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. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

    Operation CatapultRemove
    Application deadline
    April 19, 2027
    Cost
    $2,750
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Application fee: $0; Deposit to reserve a spot: $100. Due once the application is approved; Suggested spending money: $100–$150
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 10–11
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to grades 10–11; Requirement: Open in the summer after sophomore or junior year (students finishing grade 10 or 11); Requirement: One year of chemistry or physics
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 7, 2027; Ends July 22, 2027
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Terre Haute, IN
    Selection and application
    Selection: Earlier 2026 instructions described selective application followed by first-come session placement after approval. Confirm the current 2027 review and placement process; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Recommendation from a counselor or teacher
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · 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

  3. Northern Crops Institute

    NCI Summer Ag AcademyRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    Free (other costs may apply)2026 cycle
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Not published
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 9–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: No prior agriculture experience needed
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 22, 2026; Ends June 26, 20262026 cycle
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Fargo, ND
    Selection and application
    Selection: Confirm the current programme’s selection, capacity and operative participation conditions.
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · 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 217–228 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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  • Roger Williams University

    RWU Entrepreneurship Summer Camp

    RWU’s residential entrepreneurship camp runs June 20–25, 2027 for students entering grades 10–12. Tuition, room and board cost $1,995; registration is coming soon.

    Cost
    $1,995
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 20–25, 2027 · 1 week
    Where
    In person · Bristol, RI
    BusinessResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: DECA member scholarship: $500. Ten awards: five for Rhode Island students and five for students from other states; requires a recommendation letter from a DECA advisor.

    Costs beyond tuition: Registration deposit: $500. Fully refundable before April 1; DECA member scholarship: $500. Ten awards: five for Rhode Island students and five for students from other states; requires a recommendation letter from a DECA advisor.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12

    Checked Official site

    Roger Williams University logo
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  • Society of American Military Engineers

    SAME STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps

    S. high-school students age 15+, with hands-on challenges, military-service settings and possible SAME Post sponsorship.

    Cost
    $100–$800
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    1 week
    Where
    In person
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: SAME Post sponsorship. May cover the other half of the fee or more; not guaranteed. No separate application.

    Costs beyond tuition: Half the registration fee to hold a spot after selection; SAME Post sponsorship. May cover the other half of the fee or more; not guaranteed. No separate application.

    Requirements: Minimum age 15; Citizenship: US; Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Rising juniors and seniors get preference; the Army camp does not accept rising sophomores; Requirement: On a track toward an accredited engineering college or university, such as taking appropriate STEM courses; Requirement: Have not previously attended an SAME national camp; Requirement: Able to provide proof of medical insurance

    Selection and application: Selection: Each camp generally serves 40-80 students. SAME Posts review applicants and nominate or sponsor candidates, but SAME publishes no overall applicant count or acceptance rate.

    Checked Official site

    Society of American Military Engineers logo
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  • Savannah College of Art and Design

    SCAD Rising Star

    Four-week Atlanta or Savannah pre-college program for current juniors to complete two accelerated SCAD courses and earn 10 quarter credits.

    Cost
    $4,680(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grade 11
    Program dates
    4 weeks
    Where
    In person
    ArtsResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: 2026 nonrefundable application fee: $100. Nonrefundable; 2026 nonrefundable program fee: $250. Course placement was based partly on receipt and space; the FAQ calls the program fee nonrefundable; 2026 residential housing and meals: $1,590. Residential total including all listed fees was $6,620. Commuter availability and pricing should be confirmed.

    Requirements: Requirement: Be a current high-school junior who will be a rising senior for the target summer; Requirement: Be prepared to complete two ten-week college-course workloads in four weeks; Requirement: Submit an official transcript through the first term of junior year; Requirement: Complete a personal or telephone admission interview; Requirement: Provide proof of English proficiency if the student's first language is not English; Exclusion: Students outside the current-junior/rising-senior cohort; Exclusion: A second Rising Star attendance; Exclusion: Incomplete admission file or unpaid required fees; Exclusion: Assuming a portfolio, recommendation, or test score is universally required when SCAD lists it as supplemental unless requested

    Selection and application: Selection: Admission requires a complete file, transcript, and interview; SCAD describes the cohort as highly motivated rising seniors but does not publish applicant counts, seat counts, acceptance rates, or a portfolio threshold. Application materials: Personal or telephone interview; If requested or chosen as supplemental material: portfolio of at least 10 pieces, statement of purpose, achievements list, one recommendation, or SAT/ACT report

    Checked Official site

    Savannah College of Art and Design logo
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  • Sea Education Association

    SEA High School & Pre-College Summer Programs

    SEA's distinct residential ocean programs for high-school students and recent graduates; only completed Summer 2026 sessions are currently listed, with no 2027 cycle announced.

    Cost
    $2,500–$9,500
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Up to 3 weeks
    Where
    In person or online · Woods Hole, MA
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance)

    Costs beyond tuition: High-school program deposit (non-refundable, credited toward tuition): $300. Due within two weeks of acceptance; Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: Completed at least one high-school science course and one high-school mathematics course; Requirement: Rising freshmen are considered for the virtual program only; Requirement: SEA Expedition is open to rising sophomores through recent graduates; the SEA Shore courses are designed for rising juniors, seniors and recent graduates; Requirement: Must meet SEA's Essential Eligibility Criteria and be cleared to participate by SEA's medical team

    Selection and application: Selection: Programs have 20-25 places and use holistic review of academics, reference, motivation and goals. SEA Expedition and Pre-College applicants interview; admission and first-choice program are not guaranteed. Application materials: Short answer essay questions; Interview (not required for SeaQuest or SEAscape/Ocean Studies on Cape Cod applicants)

    Checked Official site

    Sea Education Association logo
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  • Purdue University College of Engineering Honors Program

    Seminar for Top Engineering Prospects (STEP)

    One-week residential engineering exploration at Purdue for rising seniors; the $2,500 2026 cycle has ended and 2027 is unannounced.

    Cost
    $2,500(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grade 12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 5 – Aug 1, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    In person · West Lafayette, IN
    STEMResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based scholarship (after acceptance)

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Need-based scholarship (after acceptance)

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Recommended (not required): three years of high-school math and one year of chemistry or physics completed before the program

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling review until limited sessions fill; waitlist afterward. No acceptance rate is published.

    Checked Official site

    Purdue University College of Engineering Honors Program logo
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  • Shared Worlds at Wofford College

    Shared Worlds

    Shared Worlds offers residential speculative-fiction writing and world-building at Wofford College, July 11–24, 2027, for students entering grades 8–12.

    Cost
    $2,600(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 8–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 11–24, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    In person · Spartanburg, SC
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based financial aid

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Deposit to hold a spot (part of tuition): $500. Fully refundable until one month before camp begins; Need-based financial aid; GSP airport shuttle, each way: $35

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 8–12

    Checked Official site

    Shared Worlds at Wofford College logo
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  • Shoals Marine Laboratory

    Shoals Marine Laboratory High School Courses

    One- or two-week residential Cornell-credit marine-science courses on Appledore Island for students who completed grades 10-12; 2026 is complete and the next cycle is unannounced.

    Cost
    $1,940(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12
    Program dates
    Jul 13 – Aug 17, 2026 · 1⁠–⁠2 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Appledore Island, ME
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Room and board per night (meals and shared dorm room): $234; SML program fee per course: $410

    Requirements: Citizenship: International students must already be in the US with an F-1 visa valid through the summer; Requirement: Open to grades 11–12; Requirement: Must have completed grade 10, 11 or 12 before the course; Requirement: B- or better (or equivalent) in two year-long high-school science courses, or a teacher or counselor contact who can explain individual circumstances

    Selection and application: Selection: Rolling admission based on eligibility, transcript review, course fit, and remaining space; Shoals does not publish applicant or acceptance counts.

    Checked Official site

    Shoals Marine Laboratory logo
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  • SMASH

    SMASH Residential

    Free one-year STEM and computer-science program for qualifying grade 10-11 applicants, anchored by a residential summer at a partner university.

    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jul 11–31, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person
    STEMResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent; Requirement: Strong grade-level math skills, as shown by state-standardized math test scores; Requirement: Attend a public high school, or a private high school on scholarship; Requirement: Strong interest in earning a computer science degree or certification and pursuing a CS career; Requirement: SMASH Morehouse applicants must be male; SMASH Spelman applicants must be female

    Selection and application: Selection: Applicants must satisfy all published requirements, and geographic preferences apply; the current pages do not publish applicant counts or an acceptance rate.

    Checked Official site

    SMASH logo
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  • Stanford Medicine

    Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)

    Stanford Medicine's Clinical Summer Internship teaches clinical reasoning and practical medical skills with faculty and instructors.

    Cost
    $4,580–$6,580(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12 and first-year college (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 13 – Aug 7, 2026 · 2 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · Stanford, CA
    STEMDay program
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Summer application fee waiver. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents with household income under $80,000 or in a low-income support program; limited and first-come, first-served.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Summer application fee: $95. Nonrefundable; Summer application fee waiver. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents with household income under $80,000 or in a low-income support program; limited and first-come, first-served.

    Requirements: Minimum age 16; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–13; Requirement: Medical students are not eligible

    Selection and application: Selection: Stanford describes CSI as highly competitive and says it receives more qualified applicants than it can accept, but it does not publish current application totals, cohort capacities by track, acceptance rate, waitlist size, or scoring cutoffs. Application materials: Essay prompt response(s); One recommendation from a recent STEM teacher

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    Stanford Medicine logo
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  • Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies

    Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (SHI)

    Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a three-week residential programme built around one faculty-led humanities seminar.

    Cost
    $8,850(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 21 – Jul 31, 2026 · 3 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Stanford, CA
    Residential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based financial aid. Open to domestic and international applicants; does not affect admission.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Admissions application fee: $65. Fee waivers available if qualifications are met; Need-based financial aid. Open to domestic and international applicants; does not affect admission; Financial aid application fee: $60. Only for aid applicants; waivers available.

    Requirements: Minimum age 15; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Be younger than 18 during the program

    Selection and application: Application materials: One teacher recommendation (English, history or social science); Optional video essay

    Checked Official site

    Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies logo
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  • Stevens Institute of Technology

    Stevens Pre-College Programs

    Umbrella portfolio of competitive Stevens residential, college-credit, commuter, and virtual pre-college programs for rising grades 10-12 across engineering, computing, science, and business.

    Cost
    $3,350–$4,950(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 5–31, 2026 · 1⁠–⁠2 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · Hoboken, NJ
    STEMResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based Pre-College scholarships. Limited; students indicate interest on the application and submit an aid application with W-2 and tax return information.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Pre-College application: $0; Need-based Pre-College scholarships. Limited; students indicate interest on the application and submit an aid application with W-2 and tax return information.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12

    Selection and application: Selection: Highly competitive umbrella admission based on academics, demonstrated interest, short responses, course fit, prerequisites, capacity, and complete application materials.

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    Stevens Institute of Technology logo
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  • University of Alabama Styslinger College of Engineering

    Student Introduction to Engineering (SITE)

    Six-day, five-night University of Alabama engineering camps run June 7-12 and June 21-26, 2027; registration opens February 1 and costs $1,250 plus an unspecified registration fee.

    Cost
    $1,250
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 7–26, 2027 · 1 week
    Where
    In person · Tuscaloosa, AL
    STEMResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: Optional early drop-off the day before camp: $150

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Incoming freshmen are also eligible; Requirement: Interest in science, math, engineering or computer science

    Selection and application: Selection: Capacity-limited paid registration; the 2026 event reached full status. No competitive acceptance rate or selection rubric is published on the current pages.

    Checked Official site

    University of Alabama Styslinger College of Engineering 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?

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