150+ High School Summer Programs at Top Colleges

High school summer programs on a college campus can be a great way for students to become familiar with what it’s like to be in a campus academic and social environment. Summer programs are especially helpful for international students who may not be familiar with American campus culture. These high school summer programs are held throughout the summer (in the northern hemisphere) and range in cost from free to many thousands of dollars.

Simply attending a college summer program will not likely boost admissions prospects unless the program is particularly selective, such as MIT Launch and PROMYS. However, the experiences students (especially international students) have encountering other kids from different backgrounds and being exposed to top-tier, world-renowned lecturers often lead to interesting ideas for admissions essays. Further, students can write confidently about what it’s like on a college campus, rather than simply imagining it. This is a particular advantage that international students can get in the admissions process over their peers, as many international applicants simply have never been on a college campus, even for a brief visit. Admissions officers will be more inclined to admit students who “know what they’re getting into.”

This list contains almost every summer program offered by colleges listed in the top 35 of the 2019 U.S. News & World Report National Universities rankings, plus dozens of other STEM, business, and arts programs. It does not include programs targeted at a particular geographic region or specific ethnic groups.

If you would like more data, including overall cost, cost per day, and financial aid availability to international students, please sign up for the Google Sheets version.