For many students, they have become one of the most meaningful ways to explore academic interests, experience college-level academics, and stand out in the college admissions process.
Whether the program focuses on laboratory science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, or interdisciplinary research, students gain firsthand experience with critical thinking, problem-solving, and long-term projects that mirror real college coursework.
These programs also help students answer an important question early: What’s college really like? Working with professors, graduate students, visiting scholars, industry leaders and research mentors gives participants a preview of academic expectations, time management demands, and collaborative learning environments they will find at top universities. Many students finish a summer research program with new friends, a renewed sense of intellectual curiosity and a clearer idea of what new subjects they want to study and, just as importantly, what they don’t.
From an admissions perspective, selective colleges value depth, curiosity, and intellectual initiative. A sustained research experience demonstrates exactly that. It shows admissions officers and admissions committees that a student is willing to challenge themselves, pursue questions independently, and engage seriously with complex ideas.
Equally important, research programs can be transformative on a personal level. Students build confidence by tackling unfamiliar material, learn how to communicate their ideas through papers or presentations, and form meaningful connections with peers who share similar academic interests. For international students, these programs also offer exposure to U.S. academic culture and teaching styles, helping to ease the transition to studying abroad.
To help students and families navigate the diverse range of options available, we’ve put together this list of widely respected academic and summer programs for high school students that accept both U.S. and international participants. Designed specifically for pre college students, these programs allow students to explore advanced subjects such as data science well before senior year. Offered in on-campus, online, and internship-based formats, many of these opportunities encourage students engage directly with faculty, mentors, and real-world research questions. Some programs even offer credit, giving participants a tangible academic head start.
Many summer programs also offer financial aid to ensure accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds. In fact, many competitive programs provide generous financial aid packages or are entirely free for admitted students.
Choosing the right research program is less about prestige alone and more about fit. The best experience is one that aligns with a student’s interests, learning style, and long-term goals. This list is designed to help students take that next step with clarity and confidence.
Looking for an academic summer research program hosted by a college or university? The list of summer research programs below offers high school students everything from the opportunity to collaborate on a research project, to summer programs that help to develop their leadership skills.
At the Brown Leadership Institute, students learn how to become effective advocates for social justice during a two-week on-campus session or four weeks online. Participants will explore how to practice socially responsible leadership and hone skills in active listening, public speaking, problem-solving, and more, all without the pressure of grades.
Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College programs offer rising high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to see for themselves how undergraduate students experience college both academically and personally. Students are able to explore their passions and academic interests in a variety of courses taught by Carnegie Mellon’s prestigious faculty. Course options include lab work, research seminars, and STEM workshops.
The University of Chicago offers a summer research program with a variety of academic courses for high schoolers and is attended by students from all over the world. Students are able to pursue intellectual passions that go beyond the realm of their high school curriculum and are taught by world-class faculty and instructors in cutting-edge research facilities. Program options include research in the biological sciences, as well as offsite practicums.
Experience Cornell by attending courses alongside undergraduates, taught by top Ivy League faculty, in programs that offer college credit while you are still a sophomore, junior, or senior in high school. The Pre-College studies offer students the chance to experience college life both inside and outside of the classroom, and participants have access to college admissions workshops.
The Davidson Research Initiative (DRI) offers valuable chances for students and faculty to engage in collaborative research and in-depth study during the summer. Sophomores and juniors who meet the eligibility criteria can seek DRI Summer Research Fellowships in diverse disciplines. Applicants are required to indicate if their project is independent or designed to contribute to a faculty member’s research. Collaborative proposals, involving two to four students, are welcomed, and each student needs to submit an individual application.
Students in 10th or 11th grade in the 2025-2026 academic year can earn credit by taking courses at Duke over the summer. Academically qualified students are offered courses across the arts and sciences over a six-week period.
Current high school sophomores and juniors can choose from a variety of college-level courses, either for credit or non-credit, both online and on-campus. The on-campus programs provide a glimpse into college residential life on the Emory campus and the opportunity to study alongside college students.
Harvard’s Pre-College program is an opportunity for students in high school to take college-level courses on-campus that are non-credit, and emphasize the value of learning for its own sake, and includes extracurricular components. For seniors interested in earning college credit, the Secondary School Program offers 200 college courses either on-campus or online.
Summer at Hopkins offers a wide variety of academically rigorous programs, both on-campus and online. Instructors emphasize discovery and discussion, and the rigorous coursework is designed for academically advanced high school students.
NYU Precollege is an opportunity for high school students from all over the globe to experience life on the NYU campus, while choosing from dozens of courses taught by NYU faculty. In addition to classes, students can participate in the College 101 workshop series, which offers training in writing and research at college level skills.
Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can attend college-level seminars with a focus on discussions, readings, and study while receiving an official Northwestern Transcript. Additionally, college credit courses are available for high school rising juniors and seniors and feature options both on-campus and online.
The summer program at Penn provides talented high school students the opportunity to experience an Ivy League curriculum, while directly engaging with leading faculty. Penn summer programs offer two, three or six-week options. Students currently in 9th-11th grade are encouraged to dive deeply into research in academic areas of their interest.
A college-level curriculum featuring day-long studio classes, visits to the RISD Museum, and final projects that challenge students to think critically about art and design. This is an opportunity for students to build their portfolio while studying with award-winning instructors.
The Stanford University Summer Session combines coursework for college credit and an array of extracurricular activities to experience life on the Stanford campus. The program is designed for high-achieving students and aims to foster a culture of innovation, academic excellence, and global responsibility.
High school participants choose between 23 programs of study and take courses from Notre Dame faculty over an intensive two-week program. Motivated students can earn transferable college credit, and the program is designed for students to collaborate on coursework outside of the classroom to provide a genuine college experience.
The UCLA Summer Institutes provide co-curricular components and hands-on projects, as well as field visits and guest lecturers. Students from around the world access an immersive experience studying in the subject of their choice and incorporate real-world experience into their studies with these summer sessions.
VSA courses are accelerated to meet the needs of academically advanced students and combine intense coursework with a community-driven residential experience on the Vanderbilt campus. Students are also provided with various evening activities and extracurricular opportunities, allowing participants to engage with each other and the community outside of the classroom.
The Yale Summer Session is a broad summer scholars program that brings together students from across the world who have completed their junior or senior year of high school. Participants take courses either on-campus or online, as well as offering young writers a chance to hone their craft at the Yale Writer’s Workshop. Courses can be taken for college credit or noncredit, and there are numerous certificate programs for international students.
In addition to programs already discussed, the below list of programs is highly respected among college admissions and offers students the opportunity to build their college resume in meaningful ways.
Pioneer offers real-world, online research opportunities for high school students where we match students with existing research projects in a variety of disciplines. Learn research skills and conduct research in fields like computer science, biomedical research, technology research, stem cell research, medical research, and more. Develop your research training experience while working directly with faculty mentors and leading scientists from top U.S. universities.
A six-week educational experience for high school sophomores and juniors, offering programs either in Critical Black Studies or Anti-Oppressive Studies. Seminars will be hosted at different universities and follow a discussion-based seminar model, focused on developing critical reading and writing skills, while exploring the principles of democratic community living.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious summer programs available for high school seniors and rising juniors aiming to deepen their knowledge in STEM fields. After participating in a week of intensive STEM classes, RSI scholars begin a 5-week research internship program conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
High school juniors, and a limited number of sophomores, work in teams of three to complete a real hands-on research project, compiling and analyzing original data. Over the course of 39 days, each team will conduct research, test their theories, and analyze original data that pushes students out of their comfort zone.
A rigorous and rewarding for-credit summer program for rising high school seniors and a select number of rising high school juniors interested in exploring the integration of technological concepts and management principles. Students will build and present a prototype and go-to-market plan for their own high-tech venture and receive feedback from Penn faculty, as well as experienced entrepreneurs.
The CTY at Johns Hopkins is open to high school students in grades 9-12 who are either math/science or writing/humanities qualifiers, and offers high-level coursework in a variety of subjects. The onsite program also incorporates extracurricular activities and community events and is available at locations across the U.S.
CTD offers the opportunity for students in grades 6-12 to engage in critical and creative problem solving as they grapple with advanced concepts in subjects from math and science to writing and technology. Participants are encouraged to explore possible career paths based on their interests, and are supported by master instructors, community partners, and industry experts.
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) provides a global residential program that emphasizes international perspectives and innovative problem-solving. At Yale, high school students can experience globally diverse summer programs in either STEM, social sciences, humanities, or cross-disciplinary tracks.
Davidson Fellows scholarships recognize gifted students from 16-18 years old for completing a significant piece of work that has the potential to make a positive contribution to society in a variety of academic disciplines, including science, technology, mathematics, music, literature, philosophy, and other graduate-level work considered outside-the-box. Fellow Laureates are awarded $50,000 scholarships, and Davidson Fellows are awarded either a $25,000 or $10,000 scholarship.
Courses for 10th-12th graders are conducted over three weeks: two weeks virtually at the student’s own pace, and the third week onsite, either on the Durham or Morganton campus. The third week of each course takes place on campus as they conduct research and complete challenging coursework. Students select college-level courses based on their interests, and there is a heavy emphasis on advanced research methods.
PROMYS is a six-week on-campus program held at the University of Boston, with approximately 80 high school students and 25 undergraduate counselors. Students explore advanced concepts in mathematics, attending daily lectures on Number Theory, and also participate in an advanced seminar on a specific mathematical topic.
The MathILy program is an intensive summer break residential summer program designed for students with a strong interest in mathematics, and who are creative and enthusiastic in their approaches to learning. Designed for high schoolers with a talent for mathematics, and will offer undergraduate and graduate-level courses.
The Prove it! Math Academy residential summer program will not be offered in 2026. The organization is currently restructuring its curriculum to reach a wider audience. Please check their official website for future updates.
Participants select from over 40-course options for an in-depth examination of a specific subject area. Taught by Columbia instructors, students meet online Monday-Friday and engage in class discussions, debates, simulations, and both individual and group projects.
Awesomemath is an intensive three-week online program for gifted students from around the globe designed for middle and high school students who wish to sharpen their problem-solving skills and further their mathematics education.
Secondary Student Training Program is a program available to 10th and 11th graders interested in learning about research methods and developing their research skills. Students will hear from researchers about their work and discuss the research they have published, as well as visit state-of-the-art research facilities.
The 5-week Online Entrepreneurship Summer Program is a global initiative for high school students previously associated with MIT and turned into its own entity. High schoolers can collaborate with peers worldwide to develop and launch products. The program’s teaming formula strategically pairs students with diverse skill sets, fostering success in product creation.
Learning from world-class faculty on one of the premier writing campuses in the country, home to the famed Iowa Writers Workshop. During the program, you will participate in classes, attend lectures, workshops, evening tours, and events and showcase your work to your peers, teachers, and the public in a final presentation.
The SSTP is a research-focused program for high schoolers in grades 10-11 with advanced academic qualifications. Students will conduct independent research under the mentorship of world-class faculty from a research-intensive university.
Mathcamp is an intensive 5-week-long summer program for mathematically talented high school students, exploring undergraduate and graduate-level topics. Students will learn how to build their problem-solving skills and will be exposed to new ways of thinking about mathematics. Program participants will design their own schedules and select classes based on their interests.
Designed for rising 9th-12th grade students, Expand Your Mind participants take one class per session, allowing deep exploration into a specific topic of interest. Classes are limited to 16 students to ensure individualized attention, and students can choose from over 30 unique course offerings.
The SSEP is designed for exceptional high school students with strong interests in science and engineering. Participants engage in hands-on research with Smith faculty in the life and physical sciences, as well as in engineering. The program is designed to prepare students for future advanced science courses and have a better understanding for college-level courses.
Stanford summer courses focus on pure mathematics, independent of other sciences, and students are offered two distinct academic tracks. In addition to working with world-class mathematical instructors, participants engage with Stanford graduate students who serve as teaching assistants, and attend virtual guest lectures from esteemed mathematicians.
Honors Summer Math Camp is an exclusively on-campus opportunity for students to develop skills for future degrees in math, science, engineering, and other related fields. The program aims to develop problem-solving and research skills, and students who have completed the first year program and return have the opportunity to conduct original math research projects that may be submitted to various contests and journals.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a prestigious residential program for science and engineering students. It’s an intensive seven-week summer research program for twelve highly qualified high school juniors and seniors that is unique in that it is open to students interested in a variety of academic disciplines, ranging from STEM courses, the humanities, and fine arts.
SIG offers summer programs for gifted middle school and high school students in over 60 multi-curricular, arts, and recreational courses. Sessions are offered throughout the summer on multiple college campuses, and SIG places an emphasis on creative thinking across multiple disciplines.
At Wesleyan, students can experience a summer program offering courses in mathematics, physics, computer science, creative writing, history, and environmental science. With an overarching goal of increasing verbal skills, the program emphasizes in-class discussion, use of library resources, oral presentations, and written essays.
Based on a recent survey from Pioneer alumni, 71 percent of Pioneer Research scholars’ college admissions records were to the top 20 US colleges and universities. Six percent of Pioneer’s alumni attended university-affiliated summer programs.
If you’re interested in conducting the highest level of research for high school students, consider joining a Pioneer information session to learn more about the Pioneer Research Institute.
If you are a 9th or 10th grader, you should check out the Global Problem-Solving Institute today. You’ll have the rare opportunity to study current world problems in an interdisciplinary approach and earn college credits from UNC-Chapel Hill at a young age.
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