15 Free Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Summer for middle school students is often a break from school routines, but it can also be a time to explore subjects more openly and engagingly.
What do free summer programs for middle schoolers involve?
Across different programs, you will find yourself building engineering models, writing code, solving math problems, exploring artificial intelligence, or taking part in music and research-based activities. These programs are usually led by university instructors, student mentors, and academic staff from institutions like MIT, Stanford, UCLA, and USC, taking place on campuses or online.
Why pursue a free summer program in middle school?
Along the way, you will understand how different subjects connect to real academic paths while building problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills. Starting early gives you a low-stakes way to explore fields you might want to pursue more seriously in high school and beyond.
To help you explore your options, here is a list of 15 free summer programs for middle school students! For related opportunities, check out our guides on online summer camps for middle school students and summer programs in NYC for middle school students.
Quick Look
15 fully free programs, all with no tuition cost, spanning STEM, music, coding, and entrepreneurship.
4 fully virtual programs: the Junior Innovator Program, Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers, HarvardX's CS50 AI course, and the WASH Summer Research Institute.
1 entrepreneurship-focused program: the Junior Innovator Program, which pairs you with one-on-one mentorship as you build a real project.
4 residency-restricted programs: DynaMIT (Massachusetts residents), Manchester Tech Camp (Manchester, NH students prioritized), UCLA's EAOP (partner schools only), and BEAM (underserved 6th-7th graders in NYC and LA).
Most programs run 1-5 weeks over the summer, with a few, like the Junior Innovator Program, offering flexible start dates throughout the year.
15 Free Summer Programs for Middle School Students
1. DynaMIT
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: August 17 to August 21 for rising 6th/7th graders and August 24 to August 28 for rising 8th/9th graders
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 6th through 9th-grade students living in Massachusetts
DynaMIT is a free summer program for middle school students at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT undergraduate students lead the sessions, working with small groups of students across activities. You will build simple models, solve problem tasks, and complete group challenges by taking part in activities in biology, engineering, computer science, and math through short projects and experiments. The program introduces different STEM fields within a short summer session and focuses on early exposure to university-level learning environments and collaborative problem solving.
2. Junior Innovator Program
Location: 100% virtual, with one-on-one mentorship and interactive events
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 program where you develop an actual 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. Girls Who Code Clubs
Location: Remote and in-person options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: Year-round sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 3-12
Girls Who Code Clubs are free programs where you learn coding in a group setting. You will join a club at a school, library, or online and work through simple coding activities and small projects. You do not need prior experience to start. The sessions focus on learning by doing, with time to test ideas and build basic programs. Through this free summer program for middle school students, you will work with peers, discuss problems, and learn different approaches.
4. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
5. Manchester Tech Camp
Location: University of New Hampshire, Manchester, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: Week 1: August 3–14; Week 2: August 10 – August 14
Application Deadline: May 15; Students from outside Manchester can apply to the camp but will be placed on a waiting list until May 15, and will be accepted on a space-available basis thereafter
Eligibility: Students entering grades 5-12 who are currently attending school in Manchester
Manchester Tech Camp is a free summer program for middle school students focused on STEAM subjects. You take part in group activities where you build, test ideas, and solve short challenges in areas like coding, forensics, and engineering design. The program is led by university faculty, graduate students, and instructors from the University of New Hampshire. You will work inside university classrooms and lab spaces, using equipment that is normally part of college-level learning. You will also work in teams, so most tasks involve planning and solving problems together. The program rotates across different STEAM topics, and hence, you get exposure to several fields in one week.
6. STEM Experiential Courses by the City College of New York
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 12
STEM Experiential Courses by the City College of New York are free summer programs for middle school students who want hands-on STEM learning beyond a traditional classroom. The program gives you access to engaging subjects like robotics, app design, game design, rocketry, artificial intelligence, engineering, and advanced math. You will learn through project-based and interactive activities, helping you build creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving skills. It also includes research projects and presentations, giving you early exposure to academic and scientific exploration.
7. Northrop Grumman Summer Engineering Camp at USC
Location: University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: July 13 to July 24
Application Deadline: May 4
Eligibility: Middle school - currently enrolled in grades 5-7 (rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders)
Northrop Grumman Summer Engineering Camp at the University of Southern California is a free program for middle school students at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering in Los Angeles, California. You will take part in activities in aerospace, civil, electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineering, along with basic coding tasks linked to engineering problems, and build simple models such as bridges and rockets, work with circuits, and explore introductory robotics activities. USC faculty, engineering students, and program staff lead the sessions. The program introduces different engineering fields through structured activities and short design-based tasks.
8. BEAM Summer Programs
Location: Various locations in New York City and Los Angeles
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: Varies by grade and location
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: 6th-7th graders from underserved communities and low-income backgrounds
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) Summer Programs are a free summer program for middle school students who enjoy problem-solving and want deeper exposure to STEM. BEAM focuses on advanced mathematics, logical reasoning, and creative thinking rather than memorization, helping you explore math in a more engaging and challenging way. You will also participate in games, collaborative activities, and enrichment experiences that build confidence and community. Beyond the summer program, you receive long-term academic support, mentorship, high school advising, and guidance toward future STEM opportunities.
9. Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) National Festival
Location: LA Phil, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; None
Program Dates: August 3–11
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 12 and 18
Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) National Festival is a program hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Los Angeles that brings together young musicians from youth orchestras across the United States. You will go through rigorous rehearsals, section-based coaching, and ensemble performances during the festival and join workshops focused on music skills such as technique, listening, and group performance. The program is led by musicians and teaching artists from the LA Phil and guest artists. It takes place at venues in Los Angeles associated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The festival focuses on orchestral performance and collaborative music-making experience.
10. HarvardX: CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None; None
Program Dates: May 13 - Dec 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
HarvardX: CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python is an online course from Harvard University offered through edX. You will learn core ideas in artificial intelligence using Python and complete programming assignments and projects that involve building simple AI systems. Topics include search algorithms, knowledge representation, uncertainty, machine learning, and natural language processing. The course is taught by Harvard instructors from the CS50 team and focuses on applying Python to solve basic AI problems through structured problem sets, allowing you to study online at your own pace and submit coding work through the platform.
11. UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP)
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: Check their website for the latest update
Application Deadline: Check their website for the latest update
Eligibility: 7th-8th graders enrolled at a UCLA EAOP partner school
The UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) middle school component is a free UCLA outreach program that supports middle school students in preparing for high school and college pathways. It includes academic enrichment workshops, study skills sessions, and information sessions on high school requirements and college planning. The program is led by UCLA EAOP staff and academic advisors and is delivered in collaboration with schools in the Los Angeles area. Activities focus on strengthening study habits, understanding academic expectations, and building awareness of future education options. Some sessions include family engagement meetings and campus-based activities at UCLA.
12. The Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Summer Program
Location: Cal State, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: 3 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Applications open at the end of April or early May
Eligibility: Middle school students
Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Summer Program is a free program hosted at California State University, Los Angeles, for middle school students. The program introduces STEM topics through short, structured activities focused on coding, digital media, and design. You will work on group tasks such as building simple prototypes, exploring app ideas, and using tools for basic 3D design and creative problem-solving. The sessions are led by instructors and program staff in partnership with Verizon and Cal State LA. Activities take place on the university campus in Los Angeles and focus on building familiarity with technology, teamwork, and basic engineering concepts.
13. Women’s Alliance in STEM and Humanities (WASH) Summer Research Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: June 22 to July 27
Application Deadline: May 21
Eligibility: Curious and motivated students in grades 6–11
WASH Summer Research Institute is a program run by Women’s Alliance in STEM and Humanities for students interested in research across STEM and humanities fields. Through this free summer program for middle school students, you will work on guided research projects in small groups and explore topics through reading, discussion, and basic analysis of information and data, and share your findings through short presentations at the end of the program. The program includes support from mentors associated with the organization, who will guide your project work and presentations.
14. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: July 6 – 24 during the summer & August 26 - December 9 during the fall
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Middle school students from low-income backgrounds in grades 6 or 7 who reside in and attend school in the United States
Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is an online enrichment program offered by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies for middle school students. You will enroll in academic courses across different subjects and complete readings, assignments, and class discussions, and submit short assignments and assessments based on the course. Instructors will guide you through the sessions and come from Stanford-affiliated educators and subject specialists. The program runs fully online during the summer, with scheduled class meetings. The focus changes by subject, but includes building skills in writing, analysis, and problem-solving through structured coursework and instructor-led activities.
15. Pasadena City College Math Academy for Middle School Students
Location: Muscatel Middle School, Rosemead, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; None
Program Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders with a strong math foundation
Pasadena City College Math Academy for Middle School Students is a noncredit program for middle school learners. It takes place on the Pasadena City College campus in Pasadena, California. Instructors from the college lead classroom sessions focused on pre-algebra and algebra readiness. The program uses a set curriculum designed by Pasadena City College to support math readiness before high school coursework begins and strengthen core mathematical understanding through structured instruction. You will work through arithmetic, equations, and introductory algebra topics during scheduled classes and solve practice problems with peers in the classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are all of these summer programs really free?
Yes. All 15 programs listed are free to participate in, though a few, like the Junior Innovator Program, have costs that vary by specific program track even though they remain accessible through need-based financial aid.
2. Which programs are fully virtual?
The Junior Innovator Program, Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers, HarvardX's CS50 Introduction to AI with Python, and the WASH Summer Research Institute all run entirely online, making them accessible regardless of where you live.
3. Is there a program focused on entrepreneurship rather than a single academic subject?
Yes. The Junior Innovator Program is built around developing a real project that solves a problem you care about, with one-on-one mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey, rather than following a fixed academic curriculum.