§ CA

Research programs in California.

122 local programs run in California, 70 of them free or paid, and 13 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 210 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.

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Local to California

California Water Service
A Splash of Creativity
Students submit original artwork addressing water conservation and local California water issues for statewide recognition and awards.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
AI Leadership
A location-based program in San Francisco, CA, focused on AI leadership.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of California
American Legion California Boys & Girls State
A week-long civic leadership program where high school delegates build a mock city, county, and state government from the ground up, running for office, drafting legislation, and presiding over court proceedings.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Legion Department of California
American Legion California Oratorical Contest
A constitutional speech contest in which high school students compete for college scholarships by delivering prepared and impromptu speeches on the U.S. Constitution, advancing from post to district to state level.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program
ASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Orange County Community Foundation
AVID Scholarship Fund
Graduating Orange County AVID students can receive donor-funded scholarships supporting college attendance and completion.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Bay Area Urban Debate League
Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL)
A nonprofit that makes competitive policy debate accessible to every Bay Area public middle and high school student through tournaments, practices, and college debate mentorship.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Burlington City Arts with Juniper Creative
BCA Youth Artist Apprenticeship Program
A paid four-week public art residency where Burlington-based youth work with professional artists to design and paint a mural, from concept development through installation.
📅 June🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Berkeley Model United Nations
Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN)
The world's first Model UN simulation, founded in 1952, now draws over 2,000 high school delegates to UC Berkeley each March for a three-day conference on international diplomacy.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Biotechnology Summer Experience
Students conduct an authentic molecular-biology and bioinformatics project involving DNA purification, PCR, restriction digestion, gel electrophoresis and analysis of gene sequences using professional bioinformatics tools.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
LA County Department of Arts and Culture
Bloomberg Arts Internship — Los Angeles County
Students work at arts and cultural organizations while completing intensive college-readiness training, professional development, mentorship and career preparation.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Art of Problem Solving Initiative
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)
Free intensive math programs for underserved middle schoolers in NYC and LA.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 6–8
Selective
California Water Service
Cal Water Scholarship Program
Students in Cal Water service areas compete for college or vocational-school scholarships based on academics, service and financial need.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
HOSA Future Health Professionals - California
Cal-HOSA
California's chapter of HOSA, the largest healthcare student organization in the country, where members compete in over 45 health-science events and attend an annual State Leadership Conference.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Academic Decathlon
California Academic Decathlon
High-school teams compete in ten academic disciplines through exams, essay, speech, interview and Super Quiz, with state champions advancing to nationals.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California DECA
California DECA
California's chapter of DECA, a marketing, finance, hospitality, and management-focused student organization whose State Career Development Conference draws roughly 2,200 students competing to advance to internationals.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Envirothon
California Envirothon
A team-based natural resources competition for high school students covering soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics, and a current environmental issue, culminating in an oral presentation.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Future Business Leaders of America - California
California FBLA
California's chapter of the nation's largest student business organization, offering competitive events, leadership conferences, and networking for high school students preparing for business careers.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America - California
California FCCLA
California's chapter of the only national CTSO centered on family and consumer sciences, where students compete in STAR Events spanning child development, culinary, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California FFA and Agricultural Education
California FFA State Leadership Conference
California FFA's flagship annual leadership conference draws over 7,000 FFA members and guests for recognition, competitions, and leadership development, alongside dedicated Made For Excellence and Advanced Leadership Academy conferences for members at different experience levels.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Forestry Challenge
California Forestry Challenge
California's premier natural resource competition for high school students, similar to Envirothon.
⏱ 1 week📅 April 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
National History Day California (NHD-CA)
California History Day
A year-long research program in which students create documentaries, exhibits, papers, websites, or performances on a historical topic, competing from county contests up through state finals.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Teach Democracy (formerly Constitutional Rights Foundation)
California Mock Trial
Student teams of prosecution and defense attorneys, witnesses, and court staff argue a hypothetical criminal case in real courtrooms, guided by volunteer attorney coaches, across 37 California counties.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Restaurant Foundation
California ProStart Cup
The state's premier culinary arts and restaurant management competition for high school ProStart students, featuring a live Culinary Cup (60-minute three-course meal) and a Management Cup (restaurant concept pitch).
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
California Science & Engineering Fair
California Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF)
Students qualifying through affiliated county or regional science fairs present original science and engineering projects at California's statewide competition.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California State Board of Education
California State Board of Education Student Member
One California public-school senior is appointed as a full voting member of the State Board of Education, participates in state education policymaking and represents student perspectives at board and advisory meetings.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
CSSSA Foundation
California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)
Multi-disciplinary arts sessions for young artists to collaborate and learn from professionals.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Mathcamp
Canada/USA Mathcamp
Five-week summer program for mathematically talented teens at rotating universities.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
UC San Diego
Cardiovascular Institute Summer Research Program
Eight-week mentored cardiovascular-science research experience with clinician-scientists, a core lecture series, research training, and clinical-shadowing opportunities.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
California Academy of Sciences
Careers in Science Intern Program
Multi-year, year-round paid internship involving hands-on science, field research, STEM education, professional development and public engagement at the Academy.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
California Interscholastic Federation / NASEF
CIF Esports Initiative
The official statewide scholastic esports league sanctioned by the CIF, with a nine-week regular season and in-person state finals across League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Mario Kart 8.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Coastal Commission
Climate Storytelling Contest
Middle- and high-school students communicate their experiences and feelings about climate change through a podcast, photo essay or personal narrative essay.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Coro Northern California
Coro Youth Fellows
Civic leadership fellowships for young people exploring careers in public affairs.
⏱ Varies📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of California
COSMOS
UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of California
COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science)
A four-week residential summer STEM program for high-achieving students completing grades 8-12, held across six UC campuses with hands-on faculty-led research clusters.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Entrepreneurs Club
Entrepreneurs Club Venture Challenge (ECVC)
A high school startup competition where student teams build real companies and pitch on stage at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium for a share of $10,000 in cash awards.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NCF-Envirothon
Envirothon
North America's largest high school environmental education competition.
⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
EPIC — Engineering Possibilities in College
Residential engineering camp where students rotate through engineering laboratories, learn from professors and industry professionals, and design, build and test a team engineering project.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Experiences in Research (EinR)
Students spend six weeks working directly with Berkeley Lab professionals on projects in experimental research, data science, coding, science communication, and other STEM/STEM-adjacent areas.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
California State University, Fresno - College of Science and Mathematics
Fresno State Summer Academy in STEM
A week-long summer workshop where secondary students dive into hands-on STEM projects, such as building wind-energy models, led by university faculty and experienced teachers.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Future Leaders Scholarship
Scholarship and mentorship program for graduating seniors committed to ocean conservation who will attend California State University, Monterey Bay.
🎓 Grade 12
Highly Selective
Golden Gate STEM Fair (formerly SF Bay Area Science Fair)
Golden Gate STEM Fair
A free regional science and engineering fair for grades 6-12 students in San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties, offering over 25 special awards from sponsors like NASA and Chevron.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Grassroots Ecology
Grassroots Ecology Youth Internships
Paid summer employment for high schoolers working on habitat restoration in San Jose area parks.
⏱ 6-8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Innovation and Startup Culture
A location-based program in San Francisco, CA, delving into innovation and the startup ecosystem.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
California Coastal Commission
K–12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest
Students create original visual artwork or poetry inspired by California's coast and ocean, with selected pieces displayed publicly in a traveling exhibit.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Knowledge Society
Knowledge Society (TKS) Innovate
Selective ten-month innovation program for teens 13-17 in emerging tech (AI, biotech, blockchain).
⏱ 10 months📅 Spring🎓 Grades 8–12
Moderate
Kaiser Permanente
KP LAUNCH High School Program
Seven-week full-time employment experience inside Kaiser Permanente hospitals, medical centers and business offices, plus weekly professional-development workshops, mentorship and networking.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
LA Zoo Teen Council for Conservation
A nine-month leadership program for about 30 LA high schoolers representing each City Council district, focused on conservation and environmental justice, culminating in a youth-led Conservation Symposium.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Caltech
LIGO SURF
Gravitational-wave research at Caltech. Need-based travel and housing aid.
⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair
Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair (LACSEF)
The largest science fair specifically for LA County students, where roughly 1,000 middle and high schoolers present research projects for medals, scholarships, and advancement to state and international fairs.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League
Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League (LAMDL)
A nonprofit policy debate league that brings competitive debate, tournaments, a debate school, and a summer camp to underserved Los Angeles-area high schools to close the opportunity gap.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D)
Maine Region Scholastic Art Awards
The Maine affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, open to students in grades 7-12 to submit original artwork across eighteen categories including painting, photography, sculpture, and video game design for scholarships and national recognition.
📅 December🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Manufacturing Workshop
Three-day workshop where students learn machining and manufacturing concepts, use computer design and 3D-printing techniques and explore skilled technical careers at LLNL.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Middlebury College
Middlebury Monterey Language Academy
Four-week language immersion for grades 8-12 (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish).
⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 8–12
Highly Selective
Keck Graduate Institute
Mission: STEM-Possible
One-week online tracks explore biological sciences, engineering, drug discovery, biotechnology careers, next-generation sequencing, healthcare and commercialization of scientific discoveries.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Missouri DECA / Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
Missouri DECA
Missouri DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through school-based chapters, competitive events, and advisor-mentored projects. The organization has 180 high school chapters with 7,708 members statewide.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UPenn Wharton Global Youth
Moneyball Experience
A location-based 'Moneyball' program in San Francisco, CA, focused on sports analytics.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
USC Center for Music, Brain and Society
Music and the Brain Summer Research Program
Students explore auditory neuroscience and music psychology through lectures, lab tours, EEG/MRI research demonstrations, data collection, research-method training and development of an original research proposal.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
New York Film Academy
New York Film Academy High School Programs
Summer and gap-year programs in filmmaking, acting, photography, and game design.
⏱ 1-12 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UC San Diego Institute for the Global Entrepreneur
OPALS Research Program
High-school students work in a structured research environment spanning engineering, medicine, science and innovation. Spring is part-time and summer is an intensive four-week primarily in-person experience.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Otis College
Otis College Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college art and design program.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college program in fine art, design, fashion, and animation in LA.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
California Arts Council
Poetry Out Loud California
A free national recitation competition, administered statewide by the California Arts Council, where high schoolers memorize and perform poems, advancing from classroom to school to county/district to state finals.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pomona College
Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)
Multi-year college-access and academic-enrichment program combining a four-week residential summer institute with continued academic-year support and preparation for selective higher education.
🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Posse
Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarships nominated by partner cities. High schoolers from cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta nominate by August of senior year.
⏱ Senior year📅 August🎓 Grade 12
Selective
UC Irvine Institute of Transportation Studies
Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME)
Eight-week research experience where high-school students join a transportation research project and contribute under the mentorship of an ITS research associate. No prior research experience is required.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego / Health Scholars
Rady Children's Hospital Medical Academy
A healthcare-career exploration program for high school students featuring lectures, skills clinics, hands-on activities, and career panels with Rady Children's clinicians, offered as a two-week Summer Medical Academy or a weekend Medical Academy.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Rays of Hope
Self-paced online course examining bycatch, fisheries technology and human impacts on fisheries and ocean ecosystems.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scripps Research
REACH High School Summer Internship Program
Seven-week full-time biomedical laboratory internship where students conduct hands-on research under a scientist mentor, attend scientific seminars and professional-development workshops, and present at the Summer Intern Symposium.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Santa Barbara
Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
Seven-week intensive in which students work one-on-one with a UCSB graduate student, postdoc, or faculty mentor on an interdisciplinary university-level research project and participate in research lectures and academic programming.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
RIMSE Summer Schools — High School Research
Local high-school students develop an independent materials-science "Discovery" project after securing a UCSD research mentor and work alongside the MRSEC research community.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cal Poly Pomona
RISE ABOVE
Residential college-readiness program focused on admissions, academic planning, career exploration, advanced leadership, self-advocacy and community engagement.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Cal Poly Pomona
RISE UP
Residential program introducing younger high-school students to academic preparation, leadership, career exploration, college readiness, community building and university life.
🎓 Grades 9–10
Highly Selective
Rotary clubs of western Washington (RYLA Northwest)
RYLA Northwest (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
Four-day residential leadership camp at YMCA Camp Colman in Longbranch for high school students nominated through their local Rotary Club.
📅 May🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco Zoo Teen Volunteer Programs
Teen volunteer tracks at the San Francisco Zoo, including Junior Zoologists and Leadership Fellows for ages 15-17, training future ecologists and conservationists in animal care or public education roles.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement (SAGE)
One-week day camp connecting students with LLNL scientists and engineers through hands-on STEM projects, job shadowing, laboratory/workplace tours and career exploration.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
San Diego State University
SDSU STARS (Training Astronomy Research Scholars)
A four-week summer astronomy research program pairing local high school juniors and seniors with SDSU faculty for hands-on telescope observation, Python programming, and data analysis.
📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
SETI Institute
SETI Institute REU
Astrobiology and astronomy summer research.
⏱ 10 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12
Selective
SETI Institute
SETI Institute REU and Education
Astronomy and astrobiology education programs including HS workshops.
⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SF DCYF
SF Mayors Youth Employment & Education
Free paid year-round and summer internships for SF youth.
⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
SkillsUSA California
SkillsUSA California
California's SkillsUSA chapter serves over 59,000 students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations, with regional, state, and national competitions in more than 130 disciplines.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SoCal Student Film Festival
SoCal Student Film Festival
An annual showcase of top high school films from across the U.S., held in Southern California with industry panels, workshops, and networking alongside festival screenings.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Southern California Model United Nations / USC
Southern California Model United Nations (SCMUN)
An advanced Model UN conference hosted at USC each spring, offering committees ranging from historical crisis simulations to futuristic scenarios for high school delegates.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UC San Diego Stem Cell Program
SPARK — Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge
Eight-week regenerative-medicine research internship where students work in active laboratories, learn about stem-cell and regenerative-medicine fields, and shadow physicians in clinics.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
UC Davis Biotechnology Program / CIRM
SPARK Research Scholar Awards
Eight-week mentored research experience at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures combining an individual stem-cell research project, a certified stem-cell biology course, clinical-medicine exposure and a research presentation.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Santa Clara University School of Engineering
Spring Engineering Education Days (SEEDs)
Students attend introductory faculty- and student-led workshops in bioengineering, civil/environmental engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and related disciplines.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Stanford
Stanford AI4ALL
Three-week residential AI program for underrepresented HS students.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 January🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford AIM-HI
Free Stanford program for under-resourced Bay Area students interested in health equity careers.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Stanford SIEPR
Stanford International Youth Forum
Policy and economics forum for international and US high school students.
⏱ 1 week📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Stanford Math Circle
Stanford Math Circle offers after-school classes for elementary, middle & high-school students interested in math to improve academic and extracurricular performance.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stanford
Stanford Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Three-week intensive abstract math program.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Free five-week summer program for low-income California high schoolers exploring medicine.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Stanford
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Economics & Finance
Summer courses in microeconomics, behavioral econ, finance.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 8–11
Moderate
Stanford University
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Residential courses in humanities, social sciences, and STEM.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 8–11
Moderate
Stanford University
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Three-week intensive humanities seminars for rising 11th/12th graders.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Stanford University
Stanford Summer Session
Eight-week Stanford summer course program for HS juniors and seniors.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Stanford University
Stanford TreeHacks (High School Track)Check Site
Youth-led hackathons and tech workshops held annually at Stanford.
⏱ 1 day📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
STEM with Phones
Students use smartphone accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, microphones, magnetic sensors and GPS signals to investigate physics, engineering and data-analysis problems.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Santa Clara University
Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)
Five-day residential experience introducing students to multiple engineering disciplines through faculty workshops, interactive projects and exposure to university residential life.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Highly Selective
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Summer Healthcare Experience
Five-day immersive healthcare program featuring hands-on learning, mentoring and exposure to careers including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy and other healthcare professions.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Summer Online Research Program
Three-week mentored research program teaching responsible research, evidence-based medicine, medical-literature analysis, scientific writing, and preparation of a research abstract.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UC Santa Barbara
Summer Research Academies (SRA)
Students enroll in an intensive four-week research track, conduct directed research and complete a four-unit university course culminating in academic work and presentations.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Teen Conservation Leaders
Teens complete intensive marine-biology and ocean-conservation training, then volunteer in tracks such as visitor interpretation and science communication while developing career and leadership skills.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
J. Paul Getty Museum
Teen Gallery Guides @ Getty
Teens research artworks, learn museum-education techniques, work with art professionals and lead gallery experiences for school groups and general visitors at the Getty Center or Getty Villa.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
The Entrepreneur Academy
The Entrepreneur Academy (TEA)
A San Diego startup incubator for middle and high schoolers who build real companies over several months, culminating in an internal pitch competition with the top team advancing to a global Shark Tank-style event.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Keck Graduate Institute
The Super Heroes of STEM
In-person program introducing high-school students to STEM careers and how scientists, engineers and healthcare innovators solve major real-world problems.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UC Berkeley Academic Talent Development Program
UC Berkeley AI Summer Program (ATDP)
Hands-on AI and Machine Learning summer program at Berkeley for high schoolers.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley ATDP
Academic Talent Development Program with summer courses for grades 7-12.
⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Moderate
UCLA
UCLA Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Paid biomedical research at UCLA for LA-area students.
⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
UCLA
UCLA Summer Sessions for HS
Six-week and short-term pre-college academic courses at UCLA.
⏱ 2-10 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
UC San Francisco
UCSF SEP High School Intern
Paid summer research for SFUSD students underrepresented in science.
⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
UCSF
UCSF Summer Research Training Program
Mentored research in basic and clinical science for SF Bay Area students.
📅 Not yet announced — official site says 2027 info will be posted later🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
X-Camp
USACO Guide Summer Camp (X-Camp) (Affiliated)
Intensive summer coding bootcamp focusing on competitive programming and software dev.
⏱ 2-4 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
USC
USC Bovard Scholars
Fully-funded college-prep and academic program for high-achieving, low-income California juniors.
⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
USC
USC Summer Programs
Pre-college summer programs across arts, sciences, business, journalism.
⏱ 2-4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
USC School of Cinematic Arts
USC Summer Programs Cinematic Arts
Four-week filmmaking pre-college at USC for rising 11th-12th graders.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
USC School of Cinematic Arts
USC Summer Programs Film
Pre-college film production programs at USC.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
VFW Voice of Democracy - California
An audio-essay scholarship contest for grades 9-12 on a patriotic theme, entered through local VFW Posts, with over $2 million awarded in scholarships nationally each year.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
California We the People / Center for Civic Education
We the People California
A constitutional-law curriculum culminating in simulated congressional hearings, where high school classes argue constitutional principles before panels of judges, with state winners advancing to national finals in Washington, D.C.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Santa Clara University
Young Scholars Program
High-school students enroll in actual Santa Clara University summer courses, earn college credit, receive academic advising and experience college-level workload and campus life.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
UC Davis
Young Scholars Program (YSP)
A high-level research internship where students work in labs at UC Davis on environmental and biological projects.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
San Francisco Public Library / SF YouthWorks
Youth Engaged in Library Leadership (YELL)
Older teens work with librarians, develop team projects, support STEM and literacy activities, and receive workforce-development training over the summer.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective

Nationwide programs open to California students

University of Pennsylvania
Academic English & University Readiness Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn for non-native English speakers. Students do university-style work: reading, lectures, discussions, research and group projects, ending in a final presentation. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 26 - August 8, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
AI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
AI4ALL
AI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AIME
Invitational round for top AMC scorers. 15-question, 3-hour exam that gates the USAMO. No fee for invited students.
⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Freedom Forum
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
An all-expenses-paid journalism conference for one student from every US state and DC.
⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Amazon
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AMC 10/12
The entry-level American Mathematics Competition. Top scorers qualify for AIME and the path to the USAMO. Open to all US high schoolers; school registration required.
⏱ 75 minutes📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
ACSL
American Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Online Seminar
Two-week online seminar (daily Zoom sessions) teaching basic ASL conversation and narrative skills in an immersion setting, plus Deaf community perspectives through vlogs, lectures and a panel of Deaf professionals. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 13 - 24, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Apple Inc.
Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Berklee College of Music
Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive
The world's premier summer performance program for contemporary music, including jazz, rock, and pop.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Astronomical Techniques Research Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn. Students learn observational astronomy and data analysis, build simple cameras and spectrometers, observe the Sun and stars, and analyze data with Python. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 11 - 25, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
NCWIT
Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Bard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop
A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
MIT Lincoln Lab
Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
ELASH / Bebras US
Bebras Computing Challenge (US)
An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.
⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

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