Best Summer Leadership Programs 鈥� 2026
March 12, 2026
From law firms to movie sets to biology labs, there鈥檚 no doubt that good leadership is the backbone of any successful workplace. (If you鈥檝e ever worked on a group project, you can attest to this fact鈥搕he vibe can turn Office Space rather than Friday Night Lights quite quickly.) As such, many programs help students develop leadership skills in relation to a particular subject area or career path, so it can be helpful to have your future goals in mind when evaluating options. Not sure what you want to do yet? Not a problem鈥搇eadership skills can be applied across industries and are useful for highly visible and small-scale roles alike, from founding a school club to spearheading an English presentation. Ready to discover which summer leadership program for high school students is the best fit for you? We鈥檝e compiled a list of excellent options below.
Want a full look at our searchable database of the best 2026 summer programs? Click below to sort summer programs by discipline and location, and view important data points such as tuition costs, deadlines, course listings, and more!
Best Summer Leadership Programs
1)
- Location: College Park, MD (University of Maryland)
- Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter) or online
- Program Length: 3 weeks
- Cost: $1,420 (online) / $1,791 (in-person)
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduating seniors
- Application Deadline: Rolling (application opens in January and closes in June)
At the University of Maryland鈥檚 summer leadership programs, students become the CEO of ME (My Enterprise), Inc. while working in a collaborative environment to develop solutions to real-world problems. They also create their own original venture, which they鈥檒l pitch at the end of the program. In addition to receiving exposure to topics like marketing, strategy, and personal finance, they build self-reliance, enterprise, and leadership skills. For example, students learn how their unique talents can be used to benefit others, identify their values and capabilities, and practice receiving feedback.
Although there is a residential option available, non-local students can take the course remotely. In general, students spend approximately three hours per day in class and another four to six additional hours on homework assignments and projects. No matter the format chosen, all students receive three college credits upon successful completion.
To apply to this summer leadership program, students must have at least a 3.0 GPA; they鈥檒l submit their transcripts alongside the general application.
2)
- Location: West Point, NY
- Instructional Method: In-person (residential)
- Program Length: 1 week
- Cost: $495
- Eligibility: Rising seniors
- Application Deadline: April (application opens in February)
Any military officer is expected to be a leader above all else; that role is valued far more highly than their particular specialty. As such, a massive part of the undergraduate experience at service academies and ROTC programs is leadership training and development. Summer programs at such institutions are no different.
At West Point鈥檚 Summer Leaders Experience (SLE), students dive into life as a cadet 鈥� academically, socially, and militarily. Over the course of one week, they鈥檒l take classes, get a taste of military training, participate in team-building activities, and have access to current cadets, coaches, and admissions officers. If you鈥檙e interested in attending a service academy 鈥� or serving as a military officer 鈥� SLE will provide a taste of what you can expect.
These summer leadership programs are highly selective. Accordingly, most accepted students are in the top 20% of their class, have strong test scores, are active in extracurricular activities, and are varsity athletes (or in excellent physical shape).
It should be noted that each service branch has its own academy, and each service academy has its own summer leadership program. As such, depending on your interests and goals, you might also consider checking out the and/or the .
3)
- Location: Providence, RI
- Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter) or online
- Program Length: 2 weeks (in-person) / 4 weeks (online)
- Cost: $6,052 (residential) / $4,748 (commuter) / $5,778 (online)
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors (ages 14-18)
- Application Deadline: May (application opens in January)
Brown offers a Leadership Institute in two formats: in-person and online. All students have the opportunity to take a course that explores current social issues, through which they鈥檒l develop skills in active listening, public speaking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Moreover, they鈥檒l identify their current leadership style as well as how to strengthen it. A large focus of this summer leadership program is also understanding how to be a strong leader even (and especially) when faced with complex social issues, so all students develop an Action Plan that they can implement in their own local communities.
However, there are several differences between both formats (other than length). On-campus students have more courses to choose from 鈥� 13, to be exact. These have includes options like Leadership and Storytelling for Social Change, Leadership and Intercultural Communication, and Leadership and Social Justice. Online students have fewer courses to choose from; these include Leadership in Changing Business and Leadership and Social Change, among others. Additionally, on-campus students have the opportunity to build a strong community while online students spend more time working asynchronously and independently.
These summer leadership programs are competitive; Brown looks for high-achieving students with strong academic records. Accordingly, students need to submit their transcripts as well as an essay.
4)
- Location: University, MS
- Residential?: Yes
- Program Length: 4 weeks
- Cost: $1,900
- Eligibility: Rising seniors
- Application Deadline: December
Held on the University of Mississippi鈥檚 campus, these summer leadership programs are geared toward students interested in developing skills related to public policy, public speaking, and networking. Consequently, they鈥檒l take three courses: Introduction to American Politics, Political Science, and Character and Leadershhip. All students also take a five-day excursion to Washington, D.C. There, they not only meet with federal officials but also nonprofit leaders. Finally, students who successfully complete this summer leadership program receive seven college credits.
Since only forty applicants are selected, the admissions process is selective and intensive. As a result, students need to have at least a 3.0 GPA as well as strong community involvement. They also need to submit transcripts, a teacher recommendation, test scores, an essay, and a video or audio response.
Hoping to spend time at Ole Miss this summer? Keep in mind that you鈥檒l need to prepare your materials early鈥揳pplications (and nominations) are typically due by the end of December.
Final Thoughts 鈥� Summer Leadership Programs for High School Students
If there鈥檚 one skill that is beneficial for every industry, it鈥檚 leadership. Students can鈥檛 go wrong spending time at a summer leadership program that develops their abilities to connect and relate to others, navigate challenges, and become more adept public speakers and networkers. They鈥檒l find that these fundamental skills will allow them to thrive no matter what career direction they ultimately choose.
Looking for a summer leadership program in your area? Consider checking out the following:
- Best Summer Programs for High School Students
- Best Summer Programs in Atlanta
- Best Summer Programs in the Bay Area
- Best Summer Programs in Boston
- Best Summer Programs in Chicago
- Best Summer Programs in Dallas
- Best Summer Programs in Denver
- Best Summer Programs in Houston
- Best Summer Programs in Los Angeles
- Best NYC Summer Programs
- Best Summer Programs in Philadelphia
- Best Summer Programs in Phoenix
- Best Summer Programs in Seattle
