15 Psychology Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 hours ago
- 10 min read
Looking for a way to explore a subject in a short and focused way this summer? Consider a summer camp!
Summer camps can be an effective way for students to explore academic interests while gaining exposure to college-level learning in a more accessible format. Many summer camps for high school students combine academic exploration with hands-on activities, allowing participants to build practical skills, collaborate with peers, and interact with mentors. Compared to longer academic programs, camps are often shorter, making them a more flexible and often more affordable way to explore a subject.
How are summer camps different from summer programs? How should I pick the right option for me?
While summer programs tend to be more structured and academically intensive over longer periods, camps emphasize experiential learning, group work, and real-world applications. For students interested in psychology, these camps provide exposure to topics such as cognition, behavior, and mental health through workshops, discussions, and research-based activities.
Below is a curated list of 15 psychology summer camps for high school students based on factors such as academic rigor, selectivity, networking opportunities, institutional reputation, and, where applicable, funding accessibility.
Why should I do a psychology summer camp in high school?
Participating in psychology summer camps for high school students allows you to explore complex topics such as cognitive science, behavioral psychology, and mental health in an engaging and structured environment. These camps often introduce research methods, case studies, and applied learning, helping you understand how psychology functions as an academic and professional field.
Many psychology summer camps for high school students also strengthen college applications by demonstrating initiative and subject-specific interest. Some camps provide access to faculty mentorship, research exposure, and collaborative peer networks, all of which are valuable in competitive admissions processes. Additionally, fully funded or highly competitive opportunities can signal academic readiness and commitment, particularly when paired with research or project-based outcomes.
15 Psychology Summer Camps for High School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Full financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (including summer) | Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers you a rigorous, mentorship-driven experience where you can explore psychology through independent research. In this camp-style summer cohort, you will work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor to develop a research question, analyze data or literature, and produce a final research paper. This structure gives you early exposure to how psychological research is conducted at an academic level. You can choose psychology-related topics such as cognitive science, behavioral psychology, or mental health, allowing you to tailor the experience to your interests. Throughout the program, you will build skills in critical thinking, academic writing, and research methodology, typically introduced at the college level.
Location: Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania
Cost: $1,395
Program Dates: July 12–17
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Camp Psych at Gettysburg College offers you a one-week residential experience focused on understanding how psychological science works in practice. During the camp, you will explore key questions in psychology while engaging directly with research methods, gaining insight into how psychologists design studies and interpret results. You will participate in hands-on activities, including designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting findings. Topics may include areas like helping behavior, decision-making, and real-world applications of psychological research. The program also includes lectures, group discussions, and collaborative projects guided by faculty and trained psychology mentors.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, Boston
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Program Dates: 2 weeks (summer cohorts)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Pathway by Immerse Education offers you a highly immersive psychology summer camp experience hosted at globally recognized academic hubs. During this two-week program, you will study psychology through university-style lectures and small-group tutorials led by academics from institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard. You will explore key psychological concepts through interactive discussions, case studies, and guided academic sessions. The small class size ensures personalized attention, while weekly 1:1 tutorials allow you to deepen your understanding and receive tailored feedback. You will also complete a final project that applies what you have learned in a structured academic format.
Location: Messiah University, near Harrisburg, PA (in-person; residential and commuter options)
Cost: $799 for residential campers and $699 for commuting campers
Program Dates: June 21–26
Application Deadline: June 1 or until full (apply early; includes essay + recommendation)
Eligibility: Students entering 10th–12th grade
The Psychology Summer Camp at Messiah University is a week-long immersive program designed to introduce you to core areas of psychology through both academic instruction and applied experiences. You will learn directly from university faculty as you explore topics such as clinical psychology, abnormal psychology, and biopsychology, gaining insight into how psychological theories explain human behavior. The program emphasizes experiential learning through interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, and service-learning projects, in which you apply psychological concepts in real-world community contexts. This combination of theory and practice helps you build foundational knowledge while developing critical thinking and interpersonal skills. By the end of the camp, you will have a clearer understanding of psychology as a field and whether it aligns with your academic and career interests.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (in-person)
Cost: $3980 (4-credit course) | Financial aid may be available
Program Dates: June 22–August 7
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising juniors/seniors) and college students
The Introduction to Psychology course at Harvard Summer School offers you a rigorous, college-level summer camp experience where you study core psychological concepts under the guidance of Harvard faculty. Taught by a leading neuroscientist, this course provides a comprehensive overview of major areas, including cognition, emotion, development, and social behavior. You will explore foundational theories and landmark studies while engaging with current research topics such as the relationship between brain function and behavior and the interaction between nature and nurture. The course structure includes lectures and additional required sections, giving you a realistic experience of university-level academics.
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: ~$4,499–$15,899 depending on session, housing, and course selection
Program Dates: July 19–August 7 (3 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
The Sports Psychology Summer Camp at UCLA (offered through Summer Discovery) allows you to explore how mental conditioning influences athletic performance and the broader sports industry. In this college-level course, you will study topics such as motivation, team dynamics, performance anxiety, and psychological resilience, gaining insight into how athletes optimize their mental performance. You will engage in interactive workshops, case studies, and hands-on activities, including developing mental training strategies such as visualization and goal setting. The program also incorporates real-world exposure through potential visits to UCLA athletic facilities and professional sports environments, helping you understand how psychological principles are applied in elite sports settings.
Location: Los Angeles County, CA (in-person + virtual components)
Cost | Stipend: Free | A stipend of up to $1,750
Program Dates: June 22–July 23
Application Deadline: January 15 (priority) | February 28 (final)
Eligibility: High school students in Los Angeles County with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a highly impactful summer camp that allows you to explore psychology through a real-world, career-focused lens. During the five-week summer academy, you will engage in project-based learning focused on mental health science, disorders, treatment approaches, and research methodologies. You will work closely with a mentor in a health-related field, gaining personalized guidance as you develop your understanding of psychology and related careers. The program also includes a capstone project in which you will investigate a specific mental health topic and present your findings, building both research and communication skills.
Location: Stanford University (in-person) + Virtual options
Cost: $1,725 (virtual) | $3,325 (in-person) | Scholarships available
Program Dates: Virtual: June 8–19; June 22–July 3 | In-person: July 6–17; July 20–31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis from December 15 to March 1
Eligibility: High school students rising sophomores–seniors (ages 14–18)
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford is an intensive psychology-focused summer camp that introduces you to neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral science through a research-driven curriculum. Over two weeks, you will attend interactive seminars led by Stanford faculty, exploring topics such as mental health disorders, neuroimaging, behavioral neuroscience, and clinical treatments. You will work in small teams to develop innovative solutions to real-world psychological and neurological challenges, culminating in a capstone project presentation. This collaborative component helps you build critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills while applying psychological concepts to societal issues.
Location: Brown University
Cost: $3,748
Program Dates: July 13–24
Application Deadline: Rolling until the course fills | May 8 (final deadline)
Eligibility: High school students
The Psychology of Willpower and Motivation course at Brown University’s Pre-College program offers a structured introduction to the science of self-control, decision-making, and behavioral change. In this course, you will examine psychological theories behind willpower, including how cognitive, social, and environmental factors influence motivation and self-regulation. The curriculum integrates research-based concepts with practical application, allowing you to design and conduct your own “willpower experiment” by tracking a personal behavioral goal. Through guided analysis, you will evaluate why self-control fails and test evidence-based strategies to improve it. This hands-on approach builds analytical thinking while helping you develop actionable techniques for goal-setting, habit formation, and long-term motivation.
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,500
Program Dates: Week of July 12–17 and July 19–24
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students
The Summer Immersion Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University offers a hands-on, intensive, residential introduction to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Over the course of one week, you will explore core psychological concepts such as emotion, perception, addiction, and neurological disorders, while examining how cognitive biases and sensory processes shape human behavior. The program emphasizes experiential learning through activities such as sheep brain dissection, sensory perception labs, and neuroplasticity exercises. You will also design and conduct your own observational research study, developing skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The experience culminates in a team-based presentation, allowing you to communicate your findings while strengthening critical thinking and scientific reasoning.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 15–July 23
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade high school students
The UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program is a structured virtual research and enrichment experience designed for students interested in neuroscience, medicine, and psychology, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Over six weeks, you will engage in live seminars, journal clubs, and neurology grand rounds, where clinicians and researchers present real-world case studies and emerging research. The program emphasizes analytical thinking and scientific literacy through activities such as reviewing academic literature, participating in discussions, and conducting virtual lab exercises. You will also complete an independent research project on a neuroscience topic of your choice, culminating in a final presentation. In addition to academic training, the program provides exposure to career pathways, mentorship, and insights into the societal impact of neurological disorders.
Location: Georgetown University (in-person) + Virtual (asynchronous option)
Cost: Tuition-based (varies by format)
Program Dates: June 1–July 24 (online) | July 6–August 7 (in-person)
Application Deadline: Rolling (until seats are filled)
Eligibility: High school students
The General Psychology course at Georgetown University provides a comprehensive introduction to the foundational concepts and subfields within psychology. Through structured lectures, you will explore topics such as perception, memory, cognition, neuroscience, learning, motivation, emotion, personality, and social behavior, as well as developmental and abnormal psychology. The course is designed to build a broad conceptual framework, making it a prerequisite for more advanced psychology coursework. You will engage with theoretical models and empirical research to develop an understanding of how psychological principles explain human behavior and mental processes. With both in-person and asynchronous online formats available, the program offers flexibility while maintaining academic rigor comparable to an introductory college-level psychology course.
Location: Virtual (online)
Cost: $1,895 | Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions (year-round)
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by session)
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and above
The Psychology: Inside Diagnosis and Treatment course from Northwestern University introduces you to the principles and practices of clinical psychology, with a focus on how mental health conditions are assessed and treated. You will explore major psychological theories, diagnostic frameworks, and the full spectrum of mental health disorders, including conditions like OCD and schizophrenia. The course emphasizes practical understanding through case-based learning, where you analyze patient scenarios and follow the process from referral to treatment planning. You will also study therapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and humanistic methods, and evaluate how these interventions are applied in clinical settings. The program culminates in a capstone project, allowing you to synthesize your knowledge while gaining exposure to real-world clinical decision-making
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: Multiple 1–2 week summer sessions
Application Deadline: Typically spring (rolling until filled)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grade-specific tracks)
The Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA) offers advanced psychology-focused courses designed for academically motivated students seeking exposure to college-level content. In small, discussion-based classes, you will explore specialized topics such as cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, and behavioral science, depending on the course you select. The curriculum emphasizes analytical thinking and application, combining lectures with interactive activities, case studies, and collaborative projects. You will engage with complex psychological concepts, ranging from brain function and behavior to mental health and decision-making, while developing critical reasoning and research skills. The program also provides an immersive residential experience, allowing you to interact with like-minded peers and gain insight into university-level academic expectations.
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY (in-person)
Cost: Free (fully funded research internship)
Program Dates: Summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Typically in Fall (applications distributed via partner programs)
Eligibility: 10th–11th grade students enrolled in select NYC partner programs
The BRAINYAC program at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute offers a rigorous, lab-based neuroscience research internship for high school students. In this program, you are matched one-on-one with a Columbia neuroscientist and work directly in an active research lab, gaining exposure to experimental design, data collection, and scientific analysis. The experience emphasizes hands-on learning, allowing you to understand how laboratory research contributes to real-world scientific discovery, particularly in neuroscience. Throughout the program, you will also develop technical lab skills, scientific communication abilities, and familiarity with academic research environments. Designed to build long-term interest in STEM careers, BRAINYAC provides mentorship, professional exposure, and a strong foundation in neuroscience research.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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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