1. NASA SEES High School Summer Intern Program

Application
Deadline: Closed for 2026. Deadline was February 22, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. PT.
Eligibility: Open to motivated high school students interested in STEM. Students work with NASA and aerospace experts on data, research, and mission-based projects.2. Texas Aerospace Scholars

Cost: Free

2. Texas Aerospace Scholars

Application
Deadline: 2026-2027 applications open in summer 2026. Exact deadline has not been posted yet.
Eligibility: Texas high school juniors who are U.S. citizens and Texas residents. The program includes online learning, a virtual summer experience, and a possible Johnson Space Center residential experience.

Cost: Free

3. GeneLab for High Schools

Application
Deadline: Closed for 2026. Applications opened February 15, 2026 and closed March 15, 2026, or earlier if 1,000 applications were received.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents attending U.S.-based high schools. Students must be rising juniors, rising seniors, or incoming college freshmen in fall 2026, have completed one biology course, have stable computer and internet access, and have a 3.0 unweighted GPA.

Cost: Free

4. NASA Aviation Systems Division Concept Design Experience

Application
Deadline: Deadline is not clearly listed on the public NASA page. NASA says applications are reviewed in March and students are notified by early April.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grade 10 or 11 at the time of application. Students work with NASA Ames mentors on aviation concepts and final reports.

Cost: Free

5. Goddard Space Club Scholars Program

Application
Deadline: Closed for 2026. Deadline was April 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who have completed 10th grade by the program start date, are age 16 by the start date, are U.S. citizens, have a 3.0 unweighted GPA, and live within 50 miles of NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, Maryland or Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Cost: Free

6. NASA GISS Climate Change Research Initiative

Application
Deadline: No current student deadline is posted on the official page.
Eligibility: High school interns can be part of the summer research team. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Housing, relocation, and travel are not provided, so students near New York City, Greenbelt, Maryland, or related program sites are a better fit.

Cost: Free

7. George Mason University NASA Data Science Analysis and Research Paper Program

Application
Deadline: First-come, first-served for 50 seats. Course runs June 13-August 29, 2026.
Eligibility: High school students interested in NASA space data science, astronomy, TESS exoplanet candidates, and JWST data analysis. Fees apply, and need-based scholarships may be available.

Cost: between $3,000 and $3,650 in tuition fees; students can compete for research awards and scholarships up to $2,000.

8. NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Application
Deadline: Check the current challenge page for the active deadline.
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international middle school, high school, and college teams. Students design, build, and test a human-powered rover for mission-style terrain challenges.

Cost: Registration is free, however teams are responsible for funding all associated project and operational costs.

9. NASA App Development Challenge

Application
Deadline: Check the current challenge page for the active deadline. On pause for 2026.
Eligibility: Open to high school and community college students. Students solve technical problems connected to NASA deep space exploration missions.

Cost: Free

10. NASA TechRise Student Challenge

Application
Deadline: Check the current challenge page for the active deadline.
Eligibility: Open to grades 6-12 at U.S. public, private, and charter schools, including schools in U.S. territories. Teams design experiments for a suborbital flight platform.

Cost: Free

11. NASA Dream with Us Design Challenge

Application
Deadline: Annual challenge. Check the current challenge page for the active deadline.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-12. Students propose creative aviation ideas connected to NASA Aeronautics.

Cost: Free

12. Hack Club Stardance Challenge with NASA

Application
Deadline: June 1-September 30, 2026.
Eligibility: Open to students ages 13-18. This is an online creative challenge with NASA and Hack Club.

Cost: Free

13. NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute

Application
Deadline: Check the NASA Glenn program page for the active deadline.
Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in STEM and engineering design projects connected to NASA missions.

Cost: Free