8 Online Computer Science Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring computer science before applying to college, consider participating in online computer science programs! These programs save you the cost (and time) of commuting to the program, freeing up time if you’re working on a passion project or test prep during the school year.
Computer science programs are a solid way for you to gain experience in a competitive field and demonstrate interest in learning about a subject outside of school. An online computer science program can be a positive addition to your resume for college applications.
For this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 8 online computer science programs for high school students. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
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. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note. students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
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 computer science, psychology, physics, economics, data science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Veritas AI
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
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
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.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs tailored 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. The fellowship encourages students to explore interdisciplinary approaches, enabling them to merge AI with various fields such as finance, medicine, sports, environmental science, and more! You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: Varies
Duration: Varies
Eligibility: Depends on the course offered
Harvard University offers several programs for high school students, covering computer science, data structures, algorithms, programming, databases, web development, and many more. Most of these online programs are free to audit with an additional fee if you wish to receive a verified certificate. Once enrolled, you may study the course material at your own pace. These programs are a great opportunity to learn computer science from Harvard faculty at a fraction of the cost.
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: Varies
Duration: Varies
Eligibility: High school students interested in Al and machine learning
Columbia University coding boot camps teach coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital marketing, UX/UI, and Artificial Intelligence. These programs are offered by Columbia University in collaboration with edX. You will also get career planning support, resume preparation, and technical interview training. Successful applicants will receive an award of completion, continued one-on-one coaching with their career director, and a portfolio of projects covered throughout the Boot Camp. There is also a full-time coding option for students who wish to complete the program earlier!
Application Deadline: TBA. Register here for updates.
Cost: Free
Duration: 2 weeks (June 3 - August 16)
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13 - 18 who identify as women, gender non-conforming, or trans
Kode with Klossy aims to help underrepresented students in STEM learn more about technology. Their camp is an opportunity to learn web development using Javascript, HTML, and CSS, ways to improve the UI and UX of a website, and machine learning. It covers topics such as algorithms and data sets, natural processing, and more. This program is a great opportunity for those new to computer science. A bonus is the licensed educators and assistants assigned to each camp, who will support you throughout the camp duration.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines
Cost: Varies
Duration: Varies
Eligibility: High school students in NYC or Live Online
NextGen Bootcamp has various programs to help students learn coding, data science, Java, and web design. Expert instructors teach these programs. They are organized in a way that each student gets personalized attention due to their small batch sizes, works on real-world projects, and learns from industry experts. A half day at NextGen starts at 10 am and ends at 1 pm, and a full day ends at 4 pm. Some of the topics covered via NextGen’s programs are Python Data Science, AI Machine Learning, Java Programming, etc. You may find a list of programs they offer here.
Application Deadline: Early Acceptance - February 17th, General Acceptance - March 29th
Program Dates:
Round 1 - June 16th - June 30th (U.S. Students Only)
Round 2 - July 19th - July 21st (U.S. and International Students)
Round 3 - July 31st - August 11th (U.S. and International Students)
Eligibility: Identify as a girl or non-binary, be a freshman, sophomore, or junior (U.S. Citizen), be between the ages of 14-18 on June 16th (International Students).
The Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is run by the Girls Who Code, an organization that aims to close the gender gap in tech. The 2-week SIP program offers virtual classes sponsored by companies like MetLife, Bank of America, and Game Design. You will learn about intermediate CS concepts, the iterative design process, and UX design basics and Game Design! Moreover, GWC connects you with mentors from their partner companies. Previous student projects have included cybersecurity chatbots to protect people’s passwords and affordable GPS-tracking devices that alert caregivers.
Application Deadline: TBA
Cost: $1500
Duration: July 6 - July 26
Eligibility: Students who've completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and 3.0 if not all positions have been filled.
Terp Young Scholars offers a 3-credit course called Introduction to Computing, where classes are held every day from Monday to Friday for 3 hours a day. You can look here for the full course syllabus. You will attend classes, complete schoolwork, and engage in interactive activities. Throughout the program, online students are supported by course instructors, teaching assistants, and Terp Scholars mentors. Do note that you must have access to a consistent high-speed internet connection and a distraction-free learning environment.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in computer science, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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.