15 Online Summer Programs for Middle School Students
15 Online Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Meta Description: Check out 15 engaging online summer programs for middle school students. Enrich their summer with fun learning experiences and new skills!
If you're an academically motivated middle school student, online summer programs offer a chance to explore topics you're interested in and gain hands-on experience through fun activities and projects.
What do online summer programs involve?
If you're looking for an accessible way to keep learning over the summer, online summer programs are a great option for exploring different academic pathways and gaining practical experience from the comfort of your home. These programs include live classes, interactive activities, and assignments to keep you engaged and retain what you're learning.
Why participate in online summer programs as a middle schooler?
These programs allow you to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting and learn professional skills that are valued across academics, extracurriculars, and applications. To help you make the choice, we've narrowed down a list of 15 online summer programs for middle school students.
For related opportunities, consider academic camps for middle schoolers and career development programs for middle schoolers.
Quick Look
3 free programs: Stanford Middle School Scholars (US only, 12 spots per year, grades 6-7), Columbia Scientific Enrichment Month (STEM and cancer research, open to middle schoolers through undergraduates), and GirlsWhoCode Clubs (open globally, no application required, grades 3-12)
Paid programs: range from $300 per session (UT Dallas Coding Camps) to $3,200 per session (Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes); financial aid available at Stanford Pre-Collegiate, Wolfram, and Lumiere Junior Explorer
5 programs explicitly open to international students: NCSSM Accelerator, Wake Forest MSREP, Stanford Pre-Collegiate, GirlsWhoCode, and Lumiere Junior Explorer
6 programs open to 6th graders: Lumiere Junior Explorer (grades 6-8), JHU CTY (grades 2-12), GirlsWhoCode (grades 3-12), William and Mary SEP (K-12), ASU Summer School (K-12), and Junior Innovator Program
3 coding and tech-focused programs: UT Dallas Coding Camps (JavaScript, Python, Java), Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp (computational thinking, girls and gender-nonconforming students), and GirlsWhoCode (web development, game design, cybersecurity, AI)
Most selective: Stanford Middle School Scholars (12 students per year, low-income US students only) and William and Mary SEP (gifted criteria, academic recommendation required)
15 Online Summer Programs for Middle School Students
1. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: July 6–24
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–7; low-income students; must attend school in the United States
Stanford Middle School Scholars Program prepares middle school students for high school education through an academically rigorous curriculum. The program is highly competitive, with only 12 students getting selected every year. During the summer, you will spend three weeks in July covering the summer course, after which you will meet weekly to cover topics such as academic writing, math enrichment, and preparation for high school. Most of your instructors will be PhD scholars in their fields, introduce you to skills needed to excel academically, and guide you to apply to selective high school programs.
2. Junior Innovator Program
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid is available
Program Dates: Flexible start dates; vary by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
The Junior Innovator Program is a virtual entrepreneurship incubator where you develop a real project that solves a problem you care about. Over the course of the program, you take your idea from curiosity to creation by applying principles of entrepreneurship, pitching, and business thinking in a structured, hands-on setting. You work through one-on-one mentorship sessions that cover ideation, market thinking, and foundational business concepts, while also participating in fireside chats, remote socials, and group discussions with a global cohort of student founders. Throughout the experience, you receive mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals with backgrounds at organizations such as Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey, helping you understand how innovation and venture-building work in practice. You refine your communication and leadership skills by presenting your project and incorporating feedback from peers and mentors.
3. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Accelerator 7th-9th
Cost/Stipend: $495
Dates: Various sessions offered in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified (open until all spots are filled; rolling admissions; early application strongly recommended)
Eligibility: Rising 7th–9th graders; open to students globally, evaluated on self-reported GPA, subject-area passion, academic conduct, and experience in the relevant field
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics offers middle school students the opportunity to explore diverse topics during summer break. You can choose topics such as digital pixel art, human anatomy, math puzzles, brain physiology, the physics of the sun, data-driven entrepreneurship, and more. The first week is self-paced, after which you will interact with your instructors and learn through fun activities with peers via video conferencing.
4. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Program dates: Eight weeks | Timing varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
5. NYU Math Program for Young Minds
Cost/Stipend: $1,250
Dates: February 5 - May 7
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; math-focused
NYU Math Program for Young Minds is an academically intense program for talented middle school students. The program follows a rigorous curriculum that provides an environment for studying and exploring more advanced mathematical topics. You will build problem-solving and abstract reasoning skills while being introduced to college-level math concepts such as number theory, topology, and geometry. Classes are structured as weekly meetings, along with collaborative group work and problem-solving activities.
6. Columbia Scientific Enrichment Month
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: July (month-long; exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: June 19
Eligibility: Middle school, high school, and undergraduate students; interest in cancer research/STEM
Columbia University offers the Scientific Enrichment Month program to middle school, high school, and undergraduate students, with a focus on cancer education and professional development. Through a variety of lectures, you will understand how to develop a hypothesis and conduct cancer research. Other topics you will explore include public health and cancer health inequities. You will also gain experience by joining public health working groups focused on community service hours and by working in the areas of skin cancer prevention, tobacco use prevention, nutrition, cancer genetics, and human papillomavirus vaccination.
7. GirlsWhoCode: Clubs Program
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment
Dates: Flexible; year-round availability
Application Deadline: Rolling; no fixed deadline (facilitator application required to start a new club)
Eligibility: Grades 3–12; no prior coding experience required; primarily designed for girls but open to all genders; online clubs accessible globally; curriculum self-guided for grades 6–12 Girls Who Code offers free club programs for K-12 students to practice coding and technical skills in computer science with supportive peers and mentors. As a middle school student, you can customize your learning path by selecting from a library of guided tutorials on different coding languages and technical skills. You can choose from topics such as web development, game design, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and learn these skills in a structured manner through a curriculum that teaches you the basics while helping you practice for retention.
8. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Cost/Stipend: $3,200 per session; financial aid available to both domestic and international applicants based on demonstrated financial need; $65 application fee (fee waivers available)
Dates: June 15–26 (Session 1); July 6–17 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in grades 8–11; must be older than 13 and younger than 19 during program dates; open to domestic and international students
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes gives you the chance to engage in learning during the summer, and you can choose to study from over 75 online summer courses. Each course typically has a small class size, allowing you to engage in discussions with peers and instructors to get the most out of what you're learning. You can choose from topics such as creative writing, engineering, philosophy, mathematics, and artificial intelligence. Each course includes live lectures, activities, and asynchronous assignments that you must submit on time to complete the course successfully.
9. Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp
Cost/Stipend: $500 (financial aid available)
Dates: July 26–31
Application Deadline: July 6
Eligibility: Ages 11–14; girls or gender-nonconforming students; interest in STEM; no coding required
The Wolf From Summer Camp offers an interactive, workshop-based camp that introduces middle school girls to science and technology. During the camp, you will explore topics in computational thinking, programming, and innovative technologies. The camp takes place over one week, where you will delve into coding and design through lectures, hands-on training, and collaborative activities. You will receive mentorship, attend guest lectures on various topics, and explore career pathways by meeting with professionals.
10. Wake Forest University School of Medicine Middle School Summer Research Exposure Program
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: July 13–17 (virtual sessions Monday–Thursday; optional on-site tour and graduation on July 17)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Middle and high school students ages 14–18; open to students from the US and internationally; no geographic restriction
The Big Forest University School of Medicine offers a summer research exposure program for middle school students seeking hands-on experience in medical science. The program includes a mix of lectures, hands-on workshops, and on-site visits, where you'll learn from faculty researchers and industry professionals in the field of regenerative medicine. The on-site tours are optional, and the program primarily takes place virtually through Zoom lessons. By the end of the program, you will gain exposure to research and learn about career and educational pathways in the field.
11. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on course
Dates: Varies based on specific course
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Grades 2–12; must meet the academic qualification criteria
John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers a summer learning opportunity for middle school students to enroll in various courses in a supportive environment. The online courses you can enroll in include competitive math, medicine, disease and diagnosis, biology, forensic science, neurobiology, climate change, animation, digital music, coding, poetry, and essay writing, among others. Each course introduces you to fundamental concepts in the field and challenges you to explore advanced topics and develop curiosity.
12. Northwestern Summer Online
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on course
Dates: Varies based on course / flexible date options available
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Grades 6–12; must meet academic qualification criteria via test scores or transcripts
Northwestern University offers a variety of flexible summer course programs for middle school students to engage in learning through busy schedules. You can enroll in core essentials. course options in the areas of social sciences, humanities, English, language arts, leadership, service learning, math, science, and technology and engineering-related courses. To explore a more advanced curriculum, you can enroll in an accelerated honors program that allows you to learn from an advanced curriculum, helping you gain skills to pursue various academic pathways.
13. The University of Texas at Dallas Coding Camps
Cost/Stipend: $300 per 2-week online session
Dates: Multiple sessions offered during the summer (June - July)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Age 12 and up for online programs; middle school students; no prior coding experience specified as required for JavaScript course
The University of Texas at Dallas offers a series of virtual coding camps for middle school students to gain hands-on experience. The camps offered will help you explore different programming languages and develop technical skill sets. You can enroll in camps that teach you JavaScript and math, offer Python problem-solving, and study advanced Java. Some of the camps are equivalent to the AP Computer Science course, which helps you explore a high school-level curriculum and prepares you for further studies.
14. William & Mary Summer Enrichment Program
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; class size capped at 18 participants
Dates: Various 5-day synchronized virtual week sessions offered over the summer
Application Deadline: Open enrollment until the course is full
Eligibility: Grades K–12; must meet at least one of the following: demonstrated high interest or achievement in academic subjects; distinguished rating on state assessment; identified as gifted; score at or above the 90th percentile on a recent achievement test; or a teacher/academic recommendation letter
The William & Mary School of Education offers a summer enrichment program where middle school students can participate in a week-long learning experience. The program is competitive and requires you to meet the specified criteria, including high academic achievement and a letter of recommendation from an academic professional.Over five days of the program, you will participate in live, interactive sessions that include discussions, hands-on activities, and critical-thinking exercises alongside peers. You will have space to question, collaborate, and ideate throughout the week, with instructors guiding you through the experience.
15. Arizona State University Summer School
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course
Dates: Various courses offered over the summer (varies by specific course)
Application Deadline: Varies by courses
Eligibility: Grades K–12; Arizona residents may enroll tuition-free as public school students; out-of-state and international students in grades 6–12 enroll via Global Academy @ ASU Prep
Arizona State University offers various virtual programs through its summer school sessions to middle school students. You can enroll in various courses, including enhancing reading skills, studying mathematics, and taking honors, electives, and language courses, alongside university-level courses to earn credit for both high school and college. Courses include a live lesson element with expert instructors, along with coursework, activities, and assignments to help you practice what you've learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free online summer programs for middle school students? Yes, 3 programs on this list are free. Stanford Middle School Scholars is free and accepts 12 students per year, though it is restricted to low-income US students in grades 6-7. Columbia Scientific Enrichment Month is free and open to middle school, high school, and undergraduate students with an interest in STEM and cancer research. GirlsWhoCode Clubs are free, self-guided, and open to students in grades 3-12 globally with no application required. Lumiere's Junior Explorer Program offers need-based financial aid for qualifying students.
2. Which online summer programs are open to international middle school students? Several programs on this list explicitly welcome international students. NCSSM Accelerator is open to students globally. Wake Forest MSREP is open to students from the US and internationally. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes accepts both domestic and international applicants and offers financial aid to both. GirlsWhoCode Clubs are accessible globally online. Lumiere Junior Explorer has no geographic restriction and offers financial aid. Junior Innovator Program is fully virtual and open to middle school students worldwide.
3. Can 6th graders participate in online summer programs for middle schoolers? Yes, 6 programs on this list accept 6th graders. Lumiere Junior Explorer is designed for students in grades 6-8. JHU CTY accepts students in grades 2-12 who meet the academic qualification criteria. GirlsWhoCode accepts students in grades 3-12. William and Mary SEP and ASU Summer School are both open to K-12 students. The Junior Innovator Program is open to all middle school students with no grade restrictions.