Best Summer Programs in Houston – 2026

March 6, 2026

Houston–the largest city in Texas and fourth-largest in the United States–is colloquially known as Space City. That’s for good reason, as it houses the Johnson Space Center, NASA’s hub for human spaceflight. (Hence, the Houston Astros.) In addition, Houston is renowned for its art scene. The Museum District is one of the largest in the country and offers 18 museums within walking distance of one another, which include The Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of African American Culture. Likewise, the Theater District is home to opera, symphony, ballet, and the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre. And unlike other Texas cities, Houston isn’t landlocked–the coast is only an hour’s drive east. If enrolling in one of the many excellent Houston summer programs is on your to-do list, keep scrolling for our top selections.

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 Houston

1) Rice University Summer Programs

Location: Houston, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (residential and commuter) and online
Program Length: 1 or 2 weeks
Cost: Varies
Eligibility: Varies (most welcome rising 9-12th graders)
Application Deadline: Varies (most are rolling)

Rice offers several Houston summer programs to high school students. Firstly, the Aerospace Academy was created for students interested in aerospace careers. In addition to attending faculty forums and learning from NASA astronauts, they also design and launch satellites and operate a flight simulator at the Lone Star Flight Museum. While most students are nominated by educators or academic partnerships, there is an application available.

Furthermore, Rice ELITE Tech Camps offer residential and commuter options. Over the course of this week-long program, students choose two courses to pursue. For example, current options include Learning C++ for Human Spaceflight Engineering and Deep Learning: Deploying AI to Maintain Smart Cities. Within their courses of choice, students engage in experiential learning activities and develop their leadership skills.

Additionally, Rice University summer programs include the Tapia STEM Camps, a 6-day, 5-night residential program that exposes students to multiple science, math, and engineering-related topics. The curriculum focuses on equity and communication, and students dedicate much of their time to research projects and presentations. Moreover, the camp was developed by Dr. Richard Tapia, recipient of the National Medal in Science.

2) Rice University Precollege Program

Location: n/a
Instructional Method: Online
Program Length: 1, 2, or 4 weeks
Cost: $1,795 per course
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and older
Application Deadline: Varies (typically rolling)

On the hunt for a program that you can dive into at any time during the year and complete at your own pace? Rice University’s Precollege Program, available to students aged 13 and up, is an excellent option. Given that Rice’s mission is to improve the world through unconventional thinking and doing, their ten current courses aim to capture that ethos with options in subject areas like medicine, STEM, business, law, government, psychology, and even aerospace.

During your course, you’ll learn through a series of dynamic videos recorded by Rice professors, and engage in a variety of different activities along the way. Get ready for approximately 20-30 total hours of instruction, simulations, and assignments. Additionally, you’ll receive support from a mentor, who will provide direction and motivation along the way. All courses conclude with a capstone project, which allows you to demonstrate everything you’ve learned throughout the course.

Even in an online format, the curriculum has been curated to be engaging and hands-on. In Engineering: Solving Real-World Problems, students not only explore the factors not only learn the essentials of mechanical, biomedical, and aerospace engineering, but also learn how these concepts can be applied to real-world problems like climate change and the quest for clean energy. In Genome Engineering: Changing the Future of Medicine, students tackle genome editing, study clinical trials, and explore ethical considerations before creating a project that involves identifying a gene-editing strategy for a blood disorder.

There is no limit to how many courses you can take at one time, a feature that allows you to explore your interests in great depth. Interested in applying? It’s a simple process—you’ll only need to provide basic personal information as well as a personal statement that discusses why you’re interested in your course of choice.

3) Houston Methodist High School Emerging Researcher Experience

Location: Houston, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 8 weeks
Cost: Free (stipends are available)
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors aged 16+
Application Deadline: January 30 (application opens in December)

During this eight-week, full-time program, students will receive translational research lab training as well as professional mentorship. Moreover, after being assigned their own study or focus area, students will be guided by Houston Methodist faculty members. Also, career and professional development curriculum provides information about college selection and scholarship applications.

Outside of the internship itself, students have access to a variety of events, such as receptions and guest speaker presentations. Here, they’ll network with peers and professionals. Finally, at the end of the summer, students present their research to Houston Methodist scientists at a poster symposium.

If you’re interested in applying, note that you’ll need to hold at least a 3.5 GPA, and a range of materials are required. You’ll need to submit two essays, two letters of recommendation, a transcript, and a resume.

4) Space Center University at Space Center Houston

Location: Houston, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 3 or 5 days
Cost: $439-$780 plus accommodations
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served

Popularized by Apollo 13, “Houston…we have a problem” is one of the most famous NASA-related quotes in history. Ever wonder what it’s like to go behind the scenes? You can at Space Center Houston’s five-day Martian program. In addition to project-based learning that includes rocket launches, underwater astronaut training, and cryogenics testing, students listen to guest speakers and tour the Johnson Space Center. They’ll also be challenged to think outside the box in simulated scenarios. For example, these might include coding a rover or envisioning what space life might be like.

During these Houston summer programs, students will receive daily lunch at the Space Center. In addition, they’ll participate in a graduation ceremony where the top teams of the week receive medals.

5) University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center CATALYST Summer Training Programs

Location: Houston, TX
Residential?: No
Program Length: 10 weeks
Cost: Free (stipends are provided)
Eligibility: High school students aged 18 or older
Application Deadline: January 14

At the MD Anderson Cancer Center, several highly selective Houston summer programs are open to high school students. Firstly, the DACCPM (Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine) Summer Research Program gives students the opportunity to develop laboratory and clinical research skills, conduct medical literature reviews, and practice various safety techniques. Accordingly, all students work with a faculty mentor; past projects have included airway management and perioperative immune function. At the end of the program, students present their learnings at a poster symposium. To apply, students need to provide transcripts, a resume, recommendations, and a personal statement.

Alternatively, the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences is only open to current Texas high school seniors interested in an Allied health career. Over the course of ten weeks, students work full-time on a mentored research project. Moreover, students attend seminars and participate in a concluding presentation. Only ten students will be selected. As such, the review committee looks for evidence of high academic achievement, scientific interest & aptitude, and leadership ability.

6) Wonderworks Pre-College Summer Programs

Location: Houston, TX
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 5 weeks
Cost: $750-1,000
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors
Application Deadline: June (rolling)

Held on the campuses of either Rice University or the University of Houston, Wonderworks’ Houston summer programs enable students to explore a variety of subjects. For example, students interested in architecture might check out From the Ground Up. This program combines lectures and field trips with daily building projects. Business or politics more your thing? Check out Money Talks, an exploration behavior economics, or Rules of the Game, a deep-dive into democracy via history, law, and philosophy, could be excellent options.

There are choices for our fine arts-focused friends, too. Moving Pictures provides an introduction to production, editing, screenwriting, and cinema criticism. In addition to working in small groups to create short features, students enjoy daily movie screenings & discussions. Story Lines teaches students how to read fiction and watch movies like a writer. Accordingly, close attention is paid to storytelling techniques. Finally, In the Know, a journalism and nonfiction-focused class, includes documentary and film viewings as well as collaborative journalism projects.

Admission is competitive. Consequently, students must submit standardized test scores, transcripts and provide contact information for a reference.

Final Thoughts – Houston Summer Programs

Aerospace engineering at the Rice University summer programs, filmmaking at the University of Houston, biomedical research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center…no matter your goals, there are a number of outstanding Houston summer programs waiting to be explored.

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).