# Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute The Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI) brings high school students to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for residential pre-college programs taught by Carleton faculty. Students choose between 3-week for-credit courses and 1-week non-credit courses, living on campus and experiencing collaborative, discussion-driven liberal arts learning. In 2026, the 3-week program runs July 5-24 and the two 1-week sessions run July 12-17 and July 19-24. ## What You'll Do - Take a college-level interdisciplinary course taught by Carleton faculty - Earn 6 college credits in the 3-week for-credit track - Live in Carleton residence halls with meals, activities, and full residential support included - Collaborate with peers on projects culminating in final presentations - Sample liberal arts college life in a classic small-college town ## Who Should Apply 3-week for-credit programs admit current high school sophomores and juniors; 1-week non-credit programs also admit current first-year students. Applicants may not turn 19 before August 1 of the program year. 2026 tuition is $5,300 for the 3-week program and $1,500 for the 1-week program, covering tuition, housing, meals, books, materials, and activities; need-based scholarships (partial to full) are available for domestic students. ## Outcomes For-credit students finish with 6 transferable college credits and a faculty relationship; all participants gain experience with college-level academics, residential independence, and a taste of selective liberal arts admissions.