9 Pre-College Summer Art Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 13
- 7 min read
Pre-college summer programs offer high school students an opportunity to experience college-level academics and campus life, develop practical skills, and explore niche interests. For those interested in the visual arts, digital media, design, or architecture, a pre-college summer art program can be a valuable stepping stone. These programs provide experience, professional mentorship, and exposure to contemporary artistic practices. Many also include site visits, portfolio reviews, and networking opportunities with professionals in the field.
To help you find the right program, we’ve narrowed down 9 of the most selective pre-college summer art programs hosted by top universities.
RISD’s Pre-College Program is a five-week experience for students interested in fine arts, design, and architecture. Hosted by one of the country's premier art institutions, the program emphasizes experimentation, encouraging you to develop your artistic voice. You will explore new materials, tools, and techniques, engage in college-level studio courses, study with accomplished professional artists, and build your own portfolio. You will also attend museum visits, artist talks, and work with RISD faculty and peers in a rigorous creative environment.
Competitiveness: Moderately selective (~30% of applicants accepted)
Location: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Cost: $12,095 for the residential program; $9,300 for the commuter program
Dates: June 28 - August 2
Application Deadline: Mid-December
Eligibility: Between 10th and 11th grade and between 16 and 18 years old.
Hosted by Yale University, the Yale Summer Sessions include a pre-college program that offers 6 courses related to the arts: “Visual Thinking,” “Basic Drawing,” “Painting Basics,” “Introduction to Digital Photography,” and “Introduction to Interactive Design.” You can learn more about these courses here. You will work in state-of-the-art studios, engage in individual and group critiques, and attend lectures by Yale faculty. By living on campus, you will also experience the summer as a Yale student would, living in their dorms, eating in the dining halls, and studying in their libraries.
Competitiveness: Moderately selective
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: The cost depends on the number of credits taken. More information can be found here.
Dates: Session A: May 26, June 27 | Session B: June 30, August 1
Application deadline: Session A: March 31 | Session B: May 5
Eligibility: Students must be current joiners or current seniors, 16 years of age or older by the program’s start date.
At the Carnegie Mellon School of Art Pre-College Program, you will participate in challenging courses, workshops, critiques, and more. Classes are held mornings and afternoons, Mondays through Thursdays, with elective workshops on Friday. The curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of technical skills, conceptual thinking, and various approaches to art-making. Coursework includes college-level art courses, small classes led by Carnegie Mellon’s Art Faculty, Studio courses, and creative workshops. Throughout the program, you will create a portfolio and engage in one-on-one portfolio reviews. This is a great way to prepare your art portfolio for college applications!
Competitiveness: Moderately selective (~30% of applicants accepted)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Dependent on residential or commuter option
Dates: June 21 - August 2
Application deadline: Early decision: February 1st. Regular decision: March 1st
Eligibility: Students must be 16 years old by June 21 and between 10th and 11th grade, or 11th and 12th grade
The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive offers high school students the opportunity to experience a college-level art-making environment. You can choose from a variety of courses in drawing, animation, painting, graphic design, and studio practice, with current Cooper Union undergraduates serving as teaching assistants. You will also participate in special focus workshops, social events, field trips to museums, galleries, artist studios, and more. As the program is hosted in New York, you will visit artistic institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. The closing event is an exhibition where you will showcase the work created throughout the program.
Competitiveness: Selective (~20% of applicants accepted)
Location: Cooper Union, New York, NY
Cost: Tuition depends on the course chosen; check the program’s website for more information
Dates: July 14 - August 7
Application deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Students must be aged 15-18 and be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors
Harvard’s Pre-College Program offers a variety of art courses, giving students an introduction to contemporary art practices. Courses range from “Beauty, Urinals, and Revolution: The Philosophy of Art” to “Photography and the Social World.” You will explore the Harvard Art Museum, home to some of the most well-known art pieces in the country. You will engage in self-directed projects, attend guest lectures from industry professionals, and receive feedback from Harvard faculty, all while experiencing life as a Harvard student.
Competitiveness: Moderately selective (~30% of applicants accepted)
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800
Dates: Session 1: June 22 - July 3 | Session 2: July 6 - July 18 | Session 3: July 20 - August 1
Application deadline: Early application deadline: January 8 | Regular application deadline: February 12 | Late application deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Students must be on track to graduate from high school and enter college in the next 2 years. Students must also be between 16 to 19 years old.
Parsons Paris offers an art and design program in the center of Europe. You will explore subjects like design, painting, drawing, fashion, and photography at the Parsons Paris Saint-Roch campus. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in studio work and guided museum visits at some of the world's premier artistic institutions. With access to Parisian cultural landmarks, museums, and studios, you will develop a strong foundation in visual communication and design thinking. You can take courses for 3 college credits and develop your artistic portfolio; this is great preparation for the college application process!
Competitiveness: Moderately selective (~30% of applicants accepted)
Location: Parsons Paris Saint-Roch campus in Paris, France
Cost: $9,699
Dates: June 28 - July 19
Application deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Students must be 16 to 18 years old by the start of the course
The Department of Design Media Arts is one of the country’s top design programs. The summer Institute program is a two-week program designed for high school students to explore media and creation. You will take classes in 2D Image, 3D worldbuilding, Motion Design, and more, taught by UCLA faculty and instructors. You will gain access to UCLA’s state-of-the-art facilities, exploring the intersection of art, technology, and design. The program culminates in a final exhibition of a portfolio-ready body of work. This is an opportunity to sample college life, learn new design concepts, earn college credit, and prepare for college applications.
Competitiveness: Selective (~20% of applicants accepted)
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $4,708
Dates: Session A.1 (residential): July 6 - July 19 | Session A.2 (commuter): July 7 - July 18 | Session B (virtual): July 21 - August 1
Application deadline: Session A.1: June 6 | Session A.2: June 13 | Session B: June 13
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years of age before the program starts
The Tisch Summer High School Program is a four-week program based on the Tisch undergraduate curriculum, one of the best programs for art in the country. Designed for high school juniors and seniors, the program provides professional-level instruction in multiple disciplines. You can apply to one of the following artistic tracks: dance, drama, production and design, dramatic writing, filmmaking, game design, photography and imaging, or recorded music. This is a great opportunity to explore college life, the art scene in New York City, connect with like-minded peers, and earn up to six college credits. The program culminates in a showcase of work for family and friends.
Competitiveness: Around 30 students are selected per track out of an applicant pool of ~800
Location: New York University, New York City
Cost: Unknown
Dates: TBD
Application deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or sophomores with a 3.0 minimum GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale
The SCAD Rising Star program is a four-week, college-level program designed for high school students who want to earn college credit while building a strong portfolio. The program covers various disciplines, including illustration, animation, graphic design, photography, fashion, and more. You will work with professional software packages, meet artists and designers, and explore the university spaces at SCAD. SCAD Rising Star also includes industry guest speakers, portfolio reviews, and networking opportunities to help you prepare for a career in the arts.
Competitiveness: Moderately selective (~25% of applicants accepted)
Location: Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA
Cost: $6,490
Dates: June 29 - July 25
Application deadline: Early May
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school juniors
Bonus - Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Art Track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research program designed for high school students. The program offers personalized 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas, pairing them with Ph.D. mentors to work on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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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