8 Ivy League Summer Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 29
Ivy League summer programs are a solid option for middle school students who want to challenge themselves academically and gain early exposure to higher education. These programs let you experience college-level coursework while still in grades 6–8, helping you build strong study habits, critical thinking skills, and independence in a structured setting. They also offer a glimpse into campus life, practical problem-solving exercises, and the chance to connect with motivated peers and mentors. Many Ivy League summer programs include hands-on projects and professional insights, making them a way to acquire practical skills and valuable connections at an early stage. Because several of these programs are fully funded or offer substantial aid, they can provide this level of enrichment without being a prohibitively expensive option to explore.
For students drawn to advanced learning beyond their regular schoolwork, online Ivy League summer programs can be just as impactful. They offer rigorous content, interaction with faculty and peers worldwide, and access to selective academic environments from home. In this guide, we’ve curated a list of the top Ivy League summer programs for middle school students, chosen for their academic rigor, networking opportunities, competitive acceptance rates, and affiliation with prestigious institutions. Here’s a curated list of Ivy League summer programs for middle school students that can set the stage for future academic success.
8 Ivy League Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: June 23 (Summer Cohort II)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online mentorship-based research experience tailored for middle school students who want to create an academic project in a field they’re passionate about. You’ll work closely with a mentor (often affiliated with prestigious institutions like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford) who supports you throughout the research and project development process.
Throughout the program, you learn to conduct independent investigations, think critically, and complete a final project that reflects your area of interest. The program balances academic challenge with scheduling flexibility, featuring multiple application rounds during the year. Need-based scholarships are available, encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to participate. You can apply here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $75; full scholarships available for all students with financial need.
Dates: June 23 - July 30
Application Deadline: Applications for Summer 2025 are currently closed. Deadlines are typically in February
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in public and parochial schools in New Haven, CT.
Held at Dwight Hall on Yale’s campus, this six-week program provides intensive academic enrichment for motivated middle schoolers. You’ll explore humanities, investigations, and electives designed and taught by Yale undergraduates, with a focus on building critical skills for high school and college success. The program emphasizes small-group learning, hands-on projects, and a strong community ethos, offering early exposure to a rigorous academic environment. Daily sessions run 9 AM to 3 PM, five days a week, and include both core classes and collaborative activities. With its longstanding partnership with Yale and targeted support for local students, U.S. Grant offers a rare opportunity to engage in true Ivy League-level preparation at the middle school stage.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective. Information on the size of the application pool and exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–12 with an interest in STEM or medicine.
S-PREP is Columbia University’s flagship pipeline program for middle and high school students pursuing careers in science and medicine. The summer session offers daily enrichment courses in subjects like anatomy, biochemistry, algebra, and brain and cognitive science, paired with PSAT preparation and career development workshops. You will gain access to mentorship, college tours, and academic counseling while building a strong foundation in STEM fields. Participants are also eligible for advanced research apprenticeships at Columbia’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is highly selective; information on exact cohort size is not publicly available.
Location: University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $650 (covers daily lunch)
Dates: June 23- June 27
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Philadelphia-area students entering grades 7–9 (must live and attend school within 60 miles of campus).
Penn GEMS is a one-week, day-only summer camp that immerses middle schoolers in applied science and engineering at Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. You’ll explore bioengineering, nanotechnology, materials science, environmental engineering, and computing through hands-on experiments and team-based problem-solving. The camp emphasizes real-world applications of STEM concepts and provides early mentorship from Penn engineering students, helping you visualize a future in science and engineering. Collaboration and critical thinking are central to the program, making it a strong stepping stone for students interested in STEM pathways.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective; exact cohort size is not publicly available.
Location: Harvard Museum of Natural History, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $210 (members) / $235 (nonmembers)
Dates: Multiple week-long sessions from late July through mid-August; July 28 – August 1; August 4 – 8; August 11 – 15; August 18 – 22
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until sessions fill; advance registration required.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History’s Summer Science Weeks offer a series of themed, week-long programs for middle schoolers that combine lab work, creative problem-solving, and hands-on exploration of natural sciences. Sessions include topics like Island Hopping: Evolutionary Game Design, Amazing Animals, and Blue Planet: Life in the Sea. You will use microscopes to study biological structures, design ecosystems, and create science-inspired projects such as board games modeling island biogeography. Programs are taught on Harvard’s Cambridge campus, providing students early exposure to university-level scientific inquiry in a small, interactive group setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selective; typically admits 80–100 students per summer.
Location: Yale University or Online (Online for 2025)
Cost: $599
Dates: August 18 – 22
Application Deadline: Rolling admission; applying early is recommended as spots fill quickly.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–12; no prior debate experience required.
The Yale Summer Debate Program is Yale’s largest summer enrichment program focused on developing critical thinking and communication skills. Middle schoolers train alongside high schoolers in parliamentary debate (the same format used at Yale Invitational tournaments), learning argument construction, refutation, and persuasive speaking. Daily sessions combine small-group coaching, practice rounds, and electives covering topics such as international relations, moral philosophy, and sustainability. You will receive individualized feedback from Yale debaters and coaches, culminating in a multi-round tournament judged by members of the Yale Debate Association.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is selective; exact cohort size is not publicly available.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $5,788 (residential)
Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 8–9, ages 13–15 by June 15
Brown’s STEM 9/10 program is a 12-day intensive designed to bridge middle and early high school students into college-level STEM inquiry. You’ll choose from a range of engineering, science, and mathematics courses that combine lectures, labs, and design-build challenges. Each course culminates in a research project or prototype presented to peers and instructors, giving you an early experience in communicating scientific ideas. You will live in residence halls, work in Brown’s labs and classrooms, and participate in structured evening activities, gaining both academic skills and exposure to college life.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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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