15 College Programs for High School Students in Boston
- Stephen Turban
- 15 minutes ago
- 11 min read
If you’re a high school student living in or near Boston and want to experience college life early, joining a local college program is a great place to start. These programs give you the chance to study on a real campus, attend lectures, and take part in workshops led by faculty and college students.
Boston is home to some of the nation’s top universities, many of which offer short-term programs for high school students every year. Through these opportunities, you can explore subjects such as science, business, the arts, technology, and social sciences while learning how college classes are structured. Many programs combine classroom lessons with hands-on projects, helping you understand both academic expectations and potential career paths.
Joining a nearby program also has practical benefits. You save on travel and housing costs, study in familiar surroundings, and still get a real sense of college life. You’ll meet new people, practice time management, and receive guidance on topics such as financial aid and college admissions. The experience can make your transition to college smoother and strengthen your resume and college applications with solid academic experience.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 college programs for high school students in Boston!
15 College Programs for High School Students in Boston
Location: University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free with stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 120 across Boston’s partner schools
Program Dates: Year-long with a summer component
Application Deadline: Not specifiedÂ
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in a partner school; should be from a low-income family; should be ages 13 – 19 years (check all eligibility requirements here)
The University of Massachusetts Boston Upward Bound program is a free opportunity for high school students from low-income backgrounds who plan to attend college. You take part in two main parts of the program: an after-school and weekend component during the school year, and a six-week summer residential program held at a college or university campus. During the school year, you attend weekly tutoring sessions, take part in field trips, and meet other students during monthly gatherings at UMass Boston. In the summer, you study four academic courses in English, math, science, and an elective in either a world language or a skill-building subject such as financial or media literacy. You also join educational field trips and group activities.
Location: Boston, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 4 – 10 students
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility:Â Students aged 13 - 18 currently enrolled in middle or high schoolÂ
The Academic Insights Program provides middle and high school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. You will work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. You can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free with a stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Year-long with a summer component
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11 currently enrolled in a partner school/rising ninth graders planning to attend one of these high schools; must maintain grades above a B (3.0) in high school during the program; must be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident of the U.S. (check all eligibility requirements for admissions here)
The UMass Boston Urban Scholars Program is a year-round academic program for high school students, especially those from low-income or first-generation college-bound families. You take part in after-school classes during the school year and join an intensive seven-week summer program held on the UMass Boston campus. During the school year, you follow a structured schedule of courses and receive tutoring support. In the summer, you take college-preparatory classes and join workshops and activities that help you get ready for college. You also have opportunities to visit colleges, attend fairs, and take part in social, cultural, and field activities.
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MAÂ
Cost/Stipend: $2,450 (commuter), $3,380 (residential) + $75 application fee, with need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Information not available
Program Dates: Multiple sessions (each 5 days), starting June 8
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: Students preparing to enter junior or senior year of high school in the current school year, should have completed at least two years of college preparatory coursework at the high school level (check full eligibility requirements here).
Bentley University in the Greater Boston area provides high school students with opportunities to gain insight into college academics, and those who are at least 16 years old can also experience residential life on the campus. You will explore interests and careers while connecting with peers and developing essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. You will also gain networking opportunities and strengthen your college application. You can enroll for multiple sessions in a wide spectrum of fields, including accounting, finance, data analytics, entrepreneurship, leadership, sports management, writing, and more. Check the course options here.
Location: Boston Architectural College, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 (base price with three college credits), $1,800 (base price with no college credit), with scholarships available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specifiedÂ
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1 (online preview available on June 30)
Application Deadline: June 23 (onsite), June 9 (online)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12; ages 14 and older
Boston Architectural College's (BAC) Pre-College Summer Academy Program offers high school students with a passion for design opportunities to explore careers in architecture and design-associated fields. You can choose the Exploration track if you are a novice in the field, or the Investigation track if you have some prior design experience. You can also choose from the Credit Bearing Option (CBO) or the Not For Credit (NFC) option. You will gain foundational skills in a field of interest, such as landscape design, industrial design, interior design, and more. You will work individually as well as in collaboration with a cohort of 8 to 10 students under the guidance of a Studio Lead to get hands-on learning experience through real-world design challenges.
Location: New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), Marlborough, Massachusetts (online option available)
Cost/Stipend: $9,295 (day student), $12,995 (residential student), $6,295 (online) + $95 application fee (check here for eligibility for discounts and financial aid)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specifiedÂ
Program Dates: July 8 – 28
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 by the start date of the program; must demonstrate English proficiency.
Babson Summer Study is a rigorous three-week pre-college program that provides high school students opportunities to explore the field of entrepreneurship through the 'Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience' course, focusing on the U.N. Global Goals. You will learn diverse aspects of entrepreneurship, such as finance, marketing, leadership, and more, while working on real-world business challenges as well as individual and team assignments. You will gain practical skills such as business communication and professional etiquette. You will be mentored by faculty and graduate,e and undergraduate students. You will gain networking opportunities while attending panel discussions and presentations by entrepreneurial leaders and alumni.
Location: Multiple locations in Boston with a virtual option available (check locations here)
Cost/Stipend: $699 (one week tuition fee), $2,500 (three weeks tuition fee); need-based scholarships available (check deposit fee and costs of residential option here)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 15 – 20 with typically 10 to 1 student to teacher ratio
Program Dates: June – August (one-week, three-week options – check schedule here)
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9 – 12 (pre-high school programs also available)
Boston Leadership Institute provides opportunities for high school and pre-high school students to explore careers in STEM and business during the summer with day and residential options. You will participate in hands-on activities and lab work based on the program field. You can choose from a diverse range of science programs (chemistry, astrophysics, neuroscience, etc.), engineering and technology (biomedical engineering, robotics, etc.), medicine (cardiology, pediatrics, veterinary medicine, etc.), and business (finance, STEM entrepreneurship, etc.) Field trips may also be scheduled to local universities and facilities related to program subjects and local attractions.
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $3,995 (one-week session), $6,990 (both sessions), with need-based partial tuition assistance scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: July 5 – 17 (Session 1), July 19 – 31 (Session 2)Â
Application Deadline: Till spots fill (applications typically open in December)
Eligibility: High school rising 11th and 12th graders
Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT)'s ImpactLab is a pre-college residential program for rising 11th-grade high school students to have immersive academic experiences on campus. You can opt between one and two-week sessions led by Wentworth faculty to explore programs in STEM and design, including engineering, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, computer science, and more! You will participate in hands-on activities with extensive project work in labs and studios, and interact with peers and current undergraduate students. You will also take field trips and attend workshops.
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $599
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to 20 for each course with a 10:1 student-to-staff ratio.
Program Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: Till spots fill
Eligibility: High school students entering grade 9 or 10
Wentworth Institute of Technology's Momentum is a summer residential experience for high school students in grades 9 and 10 to explore potential college majors. You can choose from a wide array of interdisciplinary courses such as health and technology, engineering and design, and more! You will gain exposure to real-world applications of the subjects with lab work included in the program. You will enhance social, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while working on collaborative projects with peers. You will also get guidance on career pathways from current faculty.
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specifiedÂ
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Till spots fill (applications typically open in December)
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors who are Boston residents or enrolled in Boston Public Schools
Wentworth Institute of Technology's SummerFAB is a summer program for high school students that provides opportunities to experience interdisciplinary project-based learning on campus. You will learn the basic concepts of scale and proportion and gain key skills in design inquiry, drawing, and model making. You will collaborate with peers to design a prototype to meet a neighborhood requirement and build a full-scale temporary or permanent site-specific construction under the guidance of a fabrication coordinator.
Location: Roxbury Community College, Roxbury Crossing, MA, with a virtual option available/your high school/institution
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: As determined by the participating institution
Program Dates: Starts May 27 (Summer), January 22 (Spring), and September 3 (Fall), with the closing date based on the course selected
Application Deadline: May 16 (Summer), January 19 (Spring), August 15 (Fall)
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in grades 9 – 12 in a Massachusetts public secondary school/non-public school/home school with a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or higher; must be Massachusetts residents (check all eligibility requirements here)
The Roxbury Community College Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Program gives high school students in Massachusetts the chance to take credit-bearing college courses while still in school. Priority is given to first-generation college students and those interested in STEM careers. Through the program, you can study subjects across many fields, including STEM, the humanities, writing, fine arts, and the social sciences. Course options change each semester. Past summer cohorts have taken classes in visual arts, statistics, biology, and drawing, while fall cohorts have studied psychology, sociology, chemistry, and other subjects.
Location: Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Academic year + summer component
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 8 – 11; should be living in Boston or within commuting distance; must commit to the entire program (check all eligibility requirements here)
Massachusetts College of Art and Design's Artward Bound provides low-income high school students with opportunities to explore art and design through a free four-year program. During the school academic year, you will develop foundational skills through art classes, and those in grade 11 will participate in rigorous sessions to build a portfolio of personal expressive pieces and work on independent projects. In the six-week summer component, you will attend academic classes and creative sessions. You will attend youth program courses and receive mentorship to prepare for the next school year. You will also visit Boston attractions, including artist studios and museums.
Location: Fisher College, Boston, MA, and remote (hybrid format)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: Not specifiedÂ
Application Deadline: Not specifiedÂ
Eligibility: High school students entering grade 11 or 12 in a partner school
Fisher College's College 101 program provides opportunities for grade 11 and 12 high school students in partner schools to have academic experiences on campus and, if opting for admission to the college, a merit scholarship. You can earn three college credits through each course option of your field of interest (up to 9 credits for three classes). In the Criminal Justice course, you will learn about the various components and principles of the U.S. criminal justice system, as well as writing sessions to learn how to draft policy analysis papers, article critiques, and more. The Principles of Marketing course will give insight into the pricing, distribution, and other aspects of marketing. In the Introduction to Psychology course, you will learn about behavioral aspects, personality development, and more. Course options may vary each year. (check for options here)
Location: Fisher College, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available
Program Dates: January 12 – May 1
Application Deadline: Not specifiedÂ
Eligibility: High school seniors
The Fisher College Dual Enrollment Program allows Boston high school students to take in-person college courses while still in school. You can enroll in one course per semester during the fall and spring of your junior and senior years and earn college credits, up to 18 for rising juniors and 9 for rising seniors. Courses vary each year and may include subjects such as math, sociology, and public speaking. By completing the program, you not only earn college credits but also become eligible for a scholarship to attend Fisher College after graduation.
Location: Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $1,295 ($1,095 if applying by January 31) + $50 registration fee (additional $895 for housing)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The information is not available for the six months of playing experience and English proficiency
Program Dates: June 14 – June 18
Application Deadline: May 1 or till spots fill
Eligibility: Ages 15+
The Berklee College of Music Brass Workshop gives students aged 15 and older the chance to develop their classical or contemporary music skills. You learn and perform alongside faculty and musicians from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. During the program, you attend instrumental studio classes in areas such as low brass, trumpet, and French horn. You also join an ensemble and choose a classical or contemporary elective. In addition, you gain experience in performance and rehearsal techniques and attend faculty recitals and jam sessions to deepen your musical learning.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
High school students in Boston who are interested in pursuing independent research could 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.
Image Source - Berklee College of Music logo