Summer Programs for High School Students

Explore pre-college summer programs, academic enrichment camps, and university courses designed for high school students.

Program Types

  • Ivy League pre-college programs
  • STEM summer research programs
  • Arts and humanities workshops
  • Leadership development programs
  • Free summer programs (need-based)

Current summer program listings

256 matching programs are listed in the directory right now. The most recently added:

  • Telluride Association Sophomore Seminars (TASS) — Telluride Association: Explore a free summer program for rising juniors focused on Black experience, leadership, and humanities. Build critical thinking skills and strengthe
  • PROMYS at Boston University — Boston University: Explore number theory in a 6-week immersive summer program for high schoolers. Build research skills, enhance college applications, and dive into hand
  • UPenn Summer Academies — UPenn: Transform your summer with a 3-week in-person program exploring business, STEM, or medicine. Gain hands-on experience to boost skills and strengthen c
  • Beaver Works Summer Institute — MIT: Elite summer program for high schoolers in Grades 10-11 focused on STEM fields like drones and cybersecurity. Gain hands-on experience and boost colle
  • Duke TIP Summer Studies — Duke: Transform your summer with a 3-week gifted student program at Duke campuses. Build advanced academic skills, boost college applications, and explore n
  • Harvard Summer School — Harvard: Transform your summer with a 7-week program at Harvard. Earn college credit, deepen academic skills, and boost your college applications through hands
  • Caltech YESS Summer Program — Caltech: Explore a 1-week summer program with STEM workshops and lab tours at Caltech. Perfect for high school students to gain hands-on experience and boost c
  • Garcia SUMMER at Stony Brook — Stony Brook: Explore materials science in a hands-on summer program for high school juniors and seniors. Conduct research in nanotechnology and boost your college
  • Clark Scholars Program — Texas Tech: Elite summer research program for high school juniors and seniors. Gain hands-on STEM experience, earn a $750 stipend, and boost your college applicat
  • Virginia Governor's School Programs — State of Virginia: Transform your summer with Virginia Governor's School Programs! Free in-person leadership and STEM opportunities for 10th-11th graders to boost skills
  • Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences — PA PGSS: Transform your STEM skills with this free, 5-week summer program at Carnegie Mellon. Gain hands-on experience and boost your college applications thro
  • National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) - International Diplomacy — National Student Leadership Conference: Intensive summer program at prestigious university campuses focused on international diplomacy, global affairs, and negotiation. Students simulate int
  • American Legion Boys State — The American Legion: Premier week-long government simulation program where high school juniors create a mock state government. Free, highly selective, and one of the most
  • Best Delegate Model UN Institute — Best Delegate: Intensive Model UN training program teaching research, public speaking, and diplomacy skills. Programs available online and in-person for beginners th
  • Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program — Girls Who Invest: Highly selective free 4-week summer program placing high school girls and nonbinary students at top investment management firms for training in financ
  • ArtCenter College of Design Pre-College Program — ArtCenter College of Design: Intensive pre-college art and design program at ArtCenter in Pasadena for high school students to explore industrial design, graphic design, film, ill
  • Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Intensive — Berklee College of Music: Intensive 5-week summer program at Berklee College of Music for high school musicians to study performance, production, songwriting, and music busines
  • Penn State Science-U STEM Camps — Penn State University: Immersive residential STEM camps at Penn State for middle and high school students covering robotics, cybersecurity, engineering, and life sciences on
  • Weill Cornell Medicine Gateway to Medicine Program — Weill Cornell Medicine: Prestigious summer clinical immersion program at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City for high school students exploring medicine, including hospit
  • MIT Women in Stem Research Program Pre-College Summer Program — MIT Women in Stem Research Program: Pre-college program at MIT Women in Stem Research Program for high school students focusing on stem.
  • Johns Hopkins Global Health Leaders Conference — Johns Hopkins University: Global health leadership conference at Johns Hopkins for high school students interested in medicine and public health.
  • Johns Hopkins Pre-College Program — Johns Hopkins University: Pre-college programs at Johns Hopkins University for high school students in Baltimore.
  • Columbia University PreCollege Programs — Columbia University: Pre-college program at Columbia University for high school students focusing on real world experience in variety of classes at ivy league.
  • College Greenlight Free and Low Cost Pre-College Programs — Apply College Greenlight: Curated directory of free and low-cost pre-college programs for high school students seeking affordable summer opportunities.

View all summer programs in the directory

Frequently Asked Questions

Do summer programs help with college admissions?

Selective, academic summer programs can strengthen applications by demonstrating intellectual curiosity and initiative. Free, competitive programs generally carry more weight than expensive pay-to-attend programs. What you learn and accomplish matters more than just attendance.

What's the difference between selective and pay-to-attend programs?

Selective programs accept students based on merit and often offer free tuition or financial aid. Pay-to-attend programs accept most applicants who can afford fees, which can range from $2,000 to $10,000+. Both can be valuable, but selective programs are generally viewed more favorably.

When should I apply for summer programs?

Most competitive summer programs have deadlines between January and March. Start researching in fall, gather recommendation letters early, and leave time to write thoughtful application essays. Some programs have rolling admissions with later deadlines.

Are there free summer programs?

Yes, many excellent programs are free or offer generous financial aid. Programs like RSI, TASP, and Mites cover tuition, housing, and sometimes travel. Many university programs offer need-based aid. Search specifically for free or funded programs in our database.

Can freshmen and sophomores attend summer programs?

Some programs accept younger students, while others require junior or senior standing. Many programs designed for freshmen and sophomores focus on exploration rather than advanced academics. Check age and grade requirements for each program.

Should I do research or a pre-college course?

It depends on your goals. Research programs work best for students with clear STEM interests seeking hands-on experience. Pre-college courses suit students exploring subjects or wanting the college experience. Both can be valuable in different ways.