15 Online Science Courses for High School Students

TL;DR

You’ll find 15 online science courses here, from self-paced university courses to live Stanford classes and credit-bearing options at Emory, Syracuse, and Georgetown. The biggest differences are cost and credit, since options range from Dartmouth’s free-to-enroll environmental science course on Coursera to Syracuse’s $3,905 four-credit forensic science course. Most are open to high school students, though a few require rising juniors or seniors. Immerse Education’s Online Research pathway pairs you 1:1 with a tutor from Oxford, Cambridge, or an Ivy League institution for students aged 13 to 18.

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If science is your favorite subject in high school, there are plenty of online science courses that allow you to explore the subject beyond your high school curriculum. These courses give you the opportunity to explore disciplines such as genetics, biomedical science, astronomy, environmental science, and more. They are often designed by universities, thus giving you an exposure to the syllabus you can expect when you later choose to major in a science subject at college.

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Online courses typically don’t limit themselves to just lectures and textbooks. They also immerse you in research projects, at-home scientific experiments, assignments, case studies and more that give you exposure to the different scientific tools and techniques used in a specific field. 

Why should you take an online science course in high school?

One clear advantage of enrolling in an online course is experiencing university-level education from home, often at your own pace. As a participant in these courses, you may learn directly from university professors or industry experts through live meetings or recorded videos. You will simultaneously get to engage in college-level coursework, collaborate with other students, and even complete a capstone project and earn college credits.

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Given that online courses cover a wide range of scientific areas, such as genome engineering, forensic science, solar system science, and more, you have access to exploring a specific field before fully committing to it. In other words, your participation allows you to make a well-informed choice of whether a certain discipline is the right one for you to consider for future education and careers. 

15 Online Science Courses for High School Students 

1. Immerse Education’s Online Summer School

Location: Online
Cost: Varies by option
Dates: Flexible; you choose your start date
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 to 18, or 14 to 18 for the Accredited and Publication options; open to international students from around the world

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Immerse Education’s Online Research pathway pairs you 1:1 with a tutor from Oxford, Cambridge, or an Ivy League institution to investigate a question you choose. You can pick a science subject such as biology, chemistry, or medicine, and your tutor helps you shape a question focused enough to answer with accessible evidence. You write your paper in sections, with each one returned with your tutor’s comments.

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The Classic option includes 10 hours of tutorials, while the Accredited option offers 15 hours and earns you 8 UCAS points or 3 US college credits. The Publication option adds four sessions with a publication specialist and guarantees submission to an independent high school research journal. You can find more details about the application here.

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Why it stands out: You finish with a polished research paper written under 1:1 guidance, with an optional route to journal submission.

2. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Topics in Bioscience

Location: Online
Cost: $3,200 tuition in 2026; financial aid available to domestic and international students
Dates: 2026 sessions ran June 15th to 26th and July 6th to 17th (2027 courses not yet posted)
Application Deadline: 2026 applications are closed; the 2026 financial aid deadline was March 20th
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 11 at the time of application | Open to international students

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Topics in Bioscience builds your foundation in biology, anatomy, physiology, and related fields. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, you learn how viruses infect the body, how their genetic material becomes proteins, and how they evolve over time. You also explore the science behind mRNA vaccines and the clinical, epidemiological, and computational methods behind research in human subjects.

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Classes meet live for two hours each weekday, with a third hour for office hours. You also complete asynchronous assignments, small group activities, and a collaborative group project, with about one to two hours of homework a day.

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Why it stands out: It prepares you for fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, and epidemiology.

3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

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The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! 

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You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.

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Why it stands out: You’ll get an early start on university-level study through small seminars, 1:1 tutorials, and an independent project, with residential or commuter options.

4. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Investigations in Genetics

Location: Online
Cost: $3,200 tuition in 2026; financial aid available to domestic and international students
Dates: 2026 Session Two ran July 6th to 17th, with live class between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. PDT (2027 courses not yet posted)
Application Deadline: 2026 applications are closed
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 11 at the time of application who have completed high school biology | Open to international students

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Investigations in Genetics takes an interdisciplinary look at genes, genetic variation, and heredity. You investigate how genetic mutation and regulation contribute to disease, what the microbiome can reveal about disease states, and how to design experiments using genetic technologies.

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The course also explores the role genetics plays in everyday life. Like other Summer Institutes courses, it combines two hours of live class each weekday with an hour of office hours and one to two hours of homework.

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Why it stands out: You learn to design genetics experiments that tackle fundamental biological questions.

5. Johns Hopkins Online Pre-College: Anatomy, Physiology, & Disease

Location: Online
Cost: Listed on Summer at Hopkins’ admissions pages; financial assistance available
Dates: Two-week sessions; 2026 ran June 22nd to July 3rd, July 6th to 17th, and July 20th to 31
Application Deadline: See Summer at Hopkins’ admissions page
Eligibility: Pre-college high school students; a background in biology is strongly recommended | Open to international students

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This two-week course explores the nervous, muscular, cardiopulmonary, renal, digestive, and immune systems and how each affects health and disease. You synthesize what you learn through interactive activities, building a foundation for future biomedical and scientific study. The course carries one credit.

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The course is mostly asynchronous, but you’re expected to meet daily and weekly deadlines. Your instructor also offers optional live sessions such as office hours, group discussions, and supplemental lectures.

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Why it stands out: You get a structured, credit-bearing introduction to physiology in just two weeks.

6. Johns Hopkins Online Pre-College: Green Chemistry: The Science of Sustainability

Location: Online
Cost: Listed on Summer at Hopkins’ admissions pages; financial assistance available
Dates: Two-week sessions; 2026 ran June 22nd to July 3rd and July 20th to 31
Application Deadline: See Summer at Hopkins’ admissions page
Eligibility: Pre-college high school students; no prerequisites | Open to international students

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Green Chemistry takes a sustainability-focused look at modern synthetic chemistry, guided by the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. You compare synthetic routes using atom economy and green metrics, consider safer solvents, and evaluate long-term impacts.

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Petrochemicals underpin everyday goods from packaging to electronics, so the course connects chemistry to products you use daily. You also gain a grounding in chemical toxicology.

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Why it stands out: It shows you how chemists design safer, more sustainable syntheses.

7. Georgetown University Pre-College Online: Biology College Credit

Location: Online
Cost: $3,995 (College Credit) or $1,895 (Enrichment); need-based scholarships available
Dates: Courses run throughout the year; 6, 8, or 12 weeks (College Credit) or 1, 2, or 4 weeks (Enrichment)
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply for the next available course
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up; high school biology recommended for the credit course | International eligibility not specified

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Georgetown’s Biology course explores cutting-edge discoveries about cell organization and its connection to human disease. You learn how scientists use advanced microscopy to study cells, analyze real microscopy data, and examine how biomolecular condensates are leading to new treatments. The course was designed by Heidi Elmendorf, PhD, an associate professor of biology at Georgetown.

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The College Credit option includes about 128 hours of instruction, letter grading, and a Georgetown transcript. Both options end with a final capstone project, and teaching assistants support you throughout. You don’t need transcripts or recommendation letters to apply.

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Why it stands out: You can earn Georgetown credit on your own schedule, any time of year.

8. Emory University Summer College: Intro to Astronomy

Location: Online
Cost: Listed on Emory’s Costs & Scholarships page
Dates: June 29th to August 7th, 2026, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., plus three hours of asynchronous work weekly (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: See Emory’s application page
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year | International eligibility not specified

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Emory’s Summer College lets you enroll in an undergraduate course and earn college credit. PHYS 115 gives you a descriptive overview of astronomy, covering the celestial coordinate system, timekeeping, the planetary system, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, cosmology, and the origin of the universe.

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The course is worth three credits with letter grading. It’s taught by Erin Bonning of Emory’s Department of Physics.

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Why it stands out: You take a real Emory undergraduate course and earn three college credits.

9. Syracuse University Summer College Online: Forensic Science

Location: Online
Cost: $3,905; discounts and scholarships available
Dates: July 6th to August 13th, 2026, with weekly live sessions on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. ET (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: See Syracuse Pre-College’s admissions page
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors, or 2026 graduates, who have completed high school biology | Open to international students

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CHE 113 introduces you to the science behind crime detection. You learn to tell good science from pseudoscience and use probability and statistics to evaluate the strength of evidence. Pre-recorded lectures, chapter assessments, and occasional case studies make up most of the coursework.

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Weekly at-home lab exercises demonstrate techniques used in forensic investigations, so you’ll need safety glasses and lab clothing. The course is taught by Dr. James T. Spencer, founding executive director of Syracuse’s Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute.

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Why it stands out: You earn four Syracuse credits while practising forensic techniques at home.

10. Rice University Precollege Program: Genome Engineering

Location: Online
Cost: $1,795; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply for the next available course
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up | International eligibility not specified

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Rice’s Genome Engineering course explores how the human genome can be edited to treat diseases such as sickle cell disease. You study DNA and RNA, learn how a single nucleotide change can cause disease, and see how the CRISPR/Cas9 system works. The course also covers clinical trials, ethical issues, and uses of genome engineering beyond medicine.

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It was designed by Dr. Gang Bao, chair of Rice’s Department of Bioengineering, and mentors support you throughout. Your capstone project asks you to identify a CRISPR-based strategy for treating beta-thalassemia and explain it in a short video.

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Why it stands out: You apply genome editing concepts to a real disease in your final project.

11. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Summer Accelerator: Solar System Science

Location: Online
Cost: $695, plus about $30 in supplies
Dates: June 8th to 26th, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Apply through NCSSM’s online application
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders | International eligibility not specified

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Solar System Science explores the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and Moon, Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, and how astronomers measure distances across space. You work with optical and radio data from scientific telescopes using the same software tools professional astronomers use.

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The first two weeks are asynchronous, with about seven hours of work a week. In the third week, you join live videoconference classes with your instructor, Jacob Brown, and other students.

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Why it stands out: You analyze real telescope data for an affordable price.

12. Northeastern University Pre-CollEDGE Online: Healthcare Pathways and Professions

Location: Online
Cost: $495; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Winter session coursework runs December 3rd, 2026 to March 3rd, 2027; summer 2027 details will be shared in April 2027
Application Deadline: Winter registration runs October 22nd to December 2nd, 2026
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors | Open to students from around the world

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Healthcare Pathways and Professions is a four-module course on healthcare systems, patient care roles, public health and medical innovations, and the business of healthcare. You learn through readings, videos, quizzes, and interactive activities, spending about four to six hours a week over four weeks.

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The course is led by Gary Young, PhD, JD, a Northeastern professor and founding director of its Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Research. You earn a digital badge on completion and an invitation to an optional live webinar with Northeastern faculty, students, or alumni.

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Why it stands out: It’s one of the most affordable university-run options, and you can take it during the school year.

13. WashU High School Summer Scholars Program: Human Biology

Location: Online
Cost: Listed on WashU’s Fees and Scholarships page
Dates: Listed on WashU’s Dates and Deadlines page
Application Deadline: Listed on WashU’s Dates and Deadlines page
Eligibility: Admitted High School Summer Scholars; no prerequisites | International eligibility not specified

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Human Biology (Biology 3030) is an undergraduate course designed to help non-biologists understand what’s happening inside their own bodies. You explore common diseases and treatments, new drug discovery efforts, and research into health and longevity. By the end, you’ll be better able to evaluate medical products and headlines about medical advances.

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The course is mostly asynchronous, with some live components such as office hours and assessments. Summer Scholars can also add one noncredit online Exploration Course, such as Biological Basis for Human Disease.

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Why it stands out: You take a credit-bearing WashU biology course with no prior biology required.

14. Dartmouth College: Environmental Science (Coursera)

Location: Online
Cost: Free to enroll; included with Coursera Plus; financial aid available for certificates
Dates: Self-paced; about 3 weeks at 10 hours a week
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to anyone; beginner level

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Dartmouth’s Environmental Science course, taught by Andy Friedland, explores how environmental scientists think. You learn the difference between environmental science, environmental studies, and environmentalism, and why energy matters so much in the field.

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Across four modules, you cover water pollution, the cycling of matter, biodiversity, global cycles, and the greenhouse effect. You also analyze a local environmental problem as part of a prompted discussion.

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Why it stands out: It’s a free, flexible way to start thinking like an environmental scientist.

15. Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program - Medical Research: Advancing Human Health

Cost: $1,795; need-based scholarships are available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified

Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions available throughout the year

Application Deadline: One week before the program start date

Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and above; open to international students

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Notre Dame’s Medical Research: Advancing Human Health course introduces you to the scientific methods used to study disease and improve patient care. You examine how researchers form hypotheses, use molecular and cellular techniques, and rely on model organisms to investigate human biology. The curriculum also explains translational research, showing how lab discoveries can move toward clinical treatments.

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Population health is part of the course as well, with examples of how epidemiology informs broader interventions. Ethical questions are woven throughout, helping you understand the responsibilities that come with biomedical research. A final capstone project asks you to analyze a medical discovery and propose future research directions.

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Why it stands out: It connects molecular research, model organisms, translational medicine, epidemiology, and public health into one curriculum, ending with a capstone on a major medical discovery.

Frequently asked questions: Online Science Courses for High School Students

Can you earn college credit from online science courses?

Yes, several courses on this list offer credit. Emory’s Intro to Astronomy earns three credits, Syracuse’s Forensic Science earns four, and Georgetown’s Biology College Credit course comes with a Georgetown transcript. Johns Hopkins’ two-week online courses each carry one credit. Immerse Education’s Online Research pathway also has an Accredited option that earns you 8 UCAS points or 3 US college credits from age 14.

Are there free or low-cost online science courses for high school students?

Yes, a few options keep costs down. Dartmouth’s Environmental Science course is free to enroll on Coursera, and Northeastern’s Healthcare Pathways and Professions costs $495 with need-based aid. NCSSM’s Solar System Science costs $695 plus about $30 in supplies. If you’re focused on biology, you can compare more options in these online biology courses for high school students.

How much time do online science courses take each week?

It varies by format. Stanford’s Summer Institutes meet live for two hours a day, plus an hour of office hours and one to two hours of homework. Northeastern’s course takes about four to six hours a week, while Dartmouth’s runs about ten hours a week for three weeks. NCSSM asks for about seven hours a week before a busier final week of live classes.

Can you do science research online in high school?

Yes, through mentored research programs as well as courses with research components. Immerse Education’s Online Research pathway pairs you 1:1 with a tutor from Oxford, Cambridge, or an Ivy League institution to write a research paper in biology, chemistry, or medicine. Georgetown’s Biology course has you analyze real microscopy data. For more ideas, browse these online research opportunities for high school students.

Do online science courses include lab work?

Some include at-home or data-based lab work. Syracuse’s Forensic Science course assigns weekly at-home lab exercises, so you’ll need safety glasses and lab clothing. NCSSM’s Solar System Science has you analyze real telescope data with professional astronomy software. If you’re curious about chemistry, Johns Hopkins’ Green Chemistry course is a good start, and these online chemistry courses for high school students offer more.

When should you apply for online science courses?

It depends on the course, since many run year-round. Georgetown and Rice offer courses throughout the year, and Dartmouth’s Coursera course is open enrollment. Northeastern’s winter registration runs until December 2nd, 2026, with summer 2027 details shared in April 2027. Summer programs like Stanford’s tend to close in spring, and Stanford’s 2026 financial aid deadline was March 20th.

Turn your science curiosity into college plans

Studying genome editing, analyzing telescope data, or running at-home forensic labs shows you which branch of science you’d enjoy at college.

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The best online science courses for high school students fit around your schedule, so compare live sessions, weekly hours, and credit options first.

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If you earn college credit or finish a research paper, you’ll have concrete evidence of your interest to share in future applications.

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For guidance on choosing a science major and preparing strong applications, explore our University Preparation blogs as you map out your next steps.