| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $4,195–$6,395; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $9,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited full or partial tuition aid; amount not published and travel or incidentals may remain.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% received aid in the published cycle; average award was 70% of tuition, and aid included discounted or free gear rental, with top packages potentially covering flights.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited full or partial tuition aid; amount not published and travel or incidentals may remain.; Travel to and from host campus: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Student responsibility.; Off-campus meals, laundry, souvenirs, spending money, and optional protection plan: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Variable personal costs; protection-plan fee was not captured.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 student-account deposit: $500. Returned to the family if unused; separate enrollment deposit details were not quantified on the official pages.; Travel to and from Colorado: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Flights were not included in tuition, although the largest need-based aid packages could cover them.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% received aid in the published cycle; average award was 70% of tuition, and aid included discounted or free gear rental, with top packages potentially covering flights.; Clarity financial-aid application fee: $65. Applies to the aid application; automatic or inquiry-based fee waivers are available for eligible families.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 10–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Complete at least one year of high school before attendance; Requirement: Be age 14-18 and in grades 9-12 or the summer immediately after graduation; Requirement: Demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential under the stated admissions guidance; Requirement: Meet travel, passport, visa, health, conduct, and program-specific requirements; Exclusion: Need-based scholarship applicants who are not U.S. citizens residing in the U.S., are outside ages 14-17, or are children of IEEE staff; Exclusion: Applicants unable to meet residential, travel, or selected-program requirements | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader and age 14-18 for the applicable cycle; Requirement: Be prepared for a residential program at 10,000 feet and extended backpacking expeditions; Requirement: Complete the required application, recommendations, transcript, and interview; Requirement: If accepted, complete health, physical, risk, release, enrollment, and payment requirements; Exclusion: Prior outdoor experience is not required; Exclusion: The official pages do not state a citizenship or Colorado-residency restriction; Exclusion: Program mental-health services are limited, and backcountry groups may lack timely outside support; families must evaluate fit with HMI |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 1–2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 28, 2026; Ends July 25, 2026; 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | New York, Durham, Washington, D.C., Houston, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor, Philadelphia, Oxford, Eight U.S. university campuses and the University of Oxford | Leadville, High Mountain Institute campus and Colorado/Utah backcountry |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Students may apply directly or be invited through nominations or talent identification. Enrollment is capacity-based and may use waitlists; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: For scholarship: need evidence, personal essay, and one recommendation | Selection: HMI describes a typical cohort of 12-20 students; it does not publish a current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Two approximately 250-word essays; Two teacher recommendations, including at least one from a core academic teacher, under the current central admissions page; Required 15-30 minute admissions interview |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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