If you are a middle school student, beginning to explore your academic interests, college summer programs for middle school students are a great opportunity. They allow you to gain early exposure to advanced subjects, hands-on projects, and experience college life. These programs can help you solidify your academic goals and discover new passions. College summer programs allow you to develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and prepare for future academic challenges.

If you are particularly interested in exploring college-level academics, these programs provide a structured yet engaging environment where you can learn from expert faculty, collaborate with like-minded peers, and participate in mentorship opportunities. Whether the focus is STEM, humanities, or leadership, these programs can be a stepping stone toward long-term success. To help you navigate your options, we've created a list of 8 college summer programs for middle school students that stand out for their educational value and immersive experiences.

We've also covered a host of free, online, paid, and region-specific research opportunities and internships for middle school students here.

1. The Ulysses G. Grant Foundation at Yale University

Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective, small cohorts

Cost: $75 (Scholarships available)

Dates: June 23 - July 30

Application Deadline: February 21

Eligibility: Rising 6th to 9th graders currently studying in New Haven

The Ulysses G. Grant Foundation at Yale University is a challenging six-week summer program designed for highly motivated middle school students. It helps prepare you for academic success in high school and college by strengthening your analytical and research skills. The program is taught by Yale undergraduate instructors and offers two academic tracks: Humanities and Investigations.

In the Humanities track, students can explore topics such as Race and Identity through the Arts, the Philosophy of Living, and the Fundamentals of Music. The Investigations track includes courses such as Community Building through Sustainability, Government Spending and Ethical Consumption, and Architectural Explorations. This program fosters curiosity and academic confidence while providing a strong foundation for future studies.

2. Women’s Alliance in STEM and Humanities Summer Research Institute (WASH SRI)

Location: Virtual / In-person TBD

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective admissions

Cost: Free

Dates: June 22 - July 27

Application Deadline: May 21

Eligibility: Students identifying as female in grades 6-12

WASH SRI is a research-focused program designed to encourage female students to explore academic disciplines in STEM and the humanities. You will work closely with university faculty and graduate students on ongoing research projects, gaining hands-on experience in academic research.

The program offers three specialized research tracks: Introduction to Number Theory, Computational Neuroscience, and Demystifying Deep Learning. Over the course of six weeks, you will attend weekly 2-3 hour workshops that cover foundational knowledge and advanced applications. At the end of the program, you will receive mentorship on potential publication and future research opportunities.

3. Oregon State University STEM Academy—Middle School Summer Camps

Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment, space-limited programs

Cost: $60–$320 (Need-based scholarships available)

Dates: Varies by program, with sessions in June, July, and August

Application Deadline: Varies by program

Eligibility: Students entering grades 6-8

The STEM Academy at Oregon State University offers a variety of hands-on summer camps for middle school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These week-long camps provide exposure to fields such as robotics, environmental science, computer programming, and engineering.

Programs include Wild About Wildlife Camp, Making with Microcontrollers, Making Arcade Games, Engineering Camp, and Art+Metal 3D Printing Camp. They are led by OSU faculty and STEM mentors. The program emphasizes problem-solving, collaboration, and real-world applications of STEM concepts. You can participate in interactive workshops and project-based learning, developing skills that will prepare you for future academic and career opportunities in STEM.

4. Penn GEMS: Engineering, Math, and Science Camp

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots available

Cost: $650 (need-based financial assistance available)

Dates: June 23 - June 27

Application Deadline: March 3

Eligibility: Rising 7th, 8th, or 9th graders attending a Philadelphia-area school with at least a B average GPA

Penn GEMS is a one-week summer day camp at the University of Pennsylvania, designed to introduce middle school students to engineering concepts. The program focuses on learning through hands-on workshops, lab activities, and mentorship from Penn faculty and graduate students.

Topics covered include bioengineering, nanotechnology, materials science, and computing, allowing you to explore different engineering disciplines.  You can learn about scientific principles, experiment with engineering concepts, and interact with mentors, all while gaining exposure to academic and career pathways in STEM.The program also aims to enhance diversity in STEM fields by supporting underrepresented groups in science and technology.

5. UT Dallas Biology Camps for Middle & High School Students

Location: Virtual (hosted by UT Dallas)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited space

Cost: $200 registration fee. The entire program cost after selection is not specified.

Dates: Saturdays during school breaks and holidays (2 - 5 PM)

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for Summer and Fall

Eligibility: Middle and high school students interested in AP Biology

This virtual program, hosted by the University of Texas at Dallas, offers an in-depth learning experience in AP Biology and general biology topics. It is organized by the Department of Biological Sciences. These camps take place on Saturdays throughout the year, making them an ideal choice for you to keep up with your busy schedules.

The AP Biology camps are particularly useful for you if you are preparing for advanced coursework and standardized exams. The program features interactive discussions and hands-on virtual lab experiences to help you strengthen your knowledge in key biological concepts.

6. Sally Ride Science Academy at the University of California, San Diego

Location: University of California, San Diego, CA

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Multiple camps but limited space

Cost: $175 – $450 per course (scholarships available)

Dates: July 7 - July 25

Application Deadline: Varies based on course selected

Eligibility: Middle and high school students

This program is inspired by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. The program offers hands-on STEM workshops in biology, biotechnology, environmental science, and data science. It is led by experienced educators and scientists. The courses focus on critical thinking, teamwork, and experiential learning.

Workshops run for three hours, allowing you to enroll in multiple sessions to customize your experience. Both in-person and online options are available, making the program flexible. For example, those interested in pharmaceutical sciences can take Middle School: A Dose of Pharmacreations, a week-long session exploring medicine formulation and drug development.

7. Computer Science – Cornell University

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:  Selective intake

Cost: $4,699 (commuter) - $8,499 (residential)

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Program Dates: July 13 – August 1 (3 weeks)

Eligibility: Middle school students (Grades 6–8)

Cornell University’s three-week Computer Science summer program introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of computer science and technology. Through hands-on experience in software and hardware development, you will learn key coding concepts that can be applied to app development, web design, and video game creation.

The curriculum also covers structured data, digital media, and internet technology, giving you a well-rounded introduction to computer science. This program is a great opportunity to build foundational coding skills and explore technology applications in an academic setting.

8. Berkeley Coding Academy Summer Programs

Location: Online

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size:  Moderate

Cost: From $2,079 (Early enrollment discounts available)

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Program Dates: July 14 – August 1 (Core Program), additional AI modules extend to August 8

Eligibility: Ages 12-14 and 15-18; prior Python experience recommended but not required

The Berkeley Coding Academy Summer Programs offer online courses in computer programming, game development, web design, and robotics. These programs integrate creativity, teamwork, and analytical skills, helping you develop a strong foundation in coding and software development.

You will gain hands-on experience with Python and Java, working on interactive projects under expert guidance. The program uses a problem-based learning approach, ensuring that you not only learn to code but also apply your skills in real-world technology applications. The curriculum is designed to strengthen programming skills, explore software engineering concepts, and prepare you for future careers in technology.

One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! 

To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2025, you can refer to this page!

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.

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