44+ university-hosted pre-college STEM programs for high schoolers near San Diego — AI, research, engineering, and science tracks. Compare admissions, prices, and dates.
Refreshed weekly · Last updated Jul 14, 2026
Students explore human anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise science through engaging lab work and hands-on clinical experiences, gaining a solid foundation in physical therapy.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego
Phone
N/A
High school students explore materials science, 3D printing, and bioinspired design, gaining hands-on lab experience and contributing to research.
Age Group
High School
Location
15455 Paseo Del Sur, San Diego, CA 9217
Phone
N/A
High school students develop a strong mathematical foundation for data science, covering essential topics like Probability, Graph Theory, Calculus, and Linear Algebra.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego Campus
Phone
N/A
High school students participate in an eight-week volunteer internship at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, collaborating with mentors on computational science research projects.
Age Group
High School
Location
San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego
Phone
N/A
High school students learn foundational Java programming concepts, including objects, classes, and algorithms, to prepare for the AP Computer Science A exam.
Age Group
High School
Location
University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego, CA 92110
Phone
N/A
This highly competitive research program places high school students alongside UCSD researchers to engage in cybersecurity and data science projects, culminating in published abstracts and poster presentations.
Age Group
High School
Location
San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego
Phone
N/A
High school students explore the science of human movement and injury care through interactive lectures, research, and hands-on skills in musculoskeletal and sports medicine.
Age Group
High School
Location
8980 Via La Jolla Drive, La Jolla 92037
Phone
N/A
High school students engage in an immersive program delving into human anatomy, movement mechanics, and exercise principles through lectures, lab work, and clinical education.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego Campus (Specific building not listed)
Phone
N/A
High school students learn to design, code, debug, and test Android applications using Java and Android Studio.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies
Phone
N/A
High school students get a hands-on introduction to mechanical, structural, civil, and electrical engineering through interactive projects and field tours of engineering firms.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego Campus
Phone
(858) 780-5660
Academically gifted high school students engage with university faculty on advanced STEM topics, including engineering, in an intensive four-week residential program.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego Campus, Jacobs School of Engineering
Phone
(858) 822-4361
High school students conduct five weeks of intensive research in AI, machine learning, neuroscience, biophysics, and data science with UC San Diego researchers.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego campus and San Diego Supercomputer Center
Phone
N/A
High school students learn engineering design, control systems, and rapid prototyping using facilities in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department, culminating in a challenging design project.
Age Group
High School
Location
9500 Gilman Dr., MC 0429, La Jolla, CA 92093-0429
Phone
(858) 822-4361
Academically talented high school students engage in advanced coursework and research across STEM disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, utilizing university resources in a four-week residential program.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego campus
Phone
(858) 534-0400
High school students gain multidisciplinary practical research experience in marine science, collaborating with Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate students and active marine science researchers.
Age Group
High School
Location
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) Campus, La Jolla, San Diego
Phone
N/A
High school students experience academically enriching college-level coursework across various subjects including science, technology, engineering, humanities, and social sciences.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego campus
Phone
(858) 534-3400
High school students explore the science of human movement, injury care, exercise science, and analyze wellness using wearable technology, gaining real-world skills in anatomy and sports medicine techniques.
Age Group
High School
Location
8980 Via La Jolla Drive, La Jolla 92037
Phone
N/A
High school students from partner schools engage in an eight-week paid biomedical research internship, gaining hands-on lab experience, attending seminars, and participating in career-building workshops.
Age Group
High School
Location
Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Phone
N/A
A four-week program where high school students participate in astronomy research, gaining hands-on experience with programming, scientific processes, and powerful telescopes, led by San Diego State University faculty.
Age Group
High School
Location
San Diego State University (SDSU), 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182
Phone
(619) 594-6240
High school students delve into human anatomy, biomechanics, and exercise science via lab work and clinical experiences, gaining insights into physical therapy careers at UC San Diego.
Age Group
High School
Location
UC San Diego, San Diego, CA
Phone
N/A
Summer camps are great, but the real portfolio comes from competing. See every FIRST Robotics team in CA — plus pathways, deadlines, and pick lists for math, coding, science, and research competitions.
Looking for a STEM summer camp near you? This free San Diego directory lists 200+ local and online programs across the San Diego metro area — including AI, coding, robotics, science, and math camps for kids, middle schoolers, and high school students. Compare prices, dates, age groups, and formats, then filter by focus area above to find the closest match for Summer 2026.
We list 200+ STEM summer camps in San Diego, CA across AI & machine learning, coding, robotics, science, math, space, and cybersecurity. Top picks vary by your child's age and interests — use the category filters above to compare programs by price, duration, and format.
Prices in our San Diego directory range from free community programs to $3,000+ for university-hosted pre-college tracks. Most full-day weekly camps run $400–$900 per week; specialized AI and research programs typically run $1,000–$2,500 for the full program. Click any camp for current pricing.
Camps in our San Diego listings cover elementary (typically ages 6–10), middle school (11–13), high school (14–18), and selective pre-college research programs for rising seniors. Filter by age group to see only programs that match your child.
Yes — many of our listed programs offer fully online or hybrid formats, especially in AI, coding, and research. Online options are open to students nationwide, including San Diego-area kids who can't travel to an in-person camp. Look for the “Virtual Camp” filter or any program tagged Online / Hybrid in the details.
Yes. Several listings are pre-college programs hosted by universities — including residential and commuter options. These are competitive admissions with applications often closing in March/April for summer cohorts. Use the Pre-College filter at the top to see only these programs.
