companies and mentorship opportunities make this a valuable experience for students interested in AI. 30 students were accepted in 2024.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA or virtual
Cost:
Free for families that earn less than $150,000
$1,750 for families that earn more than $150,000
Eligibility: High school juniors and below who attend school in the U.S.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates/Duration: July 8 – August 4, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The MIT BWSI AI Track offers a range of STEM courses during the summer. Students interested in AI can take the Serious Games and Artificial Intelligence course. In this course, you will use machine learning to create ‘games’ that help solve social problems. For example, a serious game might find the best path for self-driving ambulances to take in a city. As part of the course, you will learn about agile management, software development, and project management. Check out our full guide to BWSI here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over the age of 14
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates/Duration: June 17 – 28, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging research internship provides exposure to AI and healthcare research. You will work on cutting-edge medical imaging projects, using AI to solve complex healthcare problems. The program offers mentorship through two avenues: interactions with Stanford researchers and students, and ‘Career Lunch and Learn’ sessions with guest speakers from industry, academia, non-profit, and government. Around 25 students will be accepted.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $11,874 for residential; $4,975 for commuter. Scholarships available, with priority given to California residents
Eligibility: High school students in 10th or 11th grade with a minimum 3.8 weighted GPA
Application Deadline: March 17, 2025
Dates/Duration: June 16 – August 1, 2025
UCSB’s Research Mentorship Program gives high school students the chance to conduct intensive research in disciplines ranging from STEM to social science and the humanities. Students interested in artificial intelligence can choose the program’s computer science track. The computer science track allows research in AI, machine learning, and data science, allowing you to work with UCSB researchers. You will present your research findings at the end of the program, gaining valuable experience in academic communication and professional networking. For tips on how to get into this competitive program, you can read our full guide here.
Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost:
Tuition: $2,750
Housing (optional): $616
Mandatory meal plan with housing: $192
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 and older who have completed Algebra II or equivalent and have programming experience
Application Deadline: April 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Dates/Duration: TBA for 2025. Three sessions were offered in 2024:
June 17 – 28, 2024
July 8 – 19, 2024
July 29 – August 9, 2024
New York University’s Machine Learning summer program allows students to explore topics in AI and machine learning beyond the typical high school curriculum. You will learn about the mathematical techniques and data analysis behind ML and AI. Topics include how models are developed through cross-validation, linear regression, and neural networks. Although not a traditional research opportunity, this program places heavy emphasis on hands-on engineering projects, helping you develop the skills needed for further AI research.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free, travel assistance to CMU available
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients who will be at least 16 years old by the start date
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Dates/Duration: June 21 – July 19, 2025
Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars Program offers underrepresented high school students an in-depth introduction to AI. The curriculum emphasizes real-world AI applications and the ethical implications of AI technologies. You will get the chance to take college-level courses and attend lectures on AI and computing. You will also work on group research projects, participate in workshops, and receive mentorship from CMU faculty.
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.