Camps and everyday life
Summer Programs for Teens: Free, Paid and Research Programs for 2027
Research, medical, engineering, math and leadership programs for high school students in summer 2027, with who can apply, what each costs and its application deadline, checked on every program’s own page.
Many of the best summer programs for teens are free, and some pay. For summer 2027, research programs such as RSI (due Dec 11, 2026), MITES, Clark Scholars and Simons charge no tuition, and lab internships at places like the Broad Institute, WashU and Memorial Sloan Kettering pay stipends of $1,200 to $4,800. Most take juniors, many require US citizenship or a green card, and most deadlines fall from December to February. Paid programs such as Harvard’s ($4,180 to $15,980) and YYGS ($7,500) offer need-based aid.
On this page
28 summer programs for teens in 2027
Grouped by kind. The date on each is its application deadline; where 2027’s isn’t posted yet, we say so and give 2026’s. Rules change every year, so read each program’s page before you apply.
Free and paid summer research programs for high school students
Real lab projects with a mentor. Most are free, several pay a stipend, and the local ones only take students who can commute.
Research Science Institute (RSI)
MIT (Cambridge, MA) and Stanford (CA)
- When
- Due Dec 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Juniors (11th grade), 16 by July 1
Good for Top STEM students ready for a real project
RSI brings about 100 students to MIT each summer, and in 2027 adds 50 at Stanford, for six weeks: a week of STEM classes, a five-week research project with a mentor, then written and oral reports. It’s free. Juniors apply; seniors can’t. US citizens and permanent residents apply directly, as can students from participating countries. CEE suggests PSAT scores of 740+ in math and 700+ in reading and writing, though strong recommendations can offset lower ones. 2027 runs June 20–July 31 at MIT and June 27–Aug 7 at Stanford.
- Free, residential
- 6 weeks
- Some international students
- About 10% have no prior research
Simons Summer Research Program
Stony Brook University, NY
- When
- Due Feb 5, 2027 (school nomination first)
- Cost
- No tuition; $75 application fee (waivable)
- Ages
- Juniors, 16 by the start
Good for Juniors whose school will nominate them
Simons Fellows spend six weeks (June 28–Aug 6, 2027) inside a Stony Brook faculty research group, in fields from chemistry and computer science to marine science and neurobiology, and finish with a research abstract and a poster. Your high school must nominate you (up to three students a school), and only US citizens and permanent residents can apply. There’s no tuition: residential fellows pay for housing and meals, commuters for travel and meals. In 2026, 50 fellows were chosen from about 1,700 applications.
- School nominates up to 3
- No tuition
- Residential or commuter
- No AI-written applications
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- When
- Due Feb 15, 2027 (opens Jan 2)
- Cost
- Free room and board; $750 stipend; $25 to apply
- Ages
- Rising seniors and new grads, 17 by the start
Good for Students who want a funded, residential lab summer
Twelve scholars a year spend seven weeks (June 20–Aug 5, 2027) doing research with Texas Tech faculty, with weekly seminars and weekend activities. It’s open to rising seniors and students just graduating who are 17 by the start, and to US citizens and permanent residents only. There are no program fees: meals and on-campus room and board are covered, and scholars get a $750 stipend after a successful research report. The application asks for essays, test scores (at least the PSAT), a transcript and three recommendations.
- 12 scholars a year
- Residential, 7 weeks
- $750 stipend
- US citizens and permanent residents
NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO
- When
- Due end of Jan 2027 on USAJobs (opens mid-Oct 2026)
- Cost
- Unpaid; free
- Ages
- Juniors and seniors
Good for Commuters near a NIST campus
Students join a National Institute of Standards and Technology lab for a seven-week research project, mid-June to early August, and present a poster at the end. It’s an unpaid internship for US citizens who are high school juniors or seniors when they apply, with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, who live within 50 miles of the Gaithersburg or Boulder campus. Families arrange housing and transportation. Applications go through USAJobs.
- Unpaid
- US citizens only
- Within 50 miles of a campus
- GPA 3.0 or higher
Broad Summer Scholars Program
Cambridge, MA
- When
- Due Jan 20, 2027 (opens Nov 23, 2026)
- Cost
- Free; $3,600 stipend
- Ages
- Juniors (rising seniors)
Good for Massachusetts juniors new to research
Students spend six weeks (July 6–Aug 13, 2027) on an original project with Broad Institute scientists, in areas such as cancer biology, psychiatric disease and computational biology, and present a poster at the end. It’s free to apply and attend, with a $3,600 stipend and partial travel reimbursement. Applicants must attend a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance, have a B or better in science and math, and be a US citizen, permanent resident or have work authorization. No research experience is needed.
- $3,600 stipend
- Massachusetts commuters
- No research experience needed
Summer Focus, Young Scientist Program (WashU)
St. Louis, MO
- When
- Due Jan 25, 2027 (opens Nov 2, 2026)
- Cost
- Free; $4,800 stipend
- Ages
- Juniors
Good for St. Louis-area juniors
Washington University’s Summer Focus pairs each of its 10 to 12 scholars with a mentor and a tutor for an eight-week, full-time lab project (May 31–July 23, 2027), plus courses in science communication and applying to college. It’s for juniors at high schools in the Greater St. Louis area who live permanently in the metro, on either the Missouri or Illinois side. Scholars get a $4,800 stipend (before tax) and free monthly Metro passes. Interviews are March 6–7, 2027.
- $4,800 stipend
- St. Louis area only
- 10 to 12 scholars
Penn Summer Science Initiative (PSSI)
Philadelphia, PA
- When
- 2027 deadline not posted yet
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Rising juniors and seniors
Good for Philadelphia-area students curious about materials
Fourteen students from the Philadelphia area take a free four-week materials science course at the University of Pennsylvania (July 12–Aug 5, 2027, Monday to Thursday, about 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), using tools such as electron microscopes and x-ray diffraction, with lab report writing and field trips. Applicants must have taken chemistry or physics, be US citizens or permanent residents, and live within daily commuting distance; there’s no housing or travel support.
- Free
- 14 students
- Commuters only
- Chemistry or physics first
Medical summer programs for high school students
Research in hospital and medical school labs. Nearly all need US citizenship or a green card, and most are for commuters.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Stanford, CA
- When
- Late Feb 2027 (opens Dec 18); 2026’s was Feb 21
- Cost
- Free; $50 application fee (waivable)
- Ages
- Juniors and seniors, 16 by June 2027
Good for Bay Area students drawn to medical research
About 50 students spend eight weeks (tentatively June 7–July 29, 2027) on a medical research project with a mentor in a Stanford lab, in immunology, neuroscience, cancer biology, stem cells, cardiovascular biology, genetics, bioinformatics or bioengineering, or join a team bioengineering internship. It’s free, but there’s no housing: students live with family or a guardian, and selection strongly favors Bay Area students. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents at a US high school, in the class of 2027 or 2028.
- Free
- No housing provided
- Favors Bay Area students
- Fee waiver under $80,000 income
NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Bethesda, MD, and other NIH campuses
- When
- 2027 not posted; 2026’s ran Dec 8, 2025–Feb 18, 2026
- Cost
- Paid; stipend set by school level
- Ages
- Graduating seniors, 18 by Sept 30
Good for Seniors heading into biomedical fields
The National Institutes of Health takes graduating high school seniors into its own labs for a paid summer of research in the biomedical, behavioral and social sciences, alongside college and graduate students. Seniors must be US citizens or permanent residents and 18 by September 30 of that year; a senior who’s still 17 on June 1 must live within 40 miles of an NIH campus. Interns present their work at Summer Poster Day. Apply through NIH’s Office of Intramural Training and Education.
- Paid
- Seniors who graduate before it starts
- US citizens and permanent residents
Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program
Manhattan, NY
- When
- Due Feb 5, 2027, 8 a.m. ET (opens Dec 1)
- Cost
- $1,200 stipend
- Ages
- Juniors, 16 by June 2027
Good for New York-area juniors interested in cancer research
MSK places high school juniors in its biomedical and computational research labs for an eight-week, full-time internship (June 29–Aug 20, 2027), each with a mentor and a project of their own. Applicants must live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut within 25 miles of MSK’s Upper East Side campus, have a 3.5 GPA in science and be legally authorized to work in the US. Students get a $1,200 stipend; housing and transportation aren’t provided.
- $1,200 stipend
- Within 25 miles of MSK
- 3.5 GPA in science
Roswell Park SURE-CAN
Buffalo, NY
- When
- Due Jan 1, 2027 (open since Oct 1)
- Cost
- No fees; some students get an allowance
- Ages
- Juniors (class of 2028), 15+
Good for Western New York juniors
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s six-week, full-time program (June 28–Aug 6, 2027) teaches cancer biology, imaging, genomics and AI methods through lectures and hands-on lab or computer research, ending with a poster symposium. It’s only for juniors who live in and attend school in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus or Chautauqua County, are US citizens or permanent residents and are at least 15. It’s commuter-only, there’s no application fee, and a limited number of students get an allowance.
- Western New York only
- Commuter only
- School form also due Jan 1
Winship Cancer Institute Summer Scholars (Emory)
Atlanta, GA (and a virtual option)
- When
- 2027 cycle not open yet; check back this fall
- Cost
- $2,400 stipend
- Ages
- Rising or graduating seniors, 16+
Good for Seniors from anywhere who want one-on-one mentoring
Ten to twelve students each work one-on-one with an Emory cancer physician or lab scientist for six weeks, full time, with field trips, talks with cancer survivors and lectures on oncology careers. Students can come from anywhere in the US, but in-person scholars must be US citizens or permanent residents and arrange their own housing; others can apply to a virtual option. Scholars who finish get $2,400. The 2026 program ran June 8–July 17.
- $2,400 stipend
- Open nationwide
- No housing provided
- Virtual option
Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program (Northwestern)
Chicago, IL
- When
- Application opens early Jan 2027
- Cost
- Paid stipend
- Ages
- Rising seniors, 16 by May 31
Good for Chicago-area students interested in lung disease
Northwestern’s Simpson Querrey Lung Institute pays rising high school seniors and college students for six to eight weeks of full-time research on lung disease with medical school faculty, plus help preparing for college and science careers, ending with a research symposium. High school applicants must be juniors when they apply and 16 by May 31 of the program year. Interns work 40 hours a week and arrange their own housing and transportation.
- Paid
- 40 hours a week
- Own housing and travel
Engineering, coding and STEM summer programs
Classes and projects rather than lab placements, and all free.
MITES Summer (MIT)
Cambridge, MA (MITES Semester is online)
- When
- Due Feb 1, 2027 (application opens in November)
- Cost
- Free; you pay travel to MIT
- Ages
- Juniors (11th grade)
Good for Juniors underrepresented in STEM
MITES Summer is a free six-week residential program at MIT for rising seniors: five courses in math, science and the humanities, lab tours, college admissions advice and a final project symposium. One application also covers MITES Semester, a six-month online program. Only juniors who are US citizens or green card holders can apply. MITES especially encourages students underrepresented in STEM, from low-income families or the first in their family to go to college. Recommendations are due Feb 15.
- Free, residential
- 6 weeks
- US citizens and green card holders
SUMMET (Colorado School of Mines)
Golden, CO
- When
- Due Feb 15, 2027 (open now)
- Cost
- Free; $50 confirmation fee if accepted
- Ages
- Juniors (rising seniors)
Good for Future first-generation college students
A one-week residential engineering program at Colorado School of Mines for rising seniors, built for students who would be the first in their family to go to college, though anyone can apply. Students live on campus and mix coursework, hands-on projects and team activities. It’s free apart from a $50 confirmation fee if you’re accepted; you pay your own travel. Pick one of three 2027 sessions: June 6–11, June 20–25 or June 27–July 2.
- 1 week, residential
- First-generation focus
- Pay your own travel
Kode With Klossy Camps
8 US cities, London and online
- When
- Applications open Feb 2027
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- 13 to 18
Good for Girls and gender-expansive teens new to coding
Kode With Klossy runs free two-week coding camps in June, July and August for girls and gender-nonconforming and trans students ages 13 to 18, in web development, AI and machine learning, or data science. No coding experience is needed. Camps meet in person in Chicago, Dallas, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Washington DC and London, and online. The application takes about 30 minutes, built around two short-response questions.
- Free
- No experience needed
- Ages 13 to 18
- In person or virtual
All Star Code Summer Intensive
Online (in person where offered)
- When
- Applications open Jan 31, 2027
- Cost
- Free; laptop if needed
- Ages
- High school
Good for Young men new to coding, anywhere in the US
All Star Code’s Summer Intensive teaches high school students who identify as male, anywhere in the US, to build software: JavaScript, HTML, CSS and APIs, team projects and working with AI, with mentors from tech companies. Classes meet live online each weekday in a morning or afternoon cohort (Eastern Time), with in-person programming where available. It’s tuition-free, software is provided and a computer is lent if needed. No experience is required. The 2026 program ran six weeks.
- Free
- No experience needed
- Live online
Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program
New York University, Manhattan
- When
- 2027 dates and deadline not posted yet
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Rising juniors, seniors and new grads, 16+
Good for Students choosing which science to study
A free, three-week residential program at NYU where students take college-level lectures and labs in biology, chemistry, neural science, physics and psychology from NYU faculty: a taste of each field, not a research placement. Days run about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Applicants must be at least 16, live in the US and be US citizens or permanent residents, and be free for the whole program.
- Free
- 3 weeks
- Classes and labs, not research
Math summer programs for high school students
Ross Mathematics Program
Columbus, OH, and Terre Haute, IN (2026 sites)
- When
- 2027 not posted; 2026’s was Mar 8
- Cost
- $7,500 program fee (2026), with financial aid
- Ages
- Mostly 15 to 18
Good for Students who want to learn to write proofs
Ross is a six-week residential program where students spend most of each day on problem sets in number theory, learning to write convincing proofs; it’s aimed at research, not contests. In 2026 it ran at Otterbein University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Applicants send essays, a video, a teacher recommendation, a transcript and work on hard problems. The fee was $7,500 in 2026, and Ross aims to give enough aid that every accepted student can attend. In 2023, about 15% of complete applicants got in.
- Residential, 6 weeks
- Number theory and proofs
- Aid for accepted students
PROMYS
Boston University, MA
- When
- End of Feb 2027 (date TBD); opens in January
- Cost
- Up to $8,000 (2026); free under $80,000 family income
- Ages
- 14 to 18, after 9th grade
Good for Strong problem solvers, including younger teens
PROMYS is a six-week residential number theory program at Boston University (June 27–Aug 7, 2027). Applicants must be 14 to 18, have finished 9th grade and not be in college full time. The application centers on a hard problem set, plus a recommendation, a transcript and short answers; AI tools are banned, and applicants may be interviewed. US families earning under $80,000 pay nothing, and need-based aid covers part or all of the cost for others. Massachusetts students can also try the free PROMYS Pathways.
- Residential, 6 weeks
- Problem set application
- Free under $80,000 income
Canada/USA Mathcamp
Site announced in December (2026: Burlington, VT)
- When
- 2027 not posted; 2026’s was Feb 23
- Cost
- Tuition, with scholarships
- Ages
- 13 to 18
Good for Math-loving teens, from age 13
Mathcamp is a residential summer program for mathematically talented students ages 13 to 18 from around the world; in 2026 it ran at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, June 28–Aug 2. Applicants must have finished precalculus and solve the Qualifying Quiz, sending their solutions with scratchwork and the resources they used. Students who need help paying include a scholarship application. The 2027 dates and site are announced in December.
- Qualifying Quiz
- Ages 13 to 18
- Precalculus first
- Scholarships
Leadership, humanities and writing programs
CHCI NextGen Latino Leadership Program
Washington, DC
- When
- Due Jan 15, 2027
- Cost
- Free, including travel, lodging and meals
- Ages
- 10th and 11th graders
Good for Students curious about government and civic life
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute brings 10th and 11th graders from across the country to Washington for a week of leadership and civic engagement workshops, meetings with members of Congress, a Capitol Hill tour and visits to museums and monuments, with a focus on issues facing the Latino community. It’s completely free: travel, lodging, meals and activities are covered. The 2027 sessions are June 6–12 and June 20–26.
- Free, all expenses paid
- One week in DC
- Two sessions
American Legion Boys State and Girls State
Every state
- When
- Set by each state; ask your counselor or a local post
- Cost
- Usually paid by a local sponsor
- Ages
- High school juniors
Good for Juniors interested in government and leadership
Boys State, run by the American Legion in each state, is a summer program where students learn how government works by running a mock state government; Girls State, run by the American Legion Auxiliary, works the same way. Schools usually recommend students to a local Legion post, which interviews and picks delegates, and a post, local business or community group usually covers the cost. Ask your school counselor or social studies teacher, or call a local post.
- Usually free to students
- Chosen by a local post
- A program in each state
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
Yale University, New Haven, CT
- When
- Due Jan 6, 2027 (early action Oct 15, 2026)
- Cost
- $7,500 (2027); need-based aid up to full tuition
- Ages
- Sophomores and juniors, 16 to 18 by July 18, 2027
Good for Students into politics, economics or global issues
YYGS gathers high school students from more than 150 countries for one two-week session at Yale, in science and technology; politics, law and economics; or global challenges. 2027 sessions run June 20–July 2, July 4–16 and July 18–30, residential only. Tuition is $7,500, covering housing, meals and materials but not travel; need-based aid can cover all of it, for US and international students alike. Applicants must be current sophomores or juniors and 16 to 18 by July 18, 2027.
- 2 weeks, residential
- Aid up to full tuition
- International students welcome
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops
Gambier, OH, and online
- When
- Residential due Mar 1, 2027
- Cost
- Paid; check its site for 2027 tuition
- Ages
- High school students
Good for Teens who write fiction or poetry
The Kenyon Review, the literary magazine at Kenyon College, runs creative writing workshops for high school students from around the world. Two-week residential sessions on the Gambier, Ohio, campus run June 27–July 10 and July 18–31, 2027, with applications due March 1. A one-week online summer workshop (June 20–26) opens applications in March, and a six-week online winter workshop is due December 10, 2026.
- 2 weeks, residential
- Online options
- Students from around the world
Well-known paid pre-college programs
Selective programs that charge tuition, with financial aid. Compare the aid, not just the sticker price.
Harvard Summer School Secondary School Program
Cambridge, MA, or online
- When
- Due Feb 10, 2027 (early Jan 13; late Mar 31)
- Cost
- $4,180–$15,980 (2027); aid for US students
- Ages
- Classes of 2027–2029, 16 by June 13, 2027
Good for Students who want a college course for credit
High school students take Harvard Summer School courses for college credit for four weeks (June 14–July 8 or July 12–Aug 5, 2027) or seven weeks (June 21–Aug 6), living on campus, commuting or online. 2027 prices: $9,260 residential for four weeks, $15,980 for seven, and $4,180 to $8,160 commuting, plus a $75 application fee. Financial aid is for US citizens and permanent residents. Students must be at least 16 by June 13, 2027, and not turn 19 before July 31.
- College credit
- Residential, commuting or online
- Aid for US citizens and permanent residents
BU RISE Internship and Practicum
Boston University, MA
- When
- Application and 2027 prices posted Dec 17, 2026
- Cost
- 2026: $6,415 commuting, $10,735 residential
- Ages
- Juniors (entering senior year)
Good for Juniors who can pay for a structured research summer
Boston University’s RISE gives about 190 rising seniors six weeks of research (June 27–Aug 6, 2027, pending approval): Internship students work 40 hours a week in a faculty lab, in fields from astronomy and biology to engineering and public health; Practicum students do computational research in a class. Most live in the dorms. In 2026 it cost $6,415 to commute and $10,735 to live on campus, with limited need-based aid. Only US citizens and permanent residents can apply; it earns no college credit.
- Paid, with limited aid
- 6 weeks
- No college credit
Summer Science Program (SSP)
College campuses (sites on its website)
- When
- Domestic: expected Feb 2027 (opens Dec 2026); 2026’s was Feb 19
- Cost
- $11,800 (2026); full aid around $140,000 income or less
- Ages
- Juniors (class of 2028)
Good for Juniors who want a team research project
SSP is a five-week residential research program for juniors in astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics or cell biology. The 2026 fee was $11,800 for tuition, room, board, supplies and local trips; more than half of students got aid, and for 2027 a typical family of four earning about $140,000 or less can expect full aid or a discount. A few $3,000 ‘lost wages’ stipends help students who’d otherwise work. It’s free to apply, and international students apply on an earlier deadline.
- Free to apply
- Over 50% get aid
- International students welcome
How to choose a summer program
Start with what your teen wants to spend six weeks doing, not with the most famous name. Then check the five things that rule programs in or out:
- Grade and age. Most research programs take juniors (rising seniors) only, and many want students to be 16 or 17 by the start. Younger teens have fewer choices: Kode With Klossy and Mathcamp start at 13, PROMYS after 9th grade, CHCI NextGen in 10th grade.
- Citizenship. Federal labs and most hospital programs require US citizenship or a green card, and NIST takes citizens only. RSI, YYGS and the Summer Science Program take international students.
- Where you live. Several paid internships are for commuters only: Broad (Massachusetts), MSK (within 25 miles), Roswell Park (four Western New York counties), WashU (St. Louis), and SIMR strongly favors the Bay Area. Look for similar programs at the university or hospital nearest you.
- Research, classes or deep math. RSI, Simons, Clark and the hospital programs put you in a lab; MITES, SUMMET and Simons-NYU are courses and projects; Ross, PROMYS and Mathcamp are weeks of proofs.
- Cost and time. Six to eight weeks full time can rule out a summer job, which is why stipends matter. The Summer Science Program offers a few $3,000 ‘lost wages’ stipends for students who’d otherwise work.
How selective they are, and how to stand out
The free and paid-stipend programs are the hardest to get into. Simons received about 1,700 applications for 50 places in 2026; Ross admitted about 15% of complete applicants in 2023; Clark takes 12 scholars a year, Penn’s PSSI 14, and WashU and Emory 10 to 12 each. Apply to several, including a local one or two.
- Start early. Some programs need your school to nominate you first (Simons, up to three a school), and some want recommendation requests in by the student deadline (MITES).
- Write it yourself. PROMYS bans AI tools and may interview applicants about their solutions; Simons doesn’t allow AI to generate or rewrite application content.
- Show your thinking. On math problem sets (Ross, PROMYS, Mathcamp), readers want explorations, conjectures and proofs, not just answers.
- Be specific. Clark asks you to describe your research interests and project ideas in detail so it can match you with a professor.
- Don’t wait for experience. About 10% of RSI students have no prior research, and Simons and Broad say none is needed.
Free vs paid summer programs, and pay-to-play ‘prestige’
The most selective programs here charge no tuition: RSI, MITES, Simons, Clark and SIMR (Simons fellows who live on campus pay for housing and meals). Paid programs with real admissions include Ross ($7,500 in 2026, with aid), PROMYS (up to $8,000; free for US families under $80,000), the Summer Science Program ($11,800 in 2026; full aid or a discount for a typical family of four earning about $140,000 or less), YYGS ($7,500) and university pre-college programs such as Harvard’s ($4,180 to $15,980 in 2027) and BU RISE ($6,415 to $10,735 in 2026).
Be wary of programs that mainly sell an experience: nearly everyone who can pay gets in, mailers say your child was ‘nominated’, and the brochure leans on a famous campus. A summer course on a university’s campus isn’t admission to that university. MIT’s admissions office says that applying to the MIT-sponsored summer programs it lists won’t affect how it evaluates an MIT application. Ask any program how many apply and how many get in, who teaches, what students produce, and what aid it gives.
Two well-known free options are off the table for 2027: Telluride Association paused its TASS seminars for a review, and Bank of America Student Leaders now takes students 18 or older with some college credit.
Summer program application timeline, September to March
Most deadlines for summer 2027 fall between December and February of junior year. Here’s when the programs in this guide open and close.
| Month | Opens and closes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| September | YYGS application open | List programs that fit your grade, citizenship and location; tell teachers you’ll need recommendations |
| October | RSI open; Roswell Park opens Oct 1; YYGS early action Oct 15; NIST opens mid-October | Take the PSAT (RSI and Clark use scores); start essays |
| November | WashU opens Nov 2; Simons link Nov 15; Broad opens Nov 23; MITES opens | Ask your school how it picks Simons nominees; send recommendation requests |
| December | RSI due Dec 11; MSK and Harvard open Dec 1; BU RISE posts Dec 17; SIMR opens Dec 18; SSP opens | Finish RSI; gather transcripts and fall grades |
| January | Roswell Park Jan 1; YYGS Jan 6; CHCI Jan 15; Broad Jan 20; WashU Jan 25; NIST end of Jan; Clark, PROMYS and All Star Code open | The busiest month: submit early, not on deadline night |
| February | MITES Feb 1; Simons and MSK Feb 5; Harvard Feb 10; Clark and SUMMET Feb 15; SIMR and PROMYS late Feb; SSP (domestic) in Feb; Kode With Klossy opens | Check that recommenders have submitted (MITES: Feb 15) |
| March | Kenyon residential Mar 1; Ross (2026: Mar 8); Harvard late deadline Mar 31; decisions start | Compare offers and aid; plan a backup, such as a job, a class or your own project |
Questions parents ask
What are the best free summer programs for high school students?
Among the free ones: RSI, MITES Summer, Simons (no tuition), Clark Scholars (with a $750 stipend), SIMR and SUMMET for STEM; Kode With Klossy and All Star Code for coding; Penn’s PSSI and Simons-NYU for science classes; and CHCI’s NextGen Latino Leadership Program, which covers travel, lodging and meals. Several local research internships go further and pay you: Broad ($3,600), WashU ($4,800), Emory ($2,400) and MSK ($1,200).
Are there paid summer research programs for high school students?
Yes. WashU’s Summer Focus pays $4,800, the Broad Summer Scholars Program $3,600, Emory’s Winship Summer Scholars $2,400 and Memorial Sloan Kettering $1,200; Northwestern’s Querrey program and the NIH Summer Internship Program pay too, and Clark Scholars gives $750 plus room and board. Most are for juniors who live within commuting distance, and the NIH takes graduating seniors.
What are the most prestigious summer programs for high school students?
There’s no official ranking. The programs most often called prestigious are free, small and hard to get into: RSI (about 150 students across MIT and Stanford in 2027), Simons (50 of about 1,700 applicants in 2026), Clark (12 a year), SIMR (about 50) and MITES, and in math Ross, PROMYS and Mathcamp. A high price or a famous campus alone doesn’t make a program selective.
Are there summer programs for middle school students?
Fewer, and mostly not research. Kode With Klossy’s free coding camps and Canada/USA Mathcamp start at 13, and PROMYS takes students who have finished 9th grade. MIT’s free MITES Saturdays is for public school students in grades 7 to 10 in Boston, Cambridge and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Most programs on this list start in 10th or 11th grade.
When should I apply to summer programs?
In the fall and winter before the summer. For 2027, RSI closes Dec 11, 2026; Roswell Park Jan 1; YYGS Jan 6; CHCI Jan 15; Broad Jan 20; MITES Feb 1; Simons and MSK Feb 5; Clark and SUMMET Feb 15; SIMR and PROMYS at the end of February. Ask for recommendations by November, and plan for decisions between March and May.
Can international students apply to US summer programs?
To some. RSI takes students from participating countries, YYGS takes students from every country with need-based aid for all, and the Summer Science Program has an international deadline in January. Most research and hospital programs here, including Simons, Clark, SIMR, MITES and the NIH, require US citizenship or a green card, and NIST takes US citizens only. Broad also accepts students with work authorization.
How we made this list
We started from Exa searches for free, research, medical, engineering and math programs, then read each program’s own pages in October 2026 for eligibility, cost, dates and 2027 deadlines. We left out programs we couldn’t confirm for 2027, ones open only to a few partner schools (such as Scripps Research’s REACH internships), Telluride’s TASS (paused in 2027) and Bank of America Student Leaders (no longer for high schoolers).
No one paid to be on it. It’s information to start from, not medical or legal advice: check services, costs and coverage with each provider before you book. Spotted something out of date, or run a place that belongs here? Write to hello@summerground.com.