Top Competitive Summer Research Programs for High School Students

Here’s a curated list of highly selective, research-focused summer programs for high school students, with details on duration, acceptance rates, and costs. Many of these offer incredible experiences — and some are free!

Elite & Highly Competitive Programs

- Research Science Institute (RSI) – MIT / CEE

• Length: 6 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: <1% (extremely competitive)

• Cost: Free (hosted at MIT)

• Notes: Often considered the most prestigious high school research program in the U.S. Students conduct independent research under MIT mentors.

- Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) – Stanford University

• Length: 7 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: 3–5%

• Stipend: Yes

• Focus: Biomedical & medical research.

- Simons Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University

• Length: 8 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~4%

• Focus: Independent research under faculty mentors.

- Clark Scholars Program – Texas Tech University

• Length: 7 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~2%

• Cost: Free + stipend

• Focus: Individual research projects across multiple disciplines.

- Garcia Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University

• Length: 7 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~10%

• Focus: Polymer science and engineering research.

Strong Research Opportunities

- Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) – Rockefeller University

• Length: 8 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~3%

• Cost: Free

• Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors

• Notes: Known for in-depth lab work and interviews; takes ~37 students each year.

- UC Santa Barbara – Research Mentorship Program (RMP) – UCSB

• Length: 7 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~4%

• Cost: ~$10K (residential), commuter options available

• Notes: Earn college credits and complete a research paper.

- UC Santa Barbara – Summer Research Academies (SRA) – UCSB

• Length: 4 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~8%

• Cost: ~$10K residential / ~$3.5K commuter

• Fields: Data science, molecular bio, policy, econ, and more.

• Tip: Rolling admissions — apply early!

- Boston University RISE – BU

• Length: 6 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~10%

• Tracks: Internship (research) & Practicum

• Focus: STEM research under BU faculty.

- Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP) – UC Santa Cruz

• Length: 8–10 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~20%

• Cost: ~$6.5K (residential)

• Fields: Includes STEM and humanities (e.g., music, econ).

- Summer Science Program (SSP) – SSP

• Length: 5 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~16%

• Cost: ~$10K

• Focus: Astrophysics, biochem, genomics, etc.

• Notes: Prestigious but costly; opinions vary on recent competitiveness.

- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) – MIT

• Length: 4 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: Varies by course

• Focus: Engineering, AI, and computing challenges.

Additional Respected STEM Programs

- Iowa SSTP – University of Iowa

• Length: 6 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: 15–20%

• Cost: ~$7.5K

• Focus: Research projects with Iowa faculty.

- Florida SSTP – University of Florida

• Length: 7 weeks

• Cost: ~$5.5K

• Notes: Competitive program; multiple UF summer options available.

- Governor’s Schools (Various States) – Wikipedia Directory

• Length & Acceptance: Varies by state

• Focus: Research, leadership, and academic enrichment.

• Tip: Check your state’s program page for details.

- Wharton M&TSI (Management & Technology Summer Institute) – Wharton

• Length: 3 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: Very low

• Focus: Business, tech, and entrepreneurship.

- Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) – Yale

• Length: 2 weeks

• Acceptance Rate: ~16% (declining in recent years)

• Focus: Global affairs, STEM, social sciences.

  
  

Summary Notes

• Best free programs: RSI, Rockefeller SSRP, Clark Scholars, Simons.

• Best balance of cost & prestige: UCSB RMP, SIMR, BU RISE.

• Rolling admissions: UCSB SRA (apply early!).

• Application season: Most open between November–February — prepare essays and recommendation letters early.