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Writer's pictureStephen Turban

10 Free Architecture Programs for High School Students

Exploring architecture as a high school student can be a great experience, offering a glimpse into the world of design, creativity, and structural problem-solving. Free architecture programs give you a unique opportunity to develop foundational skills without the financial burden, making them accessible to anyone with a passion for the field. 


Beyond the knowledge gained, early exposure to architecture can significantly enhance your college application, showcasing your commitment, curiosity, and initiative. Participating in a prestigious, fully-funded program not only strengthens your portfolio but also demonstrates to college admissions officers that you’re serious about pursuing a career in architecture, giving you a competitive edge.


To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 10 architecture programs for high school students. These programs are either free of cost or offer financial aid to participants.




Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Cost: Full financial aid is available!

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15

Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, and the Spring from March to June

Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year

Eligibility: 

  • You must be currently enrolled in high school

  • Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)

  • No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!


The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler, including architecture. The program pairs high-school students with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here!




Location:  Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA 

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: March 2025 (Tentative; based on 2024 program dates)

Dates: Program dates vary depending on the session

Eligibility: Girls and gender-expansive youth between 9-18 years of age


Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and construction school offering free and low-cost programs in carpentry, welding, architecture, engineering, and activist art for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18. Since its founding in 2013, the school has provided a hands-on learning experience in a workshop in Berkeley, where you can learn technical skills from all-female and nonbinary instructors. Through real-world building projects that serve the local community, such as furniture for domestic abuse shelters or greenhouses for community gardens, you’ll gain both personal power and practical abilities.




Location: Detroit, MI

Cost: Free

Application Deadline: There is no information available 

Dates: Dates vary depending on the program selected

Eligibility: Eligibility varies depending on the program chosen


400 FORWARD, launched in 2017, is a program that aims to introduce young girls to architecture and support African American women pursuing careers in the field. Through scholarships, wrap-around services, and funding for study materials and licensing exams, the program provides crucial resources to help you succeed in architecture. The program offers several camps and competitions designed to encourage innovative and creative thinking, such as the K–12 Pathway Initiatives and Project Pipeline Summer Camps, among other opportunities. These resources equip you with the fundamentals of architecture while also giving you hands-on experience in the field. 




Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Cost: $1,500; This program offers financial aid, which can be availed by submitting an optional scholarship essay

Application Deadline: Applications will begin in January 2025. Sign up for Aggiebound to get updates on Camp Arch applications

Dates:  July 7 – 12, 2025

Eligibility: Incoming 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students


Immerse yourself in the world of architecture, construction science, landscape architecture, and urban planning at Camp ARCH, Texas A&M’s summer program for high school students. As a camper, you'll dive into stimulating, hands-on classes led by Texas A&M faculty, bringing your creative visions to life through design projects and collaborative workshops. Beyond the classroom, you’ll explore the Aggieland campus, connecting with industry experts and building friendships with peers. Designed for students passionate about shaping the future of cities and landscapes, Camp ARCH offers a unique glimpse into the academic resources and career opportunities in architecture.




Location: Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL

Cost/Stipend: This program is free and offers a stipend

Application Deadline: TBA for 2025, typically due in March

Dates: The program starts in Summer and runs for 15 months

Eligibility: Incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors who attend high school in Chicago


As a Teen Fellow at the Chicago Architecture Center, you’ll gain experience in architecture, design, and urban planning. This program gives you the opportunity to explore architecture through courses at Harold Washington College, hands-on design projects, and even paid internships. You’ll dive into digital design tools, like AutoCAD and InDesign, build physical models, and explore Chicago’s skyline while developing a design portfolio. With guidance from industry professionals, this program combines practical experience with academic credit and pays a stipend, making it a great opportunity to develop your passion for architecture.




Location: Virtual

Cost: $3,000; This program offers need-based financial aid  

Application Deadline: Dates for the 2025 program are to be announced

Dates: Two 3-week sessions in June and July (tentative; based on 2024 program dates)

Eligibility: High school students 

The Build San Francisco Summer Design Institute offers high school students a chance to learn digital design. In this remote summer program, you’ll explore design tools like SketchUp and Autodesk software, developing 3D modeling, animation, and video skills. Your original projects will come to life with guidance from peers and mentors, and you’ll receive personalized 1-on-1 mentorship from an architect or engineer to gain career insights. By the end of the summer, you’ll have a digital portfolio for college and career opportunities. A computer with internet access is required, and all software is provided for free. 




Location: Fallingwater Institute’s High Meadow, Mill Run, PA

Cost: No information available; A limited number of full and partial need-based scholarships are available

Application Deadline: TBA for 2024

Dates: Dates vary depending on the residency chosen; multiple week-long sessions in June, July, and August

Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 and gap year students 


Experience architecture and design at the Fallingwater Institute with the High School Residencies program. This residency allows students in grades 9–12 to explore architecture, biophilic design, portfolio development, and model-making through hands-on projects, drawing exercises, and discussions on Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture. You’ll live on-site, working in the fully equipped Cheteyan Studio at High Meadow while connecting with teaching architects and artists. Choose from sessions focused on Drawing + Model Making, Portfolio Prep, Biophilic Design, and Design + Build, each designed to help you create portfolio-worthy work for college applications.




Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Cost: $4,220 and a $35 application fee. This program offers financial aid based on financial need and academic merit

Application Deadline: March 30, 2025

Dates: July 13 – July 26, 2025

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in high school


The Architecture Discovery Program is a two-week intensive designed for high school students at the Sam Fox School that introduces you to the fundamentals of design through a rigorous curriculum led by expert faculty. In Design Studio, you’ll work through exercises focused on sustainability and the built environment, leading to a final project that will be reviewed by faculty and guest critics to add to your portfolio. Drawing Studio sharpens your observation skills with on-site sketching exercises that explore light, proportion, material, and spatial relationships. 




Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, CA

Cost: $3,350 and a $25 non-refundable application fee. Need-based full scholarships are available 

Application Deadline: Dates TBA for 2025

Dates:  June 17 – July 12, 2025 (Tentative; based on 2024 program dates)

Eligibility: High school students


The Design Immersion Days, a four-week summer program, allows you to explore architecture and design in Los Angeles. Through hands-on projects, you’ll learn essential skills like architectural drafting, freehand sketching, and 3D modeling with tools like Rhino, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Led by SCI-Arc faculty, the program simulates a college-level studio, offering desk critiques, peer reviews, and weekly field trips to Los Angeles sites like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hammer Musuem. You’ll build a creative portfolio through weekly layout and formatting workshops, showcase your work in a public exhibition, and interact with architects and designers. 




Location: Virtual

Cost: $1,750 per credit. This program offers financial aid 

Application Deadline: June 2, 2025 (Tentative, based on 2024 program dates)

Dates: June 24 – August 2, 2025 (Tentative, based on 2024 program dates)

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who will be at least 15 years old by the start of the program


The Introduction to Architecture Summer Program is an online experience for high school and undergraduate students. Through two online courses, you’ll attend design studios, lectures, and workshops, learning the essentials of space, form, and technology in architecture. You’ll develop foundational skills in architectural drawing, representation, and portfolio design, gaining three credits per course. With regular critiques and insights from teaching associates and faculty, you’ll refine your designs and even take part in a student showcase. 


Looking for an immersive internship experience?


Check out Ladder Internships!


Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!


Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.



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