Best Summer Programs in Dallas – 2026

March 10, 2026

Tucked in the northeast corner of Texas and boasting a 118-acre urban arts district–the largest in the country–is Dallas. It’s packed with cultural gems like the Winspear Opera House, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Sixth Floor Museum. Additionally, the city is well-known for its architecture, including the iconic Meyerson Symphony Center and the Perot Museum—designed by Thom Mayne, a recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Celebrated for its arboretum, botanical gardens, and planned Trinity River redevelopment, Dallas also maintains an amazing number of natural spaces. And if you’re interested in business, look no further–Texas has the second most Fortune 500 companies in the nation, with Dallas ranking as one of the top five cities in the U.S. Whether you’re a local or the Lone Star state is calling your name, be sure to check out our list of the top Dallas summer programs for high schoolers.

Want a full look at our searchable database of the best 2026 summer programs? Click below to sort summer programs by discipline and location, and view important data points such as tuition costs, deadlines, course listings, and more!

2026 Best Summer Programs

Best Summer Programs in Dallas

1) Texas Christian University Summer Programs

Location: Fort Worth, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter)
Program Length: 1, 2 weeks
Cost: $650-$1,950
Eligibility: Varies
Application Deadline: March/April

TCU offers a number of residential or commuter summer programs for high school students. These include the Schieffer Summer Journalism Camp, the Neeley Analytics Academy, and the Pat Doney Sportscaster Camp. Some highlights:

At the Schieffer Summer Journalism Camp, students work in TCU’s digital newsroom and broadcast news studio to produce stories. While learning to generate ideas and create news packages, they work with TCU journalism faculty and local professionals.

Sportscaster Camp is taught by an Emmy Award-winning sports anchor & reporter, and introduces students to the skills required for sports broadcasting. These include on-camera presence, reading from a teleprompter, interviewing, and photography. Accordingly, students will take part in daily “on-air” broadcasts and have the opportunity to meet and learn from sportscasting professionals associated with teams like the Mavericks and Cowboys.

Finally, Neeley Analytics Academy students will dive deep into what it takes to become a data analytics expert. They’ll also become savvier at market research. In addition to earning college credit, students explore how to collect, examine, and present data as well as how to utilize modeling techniques and machine learning. Neeley is looking for students with strong math and leadership skills. As such, students must provide transcripts, recommendations, and a personal statement.

2) Nasher Sculpture Center Summer Institute for Teens

Location: Dallas, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 1 week
Cost: Free (includes supplies, meals, and a transportation stipend)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and college freshmen
Application Deadline: April (priority deadline)

Given that Dallas has one of the country’s top arts districts, it’s perfect for aspiring artists and museum professionals. Accordingly, The Nasher Sculpture Center’s Summer Institute provides an opportunity to learn more about the art world alongside other creatives. Over the course of the program, students engage with the Nasher Center’s extensive collection and learn about art careers.

As admission is limited (and the program is free), this Dallas summer program is competitive. Interested students must demonstrate their passion for a potential career in art history, studio art, or art education. Furthermore, they’ll need to provide evidence of how they’ve pursued their creative interests outside of the classroom.

3) University of Dallas Summer Programs

Location: Irving, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (residential and commuter)
Program Length: 1 or 2 weeks
Cost: $450-$945
Eligibility: Varies (some only accommodate rising juniors and seniors)
Application Deadline: March 1 (Arete) / May 15 (Summer Academy)

Interested in exploring different types of artistic mediums? The University of Dallas Summer Art Academy might be the perfect option for you. Here, you’ll have the chance to explore ceramics, printmaking, and drawing within a 2D or 3D project of your choice. Most of your day will be spent in the studio, and the program culminates with an art show.

Likewise, the Summer Music Academy is open to string, piano, and vocal students who would like to develop their musical prowess. As such, they’ll spend their days in masterclasses, ensembles, private lessons, and theory instruction. At the end of the program, they’ll put on a celebratory concert.

Finally, Arete is a unique introduction to the classics. During this two-week residential program, students—alongside full-time UD faculty members—explore how one lives a noble life. To do so, they’ll discuss works like Oedipus Rex, Republic, and Henry V. Moreover, they’ll be expected to produce a paper by the end of the course. The college-credit-bearing program combines work and culture–expect weekend field trips to the Modern Art Museum, the Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, and a Shakespeare Dallas performance.

4) University of Texas at Dallas Summer Programs

Location: Richardson, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter) or online
Program Length: 2, 4, 6 weeks
Cost: $150-$2,000
Eligibility: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies (most are rolling or first-come, first-served)

At the University of Texas Dallas, students interested in programming and computer science have myriad options. For starters, four-week-long beginner and advanced programs are available. These include such options as Problem Solving in Python, Problem Solving in Java and Advanced Java, among others. Furthermore, there are both onlin and in-person options available. However, some do require prerequisites. For example, Object Oriented Programming in Java requires students to have intermediate Java skills.

In addition, if you’re an advanced student looking to immerse yourself in research, you’re in luck. In-person experiences include the Foundations of Computational Biology Workshop, a four-week camp in the laboratories of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Alternatively, Research Workshops, which can be undertaken in-person or virtually, are similar to a college course and culminate in a final project or paper. Foundations of Computational Biology, Deep Dive AI, and Android App Design were several past topics; there are typically 15+ to choose from.

5) University of North Texas Summer Programs

Location: Denton, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 1 or 2 weeks
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: Varies
Application Deadline: April (varies)

UNT offers quite an array of week-long Dallas summer programs for high school students. Intrigued by information and data science? The NextGen DATA Leadership Camp will familiarize you with data analytics and technological advancement. Furthermore, students attending the College of Engineering’s Future Mechanical Engineers Camp explore solar and wind energy, 3D printing, aluminum sandcasting, and injection molding, among other activities.

Humanities and fine arts more your speed? The musically inclined might pursue the International Summer Music Institute (auditions required), which offers private lessons, masterclasses, and performance experience to string and piano students. Those interested in visual arts and design should consider the three-week Creative U Summer Arts Program. Finally, the Mayborn School of Journalism Multimedia High School Workshop introduces students to multimedia storytelling. It also includes the opportunity to attend the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, where students meet well-known authors.

Final Thoughts

Data analytics, computer science, art, journalism…they’re all waiting for you at one of the many fantastic Dallas summer programs. Whether you’re looking to explore a new subject or hone advanced skills, you’re sure to find your match in Texas.

Looking for more summer program resources? Be sure to check out the following:

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Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).