15 Online Summer Camps for High School Students
If you want to spend your summer learning something new without the travel, high cost, or scheduling challenges of an in-person program, online summer camps are a practical choice. With little or no cost, you can explore advanced subjects, build practical skills, and learn in a setting where other students are working toward similar goals.
What do online summer camps for high schoolers involve?
You can find programs in coding, entrepreneurship, writing, STEM, debate, design, business, and many other fields. The strongest programs focus on projects, discussions, and problem-solving, so you spend your time building skills instead of just watching lectures.
Why should I join an online summer camp in high school?
Online summer camps develop skills and open doors that a regular school year simply does not have room for. You engage with advanced material, work on hands-on projects, and connect with mentors and peers from different backgrounds and parts of the world. A strong online summer camp can also add value to your college applications by showing that you chose to spend your summer learning something beyond your regular classes.
With that, here are 15 online summer camps for high school students worth exploring! For related opportunities, check out our guide on 12 free business programs for high school students.
Quick Look
4 fully free programs: Kode With Klossy, Girls Who Code Pathways, NASA GeneLab for High Schools, and the Summer Journalism Bootcamp
1 program focused specifically on business or entrepreneurship: Young Founders Lab, a virtual startup bootcamp with mentorship from Google, Microsoft, and X
5 best for students interested in computer science or AI: IU Luddy Cyber Immersion Camp, Girls Who Code Pathways, Virtual Blender Camp, Georgetown's AI College Credit Course, and Kode With Klossy
Paid programs: range from $200 (Virtual Blender Camp) to $4,656 (Brown University Pre-College Course); financial aid available at Young Founders Lab, Ladder Internship, Stanford AIMI, and Georgetown's courses
2 programs that grant college credit: Georgetown's AI College Credit Course and Georgetown's Creative Writing College Credit Course
Most selective by acceptance numbers: Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship (approximately 800 students accepted annually)
15 Online Summer Camps for High School Students
1. Kode With Klossy Summer Coding Camps
Location: Virtual worldwide; in-person camps in multiple cities
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 - June 12; July 6 - July 17; July 20 - July 31; August 3 - August 14
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive high school students aged 13–18. No prior coding experience required.
Kode With Klossy offers free two-week coding camps designed to introduce high school students from traditionally underrepresented genders to computer science and technology. You can choose from specialized tracks in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Science, or Web Development. The AI curriculum explores topics such as algorithms, datasets, natural language processing, and chatbot development using Python. Students in the Data Science track learn SQL, Python, and data visualization techniques to analyze real-world data, while the Web Development track focuses on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, accessibility, and user experience principles.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. IU Luddy Cyber Immersion Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $300 program fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 15–19
Application Deadline: Registration portal opens in January
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12. Students with little to no technical background are encouraged to apply.
The IU Luddy Cyber Immersion Camp is a week-long virtual program that introduces high school students to the field of cybersecurity. You will work in teams while gaining hands-on experience with widely used cybersecurity tools such as Wireshark and Nmap. The curriculum includes project-based learning, allowing students to design and develop their own cybersecurity projects. The latest program also incorporates artificial intelligence concepts and their applications within cybersecurity. Designed for beginners as well as students with some technical experience, the camp provides an accessible introduction to digital security, networking, and emerging technologies.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!
5. University of Maryland WIE RISE! An Introduction to Engineering Research (Virtual)
Location: Online
Cost: Free (waivable $25 application fee)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: July 27 - July 31
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students; open to all high school students
WIE RISE! introduces engineering through research rather than through traditional classroom instruction. Each day focuses on a different engineering field, including aerospace, bioengineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and materials science. You'll learn how researchers approach problems, read scientific papers, and design experiments. Virtual lab tours and demonstrations help bring concepts to life, while at-home activities let you test ideas yourself. Current engineering students also join sessions to talk about their experiences studying the subject. The programme offers a broad look at how research connects very different branches of engineering.
6. Girls Who Code Pathways Program
Location: Virtual (open to students worldwide), with select in-person Industry Immersion Days in certain cities
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Year-round program; students typically have 6–7 weeks to complete course projects at their own pace
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Girls and non-binary students in grades 9–12, including rising 9th graders, Girls Who Code Summer Programs alumni, and graduating seniors
Girls Who Code Pathways is a flexible online programme that lets you explore different areas of computer science at your own pace. You can choose tracks in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, web development, or game design, depending on your interests. Each pathway includes projects that help you apply coding concepts to real problems instead of simply following tutorials. The programme also connects students through an online community where participants can share ideas, ask questions, and meet others interested in technology. Because it's available year-round, students can fit it around school and other commitments.
7. Virtual Blender Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $200 program fee (needs-based scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 22 - 26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
Virtual Blender Camp introduces students to 3D design using Blender, one of the most widely used free animation and modeling tools. You'll learn how to build objects, create digital environments, apply textures, work with lighting, and render finished scenes. As the week progresses, you'll move into animation and begin creating your own projects. The camp is beginner-friendly, so no previous experience with 3D modeling is required. Most of the learning happens through building and experimenting rather than watching demonstrations. By the end, you'll have completed original work and know how to continue using Blender on your own.
8. NASA GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS)
Location: Virtual (asynchronous online program)
Cost: Cost not mentioned
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to 1,000 students accepted
Dates: June 1 - August 28
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending U.S.-based high schools; rising juniors or seniors (entering grades 11–12) or students entering college as freshmen in Fall; minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0; completion of at least one high school biology course; access to a computer and reliable internet connection.
NASA's GeneLab for High Schools explores what happens to living organisms in space. Over twelve weeks, you'll learn how scientists study the effects of spaceflight on biological systems using real research data. The programme introduces topics such as bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, and space biology through online lessons and interactive notebooks. Students interested in going further can apply for the Capstone Project, where small teams analyze NASA datasets and develop their own research questions. The experience is much closer to working with scientific data than a traditional science class.
9. Summer Journalism Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: August 5, August 12, and August 19 (three-session program)
Application Deadline: August 1
Eligibility: High school and college students interested in journalism; no affiliation with Boston University or The Daily Free Press required
Run by Boston University's student newspaper, this bootcamp introduces students to the fundamentals of journalism through workshops and discussions with working reporters. You'll explore reporting, news writing, feature writing, opinion journalism, photojournalism, and media ethics over three weeks. Sessions are led by student editors and journalists from major news organizations, giving participants exposure to different areas of the profession. Between workshops, you'll complete assignments and develop your own reported story. The focus stays on producing actual journalism rather than simply learning about the industry. By the end, you'll have a piece of work that can be added to your portfolio.
10. Engineering Tomorrow Virtual Summer Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited capacity; exact cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Session 1 (Product Development): July 12, 14, and 16; Session 2 (Power & Energy): July 19, 21, and 23; Session 3 (Engineering in Medicine): July 26, 28, and 30
Application Deadline: May 21
Eligibility: High school students interested in engineering (specific grade requirements not provided)
Engineering Tomorrow introduces engineering through short, focused sessions led by practicing engineers. Depending on the week you choose, you'll explore product development, power and energy systems, or engineering applications in medicine. Activities are built around real problems engineers encounter in their work, which makes the discussions feel practical rather than theoretical. You'll also hear directly from professionals about the projects they work on and the paths they took into engineering. The virtual format keeps the programme accessible while still allowing plenty of interaction.
11. Brown University Pre-College Course: Psychology and Health: Emotions, Behaviors, and Disease
Location: Online (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA)
Cost: $4,656
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 22 – July 10; July 6 – July 24
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: High school students; no prerequisites required, though a strong interest or some background in psychology or health-related topics is recommended
This course explores the connection between human behavior and physical health. You'll examine topics such as stress, sleep, exercise, addiction, chronic illness, and the ways emotions influence well-being. Discussions move beyond biology alone and look at how social, cultural, and environmental factors affect health outcomes. One interesting part of the course involves tracking a personal health behavior and analyzing it through the lens of psychology. You'll also work through case studies and develop treatment approaches for hypothetical patients.
12. Georgetown University AI College Credit Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,995 tuition; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered throughout the year (6-, 8-, and 12-week formats available)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and older
Georgetown's AI course introduces students to some of the most important ideas shaping artificial intelligence today. You'll explore machine learning, neural networks, large language models, and the ethical questions surrounding AI systems. The curriculum mixes case studies with hands-on activities, allowing students to experiment with AI tools used for text generation, image creation, and automation. Instead of focusing heavily on coding, the course emphasizes understanding how modern AI works and where it is being applied. Discussions often connect technical concepts to real-world issues. Students who complete the programme successfully earn college credit.
13. Entrepreneurial Innovation and Human Behavior (Columbia University Pre-College Programs)
Location: Online
Cost: Cost not specified in the provided information
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 22 - 26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Columbia University Pre-College Programs
This Columbia course looks at entrepreneurship through the lens of psychology and behavioral science. You'll explore why people make certain decisions, how customers respond to products, and what influences behavior in the real world. Topics include opportunity discovery, creative problem-solving, prototyping, experimentation, and social innovation. Rather than jumping straight into business plans, the course starts by understanding people and the challenges they face. Throughout the week, you'll apply these ideas to develop solutions to real problems.
14. Georgetown Creative Writing College Credit Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,995 tuition; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered throughout the year in 6-, 8-, and 12-week formats
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and older
Georgetown's Creative Writing course focuses on the craft of storytelling. You'll work on elements such as character development, narrative voice, plot structure, dialogue, and revision while producing your own original fiction. Writing exercises, workshops, and peer feedback sessions help you refine your work throughout the programme. The course places a strong emphasis on revision, encouraging students to rethink and improve their stories over time. You'll also read and analyze examples of fiction to understand how writers make creative choices. By the end, you'll have a portfolio of original writing and experience with the editing process used by professional authors.
15. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 program fee, plus a $45 application fee; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 800 students accepted annually
Dates: Session A: June 15–26; Session B: July 6–17
Application Deadline: Standard deadline is late February
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 in Fall; must reside in the U.S. for the duration of the program. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a background in biology and computer science are recommended.
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship offers high school students a hands-on look at how machine learning is transforming clinical healthcare. Throughout the two-week program, students participate in technical lectures covering clinical machine learning, medical imaging AI, model evaluation metrics, and responsible AI design. You will be grouped into small teams and paired with Stanford student leads to collaborate on a focused health AI research project. Through this project, they learn to formulate research questions, explore real-world clinical datasets, and effectively communicate scientific findings. The internship is supplemented by peer social events and a "Meet-the-Expert" guest speaker series featuring leaders in medicine, academia, and industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free online summer camps for high school students?
Yes, 4 programs on this list are free. Kode With Klossy offers free two-week coding camps in AI, data science, or web development. Girls Who Code Pathways is a free, flexible, year-round program with tracks in cybersecurity, data science, and game design. NASA GeneLab for High Schools is free and accepts up to 1,000 students for its 12-week space biology program. The Summer Journalism Bootcamp through Boston University is also free and open to any high school student interested in journalism.
2. Which online summer camp is best for a student interested in business or entrepreneurship?
Young Founders Lab is the clearest fit, since it's a startup bootcamp where you build a real, revenue-generating venture with mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals at companies like Google, Microsoft, and X. Columbia's Entrepreneurial Innovation and Human Behavior course is a shorter alternative if you want a single-week introduction to the psychology behind entrepreneurship rather than a full venture-building experience.
3. Which programs are best for students who want to earn college credit over the summer?
Two programs on this list grant college credit directly. Georgetown's AI College Credit Course and Creative Writing College Credit Course both award credit upon successful completion, with multiple cohort lengths (6, 8, or 12 weeks) and need-based scholarships available. If you're more interested in research experience than formal credit, the Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship and NASA GeneLab programs both offer rigorous, research-based experiences that can carry similar weight on a college application.