Summer 2027 · High school

Selective vs. pay-to-play summer programs

Judge a program by its work, selection process and full cost. A fee does not establish low quality, and a university logo does not establish selective admission.

Planning for 2027. Every date and price keeps its year. Confirm the current application window on the official site before you apply.

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Compare 2 of 3 programs

Clear comparison

Catalog facts retain their cycle. Check the official sources before applying or paying.

  1. Emory University

    Emory Pre-College ProgramRemove
    Application deadline
    May 3, 2027
    Cost
    $3,925–$5,5102026 cycle
    Financial aid
    2026: Partial need-based financial aid. For accepted U.S. citizens and permanent residents; awards cover a portion of tuition.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Application fee (non-refundable): $70. Waived for returning Pre-College students and foundation scholars; Enrollment deposit (non-refundable): $350. Paid on acceptance and counts toward the total cost; Lab fee for select courses: $25–$75; Noncredit course books: Up to $50; Partial need-based financial aid. For accepted U.S. citizens and permanent residents; awards cover a portion of tuition.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher
    Additional eligibility
    Minimum age 15; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Minimum GPA of 3.0; Requirement: Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English fluency
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 13, 2027; Ends July 24, 2027; 2 weeks
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Selection and application
    Selection: Rolling review of complete applications until classes fill. Emory reports average enrollment around 400 and average class size 14 but publishes no current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Two recommendations from teachers and/or a guidance counselor
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM), Brown University

    GoGetMath@ICERMRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $1002026 cycle
    Financial aid
    2026: Full financial aid
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Full financial aid
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 10–11 (provider uses rising grades)
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–11
    Session dates or duration
    Starts August 10, 2026; Ends August 14, 20262026 cycle
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Non-residential
    Location
    Providence, RI
    Selection and application
    Not published
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026
The checklist

Five signals to check before applying or paying

  1. Acceptance rate
    Use a rate only if the organizer gives the cycle, number of applicants and number admitted. A low rate does not tell you what you will learn. If a program does not publish both numbers, treat its acceptance rate as unknown.
  2. Full cost
    Ask for tuition, application fees, deposits, housing, meals, travel and refund terms. A fee-based class can offer useful teaching; a fee alone does not establish either selectivity or quality.
  3. Stipend or pay
    Look for an amount, eligibility conditions and payment schedule. Distinguish student compensation from financial aid, prize money and tuition discounts.
  4. Essays and selection
    Read the actual application. Essays, recommendations, prerequisites or interviews can describe a selection process, but their presence does not prove an acceptance rate. Ask who reads the application.
  5. Who runs the program
    Check the organizer on its official site, the instructors and the day-to-day supervisor. Distinguish a university department's program from an outside provider renting campus space. Ask what feedback and work you will receive.

The catalog examples below show supported costs, stipends, organizers and application details. They are comparisons, not selectivity rankings. We do not assign an acceptance rate or label a named program pay-to-play without evidence.

Matching programs

Showing 97–108 of 442 programs

Editor picks and selective programs first, then the soonest 2027 deadlines. No paid placements. Listings are ranked by fit, never by payment. Methodology.

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  • Washington University in St. Louis

    Washington University in St. Louis High School Summer Programs

    WashU's multidisciplinary high-school summer umbrella spans credit courses, residential institutes, online exploration, business/design programs, free access programs, and paid local research.

    Early deadline
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Cost
    $885–$12,135(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    1⁠–⁠8 weeks
    Where
    In person or online · St. Louis, MO
    STEMResearchPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based scholarships

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Nonrefundable application fee (Launch, Institutes, Summer Scholars): $50; Nonrefundable deposit after admission (Launch, Institutes, Summer Scholars): $500. Deducted from the total program cost; Need-based scholarships

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Grade range depends on the program: Summer Launch for rising sophomores and juniors, Summer Institutes for rising sophomores through seniors, Summer Scholars for rising seniors; Requirement: The Young Scientist Program and the Tyson SIFT and TERA programs are for St. Louis-area students

    Selection and application: Selection: Selectivity ranges from registration-based online courses to holistic selective residential programs and competitive paid research. WashU does not publish one umbrella application count, acceptance rate, capacity, waitlist, or rubric; each linked unit controls its process. Application materials: For selective Arts & Sciences programs: short essays, $50 fee or qualifying waiver, transcript, and one teacher recommendation; Separate local-residency, research, portfolio, financial, rural, or employment materials for other WashU programs

    Checked Official site

    Washington University in St. Louis logo
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  • University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)

    Free residential college programme at UAF for Alaska Native or rural Alaskan juniors and seniors; 2027 applications run January 1-March 1.

    Apply by
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12
    Program dates
    Jun 1 – Jul 16, 2027 · 6 weeks
    Where
    In person · Fairbanks, AK
    ResidentialPre-college
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 11–12; Requirement: Alaska Native or from a rural Alaskan community; Requirement: 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA (a lower GPA does not disqualify an applicant who shows readiness for college-level coursework in the essays); Requirement: Able to read at or above grade level; Requirement: Committed to earning a college degree

    Selection and application: Application materials: Two 300-word essays; At least two references on the official RAHI recommendation form (one from school; one from school or community)

    Checked Official site

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  • Mississippi State University Extension Service

    Rural Medical & Science Scholars

    A two-week campus health and STEM exploration programme for current high-school juniors at Mississippi State, June 6–18, 2027.

    Apply by
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Cost
    $2,600
    Who can apply
    Grade 11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 6–18, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    In person · MS
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Limited need-based scholarships (some county-specific)

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee (included in the program fee; owed even with a scholarship): $100; Limited need-based scholarships (some county-specific)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying

    Selection and application: Selection: Confirm the current programme’s selection, capacity and operative participation conditions.

    Checked Official site

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  • Alpha Workshop for Young Writers, Inc.

    Alpha Workshop for Young Writers

    Apply by
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Cost
    $2,000(2026)
    Who can apply
    Ages 14–19
    Program dates
    Jul 15–26, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person · Greensburg, PA
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based financial assistance. Limited pool; request on the application form; does not affect admission; BIPOC student scholarship (full tuition, one per year). Awarded to the eligible applicant with the highest-ranked story.

    Costs beyond tuition: Need-based financial assistance. Limited pool; request on the application form; does not affect admission; BIPOC student scholarship (full tuition, one per year). Awarded to the eligible applicant with the highest-ranked story.

    Requirements: Ages 14–19; Requirement: Be 14 to 19 (inclusive) on the first day of the workshop; Requirement: Each student may attend at most two times

    Selection and application: Selection: Twenty students are admitted based solely on anonymized application stories; no current applicant count or acceptance rate is published.

    Checked Official site

    Alpha Workshop for Young Writers, Inc. logo
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  • Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

    Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)

    Fermilab PRISM is a four-week STEM summer school scheduled for July 12–August 6, 2027. Activities include lectures, hands-on work, tours and a final research abstract, poster or presentation. The page describes both on-site and off-site work; off-site work does not by itself establish virtual delivery.

    Apply by
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Pay
    $500 stipend
    Who can apply
    Grade 12 and first-year college
    Program dates
    Jul 12 – Aug 6, 2027 · 4 weeks
    Where
    Hybrid · IL
    STEMDay programResearchInternship
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Citizenship: US citizen; Residency: IL; Requirement: Open to grades 12–13; Requirement: High school senior in the 2027-2028 school year or a 2027 high school graduate; Requirement: Enrolled in an Illinois high school; Requirement: Proof of medical insurance

    Selection and application: Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor

    Checked Official site

    Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory logo
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  • Luzerne Music Center

    Luzerne Music Center Summer Camp

    Luzerne Music Center offers junior music camps ages 9–15 and senior camps ages 13–18 in Lake Luzerne, New York.

    Apply by
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Cost
    $3,600–$7,200
    Who can apply
    Ages 9–18
    Program dates
    Jun 20 – Aug 15, 2027 · 2⁠–⁠4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Lake Luzerne, NY
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based scholarships. Apply in the financial aid section of the application with your most recent tax form.

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee (non-refundable): $55–$85. $55 before January 1, $85 after January 1; Need-based scholarships. Apply in the financial aid section of the application with your most recent tax form.

    Requirements: Ages 9–18

    Selection and application: Application materials: Audition video of 8-10 minutes

    Checked Official site

    Luzerne Music Center logo
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  • The Paideia Institute

    Living Latin in Rome: High School

    Two-week residential Latin-immersion programme in Rome combining spoken Latin and text study with museums, monuments, archaeological sites and day trips.

    Priority deadline
    Mar 1, 2027128 days left
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 and first-year college (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 27 – Jul 11, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    In person · Rome
    Residential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Full and partial need-based scholarships

    Costs beyond tuition: Non-refundable enrollment deposit: $500. Due by April 1, 2027; guarantees the student a place; Full and partial need-based scholarships

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–13; Requirement: At least one year of Latin study or a thorough knowledge of basic Latin grammar; Requirement: Students without formal Latin training qualify by completing Paideia's self-paced online Living Latin course; Requirement: A valid passport for travel to Rome

    Selection and application: Selection: Competitive. Paideia says it considers dedication and Latin preparation and may prefer older applicants and students with more Latin, but it does not publish applicant, cohort or acceptance-rate statistics. Application materials: One teacher recommendation, ideally from a Latin teacher

    Checked Official site

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  • Stanford Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center

    Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Summer Internship

    A two-week live virtual Stanford Medicine program with lectures and coached surgical simulation; 2027 applications open January 4.

    Apply by
    Mar 12, 2027139 days left
    Cost
    $4,500
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Jun 21 – Jul 23, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    Online
    STEMDay programInternship
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee (non-refundable): $95

    Requirements: Minimum age 16; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: At least 16 years old on the first day of the program, except high school juniors younger than 16; Requirement: High school graduates may apply if they have not yet started college

    Selection and application: Selection: The program describes limited capacity/high demand but does not publish a 2027 cohort size, applicant count, or acceptance rate. Application materials: Short essay (up to 500 words); At least two letters of recommendation

    Checked Official site

    Stanford Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center logo
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  • University of Southern California Pre-College Programs

    USC Summer Programs

    Four-week, in-person USC courses for domestic and international students entering grades 10-12, offering hands-on college-level study and three elective units.

    Apply by
    Mar 12, 2027139 days left
    Cost
    $7,617
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12
    Program dates
    4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Los Angeles, CA
    Residential
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: Nonrefundable application fee: $85; Nonrefundable enrollment deposit: $1,000. Applied to the total program cost; Course materials and academic field trips: $300; Program fee: $350. Covers on-campus social activities and off-campus recreational trips; Room and board (residential): $3,575. Shared residence hall room and three meals a day; residential participants only; Health center fee: $104; I-20 administration fee (international): $370. For students needing an F-1 visa and/or an I-20; Student health insurance (international): $286

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 10–12; Requirement: Must have completed at least ninth grade by the start of the program; Requirement: Pursuing a rigorous high school curriculum; Requirement: International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS 7, Duolingo 120) or obtain a waiver

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling admission based on academic preparation, essay, recommendation, transcript, and course capacity; popular classes can fill early. Application materials: 300-500-word essay; One letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or mentor

    Checked Official site

    University of Southern California Pre-College Programs logo
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  • Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas

    Walton College Fleischer Scholars Program

    A free six-day business program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for first-generation Arkansas high school juniors; students who will be seniors in fall 2027 apply November 1 to March 14.

    Apply by
    Mar 14, 2027141 days left
    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grade 12 (rising)
    Where
    In person · Fayetteville, AR
    Business
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Residency: Arkansas; Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Attend an Arkansas high school; Requirement: Minimum GPA of 2.8 and good academic standing

    Selection and application: Application materials: Phone interview during selection

    Checked Official site

    Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas logo
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  • Indiana University Kelley School of Business

    Kelley Women's Leadership Institute

    5+ GPA, offered virtually or as a one-day Bloomington experience; Spring/Summer 2027 applications run January 4-March 19 and the program accepts all genders.

    Apply by
    Mar 19, 2027146 days left
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    0.14⁠–⁠1.14 weeks
    Where
    In person or online · Bloomington, IN
    BusinessDay program
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: In-person breakfast and lunch: $0. Provided during the one-day Bloomington session.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale

    Selection and application: Selection: Kelley calls KWLI selective, limits seats, and reviews cumulative GPA and application essays after the deadline. It does not publish applicant totals, cohort sizes by session, acceptance rates, geographic quotas, or scoring weights. Application materials: 100-word statement on why you hope to participate

    Checked Official site

    Indiana University Kelley School of Business logo
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  • Spelman College

    Spelman College Pre-College Summer Programs

    Spelman offers residential College Prep Institute sessions for current 9th/10th graders and four-week Early College modules for eligible juniors. 2027 CPI fees are $3,150 per session; ECP modules cost $4,400-$4,500, subject to change.

    Apply by
    Mar 29, 2027156 days left
    Cost
    $3,150–$4,500
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 5 – Jul 17, 2027 · 2⁠–⁠4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Atlanta, GA
    ResidentialPre-college
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: Open to women students; Spelman does not admit male students; Requirement: College Prep Institute: current 9th and 10th graders; Requirement: Early College Program: current 11th graders with a cumulative 3.0 GPA and at least a 3.0 GPA in English and science courses; Requirement: Parent or guardian permission to participate

    Checked Official site

    Spelman College logo
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Before you apply

How to check costs, eligibility and dates

Use the concrete checks below alongside the catalog examples. Where a program publishes no acceptance rate, treat selectivity as unknown; price alone cannot establish it.

Each card shows what the program has published; open the official site for anything it leaves out. A date or price from an earlier year says so beside it, and format and location can change between cycles.

Selective vs. pay-to-play guideApplication guideHow we list programs

Keep exploring

Explore Summer 2027 by interest, grade and state

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Are these programs confirmed for summer 2027?

These are existing catalog programs to research for 2027. Inclusion does not confirm a 2027 session or open applications. The cycle label matters: a 2027-cycle application deadline can fall in 2026. Dates explicitly labeled as the 2026 cycle are historical, and a detail the program has not published for 2027 is left off its card.

How should I compare program costs and formats?

Compare tuition, application fees, housing, meals and travel, then check whether attendance is online, on campus or hybrid. A free tuition offer may leave other expenses. A card shows only what the program has published; for anything it leaves out, open the official site.

Can a program pay to appear first?

No paid placements. Listings are ranked by fit, never by payment. By default, editor picks and programs whose official rules describe selective admission come first, and within each group the soonest 2027 deadline. You can sort by name, deadline or latest source check instead. Use the methodology page to understand catalog standards.

How do I save a program?

Open its catalog listing and sign in to save it to your plan. You can browse these pages and official program links without signing in.

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