15 College Programs for High School Students in Texas
College programs can be a strong option if you’re a high school student looking to explore your academic interests before college. They give you a preview of university-level learning while helping you build skills through coursework, projects, and academic activities. You can also explore different fields and gain a better understanding of what studying on a college campus might feel like.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas is home to universities and organizations that offer a wide range of programs across fields such as STEM, business, the arts, and the humanities. Depending on the program, you might conduct research, analyze case studies, or participate in creative or technical projects while developing relevant skills. These opportunities can be worth considering, whether you are a local student looking for programs nearby or an out-of-state student interested in exploring a new academic environment.
To help you sort through the wide range of options, we have narrowed down 15 college programs for high school students in Texas.
If you’re looking for AI summer programs in Texas, check out our blog here.
1. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students/year
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent graduates who are at least 17 years old and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This selective summer college program allows 12 high school students each year to engage in research at Texas Tech University. Over the course of seven weeks, you will live on the Texas Tech campus and work closely with a faculty mentor on a research project. You will design and carry out research in a field of your choice, with options ranging from biology and physics to economics. Alongside research work, the program includes seminars on research methods, writing, and peer feedback. Field trips and professional workshops will help you explore how academic research connects with industry and real-world applications. The program ends with the submission of a formal research project report.
2. Rice STEM Academy Sustainable Futures Academy
Location: Rice University, Houston, Texas
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: June 7
Eligibility: Students entering 10th or 11th grade; the focus is on high school girls, but boys and non-binary students in high school are also eligible.
The Sustainable Futures Academy is a free, week-long summer program designed to introduce high schoolers to science and engineering through a sustainability lens. Throughout the week, you will engage in labs, engineering challenges, and faculty-led discussions with Rice University researchers and graduate students. The curriculum emphasizes sustainability-focused problem-solving, encouraging you to explore STEM with a focus on environmental impact and design trade-offs. You will engage in activities such as building and testing engineering landing capsules, designing roller coasters, using micro:bits and TI-Nspire, and working with TI-Nspire Rovers.
3. Houston PREP @ University of Houston
Location: University of Houston–Downtown, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 16 – July 18
Application deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Current 7th–9th grade students with a B average overall (C if in honors/gifted classes; 7th graders require an A average); advancement to consecutive Houston PREP programming in the next year requires successful completion of the previous year.
Houston PREP is a six-week STEM-focused program designed to help middle and high school students explore careers in science and engineering. You will attend classes on topics such as algebra, logic, robotics, and computer programming, and participate in problem-solving workshops. The program includes visits to research labs and industry facilities, allowing you to see how STEM careers function outside the classroom. SAT preparation and college-readiness sessions are also included in the curriculum. On completing the first year, you can return for more advanced coursework next year and progressively qualify for programming throughout high school.
4. McCombs Future Executive Academy @ University of Texas at Austin
Location: UT Austin McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX
Cost: Free (covers tuition, housing, and meals)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 31 – June 5
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
This free one-week residential business program introduces you to topics like management, finance, and entrepreneurship through lectures and case studies. You will live on campus at UT Austin and attend workshops led by faculty from the McCombs School of Business. You will work with peers to analyze business scenarios and pitch solutions while receiving feedback from instructors and corporate mentors. Site visits to Austin companies allow you to observe how business strategies are implemented in real settings. One of the few business-focused college programs for high school students in Texas, this academy combines campus living, mentorship, and real-world business case discussions in a short format.
5. Baylor College of Medicine DocPrep Program
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60 students from partner schools
Dates: One week in the summer
Application deadline: Opens in March; exact date varies by school
Eligibility: Rising seniors from partner high schools; school nomination is required to participate.
DocPrep is a free, week-long program that combines academic enrichment and college preparation to support high school students in pursuing careers in medicine. As a participant, you will learn about careers in medicine through faculty-led lectures, simulations, and lab activities. A course led by Rice graduate students will offer insights into healthcare-related communication skills. Medical students will serve as mentors throughout the program. The program offers a glimpse into college-level medical education and provides you with early exposure to healthcare roles.
6. University of Texas at Austin’s Academy for Women
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 31 – June 6
Application deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11 and 12
The Academy for Women is a fully funded residential program designed to introduce young women to careers in computer science and technology. You will explore programming concepts such as C++ while learning about teamwork, project management, and collaborative development through instructional sessions and project work. Workshops led by UT Austin faculty will focus on building technical skills while also discussing pathways into tech careers. You will also get to connect with current UT students who will provide mentorship and share their experiences studying computer science. Additionally, you will code an Arduino microcontroller to put on an LED display light show.
7. University of Houston MohanLab Summer Program
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application deadline: March 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The MohanLab Summer Program introduces high schoolers to biomedical research related to cancer biology, diagnostics, and biomedical engineering. You will begin with a laboratory bootcamp to learn core research techniques and safety procedures. After that, you will join a research team and contribute to ongoing projects using experimental or data-based methods. Mentors will guide the work, but you will also be expected to complete independent tasks. The program ends with a research symposium where you will present your findings.
8. Aggie STEM Summer Camp @ Texas A&M University
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: $1,699 (high school) | $1,499 (middle school)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week 1: May 31 – June 6 | Week 2: June 7 – 13 | Week 3: June 14 – 20 | Week 4: June 21 – 27 | Week 5 (Gaddis Girls Camp): June 21 – June 27
Application deadline: April 25
Eligibility: 6th to 12th graders with an interest in STEM
Aggie STEM Summer Camp offers one-week residential sessions where you will work on project-based engineering and technology challenges. Under the guidance of Texas A&M faculty and industry professionals, you will move through a build-test-refine process while developing prototypes and models and exploring topics like coding, physics, and rocketry. Activities emphasize hands-on work and collaboration, requiring you to work in teams, troubleshoot problems, and explain your reasoning. Topics vary from year to year, but daily work typically focuses on emerging technologies and tools. At camp, you will also get to tour the STEM labs on the TAMU campus.
9. REACT @ TAMU Chemistry
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: $250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 20 students/year
Dates: July 13 – 24
Application deadline: March 27
Eligibility: High school students
The REACT (Research Experiences in Analytical Chemistry Training) program is a summer enrichment program at Texas A&M University designed for high school students interested in chemistry and laboratory research. You will explore techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and polymerase chain reaction. You will conduct lab investigations, analyze chemical samples, and engage in scientific discussions to better understand experimental chemistry. The program may also include field trips to highlight how chemistry is applied in research labs and industry settings. Through these activities, you will build technical lab skills, critical-thinking abilities, and problem-solving skills to prepare for full-fledged research.
10. Texas Tech University’s School of Art Raider Create Pre-College Immersion Program
Location: Texas Tech University, School of Art, Lubbock, TX
Cost: $850
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: June 8 – 12
Application deadline: May 28
Eligibility: Students, ages 15 and up, entering grades 9 – 12
Raider Create is a one-week residential experience that introduces high schoolers to creative studio work. You will participate in workshops covering painting, sculpting, jewelry-making, and art book-making, using professional-grade materials and equipment. Faculty instructors will guide you through technique-based exercises and experimentation with artistic concepts. You will also learn about paths in fine arts you can explore after high school. Evening activities will help you connect with peers. The program concludes with a public exhibition where you will present your artwork and add to your professional portfolio.
11. HSRA Summer Program @ UT Austin
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 15
Application deadline: March 22
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 15 and up by June 1; Texas residents and rising juniors and seniors are prioritized.
The High School Research Academy (HSRA) is a five-week program hosted by UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences. You will join research labs working on projects in genetics, neuroscience, environmental science, or biochemistry. Faculty and research staff will guide you through core research skills like literature reviews, data analysis, and experimental methods. Weekly seminars will cover topics like research ethics and scientific careers. At the end of the program, you will present your work at a poster symposium.
12. Engineering Design Experience @ Southern Methodist University
Location: Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Cost: $1,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: Female Camp: June 8 – 12 | Male Camp: June 15 – 19 | Co-ed Camp: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified; applications open February 9, and recommendations are due by March 15.
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students
This five-day residential program introduces students to engineering design and prototyping. You will work within the Deason Innovation Gym, a makerspace equipped with 3-D printers, laser cutters, and machine tools, and tackle design challenges that require CAD modeling, prototyping, and iterative testing. Campus tours and visits to engineering facilities help you understand how university labs operate. SMU Lyle undergraduate students and alums of partner schools serve as camp counselors and mentors who will stay with you in the dorms throughout the program. You will present your project on the final day to peers, family, and staff and faculty of the Lyle School.
13. Texas A&M University’s Camp ARCH
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: $1,500; limited number of need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 11
Application deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
Camp ARCH is a week-long residential architecture-focused program offered by Texas A&M’s College of Architecture. You will choose from tracks such as architecture, construction science, landscape architecture, or urban planning to explore core concepts and apply them to projects. Studio sessions involve hands-on design work guided by faculty and teaching assistants. You will collaborate with peers on group projects and learn how architectural ideas are developed from concept sketches to physical models. The week ends with a showcase presentation where you will display your projects.
14. Texas State University’s NEXUS Musical Theatre Pre-College Intensive
Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $2,900
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60 students
Dates: June 15 – 25
Application deadline: Early deadline: February 1; Regular deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising first-year high school students through seniors
The NEXUS Musical Theatre Intensive is a two-week program focused on acting, voice, dance, and performance training. You will receive instruction from Texas State faculty who are active theatre professionals. Workshops will cover audition techniques, ensemble work, and stage performance skills. The curriculum also includes wellness sessions and pop/rock performance coaching. You will additionally join a Musical Development Laboratory to learn how new musical theatre productions are created, gaining insight into the collaborative process behind stage productions.
15. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
Location: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Current high school students who are Texas residents with a GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale
SEP introduces high schoolers to careers in medicine through a one-week summer learning experience at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s School of Medicine. As a participant, you will learn about medicine through a medical terminology course, a science course (chemistry or anatomy), suturing sessions, ultrasound training, and basic life support certification. You will learn how to take a physical exam, get to engage with medical students, participate in tours of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center facilities, and volunteer during the program. The program also offers guidance on preparing for medical school.
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