17 Top Summer Programs for High School Students in 2025
The summer is a great time for teens to learn new things and summer programs for high school students are the perfect place to do just that. They’re also a great way to increase their chances of getting into their dream college.
According to Scholastic, many educational institutions suggest students do summer programs to help prevent “summer slide,” which is a learning and skill loss that many students may experience during the summer when they’re out of the classroom.
Summer programs also allow students to explore their interests, get hands-on experience and network with other students and teachers. Some may also offer college credit or give a taste of what college life might be like.
From an academic program to an arts program, overnight and on-site programs to free programs, there are plenty of options for every high school student. We’ve rounded up 17 summer programs for high school students to further their interests.
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- Best Summer Programs for High School Students
- Overnight Summer Programs for High School Students
- Free Summer Programs for High School Students
- Summer Programs for High School Students FAQs
Best Summer Programs for High School Students
High school students and their parents may start searching for the right summer program as soon as the school year starts. So, what are the best summer programs for high school students?
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
RSI is one of the best summer programs for high school students who demonstrate superior achievement in science, math and engineering. The program is hosted by the MIT Mathematics Department over six weeks in the summer and is for rising seniors. Students are matched with current graduate students, who mentor them through a research project.
2. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
Hosted at Boston University, PROMYS is one of the best summer programs for high school students interested in math and science. Students explore how mathematics can be creative while learning from visiting scientists and research mathematicians.
3. National Student Leadership Conference
This pre-college experience is one of the best for students looking to explore their interests. The programs are hosted on college campuses across the country. They have programs in a variety of fields, including design, art and media; government and law; medicine and biology; engineering and computer science and business and leadership. NSLC also has programs for middle school students.
4. Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
Taught at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, LBW is one of the best summer programs for high school students interested in the business world. The program provides an introduction to business education and aims to improve skills in leadership, communication and teamwork.
5. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
As one of the most competitive summer programs for high school students, the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program accepts only twelve high school juniors and seniors. It’s a seven-week research program that allows students to explore a variety of fields, from computer science to history, all on the Texas Tech University campus.
6. Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research Program
Future doctors will benefit from attending SIMR at Stanford University. The eight-week program focuses on research as students work through a medical-based project. Students are able to research in fields including immunology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine and more.
Overnight Summer Programs for High School Students
7. Georgetown Hoya Summer High School Sessions
Georgetown offers a variety of programs for high school students. However, the DC university has two overnight summer programs for high school students. Summer College allows you to live on campus for five weeks and take classes with current Georgetown students. There’s also a college prep program that helps provide a head start and earns students college credit.
8. MathILy
For students who excel in math, MathILy at Bryn Mawr College is a great choice. It’s a five-week program for those who are math masters as well as students looking to improve their mathematical skills. It’s a great program for those looking to explore the creativity of the field.
9. Summer@Cornish
Students interested in the arts should apply to Summer@Cornish, a four-week intensive program for music, theater, dance, film, art and design. It brings in professional artists in each field to teach courses and students are able to customize their schedule.
10. Maximo Nivel: Summer Spanish Camp in Costa Rica
For those looking to improve their Spanish language skills, Maximo Nivel is one of the best summer programs for high school students. It’s an immersion program that will help students become fluent as they engage in community service, cultural activities, tourism and sports.
11. Visions Service Adventures
Academic programs aren’t the only option; service overnight summer programs for high school students are great for those interested in spending the summer volunteering. Visions Service Adventures has programs in Montana, the Dominican Republic and Peru, each being at least a week long, where they’ll work on a service project during their time.
12. Boston Architectural College Pre-College Urban Design and Planning Fellowship
Interested in architecture, urban design or urban planning? This is one of the best programs. The Summer Academy Program is a hands-on program for architecture, design and landscape design. The Urban Design and Planning program is a pre-college curriculum that offers an in-depth exploration of the foundational knowledge.
Free Summer Programs for High School Students
13. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
With the goal of getting more girls interested in STEM, the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is open to current 9th through 11th-grade students. The program provides live virtual classes for two weeks. They’ll learn about game design, computer science and UX design.
14. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
This is one of the best free summer programs for low-income high school students. The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers a free program that pairs students with PhD mentors, who guide them through an independent research project and finish with a research paper.
15. Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
This is one of the best summer programs for high school students who want to become journalists. It’s a hybrid program with a week online before a ten-day residential program. As part of the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program, they’ll tour major news organizations, attend workshops and lectures and improve their writing and journalism skills.
16. Simons Summer Research Program
The Simons Summer Research Program is one of the best free summer programs for high school students interested in science and who demonstrate creativity and independence with academic research. It’s open to current high school juniors who are matched with faculty mentors who will help with their research. Students will also attend workshops and end with a poster presentation at the symposium.
17. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Hosted at Carnegie Mellon University, SAMS is one of the best summer programs for high school students for current sophomores and juniors. The five-week program is specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in STEM. They’ll take math and science courses, work on research projects and attend development workshops with the help of CMU faculty.
Summer Programs for High School Students FAQs
Do Summer Programs Look Good for College?
With so many students applying to college, it’s more important than ever for students, especially rising juniors and seniors, to stand out in the crowd. Summer programs look good for colleges because they show that a student is willing to take on challenges, achieve a goal, self-motivate and explore new experiences.
The best summer programs for high school students can show that students are leaders in their potential future field. Academic summer programs demonstrate achievements and prove that a student can succeed in college-level courses and thrive in the college experience.
Many colleges will see summer programs as a benefit. So, when applying to colleges, having a summer program on the application can look really good. It can help give a little boost and possibly increase the chances of getting accepted.
If you’re looking for spring break ideas, short spring programs like volunteering or one-week classes can also be a benefit for education and college applications.
What Do You Do in Summer School High School?
Once school ends, many students are excited for summer activities, like going on vacation, spending time with friends and hosting gatherings with summer party themes. However, some students may also opt to do summer school or summer classes. Students may take summer school to retake classes they failed, fulfill a graduation requirement, get ahead in their academic career, earn college credit or explore interests.
Classes can be taken online, at the student’s school or hosted on a college campus. Summer school is often structured like a typical school year, with students arriving for classes. There may be lectures, discussions or labs, depending on the subject. Students will have to complete projects, do homework, give presentations and take tests and quizzes.
Summer school is often different from the standard school year because the programs are often half-days and students typically only take one or two courses at a time.
Summer programs for high school students offer major benefits no matter their age. Whether they’re exploring an interest further, trying to network with like-minded students and teachers or looking to get a feel of college, a great program is the ideal way for students to spend the summer.
They offer opportunities for learning new skills and forming friendships and help boost a college application. These summer programs for high school students are some of the best, but there are plenty more around the country and the world. So, let this be a jumping off point to find the perfect fit for your student!
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