Top 10 Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 28
- 8 min read
Pre-college summer programs provide high school students with the opportunity to experience college-level academics, explore potential majors, and gain insight into campus life. These programs offer structured learning, projects, and mentorship, enabling you to develop practical skills and establish industry connections before college. Many programs offer workshops on college applications and career pathways, making them a valuable resource for planning your future.
If you’re interested in a specific subject, a pre-college summer program can offer in-depth learning in fields like STEM, business, or the humanities. Whether through research projects, coursework, or networking with professionals, these programs help you refine your interests and build a strong academic foundation.
Here’s a list of the 10 top pre-college summer programs for high school students!
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: June-August (6 weeks)
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors with strong academic records
MIT’s MITES Summer Program is a six-week experience where students take five rigorous college-level courses in math, science, and humanities. One of these is a project-based elective, offering options such as machine learning, genomics, and engineering design. The program includes lab tours, workshops, college admissions counseling, and networking opportunities. Designed to strengthen academic and research skills, MITES helps you explore the impact of STEM on society while preparing for college admissions. You will live on campus, engage with STEM professionals, and build connections with peers. Each student also receives a detailed evaluation from instructors that can be useful for college applications. To learn more about MITES, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Virtual and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 21 - August 2
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) is a fully funded pre-college program for students interested in STEM. The program begins with a virtual skill-building session, transitioning into a six-week, in-person experience that features coursework, projects, and mentorship from faculty and graduate students. You will collaborate with peers, conduct research, and present your work at a concluding symposium. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
3. Columbia University’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) Pre-College Program
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Starts at $5,875 (need-based scholarships available)Application Deadline: March 3
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7 - July 25 | Session 2: July 29 - August 15
Eligibility: All current high school students
Columbia University’s SHAPE program allows high school students to take college-level engineering courses taught by Columbia faculty. You can choose a subject ranging from robotics and biomedical engineering to data science and sustainable engineering. You will engage in project-based learning throughout the program. Lab sessions and designated project times will help you apply the knowledge you have gained. Beyond coursework, SHAPE offers electives, college preparation workshops, and opportunities for interaction with Columbia students. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: UCLA
Cost: $3,291 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: June 13
Program Dates: June 23 - July 11
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students
UCLA’s Computer Science Summer Institute (Introductory Track) is designed for high school students with little to no prior experience in coding. Through the UCLA Computer Science 30 course, you’ll explore key programming concepts like loops, conditionals, data types, and functional decomposition. The program includes lectures, coding boot camps, seminars, lab tours, discussion sessions, and a final hackathon. You’ll learn to approach computing as a tool for problem-solving and creative exploration. To learn more about UCLA’s summer programs for high school students, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800 (limited number of scholarships available)
Application Deadline: February 12
Program Dates: Session 1: June 22 - July 3 | Session 2: July 6 - July 18 | Session 3: July 20 - August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16-19
Harvard’s Pre-College Summer Program is a two-week experience where high school students take a college-level course in a small, discussion-based class. With nearly 30 subjects to choose from, ranging from STEM and medicine to business and literature, you will engage in academic exploration without the pressure of grades. Outside the classroom, the program offers workshops on college preparation, essay writing, and financial aid, as well as social activities and campus events. This experience helps students refine their academic interests while getting a glimpse of college life at Harvard.
Location: Online or New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Varies depending on the number of courses and credits a student registers for. You can check the complete details here.
Application Deadline: Spring Term: January 1 | Summer Term: June 16
Program Dates: Spring Term: January 21 - May 6 | Summer Term: July 2 - August 13
Eligibility: Rising/current 11th and 12th-grade students
NYU Precollege offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses while experiencing life as an NYU student. The classes cover a wide range of subjects, including computer science, biomolecular science, film, and literature. You can explore potential majors while earning college credit. The program also features College 101 workshops that cover essay writing, research, and applications, as well as social events and networking opportunities. You will engage with NYU’s faculty and academic community. Summer students can earn up to 8 credits and participate in campus events, including museum visits and city tours. You can also participate in a five-week College Writing Workshop taught by NYU faculty to strengthen your research and academic writing skills. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: March 20
Program Dates: Session 1: June 16 - June 27 | Session 2: July 7- July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 at the time of application submission are eligible
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer high school students over 70 online courses in subjects such as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, game design, and environmental solutions. Taught by Stanford instructors, these courses go beyond the typical high school curriculum. With small class sizes, live discussions, and interactive coursework, you will engage in in-depth exploration while connecting with peers. You will receive personalized feedback and a Certificate of Completion. Outside of academics, you can join student life seminars and community-building activities. To learn more about Stanford’s summer programs for high school students, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Georgetown University
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 29 - July 18
Eligibility: Students must be members of the Cristo Rey Network or KIPP Foundation school systems or other invited schools, networks, or community-based organizations. Students must also receive a nomination to apply from their principal, guidance counselor, or KIPP regional advisor.
Georgetown’s Summer Immersion Program is a three-week college prep experience for rising high school seniors from select school networks. You will take seminar-style courses in subjects such as international relations, business, and STEM. You will also participate in field trips, workshops, and networking sessions. The program includes SAT preparation, guidance on the Common Application, and support for your college search. Living on Georgetown’s campus offers a firsthand look at college life while providing opportunities for academic and professional development. You’ll also connect with high-achieving peers while exploring career pathways through Georgetown Experience Seminars.
Location: Variable (Duke University, Marine Lab, or online)
Cost: Depending on the course
Application Deadline: Varies according to the course
Program Dates: Depending on the course
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-11 are eligible; it is recommended that students have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Duke Pre-College Summer Programs offer middle and high school students hands-on learning through on-campus, online, and marine lab courses. The program provides mentorship from Duke faculty, field trips, research projects, and interactive coursework in a range of subjects. You will engage with peers worldwide while exploring challenging topics and enhancing your college readiness. You can choose to study on Duke’s East or West campus or at the Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC, each offering unique field experiences and access to expert instructors. To learn more about Duke’s pre-college programs, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795 (scholarships available)
Application Deadline: Varies based on available courses
Eligibility: High school or U.S.-high-school-equivalent students aged 13 or above.
Georgetown University’s Pre-College Course in Medical Research is a flexible online program for high school students interested in medicine and clinical research. Available in 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week formats, the course covers clinical trial design, evidence-based medicine, research ethics, biostatistics, and epidemiology. You will explore medical research in cancer and develop your own study using professional research methods. The program includes mentorship, guided projects, and career exploration. You will learn how to navigate online databases, interpret scientific articles, and craft your own research questions using the PICO method.
Bonus
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: $2,990 (Financial aid is available)
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, fall: September - December, winter: December - February, spring: March - June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with strong academic performance (unweighted GPA of 3.3/4). No prior knowledge of the field is required.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience where high school students work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor to develop an independent research paper. You can explore topics in psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and more. The program helps you refine research skills, gain academic writing experience, and potentially submit your work to journals, making it a great addition to your college applications.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,950 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) is a trimester-long research program where high school students work on independent research projects in fields like data science, machine learning, and political theory. You’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. mentor who will guide you through the process of writing a 20-page research paper, which you can submit to journals. The program also provides detailed feedback and a letter of recommendation, making it a strong choice for students looking to gain research experience.
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 - Carnegie Mellon University Logo