15 Summer Math Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 29 minutes ago
- 10 min read
If you are interested in math and want to use your summer in a way that actually helps you explore the subject beyond school, summer math programs are a smart choice. These programs take learning past formulas and routine problem sets. You get exposure to proof based thinking, abstract reasoning, mathematical modeling, and complex problem solving, helping you understand what studying math at a higher level really involves.
What do math summer programs look like? What will I do as a participant?
Many summer math programs are designed specifically for high school students and are offered by universities, research institutes, and math focused organizations. They bring together students who enjoy challenging ideas and instructors who emphasize deep understanding over speed.
How will these summer programs help me with my college applications?
These programs add good value to college applications and resumes. They show intellectual curiosity, persistence, and readiness for rigorous academic work. Just as important, they help you decide whether advanced math is something you want to pursue in college or related fields like science, engineering, or research.
If you’re interested in more math programs hosted virtually, you could check out our blog here for a complete list.
To help you explore the best options, here are 15 summer math programs for high school students!
15 Summer Math Programs for High School Students
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,950 cost including housing and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; Serves 40 students
Dates: June 21 - July 17 (residential, 4 weeks); June 15-July 3 or July 6-July 24 (online, 3 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 -11 under the age of 18 at the time of application submission are eligible to apply for the residential program
Stanford University’s SUMaC is a residential program known for its intensity and focus on higher level mathematics. You spend your days in lectures, problem solving sessions, and discussions that push you toward proof based reasoning, abstraction, and creative thinking rather than routine calculation. You work through demanding problem sets with support from experienced instructors and small group tutorials where collaboration matters. The program often asks you to explain ideas clearly through presentations or written work, helping you learn how mathematicians actually think and communicate.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 80 students, 2.5 % acceptance rate
Dates: June 22-Aug 2
Application Deadline: Typically in December
Eligibility: Current high-school juniors with one year left before graduation who are at least 16 by July 1; seniors are not eligible.
RSI is a research-focused summer program where students begin with advanced coursework before transitioning into original research projects under close mentorship. As a participant you develop skills in mathematical modeling, formal research methods, and academic writing. This program provides you independent inquiry while providing structured guidance from faculty and researchers. You get to present your findings through formal papers and presentations at the conclusion of the program. RSI is fully funded and widely regarded as one of the most selective research-based summer math programs for high school students.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: 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! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $250 - $1000; family income based aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not available
Dates: June 30 - July 25
Application Deadline: April 11th
Eligibility: High school students in grades 7 - 12
University of Chicago’s Young Scholars Program places you in small, seminar style courses that mirror the intensity of undergraduate academics. You spend your time reading closely, solving complex problems, and participating in discussion driven classes that expect preparation and independent thinking. The focus is on sharpening analytical reasoning and learning how to communicate ideas clearly. You complete short projects or presentations and receive detailed feedback from instructors.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Three sessions from June 21 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 11
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 20, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31.
Harvard University’s Pre-College Summer School lets you take college-level math courses in a two-week on-campus program designed for motivated high school students. Courses aim to build conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning rather than rote mastery, with daily class time and meaningful assignments that push you to think deeply about ideas rather than memorize formulas. You live at Harvard, learn in small classes taught by Harvard-affiliated instructors, and engage in lectures, problem solving, and discussion with peers from around the world.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None; Travel scholarships also available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: July 1- July 15
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: US citizens or attending high school (before the last year of high school); ages of 14-18; comfortable with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, exponents, logarithms, and precalculus.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s MathRoots is a summer enrichment program where you build confidence in proof based mathematics through careful, guided problem solving. You spend your time working through challenging ideas with instructors and peers, focusing less on speed and more on understanding why things work. The program focuses on abstract reasoning, persistence, and learning how to explain your thinking clearly. Mentorship and community matter here. You are supported closely and encouraged to grow at your own pace
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: competitive
Dates: June 20 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 1 (Early) / March 1 (Final)
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the 11th grade in high school, and at least 16 years old by the program start date.
SAMS combines math-focused coursework with workshops and project-based learning in a residential university setting. As a participant you will work on collaborative projects, attend academic lectures, and engage in structured mentoring with faculty and graduate students. The program also integrates professional development and college-readiness sessions. Participants build strong foundations in problem solving and applied mathematical thinking. SAMS is known for its fully funded model and emphasis on mentorship and community.
Location: Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH
Cost: $7000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15% acceptance rate and cohort of 60 students
Dates: June 15 - July 25
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: High-school students who have not yet begun college, typically rising seniors, with strong mathematical interest and preparation
Ross Mathematics Program is a six-week residential summer experience that immerses motivated high school students in deep mathematical thinking and exploration. The curriculum focuses on number theory and asks you to engage with challenging problem sets that build from simple questions into rich, abstract ideas, so you learn how to conjecture, prove, and communicate mathematics clearly. You spend part of each day in structured lectures and small group discussions, and the rest of your time wrestling with problems and collaborating with peers who share your curiosity about math. The community aspect is central: counselors and fellow participants work together, debate ideas, and help shape a supportive environment for learning and inquiry.
Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Cost: $6511; includes housing and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 51 students
Dates: June 29 – August 9
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: High School students
Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM) is a six-week residential math program for highly motivated high school students who want a deep dive into college-level mathematics. It’s not a typical “math camp.” You live on campus at Hampshire College in Massachusetts and spend most of your day actively doing math. Your days typically include morning classes, evening problem-solving sessions, and a “Prime Time Theorem” talk before dinner, with afternoons free for reading, informal study, rest, or recreation. There’s also a culture of collaboration: faculty are accessible in classrooms and at meals, and you form a tight community with peers who are just as passionate about mathematics as you are.
Location: Mathcamp, Burlington, VT
Cost: $0 - $7,500; depends on family income
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 120 students
Dates: June 28 - August 2
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 are eligible
Canada/USA Mathcamp is a five-week residential summer program designed for mathematically talented high school students who want to explore advanced and unusual mathematical ideas beyond the standard curriculum. You join a diverse cohort of students from around the world and spend the summer immersed in deep mathematical exploration that ranges from undergraduate-level topics to creative problem solving. Mathcamp lets you tailor your experience by choosing from a wide variety of courses, workshops, and problem-solving sessions that fit your interests and pace. You engage in lectures, collaborative discussions, hands-on projects, and daily colloquia where visiting mathematicians introduce new areas of research and thought.
12. MathILy-Er
Location: Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Cost: $5300; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: selective; cohort of 30 students
Dates: June 22 - July 26
Application Deadline: April 29
Eligibility: Mathematically talented high-school students
MathILy-Er is a five-week residential summer program for mathematically curious high school students who want to explore and create mathematics beyond the typical classroom. You work closely with instructors who provide a framework for discovery, and you’re encouraged to make and prove your own conjectures rather than follow rote lessons. The program is designed to be intense and collaborative, filled with deep problem solving and advanced mathematical ideas that push your thinking.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: not available
Dates: July 14 - July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students entering 9th grade or above in Fall; must have completed precalculus (logarithms and trigonometry)
Stony Brook University’s Stony Brook Mathematics Summer Program is a short, intensive week of advanced math designed for high school students who want to go beyond standard coursework. You’ll explore topics like number theory, topology, cryptography, dynamical systems, and mathematical logic, areas you usually don’t see until college. You spend your days attending lectures from faculty and working on problems either on your own or with peers, gaining a feel for the kind of thinking expected of math majors and graduate students. One-on-one interaction with professors is a core part of the experience, helping you understand both the material and how mathematicians tackle challenging questions.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,275 - $1,575 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies according to course
Dates: Session 1: June 8-26; Session 2: June 29-July 17; Session 3: July 20-August 7
Application Deadline: Early: Jan 14; Regular Round 2: March 14; Late Round 1: April 11 (test-based)
Eligibility: High school students ages 12-18
AwesomeMath’s Summer Program is an online-only, three-week intensive math experience designed for bright middle and high school students from around the world who want to strengthen their problem-solving skills and deepen their mathematical knowledge. It’s especially popular with students preparing for math competitions like AMC, AIME, or USAMO, though it also helps build broader reasoning abilities. You choose one or more live, instructor-led courses that meet Monday through Friday, with each day featuring a lecture and a problem-solving session. Homework is assigned daily, and there are regular assessment tests and twice-weekly office hours to support your learning. Every session includes social activities so you can connect with peers who share your passion for math.
Location: NYU Courant Institute, New York, NY (in-person); online as well
Cost: In-person: $1095; Remote: $975; Zoom: $795; Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not available
Dates: July 22–August 8
Application Deadline: March 1 (Early), April 5 (Regular)
Eligibility: Open to high school students; all applicants must take a qualifying exam and have a background in Algebra I or higher depending on level applied for.
New York Math Circle runs a High School Summer Program that gives you a three-week deep dive into mathematical thinking through problem solving, proof work, and collaborative discussion. You can attend in person at the New York University Courant Institute or join via Zoom or remote options, with classes that meet weekday mornings and afternoons. Instructors and teaching assistants create an open, collaborative atmosphere where you work hard but also explore math creatively. Fridays are often reserved for games, team building, and non-traditional activities, making space for both challenge and mathematical fun.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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