25 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students : 2025 Edition

Explore the best STEM summer programs for high school students in 2025. From AI to robotics, find top university-led and hands-on opportunities with financial aid options.

STEM Summer Programs for High School Students

In an increasingly tech-driven world, STEM education is more than just a buzzword—it is the gateway to innovation, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving. If you are a high school student interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, there are dozens of summer programs designed just for you.

This carefully curated 2025 guide highlights the 25 best STEM summer programs for high school students, covering everything from artificial intelligence and biomedical research to robotics, aerospace, and sustainability. Each opportunity blends rigorous academics, hands-on projects, and mentorship from leaders in science and tech.

Whether you are dreaming of studying at MIT, joining NASA labs, or launching your own AI project, these STEM summer programs for high schoolers will set you on the right path. Plus, we’ll show how you can enhance your journey through Inspirit AI’s mentorship-based, project-driven approach to learning.

Table of Contents

• 1. AI, Data Science & Computer Vision
• 2. Research-Driven & University-Based STEM Programs
• 3. Space, Robotics & Engineering Programs
• 4. Why You Should Attend a STEM Summer Program
• 5. Conclusion
• 6. About Inspirit AI

AI, Data Science & Computer Vision

• 1. Inspirit AI Scholars Program
  Location: Online
  Cost: Varies; financial aid available
  Details: A 10-session (25-hour) program exposing high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guiding them to build socially impactful projects. Taught by graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive personalized learning in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
• 2. Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
  Location: Online
  Cost: Free
  Details: A 3-week introduction to computer science for graduating high school seniors, focusing on building a solid foundation in programming and problem-solving.
• 3. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute – Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix
  Location: Cambridge, MA
  Cost: Free; students cover travel and personal expenses
  Details: A rigorous program where students learn to program small robotic cars to navigate a racetrack autonomously, culminating in a final competition.
• 4. AI4ALL Summer Camps
  Location: Various universities across the U.S.
  Cost: Varies by location; scholarships available
  Details: Aims to increase diversity and inclusion in AI by providing mentorship, hands-on learning, and exposure to AI research and careers.
• 5. AI Scholars Live Online – Inspirit AI
  Location: Online
  Cost: $900; financial aid available
  Details: A live, 25-hour AI program taught by Stanford and MIT grads. Students explore machine learning and neural networks while building impactful projects in fields like healthcare and sustainability. Personalized instruction with a 5:1 student-teacher ratio.

Research-Driven & University-Based STEM Programs

• 6. Research Science Institute (RSI) @ MIT
  Location: Cambridge, MA
  Cost: Free
  Details: A prestigious 6-week program combining on-campus coursework in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.
• 7. Simons Summer Research Program @ Stony Brook
  Location: Stony Brook, NY
  Cost: Free; stipend provided
  Details: Offers high school students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research in science, math, or engineering under the guidance of faculty mentors.
• 8. UC Irvine Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
  Location: Irvine, CA
  Cost: Varies; financial aid available
  Details: Pairs students with UCI faculty mentors to conduct research projects, culminating in a final presentation and research paper.
• 9. Clark Scholars Program @ Texas Tech
  Location: Lubbock, TX
  Cost: Free; stipend provided
  Details: A 7-week intensive research program for highly qualified high school juniors and seniors, offering hands-on research in various fields.
• 10. Boston University RISE Internship
  Location: Boston, MA
  Cost: Approximately $5,500; financial aid available
  Details: Provides rising seniors the opportunity to conduct university-level research in a chosen field under the guidance of a BU faculty mentor.
• 11. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Science & Engineering Track
  Location: Stanford, CA
  Cost: Approximately $7,000; financial aid available
  Details: Offers academically talented students intensive study in advanced subjects, including science and engineering, in a university setting.
• 12. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
  Location: Santa Barbara, CA
  Cost: Approximately $7,700; financial aid available
  Details: A selective six-week research experience with UCSB faculty in fields such as environmental science, computer science, and engineering. Culminates in a symposium and possible publication.
• 13. Columbia SHAPE (Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers)
  Location: New York City, NY
  Cost: Approximately $4,680; financial aid available
  Details: A three-week Columbia Engineering program offering tracks in robotics, biomedical engineering, and more. Includes lectures, labs, and college preparation.
• 14. LaunchX Summer Entrepreneurship Program (Tech-Focused Track)
  Location: Online or select campuses
  Cost: $6,770 (virtual); $9,770 (residential); scholarships available
  Details: A startup incubator for high school students focused on STEM-based product innovation and entrepreneurship, including team-based business creation and mentorship.

STEM Summer Programs for High School Students

Space, Robotics & Engineering

• 15. NASA High School Internship Program (HIP)
  Location: Various NASA centers across the U.S.
  Cost: Free; stipend provided
  Details: Provides high school students with the opportunity to work with NASA scientists and engineers on real-world research and projects.
• 16. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation
  Location: Various locations and online
  Cost: Approximately $2,500–$4,500; financial aid available
  Details: A college-level program where students solve engineering challenges using math and science, participate in lab work, and complete a final design project.
• 17. iD Tech Summer Robotics and Game Dev Bootcamps
  Location: Various universities across the U.S.
  Cost: Approximately $1,000–$1,500 per week
  Details: Offers hands-on technology courses in coding, robotics, AI, and game development, designed for all experience levels.
• 18. MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering & Science)
  Location: Cambridge, MA
  Cost: Free
  Details: A 6-week residential program for rising seniors from underrepresented backgrounds, offering academic enrichment in science and engineering.
• 19. BlueStamp Engineering
  Location: Various locations and online
  Cost: Approximately $3,000–$4,000; financial aid available
  Details: Students work on individual engineering projects from scratch, gaining real-world experience with guidance from professional mentors.
• 20. COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science)
  Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz
  Cost: Approximately $4,570; financial aid available
  Details: A four-week program for California students exploring topics such as robotics, marine biology, and quantum computing in cluster-based, hands-on environments.
• 21. Stanford AI + X Summer Program
  Location: Online
  Cost: Approximately $3,000; financial aid available
  Details: Students explore how AI connects with fields like climate science, music, healthcare, and economics. Projects are interdisciplinary with a focus on ethics and impact.
• 22. Purdue Summer College for High School Students – Engineering Track
  Location: West Lafayette, IN
  Cost: Varies by course; scholarships available
  Details: Offers 1- to 4-week courses in engineering disciplines including aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering, taught by Purdue faculty.
• 23. New York University ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering)
  Location: New York City, NY
  Cost: Free; stipend provided
  Details: A 7-week summer research program that places NYC high school students in engineering, computer science, and life science labs at NYU Tandon.
• 24. Caltech Young Investigators Program (YIP)
  Location: Pasadena, CA
  Cost: Free
  Details: A selective research program allowing a small cohort of high school students to work alongside Caltech researchers on advanced STEM research projects.
• 25. University of Michigan Math & Science Scholars (MMSS)
  Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  Cost: Approximately $3,400 per session; financial aid available
  Details: Offers 2-week courses on topics like robotics, astrophysics, and computational biology. Classes are interactive and capped at 20 students per section.

Why You Should Attend a STEM Summer Program

STEM summer programs offer much more than just academic enrichment—they provide a launchpad for future success. Here is why they are worth your time :

• Explore Your Passion Early : Dive deep into STEM topics you may not encounter in school.

• Hands-On Experience : Work in labs, code software, build robots, or conduct real research.

• College Readiness : Gain experience in university settings and work with professors or PhDs.

• Stand Out on Applications : Selective STEM programs boost your college and scholarship applications.

• Professional Mentorship : Learn from researchers, engineers, and graduate students.

• Build a Network : Meet peers who share your interests and collaborate on real-world challenges.

• Find Your Future : Whether it is AI, biomedical research, or aerospace, these programs help you decide what you love and where you excel.

Download our College Admissions Report and learn how 400+ Inspirit AI Scholars got accepted to Ivy League Schools in the past 2 years!

Conclusion

The world is rapidly evolving, and STEM fields are at the forefront of shaping our future. By joining one of these top 25 STEM summer programs for high school students, you will gain not only technical knowledge but also the confidence, mentorship, and experience needed to pursue a meaningful path in science and technology.

Whether you are building autonomous vehicles, researching cancer therapies, or launching an AI startup, your journey can begin this summer. Start exploring your future today. Learn. Build. Innovate.

If you are ready to dive into AI with guidance from world-class mentors, consider joining Inspirit AI for a transformative learning experience.

About Inspirit AI

AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.