15 Free Summer Math Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 3
- 9 min read
Summer math programs offer students the opportunity to get involved with rigorous academics to expand their knowledge of mathematics. They help you build practical skills in problem-solving and creative thinking. Typically taught by experienced faculty members, researchers, or undergraduate and graduate students, these programs provide exposure to the industry and help you start building a network.
Furthermore, free summer programs are an inexpensive way to explore your interests and build your knowledge. We have compiled a list of 15 summer math programs for middle school students that are either completely free, offer financial aid and scholarships, or have discounts available. The programs in this list are academically rigorous, offer networking opportunities, and are selective when it comes to admitting students.
So, here are 15 free summer math programs for middle school students:
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Program Dates: 8 weeks starting June 2 (Summer Cohort I) or July 14 (Summer Cohort II)
Eligibility: Middle school students
Middle school students can participate in the Lumiere Junior Explorer Program. In the span of 8 weeks, you’ll work one-on-one with a mentor to explore your academic interests and build a project you are passionate about. You will be mentored by scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. Financial aid is available for students who qualify. The program is rigorous and held completely online. You can find the application in the brochure!
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 12
Application Deadline: March 20
Program Dates: July 7 – 25 (summer), followed by August 27 – December 10 (fall meetings)
Eligibility: Students from low-income backgrounds in grades 6 or 7 who reside in and attend school in the United States
Stanford’s Middle School Scholars Program prepares students for a rigorous high school curriculum. Held over the summer and fall, this program helps you develop skills and build a community of instructors and peers. The program’s Real-Life Applications to Mathematics course applies math to real-life scenarios through examples in cryptography and financial mathematics.
Starting with cryptography, decoding, and encoding, the course moves to modular mathematics and then to financial mathematics. You will learn to visualize problems and apply mathematical thinking. Classes are held live online. In addition to academics, you will explore a range of options for high school and academic enrichment programs, applying to at least one selective school or program.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Depends on family income but ranges from $250 to $1,000. Scholarships are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Application Deadline: April 11
Program Dates: June 30 – July 25
Eligibility: Chicago area students who will be in grades 7 – 12 next school year
Participating in the Young Scholars Program at the University of Chicago may help you widen your understanding of math concepts. It is meant for students who have performed well in math tests and concepts and want to build their knowledge further. The program’s theme changes every year. During the weekdays, you will attend two lectures led by faculty members and a small group session led by an undergraduate mathematics major. Thus, instead of preparing you for a high-school-level math curriculum, the program encourages you to explore one concept in depth.
Location: University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 60 (tentative)
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: July 7 – August 8
Eligibility: 6th – 8th-grade students who attend school in the Ypsilanti area
Math Corps emphasizes math skills and mentorship for middle school students. Encouraging students to be themselves, in the program, high school students serve as teaching and program assistants for middle school students. College students are instructors and mentors. Placed in groups, you will be taught basic and advanced math topics in a university setting. With students returning every year, even as instructors, the Math Corps functions as a social system. In addition to classes, you will participate in activities such as robotics, modular arithmetic and art, magic (card tricks based on math), and more.
Location: Pasadena, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 25 per class
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders
Math Academy at Pasadena City College supports middle school students looking to develop their math skills. There are various courses to choose from depending on what you want to learn, such as math basics, pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry, among others. You will complete homework and tests depending on the class you enroll in. Upon completing the class, you will receive a letter grade. You will take these classes while exploring a college campus.
6. MathPath
Location: Varies each year.
Cost: $6,300. Financial aid and discounts are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 29 – July 27
Eligibility: Students aged 11 – 14 years old
MathPath, a residential program, is designed to increase students’ skills and knowledge in mathematics. It covers topics not typically integrated in the school curriculum, such as math history, number theory, induction, combinatorics, various geometries, proof-writing, graph theory, game theory, and more. Thus, students can expect to develop their mathematical foundations. You choose classes and participate in breakouts depending on your interest and level. Breakouts are week-long classes that entail a hands-on approach, thus allowing you to tailor your learning. Three plenaries, or interactive classes, are taught every day that include math history, guest speakers, and communication and collaboration skills.
Location: San Marcos, TX
Cost: $2,200. Need-based scholarships are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20% (60 per cohort)
Application Deadline: April 20
Program Dates: June 2 – 14 (tentative, based on the previous year)
Eligibility: 6th – 8th-grade students
The JSMC is a residential program aiming to cultivate students to become creative and critical thinkers. The camp schedule involves classes taught by university professors, study group sessions, recreation time, and various camp outings. Topics such as counting techniques, number theory, combinatorics, advanced geometry (similarities, mass-point geometry, etc.), probability, and advanced algebraic problem-solving have been previously covered in morning classes. Thus, you explore high-level math courses and various career options in math, science, engineering, and other fields. You will be provided supplies, a workbook, and a math camp t-shirt.
Location: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, or Saint Mary's School, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $3,500. Financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: May 11 (Camp Conway) or May 25 (Camp Sierpiński)
Program Dates: Camp Conway: June 15 – 28 (Session 1) or June 29 – July 12 (Session 2)
Camp Sierpiński: July 6 – 19 (Session 1) or July 20 – August 2 (Session 2)
Eligibility: Students aged 11 – 14
At the National Math Camps, middle school students explore various advanced math topics in and out of the classroom. You will engage with challenging problems through hands-on and interactive activities in a program designed to encourage resilience and the exploration of complex ideas. Every week, you will select a Topic Class that delves into one area of math, such as graph theory, group theory, combinatorics, infinity, number theory, cryptography, knot theory, coding theory, voting theory, partitions, combinatorial games, and projective geometry. The Math Explorations Class, which all students participate in, explains what it means to be a mathematician. You will build problem-solving and communication skills. Beyond academics, you will participate in fun activities and events like talent shows and game nights.
Location: Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR
Cost: $6,600. Free for US and Canadian families with household incomes under $100,000, and need-based financial aid is available for middle-income families
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 120
Application Deadline: February 26
Program Dates: June 29 – August 3
Eligibility: Students aged 13 – 18 from all over the world
Canada/USA Mathcamp is an intensive summer program. Here, you can expect to gain knowledge, skills, and experience in math. Classes are led by graduate students and internationally known researchers. The program offers you the freedom to choose your classes, do a project, and learn topics you are interested in. Emphasis is placed on curiosity and the community and collaboration aspects of the program. The week is filled with scheduled classes, whereas the evening and weekends provide time to participate in optional fun activities.
10. SigmaCamp
Location: Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center, CT
Cost: $1,850. Financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 40 – 48 (tentative)
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: August 2 – 9
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 12 – 16
SigmaCamp is a camp where you explore STEM topics with researchers from MIT, Yale, Stony Brook, Oxford, Princeton, Stanford, and many other universities. You can choose from various STEM subjects, such as Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, and Engineering. The math camp offers the opportunity to tackle complex math problems. Semilabs, which form the core of the program, combine theoretical and practical components. You can also choose from various lectures that you want to attend. These lectures involve informal presentations by specialists or interactions with guest speakers. The SigmaTournament will have you competing to solve Math Games and Engineering challenges every day. There are also various workshops to choose from. Finally, in the Junior Instructor Challenge, campers lead workshops for other campers, and in the Experiment of the Day, campers demonstrate a science experiment to the entire cohort.
11. Epsilon Camp
Location: Varies each year
Cost: $3250 + a non-refundable registration fee of $150. Financial aid covering up to full cost of attendance is available for eligible families based on adjusted gross income.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: January 8
Program Dates: July 13 – 27
Eligibility: Students aged 7 – 12
Epsilon Camp is an intensive program for gifted and passionate students. As a result, the program will introduce you to advanced concepts and opportunities. The camp is divided into levels depending on the students’ age. Some topics covered by various levels are number theory, Euclidean geometry, sets and functions, algebraic curves, enumerative combinatorics, fractals, and more. Outside the classes, you can partake in field trips, game nights, and city exploration. Parent participation is an essential component of the camp.
12. Bard Math CAMP
Location: Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Cost: $500. Scholarships are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: August 4 – 8
Eligibility: Students in grades 5 through 8
The Bard Math CAMP is a non-residential program for middle school students. If you have a strong grasp of school math but want to explore topics outside the curriculum, this program may suit your needs. Experienced educators and undergraduate students teach the classes. The program emphasizes teamwork and creative problem-solving. You will also learn about how math is relevant to art and computer science.
13. C& (Campersand)
Location: University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, NM
Cost: $1850 + $1,400 for housing. Financial assistance is available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: To be announced
Program Dates: July 6 – 12
Eligibility: Students aged 9 – 18
Campersand offers students the opportunity to explore mathematics and computer science. Teaching fundamental concepts, the camp encourages students to investigate math concepts in depth. This is a family residential camp. Classes are held in the morning and afternoon. They cover various topics such as games and numbers, zero-knowledge proof, calculus, geometry, and more. You will learn these topics in a playful manner.
Location: Virtual or in-person in Cupertino, CA
Cost: Ranges from $875 to $3250. Discounts are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: Varies by program but typically in June – August
Eligibility: Middle school students. Most programs require familiarity with Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 topics.
The AlphaStar Math Program helps students prepare for math competitions, so the curriculum is aligned with the curriculum of MathCounts, American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 8/10/12, American Invitational Math Exam (AIME), and USA Math Olympiads (USA(J)MO). Taught by expert faculty, you will improve your math fundamentals, problem-solving skills, and exam performance. The Fundamental Courses cover the entire competition curriculum, whereas the AMC 10 Booster helps students improve their exam performance ahead of the upcoming competition. The Fundamental Courses component covers algebra, geometry, number theory, and more. You will complete homework, take quizzes, participate in math activities, and complete a final exam.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Ranges from $1,275 to $1,575. Discounts are available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Application Deadline: May 27
Program Dates: June 9 – 27 (Session 1), June 30 – July 18 (Session 2), or July 21 – August 8 (Session 3)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 12 – 18. Students take an admission test to apply.
AwesomeMath is an intensive online program for gifted students. It aims to help students improve their problem-solving skills and advance their mathematical knowledge. Many students go on to improve their performance to participate in math competitions. You can choose from different courses on algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory based on your interests. You can enroll in several courses as well. You will be assigned homework and complete assessments.
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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