Best Summer Programs in Dallas 鈥� 2026
March 10, 2026
Tucked in the northeast corner of Texas and boasting a 118-acre urban arts district鈥搕he largest in the country鈥搃s Dallas. It鈥檚 packed with cultural gems like the Winspear Opera House, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Sixth Floor Museum. Additionally, the city is well-known for its architecture, including the iconic Meyerson Symphony Center and the Perot Museum鈥攄esigned by Thom Mayne, a recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Celebrated for its arboretum, botanical gardens, and planned Trinity River redevelopment, Dallas also maintains an amazing number of natural spaces. And if you鈥檙e interested in business, look no further鈥揟exas has the second most Fortune 500 companies in the nation, with Dallas ranking as one of the top five cities in the U.S. Whether you鈥檙e a local or the Lone Star state is calling your name, be sure to check out our list of the top Dallas summer programs for high schoolers.
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 Programs in Dallas
1)听
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
- Instructional Method:聽In-person (residential or commuter)
- Program Length: 1, 2 weeks
- Cost: $650-$1,950
- Eligibility: Varies
- Application Deadline: March/April
TCU offers a number of residential or commuter summer programs for high school students. These include the , the and the . Some highlights:
At the Schieffer Summer Journalism Camp, students work in TCU鈥檚 digital newsroom and broadcast news studio to produce stories. While learning to generate ideas and create news packages, they work with TCU journalism faculty and local professionals.
Sportscaster Camp is taught by an Emmy Award-winning sports anchor & reporter, and introduces students to the skills required for sports broadcasting. These include on-camera presence, reading from a teleprompter, interviewing, and photography. Accordingly, students will take part in daily “on-air” broadcasts and have the opportunity to meet and learn from sportscasting professionals associated with teams like the Mavericks and Cowboys.
Finally, Neeley Analytics Academy students will dive deep into what it takes to become a data analytics expert. They鈥檒l also become savvier at market research. In addition to earning college credit, students explore how to collect, examine, and present data as well as how to utilize modeling techniques and machine learning. Neeley is looking for students with strong math and leadership skills. As such, students must provide transcripts, recommendations, and a personal statement.
2)听
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Instructional Method:聽In-person (commuter)
- Program Length: 1 week
- Cost: Free (includes supplies, meals, and a transportation stipend)
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and college freshmen
- Application Deadline: April (priority deadline)
Given that Dallas has one of the country鈥檚 top arts districts, it鈥檚 perfect for aspiring artists and museum professionals. Accordingly, The Nasher Sculpture Center鈥檚 Summer Institute provides an opportunity to learn more about the art world alongside other creatives. Over the course of the program, students engage with the Nasher Center鈥檚 extensive collection and learn about art careers.
As admission is limited (and the program is free), this Dallas summer program is competitive. Interested students must demonstrate their passion for a potential career in art history, studio art, or art education. Furthermore, they鈥檒l need to provide evidence of how they鈥檝e pursued their creative interests outside of the classroom.
3)听
- Location: Irving, TX
- Instructional Method: In-person (residential and commuter)
- Program Length: 1 or 2 weeks
- Cost: $450-$945
- Eligibility: Varies (some only accommodate rising juniors and seniors)
- Application Deadline: March 1 (Arete) / May 15 (Summer Academy)
Interested in exploring different types of artistic mediums? The might be the perfect option for you. Here, you鈥檒l have the chance to explore ceramics, printmaking, and drawing within a 2D or 3D project of your choice. Most of your day will be spent in the studio, and the program culminates with an art show.
Likewise, the is open to string, piano, and vocal students who would like to develop their musical prowess. As such, they鈥檒l spend their days in masterclasses, ensembles, private lessons, and theory instruction. At the end of the program, they鈥檒l put on a celebratory concert.
Finally, is a unique introduction to the classics. During this two-week residential program, students鈥攁longside full-time UD faculty members鈥攅xplore how one lives a noble life. To do so, they鈥檒l discuss works like Oedipus Rex, Republic, and Henry V. Moreover, they鈥檒l be expected to produce a paper by the end of the course. The college-credit-bearing program combines work and culture鈥揺xpect weekend field trips to the Modern Art Museum, the Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, and a Shakespeare Dallas performance.
4)听
- Location: Richardson, TX
- Instructional Method:聽In-person (commuter) or online
- Program Length: 2, 4, 6 weeks
- Cost: $150-$2,000
- Eligibility: Varies
- Application Deadline: Varies (most are rolling or first-come, first-served)
At the University of Texas Dallas, students interested in programming and computer science have myriad options. For starters, are available. These include such options as Problem Solving in Python, Problem Solving in Java and Advanced Java, among others. Furthermore, there are both onlin and in-person options available. However, some do require prerequisites. For example, Object Oriented Programming in Java requires students to have intermediate Java skills.
In addition, if you鈥檙e an advanced student looking to immerse yourself in research, you鈥檙e in luck. In-person experiences include the聽, a four-week camp in the laboratories of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Alternatively, , which can be undertaken in-person or virtually, are similar to a college course and culminate in a final project or paper. Foundations of Computational Biology, Deep Dive AI, and Android App Design were several past topics; there are typically 15+ to choose from.
5)听
- Location: Denton, TX
- Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
- Program Length: 1 or 2 weeks
- Cost: Varies
- Eligibility: Varies
- Application Deadline: April (varies)
UNT offers quite an array of week-long Dallas summer programs for high school students. Intrigued by information and data science? The will familiarize you with data analytics and technological advancement. Furthermore, students attending the explore solar and wind energy, 3D printing, aluminum sandcasting, and injection molding, among other activities.
Humanities and fine arts more your speed? The musically inclined might pursue the (auditions required), which offers private lessons, masterclasses, and performance experience to string and piano students. Those interested in visual arts and design should consider the three-week . Finally, the introduces students to multimedia storytelling. It also includes the opportunity to attend the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, where students meet well-known authors.
Final Thoughts
Data analytics, computer science, art, journalism鈥hey鈥檙e all waiting for you at one of the many fantastic Dallas summer programs. Whether you鈥檙e looking to explore a new subject or hone advanced skills, you鈥檙e sure to find your match in Texas.
Looking for more summer program resources? Be sure to check out the following:
- Best Online Summer Programs
- Best Summer Programs for High School Students
- Best Summer Programs for Business
- Best Summer Programs for Computer Science
- Best Summer Programs for Law, Political Science, and International Relations
- Best Summer Programs for Performing and Visual Arts
- Best Summer Programs for Pre-Med
- Best Research-Intensive Summer Programs
- Best Summer Programs for STEM
- Best Summer Programs for Writing and Journalism
