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.

FreePaid or stipendOnlineIn personHybrid
9th10th11th12th
Side by side

Compare 3 of 3 programs

Clear comparison

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

  1. 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

  2. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    PREFACERemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $4,7502026 cycle
    Financial aid
    2026: Need-based partial scholarship. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Need-based partial scholarship. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 11–12 (provider uses rising grades)
    Additional eligibility
    Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Strong understanding of English
    Session dates or duration
    Starts July 19, 2026; Ends August 1, 2026; 2 weeks2026 cycle
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Troy, NY
    Selection and application
    Application materials: Essay; Recommendations
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 9, 2026

  3. Worcester Polytech Institute

    WPI Summer ProgramsRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $555–$12,995
    Financial aid
    Need-based tuition assistance (Launch and Frontiers). Limited funds for domestic Launch and Frontiers students with demonstrated financial need; the maximum award covers up to 50% of the program cost.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Frontiers application: $0; Summit application fee: $50; Need-based tuition assistance (Launch and Frontiers). Limited funds for domestic Launch and Frontiers students with demonstrated financial need; the maximum award covers up to 50% of the program cost.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 6–12 (provider uses rising grades)
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to rising grades 6–12
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 28, 2027; Ends July 30, 2027; 1–5 weeks
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Not published
    Location
    Worcester, MA
    Selection and application
    Application materials: One letter of recommendation from a teacher or high school educator (Summit)
    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 Oct 24, 2026Source 6 · 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 253–264 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.

Share or print this list

  • Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University

    Waksman Institute Summer Experience (WISE)

    Rutgers WISE offers two-week molecular-biology and bioinformatics research.

    Cost
    $600–$2,200(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12
    Program dates
    2 weeks
    Where
    In person or online · Piscataway, NJ
    STEMDay programResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 10–12; Requirement: In 10th, 11th or 12th grade in September 2027; Requirement: Completed a high school level biology course

    Selection and application: Application materials: 200-word personal statement about your interest in science

    Checked Official site

    Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Group Mission Trips

    Week of Hope

    Six-day Christian group mission trips for ages 11+ combining community service with worship, devotions, meals, and church-floor lodging; 2027 sessions are $424 per person.

    Cost
    $424
    Who can apply
    Grade 6 and above (rising)
    Program dates
    0.86 weeks
    Where
    In person
    VolunteeringResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: Non-refundable deposit per person: $100. Part of the registration fee; timing depends on when the group registers.

    Requirements: Minimum age 11; Requirement: Open to rising grades 6 and up; Requirement: Attend with a registered youth group that brings 1 adult (21 or older) for every 5 youth; Requirement: Senior High trips require age 14 or entering 9th grade; Requirement: Participants 18 or older need a church background check

    Selection and application: Selection: Trips are capacity-limited to fewer than 100 participants and fill first-come, first-served. This is group registration, not merit-based selection; current seat counts and wait-list movement are not published.

    Checked Official site

    Group Mission Trips logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Wentworth Institute of Technology

    Wentworth ImpactLab Pre-College Program

    Wentworth ImpactLab is a residential, hands-on programme in Boston for students entering grades 11 or 12, including international applicants.

    Cost
    $3,995–$6,990
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 11 – Aug 6, 2027 · 2⁠–⁠4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Boston, MA
    STEMResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Partial tuition-assistance scholarships. Limited; based on financial need, academic achievement, promise and available funds; considered only after acceptance.

    Costs beyond tuition: Application fee: $0; Partial tuition-assistance scholarships. Limited; based on financial need, academic achievement, promise and available funds; considered only after acceptance.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Proof of English proficiency may be required for students whose first language is not English or who attend a non-English-speaking school outside the United States

    Checked Official site

    Wentworth Institute of Technology logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Wheaton College

    Wheaton College Summer Institute

    Two-week Christian residential precollege program in Wheaton, Illinois, combining one two-credit course, campus life, worship, Chicago excursions and college-application support.

    Cost
    $2,200–$2,500(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 13–26, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    In person · Wheaton, IL
    LeadershipResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Partial need-based scholarship: $700. Limited number, awarded first come, first served; requested by emailing wcsi@wheaton.edu.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Partial need-based scholarship: $700. Limited number, awarded first come, first served; requested by emailing wcsi@wheaton.edu.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Strong academic record; Requirement: Students whose school does not teach primarily in English need a TOEFL score of 80+, IELTS 6.5+ or Duolingo 105+

    Selection and application: Selection: Admission uses a transcript and academic recommendation and course placement depends on preparation and space. Average 2026 class size was described as about 15, but applicant count, total cohort size, acceptance rate and course-level capacity were not published. Application materials: Academic recommendation (a more in-depth one for rising sophomores)

    Checked Official site

    Wheaton College logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • WMC Foundation

    Wisconsin Business World Summer Camp

    Four-day, three-night Wisconsin campus camp where high-school students build and run mock companies, tour businesses and practise entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

    Cost
    $325–$350(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 12–15, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person · Stevens Point, WI
    BusinessResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12

    Selection and application: Selection: The public 2026 pages do not state an application review, applicant count, capacity or acceptance rate. Registration availability appears capacity-based, but that should be confirmed for a future cycle.

    Checked Official site

    WMC Foundation logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Worcester Polytech Institute

    WPI Summer Programs

    WPI offers several in-person pre-college programs in Worcester, Massachusetts.

    Cost
    $555–$12,995
    Who can apply
    Grades 6–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Jul 30, 2027 · 1⁠–⁠5 weeks
    Where
    In person · Worcester, MA
    STEMPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based tuition assistance (Launch and Frontiers). Limited funds for domestic Launch and Frontiers students with demonstrated financial need; the maximum award covers up to 50% of the program cost.

    Costs beyond tuition: Frontiers application: $0; Summit application fee: $50; Need-based tuition assistance (Launch and Frontiers). Limited funds for domestic Launch and Frontiers students with demonstrated financial need; the maximum award covers up to 50% of the program cost.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 6–12

    Selection and application: Application materials: One letter of recommendation from a teacher or high school educator (Summit)

    Checked Official site

    Worcester Polytech Institute logo
    ComparingView program

  • Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute and Theatre Program

    Writers Week: Summer Writing & Theatre for Teens

    Sarah Lawrence Writers Week offers 2027 virtual and on-campus writing/theatre sessions for students entering grades 9–12, age14+; housing is a separately qualified option.

    Cost
    $2,050
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 6 – Aug 6, 2027 · 1 week
    Where
    Online or in person · Bronxville, NY
    Arts
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Writers Week scholarships

    Costs beyond tuition: Residential (stay on campus) for the week: $1,195. Air-conditioned single room, 3 meals a day, 24-hour supervision and evening activities; residents must be 16 or older; Non-refundable registration deposit: $250; Writers Week scholarships

    Requirements: Minimum age 14; Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Must be 16 or older to stay on campus; younger students attend as commuters

    Selection and application: Selection: Writers Week is open enrollment with no admissions application; workshops have up to 18 students and two teaching artists. The published 2027 session dates and virtual $985/on-campus $2,050 tuition are recorded. Current registration acceptance, capacity, waitlist and residence-package terms require confirmation; the enrollment model alone does not establish an open portal.

    Checked Official site

    Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute and Theatre Program logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Yale University Office of New Haven Affairs

    Yale Pathways to Science Summer Scholars

    Yale's free two-week Summer Scholars intensive serves current Pathways Scholars entering grades 10-12; Summer 2026 is complete and 2027 is unannounced.

    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12
    Program dates
    Jul 5–16, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    In person · New Haven, CT
    STEMResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Residency: Students in New Haven, West Haven, or Orange/Amity public schools (Yale Pathways Scholars); Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Must currently be a Yale Pathways Scholar in grades 9–11

    Selection and application: Selection: Selective among eligible existing Pathways Scholars; workshop classes have 16 or fewer students and residential places are capped separately. Application materials: Online application with two short essays and one long essay; One teacher recommendation

    Checked Official site

    Yale University Office of New Haven Affairs logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics

    Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics

    Selective six-week astrophysics research program for 32 rising seniors, combining two online weeks with four residential weeks at Yale; 2027 is unannounced.

    Cost
    $7,800(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grade 12 (rising)
    Program dates
    6 weeks
    Where
    Hybrid · New Haven, CT
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Needs-first financial aid. For admitted students who apply within two weeks of the offer; a typical award is a 50% tuition remission, up to 80%.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Enrollment deposit for admitted students: $2,000. Due by midnight on May 1; the balance is due by midnight on June 1; Needs-first financial aid. For admitted students who apply within two weeks of the offer; a typical award is a 50% tuition remission, up to 80%.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Proficiency in English; Requirement: Availability for both the two-week online study program and the four-week on-campus program

    Selection and application: Selection: The program enrolls 32 rising seniors and reviews academic preparation, recommendations, interests, and fit. A current applicant count or acceptance rate is not published. Application materials: Two teacher letters of recommendation (via SmarterSelect)

    Checked Official site

    Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Yale Summer Session

    Yale Summer Session Acting Program (DRMA S001)

    Five-week, two-credit Yale Summer Session acting conservatory for rising high-school seniors and older learners, with 40 hours per week of class, rehearsal, and homework.

    Cost
    $10,705(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (current)
    Program dates
    5 weeks
    Where
    In person
    ArtsResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Nonrefundable application fee: $80; Enrollment deposit for admitted visiting students: $500. Non-refundable; applied toward tuition; Administrative fee for admitted visiting students: $50; Room and board, one 5-week session: $4,380. Dorm room in a residential college, meals and student activities; Yale Health Fee (all visiting students): $175

    Requirements: Minimum age 16; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 11–12 when applying

    Selection and application: Selection: Holistic selection considers academics, statement, recommendations, acting experience, and applicable scores; no audition is required and experience levels range from beginners to professionals. Application materials: Two letters of recommendation (one from a current teacher)

    Checked Official site

    Yale Summer Session logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College

    Young Civil War Historians Conference

    Gettysburg's Young Civil War Historians Conference explores history through documents, photographs, battlefields and memorials.

    Cost
    $1,395(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 12–17, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person · Gettysburg, PA
    ResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Limited scholarships: $500. Apply with a 1–2 page letter and a social studies teacher recommendation.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Nonrefundable application fee: $50; Limited scholarships: $500. Apply with a 1–2 page letter and a social studies teacher recommendation; One-way shuttle to or from BWI Airport/Amtrak: $150

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12

    Selection and application: Selection: Historical 2026 programme information: Capacity is intentionally limited to support close contact with directors, guest speakers, and leading historians. The 2026 session filled, but Gettysburg does not publish the number of seats, applicant count, or acceptance rate. Application materials: Scholarship applicants: recommendation from a social studies teacher

    Checked Official site

    Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College logo
    Review 3 selectedView program

  • Youth About Business

    Youth About Business Summer Business Camp

    One-week residential New York M&A simulation for students who have completed ninth grade, preceded by a required virtual seminar and followed by optional conference and year-round programming.

    Cost
    $750–$3,000
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 and first-year college
    Program dates
    Jul 6–17, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · New York, NY
    BusinessResidentialCompetition
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Income-based scholarship rates. Families with household income below $150,000 pay less than 25% of the program cost.

    Costs beyond tuition: Conference Experience (Wall Street Conference & Healthcare Conference): $750–$1,500; Income-based scholarship rates. Families with household income below $150,000 pay less than 25% of the program cost.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 10–13; Requirement: Completed freshman year of high school before the Summer Business Camp; Requirement: Eligible through the summer following high school graduation; Requirement: No GPA requirement

    Selection and application: Selection: Applicants submit an essay and teacher recommendation; the FAQ says motivation matters and there is no GPA cutoff. Camp capacity is limited and admission is rolling. Championship Camp is by team performance and invitation. Application materials: One teacher recommendation; One-page essay

    Checked Official site

    Youth About Business logo
    Review 3 selectedView program
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.

Not sure where to start?

Get a shortlist that fits your grade and interests.

Answer a few questions in the Find My Fit quiz and get a personalized list in about two minutes.

Take the Find My Fit quizBrowse every program