10 Online Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 15
- 6 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
Attending an online summer camp is a convenient, cost-effective learning option for high schoolers during the summer. These virtual programs are shorter than dedicated pre-college programs but offer experiential learning, skill-building opportunities, and networking sessions.
Summer camps are a solid option for gaining exposure to college-level academics, building relevant skills in the field of your choice, and understanding how the industry operates without the costs of a residential program. Participating in an online summer camp can also help demonstrate your interest in a field to college admissions officers.
Note: While some items may not be branded as a traditional camp, we've included them as their structure mirrors that of a camp quite closely!
Columbia University offers diverse courses taught by faculty in its online summer program. You can choose from over 40 courses spanning various subjects, allowing you to explore potential majors or new interests. The 1-week session has 4 hours of classes a day, while the 2-week sessions feature 3 hours of classes. Both variants also offer college preparation workshops, guest lectures, and seminars. Completing the program gets you a participation certificate and an evaluation letter, further strengthening your college applications.
Cost: 1-week program: $2,815 | 2-week program: $3,965
Dates: Two two-week sessions and one one-week session available from early July to mid-August.
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9 through 12.
Harvard's Secondary School Program is a 7-week academic program with over 200 courses available, allowing you to earn college credit and experience Harvard's academics. The program allows you to explore one or two of over 50 Harvard courses, from the humanities to STEM. You can choose either one or two 4-credit courses. Harvard Summer School is great preparation for future college success, as 20% of its attendees go on to attend Ivy League institutions. To learn more about Harvard’s programs for high school students, check out this blog.
Cost: $4,050–$14,950 (depends on the duration, location, and number of credits offered) + $75 non-refundable application fee. Partial need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 21 to August 9.
Application Deadline: Mid-February.
Eligibility: High school students who will graduate and enter college in the next 2 years.
Johns Hopkins University offers three online pre-college programs that allow you to experience college-level medicine. You will deepen your understanding of medical science through lectures, live learning sessions, quizzes, discussions, presentations, and hands-on learning sessions. The program includes mentorship from JHU instructors and six virtual workshops on topics ranging from admissions sessions to the Eight Elements of Wellness.
Cost: $1,950
Dates: Three two-week sessions between late June and early August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application encouraged.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (ages 15-17).
Cornell University runs multiple three-week programs that allow high school students to earn 3-12 college credits. Their programs offer regular undergraduate Cornell courses, allowing you to experience an Ivy League education remotely. You will learn from Cornell faculty and receive a Cornell transcript at the end of the program. The pedagogy involves interactive learning and allows you to benefit from Cornell's resources.
Cost: $1,840 per credit
Dates: Three three-week sessions and one six-week session are available starting June 2.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines per session, starting May 5.
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 19.
UCLA offers multiple online courses and programs during the summer for high schoolers, ranging from 3 to 10 weeks. Each session involves academically challenging courses taught by UCLA faculty. There are multiple sessions available for each duration. Course options range from STEM to the humanities, offering plenty of choices. To learn more about UCLA’s Summer Sessions, check out our complete guide here.
Cost: Varies according to course and duration
Dates: 8 different sessions of varying lengths, starting June 23.
Application Deadline: Varies by course; early application recommended.
Eligibility: High school students who will have completed 10th grade by the summer.
This week-long workshop, offered by Sarah Lawrence College, has been offering high schoolers instruction in creative writing since 1999. You’ll engage in daily workshops led by writers, poets, and performance artists, allowing you to develop your writing skills and explore various genres. The Writers Week has a tradition of one-on-one interactions, letting you receive mentorship from workshop leaders. The program has a small batch size of 18 students, making it an interactive learning experience.
Cost: $1,095
Dates: July 7 to July 11.
Application Deadline: To be determined; early application encouraged.
Eligibility: Students entering 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade (must be over the age of 14).
Georgetown University offers the Hoya Summer High School Sessions, allowing high schoolers to explore their academic interests and earn college credit. The program includes various courses across disciplines, and you will attend them alongside current Georgetown undergraduate students. The coursework is rigorous, and you will earn college credit and a Georgetown University transcript at the end of the program. It also offers extracurricular activities and college preparation workshops to enrich your experience.
Cost: Varies according to the course selected
Dates: June 2 to July 25.
Application Deadline: April 15.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 through 12.
The University of Southern California offers online pre-college courses for high school students to explore various academic fields. These courses cover topics like business, cybersecurity, environmental studies, political science, and screenwriting, providing an introduction to college-level coursework in these subjects. The pedagogy involves a combination of recorded lectures, mandatory readings, and independent assignments. This makes the program flexible, allowing you to balance your studies with other summer activities.
Cost: $1,990
Dates: June 15 to July 12
Application Deadline: May 2.
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14-17 who have completed at least the 9th grade by the start of the program.
The Summer Virtual Track at UC Berkeley allows you to experience college-level coursework and earn UC Berkeley credits remotely. You can choose from various courses across disciplines, including digital media foundations, global perspectives in contemporary art, astronomy, Python applications in molecular science, and many more. These courses offer a mix of asynchronous learning and live lectures. The program also offers extracurricular activities and college preparation workshops to strengthen your future college applications.
Cost: $615 per unit
Dates: Multiple three- to ten-week sessions starting May 27.
Application Deadline: June 2.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 10th or 11th grade by the start of the program and are at least 16 years old.
Northwestern University's CTD offers online summer programs for high school students seeking advanced academic challenges. One option offers Honors courses, while the other offers AP courses. These courses span various subjects, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the humanities. The program’s primary focus is to prepare you for competitive academic exams and college courses by helping you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Cost: Varies according to course
Dates: June 4 to August 13.
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 who meet course-specific prerequisites.
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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