153 Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students

Summer programs provide high school students with opportunities to explore their academic interests and spark new passions. They also allow high school students to get a taste of college life and meet other students from all over the world.

In this article, I'll provide a list of over 150 colleges throughout the United States that host summer programs for high school students. Furthermore, I'll give you information about what pre-college summer programs are like and how you can select the right program for you.

What Is a Pre-College Summer Program?

A pre-college summer program offers high school students the opportunity to take classes at a college and experience college life during the summer. Most programs range from one to seven weeks long.

You can take programs that focus on a number of diverse subjects, such as writing, leadership, entrepreneurship, and engineering. Many summer programs offer both residential and commuter options. Students can stay in dorms with their peers or commute from home if they live close to campus.

In addition, not only are students able to take classes from college professors or visiting scholars, but they're also able to listen to lectures from alumni and participate in social activities. Many selective private colleges, including Stanford, Harvard, and Columbia, offer pre-college summer programs for high school students.

Some pre-college summer programs are open enrollment (anyone can attend), while others require admission through an application process. The selective programs typically require teacher recommendations, application essays, and standardized test scores. Check a specific program's website for its admission requirements.

While these programs can be fun and educational, most of them are expensive. There are some free programs and many programs that offer financial aid for qualified students, but summer programs often cost thousands of dollars.

If you want to go to one of the more expensive programs, you might want to grow a money tree.

How Did I Create This List of College Summer Programs for High School Students?

To make the following list of summer programs for high school students, I relied on information from US News and College Consensus, both of which help locate various summer programs. I also looked up the programs in each region of the country and listed the colleges that host programs.

In addition to the listed programs, there are summer programs for high school students that are not housed at colleges.

Because programs are always evolving, note that there might be programs at colleges that aren't listed below. That said, you can always look at a specific college's website to see whether it offers summer programs for high school students.

List of Summer Programs

Below is an extensive list of summer programs at 152 US colleges, organized alphabetically by state.

Alabama

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Should You Attend a College Summer Program?

Really, it's up to you whether or not you decide to attend a summer program. You can check out our post on whether you should do a pre-college summer program for a detailed explanation of the pros and cons.

On the plus side, summer programs can provide you with a good opportunity to explore your academic interests or take a class in a subject that's not offered at your high school. Also, you can make friends, experience a taste of college life, and get a better idea of whether or not you want to attend a specific school.

On the negative side, most college summer programs for high school students are expensive, and they might not provide much help with getting into college (unless it's a highly selective program that's offered at no or minimal cost). Do your research, and if a program is something you can afford and would likely enjoy, go for it! It might stimulate your academic and personal growth, and can help you clarify your future goals.

If you know for sure that you want to do a pre-college summer program, there are a number of factors to consider to help you select the right program for you.

The location of the program is an extremely important consideration for many students. If you have a dream school or a college you're strongly considering, you might want to do a program on that school's campus to get a better feel for the college and to demonstrate your interest in it. You might also want to save money by going to a program close to home, or perhaps you'd like to be able to spend a few weeks living in a big city, such as New York or Boston.

Additionally, be sure to select a program that's in line with your interests. If you have a passion for creative writing, then you can cultivate that passion in a writing program. If you're fascinated by business, you can hone your business skills in an entrepreneurship program.

Finally, you might need to consider the cost and length of the program. If you have a limited budget, you'll likely have to focus your search on cheaper programs that you can actually afford. If you have other obligations or activities you're hoping to do during the summer, you might want to choose a shorter program.

You can use this list and the Summer Program Finder to identify programs that match what you're looking for. Good luck!

What's Next?

Thinking of becoming a doctor? Maybe you'll be interested in doing a medical summer program.

If you want to explore your interests during the summer without leaving home or paying to attend a summer program, perhaps you can get an internship.

Are you interested in other ideas for summer activities? Learn more about what you can do during the summer.