Coding & Software Development Summer Camps in Chicago, IL — Summer 2026

Compare 70+ Coding & Software Development programs in Chicago — day camps, summer programs, and university pre-college options for kids, teens & high schoolers. Free directory with prices & dates.

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Camps for Coding & Software Development (70)

Refreshed weekly · Last updated Oct 9, 2026

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago

University of Chicago Data Science Institute - Data4All High School Bridge Workshop

High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors learn Python programming, conduct inquiry-driven data science research, and develop critical collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Age Group
High School

Location
University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park, Chicago

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Chicago State University

ChiS&E STEM Program

Develops engineering, coding, and analytical skills for middle schoolers through hands-on STEM learning and collaborative projects with real-world coding applications.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
Multiple Locations

Phone
(773) 834-3136

Coding & Software Development

Playto Labs Robotics & Coding Summer Camp

💰 $100–$1,000

Offers live online programs where kids aged 8-16 build real robots and learn coding, problem-solving, and engineering thinking through hands-on projects.

Age Group
Middle/High School

Location
Virtual

Phone
+1 (847) 505-8855

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Illinois System

Discovery Partners Institute Digital Explorers

Middle school students learn mobile app development using Swift Playgrounds, engaging in team-building activities and human-centered design challenges to build problem-solving skills.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
Discovery Partners Institute, 200 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development

NextWave STEM Summer Camp (Side Quest Social Club)

💰 From $900/wk

Campers dive into coding and robotics, building and programming mBots to perform tasks, navigate mazes, and compete in robot challenges.

Age Group
Elementary

Location
2026 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 DePaul University

DePaul University Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy (Game Development Track)

💰 From $900

High school students learn to design, program, and produce assets for 3D computer games, exploring various roles in the game production process.

Age Group
High School

Location
243 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60604

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development

Codeverse Chicago Summer Camps

💰 From $800/wk

Kids learn to code their own video games, robots, and apps in an interactive environment using a proprietary coding language and tools.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
1539 N Dayton St, Chicago, IL 60642

Phone
(312) 895-7000

Coding & Software Development

The Coder School Lincoln Park Summer Camps

Students learn coding through personalized instruction, project-based learning, and various programming languages to build games and apps, catering to ages 7-18.

Age Group
Middle/High School

Location
2039 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Phone
(773) 857-3000

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Illinois Chicago

UIC IMPACT Engineering Experience

💰 From $500/session

High school students engage in a rigorous, hands-on program at UIC's Engineering Design Lab, building, coding, and fabricating solutions to complex challenges, including topics in Applied AI.

Age Group
High School

Location
1040 W Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 DePaul University

DePaul University - inSTEM Program

This all-girls summer day camp for rising 6th-8th graders focuses on engineering, algebra, and programming through projects like solar-powered cars, robotics, and coding.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
DePaul University Campus, Chicago, IL

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Tech Elevate College Prep Summer Programs

💰 $300–$4,500

Middle and high school students explore coding, programming, robotics, and other STEM fields through hands-on projects and college-level experiences at Illinois Tech's campus or virtually.

Age Group
Middle/High School

Location
Illinois Institute of Technology, 3300 S Federal St, Chicago, IL 60616

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 null

Create & Learn Online Coding Camps

💰 From $89/wk

Provides live online coding classes and summer camps, covering Scratch, Python, Roblox game coding, and AI, taught by expert instructors for various age groups.

Age Group
Elementary

Location
Online Platform

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development

Research Ignited AI Scholars Program

💰 From $1,000

An intensive online program where high school students gain hands-on AI/ML expertise and coding skills through projects with PhD mentorship.

Age Group
High School

Location
Online Platform

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Illinois System, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

Discovery Partners Institute Digital Scholars Program

An intensive, free six-week program for high schoolers and incoming college freshmen to build computing skills in computer science, data science, and mobile app development.

Age Group
High School

Location
200 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606

Phone
(312) 668-9081

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago

UChicago DSI Summer Lab

An immersive 8-week paid summer research program where Chicago-area high school students are paired with data science mentors in various domains, including computer science and data science.

Age Group
High School

Location
University of Chicago

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago

University of Chicago Summer Session: Introduction to Creative Coding

💰 From $9,300

An introductory residential programming course for high school students, using graphic design and digital art exercises to teach basic computational tools in JavaScript and related languages.

Age Group
High School

Location
University of Chicago

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago

SCU:BA (Summer Course in Python for Under-represented groups)

A six-week summer course in Python programming for Chicago-area public school students from under-represented groups, administered by UChicago Hillel and Code Your Dreams.

Age Group
High School

Location
University of Chicago

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago

University of Chicago Summer Session - Pathways in Data Science

💰 From $9,300

A three-week residential immersion for high school students, teaching the full data science pipeline, including Python and Jupyter Notebooks, culminating in a capstone project with real-world data.

Age Group
High School

Location
University of Chicago

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 University of Chicago

SCU:BA – Summer Coding @ UChicago Builders Academy

Provides high school students with technology and programming experience, including Python, HTML, CSS, and Flask, through design thinking, problem solving, and mentorship.

Age Group
High School

Location
University of Chicago Hillel, 5715 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Phone
N/A

Coding & Software Development
🏫 Northwestern University

Camp Tech Revolution at Northwestern University

Offers cutting-edge tech camps in robotics, coding, game design, and more, providing hands-on learning and skill building on a college campus for ages 6-14.

Age Group
Middle School

Location
Northwestern University – 633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Phone
(773) 470-0280

Year-round STEM competitions in Chicago

Summer camps are great, but the real portfolio comes from competing. See every FIRST Robotics team in IL — plus pathways, deadlines, and pick lists for math, coding, science, and research competitions.

Find FRC teams in IL → Top STEM competitions →

STEM summer camps near you in Chicago, IL

Looking for a STEM summer camp near you? This free Chicago directory lists 447+ local and online programs across the Chicago 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.

Frequently asked questions about STEM summer camps in Chicago

What is the best STEM summer camp in Chicago for 2026?

We list 447+ STEM summer camps in Chicago, IL 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.

How much do STEM summer camps cost in Chicago?

Prices in our Chicago 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.

What ages can attend STEM summer camps in Chicago?

Camps in our Chicago 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.

Are there online or virtual STEM camps for students in Chicago?

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 Chicago-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.

Can high schoolers attend university pre-college STEM programs near Chicago?

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.