High School Pre-College Summer Programs are immersive, collaborative, and transformative summer experiences, because they allow high school students to experience college life at their dream school while exploring their passions in an immersive setting.
Before going into all high school pre-college summer programs, we will introduce the purpose and outcome of Pre-College Summer Programs, and discuss how you can select the right program for your interests and passions.
What are Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students?
Pre-College Summer Programs are organized by colleges, offering high school students a traditional college experience by taking college classes, performing cutting-edge research, and connecting with students worldwide.
‘Graduating’ from the program, students will receive hands-on learning from renowned professors in their field of expertise, explore suitable future careers and be more prepared for the college admission process. By attending a Pre-College Summer Program at your dream school, you will have a huge advantage in the college application process, because you will get to know the best aspects about your dream school as well as gain insights into the academic and social life at the school.
Below, we will provide information about the top 18 Pre-College Summer Programs by category and rank them based on:
- Location
- Length
- Cost
- Eligibility
- Number of students who attend
All Program Costs are in US Dollars (USD).
1. Business
Overall Ranking: 5/5
Description: The University of Pennsylvania Wharton Summer High School Program is a highly selective summer program for high school students in Grades 9-11. Led by Wharton faculty members and instructional staff, the programs explore topics that align with Wharton’s research and teaching.
For students with an interest in business and entrepreneurship, Wharton offers a variety of sub-programs, such as: entrepreneurship, finance, sports business, data sciences, business and technology innovations.
- Program Selectiveness: Very high
- Program Length: 2 to 6.5 weeks depending on the program
- Program Cost: Ranging from $7,299 to $9,099. The cost includes tuition, housing, most meals, extracurricular activities, and trips.
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, SAT/PSAT/ACT (optional), Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letter, minimum 3.3 GPA
Overall ranking: 4.5/5
Description: NYU High School programs offer rising high school students the opportunity to learn their favorite academic subjects from NYU’s world-renowned faculty.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: Varies depending on the program
- Program Cost: Varies
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, SAT/PSAT/ACT (optional), Essay/Short Answers, Transcript
- Date: Varies
- Deadline: Varies
Overall ranking: 5/5
Description: LaunchX brings together top aspiring high school entrepreneurs from around the world each summer, supporting you through the process of launching an actual startup. Schools don’t organize LaunchX, but LaunchX organizers collaborate with top-ranking schools like MIT, Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania for hosting locations.
- Program Selectiveness: Very High
- Program Length: 5 weeks
- Program Cost: $1,995-$9,995
- Program Requirements: Transcript, Videos Introduction, Portfolio
- Deadline: Latest March 5, 2025
Overall Ranking: 4.5/5
Description: Babson Summer Study is an experiential program (currently online-only due to the pandemic) for rising high school juniors and seniors to develop as entrepreneurial leaders. You will cultivate core career skills and a sharp entrepreneurial mindset for overcoming challenges in any organization, in any role—all while working with peers from around the globe and earning 4 college credits from the top-ranked college for entrepreneurship.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 3.5 weeks
- Program Cost: $5,995
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Date: July 7-28, 2025
- Deadline: March 14, 2025
2. Science/Engineering
Overall Ranking: 4.5/5
Description: Tufts Summer Research Experience allows students to learn about research methods, laboratory techniques, data collection, and analysis under active mentorship by Tufts’ world-class researchers and their teams. Full list of lab programs can be accessed HERE
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 6 weeks
- Program Cost: $8,000 (Commuter), $11,250 (Residential)
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Personal Statement (experience and interest in research), Statement of Interest for the preferred lab, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Date: July 1 – August 9, 2024
- Deadline: May 1, 2024
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) is designed for exceptional young women with strong science and engineering interests. You will engage in hands-on research with Smith faculty in life and physical sciences and engineering. The program accepts young women entering grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium
- Program Length: 2 weeks
- Program Cost: TBA
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Date: Session 1: July 5–18, 2025
Session 2: July 20–August 2, 2025 - Deadline: May 2025
Overall ranking: 5/5
Description: Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) is an exciting, college-level, summer program for motivated high school students with an aptitude in math and science and an interest in (or curiosity about) engineering. Students complete hands-on projects in a variety of engineering disciplines and learn to think and problem-solve like engineers.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 3 weeks
- Program Tuition: $3,350 (not include residential fee)
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Deadline: May 17, 2024
- Program Date:
- In-person: July 1 – July 26
- Online: June 24 – July 26
Overall ranking: 4.5 / 5
Description: This four-week intensive summer research program for high school students is designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cellular biological techniques currently used in research laboratories. Within the session, students will be immersed in the research experience, giving them a taste of life at the bench.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 4 weeks
- Program Cost: $13,600
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Date: June 14 – July 12
- Deadline: January 22, 2025. International students who do not already hold a student F-1 visa will need to apply by the Regular deadline (March 5)
Overall ranking: 4.5 / 5
Description: The Garcia Summer Research Program introduces high school students to polymer materials research while exploring potential career paths in science. Participants collaborate with Garcia faculty and staff on cutting-edge polymer science and technology projects, contributing original findings to the scientific community. Students gain opportunities to enter national competitions, publish in scientific journals, and present at conferences. Emphasizing lifelong learning, the program aims to inspire and support participants long after their involvement.
Eligibility: All students must be at least 16 years old by the time of the application
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Cost: TBA
- Program Requirements: Completed Applications, Standardized Test Scores, Transcript, 3 Recommendation Letters
- Date: June 26 – August 8
- Deadline: March 3, 2025
3. Math
Overall ranking: 5/5
Description: SUMaC leads participants on a journey in advanced mathematics through lectures, guided research, and group problem-solving. In an online environment centered on mathematics, participants explore current lines of mathematical research, the historical development of important areas of mathematics, and applications across scientific disciplines.
- Program Selectiveness: Very High
- Program Length: 3 weeks
- Program Cost: $8,250
- Program Requirements: Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Deadline: February 3, 2025
- Date: June 16 – July 4, 2025 (Online) / July 7 – 25, 2025 (Online) / June 22 – July 18, 2025 (Residential)
Overall ranking: 4.5/5
Description: PROMYS is a six-week summer program at Boston University designed to encourage strongly motivated high school students to explore in-depth the creative world of mathematics in a supportive community of peers, counselors, research mathematicians, and visiting scientists.
- Grade Level: Students ages 14-18, who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 6 weeks
- Program Cost: $6,100
- Program Requirements: Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Dates: June 29 – August 9, 2025
- Application Deadline: March 3, 2025
4. Arts
Overall ranking: 4.5/5
Description: The Tisch Summer High School Program allows students to gain practice and knowledge in the artistic track they are enrolled in. Students apply to one of these artistic tracks: Dance, Drama, Production & Design, Dramatic Writing, Filmmaking, Game Design, Photography, and Imaging, or Recorded Music.
The summer program is open to high school sophomores and juniors from around the world. Filmmaking is only open to high school juniors.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 4 weeks
- Program Cost: Varies depending on programs
- Program Requirements: varies for tracks
- Program Date: Depends on programs
- Deadline: December 13, 2024
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: For six weeks, students will follow a college-level curriculum with day-long studio classes, critiques, and final projects. You’ll work alongside hundreds of other creative, highly motivated students from around the world who will challenge, inspire and encourage you to push your limits and produce your best work. You’ll live like a RISD student, access renowned resources and instructors, strengthen your portfolio, and forever change the way you approach art and design.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium/High
- Program Length: 6 weeks
- Program Cost: Residential program: $10,700 / Commuter program: $8,100
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript
- Program Date: June 28–August 2, 2025
- Deadline: November 6, 2024 -TBD
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: Introduction to Architecture is a rigorous six-week program that introduces high school and college students to architectural ideas, principles, and methods of exploring architectural problems in a studio setting.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Length: 6 weeks
- Program Cost: $1,680 per credit for fall 2022 through summer 2023.
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Program Date: Varies
- Deadline: Varies depending on the length of the program
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: Exploring traditional tools and new technologies in a variety of media leads to the development of conceptual and technical skills–excellent preparation for applying to and succeeding in a competitive college-level art program. Students will be introduced to the spirit and substance of the CMU School of Art culture through challenging courses, critique, portfolio development, and energetic interaction with dedicated faculty and talented peers.
- Program Selectiveness: High
- Program Cost: Varies depending on art field
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Program Date: June 21 to
August 2, 2025 (7 weeks) - Deadline: Early Decision & International – February 1
Regular Decision & Scholarship – March 1
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at U-M offers summer pre-college studios for high school students interested in making their portfolios come to life. Under the guidance of the faculty and staff, students will take coursework that reflects the rigor of the first-year undergraduate experience while exploring various media and methods to complete their portfolio. Students can take online and/or in-person classes with free online events and after-school classes to immersive, residential programs.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium
- Program Length: 2 weeks
- Program Cost: Varies depending on the art fields
- Program Date:
- Virtual Portfolio Prep: Online, June 16 – June 27, 2025
- Residential Portfolio Prep Session 1: Residential, July 6 – July 19, 2025
- Residential Portfolio Prep Session 2: Residential, July 20 – August 2, 2025
- Deadline: March 1, 2025
5. Humanities/Social Science
Overall ranking: 4.5/5
Description: Stanford Summer Humanities Institute allows rising high school juniors and seniors to dive deep into the humanities, exploring rich fields of inquiry that are rarely taught at the high school level. The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute’s goal is to bring together high school students who are particularly interested in the humanities so that they can experience what a humanities class and what humanities research is like at a top university.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium/High
- Program Length: 2 weeks
- Program Cost: $8,250
- Program Requirements: Essay/Short Answers, Work Sample, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Program Date: June 22, 2025 – July 11, 2025, July 13, 2025 – August 1, 2025
- Deadline: February 13, 2025
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is an academic enrichment program for outstanding high school students worldwide. Each summer, students from over 130 countries (including all 50 U.S. states) participate in one interdisciplinary, two-week session at Yale’s historic campus. Immerse yourself in a global learning community at Yale University.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium/High
- Program Length: 2 weeks
- Program Cost: $6,500
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Work Sample, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Program Date: June 22-July 4 / July 6 – July 18 / July 20 – Aug 1
- Deadline: January 10, 2025
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: Participants select one curricular option for an in-depth examination of a specific subject area. Students refine their academic skills through a variety of activities—class discussions, debates, simulations, individual and group projects, and more. During the midday break and after class, students participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including college preparedness programming, community outreach, and awareness activities, and special lectures.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium
- Program Length: 1 or 3 weeks
- Program Cost: $3,960.00 per session (2 weeks) or $2,810.00 per session (1 week)
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Work Sample, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Program Date:
- Session A – 2 Weeks: July 7–July 18, 2025
- Session B – 2 Weeks: July 21–August 1, 2025
- Session C – 1 Week: August 11–August 15, 2025
- Deadline: February 3 (EA), March 31 (RD)
Overall ranking: 4/5
Description: Experience what it’s like to be a college student for seven transformative weeks. You’ll get a true taste of college life as you thrive in an academically rigorous environment and engage with fellow high school and college students in and out of the classroom.
- Program Selectiveness: Medium/High
- Program Length: 4-7 weeks
- Program Cost: $4,050–$14,950 + $75 application fee
- Program Requirements: TOEFL, Essay/Short Answers, Work Sample, Transcript, Recommendation Letters
- Program Date: July 13–August 8, 2025 (4-week), and June 21–August 9, 2025 (7-week)
- Deadline: April 9, 2025 (latest)
6. Aralia Summer Programs for High School Students
Aralia Education is a premier online education platform for ambitious middle and high school students worldwide. Join small groups and personalized 1-on-1 classes led by renowned high school teachers and university professors from prestigious American institutions. Through Aralia Education, students will build a strong foundation in traditional academic courses, stand out as accomplished and ambitious individuals in college applications, and be well-equipped to excel in any standardized tests.
Our teachers actively engage and guide students in exploring personal interests beyond their school curriculum. With this holistic approach, Aralia ensures its students are well-prepared for college and equipped for success in their future careers.
Further reading:
For the full list of pre-college summer programs by category, please sign up with email below and we’ll send you a document containing all the information you need to know!
