11 Data Science Summer Programs for High School Students
A summer program might be valuable to your application if you are an ambitious student looking to pursue a career in data science. In this post, we have curated a list of 11 data science summer programs for high school students. Programs on this list, such as CodeConnects or the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, are great opportunities to signal your interest in the subject and how you are exploring data science outside the classroom.
Other summer academies or camps, such as Stanford’s Introduction to Data Science or Wharton’s Data Science Academy, can give you exposure to the subject and allow you to explore potential career paths or research opportunities that you can pursue in the future! Participating in a data science program or internship can allow you to network with researchers in your field. You can later use these connections for job opportunities or even letters of recommendation!
Programs are a great way to build skills, but becoming a data scientist involves more than that. Check out this great blog on ways to become a data scientist! Additionally, if you are looking for more budget-friendly courses, you can look at Google’s ‘Data Science Foundations’, Udemy’s ‘Essentials of Data Science’, or Data Camp’s ‘Data Science for Everyone’!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
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.
As a part of its Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes, Stanford conducts a 2-week course on data science. In the course, you will be introduced to computer algorithms and the diversity of the models they can generate, each with its own pros and cons. You will use datasets from the natural and social sciences to answer real-world questions. Additionally, you will apply machine learning concepts through R programming exercises that are integrated into the course!
Cost: $3,050
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 15th
Program Dates: Session 1: June 19th to June 30th; Session 2: July 10th to July 21st
Selection Rate: Highly Selection
Eligibility: Must be either a freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time of application, and must have completed AP Statistics or one computer science course.
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.
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: 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. 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. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Wharton’s Data Science Academy allows high school students to take classes from full-time professors at Wharton while working on their own projects! You will explore essential data science techniques such as data visualization and wrangling. You will also be exposed to modern machine learning methodologies essential for today’s AI field. You can apply these concepts in your final projects, which you will present to peers at the end of the program. An added bonus is interacting with Wharton undergraduate and graduate TAs who will share their experiences studying data science at the university.
Cost: $9,099 (Scholarships available)
Location: Wharton Campus, Philadelphia
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline: January 25th; Final Deadline: April 5th
Program Dates: July 16th - August 5th
Selection Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Must be in grades 10-11, must have a strong background in math, coding, and data analytics, must have a minimum of 3.3 unweighted GPA.
The DSI Summer Lab by the University of Chicago is a paid summer research opportunity that focuses on interdisciplinary data science research. Interns will be paired with a data science mentor in various domains, including data science, computer science, climate and energy policy, and more! Your research mentor will help you learn about research methodologies and practices. You will develop an understanding of fundamental data science methodologies and be given specialized training within the application areas. The program culminates with a presentation of your final videos that outline your research findings.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided ($6,000)
Location: University of Chicago Campus, IL
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: June 12th - August 18th
Selection Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Open to all high school students familiar with at least one programming language who have completed relevant coursework (e.g., computer science, statistics, and math). International students are responsible for gaining authorization to work in the U.S. and providing all necessary documentation to earn their stipend.
Code Connects Summer Research Program at Columbia is a 5-week research program where students develop their skill sets in data science and apply them as research assistants to Ph.D. researchers. The first two weeks are spent on courses where you receive intensive training in data science. You will learn skills such as coding skills in R, data visualizations, data cleaning, data analysis, and more! The last weeks are spent putting these concepts into action by assisting PhD researchers with their research projects. An added bonus is the possibility of publication in academic journals, depending on your findings.
Cost: $3,995
Location: Virtual (with live instruction)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: July 5th - August 4th
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores and recent graduates.
Hosted by the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington, A14ALL is a 2-week introductory course on data science and artificial intelligence. You will learn how to understand, analyze, interpret, and discuss real-world data science and machine learning applications. A key focus of this program is to enable dialogue and learning in small-group settings. The Center focuses on anti-bias in AI and non-ableist AI, bringing a disability studies lens to examine fairness in AI.
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: April 15th
Program Dates: August 08 - August 28 (tentatively, based on the last year’s schedule)
Eligibility: Students must be rising juniors, seniors, or recently graduated and must be from an underrepresented background.
This course focuses on taking raw data and converting it into visuals. You will learn how data is captured, how to assess the quality of data, and how to clean data. Additionally, you will use tools such as Microsoft Excel and Tableau, and you will have discussions on design principles on dashboards and the science behind choosing charts. Apart from the lectures, you will spend your afternoons participating in group activities and labs!
Cost: $2,020 (Residential), $1,543 (Commuter)
Location: Syracuse University Campus, NY
Application Deadline: May 1st. The financial aid and scholarship deadline is March 1st!
Program Dates: July 16th to July 21st
Eligibility: Students must be rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates.
9. Columbia’s Pre-College Program - Data Science Track
Columbia University offers a summer data science and machine learning program called “Big Data, Machine Learning, and Their Real World Applications.” You will be guided by faculty to explore the advancement of data, cloud computing, and machine learning and how they impact various industries. You will focus on the strategic use of data and technologies used to derive business insights. You will also be introduced to different technologies used for data analytics and gain familiarity with programming technology.
Cost: $12,449 (3-week residential), $6,300 (3-week commuter), $2,825 (1-week commuter)
Location: Columbia University Campus, NY
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: There are multiple sessions for both residential and commuter students between June 26th and August 11th. Check the website for specific dates.
Selection Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Open to all students between grades 8-12. Residential programs are only available to students who are 16 or older.
Quinnipiac University conducts a 2-week program to introduce students to data science. You will learn foundational data science theory from Quinnipiac faculty and apply these concepts by working on data science projects. In the program, you will analyze data sets to uncover patterns and solve problems, and gain exposure to career possibilities within the data science field. You will also understand how data scientists use their skills and knowledge to solve problems across diverse industries.
Cost: $3,360 (Residential), $2,400 (Commuter)
Location: Quinnipiac University Campus, CT
Application Deadline: May 1st
Program Dates: July 10th to July 21st
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (ideally between 15-18 years of age).
NextGen DATA Leadership Camp fosters interest in information science and data science within local communities through interactive camps. You will explore data analytics and technological advancement under UNT faculty and PhD students who conduct research in Information and Data Science. The program also focuses on leadership, teamwork, and social inclusion. Some prospective topics discussed in the camp are interaction with AI/Chatbots, human-technology interaction, AMVR, and fake news.
Cost: $350
Location: Frisco Landing, TX
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: July 24th to July 28th
Eligibility: Open to rising freshmen to high school seniors.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.
Image Source: Code Connects logo