If you’re interested in criminology, you might be looking for ways to explore the subject beyond your high school classes. Structured academic programs can give you exposure to college-level academics, mentorship, and collaborative learning environments while helping you build skills in research, critical thinking, and communication. They also offer a way to better understand how fields like law, psychology, and public policy connect.

Why should I participate in an in-person criminology program in high school?

Participating in an in-person criminology program can help you better understand how crime is studied and addressed across different fields. Rigorous programs challenge you with advanced topics beyond the standard high school curriculum, sharpening analytical thinking and preparing you for competitive majors. They also offer meaningful networking opportunities with professors, researchers, and peers who are equally motivated.

If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.

1. UCLA Summer Institute – CSI: Forensic Science for High Schoolers

Location: Los Angeles, California (UCLA campus)

Cost: ~£3,514 (Day); ~£7,178 (Boarding) + $95 lab fee

Acceptance Rate: Not publicly specified (selective, interest-based admission)

Dates: June & July (3-week sessions; day & residential options)

Deadline: Rolling admissions (apply early; fills quickly)

Eligibility: Ages 14–18; high school students with an interest in forensic science

This three-week in-person criminology program for high school students introduces you to real-world forensic investigation techniques on the UCLA campus. You will get to engage in fingerprinting, fiber and trace analysis, crime scene photography, sketching, and chain-of-custody procedures. Advanced modules explore firearms, arson, and explosive evidence. Students build portfolio-ready lab work while learning professional forensic documentation standards. Residential participants experience supervised campus living, structured academic schedules, and college-style learning. All students receive a Course Completion Certificate and a Letter of Recognition.

2. Immerse Education’s Criminology Track

 Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston

Cost: Varies; financial aid available

Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.

Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from eminent top universities like Oxford and Cambridge. Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.

3. NYU School of Professional Studies – Career Edge High School Summer Program

Location: New York City, New York (NYU campus)

Cost: Varies by course (non-credit program; tuition-based)

Acceptance Rate: Not publicly published (moderately selective)

Dates: Multiple one-week sessions from late June to early August

Deadline: International: March 14 | Residential: April 29 | Commuter: June 12

Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12; international students eligible)

Career Edge offers one-week career exploration courses across fields like Criminal Justice, Psychology, Business, Finance, and Creative Writing. You can experience campus life while gaining exposure to industry professionals through field visits and guest lectures. The Criminal Justice course explores how cases move from crime scenes to courtrooms. Coursework includes projects and short assignments designed to strengthen college readiness skills. Although courses do not award college credit, they simulate university-level learning. The program blends academic exploration with NYC cultural immersion.

4. Marist University – Summer Pre-College: Crime & Justice Studies

Location: Poughkeepsie, New York

Cost: $3,700 (includes tuition, housing, meals, field trips)

Acceptance Rate: Not published (selective pre-college cohort)

Dates: July 12 – July 25

Deadline: Rolling (early application recommended)

Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors (high school)

This two-week residential pre-college program offers a deep introduction to crime and justice systems. Over the course of the program, you will examine policing, court processes, and corrections through academic coursework and field exposure. Guest speakers include professionals from law enforcement and federal agencies. Participants complete a specialty project to explore a focused area of interest. Successful students earn 3 transferable college credits (CRJU 101). The program emphasizes civic awareness, critical thinking, and networking with professionals.

6. Waynesburg University – CSI Camp

Location: Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

Cost: Not listed (short-term residential camp)

Acceptance Rate: Limited enrollment (not published)

Dates: Typically mid-June (example session: June 16–21)

Deadline: Early registration required

Eligibility: Rising 11th & 12th graders; recent high school graduates

Waynesburg’s CSI Camp offers a one-week experience that introduces high school students to forensic science and criminal justice through in-person criminology programs.  You explore investigative techniques commonly depicted in television crime shows and compare them to real-world forensic science practices. The program introduces forensic lab procedures and criminal justice career pathways. Activities simulate evidence analysis and crime scene investigation methods. Designed for students considering forensic science majors, the camp provides practical academic sampling before college.

7. Columbia College – CSI Camp

Location: Columbia, Missouri

Cost: $250

Acceptance Rate: Limited spots (registration-based)

Dates: July 13–17

Deadline: June 29

Eligibility: Grades 10–12

This week-long CSI camp introduces students to forensic lab procedures and trial simulations as part of in-person criminology programs for high school students. You work through evidence collection, lab analysis, and a mock trial presentation. Guest speakers from forensic agencies provide real-world perspectives. The program focuses on procedural techniques used in modern forensic labs. Students gain exposure to both scientific and courtroom processes. It’s a short, accessible introduction to forensic careers.

8. Georgetown University – Law Academy (Hoya Summer High School Sessions)

Location: Washington, DC

Cost: $3,725 (Residential); $3,095 (Commuter)

Acceptance Rate: Not publicly specified (selective admissions)

Dates: Law Academy I: June 21–27; Law Academy II: July 12–18; Law Academy III: July 26–August 1

Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions fill

Eligibility: High school students interested in law, criminal justice, and public policy.

Georgetown’s Law Academy introduces students to jurisprudence, constitutional law, and criminal justice through lectures, discussions, and mock trials. It is one of the in-person criminology programs for high school students that lets you examine contemporary legal debates, Supreme Court cases, and sentencing frameworks. The program blends academic coursework with experiential learning, including capstone simulations. Students engage with faculty and legal professionals while experiencing campus life in Washington, DC. A Certificate of Participation is awarded upon completion.

9. Columbia University – True Crime: Introduction to Forensic Psychology (Pre-College)

Location: New York, NY (In-Person)

Cost: Tuition-based (varies by format; typically several thousand dollars)

Acceptance Rate: Not publicly specified (selective)

Dates: Summer A (In-Person): June 29 – July 17; Summer B (In-Person): July 21 – August 7

Deadline: Rolling admissions

Eligibility: High school students with the maturity to engage in criminal psychology topics.

This pre-college course explores forensic psychology at the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral science. Students analyze case studies, research methods, and psychological theories related to criminal investigations. The program introduces foundational concepts in legal decision-making, behaviorism, and criminal profiling. Over the course of the program, you will build vocabulary and analytical skills relevant to psychology, law, and criminal justice majors. The course offers rigorous academic exposure within Columbia’s pre-college framework.

11. Quinnipiac University – Forensic Sciences: Crime Scene Investigation

Location: Hamden, CT (On-campus; Residential or Commuter)

Cost: Residential (2 weeks): $3,700; Commuter (2 weeks): $2,700; Partial financial aid available

Acceptance Rate: Not publicly specified

Dates: July 6–17

Deadline: Registration closes June 1

Eligibility: Current high school students (typically ages 15–18)

This two-week program allows students to investigate a mock crime scene using professional forensic techniques. Led by university faculty and industry professionals, participants gain hands-on experience in evidence collection, crime scene analysis, and victim profiling. It enables you to develop critical thinking and observational skills while applying scientific principles to investigative scenarios. All materials and technology are provided, and participants earn a digital badge upon completion. Residential students receive full room and board, while commuters attend daily on-campus sessions. The program is ideal for students interested in forensic science or criminal investigation careers.

12. Harvard Summer School – Pre-College Program

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cost: Tuition-based; financial aid available (need-based)

Acceptance Rate: Selective (holistic review; rate not publicly listed)

Dates: Session I: June 20–July 2 | Session II: July 5–17 | Session III: July 19–31

Deadline: Early: January 7 | Regular: February 11 | Late: April 1

Eligibility: 10th and 11th-grade students who are at least 16 years old by June 20

Harvard’s Pre-College Program allows students to take rigorous non-credit courses alongside ambitious peers from around the world. Though not solely forensic-focused, you can explore law, government, psychology, and related disciplines. The program emphasizes academic maturity and independent learning. Participants live on campus under structured supervision and engage in extracurricular activities and college-prep workshops. Admissions are holistic and require transcripts, counselor recommendations, and essays. 

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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.