At Carleton College, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of a liberal arts education to transform the lives of students and prepare them for a rapidly changing world. 

The Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI) is a summer learning community built for academically motivated high school students to explore a liberal arts education at one of the nation’s top colleges. You’ll get the unique opportunity to live like a college student on a residential campus, learn through hands-on and collaborative coursework, attend planned social activities and field trips, and, for some programs, earn college credits. Carleton’s summer programs are designed to give you exposure to innovative courses taught by the nation’s best professors who are invested in your success.

*Need-based scholarships available

Program Information

3-WEEK FOR-CREDIT COURSES

• Open to current high school sophomores and juniors
• Students earn 6 college credits upon completion
• A deep dive into college-level coursework with uniquely designed interdisciplinary courses, a rigorous academic structure, collaborative group work, research opportunities, and a final presentation
• Session dates: July 5–24
• Program cost: $5,300

3-Week For-Credit Courses include:

• Computer Science – Computer Vision, Web Development, Computer Organization
• Field Science in Action – Geology, Ecology, & Ornithology
• Humanities – History, Philosophy, Art and Art History, Mapmaking
• Thinking About Feelings: The Science of Emotion – Cultural Studies, Neuroscience, & More
• Movements that Matter: Activism from Theory to Action – Global Politics, Indigenous Studies & More
• Between Worlds: Home, Borders, and Belonging – Latin American Studies, Art, Photography, English

1-WEEK NON-CREDIT COURSES

• Open to current high school first years and sophomores
• An immersive academic experience without graded outcomes or college credits
• Designed for college-bound students craving exposure to new topics through quick application and an introduction to college-level coursework
• Session 1 dates: July 12–17
• Session 2 dates: July 19–24
• Program cost: $1,500

1-Week Programs include:

• Eat! – The Anthropology of Food
• Gender Matters – A Global Perspective
• Scoring the Screen – Exploring Music’s Role in Film
• Sports Analytics – How Data Informs Preparation and Play
• Stitching Resistance – Remembrance and Repair
• Music – Love & Theft

*Option to combine two 1-week courses to create a two-week experience

Carleton Pre-College is highly-selective

Attendance and enrollment in our Pre-College programs is dependent on application and admission. Students who want to participate in any of our programs must apply for admission; completed applications are submitted to the Admissions Committee for review. Incomplete and/or ineligible applications will not be reviewed.