The Best Summer Programs for High School Students
For many parents of high-achieving students, summer break brings a familiar dilemma: how to balance rest and fun with meaningful productivity. As you plan ahead, you may be exploring summer programs that expand your child’s interests and strengthen their college applications.
In recent years, pre-college summer programs—especially those on college campuses—have exploded in number. Some offer rigorous, academic immersion, while others blend enrichment with a structured, enjoyable summer experience that can add depth to college essays.
With so many options, the real question becomes: which programs are truly worth the time, effort, and often high cost?
Your child could spend the summer in a wilderness program, volunteering abroad, attending an arts camp, or joining a specialized institute tied to an activity they love—such as robotics, debate, or an academic team.
For academically curious “bright generalists,” pre-college programs on college campuses have grown rapidly. These programs are designed to simulate college life, with courses taught by professors, students living in dorms (or commuting locally), and added lectures, networking, and social activities. They typically last one to eight weeks.
Pros
Deeper academic or hands-on study than most high schools offer
Early exposure to college life, easing the eventual transition
Insight into different campus environments and school types
Possible college credit or advanced placement
Potential relationships with instructors for recommendations
Opportunities to meet like-minded peers
Cons
Often very expensive (e.g., $6,500 for two weeks at some programs)
Quality, rigor, and selectivity vary widely and don’t always match the host school’s reputation
With a few elite exceptions, these programs rarely provide a direct admissions advantage—name recognition alone isn’t worth the cost
Although pre-college programs now exist at many elite colleges, their selectivity and rigor vary widely. In many cases, schools simply rent out their name and campus to for-profit companies during the summer, or house programs within divisions that are largely separate from undergraduate academics and admissions.
As a result, while the instruction may still be strong, acceptance rates are often high for students with solid grades and the ability to pay full tuition. That lower selectivity means that attending a summer program at an elite college does not carry the same weight or prestige as being admitted to the college itself.
Will a summer program help your child get into that college?
Short answer: probably not—at least not directly. Most pre-college programs have no influence on undergraduate admissions and should not be seen as a backdoor in. Admissions officers know many of these programs have high acceptance rates and high price tags, and—outside of a few elite programs—attendance alone isn’t considered a major achievement.
That said, pre-college programs can still be worthwhile if they genuinely align with your child’s interests. Strong instruction, exposure to college-level work, and the chance to deepen an academic focus can all strengthen an application indirectly. What matters most is not the name of the program, but how your child grows from it—and how that growth shows up in their essays, activities, and future pursuits.
For example, a student deeply interested in Russian might meaningfully benefit from an intensive language program, even if it doesn’t confer admissions prestige. The real value comes from increased skill, intellectual curiosity, and sustained commitment—not simply attendance.
The same principle applies to non-academic programs and volunteering. Service should reflect genuine interest and long-term commitment, not a flashy or expensive attempt to impress. Short-term volunteer trips abroad, in particular, can raise ethical concerns if they offer limited impact or primarily benefit the participant.
In most cases, meaningful service close to home allows students to make a deeper, longer-lasting impact. That said, volunteering abroad can make sense if it clearly connects to a student’s interests and offers opportunities unavailable locally—and if the organization is ethical, community-centered, and well-run.
Whether volunteering locally or overseas, the goal should be sustained involvement. Students should look for ways to stay engaged long-term—through fundraising, remote work, or ongoing collaboration—so their efforts reflect real commitment and meaningful impact rather than a brief experience.
There are more quality summer programs for high school students than we could list, but here are some of our favorites, organized by category. We focused on programs that are selective, often free, and academically or otherwise rigorous.
Most of our picks are U.S.-based and academically oriented, though a few fall outside these parameters. Ultimately, the best program for your child is one that aligns closely with their interests—whether that’s architecture, jazz guitar, or another niche passion.
General academic summer programs for high school students
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Description: The Clark Scholars Program is an in-depth research program that is open to students 17 years and older in the following disciplines:
Biology/Cellular & Microbiology
Cancer Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Electrical and Computer Engineering
History
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
The program features one-on-one research with faculty, as well as weekly seminars, discussion, and field trips. The Clark Scholars Program is very competitive, with only 12 students accepted each year.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free with on campus meals, room and board, and weekend activities provided.
Length: 7 weeks
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Description: Leadership Seminars is for current high school juniors who are academically gifted leaders in their school, church, local community, or other social organizations. Students participate in one of three seminars (sample topic: Global Issues: Violence and Peace in the Modern Age). Around 120 students are admitted each year—usually ranking in the top 10 percent of their class—and are eligible to receive one college credit.
Location: Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: $150 enrollment fee
Length: 10 days
Telluride Association Summer Seminars (TASS)
Description: TASS offers college-level, academic seminars for current high school sophomores and juniors that allow them to “develop critical reading and writing skills and explore the principles and practice of democratic community living.” TASS currently offers two seminars: Critical Black Studies and Anti-Oppressive Studies, and the program prioritizes group discussion, writing, reading, and self-governance. TASS is a new program replacing the highly selective TASP, which admitted around 5 percent of applicants.
Location: Various college campuses across the United States (2025 locations are Cornell University and the University of Maryland)
Cost: Free
Length: 5 weeks
Math summer programs for high school students
(Note: Some programs in the following category also include math.)
Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
Description: PROMYS is a program for mathematically gifted students which focuses on “the creative side of mathematics.” Open to all high school students over 14 years old, students attend lectures, take advanced seminars, conduct research, and work on problem sets individually or in groups. Around 80 applicants are accepted each year, a quarter of whom are returning students.
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $7,000 (financial aid is available, and the program is free for families earning under $80,000 per year)
Length: 6 weeks
Description: Ross students focus deeply on one subject, number theory, for the entire duration of the program and spend most of their days working on challenging problem sets. Ross aims to provide its participants with an initial step towards their own mathematical research. Open to all high school students, Ross typically admits around 20 percent of applicants—around 70 students each year.
Location: (2 sites in 2025): Otterbein University in Columbus, OH
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana
Cost: $7000 (financial aid available)
Length: 6 weeks
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Description: SUMaC is a program for sophomores and juniors consisting of lectures, a guided research project, and group problem solving. Focused on pure mathematics, SUMaC students choose one of two course topics, both of which delve into mathematics topics from historical and contemporary research perspectives.
Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: $7,000 (financial aid available)
Length: 3 or 4 weeks
Description: Mathcamp offers mathematically gifted high schoolers classes in advanced math, exposing them to undergraduate- and even graduate-level topics in pure and applied math. In addition to classes, students work on projects, either individually or in groups, culminating in a project presentation at the end of the session. Mathcamp doesn’t impose requirements or a set curriculum on students and, instead, offers them the freedom to self-direct their time and choose what they want to learn. Mathcamp is competitive, accepting 15 percent of students in recent years.
Location: A different college campus each year
2025 Location: Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR
Cost: $6,600 (financial aid is available, and the program is free for families earning under $100,000 per year)
Length: 5 weeks
Science and research summer programs for high school students
Research Science Institute (RSI)
Description: RSI pairs scientific coursework with a research internship to allow students to “experience the entire research cycle from start to finish.” Students work on individual research projects under the mentorship of veteran scientists and present their findings at the program’s conclusion. RSI accepts 80 students each year.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Length: 6 weeks
The Summer Science Program (SSP)
Description: SSP is an immersive, research-based program that has been running since 1959 and is governed and operated by its own alumni. Students choose one of four programs—Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Genomics or Synthetic Chemistry—and participate in classroom work, lab sessions, guest lectures, and field trips. Open to current sophomores and juniors, admission to SSP is competitive, with an acceptance rate around 10 percent.
Location: Various college campuses across the United States (2025 locations include New Mexico Tech, University of Colorado–Boulder, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Purdue University, and Indiana University)
Cost: $9,800 (financial aid is available, and the program is free for most families earning under $75,000 per year)
Length: 39 days
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Description: At SIMR, students perform medical research with Stanford faculty and researchers. Students choose from one of eight research areas and are subsequently assigned to a corresponding lab where they receive one-on-one mentorship. Open to current juniors and seniors, SIMR heavily favors applicants from the Bay Area, as it does not provide housing. Around 50 students are accepted each year.
Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Free with a stipend (stipend amount varies but is $500 minimum)
Length: 8 weeks
Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
Description: MITES is for academically talented rising seniors—often from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds—who are interested in careers and advanced degrees in science and engineering. Students take five courses as well as participate in admissions counseling sessions, lab tours, and social events.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Length: 6 weeks
Simons Summer Research Program
Description: Simons is a hands-on research program in which students participate in an existing research group or lab and take on a project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Participants also attend weekly faculty research talks and participate in special workshops, tours, and events. Students must be current juniors and must be nominated by their high school in order to apply. Simons is highly selective, admitting around 5 percent of applicants.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free
Estimated residential costs for 2024: $2781.50 (includes $600 meal plan; and $61.50 Student Health Services Fee)
Length: 7 weeks
Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Description: SAMS is for current sophomores and juniors from underrepresented backgrounds who wish to “develop mastery of critical concepts in higher-level collegiate math and science” while earning college credit. SAMS includes classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and professional and academic development workshops.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Length: 6 weeks
Research in Science and Engineering Program (RISE)
Description: RISE is a program for rising seniors that consists of two tracks: Practicum and Internship. Internship students conduct individual research projects in a university lab under the guidance of a mentor, while practicum students collaborate on group neurobiology research in a structured environment overseen by an instructor. RISE is selective, accepting around 9 percent of applicants.
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $9,461 residential; $6,185 commuter (financial aid available) + $60 application fee
Length: 6 weeks
Description: The Jackson Laboratory Student Summer Program is a genetics and genomics research program for undergraduates and high schoolers who are 18 and have completed grade 12 at the time of participation (i.e., current seniors can apply). Students spend the summer immersed in an independent research project under the supervision of a mentor, presenting their findings at the end of the program. Admission is highly competitive—just 40 students, or around 3 percent, are chosen each year.
Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Cost: Free with a stipend ($6,500)
Length: 10 weeks
National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (SIP)
* Note: HS-SIP has been discontinued and merged with SIP.
Description: SIP gives students the chance to perform full-time research in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. Students are given the opportunity to explore basic, translational, and clinical research at NIH facilities, working alongside scientists who are global leaders in the field. Eligible applicants must be seniors at the time of application and at least 18 years old by the start of the program. Unfortunately, the NIH does not provide housing.
Location: NIH campuses in Bethesda, Baltimore, and Frederick, MD. Limited numbers of positions are also available in Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; Phoenix, AZ; and Detroit, MI.
Cost: Free with a stipend ($2,530 - $2,840 per month)
Length: 8 weeks
Business, economics, and tech summer programs for high school students
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Description: Student Leaders assigns paid internships at local nonprofits to juniors and seniors interested in honing their community and business leadership skills. Participants also attend a one-week summit in Washington, D.C, where they meet with members of Congress and participate in projects and workshops focused on societal engagement. Around 225 students are chosen each year to participate.
Location: A nonprofit organization in your local area plus a 1-week summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free with a paid internship
Length: 8 weeks
Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
Description: LBW offers current sophomores and juniors an introduction to business through classes with Wharton professors and visiting business leaders, as well as visits to company offices and team-building exercises. A highlight of the program is the opportunity for participants to create and present their own business plan to a group of venture capitalists and business professionals. Approximately 120 students attend LBW each summer.
Location: The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,399 (financial aid available)
Length: 4 weeks
Description: Economics for Leaders “teaches leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in a hands-on, experiential environment.” Students typically spend mornings attending economics lectures and afternoons and evenings in leadership workshops and exercises. Open to current sophomores and juniors, 25–40 students are accepted at each site. College credit is available.
Location: Various college campuses across the United States
Cost: $2,300 (limited financial aid available) $800 (EFL Virtual) + $35 application fee
Length: 1 week
Description: The Young Women’s Institute offers young women an introduction to the world of business through workshops taught by Kelley School of Business faculty, the opportunity to design their own business case project, and presentations on business skills. The Institute is open to rising juniors and seniors. Virtual programs are open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Cost: Free
Length: Varies by program.
Description: LaunchX is an entrepreneurship program that supports students through the process of launching an actual startup. Students attend workshops, lectures, simulations, and panel discussions that help them locate a need in the market and create their own business to fill it. LaunchX is open to all current high school students and admits around 18 percent of applicants.
Location: Various college campuses across the United States or online
Cost:
Online BootCamp Summer Program $1,995
Online Innovation Summer Program $4,995
Online Entrepreneurship Summer Program $6,995
USA In-Person Entrepreneurship 1: $9,995 (financial aid available)
Bay Area Entrepreneurship Summer Program $9,995 (financial aid available)
Additional $200 international fee for both on-site programs if you’re not from USA
Application fee (based on date you apply by):
November 15, 2024: $45
January 15, 2025: $60
March 5, 2025: $75
Length: 4 weeks
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Programs
Description: Girls Who Code is a program for current sophomores and juniors who identify as female or non-binary and are inexperienced in computer science. Participants are introduced to many different areas of computer science, complete a final project in which they build their own product, and participate in workshops and lectures. They also gain exposure to the tech industry by connecting with female tech professionals.
Location: Tech companies across the United States
Cost: Free with stipends available for transportation and living expenses
Length:
Summer Immersion Program: 2 weeks (virtual)
Self-paced program: 6 weeks
Journalism summer programs for high school students
Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Description: PSJP is a program for talented current juniors from low-income households. During PSJP, students attend workshops and lectures, tour leading news outlets, cover real events, and conduct investigations in preparation for the creation of their own newspaper, which is published on the last day of the program. Participants also get the benefit of college counseling with PSJP staff after they return home. PSJPS is competitive, accepting 40 students each year.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Length: 10 days
Program Dates: Exact dates not listed but online workshops begin in mid-July and the program finishes with a 10-day residential experience on Princeton’s campus in early August.
Description: SJI is a broadcast and digital journalism focused program that gives students hands-on experience in a variety of areas of journalism, from reporting to production to camera work. Students also get to tour local newsrooms as well as work in state-of-the-art on-campus broadcast facilities.
Location: Arizona State University, Tempe Phoenix, AZ
Cost:
Sports Media: $899 (need-based scholarships are available)
Media: $799 (need-based scholarships are available)
Length: 2 weeks
Description: JCamp provides students with workshops, field trips, and hands-on instruction from professional journalists in a variety of areas, including writing, photography, broadcasting, and more. Originally founded in response to a shortage of diversity in the media, JCamp emphasizes multicultural perspectives. Open to all current freshman, sophomores, and juniors, JCamp admits around 40 students each year.
Location: Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Length: 6 days
Creative writing summer programs for high school students
(Note: Some programs in the following category also offer creative writing.)
Description: At the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, students take a workshop and seminar in a single course of study—poetry, fiction, or a creative writing survey. In addition to sharing their writing and receiving critiques from teachers and peers, they also attend readings and other literary events. The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio is open to all students who have completed their sophomore year.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $2,500 (in-person) + $10 application fee (need-based financial aid available)
Length: 2 weeks
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Description: Young Writers is a creative writing program for 16–18 year olds in which students spend five hours per day in multi-genre workshops. Participants also conference individually with their instructors, take genre-focused mini-workshops, and attend readings from visiting writers.
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Cost: $2,575 (residential) $995 (online) (financial aid available)
Length: 2 weeks
Arts summer programs for high school students
Description: Interlochen offers students in grades 3–12 courses in a variety of arts disciplines: creative writing, dance, film and new media, interdisciplinary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts (note that students must apply and be accepted for a specific discipline). Though the range of ages at Interlochen is wide, high school students form their own divisions of 10–16 students who live and dine together.
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Cost: Varies by length, e.g. $1,950 for one week or $10,180 for six weeks (financial aid available for all sessions except one week)
Length: 1–6 weeks
Program Dates: Varies by session length
Idyllwild Arts Summer Teen Programs
Description: Students ages 13–18 can apply to enroll in immersive workshops in creative writing, dance, fashion design, filmmaking, music, theater, or visual arts. The format of the program varies according to the discipline, but most culminate in a performance, reading, or exhibition. Note that certain disciplines are open to beginners while others require prior experience and portfolios or auditions to be accepted.
Location: Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild, CA
Cost: Varies by length and program, e.g. $1,090 per week or $5,025 for four weeks (financial aid available)
Length: 1–4 weeks
Foreign language summer programs for high school students
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
Description: NSLI-Y is a study abroad program sponsored by the United States Department of State that offers intensive language instruction in eight less frequently learned languages: Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish. NSLI-Y “aims to guide students toward using language in their university and/or professional careers and to dedicate themselves to continued language learning far beyond their time on the program.” Highly structured and immersive, participants live with host families and participate in cultural activities.
Location: Various foreign countries in which students can study one of eight less commonly taught languages
Cost: Free (sponsored by the United States Department of State)
Length: 6–7 weeks
Wilderness summer programs for high school students
Student Conservation Association National Crews
Description: National Crews gives 15–19 year olds the opportunity to work on parks restoration projects and trail maintenance in crews of 6–8 students. Students live in tents, cook their own food, learn outdoor skills, and learn about ecology and the environment. Sites include national, regional, state, and local parks. National Crews is moderately competitive, accepting fewer than half of all candidates.
Location: National parks and public lands across the United States
Cost: Free (participants are responsible for their own transportation and gear)
Length: 2–5 weeks
Volunteer and travel abroad summer programs for high school students
Description: Putney Student Travel has been operating for nearly 70 years and has a reputation for carefully planned programs that emphasize “community empowerment, cultural diversity, and environmental sustainability.” Putney Student Travel runs service-oriented trips for high school students to eleven different countries, as well as trips with other focuses, such as language immersion, mountain climbing, and zoology.
Location: 32 countries around the world
Cost: $5,090–$7,990 - for service-oriented programs (financial aid available) + $200 Application fee
Length: 13–29 days - for service-oriented programs
Description: Rustic Pathways offers trips for 12–22 year olds that are designed with sustainability and local community development in mind. Offering a mix of service, adventure, and cultural immersion trips, Rustic Pathways programs “are intentionally designed to challenge students to think critically and experience personal growth” and are designed collaboratively with local partners according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Location: 20 countries around the world
Cost: $2,595–$7,995 (for student programs), excluding airfare
Length: 12–22 days
The Experiment in International Living
Description: Founded in 1932, The Experiment focuses on learning from foreign countries rather than teaching, and emphasizes cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and social responsibility in its programs. Offering service and non-service trips alike, program focuses vary from public health to the environment to language and cultural immersion.
Location: 14 countries around the world
Cost: Varies by location e.g. $6,350–$8,413 + airfare
Length: 3–4 weeks
Global Vision International (GVI)
Description: GVI runs programs focused on sustainable development and experiential education which are guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as the goals of local partners. GVI offers a selection of volunteer trips specifically for teenagers under 18, the majority of which focus on environmental conservation and community development.
Location: 10 countries around the world
Cost: Varies by program but typically ~$3,645
Length: 2 weeks
Program Dates: Varies by program
Application Opens: Currently open
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Alternatives to summer programs for high school students
There are many good alternatives to attending summer programs that your child ought to consider.
If your child is interested in having an academic experience over the summer, but pre-college programs are out of reach academically or financially, they might consider enrolling in a course at a local community college. Community college courses are much cheaper than pre-college programs, and your child will still exhibit academic passion, plus some extra initiative. An internship or research project with a local college professor would demonstrate similar qualities.
Community service is another great way to spend the summer close to home, so long as your child’s service isn’t perfunctory and reflects their genuine commitment and interest.
Your child may also want to consider the old-fashioned summer job. In addition to the obvious benefit of earning money, jobs also teach students responsibility, work ethic, humility, and teamwork. Though your child won’t be building robots or analyzing 19th-century literature, the personal qualities your child will likely gain are impressive to admissions committees and are not necessarily easy to learn from highly structured summer programs.
Attending a pre-college summer program can be a fantastic experience for your high schooler, so long as the program is challenging, within your family’s financial means, and not counted on as a backdoor into a prestigious college. There are also many other good options that your child can pursue to stay engaged and challenged over the summer. If your child is interested in attending a summer program, be sure to research the program’s quality and choose a subject that’s in line with their interests and specializations.
