10 Academic Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 19
- 7 min read
Looking to explore advanced academics outside of your high school classroom? Consider an academic summer camp!
What are academic summer camps? Why should I apply as a high school student?
Academic summer camps are an accessible way for high school students to explore college-level subjects and gain practical skills without the high costs of traditional pre-college programs. Typically hosted by independent organizations, these camps are short structured, often more affordable in comparison to pre-college programs.
What sets academic camps apart from other high school offerings is their specialized, short-term format that focuses on academic advancement. Unlike university pre-college programs that can span several weeks, summer camps are usually a few days to a couple of weeks and focus on a single subject. This condensed structure allows students to engage deeply with a specific topic without the longer commitment.
For students considering academia or advanced knowledge in a subject, these camps provide a great opportunity! To help with this process, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 academic summer camps for high school students.
The University of Georgia’s B.L.A.C.K. Engineering Camp is a week-long residential program for high school students interested in engineering. You will work on a hands-on project that guides you through the engineering design process, helping you develop creative solutions to real-world challenges. The camp emphasizes critical thinking, communication skills, and teamwork, with opportunities to apply concepts from math, physics, and science.
Through mentorship and collaboration with peers and professionals, you will gain practical experience in problem-solving and presentation. The program offers valuable insights into the field of engineering, providing a foundation for students considering a career in the discipline.
Cost: Fully funded
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Dates: June 9–13
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students aged 15–17 from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds
The Robotics Camp, organized 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. The camp, supported by organizations like the NSF and U.S. Department of Education, is free for participants.
You will work with coding and robotics tools such as Scratch, drones, and MBot Mega, gaining practical experience in the field. The program also includes STEM lab sessions, campus tours, and guest speaker talks. By the end of the camp, you will have developed valuable skills in robotics that can strengthen your college applications and resume.
Cost: Fully funded
Location: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Dates: July 14–21
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 (requires a teacher recommendation form)
The Statistics & Data Science Camp for High School Students is a free, one-week summer program introducing you to statistics and data science. The camp includes presentations, hands-on activities, and computer lab sessions focused on data analysis and the R programming language.
You will also visit a Pittsburgh-based company that applies data science in its work, providing real-world insights into the field. By the end of the camp, you will have gained a foundational understanding of statistics and data science, helping you assess whether to pursue these areas in the future.
Cost: Fully funded; includes a bus pass for local transportation
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dates: June 23–27
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; graduating students may also apply
The Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) offers high school juniors and seniors the chance to explore advanced mathematical topics like abstract algebra, number theory, and algebraic topology. The camp features a blend of lectures, group problem-solving, and guided research, deepening your understanding of both current mathematical research and key concepts’ historical development.
Although SUMaC does not offer college credit, it provides an academically rigorous environment for students with an interest in pure mathematics. You will complete assignments and projects that go beyond class sessions, giving you a sense of a college-level workload. While focused on mathematics, the camp also highlights the relevance of these topics to various scientific fields, making it an excellent opportunity for students seeking a collaborative, research-driven experience.
Cost: $3,580 (online); $8,575 (in-person)
Location: Offered virtually and on-campus at Stanford, CA
Dates: June 22–July 18
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors, including international applicants
The Fisher College of Business’ Business Bootcamp is a day-long program for first-generation high school students with limited access to college readiness resources. The event brings together students from Ohio high schools to offer guidance on college applications, career readiness, financial aid, and navigating campus resources.
You’ll participate in workshops and professional development sessions led by Fisher students, alumni, and faculty. These activities are designed to prepare you for the college search process and provide insight into business as a potential major. The program also highlights Fisher’s resources for first-generation students, offering practical advice on financial aid, scholarships, and the FAFSA process.
Cost: Unspecified
Location: Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Dates: Expected in July; dates TBA
Application Deadline: Details available at the end of March
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from Ohio with a 3.2 GPA, limited access to college planning resources, and/or first-generation college students
The Stanford AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a two-week virtual program introducing high school students to machine learning in healthcare. The camp includes online modules, group discussions, and breakout activities, along with social events and virtual Career Lunch and Learns featuring guest speakers from academia, industry, non-profits, and government.
You’ll explore topics like machine learning basics, evaluation metrics, challenges, best practices, and foundational models, including generative AI. By the end, you’ll gain a solid understanding of how machine learning is applied in healthcare and its potential impact on the field.
Cost: $850 + $40 (application fee)
Location: Virtual
Dates: June 16–27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to high school students of all technical levels
This pre-law Bootcamp provides high school students with an overview of various legal careers, including those of attorneys, judges, legislators, and activists. Through lectures, speaker panels, and discussions, you’ll explore the legal profession and topics such as courthouses, public interest organizations, and government agencies.
The program covers basic substantive law and litigation trials, alongside real-life legal cases to help you understand the U.S. legal system. This non-credit course is designed for students interested in law or considering pre-law as a college major. By the end of the program, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to approach a future in the legal field.
Cost: $2,579 (per course tuition) + $640 (optional housing and dining fees) + $50 (non-refundable application fee)
Location: New York University, NY
Dates: Multiple sessions from June–August
Application Deadline: International students – March 15 | Residential students – May 15 | Commuters – June 13
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in a career in law.
Camp SEA Lab, in partnership with California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), offers high school students a hands-on marine science experience aboard the 82' schooner, Seaward. Over the course of five days, you’ll participate in various activities, including plankton studies, marine mammal research, and oceanography sampling, while working as part of a team. You’ll also explore topics like coastal marine ecology, physical oceanography, and the history of seafaring life.
The camp emphasizes teamwork and leadership, with opportunities to develop these skills through tasks such as handling the vessel and studying weather patterns. No prior sailing experience is necessary, making it suitable for beginners. By the end of the program, you’ll gain practical marine science experience and a deeper understanding of the field.
Cost: $1,450
Location: Monterey Bay and Sausalito, CA
Dates: Session I: July 7–11 | Session II: July 14–18 | Session III: July 21–25
Application Deadline: Registrations open for Summer, deadline unspecified
Eligibility: Applicants must be between ages 13–16.
The University of California, San Diego offers a variety of summer camps for high school students in areas like programming, robotics, engineering, filmmaking, and animation. Although these camps were not available in 2024, they are scheduled to return in 2025. The programs cover core concepts in coding, 3D modeling, and engineering while also exploring creative subjects.
For example, the “Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming Using Python” camp focuses on developing problem-solving skills through program design and algorithm creation. The “2D Computer Game Design using JavaScript and p5.play” camp teaches participants to create interactive games with JavaScript and the p5.play library. These camps provide an introductory, hands-on experience in both technical and creative fields.
Cost: Varies for different camps; financial aid available
Location: University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
Dates: Approximately 4-day camps in June-July
Application Deadline: Registrations open February 15, deadline unspecified
Eligibility: Varies by camp; refer to specific program details.
The University of Arkansas offers five-day architecture camps for high school students, providing an introduction to the field of architecture. The camp covers basic design principles through hands-on projects, campus tours, presentations, and group discussions.
Led by faculty from the Fay Jones School of Architecture, the program allows students to explore the field and gain insight into the profession. For students with more experience, an advanced two-week residential camp is available for juniors and seniors. This session delves into more complex design challenges, offering a deeper understanding of architectural design.
Cost: Fayetteville Day camp – $450; Day plus overnight – $800; Fayetteville Advanced Camp – $2,000; North Little Rock Camp – $450; Virtual Camp – $100 (materials kit included)
Location: University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Bentonville, Little Rock; and virtual
Dates: Various 4-day camps in June, dates vary by location
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 eligible for some camps.
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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