8 College Summer Camps for High School Students
Opting to do a college summer camp is a great way for high school students to build practical skills and get a feel for university-level academics. Camps offer a focused educational experience, helping you explore a subject within a shorter timeframe than a typical pre-college program. This makes them an excellent option for students who want to explore a topic in-depth without committing to an entire semester or academic year.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Summer camps differ from other high school programs for a few reasons. Camps offer hands-on and specialized learning across subjects while being less expensive than a traditional pre-college or summer school program. This makes summer camps more accessible. Moreover, camps also offer industry exposure, since some enable you to get to know experts in your subject, building a critical network early on. These connections can be helpful for recommendation letters when you apply to college.
By looking at camps offered across disciplines, we have created our list of the top 8 college summer camps you can consider as a high school student. The list includes some fully funded opportunities across STEM, business, and social sciences, and all camps are offered by or associated with universities!
Here are 8 college summer camps for high school students!
SUMaC, or the Stanford University Mathematics Camp, is a rigorous summer camp for high school juniors and seniors. This camp provides advanced study in areas such as abstract algebra, number theory, and algebraic topology. It focuses on exploring current mathematical research and the historical development of key mathematical concepts. The camp includes lectures, group problem-solving, and guided research. The camp emphasizes a college-level workload, with assignments and projects outside of class sessions giving you a taste of what a college course might be like. To learn more about this camp, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Offered virtually and on-campus at Stanford, CA.
Fee/stipend: $3,580 (online) | $8,575 (in-person)
Application deadline: February 3
Camp dates: June 22 — July 18
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors, including international applicants.
This week-long summer camp covers finance, accounting, supply chain management, and marketing. You’ll participate in visits to business locations, introductions to different business areas by RBS faculty, and a business plan competition. You will learn about fields like information technology, how to create business plans, and how business analytics works. You can also consult with mentors and business professionals to whom you will have the chance to present your business plan! The week culminates in a final presentation to parents, Rutgers Business School students, and faculty, providing experience in business communication. Check out the camp's sample agenda here.
Location: Livingston Apartments and Rutgers Business School on the Livingston Campus (Piscataway, NJ).
Cost: $2,500, including room & board, meals, and field trips.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February or when all the slots are filled. You are encouraged to join the waitlist if the spots are filled.
Camp Dates: July 6–12 | July 13–19
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
The Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Sciences offers summer workshops for high school and middle school students interested in biomedicine. Topics covered include molecular immunology, medicinal chemistry, medical bioinformatics, and emerging viruses. These camps involve guided laboratory research, discussions, and lectures. The residential programs occur at universities like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. This camp is a solid option for students considering a future in biomedicine or related fields, offering academic enrichment and research experience.
Location: Offered virtually and on-campus
Fee/ stipend: $3,680 (residential) | $510 — $1,070 (online)
Application deadline: Applications are considered on a rolling basis
Camp Dates: March, June, July, August, September, November, and December.
Eligibility: Open to any student aged 11–18.
This boot camp introduces high school students to the intersection of AI and data analysis. You will learn how to program in Python, look for meaningful patterns in data, transform data you’ve collected, and create interactive visualizations. The curriculum is beginner-friendly, though it may be challenging for those completely new to coding or data science. With a mix of hands-on learning and expert mentorship, the camp provides a solid foundation for students interested in AI and its applications. It offers a broader range of subjects for creative exploration.
Location: University of the Pacific’s Stockton Campus, CA
Cost: $3,650 tuition with some discounts available to Pacific Alumni and other groups
Application Deadline: No information available
Camp Dates: June 2 — June 12 | June 17 — June 27
Eligibility: All applicants must be high school students.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a variety of summer camps for high school students, covering a range of STEM disciplines. Camps focus on areas such as robotics, materials science, and cybersecurity. Some camps, like those labeled EAGER and IDEA, focus on increasing diversity in STEM. They aim to encourage participation from underrepresented groups such as women, Black, Latina/o, and Native American students, as well as transgender and non-binary individuals. These programs offer an opportunity to explore advanced subjects while fostering inclusivity.
Location: University of Illinois, Champaign County, IL
Cost: $1,000 for overnight camps | $600 for commuter camps | $550 for day camps.
Application Deadline: March 30
Camp Dates: Various summer sessions based on the camp selected.
Eligibility: High school students, including international students. Find the eligible grade levels and equity-focused designations on the Summer Camps Listing.
Drexel LeBow’s Camp Business is a daytime summer program for high school students looking to explore the basics of business education. You’ll cover accounting, marketing, finance, and management while learning essential business skills such as leadership, team building, and professional etiquette. The camp also introduces you to the stock market and financial documents. Toward the end of the program, you’ll participate in a team business pitch competition.
Location: LeBow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (Residential and commuter options are available).
Cost: $950 (Commuter Session) | $2,000 (Residential Session). A small number of alumni-sponsored scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: May 1. Applications are approved on a rolling basis and may close earlier if slots are filled.
Camp Dates: July 13 — 18 (residential) | July 20 — 25 (commuter).
Eligibility: High school students currently in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years.
The Robotics Camp, hosted by the SDSU Systems and Intelligence (SMILE) Lab and SDSU Talent Search, is a week-long program for middle and high school students in San Diego. Funded by organizations like the NSF and the U.S. Department of Education, the camp is free for all participants. You will learn to use tools like drones, Scratch, and MBot Mega while honing your coding skills. You can also sit in on lab sessions, hear from guest speakers, and go for campus tours!
Location: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: April 30
Camp Dates: July 14 — 21
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 (requires a teacher recommendation form).
This summer camp introduces finance and highlights the significance of financial literacy in business development. You will examine the essentials of finance in business through investing, financial planning, FinTech, and corporate finance. You will work on group projects and network with professionals. Whether you’re considering a career in finance or planning to start your own business, this camp provides valuable insights and experiences.
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $650
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all the slots are filled.
Camp Dates: June 17 — June 21
Eligibility: Open to high school students (9th — 12th grade), including those who have completed eighth grade.
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.
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 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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