Summer 2027 For high school students

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. Check the year on dates and prices, then confirm the current application window on the official site.

No paid placements. Listings are ranked by fit, never by payment. Methodology.

Showing 37 to 48 of 391 matching programs. Ordered by name.

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Catalog facts retain their cycle. Check the official sources before applying or paying. On a phone, scroll the table sideways.

Selected programs, application facts and official sources
Program factsCalifornia State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)RemoveCamp MetalheadRemoveCincinnati Zoo ZooTeensRemove
Application deadlineUnconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official site
CostLast year's cycle (2026): $5,518; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official siteLast year's cycle (2026): $3,500; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official site
Financial aidLast year's cycle (2026): 2026 need-based application and program assistance: Up to $5,564. Could assist with the $46 application fee and $5,518 program cost based on family income, family size and available funds; actual award not guaranteed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official site
Expenses and aid conditionsLast year's cycle (2026): 2026 COSMOS application fee: $46. Nonrefundable; pending fee-waiver review could change when or whether payment was required.; Credit-card transaction fee on program payments: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Approximately 2.5% when paying program costs by credit card; application fee exempt.; 2026 need-based application and program assistance: Up to $5,564. Could assist with the $46 application fee and $5,518 program cost based on family income, family size and available funds; actual award not guaranteed.; Full-financial-aid attendance deposit: $200. Required only for admitted students offered full aid and refunded to the legal guardian after successful completion.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official siteCatalog terms: ZooTeen program fee upon acceptance: $60. Nonrefundable; covers program materials, a camp T-shirt, and borrowing a Zoo uniform shirt. Contact the program if the fee creates economic hardship.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
Stipend or payUnconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official site
EligibilityGrades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades)Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official site
Additional eligibilityResidency: Attend high school in person in California; Requirement: Be rising into grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 for the program fall year; Requirement: Attend high school in person in California; Requirement: Demonstrate academic excellence and preparation for the selected STEM cluster; Requirement: Complete cluster-specific course prerequisites; Requirement: Live on the host UC campus for the full program; Requirement: Be a first-time COSMOS participant; Exclusion: Students not attending a California high school in person; Exclusion: Students who previously attended any COSMOS program; Exclusion: Applicants outside the rising-grade 9-12 range; Exclusion: Applicants unable to live on campus for the full program; Exclusion: Late application, supporting, payment or admission materials; Exclusion: Assuming a 3.5 GPA is an absolute statewide minimum rather than the published typical profileAges 14–18; Requirement: Be age 14-18 under the published 2026 youth-camp rule; Requirement: Be available for both weeks and the daily 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. schedule; Requirement: Complete the youth-camp application and registration requirements; Requirement: Follow shop-safety, enrollment, attendance, and no-weapons policies; Exclusion: The 2026 session is over and out of stock; Exclusion: Weapons, including knives, daggers, swords, and axes, may not be fabricated in class; Exclusion: The grade range is inferred from the youth age band; age 14-18 is the controlling published rule; Exclusion: 2027 eligibility is not yet confirmedAges 13–17; Residency: No formal boundary is published; participants must reliably reach the Cincinnati Zoo for interviews, orientation, camp, and volunteer shifts; Requirement: Be age 13-17; the correct Summer 2027 reference date must be confirmed; Requirement: Show genuine interest in nature and conservation, curiosity, willingness to learn, positivity, and reliability; Requirement: Commit to 100 hours as a first-/second-year ZooTeen or 70 hours as a third-year/returning ZooTeen; Requirement: Be available for a full 40-hour camp week and required visitor-engagement/additional shifts; Requirement: Attend a group interview and complete guardian-assisted online/virtual and all-day in-person orientations; Requirement: Use email and an online profile to receive information and log service hours; Exclusion: The 2027 page's May 1, 2026 age-reference date is stale and must not be treated as the binding 2027 cutoff; Exclusion: The program cannot accept all applicants, and returning participation is not guaranteed; Exclusion: Advanced specializations require separate applications, experience, additional hours, and available capacity
Session dates or durationCatalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official siteCatalog terms: 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official siteUnconfirmed — check official site
FormatIn personIn personIn person / Online
Housing and supervisionResidential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official siteNon-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official siteNon-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site
LocationDavis, California, Irvine, California, Los Angeles, California, Merced, California, San Diego, California, Santa Cruz, California, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC San Diego, UC Santa CruzProvidence, Rhode Island, The Steel Yard industrial-arts campusCincinnati, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio
Selection and applicationSelection: Each of six campuses accommodates roughly 160-200 students, and clusters typically enroll 20-25 with a commonly reported 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Admissions are competitive and based on academic merit relative to the selected topic, but applicant count and statewide acceptance rate were not published. Application materials: One personal statement; One required teacher recommendation, with two recommendedSelection: The course has limited shop capacity and the 2026 listing sold out. The application asks about motivation and making experience, but no acceptance rate or formal scoring rubric is published. Application materials: Short personal statements about motivation, desired outcomes, and a recent making challengeSelection: The Zoo says the program is very popular and cannot accept all applicants; it publishes no applicant count, cohort size, or acceptance rate. Application materials: Six written essay responses about motivation, role models, conservation learning, challenge, personal growth, and intellectual curiosity; In-person group interview
Official sourcesSource 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21

Five signals to check before applying or paying

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 those data are absent, the rate is unconfirmed.
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.
Stipend or pay
Look for an amount, eligibility conditions and payment schedule. Distinguish student compensation from financial aid, prize money and tuition discounts.
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.
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.

Catalog programs to compare

  • Bucknell University

    Bucknell Academy Summer Experience (BASE)

    Bucknell BASE is a selective one-week residential programme for rising high-school sophomores, juniors and seniors.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Location
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Bucknell BASE is a selective one-week residential programme for rising high-school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students learn with faculty, collaborate on interdisciplinary problems and experience campus life. The completed 2026 programme ran June 21-26 and cost $1,750 including housing, meals, instruction, materials and activities. Limited need-based aid and scheduled airport shuttles were available. The 2027 calendar and price are not yet published. Applications include a short essay and current transcript; aid requests require a counselor letter.

    Housing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Requirement: Bucknell BASE is a selective one-week residential programme for rising high-school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students learn with faculty, collaborate on interdisciplinary problems and experience campus life. The completed 2026 programme ran June 21-26 and cost $1,750 including housing, meals, instruction, materials and activities. Limited need-based aid and scheduled airport shuttles were available. The 2027 calendar and price are not yet published. Applications include a short essay and current transcript; aid requests require a counselor letter.

    Selection and application: Application materials: The completed 2026 programme ran June 21-26 and cost $1,750 including housing, meals, instruction, materials and activities. Limited need-based aid and scheduled airport shuttles were available. The 2027 calendar and price are not yet published. Applications include a short essay and current transcript; aid requests require a counselor letter.

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  • Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) Foundation

    Business Horizons

    Business Horizons is a five-day residential business and leadership program for Iowa high-school students in grades 9–12.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    $475–$650 (2027 cycle)
    Session dates or duration
    Starts July 11, 2027; Ends July 15, 2027 (2027 cycle)
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Housing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Requirement: Iowa high-school grades 9–12. Provider's annual participation count is descriptive, not a confirmed capacity for this cycle.

    Selection and application: Unconfirmed — check official site

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  • University of California

    California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)

    Competitive four-week residential UC STEM program for California students rising into grades 9-12, offered at six campuses through faculty-led academic clusters.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Last year's cycle (2026): $5,518; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Davis, California, Irvine, California, Los Angeles, California, Merced, California, San Diego, California, Santa Cruz, California, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades)

    Attend high school in person in California; Complete cluster-specific course prerequisites

    Housing: Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Each of six campuses accommodates roughly 160-200 students, and clusters typically enroll 20-25 with a commonly reported 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Admissions are competitive and based on academic merit relative to the selected topic, but applicant count and statewide acceptance rate were not published.

    Financial aid:
    Read aid terms and conditions

    Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 need-based application and program assistance: Up to $5,564. Could assist with the $46 application fee and $5,518 program cost based on family income, family size and available funds; actual award not guaranteed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 COSMOS application fee: $46. Nonrefundable; pending fee-waiver review could change when or whether payment was required.; Credit-card transaction fee on program payments: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Approximately 2.5% when paying program costs by credit card; application fee exempt.; 2026 need-based application and program assistance: Up to $5,564. Could assist with the $46 application fee and $5,518 program cost based on family income, family size and available funds; actual award not guaranteed.; Full-financial-aid attendance deposit: $200. Required only for admitted students offered full aid and refunded to the legal guardian after successful completion.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Residency: Attend high school in person in California; Requirement: Be rising into grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 for the program fall year; Requirement: Attend high school in person in California; Requirement: Demonstrate academic excellence and preparation for the selected STEM cluster; Requirement: Complete cluster-specific course prerequisites; Requirement: Live on the host UC campus for the full program; Requirement: Be a first-time COSMOS participant; Exclusion: Students not attending a California high school in person; Exclusion: Students who previously attended any COSMOS program; Exclusion: Applicants outside the rising-grade 9-12 range; Exclusion: Applicants unable to live on campus for the full program; Exclusion: Late application, supporting, payment or admission materials; Exclusion: Assuming a 3.5 GPA is an absolute statewide minimum rather than the published typical profile

    Selection and application: Selection: Each of six campuses accommodates roughly 160-200 students, and clusters typically enroll 20-25 with a commonly reported 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Admissions are competitive and based on academic merit relative to the selected topic, but applicant count and statewide acceptance rate were not published. Application materials: One personal statement; One required teacher recommendation, with two recommended

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  • California State Summer School for the Arts

    California State Summer School for the Arts

    Selective four-week residential arts program for current grades 8-12; the 2026 Cal Poly Pomona session is complete and no reliable 2027 application cycle is open.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 4, 2026; Ends August 1, 2026; 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Pomona, California, Historical 2026 residential host: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; future host and details must be confirmed
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 8–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors

    California residents are the primary state-supported population; limited out-of-state and international admission is available; If admitted, choose one department, submit intent and pre-registration materials, pay tuition or secure aid, and meet residential-program requirements

    Housing: Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: CSSSA selects on talent and creativity through discipline assignments and adult references and can welcome up to about 500 students. Admission rates vary by department and year; the current site does not provide an authoritative 2027 acceptance rate or department capacity.

    Financial aid:
    Read aid terms and conditions

    Last year's cycle (2026): California-resident full or 50% tuition scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Need-based scholarship, not a loan; did not affect admission and covered tuition including housing and meals, not optional or administrative costs.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 CSSSA application fee: $20. Historical nonrefundable fee per department application; California residents with economic need could request a waiver.; 2026 payment-processor fee: $155–$313. 2.99% fee: $155 on California tuition and $313 on out-of-state/international tuition; nonrefundable.; California-resident full or 50% tuition scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Need-based scholarship, not a loan; did not affect admission and covered tuition including housing and meals, not optional or administrative costs.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Residency: California residents are the primary state-supported population; limited out-of-state and international admission is available; Requirement: Be currently enrolled in grade 8-12 in the application year; graduating seniors were eligible for summer 2026; Requirement: Submit a complete department-specific application demonstrating talent and creativity; Requirement: Provide one eligible adult reference rather than a peer reference; Requirement: Complete all discipline assignments and supplemental questions; Requirement: Pay the application fee or receive a California economic-need waiver; Requirement: If admitted, choose one department, submit intent and pre-registration materials, pay tuition or secure aid, and meet residential-program requirements; Exclusion: Assuming out-of-state or international students receive California taxpayer-funded CSSSA financial aid; Exclusion: Using one application to apply to multiple departments; Exclusion: Enrolling in more than one department during a single session; Exclusion: Using stale 2026 late-application copy after the 2026 session ended; Exclusion: Assuming attendance alone guarantees California Arts Scholar status, three credits, credit transfer, a portfolio outcome, or college admission

    Selection and application: Selection: CSSSA selects on talent and creativity through discipline assignments and adult references and can welcome up to about 500 students. Admission rates vary by department and year; the current site does not provide an authoritative 2027 acceptance rate or department capacity. Application materials: Department-specific assignments, portfolio, audition, writing, film, performance, design, or other work as required

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  • Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University

    Camp Cronkite

    One-week residential journalism and media camp for rising sophomores through seniors age 15-17; 2026 is complete and 2027 details are pending.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Last year's cycle (2026): $899; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Phoenix, Arizona, ASU Downtown Phoenix campus and Gordon Commons residence hall
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 10–12 (provider uses rising grades)

    Ages 15–17; For 2026, be a rising high-school sophomore, junior, or senior age 15-17

    Housing: Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Applications are reviewed for academic performance and media interest, with current juniors sometimes prioritized because of demand. The 2026 acceptance rate and 2027 capacity are not published on the current page.

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Ages 15–17; Requirement: For 2026, be a rising high-school sophomore, junior, or senior age 15-17; Requirement: Demonstrate academic performance, authentic media interest, and potential to benefit from and contribute to camp; Requirement: Be able to live in supervised shared university housing and remain on campus; Requirement: Submit original application responses without generative AI; Exclusion: Rising freshmen and current middle-school students were ineligible in 2026; Exclusion: Single rooms and alternative lodging were not permitted; Exclusion: Selection is competitive and the school cannot provide individual application feedback; Exclusion: The 2027 eligibility rules are not yet confirmed

    Selection and application: Selection: Applications are reviewed for academic performance and media interest, with current juniors sometimes prioritized because of demand. The 2026 acceptance rate and 2027 capacity are not published on the current page.

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  • National Inventors Hall of Fame

    Camp Invention Leaders-in-Training

    A paid, weeklong Camp Invention role for entering grades 7-9 to guide K-6 campers while receiving structured leadership training.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Nearly 800 Camp Invention locations nationwide
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 7–9; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Housing: Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Paid registration is location- and capacity-based rather than a nationally selective application; individual sites may have limited LIT spots.

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Optional before/after care: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Only offered at some sites and priced locally; one 2027 example charges $100 for the week. (2027 cycle)

    Full eligibility requirements: Requirement: Entering grade 7, 8, or 9; Requirement: Register at a Camp Invention location offering LIT spots; Requirement: Complete required pre-camp orientation; Exclusion: Availability may be limited at individual sites; Exclusion: Leadership Intern is a separate program for older participants and has different volunteer-hour claims

    Selection and application: Selection: Paid registration is location- and capacity-based rather than a nationally selective application; individual sites may have limited LIT spots.

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  • The Steel Yard

    Camp Metalhead

    Two-week beginner creative-welding day camp for ages 14-18 in Providence; the July 2026 session is over and 2027 is unannounced.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Last year's cycle (2026): $3,500; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Providence, Rhode Island, The Steel Yard industrial-arts campus
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Ages 14–18; Be age 14-18 under the published 2026 youth-camp rule

    Housing: Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: The course has limited shop capacity and the 2026 listing sold out. The application asks about motivation and making experience, but no acceptance rate or formal scoring rubric is published.

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Ages 14–18; Requirement: Be age 14-18 under the published 2026 youth-camp rule; Requirement: Be available for both weeks and the daily 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. schedule; Requirement: Complete the youth-camp application and registration requirements; Requirement: Follow shop-safety, enrollment, attendance, and no-weapons policies; Exclusion: The 2026 session is over and out of stock; Exclusion: Weapons, including knives, daggers, swords, and axes, may not be fabricated in class; Exclusion: The grade range is inferred from the youth age band; age 14-18 is the controlling published rule; Exclusion: 2027 eligibility is not yet confirmed

    Selection and application: Selection: The course has limited shop capacity and the 2026 listing sold out. The application asks about motivation and making experience, but no acceptance rate or formal scoring rubric is published. Application materials: Short personal statements about motivation, desired outcomes, and a recent making challenge

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  • Louis August Jonas Foundation

    Camp Rising Sun

    Full-scholarship four-week international leadership camp in Rhinebeck, NY for students ages 15-16. Admitted campers pay no tuition; sessions are selected by regional interview committees.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Location
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Applicants may apply from anywhere in the world through a regional or global selection committee; Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: Attend the entire four-week residential session; Accepted 2026 age rules were at least 15 at session start and not yet 17 at its end; future cycle rules are unconfirmed.

    Housing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Regional/global selection committees review applications for cohort fit and invite some applicants to interview. LAJF seeks diverse strengths, backgrounds, interests, and commitment to change, but does not publish current applicant totals, cohort size, or acceptance rate.

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Residency: Applicants may apply from anywhere in the world through a regional or global selection committee; Requirement: Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: Be at least 15 when the session starts and not yet 17 when it ends; Requirement: Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: Attend the entire four-week residential session; Requirement: Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: Communicate in English well enough for safety instructions and full participation; Requirement: Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: For international campers, obtain a valid passport and visa when required; Requirement: Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: If accepted, complete physical and mental-health evaluation and vaccination documentation; request available exemptions as needed; Requirement: Previously published eligibility, requiring confirmation for a future cycle: Children/grandchildren of alumni use the separate legacy-camper application route; Requirement: Accepted 2026 age rules were at least 15 at session start and not yet 17 at its end; future cycle rules are unconfirmed.; Exclusion: LAJF states no age exceptions for first-year CRS applicants; Exclusion: 2026 applications are closed; Exclusion: A complete application does not guarantee an interview or admission; Exclusion: The separate TELE program is not Camp Rising Sun; Exclusion: Second-year campers and legacy campers use different application rules

    Selection and application: Selection: Regional/global selection committees review applications for cohort fit and invite some applicants to interview. LAJF seeks diverse strengths, backgrounds, interests, and commitment to change, but does not publish current applicant totals, cohort size, or acceptance rate. Application materials: If selected: regional/global committee interview

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  • Stanford Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center

    Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Summer Internship

    A two-week live virtual Stanford Medicine program with lectures and coached surgical simulation; 2027 applications open January 4.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    $4,500 (2027 cycle)
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    Online
    Location
    Live online program using shipped simulation materials
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Minimum age 16; International students accepted for Summer 2027; Any location that can participate live and receive the shipped kit, subject to program shipping confirmation

    Housing: Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: The program describes limited capacity/high demand but does not publish a 2027 cohort size, applicant count, or acceptance rate.

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: 2027 application fee: $95. Nonrefundable and paid through the application-linked Eventbrite process.; Surgical instruments, supplies, and specialized simulators: $0. Included in tuition, shipped to each participant, and kept after the program. International shipping/customs details should be confirmed. (2027 cycle)

    Full eligibility requirements: Minimum age 16; Citizenship: International students accepted for Summer 2027; Residency: Any location that can participate live and receive the shipped kit, subject to program shipping confirmation; Requirement: Be a current high-school student, or a recent high-school graduate who has not started college; Requirement: Be at least 16 on the first day, unless applying as a high-school junior under 16; Requirement: Attend every scheduled lecture, skills session, and required activity for the full two weeks; Requirement: Maintain a suitable supervised workspace and live camera/internet access for surgical simulation; Exclusion: Students who have begun college are not eligible; Exclusion: Students who do not complete the full program do not receive a certificate; Exclusion: The ageMin field has an explicit exception for high-school juniors under 16

    Selection and application: Selection: The program describes limited capacity/high demand but does not publish a 2027 cohort size, applicant count, or acceptance rate. Application materials: PDF essay of no more than 500 words about background, goals, and preparation for medicine; At least two recommendation letters as PDF

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  • Carleton College

    Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI)

    Residential one- and three-week Carleton pre-college courses; Summer 2026 is closed and 2027 details are pending.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Last year's cycle (2026): $1,500–$5,700; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Northfield, Minnesota; Carleton College residential campus
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 9–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher

    Maximum age 18; Domestic and international applicants were accepted in 2026; Residential program in Northfield, Minnesota

    Housing: Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Admission committee review is required, but Carleton does not publish applicant counts, cohort size, or an acceptance rate on the current pages.

    Financial aid:
    Read aid terms and conditions

    Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited need-based aid for domestic applicants; often did not cover all expenses. International students were ineligible.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 application fee: $75. One fee covered applications to both program lengths; automatically waived for scholarship applicants.; 2026 enrollment deposit: $500. Post-acceptance first payment; some scholarship recipients could be exempt.; Need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited need-based aid for domestic applicants; often did not cover all expenses. International students were ineligible.; International InitialView interview: $265. Historical 2026 additional international-applicant cost, paid to InitialView.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Maximum age 18; Citizenship: Domestic and international applicants were accepted in 2026; Residency: Residential program in Northfield, Minnesota; Requirement: For 2026 three-week courses: be a current high-school sophomore or junior; Requirement: For 2026 one-week courses: be a current high-school first-year, sophomore, or junior; Requirement: For 2026: not turn 19 before August 1, 2026; Requirement: International applicants complete English-proficiency, InitialView, identity, financial, visa, insurance, and emergency-contact requirements; Exclusion: Current seniors were not listed as eligible for 2026; Exclusion: International applicants were not eligible for SLAI need-based scholarships; Exclusion: The age and grade rules are historical until Carleton posts Summer 2027 criteria

    Selection and application: Selection: Admission committee review is required, but Carleton does not publish applicant counts, cohort size, or an acceptance rate on the current pages. Application materials: Short essay responses of no more than 500 words; For three-week applicants: one recommendation from a teacher in a related discipline; For international applicants: English-proficiency evidence unless waived, InitialView interview/writing sample, passport, certification of finances, and bank/income statement

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  • College for Creative Studies

    CCS Precollege Summer Experience

    Three-week Detroit studio intensive where high school artists choose one concentration, build portfolio work, and earn three college credits.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Last year's cycle (2026): $3,645–$3,995; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 2.86–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Detroit, Michigan
    Stipend or pay
    Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Open to high school students from the United States and internationally; Residents must follow residence-hall rules, conduct standards, and curfew

    Housing: Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Standard paid registration appears capacity-based by studio concentration, with seat counts and waitlists shown in the registration system. Separate merit/need and sponsored fellowship scholarships are competitively awarded; CCS does not publish a universal PCSE acceptance rate.

    Financial aid:
    Read aid terms and conditions

    Last year's cycle (2026): PCSE full or partial merit/need grant: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Available for 2026 through a separate application due March 31; award amounts varied and the deadline has passed.; PCSE-to-CCS undergraduate scholarship: $4,000. Eligible completers receive $1,000 per year for up to four years after admission and full-time enrollment at CCS, subject to satisfactory academic progress.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Last year's cycle (2026): Minimum seat-reservation deposit: $300. The deposit was the minimum payment toward tuition, not an additional fee.; PCSE full or partial merit/need grant: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Available for 2026 through a separate application due March 31; award amounts varied and the deadline has passed.; PCSE-to-CCS undergraduate scholarship: $4,000. Eligible completers receive $1,000 per year for up to four years after admission and full-time enrollment at CCS, subject to satisfactory academic progress.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Residency: Open to high school students from the United States and internationally; Requirement: Be enrolled in high school; Requirement: Choose one available studio concentration; Requirement: Be prepared for intensive college-level studio work; Requirement: Residents must follow residence-hall rules, conduct standards, and curfew; Requirement: International students needing a visa must coordinate with CCS International Student Services; Exclusion: No public age cutoff is stated; Exclusion: Specific concentrations may fill or move to a waitlist; Exclusion: A portfolio is not stated as a universal admission requirement for standard paid registration

    Selection and application: Selection: Standard paid registration appears capacity-based by studio concentration, with seat counts and waitlists shown in the registration system. Separate merit/need and sponsored fellowship scholarships are competitively awarded; CCS does not publish a universal PCSE acceptance rate.

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  • University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

    Changemakers in Computing (CiC)

    A free four-week UW Seattle program for Washington rising juniors/seniors combining introductory coding, technology ethics, college support, mentors, meals, and a USD 1,200 stipend; 2026 is closed.

    Application deadline
    Unconfirmed — check official site
    Cost
    Catalog terms: Free attendance; check separate expenses; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Session dates or duration
    Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
    Format
    In person
    Location
    Seattle, University of Washington Seattle campus
    Stipend or pay
    Catalog terms: Mentee stipend: $1,200; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Eligibility: Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher

    Must be a Washington State resident and enrolled in a Washington State high school

    Housing: Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Selection: Every on-time application is reviewed equally, but UW does not publish seats, applicant totals, or an acceptance rate.

    Financial aid: Unconfirmed — check official site
    All requirements, expenses and sources

    Expenses and aid conditions: Unconfirmed — check official site

    Full eligibility requirements: Residency: Must be a Washington State resident and enrolled in a Washington State high school; Requirement: Be in grade 10 or 11 when applying, entering grade 11 or 12 in fall; Requirement: Be interested in technology, society, justice, and changemaking; Requirement: Be able to travel to UW Seattle Monday-Thursday; Requirement: Commit to the full four-week program; no coding background required; Exclusion: Students outside Washington or not enrolled at a Washington high school are ineligible; Exclusion: CiC does not provide housing; Exclusion: Historical 2026 rules may change for 2027

    Selection and application: Selection: Every on-time application is reviewed equally, but UW does not publish seats, applicant totals, or an acceptance rate.

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Explore Summer 2027 by interest, grade and state

Summer 2027 hub · Selective vs. pay-to-play guide · Application guide

Recorded application dates · check the cycle
How to check costs, eligibility and dates

Use the concrete checks below alongside the catalog examples. Missing acceptance rates or application details stay unconfirmed; price alone cannot establish selectivity.

Missing facts say Unconfirmed — check official site. A past session does not establish 2027 availability. Format and location can change between cycles.

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; missing next-cycle details remain unconfirmed.

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. Unknown fields say Unconfirmed — check official site.

Can a program pay to appear first?

No paid placements. Listings are ranked by fit, never by payment. Here, fit means matching the filters you choose. Matching listings default to name order; you can sort by recorded deadline or latest source check. 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.