Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC): 6 Great Reasons to Apply
Updated: 7 days ago
Updated October 2026
TL;DR
SUMaC is a highly selective Stanford math camp for high school students in grades 10 and 11 who want to study proof-based math far past the school curriculum. You take one of two courses: Program I (abstract algebra and number theory) or Program II (algebraic topology). You can attend in a three-week online format for $3,750 or a four-week residential format at Stanford for $8,950, and need-based aid is available. To apply, you submit transcripts, a math teacher recommendation, a take-home proof-based exam, and a $65 fee. If you want to turn your love of math into your own research paper with a PhD mentor, you can apply to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you’re interested in advanced math and want to see what it’s like to think like a mathematician, a summer math camp is a great way to try it out in high school. SUMaC is one of the most selective options out there. At this Stanford camp, you study abstract algebra and number theory, or algebraic topology, through daily problem sets, guest lectures, and a final research project. You can attend online for three weeks or live on the Stanford campus for four. This guide covers who can apply, what SUMaC costs, how the admission exam works, and how to strengthen your application. For more programs like this, see our list of math camps for high school students.
What is SUMaC?
SUMaC is a summer math program run by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies at Stanford University. Professors Rafe Mazzeo and Ralph Cohen started it in fall 1994 with funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Rick Sommer joined the founding team soon after. International students first joined in 1998. Around that time, the founders capped enrollment at 40 to protect the small-group feel of the camp.
SUMaC went online in 2020 and has offered both online and residential formats since summer 2023. Every participant takes one of two courses, Program I or Program II, and both formats have the same academic rigor and content.
Who can apply to SUMaC?
You can apply if:
You're in 10th or 11th grade when you apply.
You'll be at least 15 years old during the program.
You have an exceptional interest in math.
You have experience reading and writing proofs and a strong command of high school algebra and geometry. Familiarity with number theory and modular arithmetic is suggested.
Age also affects which format you can choose. If you'll be 18 during the program, you can apply to the online format but not the residential one. If you're under 18, a parent or legal guardian submits the application with you.
SUMaC at a glance
Detail | What you need to know |
Program | |
Host | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, Stanford University |
Location | Online, or residential on the Stanford campus |
Cost | $3,750 online (plus up to $100 for materials); $8,950 residential; need-based aid available |
Acceptance rate/cohort size | Acceptance rate not published; 40 residential and 64 online spots |
Program Dates | TBA (previous cohort: online June 15 to July 3 and July 6 to 24, 2026; residential June 21 to July 17, 2026) |
Application Deadline | TBA (previous cohort: February 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time) |
Eligibility | Students in grades 10 or 11 at the time of application who are at least 15 during the program |
Courses | Program I (abstract algebra and number theory) or Program II (algebraic topology) |
When are the SUMaC dates and deadlines for 2027?
Here's how the cycle typically runs so you can plan ahead:
Application deadline: TBA (previous cohort: February 2)
Admission decisions: TBA (previous cohort: mid-April)
Financial aid application: TBA (previous cohort: February 9, with documents due February 16)
Online Session One: TBA (previous cohort: June 15 to July 3)
Online Session Two: TBA (previous cohort: July 6 to 24)
Residential session: TBA (previous cohort: June 21 to July 17)
If you choose residential, you have to move in on the Sunday afternoon and move out on the Friday morning, and alternative dates aren't possible. Admission decisions are final and can't be appealed, so make sure your application is complete before you hit submit.
How much does SUMaC cost?
Online tuition is $3,750. Some online courses need extra materials like readers or textbooks, which cost no more than $100.
Residential tuition is $8,950 and covers:
Housing in supervised Stanford residences, with linens and towels
All meals in Stanford dining halls
Instruction and course materials
Weekend field trips around the San Francisco Bay Area, including transportation and entrance fees
Rides between Stanford and San Francisco International Airport at set times on arrival and departure days
Tuition doesn't cover airfare, incidental purchases, computers, clothes, school supplies, or toiletries. You also need to bring your own laptop.
The application fee is $65, and fee waivers are available if you qualify. Financial aid is based on demonstrated need and is open to both domestic and international families.
What do you need to apply to SUMaC?
A complete application includes:
The online application form, created under your legal name
Unofficial transcripts from each school or program where you earned grades (last cycle asked for fall 2023 through fall 2025). Homeschooled applicants submit a transcript-style document.
One recommendation from a math teacher
$65 application fee
The admission exam, a set of challenging proof-based problems you work on at home over an extended period before the deadline
You can also submit an optional video essay, which Stanford describes as a conversation between you and the admissions committee. If English isn't the main language at your school, Stanford strongly encourages you to record one.
On the application, you rank Program I and Program II. If you're admitted, the admissions team places you in the course that fits your preferences and preparation best.
What is the SUMaC acceptance rate?
Stanford says that it receives far more qualified applicants than it has spots for. The admissions team looks at five things:
Your grades in math courses
Your teacher recommendation
Your passion for math, as shown in your essays and application
Your engagement with math inside and outside class
Your performance on the admission exam
When you apply, you choose whether to be considered for residential, online, or both. Since residential has 40 spots and online has 64, it's worth thinking about which pool you want to compete in.
What's the difference between SUMaC Online and SUMaC Residential?
Both formats cover the same material at the same level. The difference is in length, pace, and daily life.
SUMaC Online runs three weeks at a faster pace. You join a live three-hour class each weekday with your camera and microphone on, then spend another three to five hours a day on problem sets and your project. You also attend live problem-solving sessions led by undergraduate and graduate instructional assistants, plus virtual guest lectures from mathematicians and people who use math in their work.
Last year, Program I met from either 8 to 11 a.m. or 5 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time in both sessions. Program II ran only in Session One, from 5 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone presents their final research projects on one day.
SUMaC Residential runs for four weeks on the Stanford campus, and both courses are offered. Class meets from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and Fridays are set aside for your research project. In the afternoons, you work on problem sets with instructional assistants, followed by a required activity or guest lecture. You live in a Stanford residence hall (without air conditioning), and weekends bring field trips around the Bay Area. You present your research project at the end of the program.
What will you study in Program I and Program II?
Program I: Abstract Algebra and Number Theory introduces its topics through five motivating problems. They cover the limits of straightedge-and-compass constructions, classifying patterns in two dimensions, error-correcting codes, cryptography, and the symmetry of structures. Abstract algebra grew out of the study of polynomial equations in the early 1800s and now sits at the core of modern math research. Number theory studies the properties of integers, dates back to ancient mathematics, and still has open problems with real uses in computer science.
Program II: Algebraic Topology focuses on a major area of current math research. Topology studies the properties of shapes that stay the same when you stretch or bend them. A rubber sphere, for example, can be squished into a cube, and mathematicians can show precisely why the two are topologically equivalent. In Program II, you learn to analyze these properties with algebraic tools like groups. You'll need more proof experience than Program I asks for, and most students in this course have already taken Program I or studied its material.
If the admission exam problems feel unfamiliar, Stanford suggests its online Number Theory or Discrete Mathematics courses through Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. That program has a separate application, and last year's deadline was March 13, 2026.
6 Great Reasons to Apply to SUMaC
1. You study math most high schoolers never see
Both courses go well past standard high school topics. Program I starts from concrete problems, so abstract ideas connect to puzzles you can picture. Program II takes you into a field mathematicians are actively researching today.
2. You get daily support from people who love math.
Each course has an instructor and a team of instructional assistants, who are undergraduate and graduate students. In the online format, they lead live problem-solving sessions. In the residential format, they help you work through problem sets every weekday afternoon. You'll also hear guest lectures from mathematicians and people who use math in their careers.
3. You finish with a research project.
Every participant presents a final research project on a single day, online or at the end of the residential program. It's a great first taste of mathematical research. If you want to go further, our list of math research programs for high school students has more options.
4. You work alongside people who think like you.
Math gets better when you argue about it with friends. With only 40 students on campus and 64 online, you get to know your classmates through group problem solving and activities, plus shared meals if you're on campus.
5. You can pick the format that fits your life.
If travel or cost rules out campus, SUMaC Online gives you the same content in three weeks. If you want the full Stanford experience, SUMaC Residential adds housing, meals, field trips, and evening programs. You can apply to one format or both.
6. You join a program with three decades of alumni.
SUMaC has been running since 1994. Its alumni include math and computer science faculty at schools like Princeton, Cornell, Brown, and Stanford, as well as startup founders. Joining SUMaC connects you to that long tradition of serious math.
8 tips to get into SUMaC
Nothing guarantees a spot, but these tips line up with the factors Stanford says it reviews.
Check the rules first. Confirm your grade, your age during the program, and which formats you're eligible for.
Choose your course honestly. Program I fits most applicants. Put Program II first only if you already have strong proof experience.
Start the admission exam early. It's designed for extended work at home, so spread it over several weeks and write out every proof in full.
Ask your math teacher early. Give them plenty of time and a short note about what you'd like them to highlight.
Show your math life outside class. Describe what you read, explore, or solve on your own, and why it excites you.
Record the video essay. It's optional, but it lets the committee hear you talk about math in your own words.
Think about the pool you're entering. With 40 residential and 64 online spots, applying to both can give you more chances.
File financial aid paperwork on time. The aid deadline usually falls about a week after the admissions deadline.
How does SUMaC compare with other top math programs?
If you're deciding between summer math programs, here's how SUMaC stacks up against three other well-known options.
Program | Format and length | Cost | Who can apply | Deadline |
Online (3 weeks) or residential at Stanford (4 weeks) | $3,750 online; $8,950 residential; need-based aid | Students in grades 10 or 11, at least 15 during the program | TBA (previous cohort: February 2, 2026) | |
Residential at Boston University (6 weeks) | Up to $8,000 in 2026; free for U.S. families earning under $80,000 | High school students, at least 14 by the start date | TBA (previous cohort: February 27, 2026) | |
Residential in Ohio or Indiana (6 weeks) | $7,500, including housing and meals; aid available | Pre-college students who love math | TBA (previous cohort: March 8, 2026) | |
Residential (5 weeks; Burlington, Vermont, in 2026) | $0 to $7,500, depending on aid; free for U.S. and Canadian families earning under $100,000 | Students ages 13 to 18 | TBA (previous cohort: February 23, 2026) |
SUMaC is the only one of these with an online option and the shortest commitment. PROMYS and Ross both focus heavily on number theory over six weeks. Mathcamp offers the widest age range and no application fee. For more options, see our list of summer math programs for high school students.
If you'd like to move from coursework to independent research, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a PhD fellow or postdoc. The program is fully online, and full financial aid is available.
Related guides from Lumiere
Math Camps for High School Students: Other intensive camps in number theory, algebra, and more.
Free Summer Math Programs for High School Students: Strong options if tuition is a concern.
PROMYS: Our Review: A closer look at one of SUMaC's closest alternatives.
What you might still be wondering about SUMaC
1. Do I need math competition experience to get in?
No. Prior competition experience isn't required for the abstract algebra and number theory course. What matters more is that you're comfortable reading and writing proofs, which the admission exam is designed to show.
2. Do I need to know group theory before applying to the algebraic topology course?
It helps, but it isn't required. Most students admitted to that course already know the material from the first course, either from a previous summer or their own study. If you're unsure, applying to the first course is a solid choice.
3. Can I do another summer program at the same time?
Not with the residential format, since it's a full-time commitment and you can't enroll in other programs at the same time. Online, you also need to keep class and live session times free of other commitments. To plan the rest of your summer, check out our list of summer math programs for high school students.
4. Will applying for financial aid hurt my chances of getting in?
No. Aid is based on demonstrated need, and applying for it has no effect on your admission decision. If you'd also like a research experience with need-based aid available, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you with a PhD mentor to write your own research paper, fully online.