Top 10 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in 2025
Free summer programs are a great option for high school students looking to broaden their horizons. These programs provide exposure to college-level academics and life as well as offer practical skills, industry insights, and networking opportunities. By participating in a free summer program, you can explore subjects you’re interested in, such as science, engineering, the arts, or business.
All the programs in this list are fully funded or offer substantial financial aid. Fully funded programs tend to be selective and therefore prestigious, making them a valuable addition to your college application profile.
If you’re looking for more college-related opportunities, check out our College Research Programs blog or explore online options with our Online College Programs post.
We’ve made a list of the top 10 free summer programs for 2025, considering factors like selectivity, full funding, and the prestige of the hosting organizations.
Note: The following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Acceptance Rate: <5%
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: December 2
Eligibility: High school juniors only
Stipend: $500
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is an intensive 6-week summer program for high school juniors interested. Hosted at MIT, RSI allows you to engage in independent research projects alongside researchers. By the end of the program, you will present your research findings in a conference-style presentation to peers and mentors. This prestigious program is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of less than 5%. Applicants are selected based on their academic prowess and prior research involvement. International students should verify their country-specific eligibility before applying. For tips on how to get into this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Acceptance Rate: High
Program Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: Open October 15 and close December 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, with a focus on students of color and/or disadvantaged backgrounds
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) offers two summer programs: TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) explores the history, politics, literature, art, and cultural contributions of people of African descent, while TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies) examines systems of power and oppression—such as white supremacy, patriarchy, and classism—and strategies for societal transformation. This program prepares high school students to become critical thinkers, leaders, and active members of society. TASS is ideal for students passionate about social issues and exploring the cultural and political contexts of race and oppression. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Online
Acceptance Rate: Low
Program Dates: Will begin with online classes in mid-July and culminate in a residential experience at Princeton from late July through early August.
Application Deadline: Opens in December and closes on February 24
Eligibility: High-achieving high school juniors who live in the United States and intend to attend college here from low-income backgrounds and a minimum unweighted GPA equivalent to a 3.5 out of 4.0
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is a free summer program for high school students interested in journalism. You will attend weekly lectures and workshops led by program alumni and journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. You will complete reading assignments to stay informed about current events, draft your own articles, and collaborate with college counselors to work on your college applications. During the residential component, you will travel to Princeton and stay in undergraduate dormitories. The program features discussion groups on diverse topics and seminars on the college admissions process. PSJP provides an opportunity to gain experience in journalism while building a professional network, making it an excellent choice for aspiring journalists. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Acceptance Rate: Low
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 16 and 17 (online) and June 21 – August 2 (in-person)
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors from underrepresented communities. You must be 16 years of age by June 21
Carnegie Mellon’s SAMS is a 5-week program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in STEM. You will take collegiate-level math and science courses, work on research projects, and attend professional development workshops. Taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty, the program emphasizes both academic growth and personal development. SAMS begins with a required virtual Jumpstart focused on skill-building, followed by a six-week, in-person Pre-College program culminating in a final symposium. You will earn college credit while developing a strong foundation in advanced math and science concepts. To learn more about this opportunity, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Acceptance Rate: Low; Around 50 students are selected for the program.
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stipend: $500. A $40 application fee, with need-based waivers available.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an internship offering high school juniors and seniors the chance to conduct medical research. You will collaborate with Stanford faculty and researchers in one of eight specialized areas of study, working with a mentor in a lab. In addition to the research, you can participate in a bioengineering boot camp. This highly selective program allows you to deepen your understanding of biology, chemistry, and medicine. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA
Acceptance Rate: Low; Around 26 students are accepted for the program.
Application Deadline: November 27
Program Dates: June 17 – July 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Annenberg Youth Academy (AYA) equips high school students with the skills and knowledge needed for leadership in media and civic engagement. You will complete college-level coursework while exploring the critical role of media, communication, and journalism in shaping civic-minded leaders. AYA sharpens your skills in writing, critical thinking, public speaking, multimedia production, and interviewing. It introduces you to USC Annenberg’s undergraduate programs and potential careers in media and journalism. The program features educational field trips, sessions with award-winning journalists and scholars, and college advising to help you prepare for your academic future. To learn more about this program, read our complete guide here.
Location: BAIR Lab, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Acceptance Rate: Low
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Program Dates: July 8 – 12
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students in grades 10–12
The BAIR High School Summer Program offers an opportunity for high school students to explore artificial intelligence technologies and concepts under the mentorship of Berkeley scientists and researchers. You will explore machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and AI ethics. The program is led by BAIR Lab faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. It includes daily guest lectures, activities, and visits to advanced research labs. You will gain exposure to college life with daily meals at campus dining halls and a campus tour of UC Berkeley.
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Acceptance Rate: Low
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Program Dates: Six weeks from June to July
Eligibility: Open to high school students not graduating in the spring of the program year.
The Math ExpLR program is a research-focused initiative in mathematical biology. You will be paired with UC Irvine undergraduates to collaborate on computational biology research projects guided by principal investigators. The program includes a mix of lectures, workshops, and research. During the first two weeks, you will learn MATLAB programming, mathematical modeling, LaTeX, and research methodologies while preparing mid-term reports. The middle weeks focus on collaboration and mid-course presentations, while the final weeks emphasize completing research papers, giving presentations, and participating in a reunion event. Sample project topics include the "Biophysics of the Primary Cilium in Skin and Neurological Disease," "Stochastic Models of Epigenetic Stability," and "From Random Walk to Cancer Research."
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: Low
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Program Dates: July 27 – August 1
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students, at least 15 years old, enrolled in a U.S. high school
The Neubauer Phoenix STEM Summer Scholars program at the University of Chicago introduces high school students to various STEM fields. The program begins with a virtual mathematics preparatory course followed by a one-week residential experience on the UChicago campus. You’ll attend lectures from UChicago faculty and alumni on molecular engineering, computer science, and mathematics. You’ll also visit research facilities, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. This program provides an excellent opportunity to explore potential career paths in science and engineering. For households with an income at or below $120,000 USD, the program fee is waived, excluding travel expenses, while for households with an income at or below $65,000 USD, both the program fee and domestic roundtrip travel expenses are covered, meaning no cost to the student for domestic participants.
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: July 9 – August 9
Application Deadline: April (dates may vary)
Eligibility: Students between their junior and senior year, or post-senior year, who live within Baltimore City limits and attend a Baltimore City Public School.
Stipend: $15 per hour
The Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT) program offers paid research experience in quantitative biophysics for high school students from Baltimore. Over five weeks, you will work at Johns Hopkins University, conducting research in state-of-the-art laboratories. Under the mentorship of graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty, you will engage in experiments involving microbiology, DNA protein engineering, and other advanced biophysics concepts.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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 4,000 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.