10 Summer Programs for High School Students in Iowa
High school students in Iowa have a range of opportunities to explore their interests, build new skills, and prepare for the future over the summer. Whether you're passionate about the arts, sciences, leadership, or exploring potential careers, Iowa offers a variety of summer programs designed to enrich your academic experience and help you grow personally and academically.
Participating in a summer program can also be useful for college admissions. These programs can prepare you for college by introducing you to advanced coursework early and demonstrating your academic abilities to admissions officers. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
In this blog, we'll highlight 10 summer programs across Iowa that are ideal for high school students!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: No information available
Program Dates: TBA. Two sessions were offered in the past:
Session One: June 23 – 28
Session Two: July 14 – 19
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
The Tippie Gateway Summer Program at the University of Iowa is a good way for high school students to get a taste of business school. By spending a week on campus, connecting with current students, professors, alumni, and business professionals, you’ll get a preview of being a business undergraduate student.
This fully-funded program includes business simulations, case studies, and networking opportunities. It can help you understand what careers a business degree leads to and get a feel for the University of Iowa community. Students are selected based on a written essay and GPA, and priority is given to students from groups that are underrepresented or under-resourced in business.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
Cost:
Residential: $4,000
Commuter: $3,200
Application Deadline: June 17
Program Dates: July 7 – 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors as well as recent high school graduates
The One Course Summer Institute at Cornell College offers high school students the chance to explore college-level learning and earn three college credit hours. Over two and a half weeks, you’ll dive into one intensive course in a small, focused classroom environment, getting a taste of the “One Course At A Time” approach that Cornell College is known for.
The summer session offers an immersive schedule with a blend of academics, social activities, and college prep workshops. For Summer, courses spanned various disciplines, including Neuroscience, Chemistry, Studio Art, Engineering, Creative Writing, Humanities, and Computer Science. Course activities included brain dissection in neuroscience, culinary experiments in chemistry, CAD design in engineering, or app programming in Python. Students who complete this program qualify for a $4,000 scholarship if they attend Cornell College.
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost: $300
Application Deadline: April 19
Program Dates: TBA. Two sessions were offered in the past:
Session One: July 9 – 12
Session Two: July 16 – 19
Eligibility: Girls who are rising high school juniors or seniors
The RISE with WiSE summer experience is designed for high school girls entering their junior or senior year who are passionate about STEM. This program is hosted by Iowa State University's Program for Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE). During the program, you will participate in hands-on STEM sessions led by university faculty, staff, and students. Alongside these academic activities, you’ll also get to explore student life at ISU through campus visits to places like the ISU Creamery and Cy Bowling
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 12
Program Dates: July 14 – 20
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 through 12 in good academic standing. Participants must be affiliated with one of the 67 tribes listed here
The Iowa First Nations Program is a week-long residential experience designed to introduce Native American high school students to university life at the University of Iowa. You will have the chance to live on campus, attend structured classroom seminars, explore various academic majors, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. The program also includes field trips to different campus departments, as well as opportunities for social and recreational activities, all while fostering a deeper connection to Native American culture.
Location: Online
Cost: $295. Financial aid available for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, see details here
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Early application is encouraged
Program Dates: July 8 – 26
Eligibility: High school students
The University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center offers Summer Writing Online, a three-week online residency that connects you with faculty and graduates from the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop. During this program, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in workshops, lectures, and events tailored to ignite your passion for writing. Each day begins with seminar discussions and structural approaches to writing, followed by electives in Screenwriting and Poetry. Participants will also be able to enjoy Author Talks and sessions with industry experts.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA or virtual
Cost:
In-person session: $2,500
Online session: $575
Application Deadline: February 4
Program Dates: TBA. Two sessions were offered in the past:
Session 1: June 16 – 29
Session 2: July 14 – 27
Eligibility: Students currently in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, including international students. Exceptionally talented 9th graders may also apply
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Summer Residential Program is an immersive creative writing experience for high school students. Held at the University of Iowa, this prestigious program offers students the chance to dive deep into their craft, working closely with expert instructors in fiction, poetry, playwriting, or TV writing.
Whether you attend in person or online, you’ll participate in workshops, receive personalized feedback, and engage with peers who share your passion for writing. The program provides an opportunity to develop your writing skills in a supportive and inspiring environment, surrounded by the rich literary tradition of the University of Iowa.
Location: Held on a college campus in Iowa
Cost: $350. Need-based financial aid available
Application Deadline: Applications for the summer program will open in early in the year
Program Dates: Typically five days during the summer
Eligibility: High school students, including students who will have just graduated
Each summer, over 75 students from across Iowa come together on a college campus to engage in a series of entrepreneurial challenges, leadership activities, and team-building exercises. You will launch your own business and prepare for investor pitches, infomercial screenings, and a trade show where groups compete to win ‘best product.’ In addition to these business challenges, you will attend workshops and speaker sessions with professionals from Iowa.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost:
Commuter: $350 (meals not included)
Resident: $640 – $715, depending on single or double occupancy room
Application Deadline: May 22 for Resident Campers and June 7 for Commuter Campers
Program Dates: June 16 – 28
Eligibility: Students who have completed sixth grade and above. Some camps may have requirements for grade completed/number of years of practice
The Iowa Summer Music Camp is a musical training program for students who have completed sixth grade and above, providing instruction across a variety of musical disciplines. Each session is designed to nurture young musicians through group instruction, master classes, and individual practice.
Taking place in two sessions in June, the camps feature different areas of focus, such as Jazz, Piano, Saxophone, Voice, and more. You will engage in rehearsals, activities, and concerts, developing musical skills while experiencing life on a university campus. Classes are taught by Iowa’s music faculty and nationally recognized performers.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.