13 Prestigious Summer Programs for High School Students
As a high school student, using your summers to enhance your CV, practical knowledge, and skills is a good idea. Attending a selective summer program can be very valuable as these programs allow you to explore your academic and career interests. These programs help you gain industry exposure and form meaningful connections with experts and peers. Summer programs present an ideal platform to learn more about your interests.
Below, this curated list of 13 prestigious summer programs includes some of the most competitive opportunities available to high schoolers. Each program is hosted by a respected institution or organization and has a low acceptance rate. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Participating in a prestigious summer program can make you stand out in the college admissions process by demonstrating your academic abilities. Covering diverse fields such as business, medical sciences, STEM, creative writing, and mathematics, these programs are designed to challenge you while fostering personal growth and professional development. Read on!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here! This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
Location: Philadelphia, PA (on campus)
Cost: Ranging from $7,899 - $9,799
Dates: June 8 - June 28; June 29 - July 19; July 20 - August 9
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students in grade 11 with demonstrated leadership experience and a 3.5 unweighted GPA or higher. International applicants are welcome.
The Wharton Leadership in the Business World program offers high school students an opportunity to experience Wharton’s undergraduate curriculum and explore leadership in modern organizations. You'll attend lectures from Wharton professors, engage in discussions on leadership and teamwork, and apply your learning through business simulations and case competitions. You’ll also research business enterprises and interact with successful leaders from industries such as finance, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. This program enhances your critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills, preparing you for future business success.
Location: Institutes of Medicine at Stanford University
Cost/Stipend: No cost apart from a $40 application fee. However, participants will receive $500 to $1500, depending on the awarding of grants
Program Dates: June 9 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: All applicants must be current juniors or seniors (as of the fall) and be in the graduating class of this or next year, along with being 16 years old or older
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) offers an eight-week experience for high school students from diverse backgrounds and interests. You will work alongside Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers on projects rooted in medical and biological sciences. This program will give you experience in conducting scientific research and help you understand its methodologies. Each specialization in the SIMR program is designed to ensure you gain the most from your learning experience. The program covers key aspects of research, such as ethical considerations, data collection, and scientific analysis. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Harvard Campus, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $5,800 + $75 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Average class size of 15 students
Program Dates: Session I - June 22–July 3; Session II - July 6–18; Session III - July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: Early Deadline: January 8; Regular Deadline: February 12
Eligibility: This program is open to rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 21 and will not turn 19 years old before July 31
Harvard’s Pre-College Program offers high school students a two-week experience on the Harvard campus, providing a glimpse into college life. You can select one college-level course from nearly 30 subjects, such as psychology, medicine, public health, business, and STEM. In small classes, you will engage with Ivy League scholars and peers, learning without the pressure of grades. Beyond academics, the program emphasizes balanced learning with creative and social activities. You will receive a written evaluation and transcript upon completion. To learn more about Harvard’s pre-college programs, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Total 100 students
Program Dates: 6-week program, from June 22 to August 2
Application Deadline: December 11. Apply here
Eligibility: Academically exceptional students between their 11th and 12th grades. High School Seniors are not eligible.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) hosted at MIT offers 100 top high school students a fully funded introduction to advanced STEM education and research. This prestigious program begins with seminars covering topics in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and mathematics. This is followed by a five-week research internship where you will work closely with MIT faculty and graduate mentors to design and execute an individualized project. You will gain experience in the entire research cycle, from reviewing scientific literature to preparing conference-level oral and written presentations of your findings.RSI provides mentorship and field trips to cultural and scientific landmarks in the Boston area. Note: We’ve detailed how to build a strong application to get into RSI here!
Location: Otterbein University in Columbus, OH and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana
Cost/Stipend: $7000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 60 first-year students at each site, supported by approximately 12-15 counselors
Program Dates: Otterbein University: June 15 – July 25; Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: June 15 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: All applicants must be high school students aged 15-18
The Ross Program is a six-week summer experience for pre-college students with a strong interest in mathematics. You will attend daily number theory lectures, collaborate on challenging problem sets, and attend elective lectures. You will work with peers in small "family groups" led by counselors. The program emphasizes problem-solving and encourages independent exploration, allowing you to experience mathematical discovery. This program provides a unique opportunity for mentorship and intellectual collaboration, preparing you for future academic success. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: 2 locations - Cornell University and University of Maryland
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: Applications are open to all high school sophomores and juniors. Participants must be at least age 15 and no older than age 18 at the start of the program.
TASS offers high school sophomores and juniors a fully-funded educational experience that blends academic rigor with community building. You can choose between two areas of study: Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS) or Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS), exploring history, politics, literature, and systems of power. Through daily college-level seminars, you will sharpen your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will write essays, participate in group discussions, and receive instructor feedback. Outside the classroom, you will engage in democratic decision-making, learn about justice practices, and practice public speaking. To learn more about this opportunity, check out our complete guide here.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 cost
Program Dates: Session 1: June 15 - 28; Session 2: July 13 - 26
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Applications are open to high school students who are currently in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio offers a summer program focused on writing, with benefits beyond storytelling. You can take courses in fiction, poetry, TV writing, playwriting, and creative writing. The classes, taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, combine creative expression with literary analysis, helping you explore how writing shapes the world. They also offer six-week online creative writing courses twice a year—once in winter and again in the summer. These courses are open to high school students in the U.S. and abroad.
Cost: Free program, $750 stipend at the end of the program.
Location: Texas Tech University
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 12 highly qualified high school juniors and seniors
Program Dates: June 22 to August 7
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate this or the following year, along with being a US citizen
The Clark Scholars Program offers high school juniors and seniors a prestigious seven-week summer research experience. In the history track, you will work alongside faculty on Modern American Politics, Conservatism, and the post-1945 fusion of the South and West, particularly within Texas and Sunbelt political culture. This program provides a unique opportunity to enhance your critical thinking and academic skills. In addition to research, you will participate in weekly seminars, field trips, and social activities. With a competitive selection process that admits only 12 students annually, this free program is an exceptional opportunity. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
Location: Virtual and residential on Stanford University Campus
Cost: Online: $3,580; Residential: $8,575
Program Dates: Session One: Online - June 16 - July 4; Session One: Residential - June 22 - July 18; Session Two: Online - July 7 - July 25
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Applicants must be rising juniors and seniors
The Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is a three-week program for high school sophomores and juniors interested in advanced mathematics. You will explore challenging topics through two courses: Abstract Algebra and Number Theory, focusing on foundational problem-solving, and Algebraic Topology, which applies algebraic methods to topological concepts. The program emphasizes collaborative learning with live sessions, daily problem sets, and guidance from Stanford teaching assistants. You will also attend guest lectures by mathematicians and professionals in related fields. With a collegiate-level workload, SUMaC prepares you for future academic pursuits in mathematics. Financial aid is available for eligible applicants. To learn more, check out our complete guide here.
Location: University of California, Berkeley,
Cost/Stipend: Eight weeks - Session C: (June 23–August 15): $15,950; Six weeks - Session D (July 7–August 15): $14,650. A media scholarship is available; click here to learn more.
Program Dates: Session C: June 22–August 15; Session D: July 3–August 15
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Applicants must have completed the 10th or 11th grade by the start of summer, have a B average (3.0, weighted or unweighted) in all high school coursework, and be 16 years of age by June 22. International students must have a valid visa and English language proficiency certificates.
The Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Track provides high school students with an experience of college life while earning college credit. You will live in supervised campus housing, engage in a rigorous academic environment with faculty and peers, and explore potential majors of interest. Beyond academics, the program offers enrichment workshops on college admissions, social activities, and excursions to Bay Area landmarks such as Silicon Valley and local museums. With mentorship from Resident Assistant Mentors and program staff, you will develop independence, collaboration skills, and a deeper understanding of university culture.
Location: Online
Cost: 2-week online course: $3,960; 1-week online course: $2,810
Dates: Session A: July 7–July 18; Session B: July 21–August 1; Session C: August 11–August 15
Application Deadline: Summer Program Deadline is April 2
Eligibility: The summer program is open to all high school students and those applying during their senior year of high school just after graduating.
Columbia University's Pre-College Program in Business, Economics, and Entrepreneurship offers high school students an exploration of finance, investment management, and entrepreneurial innovation. In the Introduction to Finance & Investment Management course, you'll learn essential financial concepts such as the time value of money, risk and reward, stock market functions, and portfolio management. Through class sessions and independent work, you’ll analyze the role of key financial players, from Central Banks to hedge funds, while connecting economic principles to real-world investment outcomes. By creating your own investment strategies and portfolios, you'll gain experience in navigating global financial markets.
Location: San Francisco, California
Cost: Free, with a stipend amount that varies annually.
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: June 16 to July 25
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores during the academic year who reside in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
The Meta Summer Academy (formerly the Facebook Summer Academy) provides high school students in San Francisco with an introduction to the tech industry. This six-week program combines hands-on learning with mentorship from Meta employees, offering workshops in coding, financial literacy, art, and media. You’ll also develop critical soft skills such as networking and career planning. MSA helps you explore professional pathways while building essential tools for upward mobility. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.