Best NYC Summer Programs – 2026

February 15, 2026

New York City is the reigning capital of countless industries: finance, media, healthcare, publishing – the list goes on and on. As such, academic and professional opportunities abound at some of the country’s most prestigious colleges and companies. Beyond that, all five boroughs offer incredible diversity, food, music, and art. Some of the best museums in the world can be found here – Met, MoMA, or Guggenheim, anyone? In addition to numerous galleries, the theater scene is thriving, to put it lightly. Renowned for its architecture, New York’s beloved landmarks include the Woolworth Building, New York Public Library, and Brooklyn Bridge. It should go without saying that no matter what career path or major you’re interested in, NYC summer programs will prepare you for anything and everything.

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

1) Barnard College Pre-College Programs

Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter)
Program Length: 3 weeks
Cost: $8,160 (commuter) / $10,171 (residential)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: Rolling (application opens in December)

For high-achieving young women, Barnard has several New York City summer programs available. Firstly, students accepted into the NextGen Leadership Institute will develop their problem-solving skills, career readiness, and ability to collaborate. To do so, they’ll choose from one of four tracks: STEMinist, Writing and Literature, or Global Humanities. Within each track, there are two session options and several topics available. For example, Writing and Literature students can choose from Interpreting Literature, Writing for TV, or Screenwriting.

Additionally, the Health and Society Institute is where students explore the intersection of science, medicine, and health. Topics include healing rituals and the politics of surveillance, among others, and students also take a qualitative research course. Likewise, the Plate + Planet Lab introduces students to how agriculture, health, policy, and climate change overlap. During their exploration of these and other topics, students interact with farmers and local experts.

Finally, Athena Summer Innovation Institute students design a start-up, nonprofit, or advocacy campaign that will impact social change. All students will be individually mentored, and the program culminates with “Pitchfest,” where students present their ideas.

Applications are required for all programs. In addition to transcripts and recommendations, students must also write an essay and activities list.

2) Barnard Summer Research Program

Instructional Method: In-person (residential)
Program Length: 3 weeks
Cost: $12,500 (residential)
Eligibility: Ages 15-19
Application Deadline: March 30, 2026

The Barnard Summer Research Program is an interdisciplinary summer research program built for high school students who seek a meaningful, engaging, and rigorous pre-college academic experience. Designed to give students a head start on college-level research, the program is built around interdisciplinary studies. Students choose multiple subject areas spanning STEM, the arts, and the humanities, combining them into an innovative research topic that explores the intersections between these fields. The accompanying coursework features small, seminar-style classes taught by Barnard and Columbia professors, expert guest lecturers, and advising and support from a dedicated staff of teaching assistants.

Students admitted to the program will enjoy the same housing, dining, academic, and residential facilities available to undergraduate students — including libraries, multi-story fitness centers, campus medical resources, school clubs, and summer activities programs.

3) Columbia Summer Programs

Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter) or online
Program Length: 1, 2, 3, or 12 weeks
Cost: $2,882-$12,837
Eligibility: Rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, (students must be 16+ for residential options)
Application Deadline: Rolling, but students should apply as early as possible once applications open

Columbia’s signature offering, NYC Residential/Commuter Summer, is three weeks long, although students can do two sessions for up to six weeks total. There are over 70 options, which include everything from Drawing: Eye and Idea to Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry. Moreover, students participate in a wide range of programming options and can opt to live on Columbia’s campus or commute. Note that the online version is either two weeks or one week, and features about 40 course options.

In addition, there are several specialty Columbia summer programs. The Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) offers courses in robotics, computer science, and innovation, among others. It is very selective. Moreover, all courses are project-based and taught by Columbia Engineering faculty. Students can apply for housing.

NYC not your jam? Columbia also offers Climate School in the Green Mountains, which is held in Vermont. Here, students explore topics like consumerism, climate projection and modeling, and decarbonization pathways through seminars, field trips, and projects.

Each of these Columbia summer programs has its own application requirements, but know that all are selective and look for highly motivated and academically talented students.

4) Cooper Union Summer STEM Program

Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 3 or 6 weeks
Cost: $3,150 (3-week class) / $5,150 (6-week class)
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: March 22

At Cooper Union, students engage in rigorous college-level coursework that covers STEM/engineering topics typically tackled by college freshmen and sophomores. There are three and six-week options available. Courses change yearly, but past options have included Redesigning Plastics Recycling, Digital Electronics for the Inventor, Mycomaterials, and Racecar Research. Each has its own objectives but all are collaborative and include lectures, practice sessions, and field trips. Interested students can check out past portfolios from former Summer STEM students.

Students spend six hours in class-related activities per day, Monday through Thursday. Although all classes take place on Cooper Union’s campus, housing is not included. Finally, to apply to these NYC summer programs, students must submit recommendations, transcripts, and two essays.

5) NYU Summer Programs

Location: New York, NY
Residential?: Residential and commuter options available, depending on program
Program Length: 2-6 weeks
Cost: $700-$14,000+
Eligibility: Varies (most accept only rising juniors and seniors)
Application Deadline: Varies (some as early as July of the previous year)

No surprises here–high school students will find a stunning number of NYU summer programs in both in-person and online formats. Firstly, NYU Precollege students earn college credit while taking courses like Acting for the Camera, Environmental Systems Science, and Classical Mythology, among others. Moreover, students live in residence halls and enjoy on-campus and social programming.

For students interested in STEM, the Tandon School of Engineering offers myriad New York City summer programs. For example, Machine Learning, Computer Engineering for Good, and Design, Invent & Innovate are all two weeks long (with residential options). Those interested in a more intensive option may look toward I-SITE (Immersive Summer Interacting with Technology and Engineering). Over five weeks, students attend lectures, labs, and workshops while honing their engineering and public speaking skills. Then, during the final week, students work in teams to develop an engineering-based solution to a real-world problem.

We can’t wrap without acknowledging the highly competitive Tisch Summer High School Program, which is residential. Students attending this NYU summer program choose from eight disciplines that include dance, drama, and photography. Then, they engage in academic classes, professional training, and collaborative projects. For example, drama students apply to a specific studio, engage in 28 hours of conservatory training per week, and perform a final showcase at the end of the program.

6) Pratt Institute Pre-College Programs

Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter) or online
Program Length: 4 weeks
Cost: $8,192 (residential); $5,452 (commuter)
Eligibility: Ages 16-18
Application Deadline: February (priority/scholarship deadline) / April (regular deadline)

During these full-time NYC summer programs, students take two rigorous studio courses of their choice. There are close to 20 options, including architecture, creative writing, fashion design, and interior design, among a robust host of others. Students then build their creative skills through workshops, seminars, and studio time. Finally, they begin to develop a portfolio under the direction of faculty and admissions counselors, and will earn four credits at the culmination of the program.

Students can opt to live on campus or commute, and residential students must participate in weekend and evening activities. To apply, students must submit an essay, and Pratt looks for students who are passionate about their creative field. In addition, there are a smaller number of online options.

Final Thoughts – NYC Summer Programs

The Big Apple, the City That Never Sleeps, Gotham – whatever you call it, New York is one of the best places to develop academic and professional skills while engaging in a boundless array of culture and entertainment. Whether you’re interested in NYU summer programs, Cooper Union’s Summer STEM, or the Pratt Institute, the Empire State’s namesake city is waiting. 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).