Ultimate Guide to Summer Research Programs for High Schoolers in 2026

Summer research programs let high schoolers work alongside real researchers and get hands-on experience in advanced fields. They’re a strong addition to a college application, and many are free or even pay a stipend. Here are 25 summer research programs worth knowing about. Dates, costs, and eligibility change year to year, so confirm the current details with each program before applying.

Once you’re done here, check out our longer list of the 50 best STEM summer programs for high schoolers.

1. UT Dallas Summer Research Workshop
   • Program dates: 9 weeks in the summer
   • Eligibility: High school students
   • Cost: $500; need-based scholarships available
2. Veritas AI – AI Fellowship
   • Program dates: 12-15 weeks
   • Eligibility: High school students with a basic understanding of Python
   • Cost: $4,900; need-based financial aid available
3. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)
   • Program dates: 8-12 weeks
   • Eligibility: High school students
   • Cost: None
4. Research Science Institute (RSI)
   • Eligibility: High school students
   • Acceptance rate: about 5%
   • Cost: None
5. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
   • Program dates: 7 weeks
   • Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
   • Cost: None; stipend provided
6. California Academy of Sciences Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
   • Eligibility: San Francisco high school students from communities underrepresented in STEM
   • Cost: None; paid internship
7. Simons Summer Research Program
   • Program dates: about 7 weeks in summer
   • Eligibility: High school students 16+
   • Acceptance rate: about 8%
   • Cost: None; stipend provided
8. Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP), University of Iowa
   • Program dates: 5 weeks
   • Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
   • Cost: paid program (several thousand dollars); financial aid available
9. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
   • Program dates: 7 weeks
   • Eligibility: High school students 17+
   • Cost: None; stipend provided
10. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
    • Program dates: 6 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school students 14+
    • Cost: paid program; financial aid available
11. University of Illinois Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program (WYSE)
    • Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
    • Program dates: 6 weeks
    • Cost: None
12. The Summer Science Program (SSP)
    • Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
    • Acceptance rate: about 10%
    • Cost: paid program; financial aid available
13. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
    • Program dates: 8 weeks
    • Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors, 16+
    • Cost: None; stipend provided
14. Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program
    • Program dates: 8 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school students
    • Cost: None
15. Research in Materials Science Program (RIMS), CUNY ASRC
    • Program dates: 8 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school students
    • Cost: None; stipend provided
16. The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
    • Program dates: 10 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school students 18+ who have completed grade 12
    • Acceptance rate: about 3%
    • Cost: None; stipend provided
17. Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
    • Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors interested in theoretical physics
    • Cost: low program fee
18. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
    • Program dates: 6 weeks
    • Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors from underrepresented backgrounds
    • Cost: None
19. National Institutes of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
    • Program dates: 8 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, 17+ at program start
    • Cost: None; monthly stipend provided
20. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
    • Program dates: 8 weeks
    • Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from underrepresented communities
    • Cost: None; stipend provided
21. Rockefeller Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
    • Program dates: about 7 weeks in summer
    • Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors, 16+
    • Cost: None
22. Coriell Institute for Medical Research Summer Experience
    • Program dates: 4 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school students 17+
    • Cost: None; $1,000 stipend provided
23. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Jump Start Program
    • Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have completed AP Biology and Chemistry
    • Cost: low program fee
24. City of Hope Cancer Center Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
    • Program dates: 10 weeks
    • Eligibility: High school students 16+
    • Cost: None; stipend provided
25. UC San Diego Research Scholars
    • Program dates: 6 weeks
    • Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
    • Cost: paid program

These programs give high school students a real shot at hands-on research, mentorship from working scientists, and a clearer sense of where a STEM career could lead. They also help you stand out in college admissions. Apply early, and always confirm the current dates and requirements on each program’s site.