2026 Best Summer Programs
An increasing number of selective colleges now scrutinize how applicants spend their summers during high school. In response to this trend, thousands of providers鈥搃ncluding both universities and private companies鈥搊ffer academically-themed summer programs for teens. These programs vary from free-to-extremely expensive, and highly-selective-to-open enrollment. With such a bevy of options, teens will likely need expert guidance in order to successfully locate an ideal-fit program that will fully support their future academic and career dreams.聽
To answer this need, our list of the Best Summer Programs is here to serve as your comprehensive guide. For your convenience, the list is sortable by discipline and location and contains relevant data and information about each recommended program.
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
- Various Locations
- Eight-week paid summer internship.
- Mentorship by a local fisheries and aquatic science professional.
- Hands-on experience in marine or freshwater setting.
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Residential -
Online
- Session Length: 8 Weeks
- Application Deadline: January 16th
- Eligibility: Rising 11th, 12th + Graduates
Jackson Lab Summer Student Program
- Bar Harbor, ME or Farmington, CT
- Immersion in genetics and genomic research.
- Students develop and present an independent research project.
- Available in two locations: Bar Harbor, ME or Farmington, CT.
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Residential: -
Online:
- Session Length: 10 Weeks
- Application Deadline: January 29th
- Eligibility: 18
Research Science Institute (MIT)
- Cambridge, MA
- Cost-free science and engineering program.
- Features a five-week research internship.
- Students are mentored by experienced researchers.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: October
- Eligibility: 12th
The Ross Mathematics Program
- Columbus, OH + more
- Primary focus on number theory.
- Students spend ten hours per day in class and small-group discussions.
- Build capacity for abstract thought and critical thinking.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March
- Eligibility: 15-18
- National multicultural journalism program.
- Students produce multiplatform news packages for the program鈥檚 news site.
- Includes workshops, hands-on training, and field trips.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: March 1st
- Eligibility: 10-12th
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
- Notre Dame, IN
- 10-day, on-campus program.
- Students confront complex global issues in class.
- Service-learning opportunities are part of the experience.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 10 Days
- Application Deadline: January 22nd
- Eligibility: 12th
Science Internship Program (SIP)
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Students are inserted into real, existing UCSC research projects.
- Receive one-on-one mentorship.
- Past projects have been completed in areas from biomolecular engineering to literature.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 10 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March 31st
- Eligibility Rising 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Scripps College Student Research Internship
- Claremont, CA
- Focused on translational medical research.
- Students become proficient in presenting scientific concepts.
- Work with a primary mentor on an area of interest.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 10 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March 30th
- Eligibility: 16
- Eligiblility: At least 16 years old by start of internship
Simons Summer Research Program (Stony Brook)
- Stony Brook, NY
- Students are matched with a faculty member and join a research team.
- Attend special workshops, tours, and events.
- Culminates with research abstract and poster.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Nominations by mid January
- Eligibility: 12th
Summer Leaders Experience (U.S. Military Academy)
- West Point, NY
- Immersion into academic, military, and social life.
- Receive mentorship from current West Point cadets.
- Explore a variety of academic disciplines.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: March 15th
- Eligibility: 12th
Summer Seminar (U.S. Air Force Academy)
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Experience life as an Air Force Academy cadet.
- Explore academic offerings and facilities.
- Participate in application-related workshops.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: January 15th
- Eligibility: 12th
- Immersed into Naval Academy life.
- Students attend academic and leadership workshops.
- Participate in athletics and extracurricular activities.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: April 15th
- Eligibility: 12th
The Summer Science Program
- Mulitple
- Students work in teams on a real research project.
- Astrophysics, biochemistry, and genomics projects available.
- Extensive collaboration with peers and faculty members.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: February 16th
- Eligibility: 12th
Telluride Association Summer Seminar
- Multiple Locations
- Students build an inclusive community and practice democratic decision-making.
- Strengthen community through transformative justice.
- Two programs: Critical Black Studies and Anti-Oppressive Studies.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Dec 1st (Nominations), Jan 3rd App
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
- Faculty-mentored residential program.
- Academics include math, physics, chemistry, and engineering design.
- Students participate in workshops, site visits, and field trips.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March 11th
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
- Eligibility: Rising 11th & 12th
Young Women’s Institute (Indiana University)
- Bloomington, IN
- Exposes women to business career opportunities.
- Students create a real-world business case project.
- Build leadership, communication, and networking skills.
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Residential
-
Online
- Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: April 4th
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
- Eligbility: Females, Rising 11th & 12th
Garcia Scholars (Stony Brook University)
- Stony Brook, NY
- Students design original research projects.
- Past students consistently win recognition for their research.
- Can continue during the academic year.
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Residential Options
-
Online Option
- Session Length: 7 Weeks
- Application Deadline: January
- Eligbility: At least 16
COSMOS (University of California)
- Various Locations, CA
- Exposure to advanced topics.
- Each student chooses a 鈥渃luster鈥� of science and math courses.
- Available on 5 UC campuses.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: February 9th
- Eligibility: CA Res, 9th-12th
- Intensive seven-week summer research program.
- Offers weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips.
- Research areas include natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and fine arts.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Session Length: 7 Weeks
- Application Deadline: January 2nd
- Eligibility: Rising 12th + Graduates; must by 17
Boston University RISE
- Boston, MA
- Students conduct laboratory research alongside BU faculty.
- Two tracks offered: Internship and Practicum.
- Research areas include many science and engineering disciplines.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: February 14th
- Eligibility: 12th
Frontiers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Worcester, MA
- Students select a CS course as well as a humanities course.聽
- Covers areas like JavaScript, HTML, and networking.聽
- Also offers a number of fun social activities in the evenings.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Nasher Sculpture Center Summer Institute
- Dallas, TX
- Learn about careers in art.
- Only 30 students accepted each year.聽
- Create your own projects under the guidance of professional artists.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: May
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Georgia Tech Pre-College Design Program
- Atlanta, GA
- Complete an architectural project that can be used in future portfolios.聽
- Architecture, Industrial Design, and Building Construction pathways available.聽
- Transcript and essay required for admission.
- This program is fully remote.聽
- There are 9 two-week courses available.聽
- Participants earn one college credit for completing the course.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
- The experience is fast-paced, rigorous, and highly collaborative.
- Topics vary each year.
- All students complete and present a capstone project.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Penn Carey Law Pre-College Academy
- Philadelphia, PA
- Get a glimpse of the first-year law experience.
- Intro to the American legal system as well as complex legal issues.
- Visits to law firms and courtrooms are part of the experience.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Age 15-18
Emory National Debate Institute Summer Programs
- Atlanta, GA
- Two options: The Fundamentals of Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue or the Policy Debate Institute.
- No prior debate experience required.聽
- Prepares students to join high school debate teams in the future.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1鈥�2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April/May
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
ASU Summer Programs
- Phoenix, AZ
- Logic, Leadership, and Life Skills program is one of many curricular options.聽
- Residential, commuter, and online options available.聽
- Programs vary in admissions difficulty.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 3鈥�10 Days
- Application Deadline: March/April
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
Summer Game Studio at Clark University
- Worcester, MA
- Students learn game art and animation, motion capture, testing, and production.
- Structured lectures and discussions as well as studio time.聽
- Collaborate with team to create an original game.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
- Taught by full-time faculty from the School of Cinematic Arts and the School of Design
- Students collaborate to create a computer game.
- Students must be from the Chicago area or secure their own housing.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: June
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
USC Cinematic Arts Summer Program
- Los Angeles, CA
- Residential, commuter, and online options available.聽
- 30 courses in filmmaking, screenwriting, computer graphics, animation, and gaming.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Age 16+
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
- Palo Alto, CA
- Residential and online options.聽
- Abstract Algebra and Number Theory or Algebraic Topology tracks available.聽
- Strong grades, recommendations, and essays a must for admission.
-
Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks (residential); 3 Weeks (online)
- Application Deadline: February
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
MathILy at Bryn Mawr College
- Bryn Mawr, PA
- Students engage in high school and college-level discrete mathematics.聽
- Topics often include combinatorics, knot theory, and topological graph theories.
- Runs 7 hours per day, 6 days per week.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April
- Eligibility: Age 14-17
Washington Youth Summit on the Environment
- Fairfax, VA
- Hosted by George Mason University and the Smithsonian National Zoo.
- Visit endangered species and learn about conservation.聽
- Students earn one college credit.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: December
- Eligibility: 11th, 12th
Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES)
- Philadelphia, PA
- Offered through the University of Pennsylvania.聽
- Develop independent research project based on an environmental problem.聽
- Culminates with a research report and public presentation.
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Residential
-
Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Februrary
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
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