Summer 2027 · High school

Summer 2027 research programs for high school students

Start with the research question and the work you would do. A university name alone does not tell you whether you will join a lab, take a class or meet a mentor online.

Planning for 2027. Every date and price keeps its year. Confirm the current application window on the official site before you apply.

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  1. Sea Education Association

    SEA High School & Pre-College Summer ProgramsRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $2,500–$9,500
    Financial aid
    Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance)
    Expenses and aid conditions
    High-school program deposit (non-refundable, credited toward tuition): $300. Due within two weeks of acceptance; Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance)
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 9–12
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: Completed at least one high-school science course and one high-school mathematics course; Requirement: Rising freshmen are considered for the virtual program only; Requirement: SEA Expedition is open to rising sophomores through recent graduates; the SEA Shore courses are designed for rising juniors, seniors and recent graduates; Requirement: Must meet SEA's Essential Eligibility Criteria and be cleared to participate by SEA's medical team
    Session dates or duration
    Up to 3 weeks
    Format
    In person / Online
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Woods Hole, MA
    Selection and application
    Selection: Programs have 20-25 places and use holistic review of academics, reference, motivation and goals. SEA Expedition and Pre-College applicants interview; admission and first-choice program are not guaranteed. Application materials: Short answer essay questions; Interview (not required for SeaQuest or SEAscape/Ocean Studies on Cape Cod applicants)
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 5 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 6 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 7 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 8 · checked Aug 22, 2026Source 9 · checked Aug 22, 2026Source 10 · checked Aug 22, 2026

  2. American Chemical Society

    ACS Project SEED Summer ProgramRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    Not published
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Not published
    Stipend or pay
    Summer I fellowship award/stipend: $4,000; Summer II fellowship award: $4,000
    Eligibility
    Grades 10–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–12 when applying; Requirement: Family annual income must not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, documented by a 1040, free/reduced lunch, SNAP/WIC, TRIO participation or SAT/ACT fee-waiver eligibility; Requirement: Must have completed at least one high school chemistry course; Requirement: Must demonstrate an interest in science and/or chemistry; Requirement: Students under 18 need a parent or guardian's permission; Requirement: In the 2026 cycle, graduating high school seniors were also eligible
    Session dates or duration
    8–10 weeks
    Format
    In person / Online
    Housing and supervision
    Non-residential
    Location
    Participating university, government, and industry research sites; virtual projects may also be offered
    Selection and application
    Selection: Local coordinators select among financially and academically eligible applicants based on performance, science interest, full-summer availability, site capacity/budget, safe commute, and mentor/project fit. ACS publishes no single current acceptance rate.
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Aug 20, 2026

  3. Smith College

    Smith College Summer Science and Engineering ProgramRemove
    Application deadline
    February 1, 2027
    Cost
    $4,985–$9,9702026 cycle
    Financial aid
    2026: Need-based tuition assistance. Apply through the tuition assistance section of the application and upload tax documentation.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Deposit, one two-week session: $1,246; Deposit, both sessions (four weeks): $2,493; Need-based tuition assistance. Apply through the tuition assistance section of the application and upload tax documentation.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades)
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Strong record of academic achievement and a high level of motivation
    Session dates or duration
    Starts July 3, 2027; Ends July 31, 2027; 2–4 weeks
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Northampton, MA
    Selection and application
    Selection: Selective holistic review; courses are capped at approximately 17 students and admission does not guarantee the first-choice course Application materials: Personal essay (250–500 words, one prompt); One academic recommendation from a teacher
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · checked Oct 9, 2026Source 5 · checked Oct 9, 2026

Matching programs

Showing 25–36 of 77 programs

Editor picks and selective programs first, then the soonest 2027 deadlines. No paid placements. Listings are ranked by fit, never by payment. Methodology.

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  • Dauphin Island Sea Lab Discovery Hall Programs

    Dauphin Island Sea Lab Residential Marine Science Class

    Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Residential Marine Science Class is a four-week campus programme for students entering grades 9–12.

    Apply by
    Apr 1, 2027159 days left
    Cost
    $3,000
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 6 – Jul 2, 2027 · 4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Dauphin Island, AL
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Full-tuition scholarships (several, with different criteria). Includes need-based, Alabama/Mississippi, maritime-industry, research and Woman in STEM scholarships.

    Costs beyond tuition: Non-refundable application fee (part of the program cost): $100; Full-tuition scholarships (several, with different criteria). Includes need-based, Alabama/Mississippi, maritime-industry, research and Woman in STEM scholarships.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12

    Selection and application: Application materials: Recommendation letter from a non-related science instructor; Recommendation letter from a non-related instructor in a non-science subject; Essay of about 500 words on why the student wishes to attend

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  • The Welch Foundation

    Welch Summer Scholar Program

    The Welch Summer Scholar Program offers five-week residential chemistry research at six Texas universities. Applicants must be current sophomores or juniors at a Texas high school; previous participants are ineligible. The sites include Austin, Arlington, Dallas, Houston, College Station and Lubbock, so Austin is not the only location.

    Apply by
    Apr 4, 2027162 days left
    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    May 30 – Jul 2, 2027 · 5 weeks
    Where
    In person
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Residency: Texas; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Attend high school in Texas; Requirement: Not a previous Welch Summer Scholar Program participant

    Selection and application: Application materials: Essay of at least 250 words on one of three prompts; Two letters of recommendation (not from family members)

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  • University of California

    California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)

    Competitive four-week residential UC STEM program for California students rising into grades 9-12, offered at six campuses through faculty-led academic clusters.

    Cost
    $5,793
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    4 weeks
    Where
    In person
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based financial assistance for application and program costs. Based on family income, family size and available COSMOS resources.

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee. Non-refundable; fee waivers can be requested; Need-based financial assistance for application and program costs. Based on family income, family size and available COSMOS resources.

    Requirements: Residency: California high school students only; Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Demonstrated academic excellence (a typical COSMOS student has a GPA of 3.5 or above)

    Selection and application: Selection: Each of six campuses accommodates roughly 160-200 students, and clusters typically enroll 20-25 with a commonly reported 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Admissions are competitive and based on academic merit relative to the selected topic, but applicant count and statewide acceptance rate were not published. Application materials: Online application with one personal statement; One teacher recommendation (two recommended)

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    University of California logo
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  • Stony Brook University Department of Biomedical Informatics

    Computer Science and Informatics Research Experience (CSIRE)

    -resident high-school students age 14+, offered as a Stony Brook commuter or virtual program in 2026.

    Cost
    $3,900(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    From Jun 29, 2026 · 6 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · Stony Brook, NY
    STEMDay programResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Minimum age 14; Residency: US; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Must be 14 or older by the start of the program; Requirement: Good programming skills (Python, Java, C/C++ or other) and an understanding of computer science fundamentals; Requirement: Must be currently studying and residing in the United States; Requirement: Able to commit to the full commuter or virtual program schedule

    Selection and application: Selection: Mentors evaluate application strength and fit to limited project capacity; each accepted student receives a mentor assignment with the offer. Application materials: Essay (maximum 2 pages) on a computing or data analytics interest, programming skills and past projects; Teacher recommendation letter (science, math or computer science)

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    Stony Brook University Department of Biomedical Informatics logo
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  • Stony Brook

    Garcia SUMMER at Stony Brook

    Garcia is an in-person materials and polymer research program at Stony Brook University. The official pages describe the completed June 24–August 7, 2026 session; no 2027 dates, application deadline or updated terms are established. Students could commute or arrange optional housing.

    Cost
    $4,000(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Jun 24 – Aug 7, 2026 · 7 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Stony Brook, NY
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable registration fee: $50. Payable by check or wire transfer with the application; Student Health Services fee (flat), listed with the room package: $66; Optional prepaid meal plan: $600. Refill-as-you-go is also possible.

    Requirements: Minimum age 16; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: At least 16 years old on or before July 4 of the program year, with no exceptions; Requirement: Unweighted GPA of 95/100 (3.8/4.0); Requirement: Standardized test scores (PSAT/SAT/ACT/AP/IB/Regents) at or above the 60th percentile; Requirement: At least three of English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics and Biology; Requirement: International students must already hold documents to be legally present in the US for the program; no visa support

    Selection and application: Application materials: Three letters of recommendation, one from a science teacher, submitted by the writers

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    Stony Brook logo
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  • Stony Brook University Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces

    Garcia Summer Research Program for High School Students

    Intensive in-person seven-week research program at Stony Brook; Summer 2026 is closed, and no official 2027 application deadline has been announced.

    Cost
    $4,000(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Jun 24 – Aug 7, 2026 · 7 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Stony Brook, NY
    STEMResidentialResearchInternship
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable registration fee: $50. Payable by check or wire transfer with the application; Student Health Services fee (flat), listed with the room package: $66; Optional prepaid meal plan: $600. Refill-as-you-go is also possible.

    Requirements: Minimum age 16; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: At least 16 years old on or before July 4 of the program year, with no exceptions; Requirement: Unweighted GPA of 95/100 (3.8/4.0); Requirement: Standardized test scores (PSAT/SAT/ACT/AP/IB/Regents) at or above the 60th percentile; Requirement: At least three of English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics and Biology; Requirement: International students must already hold documents to be legally present in the US for the program; no visa support

    Selection and application: Selection: Non-rolling review after the deadline using demanding age, GPA, test, coursework, transcript, recommendation, leadership, and application criteria. Application materials: Three letters of recommendation, one from a science teacher, submitted by the writers

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    Stony Brook University Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces logo
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  • Harvard Debate Council

    Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops

    Paid two- or four-week online, commuter and residential debate/speech workshops for entering grades 7-12, run by Harvard College's independent Debate Council.

    Cost
    $1,599–$6,049(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 7–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Jul 24, 2026 · 2⁠–⁠4 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · Cambridge, MA
    LeadershipResidentialResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Application fee (non-refundable); Optional linen service: $75

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 7–12; Requirement: Online workshops: students entering grades 7-12 in the fall; Requirement: In-person workshops: students currently enrolled in high school or entering 9th grade in the fall

    Selection and application: Selection: Most divisions used automatic first-come, first-served admission after a complete application until full. Advanced tracks such as Congress required additional review.

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    Harvard Debate Council logo
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  • Texas State University Mathworks

    Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)

    Six-week residential Mathworks camp for high-school students at Texas State. The 2027 session runs June 20–July 31 and costs $6,600, with need-based scholarships; returning students undertake mentor-led research.

    Cost
    $6,600
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Jun 20 – Jul 31, 2027 · 6 weeks
    Where
    In person · San Marcos, TX
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based Mathworks camp scholarship. Request it in the financial-needs portion of the application.

    Costs beyond tuition: Need-based Mathworks camp scholarship. Request it in the financial-needs portion of the application.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: No online courses or other programs, in person or online, during camp

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling admissions until full; current capacity and selection rubric not stated. Application materials: One-page essay; Teacher recommendation, preferably from a math teacher or coach

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    Texas State University Mathworks logo
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  • New York University GSTEM / Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

    NYU GSTEM Summer Research Program

    Cost
    $5,750(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grade 11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Aug 6, 2027 · 6 weeks
    Where
    In person · New York, NY
    STEMDay programResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: GSTEM need-based scholarship. Applies toward the program cost only; Winston Data Scholarship (full program cost). Requires a separate data science essay; recipients take a weekly data science class.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Optional six-week housing with meal plan: $3,966. Need-based aid does not cover housing; NYU application fee: $50. Fee waivers are available; GSTEM need-based scholarship. Applies toward the program cost only; Winston Data Scholarship (full program cost). Requires a separate data science essay; recipients take a weekly data science class.

    Requirements: Citizenship: U.S. citizens (living anywhere); Citizenship: Non-citizens in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying; Requirement: High aptitude in STEM; Requirement: Available for every day of the six-week program and not enrolled in another program at the same time

    Selection and application: Selection: GSTEM admits 40 current juniors. Review is competitive and considers academic work, essays, STEM activities, and one recommendation. Application materials: Four essays; One letter of recommendation from a teacher, advisor or counselor

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    New York University GSTEM / Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences logo
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  • University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences

    Penn SAS Summer Academies

    Cost
    $6,700–$10,050(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jul 11 – Aug 1, 2026 · 2⁠–⁠3 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Philadelphia, PA
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable application fee: $100; Non-refundable enrollment deposit (part of the total program fee): $1,500; Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: Successful applicants should have a minimum 3.5 high school GPA; Requirement: Some academies require specific prerequisite courses

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling holistic admission until individual academies fill; Penn publishes no acceptance rate. Application materials: Application essays (each up to 400 words), plus an extra essay for non-native English speakers; One letter of recommendation on the recommender's official letterhead

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    University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences logo
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  • Pioneer Academics

    Pioneer Research Institute

    Accredited online undergraduate-level research program for grades 9-12 worldwide, pairing small-group seminars with one-to-one professor mentorship and an original paper; 2027 applications are open and tuition is $7,465.

    Cost
    $7,465
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    10 weeks
    Where
    Online
    STEMDay programResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based scholarship. Limited; only where family financial need can be reliably verified, including through partner schools and non-profit organizations.

    Costs beyond tuition: Need-based scholarship. Limited; only where family financial need can be reliably verified, including through partner schools and non-profit organizations; Full-scholarship deposit (refunded after completing the program)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Must demonstrate academic excellence and proficiency in English

    Selection and application: Selection: Pioneer uses holistic review of academic history, essays, interests, school materials, a video interview, and proctored timed writing. Decisions generally take six to eight weeks and may be admit, conditional, waitlist, or deny. The official pages publish no acceptance rate or automatic GPA/test threshold, and placement capacity varies by discipline. Application materials: Short essays on each interest area; Long essay; Video interview and proctored timed writing test (if selected to advance)

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  • Sea Education Association

    SEA High School & Pre-College Summer Programs

    SEA's distinct residential ocean programs for high-school students and recent graduates; only completed Summer 2026 sessions are currently listed, with no 2027 cycle announced.

    Cost
    $2,500–$9,500
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Up to 3 weeks
    Where
    In person or online · Woods Hole, MA
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance)

    Costs beyond tuition: High-school program deposit (non-refundable, credited toward tuition): $300. Due within two weeks of acceptance; Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: Completed at least one high-school science course and one high-school mathematics course; Requirement: Rising freshmen are considered for the virtual program only; Requirement: SEA Expedition is open to rising sophomores through recent graduates; the SEA Shore courses are designed for rising juniors, seniors and recent graduates; Requirement: Must meet SEA's Essential Eligibility Criteria and be cleared to participate by SEA's medical team

    Selection and application: Selection: Programs have 20-25 places and use holistic review of academics, reference, motivation and goals. SEA Expedition and Pre-College applicants interview; admission and first-choice program are not guaranteed. Application materials: Short answer essay questions; Interview (not required for SeaQuest or SEAscape/Ocean Studies on Cape Cod applicants)

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    Sea Education Association logo
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Before you apply

How to check costs, eligibility and dates

Ask who supervises the work, how often you meet, and what you will produce. Check lab age restrictions and whether transportation or housing is included.

Each card shows what the program has published; open the official site for anything it leaves out. A date or price from an earlier year says so beside it, and format and location can change between cycles.

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

Are these programs confirmed for summer 2027?

These are existing catalog programs to research for 2027. Inclusion does not confirm a 2027 session or open applications. The cycle label matters: a 2027-cycle application deadline can fall in 2026. Dates explicitly labeled as the 2026 cycle are historical, and a detail the program has not published for 2027 is left off its card.

How should I compare program costs and formats?

Compare tuition, application fees, housing, meals and travel, then check whether attendance is online, on campus or hybrid. A free tuition offer may leave other expenses. A card shows only what the program has published; for anything it leaves out, open the official site.

Can a program pay to appear first?

No paid placements. Listings are ranked by fit, never by payment. By default, editor picks and programs whose official rules describe selective admission come first, and within each group the soonest 2027 deadline. You can sort by name, deadline or latest source check instead. Use the methodology page to understand catalog standards.

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