Summer programs at universities.

What it is: Internship-track students do 40 hrs/week of independent faculty-mentored lab research; Practicum-track students do group research in computational neurobiology or data science, both ending in a poster symposium.

Cost: Tuition-based (a 'Tuition, Aid & Payment' page lists costs); financial aid referenced — confirm amounts on site

Selectivity: Competitive; for outstanding students passionate about science/engineering

When: Six weeks; ~June 28-August 7, 2026 (residential) / June 29-August 7 (commuter)

Applying: Apply online via BU Summer Term; 2026 applications have closed — 2027 cycle reopens; deadline typically winter/early spring

Official program page →

What it is: Students design and conduct an original research project on an open scientific question (biology, chemistry, nanotech, physics/astronomy) and present at a closing symposium.

Cost: Tuition not separately listed on program page (comparable to 5-week hybrid Summer@Brown tier); scholarships and application-fee waivers available; non-credit.

Selectivity: Competitive among pre-college tracks (research-focused, six course options, limited seats); exact acceptance rate not published.

When: June 22 - July 24, 2026 (5 weeks)

Applying: Apply via precollege.brown.edu; rolling. Fee waivers available.

Official program page →

What it is: NCI-funded paid summer program placing students in Case cancer-research labs for hands-on research (35 hrs/week for 7 weeks) plus college-prep support and a final presentation.

Cost: Paid: $2,500 stipend for full participation and project completion; enhanced compensation via Scientific Enrichment Opportunity.

Selectivity: Competitive; selected applicants notified in April

When: Seven weeks in summer (June-July), 35 hours/week

Applying: Apply by the March deadline; contact J.T. Render (jxr488@case.edu). NCI-funded program. Confirm current-year cycle (recent page referenced 2027 dates).

Official program page →

What it is: A two-week intensive taught by Texas A&M professors covering quantum mechanics, computing, and laser fusion with hands-on labs and interaction with leading researchers, including National Academy of Sciences members.

Cost: Free for admitted students (funded by foundation donations and partners); travel stipend up to $500 for the first 20 admitted

Selectivity: Highly selective; 2026 cohort filled quickly after an 'incredible response'

When: Two weeks in July (July 13-24 in 2026)

Applying: 2026 applications closed; Summer 2027 applications open end of January 2027 via Casper College.

Official program page →

What it is: Six-week mentored research internship placing GSSM students in university and corporate R&D labs (Clemson and beyond) to conduct authentic research, culminating in papers presented at GSSM and SC Junior Academy of Science.

Cost: Built into the GSSM (public, tuition-free residential high school) experience; no separate cost detail published.

Selectivity: Restricted to enrolled GSSM students (themselves selectively admitted); every GSSM student completes a summer research experience.

When: Six weeks; 2026 dates June 8 - July 17.

Applying: Available only to GSSM students; faculty mentors apply via spri@clemson.edu. Students participate as part of GSSM enrollment.

Official program page →

What it is: A funded summer program pairing high schoolers with faculty mentors or community organizations to conduct biomedical or community-based health research, ending in a colloquium.

Cost: Fully funded; high school students receive stipends (~$1,200-$3,200 depending on track)

Selectivity: Competitive; transcripts, 2 recommendation letters, and interviews

When: June-July; high school community-based research runs about six weeks

Applying: Apply via Qualtrics forms on the program page; high school track deadline ~early April

Official program page →

What it is: Scholars do hands-on research through courses, laboratories, projects, and lectures with Drew science faculty, building toward original research experience.

Cost: Free — tuition-free, state/privately funded residential program; room, board, and academics covered

Selectivity: Highly competitive, statewide selective admission

When: ~July 12–Aug 1, 2026 (approx. 3 weeks)

Applying: Apply online via Drew's Governor's School page; 2026 applications due 11:59 pm Jan 8, 2026. Contact njgss_applications@drew.edu.

Official program page →

What it is: Students are placed in teams with Duke faculty mentors to conduct an original, hypothesis-driven research project on medication use/effects, building toward a co-authored, publishable paper.

Cost: Free to attend; high school students receive a $4,000 stipend. Students arrange and pay for their own housing and transportation.

Selectivity: Competitive; strong academics required, no prior research experience needed. No waitlist used.

When: Five weeks in-person, June 22-July 24, 2026 (plus early-June pre-reading and early-August remote work).

Applying: Apply via online portal during the Nov 17, 2025-Jan 2, 2026 window (now closed; recurs annually). Requires transcript, 2 recommendation letters, and a 300-500 word essay.

Official program page →

What it is: An eight-week research internship where students work one-on-one with faculty in university labs across STEM and biomedical fields using state-of-the-art technology.

Cost: $25 application fee (waivable for need); accepted interns pay $1,299 for 3 undergraduate credits (waivable with demonstrated financial need); no stipend.

Selectivity: Nationally recognized and competitive; one-on-one faculty mentorship; interviews in early March.

When: 8 weeks (Summer 2026: June 18 - August 12).

Applying: Apply online via GMU College of Science (cosassip@gmu.edu); 2026 application now closed. Recurs annually.

Official program page →

What it is: Students spend most of their time doing hands-on biomedical research in real labs under doctoral/postdoctoral mentors, plus coursework in scientific writing, data analysis, math, and bioethics.

Cost: Free to participate; scholars receive a $3,000 stipend upon completion.

Selectivity: Competitive among eligible (income- and background-qualified) applicants.

When: 8 weeks, approximately June 22 to August 13, 2026

Applying: Applications due March 1, 2026; apply through the Johns Hopkins application portal at sare.cellbio.jhmi.edu.

Official program page →

What it is: Four weeks of college-level workshops (research methods, ethics, lab safety, writing) followed by six weeks (~150 hours) of authentic mentored research in NYU faculty labs across STEM fields.

Cost: Free, and students earn a ~$2,000 stipend on successful completion.

Selectivity: Competitive: written application plus group and one-on-one interviews; committee-based lab placement

When: 10 weeks, June through mid-August (e.g., June 1 - Aug 14, 2026; orientation late May)

Applying: Apply via NYU Tandon K-12 STEM (k12stem.engineering.nyu.edu); applications close in late February. Includes interviews in March and lab placement in April.

Official program page →

What it is: Selected rising seniors do hands-on research in Northeastern's engineering, science and health-sciences labs alongside career seminars and field trips to corporate/government sites.

Cost: Free — no tuition; hands-on university research experience at no cost to students

Selectivity: Competitive; requires online application, essays and two (preferably STEM) teacher recommendations

When: ~Six weeks (day program, Mon-Thu 8:30am-4:30pm); 2026 ran June 22-July 30

Applying: Apply online via Northeastern Center for STEM Education; 2026 closed, reopens for 2027; perfect attendance required

Official program page →

What it is: Matches motivated high schoolers with mentors at universities, hospitals, research institutions and companies for a paid summer STEM apprenticeship; interns have co-authored published research and designed products. Administered with OSU Precollege Programs.

Cost: Free to students; paid pre-professional internships (interns may receive stipends); ~70% from groups underrepresented in STEM

Selectivity: Highly competitive: ~400-600+ applicants for under ~130 positions

When: 4-8 week full-time/part-time summer internships

Applying: Apply via Saturday Academy (saturdayacademy.org/ase); 2026 application closed March 6, 2026 (annual early-spring deadline)

Official program page →

What it is: Students conduct hands-on biomedical research in one of eight institutes (e.g., immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering) under faculty/lab mentorship.

Cost: Free to attend and students receive a stipend (minimum ~$500, more for need); no tuition.

Selectivity: Extremely selective; only about 50 students chosen each year, with admissions heavily favoring Bay Area students.

When: 8 weeks, June 8 - July 30, 2026.

Applying: 2026 application closed (deadline February 21, 2026; decisions ~April 10). Apply online at med.stanford.edu/simr.

Official program page →

What it is: Students are matched with Stony Brook faculty mentors, join a research group, take ownership of an individual project in science/math/engineering, and present a written abstract and poster at program's end.

Cost: Highly subsidized: Simons Fellows receive a stipend; program is research-based rather than tuition-charging. Effectively low/no cost to participate (housing arrangements apply).

Selectivity: Extremely selective (acceptance rate under ~5%); requires faculty nomination and strong academic record

When: ~6-7 weeks in summer (e.g., June 29 - August 7, 2026)

Applying: Apply online via stonybrook.edu/simons with nomination and recommendations; applications typically due in winter/early spring. 2026 cycle closed - applies to following year.

Official program page →

What it is: Students work directly with research professors on real lab projects in fields like biochemistry, neuroscience and genome engineering, earning 3 college credits.

Cost: $4,000 program fee ($400 non-refundable deposit; +$125 for course credit). Need-based scholarship funds available; no merit aid.

Selectivity: Competitive; selected on personal essay and research-interest fit

When: Five weeks, ~June 8-July 15, 2026

Applying: Applications open late January 2026; decisions in April. Apply via the College of Natural Sciences / Freshman Research Initiative site.

Official program page →

What it is: A selective, college-credit-bearing program (3 Tulane credit hours per course) for top STEM-focused juniors and seniors, with an affiliated paid research track for local public-school students.

Cost: Tuition not posted on page; need-based financial aid available with priority to Louisiana residents. A linked High School Summer Research track offers selected local public-school students a stipend plus full-tuition scholarship.

Selectivity: Competitive / 'elite' pre-collegiate program; requires transcript, essay, and teacher recommendation

When: Two-week summer program

Applying: Apply at summer.tulane.edu; rolling admissions, apply early. Materials: transcript, essay, teacher rec.

Official program page →

What it is: Selected high schoolers join UAB surgery research teams to learn the research process and observe clinical experiences alongside faculty mentors.

Cost: Mentored research internship; not a paid-tuition camp. Cost/stipend not stated on page — verify.

Selectivity: Competitive — application-based, mentored by UAB surgeons and faculty

When: Summer 2026 (tentatively ~June 8 through July)

Applying: Applications open Nov 17, 2025-Jan 19, 2026 via the UAB Surgery PRISM page.

Official program page →

What it is: Students complete a full-time, seven-week research internship in a University of Arizona / BIO5 Institute lab, working on real projects under faculty mentorship and presenting findings at a showcase.

Cost: Free. Donor-funded; program provides financial aid/resources for parking, meals, transportation, and a CatCard so cost is not a barrier.

Selectivity: Highly selective; competitive application plus interview round. One of Arizona's premier high school STEM programs.

When: 7 weeks, approximately June 1 - July 17, 2026

Applying: Applications open Nov 3, 2025 and close Dec 18, 2025; interview invitations mid-February, decisions by end of March. Apply at keys.arizona.edu.

Official program page →

What it is: Students work one-on-one with faculty research groups in biological, agricultural, environmental, and natural sciences, producing a journal-quality paper and symposium presentation.

Cost: $7,750 + refundable $200 deposit; sliding-scale need-based fee reductions available.

Selectivity: Highly selective; only ~40 high-achieving students admitted each summer.

When: 6 weeks residential, June 21 - August 1, 2026.

Applying: Applications open January 1, 2026; deadline March 1, 2026. Apply at education.ucdavis.edu/ysp-application.

Official program page →

What it is: Students are paired with a faculty/grad-student mentor, choose an interdisciplinary research project, and produce a technical research paper (35-50 hrs/week).

Cost: Commuter ~$5,675; residential ~$13,274 (room/board included). Limited need-based scholarships available.

Selectivity: Competitive; high-achieving students selected for university-level research.

When: 7 weeks in summer 2026.

Applying: Apply through summer.ucsb.edu Research Mentorship Program. Residential and commuter options.

Official program page →

What it is: Students work full days in teaching labs learning molecular, microbiological, and cellular techniques, keeping lab notebooks and reading primary research, mirroring a real research lab.

Cost: Tuition-based residential research program; financial aid available through UChicago Summer Session.

Selectivity: Selective; competitive lab-based research admission

When: Four-week intensive program in summer

Applying: Apply via the UChicago Summer Session application (RIBS track) with transcript, recommendation, and essay; deadlines align with the pre-college Priority/Regular dates.

Official program page →

What it is: Selected students work ~30 hours/week on faculty-mentored lab research at UF, attend a current-research lecture series, and take an honors seminar, producing a research project by program end.

Cost: Paid tuition (several thousand dollars; UF does not headline a fixed figure). Limited need-based scholarships available for students attending a Florida high school; Florida students may earn dual-enrollment credit.

Selectivity: Highly competitive; described as a rigorous, fast-paced program for academically talented, research-motivated students. National applicant pool.

When: ~6 weeks in summer (2025 ran June 8 to July 26)

Applying: Apply online via the UF CPET portal (ufcpet.smapply.us); winter/early-spring deadline. Requires transcript, recommendations, and essays.

Official program page →

What it is: An inquiry-driven marine-biology course at Coconut Island combining instruction, fieldwork, and a hands-on independent research project on coral-reef ecosystems.

Cost: Students earn college credit and receive a stipend intended to offset program costs (designed to widen access for students historically marginalized in marine STEM).

Selectivity: Selective, equity-focused cohort; competitive application.

When: Six weeks in summer (two weeks of instruction + four weeks of independent research)

Applying: Applications open in January for the coming summer; submit the interest form at himbrems.com or email HIMBREMS@hawaii.edu; decisions ~April.

Official program page →

What it is: Students complete a full-time, mentored biomedical or behavioral research project with a scientific investigator near their home and present at a summer symposium.

Cost: Free — NIH/NIDDK-funded; participants receive a stipend for the summer research experience. Targets students from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds.

Selectivity: Competitive national program; selective application.

When: ~8 weeks, mid-June to mid-August

Applying: Apply online during the Oct 15 – Feb 15 annual window via the Pacific STEP-UP site.

Official program page →

What it is: Students live on Coconut Island and study marine mammals hands-on (whale communication, stranding response, conservation tech) with MMRP scientists.

Cost: Free — fully funded for the ~12 selected participants. Priority to Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and students from historically marginalized groups.

Selectivity: Highly selective; only ~12 incoming juniors/seniors admitted each year.

When: 10-day overnight program in June (e.g., Jun 10–19 in a recent year)

Applying: Apply through the Marine Mammal Research Program (mmrphawaii.org/smmile); cohort selected for the summer cycle.

Official program page →

What it is: Students complete an eight-unit NASA space-exploration course and semester project; high performers attend a residential academy with U of I STEM mentors, culminating in a simulated human mission to Mars.

Cost: State-sponsored; the online course can earn one science credit. Summer academy invitation is performance-based (no tuition charged to invitees).

Selectivity: Competitive - only top performers in the online course are invited to the week-long residential academy

When: Online course during the academic year; one-week residential summer academy at U of I

Applying: Apply via sde.idaho.gov/academic/isas (applications closed for 2026; reopen for new juniors). Contact Andrea Baerwald, 208-332-6890.

Official program page →

What it is: Students conduct original research full-time under a UI faculty mentor across 15+ departments, attend seminars, and present findings on a research poster. Administered by the Belin-Blank Center for gifted education.

Cost: $7,500 program fee (housing, meals, materials, 3 semester hours of UI credit). Financial aid may cover up to 95% of cost; merit and need-based scholarships available. $95 non-refundable application fee.

Selectivity: Highly selective; faculty evaluate essays, transcripts, scores, recommendations, and fit with faculty research interests. One of the oldest/most prestigious US pre-college research programs.

When: June 17 - July 24, 2026 (about 5.5 weeks)

Applying: Deadline Feb 16, 2026 (11:59pm CST). Apply via Belin-Blank Center with 2 letters of reference, two 750-word essays, transcript, optional SAT/ACT, plus $95 fee.

Official program page →

What it is: A paid nine-week laboratory cancer-research internship where high schoolers work hands-on with scientists at the Brown Cancer Center.

Cost: Paid — students receive a $3,500 stipend; the Brown Cancer Center funds all other expenses. Requires reliable daily transportation to the Health Sciences Campus.

Selectivity: Selective — faculty review of applications followed by interviews (held via Teams in April); decisions based on interview performance.

When: Nine weeks; 2026 program June 1 – July 31, 2026.

Applying: Submit application form, transcript, and two recommendation letters by Sunday, April 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Letters emailed to ashley.kareken@louisville.edu.

Official program page →

What it is: Subject-intensive, non-credit academies (e.g., Experimental Design, Biomedical Research, Forensic Science, Mathematics, Social Justice) led by Penn faculty that immerse students in exploratory research in one field.

Cost: Paid tuition; notably offers free attendance scholarships for select School District of Philadelphia public/charter high school students.

Selectivity: Selective, rolling admissions; no published acceptance rate.

When: 2-week academies run ~July 11-25, 2026; 3-week academies in summer.

Applying: Applications for summer 2026 are open on a rolling basis until full; apply at hs.sas.upenn.edu.

Official program page →

What it is: Seven-week summer research internship pairing students with a University of Pittsburgh faculty/staff/trainee mentor to perform authentic biomedical or computational research.

Cost: FREE to all students; stipends offered to qualified students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedicine.

Selectivity: Highly selective research placement (~56 students).

When: ~7 weeks, June 15 - July 31, 2026

Applying: Apply via hillmanacademy.smapply.io; can request compensation on the application.

Official program page →

What it is: Students conduct injury and violence prevention research with UW faculty mentors and present a capstone at a final symposium.

Cost: Tuition $2,200 (not a paid internship); limited scholarships available

Selectivity: Rolling admissions; moderately selective

When: Four weeks in July (2026 ran July 6-31, virtual, 9am-2pm PST)

Applying: Apply via HIPRC INSIGHT page; 2026 applications opened Feb 23, closed May 18

Official program page →

What it is: Students live on Vanderbilt's Peabody campus and work a 40-hour week embedded in a Vanderbilt University Medical Center research lab on projects in diabetes, cancer, and regenerative biology, with ACT/SAT prep included.

Cost: Free to participants (housing, meals, lab costs covered) plus a $2,000 stipend/salary for the six-week session; students cover only travel and personal expenses

Selectivity: Highly competitive; typically 15-20 students nationally per year; strong math/science grades and demonstrated STEM commitment required

When: Six weeks, May 31 - July 11, 2026

Applying: Deadline January 14, 2026 (11:59 PM CST); apply via REDCap with transcript, two recommendations, and optional ACT/SAT scores; see aspirnaut.org

Official program page →

What it is: 100+ local high schoolers spend two weeks on Yale's campus choosing from 20+ week-long hands-on STEM workshops (class sizes ≤16) taught by Yale faculty and grad students; advanced students can earn research internships.

Cost: Completely FREE — all workshops and events at no cost

Selectivity: Access-focused; students nominated by a teacher/counselor, then apply. Selective but designed for local public-school students, not nationally competitive

When: Two-week STEM program each July; a separate seven-week Pathways Research Internship (YPRI) also runs in summer

Applying: Nominated by math/science teacher, counselor, or administrator in spring; nominated students apply in June; decisions late August. Via onha.yale.edu

Official program page →

What it is: A mentored summer research fellowship at Caltech designed to broaden access to science and engineering research for underrepresented students.

Cost: WAVE Fellows is a funded research fellowship (2026 award $6,000 over 10 weeks plus housing and ~$1,000 dining/travel supplement); high school tech camp offerings are paid.

Selectivity: WAVE is highly selective and aimed at increasing participation of students underrepresented in STEM PhD pipelines.

When: WAVE Fellows: June 15 - August 21, 2026 (10 weeks).

Applying: Apply via Caltech Student-Faculty Programs (sfp.caltech.edu). Note WAVE primarily serves college students; verify high-school eligibility before relying on this for a 9-12 audience.

Official program page →

What it is: An in-person internship pairing students with a research mentor to conduct hands-on, science-based research aligned with their interests and explore healthcare career paths.

Cost: Paid — stipends distributed to participants

Selectivity: Selective; mentor-matched research placement

When: Summer (multi-week; recent cycle ran roughly late May through late July)

Applying: Apply via UAMS Academic Pathways / Health Career U; recent deadline mid-March. Confirm current dates on the UAMS site.

Official program page →

What it is: A five-week residential summer bridge where incoming Colby students do hands-on research modules with science faculty in biology, chemistry, and environmental science to build skills before college.

Cost: FREE — travel, room/board, and activities paid by Colby; students also earn a ~$2,500 stipend and 1 academic credit

Selectivity: Highly selective — roughly 10 students per cohort; by invitation to admitted/matriculating Colby students

When: Five-week summer bridge program before the fall semester

Applying: Not an open pre-college program; participants are selected from incoming Colby students. See the CAPS program page for details.

Official program page →

What it is: Ten-week residential research experience where students live on campus, learn laboratory techniques, and work on a cancer-research project under a faculty principal investigator.

Cost: Free to attend; scholars receive financial compensation of up to $4,000 (paid research experience), plus on-campus housing.

Selectivity: Competitive; selective application targeting underrepresented students (NIH criteria) with rural/frontier Mountain West focus.

When: Approximately 10 weeks, late May through end of July

Applying: Application deadline around February 1; apply via the Huntsman Cancer Institute PathMaker education page.

Official program page →

What it is: Places high-achieving high schoolers into real research in engineering, computer science, and construction management alongside LSU faculty and graduate students.

Cost: Research-placement program; cost details not fully posted (contact program). Aimed at high-achieving students.

Selectivity: Competitive (described as for high-achieving students)

When: Summer (several weeks)

Applying: Apply through LSU College of Engineering / precollege.lsu.edu; verify current deadline

Official program page →

What it is: Two-week virtual program with genetics research, oncology case studies, and hands-on lab kits exploring cancer science and research careers.

Cost: Free; $500 stipend plus lab kits provided.

Selectivity: Selective; Wisconsin residency required, strong STEMM interest needed.

When: July 20-31, 2026 (two weeks)

Applying: Apply online by April 24, 2026.

Official program page →

What it is: Paid residential research apprenticeship where students explore agriculture and natural-resources research alongside MSU mentors.

Cost: Free program with a weekly stipend; students live on campus and eat in the dining hall (transportation to/from MSU is the family's responsibility).

Selectivity: Selective outreach program focused on multicultural and underrepresented students.

When: Summer (multi-week residential apprenticeship)

Applying: Apply via MSU CANR pre-college pages; complete the MAP application form before the posted deadline.

Official program page →

What it is: A residential research apprenticeship exposing rising juniors/seniors to careers in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences by working alongside A&T researchers.

Cost: Fully funded (free) except a $25 application fee.

Selectivity: Competitive; application required.

When: Two-week residential program, June 14-26, 2026.

Applying: Apply via ncat.edu/caes (RAP program page) linked from the A&T summer camps page.

Official program page →

What it is: A six-week mentored research program placing nominated high schoolers in NDSU labs (pharmaceutical sciences, mechanical engineering, chemistry/biochemistry, coatings/polymers) alongside faculty and graduate students, ending in a public poster session.

Cost: Grant-funded (NSF); no tuition indicated. Confirm stipend/cost with the Chemistry & Biochemistry department.

Selectivity: Selective by nomination; area high school teachers/administrators nominate STEM-interested students. Past participants have gone on to Harvard, MIT, and Columbia.

When: Six weeks in summer, culminating in August poster presentations

Applying: By teacher/administrator nomination. Learn more via the NDSU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry (ndsu.edu/chemistry); no public application portal found.

Official program page →

What it is: Students join ongoing science or engineering research projects at Princeton, working full-time alongside faculty and lab teams for several weeks.

Cost: Free — no cost to participate (but students must self-fund housing/transport since none is provided)

Selectivity: Selective — placement depends on a faculty researcher accepting the student into an ongoing project

When: 5–6 week full-time research experience during summer 2026

Applying: Apply via Princeton's program page; matched to a lab/mentor. Verify current cycle/deadline on the official site.

Official program page →

What it is: Seven-week program combining formal instruction with independent, original materials-science/polymer research designed and carried out under Garcia Center faculty mentorship.

Cost: Tuition/program fee applies (research-mentorship model); confirm current fees on the Garcia site. Some support may be available.

Selectivity: Selective; competitive academic application

When: ~7 weeks in summer

Applying: Apply through the Garcia Center program page (stonybrook.edu/garcia); winter/early-spring deadlines.

Official program page →

What it is: A multi-summer hands-on biology/neurobiology research pipeline progressing from intro lab experiments to a full UAB lab research internship.

Cost: Run by UAB Center for Community Outreach Development; cost not disclosed on page (CORD programs are typically low-cost/free). Verify with Dr. Wyss.

Selectivity: Selective — spots fill quickly; SSI III places students as research interns in faculty labs

When: Summer (multi-week; tiered across multiple summers)

Applying: Apply via UAB CORD; contact Dr. Michael Wyss (jmwyss@uab.edu).

Official program page →

What it is: A four-year, field-based geoscience program that takes the same rural-Alaska cohort on two-week geology academies to sites like Denali, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone to build STEM skills and a college/career pipeline.

Cost: Free to participants (industry/foundation-funded, e.g., Doyon and regional corporations); travel and field costs covered.

Selectivity: Cohort-based and regionally targeted; requires maintaining a B average in science/math. Selective by region and cohort size (~36 per cohort).

When: Two-week field academy each summer for four consecutive summers

Applying: Apply via the GeoFORCE Alaska site (geoforce.alaska.edu); recruited after 8th/9th grade. Verify current cycle and deadline on the Apply page.

Official program page →

What it is: Students spend two weeks in a small group exploring a single hands-on STEM module (e.g., Biomedicine, archaeology/Time Sleuths with a field expedition, robotics, Mars science), doing open-ended, inquiry-driven research with mentors.

Cost: Tuition-based summer academy; tuition support available for qualified students and travel funding for qualifying rural students.

Selectivity: Open application with limited module spots (small groups, two instructors per module); selective by capacity rather than competitive merit.

When: Two-week modules during the summer

Applying: Historic application deadline mid-April (e.g., April 15); apply online via the ASRA site. Verify current dates at uaf.edu/asra.

Official program page →

What it is: Students earn college credit through an intensive paleontology practicum, doing fieldwork in Wyoming and lab work with Field Museum scientists.

Cost: Tuition-based credit-bearing program; financial aid available through UChicago Summer Session.

Selectivity: Selective pre-college practicum requiring application materials

When: Four weeks in summer

Applying: Apply via the UChicago Summer Session pre-college application (4-week Practicum track); deadlines align with Priority Feb 11 / Regular Mar 12, 2026.

Official program page →

What it is: A hands-on earth and planetary sciences experience with inquiry- and place-based workshops plus field trips to unique Hawaiʻi geologic sites, building pathways into geoscience.

Cost: Free to students — each student participant receives a stipend for completing the program (NSF-funded GP-IMPACT project). Teachers get a $750 stipend or UHM credit.

Selectivity: Cohort-based application; aims to diversify the geosciences, so selection prioritizes broad access.

When: Roughly two-week, place-based program in July (e.g., recent dates Jul 22–26)

Applying: Apply via the EPʻIK/SOEST site; contact epik@soest.hawaii.edu for current cycle dates and forms.

Official program page →

What it is: Free residential research camp where students live in KU dorms and work with researchers on math, physics, aerospace engineering, AI, and computer science through hands-on projects.

Cost: Free; fully funded through the ARISE grant (housing included); successful participants gain eligibility for future scholarships

Selectivity: Selective (grant-funded research camp; competitive application)

When: Late spring/early summer, roughly two weeks (2026 AATEE: May 31-June 12)

Applying: Apply via links on the CReSIS camp page; contact cresis_info@ku.edu or 785-864-4390

Official program page →

What it is: Launched in 2021, PROPEL gives MA high-schoolers paid STEM research experiences with faculty mentorship and professional-development activities to grow the next generation of STEM learners.

Cost: Free with a paid stipend — students are paid for the research experience; aimed at broadening STEM access

Selectivity: Eligibility/need-based (Gateway Cities, low-income schools); application required

When: Summer (multi-week paid research experience)

Applying: Apply via UMass Lowell PROPEL program pages; check current cycle deadlines on uml.edu

Official program page →

What it is: Interns conduct hands-on biomedical research under graduate-student and faculty mentorship, tour labs (e.g., the Visible Heart Lab), and present a final poster.

Cost: Paid — students receive a stipend; no tuition

Selectivity: Highly selective, award-winning research internship

When: Six weeks in summer (the summer before senior year)

Applying: Apply via the BME program page; note the page indicated it was NOT accepting applications for Summer 2026 at time of review — confirm reopening before relying on it

Official program page →

What it is: A four-week residential research institute with three tracks (biotechnology & nanotechnology; marine & environmental science; space science), combining lectures, hands-on labs, and field trips while students conduct research with UNH faculty.

Cost: Paid program fee (historically a few thousand dollars for residential; an online module ran ~$500). Partial/full scholarships have been offered. Confirm 2026 figures on the program site.

Selectivity: Competitive; for academically talented students in science and math

When: Four weeks in summer (typically late June-July)

Applying: Apply via smart.unh.edu; submit application with academic materials. Check the site for the 2026 deadline.

Official program page →

What it is: A UNM College Prep Programs camp where students complete group research projects, present to staff and families, and build STEM, research, leadership, and college-readiness skills.

Cost: Free; successful completion may include a stipend

Selectivity: Selective by application; cohort of roughly 30 students

When: Mid-July 2026 (about a 5-day camp)

Applying: Apply through UNM College Prep Programs; email unmcpp@unm.edu for current deadlines and application.

Official program page →

What it is: Students work on emerging energy technology, CAD/3D modeling, or fuel cells alongside Wayne State engineering faculty and researchers.

Cost: Engineering outreach research program (typically low-cost or free with stipend; confirm on the page as 2026 details post in spring).

Selectivity: Application-based research placement; limited spots.

When: Approximately four weeks in summer

Applying: 2026 registration information posts in spring 2026 on the College of Engineering outreach page; apply when it opens.

Official program page →