As a high school student, exploring your interests in different disciplines can be a confusing journey, especially without clear guidance. Learning about online programs for high school students early on can help you explore subjects more deeply, compare career pathways, and make informed decisions before you enter college.

These programmes are a great way to gain advanced knowledge in a range of subjects, explore career options, and build confidence. You can learn from home, avoiding the stress of housing and travel costs, with options that range from free courses to fee-based programmes.

Picture combining flexibility with academic depth, exploring new topics, developing personal projects, and working closely with like-minded peers. With regular classes led by experienced instructors, all of this becomes possible from wherever you are.

How do you choose the right online programs for high school students?

We know it can be difficult to find the right online program. After all, there are tons of opportunities out there, and some of them might be too basic, too expensive, or simply disconnected from what you’re interested in. That’s why getting the right information is important, so you can pick the programs that are best for you.

Many reputed Universities around the world offer online programs that offer skill development, live and pre-recorded lectures, and the opportunity to explore careers in your chosen discipline. The best online programs not only focus on giving subject knowledge but also provide you with hands-on experience in research, interactive sessions, and projects.

A good online program will also focus on extracurricular activities that sharpen soft skills like communication, public speaking, and guided preparation for college applications. Some of these programs are self-paced, while others require you to follow a specific schedule. Regardless of the field, you’ll have to work hard once the program starts, but we’ll make things easier for you now. To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of 15 online programs for high school students.

15 Online Programs for High School Students

1. MITES Semester

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Begins in mid-June (exact dates may vary)
Application Deadline: February 1st
Eligibility: High school juniors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

MITES Semester is a six-month virtual program that offers a college-preparation experience. You’ll attend webinars, courses, workshops, and social events. You’ll learn from experienced STEM professionals and receive beneficial tips for your college admissions. You’ll explore the new areas of STEM, develop social, academic, and practical skills, and engage with a supportive community of peers and professionals.

You’ll learn about a range of science and engineering topics, including machine learning, thermodynamics, astrophysics and more. You’ll attend live classes and learn along with other participants. If you’re a high school student with a strong academic record and a passion for learning about science, engineering, technology, and math, then the MITES Semester can be a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: You’ll explore advanced STEM topics, along with getting practical college application support from MIT professionals.

2. Immerse Education’s Online Research Programme

Location: Fully remote
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; multiple dates throughout the year
Program Dates: Flexible; multiple cohorts in a year.
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 (accredited options require age 14+)

The Online Research Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct rigorous research with tutors from Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League universities, making it one of the most academically intensive online programs for high school students. You will work with your tutor to explore a subject of your choice in depth and write an academic research paper. The program is offered in 1:1 and small group formats, and you can receive college credit from universities in the US and the UK.

The virtual research program is offered in over 20 subjects, including artificial intelligence, chemistry, psychology, economics, computer science, creative writing, philosophy, and more. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your tutor, an opportunity to publish your research, and an invitation to present at the Immerse Online Symposium. You can find examples of papers Immersion students have worked on here. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You’ll conduct real research on a topic you choose with a tutor from top universities like Oxford or the Ivy League, and also write and publish a paper with their evaluation.

3. Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,120
Dates: June 15-26
Application Deadline: February 6th
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students, regardless of citizenship

If you’re a high school student interested in learning about AI tools and their role in making the world a better place, then Stanford AI4All can be a good option to consider. You’ll engage in hands-on activities, participate in team-based research projects, and attend live demos with AI organisations. The program aims to help you solve real-world problems through AI tools.

You’ll receive mentorship from the Stanford AI lab and other industry professionals and explore a range of topics to join one research group, including medical AI, robotics, computer vision and natural language processing. The research projects will be led by postdocs and graduate students in computer science and AI.

Why it stands out: You’ll work on real-world AI solutions through hands-on projects and team research.

4. Year 11 Online STEM Challenge

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 23-26
Application Deadline: March 4th
Eligibility: 11th-grade high school students studying at a non-fee-paying school in the UK who can travel to the campus for the final day of the programme

The Year 11 Online STEM Challenge will offer you a four-day experience of applying your STEM knowledge and solving a real-world problem. You’ll work online with a small team of other participants during the first three days of the program. You’ll be introduced to an academic leader and fellow team members, attend group project sessions, and also meet researchers from the industries related to the challenge.

On the fourth day of the program, you’ll visit Imperial College to have face-to-face interactions with your team and mentor. You’ll explore the campus, share your presentation, and pitch your solution to a judging panel. The team with the best ideas and presentation will win and receive a prize. Along with gaining valuable learning experience, you’ll get a chance to make new friends and develop self-confidence.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain real-world STEM problem-solving skills by pitching team solutions to Imperial experts, building confidence for university challenges.

5. UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program

Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,350
Dates: Session 1: June 22nd – July 10th; Session 2: July 13th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students worldwide interested in the healthcare field (ages 15-18) who have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3/4

UCI School of Medicine Summer Online Research Program offers a three-week mentorship to increase your interest and exposure to research methods. You’ll learn the important concepts of conducting research involving human participants, evidence-based medicine, and critical evaluation of medical literature. All the program activities will be conducted online and at your own pace.

A UC Irvine Faculty member will be your program instructor. You’ll also be assigned coaches who are UC Irvine undergraduate and postgraduate students in biomedical research. You’ll get the chance to write an organised research report and submit an abstract to a national meeting after the program. 

Why it stands out: You’ll master medical research skills from UCI faculty and gain a publishable abstract to boost your medical school applications.

6. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes

Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200; Financial aid available
Dates: Session 1: June 15-26; Session 2: July 6-17
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Grade 8-11 students; international students accepted

The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer an intensive study experience in a single subject. You can choose from more than 75 online courses in subjects including artificial intelligence, creative writing, engineering, philosophy, mathematics, and many more. You’ll attend live online classes, engage in academic discussions with your peers, and learn from expert instructors.

There is no pressure to acquire certain grades, and you can learn and explore your chosen subject with a flexible approach. The program will help you understand your academic interests and pursue a career in a subject area that inspires you. 

Why it stands out: You’ll get to learn in-depth about a subject of your choice without the pressure of a grading system.

7. Sutton Trust Online Program

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: August 26th
Eligibility: U.K. students ages 16-18. More information here

The Sutton Trust Online is an award-winning digital program that offers you interactive activities, expert guidance, and valuable resources. You’ll get a chance to develop new skills, build your confidence, and prepare strong applications to pursue higher studies.

You’ll attend exclusive webinars led by experts, and get access to university and course-specific content curated by professionals. There are four phases in the program, including the explore phase, apply phase, prepare phase, and succeed phase. You’ll also receive support with admission tests, interviews, competitive courses, universities, and apprenticeships. 

Why it stands out: You’ll get Sutton Trust guidance through all phases, along with the Russell Group resources and alumni support for your UK university journey.

8. UC Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science: The AI Journey

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program packages. More information here
Dates: July 14th – August 1st
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students anywhere in the world aged 12-18

The UC Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science: The AI Journey will help you improve coding skills in Python, create beautiful data visualisations, and build machine learning models. In addition to working on a portfolio project, you’ll get to develop important AI applications. You’ll attend lectures and create your personal coding notebooks. Along with the lectures, you’ll also be a part of small cohorts and conduct original research with 1:1 guidance and support.

Outside of the learning experience, you will be given bonus time where you’ll get to engage in fun activities with your peers. The program will conclude as you present your final projects with a slideshow and coding notebook. The projects will involve original AI storytelling through data visualisations and might also be helpful in your college applications.

Why it stands out: You’ll build AI projects with Python coding and data visuals in small groups and receive guided 1:1 support for a strong college application portfolio.

9. Summer Research Program – Columbia University

Location: Virtual
Cost: To Be Announced
Dates: To Be Announced
Application Deadline: To Be Announced
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th students and recent high school graduates from all around the world

The Summer Research Program with Columbia University offers an opportunity to develop technical skills in data science. You’ll participate in ongoing research being conducted at the Columbia University Data Science Institute. You’ll work as a research assistant under the guidance of Professors and PhD candidates.

The program is divided into two components focusing on intensive data science training, data visualisations, data cleaning, and more. You’ll develop STEM research and computer science skills, explore the practical application of research in data science, and work on a research project. If you’re a high school student interested in research, along with building a network with professionals, this program can be a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: You’ll work as a research assistant on real Columbia Data Science Institute projects, guided by professors and PhDs to build technical skills and a professional network.

10. Biomedical Engineering Innovation: Online

Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,800
Dates: Year-Round
Application Deadline: December 12th
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent high school graduates worldwide. More information available here

Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovations Pre-College Programs’ Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI) offers hands-on experience in working on technical projects. You’ll learn more about math, science, and biology, model biological systems, and design experiments. You’ll understand the role of engineering in the development of advanced medical care.

You’ll attend pre-recorded lectures, engage in laboratory work, and collaborate with fellow participants from all around the world. The program offers interesting hands-on projects, including Arduino projects, Dynamics Army Lab, Cardiovascular System lab, and more. If you’re a high school student looking for a flexible and structured online program, BMEI can be a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: You work on hands-on biomedical engineering projects, modelling biology with math and science for real medical innovations.

11. Summer@Brown Online

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies with program type
Dates: July 15-24
Application Deadline: May 8th
Eligibility: Grade 9-12 high school students (ages 14-18); international students accepted

Summer@Brown Online program offers a virtual college-level academic experience without the stress of formal grades. Some of the courses offered in the past years include business, economics and legal studies, literature, writing and communications, psychology and social sciences, engineering and technology, and more. You’ll engage in workshops, learn the subjects of your choice, and participate in independent research.

You’ll spend around 15 hours every week engaging in a range of coursework, which includes watching videos recorded by your instructor, listening to guest lectures, participating in written discussions, peer review sessions, engaging in independent reading sessions, and much more. 

Why it stands out: You’ll experience college-level courses at Brown without formal grades, engaging in workshops, discussions, and research across subjects like engineering or psychology.

12. Rice University Pre-College Online Program

Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students all over the world aged 13 and above

Rice University Pre-College Online Program offers you a chance to develop an in-depth understanding of a subject of your interest. You’ll engage in a flexible learning experience through video lessons taught by Rice University faculty members, work with and receive guidance from mentors, and develop a better understanding of the subjects you would want to pursue in college.

You can choose courses from a range of subjects offered by the program, including engineering, entrepreneurship, law, medicine, psychology, physiology, and more. You’ll also get to complete a  Capstone project to present your learnings from the program. You are allowed to enrol in multiple courses of your choice and will receive a certificate of completion from Rice University for your college applications.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain deep subject knowledge from Rice faculty videos and mentors, along with a capstone project and certificate to showcase on college applications.

13. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,299 + $25 Application fee; financial aid available
Dates: June 18th – August 12th
Application Deadline: February 15th
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15 or above

The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides a transformative and original research experience for students. You’ll gain hands-on experience in research equipment and technologies, develop scientific writing and communication skills, and work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University.

You’ll explore careers in STEM, develop creative skills, and earn three college credits on the completion of the program. 

Why it stands out: You’ll experience hands-on original research with George Mason faculty, mastering lab skills, scientific writing, and earning 3 college credits to explore STEM careers.

14. University of Washington’s AI4ALL

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: September 8th through January 26th
Application Deadline: July 31st
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, high school seniors, or students from all around the globe starting their freshman year of college in the Fall of this year.

University of Washington’s Taskar Centre for Accessible Technology invites students for AI4ALL, a 20-week virtual data science workshop. During the workshop, you’ll learn the real-world applications and fundamentals of data science and machine learning.  

The program is co-taught by UW researchers, instructors, and faculty. You’ll understand, analyse, and interpret data that will help you develop an understanding of technology decisions and their impact on the real world.

Why it stands out: You’ll learn real-world data science and machine learning from UW researchers over 20 weeks, analysing data to understand the impact of technology  on society

15. USC Pre-College Online: Building Blocks of Business

Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,990 + $35 Application fee
Dates: Vary with different programs; More information here
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students ages 14 and above; international students are welcome to apply

USC Pre-College Online: Building Blocks of Business invites students to explore the interdisciplinary nature of business. You’ll learn about real companies and understand the reasons behind their success. The program covers a range of topics, including finance, accounting, data analytics, customers and marketing, value propositions, business strategy, and more.

You’ll learn to analyse the desirability, feasibility, and viability of a business, evaluate and target its customers, and identify the resources that will help in growing a business. You’ll attend video lectures, readings, and assignments. You’ll also engage with business simulations, and as the program concludes, you’ll develop an understanding of the impact of different disciplines on making a business successful.

Why it stands out: You’ll understand what makes real companies succeed using USC simulations in finance, marketing, and strategy.

Rethinking Education in a Digital World

Online learning can feel less ‘real’ than campus life, yet the best courses demand focus, curiosity, and initiative, even on busy days. That’s where growth happens.

From live seminars to self-paced modules, you can explore new subjects, build projects, and learn how to manage time without constant reminders.

Online programs for high school students also widen access. You can learn from top universities, meet global peers, and develop skills that travel into schoolwork and applications.

Want to go further? Dive into our Educational Innovation blogs for inventive teaching ideas, emerging trends, edtech insights, and career guidance that keep you ahead.