2024 Best Summer Programs
An increasing number of selective colleges now scrutinize how applicants spend their summers during high school. In response to this trend, thousands of providers–including both universities and private companies–offer academically-themed summer programs for teens. These programs vary from free-to-extremely expensive, and highly-selective-to-open enrollment. With such a bevy of options, teens will likely need expert guidance in order to successfully locate an ideal-fit program that will fully support their future academic and career dreams.
To answer this need, our list of the Best Summer Programs is here to serve as your comprehensive guide. For your convenience, the list is sortable by discipline and location and contains relevant data and information about each recommended program.
- This program is fully remote.
- There are 9 two-week courses available.
- Participants earn one college credit for completing the course.
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Residential -
Online Option - Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
- The experience is fast-paced, rigorous, and highly collaborative.
- Topics vary each year.
- All students complete and present a capstone project.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Penn Carey Law Pre-College Academy
- Philadelphia, PA
- Get a glimpse of the first-year law experience.
- Intro to the American legal system as well as complex legal issues.
- Visits to law firms and courtrooms are part of the experience.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Age 15-18
Emory National Debate Institute Summer Programs
- Atlanta, GA
- Two options: The Fundamentals of Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue or the Policy Debate Institute.
- No prior debate experience required.
- Prepares students to join high school debate teams in the future.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1–2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April/May
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Boston Leadership Institute Summer Programs
- Various Locations, MA
- The chance to explore leadership through a variety of discipline-specific programs.
- Hands-on experience, guest lecturers, and field trips.
- A STEM entrepreneurship option meets online.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1–3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
ASU Summer Programs
- Phoenix, AZ
- Logic, Leadership, and Life Skills program is one of many curricular options.
- Residential, commuter, and online options available.
- Programs vary in admissions difficulty.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3–10 Days
- Application Deadline: March/April
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Summer Game Studio at Clark University
- Worcester, MA
- Students learn game art and animation, motion capture, testing, and production.
- Structured lectures and discussions as well as studio time.
- Collaborate with team to create an original game.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
- Taught by full-time faculty from the School of Cinematic Arts and the School of Design
- Students collaborate to create a computer game.
- Students must be from the Chicago area or secure their own housing.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: June
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
USC Cinematic Arts Summer Program
- Los Angeles, CA
- Residential, commuter, and online options available.
- 30 courses in filmmaking, screenwriting, computer graphics, animation, and gaming.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Age 16+
- Students can choose from Acting on Camera, Screenwriting, or Production.
- Core and elective courses are art of the program.
- Most accepted students hail from the top 30% of their high school class.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4–6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March/Rolling
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
- Palo Alto, CA
- Residential and online options.
- Abstract Algebra and Number Theory or Algebraic Topology tracks available.
- Strong grades, recommendations, and essays a must for admission.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks (residential); 3 Weeks (online)
- Application Deadline: February
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
MathILy at Bryn Mawr College
- Bryn Mawr, PA
- Students engage in high school and college-level discrete mathematics.
- Topics often include combinatorics, knot theory, and topological graph theories.
- Runs 7 hours per day, 6 days per week.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April
- Eligibility: Age 14-17
Washington Youth Summit on the Environment
- Fairfax, VA
- Hosted by George Mason University and the Smithsonian National Zoo.
- Visit endangered species and learn about conservation.
- Students earn one college credit.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: December
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES)
- Philadelphia, PA
- Offered through the University of Pennsylvania.
- Develop independent research project based on an environmental problem.
- Culminates with a research report and public presentation.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Februrary
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Georgia Tech Pre-College Design Program
- Atlanta, GA
- Complete an architectural project that can be used in future portfolios.
- Architecture, Industrial Design, and Building Construction pathways available.
- Transcript and essay required for admission.
Wonderworks Pre-College Summer Programs
- Houston, TX
- One option is the From the Ground Up architecture program.
- Combination of lectures, field trips, and daily building projects.
- Also offers history, art, philosophy, and film tracks.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: May
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Broadreach Summer Programs
- Caribbean; Bali; Fiji; Curaçao; Costa Rica; Amazon & Galapagos; Red Sea; Bahamas; Bonaire
- Learn and build skills in a hands-on environment.
- Groups of kept small – the average is around 12 students.
- Some programs offer college credits.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 12 Days
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
- Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Putney Student Travel
- 25+ countries, 6 continents
- Cultural immersion and independent creative projects.
- Give back to the local community you are staying in.
- Language-focused programs available.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Tisch Summer High School Drama Programs
- New York, NY
- Students complete 28 hours of conservatory training each week.
- Learn from professional actors, designers, and stage managers.
- Program culminates with a showcase.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: January
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Summer@Cornish
- Seattle, WA
- Held at Cornish College of the Arts.
- Options in Theater as well as art & design, film, or music.
- Culminates in a gallery exhibition or showcase.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Pratt Institute Pre-College Programs
- New York, NY
- Combination of workshops, seminars, and studio time.
- Options in creative writing, graphic design, and art history.
- Can live on campus or commute.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weks
- Application Deadline: May
- Eligibility: Age 16-18
Nasher Sculpture Center Summer Institute
- Dallas, TX
- Learn about careers in art.
- Only 30 students accepted each year.
- Create your own projects under the guidance of professional artists.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: May
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
- Students become a SolidWorks Associate (industry recognized).
- Taught by former Mines professors.
- 3-D design in a hands-on format.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton University
- Princeton, NJ
- Work with Princeton professors on research projects.
- Full-time research opportunities in engineering with no end date.
- Students author a two-page report at the conclusion of the experience.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length 5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March
- Eligbility: Age 16–18
Carnegie Mellon National High School Game Academy
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Learn 2D and 3D art, music composition, and team management.
- Blend of technology and creativity.
- Build actual games that can be used as college portfolio pieces.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Frontiers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Worcester, MA
- Students select a CS course as well as a humanities course.
- Covers areas like JavaScript, HTML, and networking.
- Also offers a number of fun social activities in the evenings.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Secondary Student Training Program
- Iowa City, IA
- 22 course options in-person and 7 online.
- Highly-competitive program–need recommendations.
- Students spend 7 hours per day in research groups.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: February
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Smith Science and Engineering Program (SSEP)
- Northampton, MA
- Students conduct experiments and field work.
- Only female students are eligible to apply.
- Six distinct course choices are available.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: May
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
National Student Leadership Conference: Medicine & Health Care
- Washington, D.C.; Evanston, IL; Berkeley, CA; Miami, FL; New Haven, CT
- Work in teams to develop an intervention to a public health issue.
- Practice surgical skills in hands-on labs.
- Tours of local medical facilities and museums.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 9 Days
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
- Work in teams to develop an intervention to a public health issue.
- Practice surgical skills in hands-on labs.
- Tours of local medical facilities and museums.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: February
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th; ages 15-18
Business Bootcamp at The University of Rochester
- Rochester, NY
- Learn more about what makes a “good” concept, corporate marketing, product development, and design thinking.
- Driven by the “Development of New Ideas” curriculum
- Students prototype, demo, and present their ideas while collaborating in small teams.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: February
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Learn at the University of Michigan’s top-ranked business school.
- Experience group workshops, field trips, and guest speakers.
- Meet with local companies and make presentations.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 weeks
- Application Deadline: January
- Eligibility: 12th
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