As a high school student, summer can feel like a welcome pause from classes, exams, and deadlines, but it can also be a chance to step into something new. Summer programs for high school students in California offer the opportunity to combine academic growth, personal development, and unforgettable experiences.

Imagine spending your summer on a university campus near the Pacific coast. Picture exploring vibrant cities, innovation hubs, and cultural landmarks between classes, all while gaining insight into what college life and independent learning really feel like. From Silicon Valley to Los Angeles and beyond, California provides an environment where education, creativity, and opportunity intersect.

Even if you already live in the state, joining a structured summer program can transform how you see familiar places. You’ll meet peers from different backgrounds, experience new academic settings, and gain confidence navigating environments designed for higher-level study and collaboration.

How to pick the right summer programs in California for high school students?

Some programs can feel more like expensive excursions than meaningful learning experiences. That’s why thoughtful research is essential. The strongest programs balance rigorous content, hands-on activities, and opportunities for reflection and growth.

Across California, universities and educational organizations offer summer programs in fields such as STEM, business, arts, medicine, social sciences, and technology. Whether you’re discovering a new passion or diving deeper into an existing interest, these programs provide a valuable glimpse into future academic and career paths.

You’ll learn from experienced instructors, take part in discussions, projects, and hands-on activities, and collaborate with motivated peers from around the world. Along the way, you’ll sharpen critical thinking, build confidence, and gain a clearer sense of what studying at the university level is really like.

You’ll be challenged to stay curious and engaged, but to help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Summer Programs for High School Students in California.

15 Summer Programs for High School Students in California

1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research (SIMR) Program

Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: All students receive a minimum stipend of $500; students from underrepresented groups will receive at least $1,500
Dates: June 8th – July 30th
Application Deadline: February 21st
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors at least 16 years old, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

At SIMR, you spend eight weeks working in a research lab, where you learn how biomedical scientists design experiments, analyze data, and translate findings into a clinical context. As one of the most research-intensive summer programs for high school students in California, you work alongside graduate students and postdocs, gaining a close view of how teams operate inside a major academic medical centre.

Depending on your lab placement, you could study stem cell biology, cancer genetics, immunology, neurobiology, or bioengineering techniques for medicine. You also go to weekly faculty lectures and professional development sessions that teach you about career options in academic medicine and translational research. You get to practice real-world lab techniques by taking part in SIMR.

Why it stands out: It offers an immersive eight-week research experience at Stanford’s School of Medicine, where you work alongside graduate students and postdocs in a cutting-edge biomedical lab, gaining real-world experience in experimental design, data analysis, and translational research.

2. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School

Location: UC Berkeley campus & San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions.
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 who are currently enrolled in middle or high school

Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School is a two‑week in‑person programme that places students in an academically structured environment at UC Berkeley and within the broader San Francisco Bay Area, a global hub for innovation and technology. You can choose from subject-focused tracks like Artificial Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Creative Industries, Marketing, or Environment & Sustainability. Each course combines theory with real-world projects. Courses focus on small-group seminars, hands-on workshops, and case activities that are relevant to the industry.

These activities are similar to what students do in college and in their future jobs. The program includes visits to local businesses, labs, and cultural sites in addition to academic work. This helps students connect what they learn to the real world and the city as a whole. Students also live in college‑style accommodation in the Bay Area, giving them experience of residence life and peer collaboration similar to first‑year university programs. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: It provides a unique opportunity to live and study in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, with hands-on courses in subjects like AI, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability, combined with real-world projects, business visits, and college-style accommodations at UC Berkeley.

3. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program

Location: Stanford Campus, Northern California, CA
Cost: None
Dates: June 22nd – July 26th
Application Deadline: March 23rd
Eligibility: Open to low-income, first-generation high school juniors from Northern California

SMYSP offers an immersive academic and research experience for students interested in understanding health disparities, community-based research, and clinical science. You take part in hands-on health modules, shadow healthcare professionals, and explore research topics related to public health and medicine.

Faculty​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ and peer mentors work with you to conduct workshops on scientific thinking, data analysis, and college preparation. You also finish a capstone project that teaches you about the structure of research inquiry and the problems that come up when trying to solve real-world medical problems. By the end of the program, you will have learned how medicine, research, and getting involved in your community are all connected.

Why it stands out: It offers a transformative academic and research experience for low-income, first-generation high school students, combining health modules, professional mentoring, and hands-on research to explore health disparities and clinical science.

4. UCLA – Summer Sessions for High School Students

Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies by course
Dates: June – September (majority of courses span 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by session; consult Summer Sessions calendar
Eligibility: High school students around the world aged 15 and older

This program enables high school students to enroll in UCLA undergraduate-level courses and gain college credit alongside regular students. You choose from a list of approved courses, pay for each unit, and use campus resources like libraries, labs, and lecture halls.

You need to be self-motivated and mature to do the program because you follow the same course rhythms as everyone else, and there isn’t a separate support system for high school students. It provides direct exposure to university academics and helps you assess how you might cope with college-level work and independence.

Why it stands out: It allows high school students to enroll in real UCLA undergraduate courses and earn college credit, providing direct exposure to university-level academics and a true college experience on a prestigious campus.

5. UC Berkeley — Pre-College Scholars Summer Residential Track

Location: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $14,650 (Session D, six weeks) / $15,950 (Session C, eight weeks)
Dates: June 22nd – August 14th OR July 6th – August 14th
Application Deadline: March 9th
Eligibility: High school students (domestic & international) who will be at least 16 by June 22nd and have completed 10th or 11th grade; minimum B average required.

The Pre-College Scholars program at UC Berkeley places high school students in real college classes and residence halls, offering one of the most authentic summer programs for high school students in California for experiencing university academics firsthand. You choose from lower-division Berkeley courses, live on campus with supervision, and take part in structured workshops focused on college readiness and applications.

The program includes trips, community-building activities, and access to campus resources like libraries and advising. You’ll get a taste of what it’s like to study at a university through assignments, graded coursework, and transcripts from Berkeley. This experience helps you figure out what you want to study, what major to choose, and what it takes to do well in a research-focused campus.

Why it stands out: It offers high school students the chance to experience university life by taking real UC Berkeley courses, living in residence halls, and getting a head start on college with assignments, graded coursework, and structured workshops on college readiness.

6. COSMOS (California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science)

Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz (Residential)
Cost: Approximately $5,518, financial aid available
Dates: July 5-31
Application Deadline: January 7th
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade students; highly motivated students from California with strong academic records in STEM

COSMOS is a four-week residential program hosted at multiple University of California campuses, each offering specialized cluster topics in mathematics and science, with a strong emphasis on engineering. To undertake an in-depth study and research in a particular interdisciplinary field, such as sustainability, robotics, or engineering design, you are assigned to a cohort known as a “cluster”.

The courses are taught by UC system faculty and include lectures, lab work, and field visits. This selective program is designed to introduce you to the university research environment and advanced academic content far beyond the scope of a high school curriculum. Successful completion provides you with a comprehensive understanding of a specialized STEM field and enhances your academic profile.

Why it stands out: It provides a four-week, residential STEM immersion at UC campuses, where you dive deep into specialized interdisciplinary fields like sustainability, robotics, and engineering design, learning directly from UC faculty and participating in research-level activities.

7. Child Mind Institute’s Youth Mental Health Academy

Location: Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Dates: June 22nd – July 23rd
Application Deadline: February 28th
Eligibility: California high school students with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher

YMHA is a free, 14-month program designed to support high school students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in mental health careers. The program starts with a five-week summer academy where you’ll participate in project-based learning focused on topics such as stigma, generational trauma, mental-health advocacy, and data analysis.

The experience continues throughout the school year with mentorship and culminates in a paid internship within a mental-health setting, which could be in research, clinical practice, or communications. This academy isn’t a traditional psychology research program, but it does teach students about important areas of mental health, behavioral science, and community-based project design. This gives them real-world experience with applied psychology.

Why it stands out: It offers a unique program for students interested in mental health careers, combining project-based learning on topics like stigma and trauma with a paid internship in a mental health setting, providing hands-on experience and mentorship.

8. The Science Internship Program

Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, CA.
Cost/Stipend: $4,250. Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: June 15th – August 8th 
Application Deadline: February 27th
Eligibility: High school students worldwide at least 14-17 years of age on the program start date, are eligible to apply.

The Science Internship Program (SIP) offers you the chance to work alongside UC Santa Cruz faculty, researchers, and grad students on cutting-edge scientific research. You can choose from astrophysics, chemistry, ecology, engineering, or more, and contribute to ongoing projects. After a week of online training, you’ll spend the remaining weeks in your assigned lab.

Depending on where you are, you might be writing code for simulations, making nanoparticles, or studying coastal data in the field. There are also guest lectures and lab skills workshops in the program. It ends with a Final Research Symposium where you will show your work to your peers and families.

Why it stands out: It offers the chance to work on real scientific research at UC Santa Cruz, where you engage with faculty and researchers in fields like astrophysics, chemistry, and ecology, culminating in a final research presentation at a university-level symposium.

9. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Cost/Stipend: $8,850. Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Session One: June 22nd – July 11th | Session Two: July 13th – August 1st.
Application Deadline: February 2nd
Eligibility: High school students worldwide in grades 10-11 at the time of application submission are eligible to apply.

Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a residential program for students passionate about history, literature, or philosophy. You’ll choose one course, such as Ancient Greek Philosophy, Revolutionary America, Race and Identity in American Literature, or more, and explore it in depth.

The classes comprise primarily discussions and seminars, and they focus on reading primary texts, writing analytical essays, and asking tough questions. You might also do a research project. You will also take part in enrichment activities outside of class, such as guest lectures, writing workshops, and trips to special library collections.

Why it stands out: It gives you a deep dive into subjects like philosophy and history at Stanford, with discussion-based seminars and research projects that develop critical thinking and analytical writing skills in a university-style environment.

10. Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)

Location: Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22nd – July 18th
Application Deadline: March 3rd
Eligibility: 9th graders from select Southern California counties, with preference for first-generation or low-income students

PAYS is a fully funded academic enrichment program hosted at Pomona College for high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds. As a senior, you’ll take college-level math and critical inquiry seminars, join electives taught by teaching assistants, and do a mentored research project over the course of four weeks.

The program helps students get ready for college by teaching them how to write academically, think logically, and design research projects.

Why it stands out: It offers a fully funded, immersive academic enrichment program at Pomona College, where you take college-level seminars, do mentored research, and develop essential skills for success in higher education, with a strong focus on underrepresented students.

11. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford University

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22nd – August 14th (subject to change)
Application Deadline: January 25th
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from the U.S. who are at least 14 years old

SHTEM is an eight-week research internship hosted by the Stanford Compression Forum, designed for motivated high-school juniors and seniors. You will work with Stanford faculty, students, and research staff in interdisciplinary teams of 2 to 5 students.

You work together on real-world projects that combine STEM fields like engineering, biology, neuroscience, and data science with the humanities, like psychology and linguistics. You learn about research design, data analysis, and scientific communication throughout the program. At the end, they give a group presentation of their work.

Why it stands out: It combines research across diverse STEM fields like biology, neuroscience, and data science with the humanities, offering interdisciplinary team projects at Stanford, where you gain experience in research design, data analysis, and scientific communication.

12. UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business: Future Leaders Initiative

Location: UC Irvine, Irvine, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: Various
Application Deadline: April 6th
Eligibility: Incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Southern California

This​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ program equips you with the essential concepts of business, innovation, and leadership. It will lead you through practical exercises like case analysis, project development, and structured ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌reflection. You explore how organizations make financial and strategic decisions and how leaders evaluate information in uncertain environments.

Faculty-led sessions help you build confidence in presenting ideas, working collaboratively, and thinking analytically. You also learn about the academic culture of a top business school and the different paths you can take as a future business or finance major. By taking part, you learn the basic skills and professional attitude you need to study business with a clear mind and a clear goal.

Why it stands out: It offers a free, intensive business and leadership program where you develop analytical thinking, project development, and financial decision-making skills, gaining exposure to the academic culture of a top business school.

13. Wall Street Academy at the University of San Francisco (USF)

Location: University of San Francisco (USF), San Francisco, CA
Cost: Commuter: $2,150; Residential: $3,025
Dates: Typically one-week cohorts in June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students

The Wall Street Academy is an intensive, one-week summer program designed to provide high school students with early exposure to college-level finance and investment concepts.The curriculum covers a lot of ground, including the basics of personal finance and investments, global financial markets, alternative investments, and how to model finances. You learn from well-known USF professors and top industry experts, such as CFA charter holders and finance professionals from well-known companies.

One of the best things about the program is that it offers exclusive off-site experiences. In the past, these have included trips to big banks like BlackRock and Merrill Lynch. This mix of hard academics, useful tools, and networking in the real world makes it a good choice for students who want to work in finance.

Why it stands out: It offers high school students early exposure to finance and investment concepts, with lectures from top industry experts and exclusive off-site experiences at major financial institutions like BlackRock, providing hands-on learning in a real-world context.

14. USC Exploration of Architecture

Location: Los Angeles, CA 
Cost: $11,570 (residential); $8,130 (commuter)
Dates: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: March 13th (International students), May 8th (Domestic students)
Eligibility: High school students from all around the globe, grades 9–12

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ University of Southern California has a four-week immersive program that is a live-in campus experience and a work engagement in the university’s architecture studios.You will finish a number of design assignments that require you to develop, sketch, and present your ideas to faculty juries.

Additionally, the program includes tours of famous Los Angeles structures, allowing you to become acquainted with the city’s rich architectural history. The curriculum combines rigorous studio work with real-world study in Los Angeles.

Why it stands out: It combines rigorous design studio work with real-world study in Los Angeles, offering students a chance to develop and present architectural concepts while exploring famous city landmarks and learning from USC’s esteemed faculty.

15. University of California, Santa Barbara – Research Mentorship Program (RMP)

Location: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Santa Barbara, CA (with a required virtual component)
Cost: Commuter option: $5,675, Residential option: $13,274 (includes housing and meals arranged through the residential partner)
Dates: June 15th – July 31st
Application Deadline: December 15th – March 9th (rolling admissions)
Eligibility: Typically open to students in Grades 10-11 with a minimum 3.8 weighted GPA; highly qualified Grade 9 students may be considered on a case-by-case basis. International students are welcome to apply

The UCSB Research Mentorship Program is a selective summer research program where you work on an interdisciplinary research project under the guidance of a UCSB graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty mentor. You choose from a carefully chosen list of research projects that change every year and can be in areas like engineering, computer science, psychology, economics, chemistry, or marine science.

You also take two UCSB summer courses that together give you 8 units of university credit. These courses focus on writing, analyzing, and communicating research. The program includes structured lectures and GRIT Talks that expose you to ongoing research across UCSB departments. By the end, you produce a formal research paper and present your findings, giving you a clear picture of how undergraduate research is structured at a major research university.

Why it stands out: It pairs students with UCSB researchers to work on interdisciplinary projects, providing hands-on research experience and college-level courses that culminate in a formal research paper and presentation, helping you understand how real university research operates.

How Environment Shapes Student Growth

Environment plays a powerful role in how you learn, adapt, and build independence, especially when you step into settings that differ from your everyday routine.

Studying on university campuses and in dynamic cities encourages you to navigate new expectations, collaborate with diverse peers, and take ownership of your time.

Through summer programs for high school students in California, you gain academic structure alongside cultural exposure that accelerates confidence, maturity, and self-direction.

To better understand housing options, campus life, budgeting, and how to make the most of your summer in California, explore our Student Life and Cultural Immersion blogs for practical, location-specific guidance.