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. PROMYS Foundation / Boston University

    PROMYS at Boston UniversityRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    Not published
    Financial aid
    2026: Free for U.S. families with adjusted gross income under $80,000; need-based aid up to full cost. Aid for international students is decided case by case.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Free for U.S. families with adjusted gross income under $80,000; need-based aid up to full cost. Aid for international students is decided case by case.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 10–12
    Additional eligibility
    Ages 14–18; Requirement: Open to grades 10–12; Requirement: Have completed 9th grade (or its equivalent) by the first day of the program; Requirement: Not yet enrolled as a full-time college or university student; Requirement: Graduating seniors may attend in the summer between high school and college or during a gap year
    Session dates or duration
    Starts June 27, 2027; Ends August 7, 2027; 6 weeks
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Selection and application
    Selection: About 80 high-school students are selected through demonstrated mathematical thinking in the problem set, academic context, recommendation, transcript, and short answers. PROMYS does not publish the current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: One letter of recommendation
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 3 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 4 · checked Aug 20, 2026Source 5 · checked Aug 20, 2026Source 6 · checked Aug 20, 2026Source 7 · checked Aug 20, 2026

  2. Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

    PathMaker ScholarsRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    Not published
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Expenses and aid conditions
    Not published
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 11–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: High-school applicants must complete junior year before the program begins, or college applicants must be current freshmen or sophomores; Requirement: Be in good academic standing; Requirement: Demonstrate interest in health sciences and biomedical cancer research; Requirement: Commit to the full ten-week program for approximately 40 hours every week; Requirement: Live on the University of Utah campus and follow residential and laboratory policies; Requirement: Complete required laboratory and online training, weekly meetings and events, surveys, and the closing symposium; Exclusion: High-school students who have not completed junior year before the program starts; Exclusion: College students beyond the first or second undergraduate year under the published 2026 rules; Exclusion: Applicants unable to attend the entire program or meet the full-time commitment; Exclusion: Assuming citizenship or permanent residence is mandatory merely because the application collects that information
    Session dates or duration
    Starts May 25, 2026; Ends July 30, 2026; 10 weeks2026 cycle
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Residential
    Location
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Selection and application
    Selection: Huntsman uses an application, transcript, personal statement and reference and may place applicants on a waitlist. Current cohort size, applicant count, acceptance rate and selection rubric are not published. Application materials: One-page single-spaced personal statement addressing career goals, personal background, relevant skills and interest in STEM
    Official sources
    Source 1 · checked Oct 24, 2026Source 2 · checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. RIT K-12 University Center

    RIT Youth and Pre-College ProgramsRemove
    Application deadline
    Not published
    Cost
    $250–$4502026 cycle
    Financial aid
    2026: Camp Tiger camper scholarships for families in financial need. Limited; awarded on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted; requires a teacher/counselor recommendation.
    Expenses and aid conditions
    2026: Non-refundable administrative fee (included in the Camp Tiger session fee): $75; Camp Tiger camper scholarships for families in financial need. Limited; awarded on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted; requires a teacher/counselor recommendation.
    Stipend or pay
    Not published
    Eligibility
    Grades 3–12 (provider uses rising grades)
    Additional eligibility
    Requirement: Open to rising grades 3–12
    Session dates or duration
    1 week
    Format
    In person
    Housing and supervision
    Non-residential
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Selection and application
    Selection: Most paid camps use registration and capacity rather than a single competitive admissions process. Scholarship and partner-funded programs have separate eligibility and limited funds; the umbrella applicant count, seats, fill rates, scholarship rates, and selection criteria are not published. Application materials: One teacher or counselor recommendation for Camp Tiger scholarship consideration
    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 265–276 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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  • AMDA College of the Performing Arts

    AMDA High School Summer Conservatory

    Two-week New York or Los Angeles performing-arts conservatory for ages 13-19 completing grades 8-12; 2026 is complete and only a 2027 interest form is posted.

    Cost
    $3,263–$4,300
    Who can apply
    Grades 8–12 (current)
    Program dates
    Jun 27 – Aug 7, 2027 · 2 weeks
    Where
    In person · New York, Los Angeles, NY, CA
    ArtsResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: High School Conservatory scholarship consideration. Considered when all application requirements are completed.

    Costs beyond tuition: Enrollment deposit after acceptance: $250. Goes toward total cost; fully refundable; Airport pickup or drop-off (each way): $130. Optional. Air travel not covered; High School Conservatory scholarship consideration. Considered when all application requirements are completed.

    Requirements: Ages 13–19; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 8–12 when applying; Requirement: International students welcome; non-US citizens enter on a tourist visa or visa waiver

    Selection and application: Selection: Application and interview review are required; AMDA does not publish a current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Scheduled 10-15-minute phone interview

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  • ASM Materials Education Foundation

    ASM Materials Camps - Students

    ASM's free, site-specific hands-on camps serve high-school juniors and seniors; all dated 2026 camps are past, deadlines vary locally, and 2027 is unannounced.

    Cost
    Free(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 11–12
    Program dates
    0⁠–⁠1 weeks
    Where
    In person
    STEM
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Eisenman hotel lodging: $0. Included for the completed 2026 Eisenman camp; other sites and future cycles must be checked separately; Eisenman meals: $0. Included for the completed 2026 Eisenman camp.

    Requirements: Residency: Site-specific; the 2026 schedule included United States and international hosts; Requirement: Be entering high-school grade 11 or 12 for the flagship Eisenman camp; Requirement: Show strong ability or aptitude in mathematics and science; Requirement: Meet the chosen host site's current application and attendance rules

    Selection and application: Selection: Space is limited and host-specific. Eisenman reviews a transcript, recommendations, and personal essay; other locations may use different selection methods. Application materials: For 2026 Eisenman: no more than two recommendation letters; For 2026 Eisenman: personal essay of at least 100 words explaining fit and expected college, major, and career plans if known

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  • The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School

    Bioethics for High School Students: Being Human in a Brave New World

    Cost
    $1,050(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 27–31, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    In person · Summit, NJ
    Day program
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12

    Selection and application: Selection: The 2026 page offered public registration for eligible rising high-school students and did not publish an application rubric, GPA threshold, recommendations, interview, applicant count, acceptance rate, or cohort size. Capacity and 2027 enrollment method remain unknown.

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  • Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering

    Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) Online

    Five-week synchronous Johns Hopkins college-level engineering course with daily live classes, hands-on shipped lab kit, about 28 hours/week, and three credits.

    Cost
    $3,900(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (current)
    Program dates
    5⁠–⁠6 weeks
    Where
    Online
    STEMDay program
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based scholarships for online and commuter students

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Non-refundable application fee: $60. A fee waiver can be requested; Lab kit fee (estimated, plus taxes and shipping): $265. International students may incur customs fees; Need-based scholarships for online and commuter students

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: As and Bs in high school math and science classes; Requirement: Completed Algebra II; Requirement: Completed a course covering trigonometric functions; Requirement: Completed a full year of high school chemistry and/or physics with a lab (or a 4 or 5 on AP Chemistry or AP Physics 1); Requirement: Recent high school graduates may attend the summer before college

    Selection and application: Selection: Completed applications are academically reviewed. Rising juniors and seniors are typical, talented rising sophomores may be considered, and older students receive priority when space is limited. Programs can fill before final deadlines; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: One brief required essay and one brief optional essay; Teacher recommendation

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  • Frist Art Museum

    Frist Art Museum Teen Film Camp

    Frist Art Museum and the Nashville Film Festival offer a Teen Film Camp in Nashville.

    Cost
    $475–$525(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jul 13–17, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    In person · Nashville, TN
    ArtsDay program
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Financial assistance

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Application fee: $50; Financial assistance

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12

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  • University of Miami Frost School of Music

    Frost Summer Experience

    Multi-program Frost School music camp portfolio for elementary through high-school musicians; Summer 2026 is closed and 2027 courses, dates, prices, and deadlines are unannounced.

    Cost
    $1,250–$1,850(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 2–12
    Program dates
    Jun 22 – Jul 17, 2026 · 1⁠–⁠2 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Coral Gables, FL
    ArtsResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Frost Summer Experience scholarship. Considered for applications submitted by the priority deadline; based on audition quality and instrumentation needs.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Music Day Camp aftercare (optional): $125; Private lesson with artist faculty (optional): $100. One-hour lesson; Application fee: $50. Not included in camp tuition; Frost Summer Experience scholarship. Considered for applications submitted by the priority deadline; based on audition quality and instrumentation needs.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to grades 2–12; Requirement: Music Day Camp Young Mozarts: entering grades 2-5 with at least 1 year of experience on their instrument and age-appropriate music reading; Requirement: Music Day Camp Young Beethovens: entering grades 6-8 with at least 2 years of experience on their instrument and age-appropriate music reading; Requirement: Popular Music Experience: grades 9-12

    Selection and application: Selection: Applications and auditions were program-specific; scholarship review considered audition quality and instrumentation need. The portfolio publishes no overall acceptance rate, capacity, or shared rubric. Application materials: Instrumental Intensive: placement video audition of one composition (two works for the Chamber Intensive); Music Day Camp: no audition (video only for the Virtuoso Chamber Program)

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  • Brandeis University

    Genesis at Brandeis

    Cost
    $5,850(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Jul 19, 2026 · 3 weeks(2026)
    Where
    In person · Waltham, MA
    LeadershipResidentialPre-college
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Full and partial need- and merit-based scholarships. Requested in the Genesis application; Travel stipend: Up to $500. Up to $500; Brandeis alumni-child tuition discount: $500

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Registration deposit, deducted from the final tuition bill: $500; Full and partial need- and merit-based scholarships. Requested in the Genesis application; Travel stipend: Up to $500. Up to $500; Brandeis alumni-child tuition discount: $500

    Requirements: Ages 15–18; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Jewish students of all genders and identities, of any movement or background

    Selection and application: Selection: Brandeis describes Genesis students as exceptional and academically curious but does not publish applicant count, capacity, acceptance rate, or a 2027 selection rubric.

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  • State of New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education; Drew University; Rutgers University

    Governor's School of New Jersey (Sciences and Engineering & Technology)

    Tuition-free New Jersey residential STEM umbrella with two school-nominated programs after junior year: Sciences at Drew and Engineering & Technology at Rutgers; the 2026 cycle is complete.

    Cost
    Free
    Who can apply
    Grade 12 (rising)
    Program dates
    3⁠–⁠4 weeks
    Where
    In person · Madison, Piscataway, NJ
    LeadershipResidential
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: Key and swipe-card deposit (Rutgers engineering program): $65. Check returned uncashed at the end of the program.

    Requirements: Residency: New Jersey residents; Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Attend a public or private high school or be home-schooled, and have completed junior year before the program

    Selection and application: Selection: Selection occurs first within the high school and then at the host. Recent host sources report approximately 20%-25% admission among school nominees, with exact cohort size driven by facilities and funding. Application materials: Sciences program: two hand-signed teacher recommendations, one from a science teacher and one from a math teacher; Sciences program: two single-page essays; Engineering & Technology program: several application essays

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  • Howard University School of Business

    Howard University Pre-Business Program

    One-week residential Howard business tracks for current sophomores and juniors; 2026 cost $2,000 with a free ACAP track and limited aid, and the completed cycle is closed.

    Cost
    $2,000(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 10–11 (current)
    Program dates
    Jul 18–31, 2026 · 1 week(2026)
    Where
    In person · Washington, DC
    BusinessResidential
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: 2026: Need-based tuition waiver or reduction. Limited; applicants state their projected shortfall.

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Need-based tuition waiver or reduction. Limited; applicants state their projected shortfall.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: AltFinance track: current juniors only, with Pre-Calculus completed or in progress

    Selection and application: Selection: Howard describes several tracks as selective or highly selective and publishes track maximums from 20 to about 50 for many offerings, but does not publish total applications or acceptance rates.

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  • Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership

    Hurricane Island High School Summer Science Programs

    Hurricane Island’s 2027 high-school science courses combine island-based research and leadership in Maine. Ordinary courses cost $1,750; Advanced Ocean Lab costs $2,500, with different grade requirements and dates.

    Cost
    $1,750–$2,500
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 27 – Jul 28, 2027
    Where
    In person · Hurricane Island, ME
    STEMResidentialResearch
    Financial aid, requirements and sources

    Financial aid: Financial aid. Donor-funded; apply with the financial aid application form.

    Costs beyond tuition: Non-refundable registration deposit (10% of course cost). Full payment is due 45 days before the program starts; Financial aid. Donor-funded; apply with the financial aid application form.

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Advanced Ocean Lab: entering grades 10-12 in 2027

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  • IDEA MATH

    IDEA MATH Summer Online Programs

    Live 50-hour online math intensives: Math Challenges for rising grades 4-12 and Advanced Studies for grades 7-12, with placement-based small classes.

    Cost
    $1,695–$2,195(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 4–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 28 – Aug 11, 2026(2026)
    Where
    Online
    STEMDay programCompetition
    Requirements and sources

    Costs beyond tuition: 2026: Placement test: $50–$100. Non-refundable and non-transferable; special sessions cost $150 or more; Late fee after the tuition payment deadline: $200

    Requirements: Requirement: Open to rising grades 4–12; Requirement: Advanced Studies is for students in grades 7-12

    Selection and application: Selection: Placement is academic and capacity-limited rather than governed by a published acceptance rate. Likely class sizes were 6-12 in early prealgebra levels and 6-16 in others, with stated caps of 16 or 20.

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  • Illinois Institute of Technology

    Illinois Tech Elevate College Prep Summer Programs

    Illinois Tech's Elevate College Prep offers distinct STEM and related summer courses for school students.

    Cost
    $300–$4,500(2026)
    Who can apply
    Grades 9–12 (rising)
    Program dates
    Jun 15 – Jul 31, 2026(2026)
    Where
    In person or online · Chicago, Wheaton, IL
    STEMResidentialPre-college
    Requirements and sources

    Requirements: Ages 14–17; Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Overnight (residential) programs require students to be at least 15 years old by the start of programming

    Selection and application: Selection: Illinois Tech says most students who meet a program's eligibility are accepted, after which enrollment requires payment. It publishes no umbrella acceptance rate, and individual track capacity, prerequisites, and review can differ.

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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

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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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