Best Summer Programs in Washington, D.C. – 2026

February 1, 2026

washington dc summer programs georgetown american

Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, is absolutely bursting at the seams with landmarks, memorials, and museums. It’s also a pedestrian-friendly city (you’ll want to experience those spring cherry blossoms on foot!) with a robust public transportation system. As such, you can easily tour the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, or Smithsonian museums (to name a few), wander the National Mall, or explore the many public parks. Furthermore, Washington, D.C., houses our political leadership as well as many federal buildings, from the U.S. Capitol to the Pentagon. Most excitingly, you can stop watching the Elephant Cam from afar and take yourself to the National Zoo. So, without further ado, crack yourself some blue crab, grab the Old Bay, and put on your favorite patriotic tune because today we are exploring Washington, D.C., summer programs in all their glory.

Best Summer Programs in Washington, DC

1) Georgetown Summer Programs

Instructional Method: Online or in-person (residential or commuter)
Program Length: 5 weeks (in-person) / 8 weeks (online)
Cost: $2,371 (per credit) / $2,542 (residential housing)
Eligibility: Rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors (Note: Some programs require students to be at least 15 years old.)
Application Deadline: January 31 (early deadline) / April 15 (regular deadline)

For students interested in earning college credit at their Washington, D.C., summer programs, Georgetown’s Summer College is an incredible option. Students can choose from a five-week on-campus or eight-week online option, and can take up to two classes per session. Courses offered by Georgetown summer programs are intensive, and typically, over seventy different options are available. Current offerings include Cyborg: Human Machine Interface, American Gothic Fiction, and Biodiversity & Conservation, among many others.

Georgetown also offers multiple one-, two-, and three-week Academies. There, students delve into a specialized topic through collaborative activities, guest lectures, and field trips. As such, these are accelerated and intensive experiences. Over 20 options are available in topics like creative writing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nursing, medicine, marketing, entrepreneurship, and foreign policy.

Finally, students who enroll in the residential College Prep Program will live on Georgetown’s campus while taking a 3- or 4-credit course as well as a number of College Prep Seminars. These seminars cover test-taking strategies as well as the college search and application process. Moreover, courses are intensive—students can expect eight hours of class and 18 hours of studying per week.

To apply to any of these Georgetown summer programs, students must write a personal statement. Additionally, Summer College and College Prep students must provide transcripts and recommendations, and Academy students must complete a school reviewer form.

2) George Washington University Pre-College Programs

Instructional Method: Online or in-person (residential or commuter)
Program Length: 2-6 weeks
Cost: $4,950 / $4,350 (2-week in-person summer session); $2,330 per credit hour (online college intensive); Caminos al Futuro is fully funded & free of cost
Eligibility: Varies depending on program
Application Deadline: April/May

Known for its Washington, D.C., summer programs in international relations, politics, biomedical engineering, and museum studies, to name a few, George Washington offers a number of immersive programs that aim to connect classroom and experiential learning. Accordingly, their two-week residential Summer Immersion programs combine lectures and hands-on activities. Currently, students can choose from options that include The U.S. Intelligence Community: Global Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Introduction to Medicine, among others. Although students will have free time to explore the city, they’ll also participate in residential programming during evenings and weekends.

Additionally, George Washington offers College Intensives, which are six-week online courses that students take for credit. Finally, Caminos al Futuro is a selective, three-week residential program offered by the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute. Over the course of the program, participants will analyze how Hispanic/Latino communities are affected by social, political, and economic forces. Then, they develop their own projects that address such issues within the community.

In addition to transcripts that demonstrate strong academic performance, applicants to these Washington, D.C., summer programs will need to write a personal statement. They may also need to submit teacher recommendations.

3) Community of Scholars at American University

Instructional Method: Hybrid (two weeks on campus (residential or commuter) / one week online)
Program Length: 3 weeks
Cost: $4,736 (commuter) / $6,156 (residential)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Jan. 26 (priority consideration) / March 16 (regular consideration) / May 18 (final deadline)

Interested in international affairs? These American University summer programs include a demanding three-credit college course as well as exposure to Washington, D.C. Past options for the course included Worlds Apart, Worlds Together: Conflict, Culture, and Cooperation; 21st Century Challenges: Environmental Sustainability and Global Health; and Diplomacy and Dictators: US Foreign Policy in an Uncertain World. During their two weeks on campus, students will participate in classes and simulations and attend briefings at various Washington institutions. When students return home, they’ll complete a final paper or project under guidance from their professors.

On campus, students live in AU dorms and dine on campus. Additionally, weekend programming includes Smithsonian and monument visits, and students will have plenty of opportunities to explore Washington, D.C.

On their American University summer programs application, students will need to demonstrate their interest in international affairs. Also, they need to possess a solid academic background (3.0 GPA minimum) and secure a teacher recommendation.

4) School for Ethics and Global Leadership Summer Institute

Instructional Method: In-person (residential)
Program Length: 6 weeks
Cost: $18,990
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: February 15

Many Washington, D.C., summer programs are centered on leadership, and SEGL is no different. At SEGL’s Summer Institute, students complete an intensive Ethics and Leadership curriculum. Over the course of six weeks, they’ll develop and hone their critical thinking, leadership, and public speaking skills, among others.

Consequently, they’ll analyze various case studies and complete three capstone projects. Firstly, a collaborative policy document that proposes a solution to a pressing international challenge–past examples include Syrian human trafficking and rainforest deforestation. Secondly, an ethical Credo that reflects on how ethics and leadership will impact their lives moving forward. Finally, after identifying a problem in their local, national, or global communities, students engage in a social venture project. As part of this project, they’ll communicate with people who have been impacted by their issues of choice. Additionally, the goal is for students to continue working on their projects after they return home from the institute.

During the program, students live together in a residence across the street from the U.S. Capitol complex. They are served three meals a day and can explore the city in the evenings and on weekends. Moreover, students and faculty work together to develop extracurricular programming.

To apply to these Washington, D.C., summer programs, students must provide a solid slate of materials. These include writing samples, two teacher recommendations, a transcript, a parent statement, and a graded paper.

5) Pharm STEP 1

Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 2 weeks
Cost: N/A
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: March 27

Housed at the Howard University College of Pharmacy, Pharm STEP 1 is a two-week Washington, D.C., summer program for high school students. Over the course of the program, students will take classes in subjects like medical terminology and pharmacology calculations. They’ll also be taught by Howard’s award-winning faculty.

Pharm STEP 1 is not a residential program, so housing, meals, and transportation will not be provided to participants. To apply, students will need to demonstrate an interest in pharmacy as a profession as well as a high aptitude for math and science. Moreover, they’ll need a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and must submit a transcript, resume, and three letters of recommendation.

Final Thoughts – Washington, D.C., Summer Programs

If Washington, D.C., is your top choice this summer, you’re in luck. Whether you’d like to study global affairs at the American University summer programs, build your pharmacy knowledge at Pharm STEP 1, or delve into a Medical Academy offered by Georgetown summer programs, you’ll be able to find a place where you can thrive.

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).