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. National Student Leadership Conference

    NSLC International DiplomacyRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $4,4952026 cycle
    Financial aid
    2026: NSLC Summer Program Scholarship. For students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and school or community involvement.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Enrollment deposit. Paid by credit or debit card with the online application; NSLC Summer Program Scholarship. For students demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and school or community involvement.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Not published
    Additional eligibility
    Ages 14–18; Requirement: Have completed at least one year of high school; students may attend through the summer following high school graduation
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 12, 2026; Ends July 2, 20262026 cycle
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Washington, New York, DC, NY
    Selection and application
    Selection: NSLC accepts direct applications as well as nominated or invited students and continues enrollment while space remains. The official pages do not publish applicant counts, acceptance rates, or a competitive selection rubric.
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. New York University GSTEM / Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

    NYU GSTEM Summer Research ProgramRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $5,7502026 cycle
    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.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    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.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher
    Additional eligibility
    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
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 28, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 6 weeks
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Non-residential
    Location
    New York, NY
    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
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 5 · checked Aug 22, 2026Source 6 · checked Aug 20, 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 193–204 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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  • Marist University

    Marist University Summer Pre-College Program

    Marist's Summer Pre-College program offers credit-bearing courses in Poughkeepsie.

    Cost
    $3,700–$6,660(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Jul 25, 2026 · 2⁠–⁠4 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Poughkeepsie, NY
    ResidentialPre-college
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12

    Selection and application: Application materials: One Pre-College Recommendation Form; Short essay about your interest in a Marist Summer Pre-College program

    Checked Official site

    Marist University logo
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  • University of Arizona Health Sciences Office of Student Engagement and Career Advancement

    Med-Start Health Careers Program

    A six-week residential University of Arizona health-care exploration and college-readiness program for Arizona students after junior year, offering three college credits.

    Cost
    $6,000
    Who can apply
    Grade 11
    Program dates
    6 weeks
    Where
    In person · Tucson, AZ
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: University of Arizona scholarships and tuition waivers. Can make participation free for eligible students.

    Costs beyond tuition: University of Arizona scholarships and tuition waivers. Can make participation free for eligible students.

    Requirements: Citizenship: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Residency: Arizona resident for at least one year; Requirement: Open to grade 11; Requirement: Attend the summer after completing junior year; Requirement: Strong interest in a health care profession; Requirement: GPA of 3.0 or higher; Requirement: No job or other summer program during Med-Start

    Selection and application: Selection: Only complete applications are reviewed; applicants must interview. The current cohort size, acceptance rate, rubric, and priority populations are not published on the official pages. Application materials: Two recommendations (teachers, advisors, counselors or job supervisors); Interview

    Checked Official site

    University of Arizona Health Sciences Office of Student Engagement and Career Advancement logo
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  • Michigan Technological University

    Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs

    Cost
    $700–$1,175(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 6–11 (current)
    Program dates
    1 week
    Where
    In person · Houghton, MI
    STEM
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Needs-based scholarships. Most are reviewed on a rolling basis.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Exploration course deposit (non-refundable, per course): $150. Not required to apply for Pathway Programs; Needs-based scholarships. Most are reviewed on a rolling basis.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 6–11 when applying

    Selection and application: Selection: Standard Explorations enrolled in order received while seats remained. Pathways used grades, short responses and supplemental documents; no portfolio-wide applicant count or acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Unofficial transcript, short responses and a recommendation/certificate/other evidence where required by the Pathway

    Checked Official site

    Michigan Technological University logo
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  • Michigan Interscholastic Press Association at Michigan State University

    MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop

    Five-day residential Michigan State journalism workshop for students entering grades 7-12, with one intensive course in writing, design, photo, broadcast, digital media or leadership.

    Cost
    $560–$610
    Who can apply
    Grades 7–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 19–23, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person · East Lansing, MI
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: MIPA workshop scholarships. Scholarship applicants pay a reduced $25 deposit instead of $75.

    Costs beyond tuition: Late registration fee (after June 15): $75; Nonrefundable deposit to hold a spot (applied to the fee): $75. Required only when not paying the full fee at registration; MIPA workshop scholarships. Scholarship applicants pay a reduced $25 deposit instead of $75.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 7–12

    Selection and application: Selection: Registration is first-available by course capacity. Advanced tracks have skill prerequisites, but MIPA publishes no academic acceptance rate or selective admissions review.

    Checked Official site

    Michigan Interscholastic Press Association at Michigan State University logo
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  • Montclair State University

    Montclair State University Pre-College Summer Programs

    Cost
    $1,900
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 12 – Aug 1, 2026 · 1⁠–⁠2 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Montclair, NJ
    ResidentialPre-college
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: Non-refundable deposit due upon acceptance: $500. Counts toward the program cost; students are not registered until it is received.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12

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

    Checked Official site

    Montclair State University logo
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  • University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

    MPulse Musical Theatre Workshop

    Selective three-week residential musical-theatre intensive for high-school juniors and exceptional sophomores; the 2026 workshop cost $5,990 including room and board and is closed.

    Cost
    $5,990(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    3 weeks
    Where
    In person · Ann Arbor, MI
    ArtsResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Limited merit and need-informed MPulse scholarships. Merit consideration was automatic by the priority deadline. Need-informed applicants generally needed prior-year AGI at or below $125,000 or special circumstances and supporting financial documents.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: 2026 nonrefundable application fee: $75. Qualified applicants could request an Acceptd fee-waiver code; Limited merit and need-informed MPulse scholarships. Merit consideration was automatic by the priority deadline. Need-informed applicants generally needed prior-year AGI at or below $125,000 or special circumstances and supporting financial documents.

    Requirements: Residency: Applicants from around the world are welcomed by MPulse; individual travel and entry-document obligations apply; Requirement: Be a current high-school junior, or an exceptional sophomore with substantial ability and experience; Requirement: Maintain at least a B average; Requirement: Submit a complete artistic and academic application; Requirement: Demonstrate preparation through voice and acting audition videos; Requirement: Be able to participate in the required residential program; Exclusion: Ordinary sophomore applications are not promised consideration; Exclusion: Admission is selective and is not guaranteed by meeting the minimum GPA; Exclusion: Participation does not confer University of Michigan admission or academic credit; Exclusion: Minor participants are required to live in program housing

    Selection and application: Selection: Selective faculty review based on training and experience, academic transcript, recommendation and a multi-part artistic audition. Application materials: Audition materials uploaded via Acceptd

    Checked Official site

    University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance logo
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  • MultiCare Health System

    MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H. Camp)

    Free, competitive hospital-based summer career camp for Washington high-school students, offering hands-on exposure to clinical and nonclinical health professions across three regions.

    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (current)
    Program dates
    1 week
    Where
    In person · Spokane, Yakima, WA
    STEMDay program
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Residency: Puget Sound camp: primary residence in Pierce, south King, Kitsap or north Thurston counties; Residency: Yakima camp: primary residence in Yakima County; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–12 when applying; Requirement: Has not attended M.A.S.H. Camp before; Requirement: Interest in healthcare professions such as nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy or another healthcare field; Requirement: Required vaccinations and a tuberculosis test before camp

    Selection and application: Selection: Competitive regional selection; official current applicant and seat counts are not published in the accessible notice. Application materials: Three required essays (150-250 words each) and one optional essay

    Checked Official site

    MultiCare Health System logo
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  • National Flight Academy

    National Flight Academy 6-Day Deployment

    Six-day residential aviation-STEM simulation at NAS Pensacola for students entering grades 6-12 and ages 10-17; fall dates and tuition are coming soon.

    Cost
    $1,700
    Who can apply
    Grades 6–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    May 23 – Jul 30, 2027 · 1 week
    Where
    In person · Pensacola, FL
    STEMResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Maximum age 17; Requirement: Open to rising grades 6–12; Requirement: Not yet graduated from 12th grade and under 18 at the time of attendance

    Selection and application: Selection: The program is session- and capacity-based rather than presented as a judged competition. Current capacity, applicant volume, wait-list rules, and acceptance rate are not published.

    Checked Official site

    National Flight Academy logo
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  • NC State College of Design, Design Lab for K-12 Education and Outreach

    NC State Design Camp — Design Immersions Residential Program

    Hybrid pre-college design immersion for rising grades 11-12: online fundamentals and orientation followed by a residential NC State studio week producing one portfolio-quality project.

    Cost
    $1,700(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 12–18, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    Hybrid · Raleigh, NC
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Financial assistance scholarships. Based on demonstrated need, student motivation and creative and academic merit.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Late registration fee (after April 10): $50; Registration deposit: $100. Non-refundable; Financial assistance scholarships. Based on demonstrated need, student motivation and creative and academic merit.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12

    Selection and application: Selection: The 110-seat program uses registration, statements and a waitlist. The organizer does not publish an academic acceptance rate or describe competitive portfolio-based admission. Application materials: Online registration with a student statement of interest (approximately 300-500 words)

    Checked Official site

    NC State College of Design, Design Lab for K-12 Education and Outreach logo
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  • Northern Crops Institute

    NCI Summer Ag Academy

    Northern Crops Institute’s five-day agriculture career academy in Fargo offered four hands-on tracks for students in grades 9–11.

    Cost
    Free(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 22–26, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person · Fargo, ND
    STEMResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: No prior agriculture experience needed

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

    Checked Official site

    Northern Crops Institute logo
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  • North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

    North Carolina Governor's School

    North Carolina’s Governor’s School is a four-week residential programme for gifted high-school students, with academic, arts and interdisciplinary study rather than credit, tests or grades.

    Cost
    $600
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 20 – Jul 17, 2027 · 4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Raleigh, Greensboro, NC
    LeadershipResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: NC Governor's School Foundation need-based scholarship

    Costs beyond tuition: NC Governor's School Foundation need-based scholarship

    Requirements: Residency: NC; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Enrolled in grade 11 when nominated; grade 10 students may be nominated only in Dance, Choral Music or Instrumental Music; Requirement: Attend a North Carolina public or non-public school; exchange students are not eligible; Requirement: Meet at least one academic criterion, such as a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.25, a weighted GPA of 3.5, or set NC End of Course, AP, ACT/SAT or aptitude scores; Requirement: Spanish applicants must have completed three high school Spanish courses or be fluent speakers; Requirement: Students can attend only once

    Selection and application: Application materials: Essay (a second discipline essay for academic areas); Audition for arts areas; Two recommendations

    Checked Official site

    North Carolina Department of Public Instruction logo
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  • Northwestern University Center for Talent Development

    Northwestern CTD Academic Summer Camps — Grades 9-12

    Northwestern one- and three-week advanced academic day or residential camps spanning STEM, humanities, writing, technology, leadership, and credit-bearing courses.

    Cost
    $1,005–$6,105(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Aug 7, 2026 · 1⁠–⁠3 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Evanston, IL
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based CTD financial aid. Limited funds, awarded as requests are received; Sandra Dennhardt Technology Scholarship. For students with financial need applying to technology courses.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Need-based CTD financial aid. Limited funds, awarded as requests are received; Sandra Dennhardt Technology Scholarship. For students with financial need applying to technology courses.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Meet the selected course's CTD eligibility tier (accelerated, credit-bearing three-week courses are at the Indigo tier)

    Selection and application: Selection: Course-dependent academic admission using CTD eligibility tiers; applicants qualify through test scores, prior CTD coursework, or portfolio review, and courses may fill. Application materials: Qualifying above-grade-level test scores, or a grade report/unofficial transcript with CTD's online teacher recommendation form

    Checked Official site

    Northwestern University Center for Talent Development 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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