10 Summer Camps in Texas for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 20 hours ago
- 8 min read
If you're a high schooler in Texas looking to challenge yourself beyond the classroom, a summer camp can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your break. Whether you are curious about engineering, writing, performing arts, or environmental science, summer camps expose you to subjects you may not typically encounter in school. Many camps are hosted on college campuses or led by professionals in the field, giving you a taste of real-world environments, college-level academics, and career pathways.
How are camps different from other high school programs?
Camps are typically shorter and more focused than other high school programs. Unlike semester-long dual-enrollment classes, camps hone in on one subject area for a week or two. Summer camps are often run by independent organizations or specific university departments. They’re typically led by faculty, professionals, or educators and are built around project-based learning. Whether you're collaborating with a theatre ensemble, designing with CAD software, or analyzing water samples in a lab, the focus is on doing, not just studying. That makes camps a great low-risk way to try out new interests or go deeper into something you already love.
We've reviewed dozens of options and narrowed it down to the top 10 summer camps in Texas for high school students. Each offers rigorous content, structured mentorship, and space to build skills.
Hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio, this portfolio of summer camps covers varied subjects from criminal justice and music to architecture and engineering. Across the board, you’ll engage in technical skill-building like forensic theory, ensemble technique, architectural model design, or biomechanical analysis, often guided by UTSA faculty or industry professionals. You’ll get access to labs, rehearsal studios, or mock trial settings, depending on your area of focus. Many camps also include presentations, recitals, or team-based competitions. Most programs run for 1–2 weeks, with day camp and commuter options, and are held on UTSA’s San Antonio campus.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program; many camps are open-enrollment but space-limited. Exact information on the cohort size is not available.
Location (in Texas): University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Cost: Varies by program; typically ranges from $250 to $1,200 depending on duration and materials provided.
Dates: June - August; check the UTSA Summer Camps page in May for finalized offerings, registration links, and updated schedules.
Application Deadline: Final deadlines vary by camp. Check the UTSA Summer Camps page for updated information.
Eligibility: Open to high school students (some camps specify rising juniors/seniors or include middle schoolers as well).
Hosted by Rice University's Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies in collaboration with Writers in the Schools (WITS), this camp is for students who want to explore storytelling through creative experimentation and professional guidance. For high school students, sessions such as Just Write It, The Art of Essay, and Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writing offer genre-focused workshops where you’ll draft and revise original work alongside published authors. You’ll participate in small-group sessions centered around expressive writing, peer feedback, and literary analysis, with an emphasis on narrative structure, advanced vocabulary, figurative language, and varied sentence construction.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; capped per session to maintain low student–teacher ratios.
Location (in Texas): Rice University, Houston, TX (plus select Houston-area schools); virtual option also available
Cost: In-person: $525 per session | Virtual: $495 per session
Dates: In-person (Grades 10–12): July 14–18, July 21–25 | In-person (Grades 8–9): June 9–13, July 14–18, July 21–25 | Virtual (Grades 9–12): June 30–July 11 (no class July 4)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to incoming grades 8–12
Aggie STEM’s one-week overnight camps allow high school students to explore STEM concepts through project-based learning on the Texas A&M University campus. These camps combine faculty-led classes with projects in engineering, math, technology, and more. You’ll live in a university residence hall, attend daily workshops led by A&M faculty and STEM professionals, and explore topics like mathematical modeling, engineering design, and computational tools. While STEM is at the camp's core, there is also social engagement through evening activities and campus events. The camp fosters academic exploration and a college-like experience that supports peer bonding.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, but spots are limited and fill quickly.
Location (in Texas): Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Cost: $1,699 per week; includes lodging, meals, instruction, and activities. A $500 deposit is required at registration.
Dates: June 1–7 | June 8–14 | June 15–21 | June 22–28
Application Deadline: Registration closes on April 28
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 9–12 in the fall.
The McCombs School of Business at UT Austin allows high schoolers to explore business, leadership, and accounting through three one-week residential experiences. With one application, you can apply to the McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA), Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders, and Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC). Each program offers workshops, speaker sessions, and collaborative projects to help you explore key areas of business education and career planning. MFEA focuses on executive-level problem-solving, Subiendo emphasizes civic-minded leadership and public policy, and DYNAMC centers around accounting career paths and financial literacy.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; no exact cohort size published.
Location (in Texas): The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business
Cost: Free to attend; includes housing, meals, and materials
Dates: MFEA: June 1–6 | Subiendo: June 8–12 | DYNAMC: June 22–27
Application Deadline: Subiendo: January 31 | MFEA & DYNAMC: March 1
Eligibility: MFEA & DYNAMC: Open to current high school sophomores and juniors | Subiendo: Open to current Texas high school juniors
Hosted by the Mathworks division of Texas State University’s College of Science and Engineering, HSMC is a residential program for high school students with a deep interest in mathematics. Over several weeks, you’ll engage in advanced coursework and collaborative problem-solving. The camp has produced numerous award-winning submissions to competitions such as Siemens, Intel ISEF, and others. You’ll learn number theory, combinatorics, and proofs, with an emphasis on developing mathematical maturity and abstract reasoning. Returning students can work on research under faculty mentorship, with the potential to submit to national contests and journals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not published, but admissions are based on academic excellence and teacher recommendations.
Location (in Texas): Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.
Cost: $6,600 tuition (includes room, board, instruction, and materials); financial aid is available.
Dates: June 15 - July 26
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Open to high school students with strong mathematical backgrounds
Hosted by the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, The Idea Factory is a one-week experience for high schoolers interested in product design, fabrication, and creative problem-solving. You’ll work with the university’s faculty, learning to design and prototype physical products using real tools, sketching methods, and fabrication techniques. The camp focuses on the balance between form and function and how design thinking translates into usable, innovative objects. Each day includes short lectures, team-based design challenges, and time in the studio building and testing your ideas.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact information on the cohort size is not available.
Location (in Texas): University of Houston, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, Houston, TX.
Cost: $500 per session (includes materials and lunch); $50 application fee; 10% tuition discount if registering for both sessions.
Dates: June 9–13 | June 16–20 (9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. daily).
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 10, 11, or 12.
Hosted by the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, the UH Chamber Music Institute is a one-week, high-level training experience for serious string players and pianists. The chamber music camp offers the opportunity to rehearse and perform in small ensembles under the mentorship of UH’s music faculty. Alongside intensive coaching and studio classes focused on TMEA audition prep and solo performance, you’ll participate in interactive “Listening Labs” that cover topics like rehearsal techniques, ensemble dynamics, and the history of the string quartet. The week culminates in a final concert featuring student ensembles and faculty performers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact information on the cohort size is not available.
Location (in Texas): University of Houston, Moores School of Music, Houston, TX.
Cost: $350-$450, lunch is not included
Dates: July 28 - August 2
Application Deadline: Priority registration: April 1 | Regular registration: May 1.
Eligibility: Open to high school string players and pianists with a strong performance background.
Hosted across the University of Houston and Rice University campuses, Wonderworks’ summer programs offer a rigorous academic experience in the arts and humanities for high school students across Texas. You can choose from tracks in fiction writing, journalism/nonfiction, filmmaking, architecture, art history, and politics/law/government, each led by scholars, writers, filmmakers, and faculty. The structure mimics college-level seminars, emphasizing discussion, research, project work, and critical analysis.
Sessions include assignments, peer review, and mentorship, culminating in final projects such as short films, published essays, or debates.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size is limited to maintain seminar-style learning.
Location (in Texas): University of Houston and Rice University campuses, Houston, TX.
Cost: Tuition-based; full-tuition waivers available for academically qualified students with financial need. Check the website for the detailed cost of each program.
Dates: June 16 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full; early applications encouraged.
Eligibility: Open to high school students in Texas, with preference for those in the Houston area.
NEXUS is a two-week musical theatre training program hosted at Texas State University. Designed for rising high school freshmen through seniors, the camp features acting classes, monologue coaching, audition technique, ensemble work, voice training, and dance—all taught by faculty with Broadway, film, and television credits. What sets NEXUS apart is its emphasis on wellness and artist development, including workshops on confidence, imposter syndrome, and sustainable performance practice. You’ll also participate in the Musical Development Lab, where you’ll workshop material from a new musical and explore how actors contribute to creative storytelling.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 60 students accepted via audition-based admission.
Location (in Texas): Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $2,900 (includes room and board), $500 nonrefundable deposit.
Dates: June 10–20
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to rising high school freshmen through seniors (grades 9–12 in the fall)
Hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s School of Art, this pre-college art studio experience allows you to work with practicing artists and faculty mentors in a university studio environment. The camp is designed for high schoolers preparing for college-level study in the arts and offers training across both traditional and digital media. You’ll select two studio pairings—like Book Arts + Photography, Sculpture + New Media, or Drawing + Printmaking—and spend three hours daily in each. The curriculum blends foundational techniques (such as cyanotype printing, lithography, painting, and ceramics) with creative experimentation using tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Arduino coding for sculpture. You’ll build a portfolio and receive one-on-one feedback.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited to one session per student.
Location (in Texas): UTSA Downtown Campus, San Antonio, TX
Cost: $400 (includes supplies and instruction)
Dates: June 16–20
Application Deadline: TBA; Fill out the sign-up form to receive a notification when registration opens.
Eligibility: Open to high school students planning to attend college.
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!
Image Source - UTSA Logo
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.