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

  1. Euler Circle

    Euler Circle Summer ClassesRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    Not published
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Not published
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Up to grade 12
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to grades up to 12; Requirement: Mathematical maturity of an advanced high-school student
    Session dates or duration
    Not published
    Format
    Online
    Housing and supervision
    Non-residential
    Location
    Live online classes scheduled in Pacific time
    Selection and application
    Selection: Applicants must persuade Euler Circle that they are prepared and a good instructional fit; Euler Circle says ordinary seat scarcity usually is not the main constraint and does not publish acceptance statistics.
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · checked Aug 20, 2026

  2. MITES at MIT

    MITES SummerRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    Free (other costs may apply)
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Not published
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher
    Additional eligibility
    Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying; Requirement: Public, private, or homeschooled students are eligible
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 20, 2026; Ends July 31, 2026; 6 weeks2026 cycle
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Cambridge, MA
    Selection and application
    Selection: MITES seeks strong, STEM-motivated students and prioritizes educational access in holistic review, but the current pages do not publish applications, cohort size or acceptance rate for 2027. Application materials: Three recommendations: a math or science teacher, a humanities teacher, and a school counselor or administrator
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · 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 205–216 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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  • New York University GSTEM / Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

    NYU GSTEM Summer Research Program

    Cost
    $5,750(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grade 11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Aug 6, 2027 · 6 weeks
    Where
    In person · New York, NY
    STEMDay programResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: GSTEM need-based scholarship. Applies toward the program cost only; Winston Data Scholarship (full program cost). Requires a separate data science essay; recipients take a weekly data science class.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Optional six-week housing with meal plan: $3,966. Need-based aid does not cover housing; NYU application fee: $50. Fee waivers are available; GSTEM need-based scholarship. Applies toward the program cost only; Winston Data Scholarship (full program cost). Requires a separate data science essay; recipients take a weekly data science class.

    Requirements: Citizenship: U.S. citizens (living anywhere); Citizenship: Non-citizens in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying; Requirement: High aptitude in STEM; Requirement: Available for every day of the six-week program and not enrolled in another program at the same time

    Selection and application: Selection: GSTEM admits 40 current juniors. Review is competitive and considers academic work, essays, STEM activities, and one recommendation. Application materials: Four essays; One letter of recommendation from a teacher, advisor or counselor

    Checked Official site

    New York University GSTEM / Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences logo
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  • Ohio Business Week

    Ohio Business Week

    Ohio Business Week is an entrepreneurship program in which high-school teams develop a business idea and pitch to an investor panel, with workshops and guidance from business professionals. The official event page describes June 21–26, 2026 at Wright State University in Dayton.

    Cost
    $499
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 21–26, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    In person · Dayton, OH
    BusinessResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Financial aid for students who qualify. Requested by emailing info@ohiobusinessweek.org.

    Costs beyond tuition: Financial aid for students who qualify. Requested by emailing info@ohiobusinessweek.org.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: 3.0 or higher grade point average

    Checked Official site

    Ohio Business Week logo
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  • University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal and Professional Studies

    Penn Arts and Sciences High School Summer Programs

    Umbrella of Penn SAS two-, three- and six-week residential or online programs for current grade 9-11 students, with credit and noncredit pathways.

    Cost
    $2,950–$23,604(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–11 (current)
    Program dates
    May 26 – Aug 8, 2026 · 2⁠–⁠6 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · Philadelphia, PA
    Pre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students (Summer Academies and Online Seminars)

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable application fee: $100; Non-refundable enrollment deposit (part of the total program fee): $1,500; Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students (Summer Academies and Online Seminars)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: Successful applicants should have a minimum 3.5 high school GPA; Requirement: Pre-College programs are for current 10th-11th graders; Summer Academies and Online Seminars for current 9th-11th graders

    Selection and application: Selection: Application-based and academically selective; cohort size and acceptance rate vary by program and were not stated on the overview. Application materials: Application essays (each up to 400 words), plus an extra essay for non-native English speakers; One letter of recommendation on the recommender's official letterhead

    Checked Official site

    University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal and Professional Studies logo
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  • University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences

    Penn SAS Summer Academies

    Cost
    $6,700–$10,050(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jul 11 – Aug 1, 2026 · 2⁠–⁠3 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Philadelphia, PA
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable application fee: $100; Non-refundable enrollment deposit (part of the total program fee): $1,500; Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: Successful applicants should have a minimum 3.5 high school GPA; Requirement: Some academies require specific prerequisite courses

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling holistic admission until individual academies fill; Penn publishes no acceptance rate. Application materials: Application essays (each up to 400 words), plus an extra essay for non-native English speakers; One letter of recommendation on the recommender's official letterhead

    Checked Official site

    University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences logo
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  • Phillips Exeter Academy

    Phillips Exeter Academy Summer

    Exeter Summer at Phillips Exeter Academy offers academic study, discussion-based classes and recreation in Exeter, New Hampshire.

    Cost
    $8,250–$11,850
    Who can apply
    Grades 7–12 (current)
    Program dates
    Jul 5 – Aug 5, 2027
    Where
    In person · Exeter, NH
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based financial aid (U.S. applicants only). Limited and competitive; not available to international applicants or to students who received Exeter Summer aid before.

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee: $100; Need-based financial aid (U.S. applicants only). Limited and competitive; not available to international applicants or to students who received Exeter Summer aid before.

    Requirements: Ages 13–18; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 7–12 when applying; Requirement: Must attend the entire length of the program; Requirement: Non-native English speakers with fewer than five years of primary-language instruction in English need a TOEFL iBT score of 100 or higher

    Selection and application: Application materials: One- to two-page personal essay; School official recommendation (with attendance information and a grade report); English teacher recommendation; Math or science teacher recommendation

    Checked Official site

    Phillips Exeter Academy logo
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  • The Ohio State University Department of Philosophy

    Philosophy and Critical Thinking (PACT) Summer Camp

    Ohio State PACT introduces high school students to philosophy and critical thinking. The official page describes two closed 2026 in-person sessions; future dates, tuition and entry requirements are not established.

    Cost
    $500
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    1 week
    Where
    In person · Columbus, OH
    Day program
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based full-tuition scholarship

    Costs beyond tuition: Need-based full-tuition scholarship

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 9–12

    Checked Official site

    The Ohio State University Department of Philosophy logo
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  • Pioneer Academics

    Pioneer Research Institute

    Accredited online undergraduate-level research program for grades 9-12 worldwide, pairing small-group seminars with one-to-one professor mentorship and an original paper; 2027 applications are open and tuition is $7,465.

    Cost
    $7,465
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    10 weeks
    Where
    Online
    STEMDay programResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based scholarship. Limited; only where family financial need can be reliably verified, including through partner schools and non-profit organizations.

    Costs beyond tuition: Need-based scholarship. Limited; only where family financial need can be reliably verified, including through partner schools and non-profit organizations; Full-scholarship deposit (refunded after completing the program)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Must demonstrate academic excellence and proficiency in English

    Selection and application: Selection: Pioneer uses holistic review of academic history, essays, interests, school materials, a video interview, and proctored timed writing. Decisions generally take six to eight weeks and may be admit, conditional, waitlist, or deny. The official pages publish no acceptance rate or automatic GPA/test threshold, and placement capacity varies by discipline. Application materials: Short essays on each interest area; Long essay; Video interview and proctored timed writing test (if selected to advance)

    Checked Official site

    Pioneer Academics logo
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  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    PREFACE

    RPI PREFACE provides engineering-design projects with faculty and industry mentors.

    Cost
    $4,750(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 19 – Aug 1, 2026 · 2 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Troy, NY
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based partial scholarship. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Need-based partial scholarship. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.

    Requirements: Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Strong understanding of English

    Selection and application: Application materials: Essay; Recommendations

    Checked Official site

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute logo
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  • Denison University

    Reynolds Young Writers Workshop

    The Reynolds Young Writers Workshop is a ten-day residential creative writing programme at Denison University for students who have completed their sophomore or junior year of high school. The programme fee is $1,700, including tuition, housing and meals; financial assistance is available.

    Cost
    $1,700
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 18–27, 2027
    Where
    In person · Granville, OH
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Reynolds Endowment financial assistance. Need-based; does not cover transportation costs.

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee: $0. No application fee; Non-refundable deposit to secure a place: $100. Deducted from the tuition balance; Reynolds Endowment financial assistance. Need-based; does not cover transportation costs.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Have completed sophomore or junior year of high school by June of the program year; Requirement: Past participants cannot attend again

    Selection and application: Application materials: One recommendation from an English teacher or school counselor (short online form)

    Checked Official site

    Denison University logo
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  • Rhode Island School of Design

    RISD Pre-College (On Campus)

    RISD’s on-campus Pre-College program offers rising high-school juniors and seniors five weeks of studio classes, critiques and projects in Providence.

    Cost
    $9,595–$12,495(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Jul 30, 2027 · 5 weeks
    Where
    In person · Providence, RI
    ArtsResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: RISD Pre-College need-based scholarship. Limited number; U.S. citizens or permanent residents with significant financial need.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Application fee (non-refundable): $60. Waived for scholarship applicants; Non-refundable program deposit: $1,100; Single room supplement: $200. Only if a single room is requested and assigned; Short-term health insurance: $259. For students without accepted US domestic insurance; Art supplies (estimate): $800–$1,000; Personal laptop: $300–$500; RISD Pre-College need-based scholarship. Limited number; U.S. citizens or permanent residents with significant financial need.

    Requirements: Ages 16–18; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Finished 10th or 11th year of high school (or equivalent); Requirement: Born between July 31, 2008 and June 27, 2011; rising juniors who will be 16 by October 1, 2027 may still apply; Requirement: Non-native English speakers need a minimum TOEFL 93 (or 5.0), Duolingo 115 or IELTS 6.5; Requirement: Non-US citizens and permanent residents need an appropriate visa (typically B-2 or ESTA)

    Selection and application: Selection: Previously published application rules described submission-order review and first-come major availability, and said applicants showing the ability and desire to contribute and benefit are accepted. Confirm the applicable Summer 2027 process and major availability; application totals, acceptance rates and waitlist movement are not published. Application materials: Scholarship applicants also submit a letter of recommendation, family tax documents and an unofficial transcript

    Checked Official site

    Rhode Island School of Design logo
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  • Rutgers University Pre-College Summer Programs

    Rutgers Pre-Law and Mock Trial Summer Academy

    0+ GPA; both 2026 weeks filled and 2027 is not open.

    Cost
    $2,899(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    1⁠–⁠2 weeks
    Where
    In person · New Brunswick, NJ
    LeadershipResidentialPre-college
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable enrollment deposit: $500. Paid after acceptance to confirm attendance; the remaining balance is due by the final payment date; Overnight between two consecutive academy weeks: $55. Only for students attending two consecutive weeks.

    Requirements: Ages 16–18; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Minimum 3.0 grade point average; Requirement: English language proficiency

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling review required a 3.0 GPA and complete application. Both weeks reached capacity; qualified later applicants were waitlisted in order. Applicant count, capacity and acceptance rate are not published. Application materials: Personal essay (maximum two paragraphs); One letter of recommendation submitted by the recommender

    Checked Official site

    Rutgers University Pre-College Summer Programs logo
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  • Rutgers University Department of Mathematics and DIMACS

    Rutgers Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics

    Rutgers and DIMACS offered four-week residential discrete mathematics study in summer 2026 for $4,800, with weekday housing and meals. The 2027 cycle is unannounced.

    Cost
    $4,800(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Piscataway, NJ
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Partial need-based scholarships. Families of accepted students apply for financial assistance with a separate form.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Partial need-based scholarships. Families of accepted students apply for financial assistance with a separate form.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 9–12

    Selection and application: Selection: The 2026 programme used capacity-limited, first-come review of problems, application information, a recommendation and transcript. Confirm the next-cycle process; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: One teacher letter of recommendation emailed by the teacher

    Checked Official site

    Rutgers University Department of Mathematics and DIMACS 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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