As a high school student fascinated by artificial intelligence, the field can feel both thrilling and overwhelming. You may encounter snippets of AI in videos, apps, or headlines about machine learning and robotics, yet still wonder what studying AI actually involves beyond the buzzwords. One of the best ways to learn more about AI is through online AI programs.

Imagine spending your summer or school year joining live virtual sessions, building machine learning models from scratch, experimenting with neural networks, or analyzing how algorithms interpret language and images. Online AI programs make it possible to engage with advanced topics from anywhere, giving you exposure to real-world tools, frameworks, and thinking processes used by professionals and researchers.

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

With so many offerings online, it can be hard to tell which ones truly deliver meaningful learning. Some focus mostly on introductory syntax, while others dive into deeper concepts with hands-on experience. That’s why thoughtful selection matters, so you can pick the programs that are right for you.

Across universities, tech organizations, and digital learning platforms, there are online AI programs that cover topics such as machine learning, data science, Python programming, natural language processing, and ethical implications of AI. Some programs emphasize project-based learning, while others mix lectures with collaborative exercises and mentorship. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to deepen your knowledge, these opportunities help you sharpen analytical thinking and prepare for future study in technology.

You’ll learn from experienced instructors, participate in interactive labs and discussions, and collaborate with motivated peers from around the world. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your coding skills, refine your understanding of core AI concepts, and gain a clearer sense of what pursuing AI academically and professionally might look like.

For an in-person exploration into AI, you can look at AI summer programs for high school students.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Online AI Programs for High School Students. They’ve been selected for their quality instruction, practical learning experiences, and ability to spark curiosity and creativity in the world of artificial intelligence.

15 Online AI Programs for High School Students

1. Google AI for Beginners

Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Multiple cohorts, self-study
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts
Eligibility: Everyone interested in starting with AI; international students welcome

Are you new to AI and would like to learn AI in a fun and practical way? Google (partnering with Coursera) launches a totally free course for beginners called Google AI Essentials. In this course, you don’t need any particular experience with AI, making it super friendly for beginners. You can also learn at your own pace with a flexible learning schedule and less than 5 hours to complete the whole course.

This course consists of 5 modules that will teach you to use generative AI tools, use AI responsibly, write clear and specific prompts to get the output you want, and develop strategies to keep up with the ever-changing AI trend. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Why it stands out: It offers a completely free, beginner-friendly introduction to generative AI from Google, with flexible pacing and a recognized certificate that requires less than five hours to complete.

2. Immerse Education Online AI Summer School

Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1:1 tutoring
Dates: Available year-round
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Students aged 13 to 18 years old; international students welcome

Artificial Intelligence is changing the world as we speak, so why not learn it to stay ahead of the curve? Immerse Education’s AI online summer school is a selective, academically rigorous option among the various online AI programs for high school students, giving you the chance to engage deeply with AI and its practical implications.

Immerse Education’s online program provides a virtual learning experience with rigorous, in-depth academic sessions, a personal research project, and a choice of 1:1 or group lessons. The total hours of learning would be 10-15 hours. At the end of the program, you will get a certificate of completion and, for some courses, an accredited university qualification.

Why it stands out: It combines pre-university academic rigor with personal research projects and optional 1:1 instruction, giving students a structured yet flexible introduction to AI as an academic field.

3. Harvard CS50 Introduction to Python

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Can be taken anytime
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Everyone interested in programming with the Python language, which is a core computer language for further learning of Machine Learning and AI; international students welcome

If you want to learn AI or Machine Learning from a technical perspective, you need to be able to learn at least one computer language. Many experts believe that Python is the computer language mostly used to develop AI technology, and Harvard offers a free, online Introduction to Python course.

In this course, you learn how to read, code, test, and debug in Python, especially if you have no prior coding experience. Each week, you are invited to watch online lectures, watch online short videos from the website, and then submit the problem set through the platform. The online course is very interactive, the lessons are more towards online discussion, and you are encouraged to ask questions on the community portal.

Why it stands out: It provides a strong technical foundation for AI through Python programming using Harvard’s interactive, discussion-driven learning model at no cost.

4. Kode With Klossy

Location: Virtual and in-person
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: TBD for 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens aged 13-18 who are curious, passionate, interested in STEM, and community-minded; international students welcome; international students welcome

Kode with Klossy is a series of free virtual camps for teens who are interested in STEM in order to spark a lifelong interest in STEM. What is very cool about this program is that you don’t need to know how to code before joining the program. You will learn one out of four customised lessons in Web Development, Mobile Apps, Machine Learning, or Data Science.

If you want to start learning AI, choosing Machine Learning as your stream would be the best bet. Both virtual and in-person camps will also include activities outside the learning area, such as virtual seminars run by inspirational women in code.

Why it stands out: It lowers the barrier to AI learning by offering free, beginner-friendly camps while also centering community, mentorship, and representation in STEM.

5. Berkeley Coding Academy

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Price starts from USD 2499
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Different dates per program taken, mostly class runs through July for 3 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 18 years old with a stable internet connection; international students welcome

Every summer, the Berkeley Coding Academy runs “AI Summer” with their “Data Science – The AI Journey” class as their best-selling offering, making it one of the more intensive and application-focused online AI programs for high school students. In Berkeley Coding Academy, you have the opportunity to build and evaluate machine learning models, even if you don’t have experience in coding yet (they will teach you how).

Apart from learning Python, you will also learn libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, and Keras to analyze big data and to predict machine learning models. Although classes are done online, you won’t be alone because you will be working together online by sharing codes, explaining work, giving presentations, and listening to feedback. 

Why it stands out: It teaches students to build and evaluate real machine learning models using industry-standard Python libraries, even if they start with no coding experience.

6. Stanford University AI4ALL Online Program

Location: Virtual and residential
Cost/Stipend: USD 4120 (online), USD 9800 (residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 15-26 June (online)
Application Deadline: 6th February
Eligibility: High school students in grade 9; international students welcome

The Stanford University AI4ALL Online Program is a two-week online program (also residential) that empowers you to be more curious and dive deeper into AI. In general, during this program, you get to engage with professionals in the AI field to learn more about how AI can supplement needs like medicine, disaster response, and combating poverty. In the online program, you get to follow live courses and online classrooms where you can engage with your instructor and other peers from around the world who take the same program.

You will get a full schedule, so you are expected to attend all live classes, work on the homework, and be present, just like attending a residential program. At the end of the program, you will have to present a final presentation, and you will get a certificate of attendance.

Why it stands out: It emphasizes AI’s social impact by connecting technical learning with real-world applications in medicine, disaster response, and social good through live instruction.

7. AIClub

Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on courses taken
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Rolling admissions all year long, each course takes about 8 weeks
Application Deadline: Different deadline per start date
Eligibility: Programs are dedicated to high school students and the general public; international students welcome

AIClub is a company that focuses on AI courses for elementary to high school students to learn AI and realize their passion through creative education. For high school students, AIClub offers high school courses that can be taken for you, with or without coding experience. They offer courses such as Natural Language Processing, Build Games with AI and Python, or a customized 1:1 curriculum.

All courses are online with live interaction, and all courses are taught by teachers with extensive AI experience, both in their respective industries and academic accomplishments. At the end of each course, you graduate with your own project that you can use as part of your college application.

Why it stands out: It allows students to graduate with a tangible AI project through live, instructor-led courses that can be customized to individual interests and skill levels.

8. The Coding School Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: TBD
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: TBD
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: High school students aged under 18 years old; international students welcome

During The Coding School’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course, one of the more academically structured online AI programs for high school students, you take part in a two-semester learning experience designed specifically for students who want to understand how modern AI systems work. The program allows you to jump directly into Python programming, data science basics, and foundational machine learning models such as linear regression and decision trees.

As the course progresses, you build on these core skills and explore advanced topics including deep learning, computer vision, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing alongside a global cohort of students. Throughout the year, you attend structured lectures, hands-on labs, and guided project sessions that emphasize real-world problem solving. You can also engage with industry experts, participate in discussions around ethics and responsible AI. 

Why it stands out: It offers a rare two-semester AI curriculum for high school students that progresses from foundational machine learning to advanced topics like deep learning and NLP.

9. Teens in AI

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Around GBP 25 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Rolling admission per course
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
Eligibility: Teens aged 13 to 19 years old; international students welcome

During the AI Adventure online courses by Teens in AI, you begin your journey into artificial intelligence through a fully self-paced learning experience designed for students with little to no prior coding background. By taking different courses, you get to explore core concepts in AI, technology, mathematics, and coding, applying what you learn through interactive quizzes, coding exercises, and hands-on projects.

The program focuses on building practical skills such as data analysis, logical reasoning, and problem-solving that are relevant across many modern industries. AI experts with real-world experience lead the courses, giving you exposure to how these tools are used beyond the classroom. Upon completing the course, you receive a certificate.

Why it stands out: It provides a fully self-paced entry into AI that prioritizes practical problem-solving and accessibility for students with little to no technical background.

10. MIT FutureMakers

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 2026 dates coming soon
Application Deadline: TBD, registration opens in February/March
Eligibility: High school and early college students from the US and Puerto Rico

If you are in high school or a freshman in college and want to know more about how to design with AI to create positive change in your community, the MIT FutureMakers is a great program for you. It is a totally free, six-week program that teaches you technical, leadership, design, and entrepreneurial skills with expert mentors in AI.

The program includes hands-on classes, webinars with industry experts, create-a-thon events, and mentoring support. To be eligible for this program, you don’t need to have prior coding experience; even if you have some, MIT has other programs for you. Alumni of the MIT FutureMakers often continue their education in STEM fields and are statistically more competitive and ready for future tech internships.

Why it stands out: It blends AI education with leadership, design, and entrepreneurship in a fully funded program backed by MIT mentorship and long-term student outcomes.

11. Generation AI @ MIT

Location: Hybrid, combining online learning and in-person learning at your school or MIT
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 2026 dates coming soon
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 to 18 years old; international students welcome

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept; it is already woven into how students learn, create, and imagine their futures. Through RAISE’s Generation AI @ MIT, you step into short, yet immersive programs designed to introduce AI in a way that feels both rigorous and accessible. Working with a curriculum developed by MIT researchers, you learn from MIT-affiliated instructors and MIT student mentors who guide you through hands-on challenges and real-world applications.

The program encourages you to explore not only how AI works, but also how it shapes industries, communities, and ethical decision-making. By the end of the program, you earn an MIT certificate of completion that reflects both technical skill development and early clarity about potential college and career paths in AI-related fields.

Why it stands out: It uses MIT-developed curriculum and mentorship to help students critically explore both the technical and ethical dimensions of AI through immersive, short-format programs.

12. Empower AI by the University of North Carolina

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: USD 395
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 6-9 July and 13-16 July
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: General high school students; international students welcome

During the Empower AI online course, you are introduced to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence through a beginner-friendly and fully online learning experience. You don’t need any prior coding experience, and with this course, you are able to explore core AI concepts, including machine learning, neural networks, and the ethical considerations behind intelligent systems.

You learn how algorithms work with data and apply your skills to solve real-world problems through a mixture of learning styles. Upon completion of the course, you earn a digital badge that can be shared on college applications, digital portfolios, and professional platforms to showcase your successful early engagement with AI.

Why it stands out: It recognizes student achievement through a shareable digital badge while introducing AI concepts in a structured, beginner-friendly academic setting.

13. Columbia University Pre-College Machine Learning 1 and 2 (Online)

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: USD 2815 per session (one-week), USD 3965 per session (two-week course). Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Summer A (6-17 July), Summer B (20-31 July)
Application Deadline: Different deadlines for different sessions
Eligibility: High school students in general; international students welcome

During the Columbia University Pre-College Program in Machine Learning, one of the academically demanding online AI programs for high school students, you learn the fundamentals of AI. For two weeks from Monday to Friday, you join virtual classrooms to refine your skills through discussions, debates, projects, and applied activities. The Machine Learning course consisted of Machine Learning 1 and 2.

If you don’t have any coding experience, you are welcome to take the Machine Learning 1 class. Students who have experience with coding can take the Machine Learning 2 program. At the end of the online program, you will earn a Columbia University Certification of Participation and an evaluation letter that reflects your performance during the program. These credentials can be used to strengthen your college application.

Why it stands out: It allows students to choose between introductory and advanced tracks while earning an official Columbia evaluation and certificate in a focused two-week format.

14. AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: USD 2000, USD 45 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 15-26 June (Session A), 6-17 July (Session B)
Application Deadline: 20th February
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2026, aged 14+ by program start date, US residents only

Designed for high school students from all levels, the AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a virtual bootcamp that covers the basics of machine learning in the healthcare industry. You will be engaged in full-day learning through online learning modules, group discussions, social activities, and “Meet the Experts” sessions with guest speakers. Lessons learned in the online class range from topics such as “Why Machine Learning in Healthcare?”, “Best Practices in Machine Learning” and “Strategies and Challenges in Machine Learning in Healthcare”.

During this program, you are expected to participate for the whole two weeks; each day consists of classes from 9 AM to 1 PM. At the end of the camp, you will receive a certificate of completion to enhance your college application or to boost your confidence in learning further developments in AI.

Why it stands out: It uniquely focuses on machine learning applications in healthcare, giving students early exposure to a specialized and rapidly growing AI field.

15. Harvard Computer Society AI Bootcamp

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: USD 795
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 5-9 January, 25-29 August
Application Deadline: 30th December
Eligibility: High school students who are strong in mathematical skills; international students welcome

The Harvard Computer Society AI Bootcamp is a five-day intensive virtual bootcamp for highly motivated high school students, especially if you are into Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. It has two types of tracks: Intro and Advanced, and will cover topics around generative AI, AI/ML research, and will offer you a chance to work on a mini-project.

If you have little to no experience in coding languages or mathematical reasoning, it’s good to take the Introduction track. Meanwhile, if you have worked with AI/ML or know Python, the Advanced track is the way to go. You will get a Certificate of Completion at the end of the bootcamp, and if you’re one of the exceptional students, you may be eligible for a Certificate of Honor or Certificate of Distinction.

Why it stands out: It offers both introductory and advanced tracks within an intensive five-day format, with distinction-based certificates that recognize high-performing students.

Rethinking Education In The Age Of AI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how knowledge is created, shared, and applied. Learning today is no longer limited to classrooms, textbooks, or traditional timelines.

By engaging with real tools, projects, and problems, you begin to understand how AI systems influence industries, research, and everyday decision-making across the world.

This is where online AI programs for high school students play a key role, offering structured, accessible ways to explore advanced concepts while building future-ready technical and analytical skills.

To explore how education continues to evolve through technology, pedagogy, and innovation, visit our Educational Innovation blogs for insights on emerging trends shaping the future of learning.