20 Summer Programs for High School Students in 2025
Last year, we listed 20 programs for high school students interested in enhancing their extracurricular activity during the summer. Now, we’re back with an updated list, including some new additions. The landscape of higher education has gotten more complex, and these days, good grades and test scores aren’t enough to land a spot at top universities.
Schools like Harvard and UCLA expect students to demonstrate academic creativity and originality on their resume. One of the best ways to do that is by participating in relevant extracurricular activities that show dedication to a student’s academic and career path. So, here are 20 summer programs for 2025. We suggest getting those applications ready as soon as possible. The deadlines will be here before you know it!
STEM Programs
MIT Research Science Institute
A summer science and engineering program that combines on-campus coursework with off-campus science and technology research.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international high school juniors only
Standardized test requirements: PSAT Math 740+, PSAT Reading and Writing 700+; ACT Math 33+, ACT Verbal 34+
Cost: Free
Stipend: None
Application deadline: December 11, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET
JAX Summer Student Program–Bar Harbor
This 10-week summer program is designed to enrich students interested in genetics and genomics research by pairing them with an experienced mentor with whom they’ll develop an independent research project.
Student eligibility: U.S. high school seniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Free
Stipend: $6,500 plus room, board, and travel
Application deadline: January 27, 2025 at 5 p.m. ET
California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
A four-week, fully residential, pre-college program for high school students pursuing academic and professional careers in STEM. Students can apply to study at one of the University of California COSMOS campuses, which include UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz.
Student eligibility: California students in grades 9 to 12
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $44 application fee plus $5,256 tuition; financial aid available
Stipend: None
Application deadline: February 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT
Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
A six-week program at Boston University for dedicated high school students interested in exploratory mathematical learning.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international high school students
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Ranges from free to about $6,000, depending on students’ financial needs
Stipend: None
Application deadline: March 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET
This is an immersive experience where students from around the world can work in teams on college campuses to complete research projects in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, or synthetic chemistry.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international high school juniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Cost based on family income
Stipend: None
Application deadline: January 24, 2025 for international students and February 21, 2025 for U.S. students
Texas State University Honors Summer Math Camp
A six-week, intensive residential camp designed to help students develop skills for future degrees and careers in science, math, engineering, and more.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international high school students
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $25 application fee plus $6,600 tuition; financial aid available
Stipend: None
Application deadlines: Round 1–February 15, 2025; Round 2–March 15, 2025; Round 3–April 16, 2025
MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES)
MITES condenses an entire college semester into one six-week program. Students take five math, science, and humanities courses to discover what they’re capable of.
Student eligibility: U.S. high school juniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Free
Stipend: None
Application deadlines: February 1, 2025
Arts & Humanities Programs
This art camp, held at Interlochen Center for the Arts, offers a variety of programs, ranging from one-week intensives to six-week sessions. Students can focus on creative writing, music, dance, film and new media, visual arts, or theatre.
Student eligibility: Students in grades 3 to 12
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Stipend: None
Application deadline: January 15, 2025
UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design (CED) Summer Programs
The University of California at Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design offers various summer programs in city planning, sustainable environmental design, architecture, and landscape architecture.
Student eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $75 application fee, plus $4,938 tuition for U.S. students and $7,818 tuition for international students
Stipend: None
NC State University Design Camp
NC State offers several pre-college programs dedicated to educating students about the design process by briefly covering a range of disciplines offered at the College of Design.
Student eligibility: High school students in grades 10 to 12
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Ranges from $825 to $1,550
Stipend: None
Applications open on January 29, 2025.
The New School Parsons Academy New York Summer Intensive Studies
Students spend three weeks developing a deeper understanding of art and design, including building technical and creative skills necessary for their future careers.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international students ages 16 to 18
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $50 application fee, $255 university fee, and $5,400 tuition
Stipend: None
Application deadline: April 1, 2025 for international students and April 24, 2025 for U.S. students
This two-week residential program immerses students in creative writing workshops, discussions, and collaborative projects, such as open mic nights and talent shows.
Student eligibility: High school students in grades 10 to 12
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $2,500
Stipend: None
Application deadline: February 2, 2025
LaunchX Bay Area Entrepreneurship Program
An entrepreneurship program that offers high school students hands-on guidance for building a start-up company in 4 weeks.
Student eligibility: High school students
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $9,995
Stipend: None
Application deadline: March 1, 2025
Multidisciplinary and Miscellaneous Programs
UPenn School of Arts and Sciences Summer Academies
The University of Pennsylvania offers subject-intensive, residential, three-week research programs for high school students. The academies cover biomedical research, chemistry research, experimental physics, global culture and media, neuroscience, and social justice.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international students in grades 9 to 11
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $100 application fee plus $9,949 tuition; financial aid available to Philadelphia school district and charter school students
Stipend: None
Application deadline: April 27, 2025
University of Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
A competitive 10-day program on the University of Notre Dame’s campus that introduces 150 exceptionally talented students to several university-level academic subjects.
Student eligibility: High school juniors in the top 10% of their class who’ve pursued the most rigorous curricula offered at their schools
Standardized test requirements: SAT Math and Reading 1300 - 1500; ACT 31+
Cost: $60 application fee and $150 enrollment fee
Stipend: None
Application deadline: January 22, 2025
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Pre-College Program
This five-week residential program immerses young creatives in a college curriculum that includes all-day studio classes, critiques, and projects.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international high school juniors and seniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: $60 application fee, plus $12,095 tuition for residential students and $9,300 for commuters
Stipend: None
Application deadline: Rolling admissions ending in January 2025
Brown University Pre-College Programs
Brown University offers various pre-college programs for high school students interested in studying everything from literature writing and communications to medical and health sciences.
Student eligibility: U.S. high school seniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Varies by program
Stipend: None
Application deadline: May 9, 2025
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Students participating in TASS learn how to lead and serve communities democratically by attending seminars and group activities.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international high school sophomores and juniors
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Free
Stipend: None
Application deadline: December 3, 2024
Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders
This is a five-day summer leadership program for high school students designed to encourage future leaders to pursue civic engagement in Texas and the United States as a whole.
Student eligibility: High school juniors in Texas
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Free
Stipend: None
Application deadline: January 31, 2025
Scholar Launch Summer Research Programs
Scholar Launch offers a variety of virtual, extracurricular academic programs to middle and high school students. Our group, accelerated, and 1-on-1 research cohorts span a wide variety of subjects and are designed to prepare our scholars for the rigors of college life. Our faculty offers hands-on mentorship and encourages students to ask critical, thought-provoking questions about the world around them, ultimately enriching their intellectual abilities outside the classroom.
Unlike many other research programs, students can participate in Scholar Launch cohorts year-round, and we’re trained to work with their schedules.
Student eligibility: U.S. and international students in grades 7 to 12
Standardized test requirements: None
Cost: Varies by program
Stipend: None
Application deadline: Rolling
