15 University Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 7 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high schooler looking for an affordable way to explore university life in the summer, consider a summer camp!
What are summer camps hosted by universities like?
Summer camps hosted by universities offer a practical way to explore academic interests without committing to long-term or expensive programs. Many university summer camps for high school students provide exposure to college-level academics, hands-on learning, and mentorship within a short timeframe. These experiences often include lab work, group projects, or simulations, helping students build practical skills while understanding how subjects are applied in real-world contexts.
How are summer camps different from summer programs?
While programs tend to be more structured and academically intensive, camps emphasize applied learning, collaboration, and interactive experiences. This distinction makes university summer camps for high school students a more flexible and accessible way to explore potential career interests. Below is a curated list of 15 university summer camps for high school students based on factors such as academic rigor, networking opportunities, institutional reputation, and affordability.
Why should I do a university summer camp in high school?
Participating in university summer camps for high school students helps you develop skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. These camps also introduce you to college-level expectations, helping ease the transition to higher education. Many camps provide access to faculty, mentors, and peers with similar academic interests, creating effective networking opportunities. The hands-on nature of these programs enables you to build tangible skills and, in some cases, complete projects that can be referenced in applications or portfolios. From an admissions perspective, attending selective university summer camps for high school students can demonstrate initiative, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to a subject area.
15 University Summer Camps for High School Students
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, building robotic arms in engineering, and moot courts in law. You can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 70-80 students
Dates: July 23–25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors
In this university summer camp for high school students, an introduction to pharmacy unfolds through a series of hands-on activities that mirror clinical and research settings. You take part in exercises such as medication compounding, patient care simulations, and drug development tasks to understand how pharmacists operate across different environments. Faculty and current students guide each session, explaining how technical knowledge is applied in practice. Lab tours and facility visits provide additional context on academic training and research infrastructure. Demonstrations highlight how medications are prepared, tested, and delivered in real systems, and scheduled discussions help you explore career pathways and emerging developments in the field.
Location: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
Cost: Accepted students will receive details of the camp fees
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | ~60 participants
Dates: June 29–July 1
Application Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: Junior and senior high school students with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Multiple health disciplines are introduced side by side in this camp, allowing you to compare how fields like nursing, kinesiology, and public health intersect. Workshops led by faculty focus on applied learning, using simulations and case-based activities to reflect real healthcare scenarios. You examine how professionals collaborate across specialties to address patient needs and system-level challenges. Sessions are designed to highlight both clinical roles and community-focused work within health sciences. Living on campus adds context to how academic programs are experienced beyond the classroom. A visit to specialized training facilities provides insight into how students prepare for professional practice.
Location: University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Whitewater, WI
Cost: Resident: $575 | Commuter: $425 | Financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14–18
Application Deadline: 10 days before the event session begins
Eligibility: High school-aged students and incoming college freshmen ages 14–19
Team-based projects form the core of this university summer camp for high school students, with business concepts introduced through the process of building and refining an idea. You work through stages such as planning, branding, and pitching while applying concepts from marketing, finance, and leadership. Workshops focus on communication, decision-making, and professional development, supporting how you present and defend ideas. Faculty and student mentors provide feedback as you navigate group dynamics and problem-solving tasks. Activities are designed to reflect real business scenarios, requiring you to adapt strategies and think critically. The experience concludes with a formal case competition.
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9–13
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The PNW GenCyber Summer Camp explores cybersecurity through guided labs that simulate how systems are tested, attacked, and defended. You work through topics such as cryptography, network security, and digital forensics using structured challenges and hands-on tools. Activities like ethical hacking simulations and device-based exercises demonstrate how vulnerabilities are identified in practice. The curriculum follows core security principles, helping you connect individual tasks to broader system protection strategies. Team-based problem solving is central, requiring you to analyze and respond collaboratively. Instructors provide context on how these skills apply across different industries.
Location: Ohio State University at Marion, Marion, OH
Cost: $185
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 22–26
Application Deadline: May 31 or the earliest date all available spaces are filled
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th-grade students in any U.S. school
Instead of separating subjects, this university summer camp for high school students blends biology, chemistry, and environmental science into a single, applied learning experience. You shift between lab experiments, fieldwork, and technology-driven analysis to understand how scientific ideas operate in real contexts. Camp activities may include studying ecosystems, testing materials, or using tools to measure environmental data. Guided sessions also introduce how emerging technologies support scientific research and interpretation. Faculty guide you through designing experiments and interpreting results. The experience ends with a collaborative project that brings these elements together.
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Not specified | Contact Math Center for Educational Programs at mathcep@umn.edu
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22–26
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students (preferably in Minnesota) who have completed a one-year course in single variable calculus
Real-world systems take center stage at this camp, as you use mathematics to analyze problems like disease spread, infrastructure planning, or environmental change. Working in small teams, you build models, test assumptions, and refine approaches based on outcomes. The focus stays on how mathematical decisions shape conclusions, not just on arriving at answers. Mentors guide discussions that push you to justify your reasoning and evaluate different modeling strategies. Collaboration plays a key role, requiring you to explain and adapt ideas within a group setting. This university summer camp for high school students also connects modeling to its use in policy and planning contexts, concluding with a presentation of your model and findings.
Location: Florida Atlantic University Campus, Boca Raton, FL
Cost: $950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students per session
Dates: Session 1: June 14–19 | Session 2: July 12–17
Application deadline: Applications typically close in the Spring
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12 in the coming fall
What does a criminal case look like from investigation to resolution? This question anchors the program as you explore law enforcement through demonstrations, site visits, and applied exercises. You observe how specialized units operate and take part in activities such as evidence collection and forensic analysis. Facility tours expose you to real investigative environments, including medical examiner offices and police departments. The camp also addresses how cases are built, analyzed, and interpreted within the justice system. Discussions extend into broader legal and ethical considerations tied to real-world scenarios.
Location: University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Tampa, FL
Cost: $695
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: July 6–10
Application Deadline: Applications open February 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10th-12th
At JGHC: Mock Trial Intensive, a single case file drives the entire experience, giving structure to how you learn courtroom procedure and legal reasoning. You get to analyze evidence, develop arguments, and practice direct and cross-examinations while refining your strategy throughout the program. The instruction focuses on how legal arguments are constructed and communicated effectively. Feedback from coaches and peers helps you adjust both content and delivery. Workshops emphasize skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and persuasive communication. Exposure to legal professionals provides additional context on career pathways and expectations. The camp culminates in a full mock trial where you apply what you’ve developed.
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Cost: Resident campers: $500 | Non-resident campers: $350 | Optional non-resident camper meal card: $125
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12–15
Application Deadline: June 28
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11
Kansas State University’s Leadership & Auxiliary Camp approaches leadership development through performance, with sessions designed for students involved in marching arts and team coordination. You rotate through ensemble rehearsals, sectional training, and leadership workshops that focus on communication and group management. Camp activities emphasize how to guide a team while maintaining performance standards. Guidance from faculty and guest clinicians provides feedback on both technical and leadership skills. Practical exercises place you in roles where you must make decisions and coordinate with others in real time. This university summer camp for high school students concludes with a performance that reflects both musical and leadership growth.
Location: Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 (the cost typically includes uniforms, room and meals, and all activities) + $300 non-refundable deposit | $1,000 FLC award on completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year
Dates: June 27–July 5 | July 11–19 | July 25–August 2
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors | High school graduates can apply if they have been accepted at and committed to attending Norwich University
Set in a military-style environment, this program builds leadership through physically and mentally demanding activities. You move through exercises such as navigation, climbing, and team-based problem solving that require quick decision-making and coordination. Daily schedules pair these challenges with guided discussions on leadership principles. The emphasis stays on how you apply those ideas in real situations rather than just understanding them conceptually. Feedback from mentors focuses on communication, accountability, and adaptability within a group. The program also highlights how leadership develops through repeated practice. It concludes with team challenges that bring together the skills developed over the session.
Location: Virtual or residential at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $3,750 (online) | $8,950 (residential) | Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Residential: 40 students | Online: 64 students
Dates: Online Session One: June 15–July 3 | Online Session Two: July 6–24 | Residential: June 21–July 17
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 who are at least 15 years old | Participants who will be 18 years or older are not eligible for SUMaC residential but are eligible for SUMaC online
The Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is an intensive academic program focused on advanced mathematical reasoning and proof-based learning. You engage with topics beyond standard curricula through lectures, guided problem-solving sessions, and independent exploration. The program emphasizes logical structure, abstraction, and rigorous argumentation rather than computational methods. Participants collaborate with peers and receive guidance from instructors and teaching assistants. The experience culminates in a research-style presentation or a final project that demonstrates conceptual understanding.
Location: College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Rockford, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1-week research camp
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High-school students who are 16 years old by May 1
A research-focused curriculum guides how you explore biomedical science throughout this university summer camp for high school students. You use laboratory tools while learning how to design, conduct, and evaluate experiments. Activities are built around forming questions, testing ideas, and interpreting results within controlled settings. Demonstrations introduce technologies used in diagnostics, bioengineering, and medical research. Faculty sessions also examine current healthcare challenges and how scientific research addresses them. The program puts focus on how lab-based findings translate into real-world applications, helping you gain a clearer understanding of how biomedical research operates.
Location: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Camp 1: June 1–5 | Camp 2: June 8–12
Application deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Open to high school students in the Tuscaloosa area
Through a mix of instruction and applied challenges, this program introduces how digital systems are secured and tested. You explore topics such as network defense, system vulnerabilities, and web infrastructure using guided exercises. Participants can engage with either foundational material or more advanced problem-solving, depending on their track. Activities are aligned with established cybersecurity frameworks, helping you connect tasks to real security practices. Faculty-led sessions link technical concepts to current research and industry use cases, and collaborative work requires you to analyze threats and respond methodically.
Location: University of Cincinnati Clifton campus, Cincinnati, OH
Cost: Varies | Some are free, while others cost $125–$275 for day camps | Limited scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple 1-week sessions in June and July
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen through seniors (varies by specific camp)
Project-based learning drives this set of engineering camps, with each activity built around the design process. You work through stages such as ideation, prototyping, testing, and refinement while addressing a range of challenges. The instruction is supported by faculty, graduate students, and industry professionals who provide technical and practical context. Some tracks include direct interaction with engineers, offering insight into how concepts are applied in real settings. Small-group work encourages iterative problem solving and collaboration. Sessions also introduce pathways within different engineering disciplines. The experience concludes with a showcase where you present your completed project.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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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