Best Summer Programs in Los Angeles 鈥� 2026

March 3, 2026

If Los Angeles was up for an Academy Award, it would take home Oscars for its world-famous entertainment scene and glorious beaches. Home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Disneyland, and countless film and television studios, Los Angeles is a mecca for students interested in the media or entertainment industries. But Tinseltown has much more to offer than glitz and glam鈥搕here鈥檚 the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (largest in the western US), and the La Brea Tar Pits, an active paleontological research site located in a public park. Moreover, there are myriad iconic neighborhoods to explore while engaging in the uber-active SoCal lifestyle. Of course, you鈥檒l have to navigate LA鈥檚 notorious traffic situation and questionable air quality, but they鈥檙e worth it for the chance to attend one of the many excellent Los Angeles summer programs waiting within this action-packed sliver of paradise.

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!

2026 Best Summer Programs

Best Summer Programs in Los Angeles

1) UCLA Film & Television Emerging Filmmakers

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instructional Method: In-person (residential)
Program Length: 1, 2, and 3 weeks
Cost: $2,955-$8,975
Eligibility: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Rolling

Taught by industry experts with curriculums that focus on contemporary professional practices in Hollywood, these programs provide students with access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at the prestigious UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Emerging Filmmakers courses include: Digital Filmmaking, TV Writing, Cinematography, and Media Parks. These programs offer pre-college students an unparalleled opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work closely with entertainment industry professionals to develop their portfolios and gain the tools they need.

2) MasterScholar UCB Summer Research Program

Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Instructional Method:聽In-person (residential)
Program Length: 3 Weeks
Cost: $11,250
Eligibility: Ages 15-19 (high school students and recent grads)
Application Deadline: March 30

The UCSB MasterScholar Summer Research Program (offered in collaboration with KSE Global Education) provides an engaging and immersive pre-college academic experience for high school students interested in sustainability, engineering, and environmental science. Throughout this intensive three-week program, students dive into UCSB鈥檚 innovative, student-centered science and engineering curriculum, benefiting from the university鈥檚 focus on research and its unique location. After choosing a research field to study, participants learn crucial academic skills, cultivate their critical thinking abilities, and gain research experience through collaborative discussions and hands-on exploration.

The program offers a unique platform for students to connect with peers from around the world. Through shared coursework and extracurricular activities, students build international friendships, enhance cross-cultural understanding, and broaden their perspectives, creating lasting memories and connections.

3)

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter) and online
Program Length: 2, 3, 4, or 6 weeks
Cost: Varies according to program and number of credits
Eligibility: 9-12th graders (Summer Institutes) / 10-11th graders (SCIP)
Application Deadline: Rolling (Summer Institutes) / May (SCIP)

You won鈥檛 be surprised to learn that the UCLA summer program scene is incredibly vibrant. Accordingly, there are two main options for high schoolers: Precollege Summer Institutes and the Summer College Immersion Program.

Interested in earning college credit? The are a UCLA summer program with nearly forty options available in three different formats. For example, some require students to live on campus while others are structured for commuters or virtual participants. Current choices include Nanoscale Microscopy Lab, Hip Hop/Street Dance, and Film and Television Summer Institute in Cinematography, among many others.

Finally, the provides students with exposure to residential and academic life at UCLA. As such, they engage in up to two courses alongside current undergraduate students as well as co-curricular lectures, workshops, and seminars. There are three formats available: SCIP, SCIP+ (which provides research skill development), and eSCIP (you guessed it: virtual). The SCIP-approved course list is extensive and includes options like Acting Fundamentals, Biomedical Ethics, and People and Earth鈥檚 Ecosystems. SCIP+ and eSCIP have their own approved course lists. In addition, SCIP+ students must take a concurrent Research Practice Course.

For each UCLA summer program, admission requirements vary. For example, the Acting and Performance Summer Institute requires a video audition, resume, recommendation letter, and essay. On the other hand, SCIP requires a 3.8+ unweighted GPA, an extracurricular resume, transcript, and statement of purpose.

4)

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Instructional Method: In-person (residential or commuter) and online
Program Length: 4 weeks (in-person)
Cost: $8,103 (commuter) / $11,570 (residential) / $1,990 (online)
Eligibility: 10-12th graders (in-person) / high school students 14+ (online)
Application Deadline: May 8 (in-person) / rolling (online)

USC offers a variety of in-person and online Los Angeles summer programs for high school students. All courses are designed to be both intense and engaging. Moreover, students will earn college credit after completing their course of choice.

are offered by nine different departments at USC, which include architecture, business, performing arts, pre-law, and writing. For example, Exploration of Architecture teaches fundamentals of design and composition along with sketching, drawing, and photography skills. Five different business courses are offered such as Analytics: The Power of Data for Businesses, Building Sustainable Businesses, and Bitcoin & AI. Moreover, the Acting Intensive teaches movement, voice, acting techniques, theory, and special considerations for college auditions. Finally, each USC summer program includes related field trips within the Los Angeles area.

have multiple start dates available, and involve 20-25 hours of recorded lectures, readings, and discussions. Accordingly, students complete this USC summer program at their own pace. Thirteen course options are available, and include Lifespan Development: Critical Questions for Aging and the Lifespan, Screenwriting: From Ideation to Writing Your First Script, and Digital Marketing: From Content Creation to Strategic Planning.

To apply to an in-person USC summer program, students need to complete an essay and provide a teacher recommendation as well as a transcript. Additionally, they should be pursuing a rigorous high school curriculum. However, the online course application process is much less involved. Students only need to complete a short-answer essay and provide basic contact information.

5)

Location: Orange, CA
Instructional Method: In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 2 weeks (Summer Surgery Program) / 1 week (Better than Live Summer Surgery Program)
Cost: $5,500 (Summer Surgery) / $2,350 (Better than Live)
Eligibility: High school students 16+
Application Deadline: February 27 (application opens in January)

One of the top high school medical programs in the country, the Summer Surgery Program gives students outstanding access to the field of medicine. In addition to learning about the day-to-day life of a surgeon, students also receive hands-on training. They take dissection courses, receive ultrasound training, develop surgical skills, and are exposed to minimally invasive surgery technology. Moreover, they鈥檒l work with medical students, residents, and faculty, observe live surgeries, and obtain a Basic Life Support Certification.

If that overview wasn鈥檛 convincing enough, the impact of this program has been formally studied, . In it, researchers found that 97% of participants felt that the program increased their interest in medicine. Additionally, 88% felt that it increased their confidence in a healthcare career.

Furthermore, based on the popularity of the Summer Surgery Program, UCI rolled out an additional offering: the “Better than Live” Summer Surgery Program. Participants receive mentorship and engage in semi-live surgery case discussions. Moreover, they receive hands-on surgical training, similar to their Summer Surgery Program counterparts, in areas like laparoscopy, endoscopy, IV placement, and suturing.

To be eligible for these Los Angeles summer programs, applicants must be 16 or older, have a 3.5 (or above) unweighted GPA, complete several essays, and supply a teacher recommendation. Additionally, all candidates will be interviewed. In particular鈥攄ue to the live surgery component鈥攖he admissions committee looks for maturity and respect.

6)

Location: La Jolla, CA
Instructional Method:聽In-person (commuter)
Program Length: 10 weeks
Cost: Free (stipends are sometimes awarded)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+
Application Deadline: March 30

Over the course of this Los Angeles summer program, which focuses on translational medical research, students aim to fulfill several objectives. Firstly, they gain exposure to a number of different areas, including genomics, bioinformatics, and digital medicine. Secondly, they鈥檒l develop skills related to research procedures, clinical trial organization, and research presentation.

Each intern is assigned a mentor that aligns with their interests. Along with their mentor, students also work with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and attend seminars with faculty members. Finally, all students must complete an independent research proposal and present their research projects at a poster symposium.

During the application review process, students are evaluated based on their academic qualifications as well as their research interests. Consequently, the program advises that 鈥渢he primary criterion for admission is a strong interest in genomics or mHealth translational research.鈥� Prior to acceptance, some students may be contacted for an interview by their potential mentor. It should also be noted that although Scripps College itself is located within LA County, the Research Translational Institute is located approximately two hours south of the main campus.

7)

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Residential?: In-person (residential) or online
Program Length: 2 weeks (non-credit) or 4 weeks (for credit)
Cost: $2,730 (online) / $6,500 (non-credit) / $11,100 (for credit)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: March

This Los Angeles summer program introduces students to undergraduate life while providing rigorous academics, extracurricular activities, and co-curricular workshops. Accordingly, there are two-week residential, four-week residential, and two-week online programs. Four-week programs are credit-bearing while two-week programs are not.

Two-week options are numerous and include Acting for the Camera, Beginning Screenwriting, Global Sports and Entertainment Business, Journalism Workshop, and the Engineering of Theatre. As for four-week options, there are just two: Social Impact Filmmaking and Exploring Engineering. Only one online option鈥揃eginning Screenwriting鈥搃s offered. Moreover, each course includes a Los Angeles area excursion. For example, filmmaking students might visit local film or television studios while graphic design students might visit printing companies.

In addition to completing the general application, students will need to submit a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and high school transcripts.

Final Thoughts 鈥� Los Angeles Summer Programs

LA鈥檚 entertainment possibilities, warm weather, and celebrity sightings impossible to pass up? Whether you鈥檙e pursuing filmmaking within the UCLA summer program or analytics within the USC summer program, rest assured that you鈥檒l have options galore鈥搉o matter your academic interest area of choice.

Looking for more summer program resources? Be sure to check out the following:

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Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).