15 College Camps for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in exploring your academic or career interests, college camps can be a good way to do so. These programs help you build practical skills, gain early industry exposure, and form valuable connections with mentors and peers. Many camps also give you a sense of what college learning feels like, helping you make more informed choices about future studies.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Camps stand out because they're usually shorter, more concentrated experiences centered around a specific topic or discipline. Unlike internships or semester-long programs, they allow you to explore a topic without a long-term commitment. They allow you to explore a topic in a concentrated setting without a long-term commitment.
Below, we’ve put together a list of 15 college camps for high school students.
If you are looking for medical summer camps, check out our blog here.
1. Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway is a two-week academic program that exposes high school students to multiple career areas through a combination of workshops, industry excursions, and practical project work in major global cities. Throughout the sessions, you participate in tasks designed to reflect professional expectations–whether that means collaborating on problem-solving challenges or building technical and analytical skills with mentor guidance. Industry speakers provide feedback during project development and explain how fields such as business, journalism, law, engineering, and medicine function in professional practice. Students also receive weekly one-on-one coaching that helps them evaluate their academic interests, strengths, and potential career trajectories. The program closes with a final presentation, during which participants share their work and insights with peers and mentors. You can find more details about the application here!
2. RxPLORE Camp at the University of Pittsburgh
Location: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 70-80 students
Dates: July 24 – 26
Application deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
The University of Pittsburgh’s RxPLORE Camp is a three-day introduction to the pharmacy profession that exposes high school juniors and seniors to community, hospital, and industry settings. You participate in medication preparation exercises, patient care simulations, and innovation activities that highlight the different responsibilities pharmacists assume. Throughout this college camp for high school students, you interact with faculty, pharmacy students, and researchers while touring labs and academic facilities within the School of Pharmacy. Campus and school tours are included to help participants understand what studying in a healthcare environment entails.
3. PNW GenCyber Summer Camp
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The PNW GenCyber Summer Camp is a five-day cybersecurity program structured around the GenCyber Six principles, introducing students to key security concepts through applied labs and interactive challenges. You get to explore areas such as cryptography, digital forensics, ethical hacking, and wireless network security while working through guided activities. Practical components include a Wi-Fi scavenger hunt using Raspberry Pi devices and robot programming challenges with Sparki robots. Team-based ethical hacking labs and forensic case simulations reinforce problem-solving and analytical skills. You receive lunch each day, along with a T-shirt, USB drive, and a certificate recognizing your participation.
4. COHS Summer Camp – Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Location: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
Cost: Accepted students will receive details of the camp fees
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30-40 students
Dates: June 30 – July 2
Application deadline: Rolling (early registration recommended)
Eligibility: Junior and senior high school students with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Sam Houston State University’s College of Health Sciences runs a three-day residential summer camp for high school juniors and seniors interested in learning about health-focused majors and careers. The college camp for high school students features hands-on activities taught by SHSU faculty in areas such as nursing, kinesiology, human sciences, and public health, giving you the chance to explore multiple health disciplines in an academic setting. Participants stay in on-campus residence halls, eat in university dining facilities, and take part in recreational and social activities to get a realistic view of college life. A key component is the trip to The Woodlands Center, home to SHSU’s School of Nursing, which allows you to observe advanced training spaces and simulation environments.
5. Norwich University’s Future Leader Camp
Location: Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Cost: TBA; the cost typically includes uniforms, room and meals, and all activities + $300 non-refundable deposit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year
Dates: Three nine-day sessions in June, July, and August
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; high school graduates can apply if they have been accepted at and committed to attending Norwich University
Norwich University’s Future Leader Camp is a nine-day leadership development experience built around military-style physical training and academic instruction, challenging students to build resilience and teamwork skills. Days feature early-morning fitness sessions followed by field activities such as rappelling, rock climbing, map reading, and applied problem-solving scenarios. Evening discussions introduce leadership principles in communication, responsibility, and decision-making, encouraging you to connect theory with the challenges you face throughout the day. Cadets and staff supervise all activities, creating a structured environment where students must adapt, cooperate, and support one another. The college camp for high school students concludes with team competitions and a graduation ceremony.
6. University of Minnesota’s IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Not specified; contact Math Center for Educational Programs at mathcep@umn.edu
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students (preferably in Minnesota) who have completed a one-year course in single variable calculus
The IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp at the University of Minnesota is a one-week program that introduces students to mathematical modeling by examining how real-world challenges can be analyzed with quantitative tools. Working in small groups, you develop and test models for topics such as infectious disease spread, traffic patterns on bridges, or environmental impact projections. Faculty mentors guide students through the technical steps of building, evaluating, and refining models while reinforcing the importance of collaboration and analytical reasoning. Past student projects have included evaluating potential routes for a proposed light rail system, demonstrating how modeling informs civic planning. The college camp for high school students ends with team presentations delivered to instructors and peers.
7. CJ Summer Camp
Location: College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
Cost: $725
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 14 – 18; Session 2: July 5 – 9
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-17
Sam Houston State University’s Criminal Justice Summer Camp introduces high school students to the full range of careers and skills within the criminal justice system over four in-person days. You participate in hands-on activities such as mock crime scene investigations, forensic analysis exercises, and demonstrations that illustrate how major agencies conduct their work. Professionals from organizations including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice speak with students about career roles and training pathways. Camp sessions also cover topics in policing, forensics, and law enforcement strategy, allowing you to explore several specialty areas. You also receive branded SHSU items and have opportunities to meet faculty and current students in the College of Criminal Justice.
8. USF Summer Camps: JGHC: Mock Trial Intensive
Location: USF St. Petersburg, Tampa, FL
Cost: $695 (tentative, based on previous years)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: July 27 – August 2 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application deadline: Applications open February 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10th-12th
The JGHC Mock Trial Intensive at the University of South Florida is a week-long immersion into the courtroom process and legal advocacy for high school students. Under the direction of attorney Maria Gerber and collegiate mock trial coaches, you’ll learn how to construct arguments, perform direct and cross-examinations, and deliver opening and closing statements. Students work with a case file throughout the week, analyzing facts and building a legal strategy in preparation for the final mock trial held at Stetson Law School. Panels with attorneys and legal professionals provide additional context about legal careers and the preparation required for them.
9. FAU's Criminal Justice Summer Camp
Location: FAU Campus, Boca Raton, FL
Cost: $900
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: Session 1: June 8 – 13; Session 2: July 20 – 25
Application deadline: Applications typically close in the Spring
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12 in the coming fall
Florida Atlantic University’s Criminal Justice Summer Camp is an intensive, week-long exploration of law enforcement operations and forensic investigation. Held on the Boca Raton campus, the program combines lectures with live demonstrations from specialized units such as SWAT, bomb squads, and K-9 teams to demonstrate how agencies conduct field operations. You’ll also tour facilities, including the Medical Examiner’s Office and local police departments, gaining exposure to investigative environments and procedures. Hands-on components allow you to collect evidence, examine forensic techniques, and learn how cases are built from initial response through analysis. Discussions on topics like Death Row cases and the FBI’s Most Wanted list deepen understanding of broader criminal justice issues that shape real-world practice.
10. UW-Whitewater Business and Leadership Camp
Location: University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Whitewater, WI
Cost: Resident: $575 | Commuter: $425; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application deadline: July 4
Eligibility: High school-aged students and incoming college freshmen, ages 14 – 19
The Business and Leadership Camp at UW-Whitewater is a five-day residential program that introduces high school students to entrepreneurship, marketing, and leadership through academic sessions and team-based projects. You take part in workshops on pitching, resume building, professional communication, and digital marketing while developing a business idea with your peers. Faculty members and student mentors assist participants in navigating leadership challenges, decision-making, and project planning. Students stay in campus residence halls, dine in university facilities, and tour the campus to gain a realistic sense of college life. The college camp for high school students concludes with a formal business case competition where teams present their work to faculty and invited judges.
11. Kansas State’s Leadership & Auxiliary Camp
Location: Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Cost: Resident campers: $500 | Non-resident campers: $325; optional non-resident camper meal card: $125
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 15
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 11
Kansas State University’s Leadership & Auxiliary Camp brings together high school musicians and performers for four days of specialized training in leadership and marching arts performance. The program is designed for drum majors, section leaders, color guard members, percussionists, and dance team participants, offering sessions on conducting, communication, ensemble coordination, and group leadership. Students rotate through full-ensemble rehearsals, sectional instruction, and leadership workshops taught by university faculty and guest clinicians. Residence hall accommodations and meals introduce participants to campus living while they refine both musical and organizational skills. A final showcase performance highlights the progress made over the course of the program.
12. The Marillyn A. Hewson Cybersecurity Summer Camp
Location: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Camp 1: June 2 – 6 | Camp 2: June 9 – 13
Application deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Open to high school students in the Tuscaloosa area
The Marillyn A. Hewson Cybersecurity Summer Camp teaches foundational and advanced cybersecurity concepts through interactive labs and research-informed lessons. Students can choose between a standard track covering essentials such as web infrastructure and network defense, or an advanced track focusing on more complex cyber challenges. The college camp for high school students incorporates the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense framework, in which you simulate defending virtual systems from cyberattacks. Faculty from the Culverhouse College of Business share current cybersecurity research, linking academic insights to real data security applications.
13. Ohio State Marion – STEM Summer Camp for High School Students
Location: Ohio State University at Marion, Marion, OH
Cost: $185
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen through seniors
Ohio State Marion’s STEM Summer Camp invites high school students to spend a week completing hands-on activities across genetics, chemistry, robotics, and engineering. The curriculum includes building and programming an Arduino-based robot to take home, designing boats for a physics-driven pool challenge, and working with fluorescent proteins in biotechnology labs. Participants conduct experiments in university facilities and engage directly with faculty who guide students through each scientific and technical concept. Field trips include visits to the Orton Geological Museum and local manufacturing companies to connect classroom learning with professional applications. A certificate is awarded at the end of the camp to acknowledge completion.
14. University of Cincinnati Summer Engineering Camps
Location: University of Cincinnati Clifton campus, Cincinnati, OH
Cost: Varies; some free, others $125–$250 for day camps, additional costs for overnight
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple camps available in June and July
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen through seniors
The University of Cincinnati’s summer engineering camps introduce high school students to the engineering design process through project-based coursework and mentorship from faculty and industry professionals. Programs such as the GE Next Engineers Camp focus on ninth- and tenth-graders, combining engineering challenges, career-preparation sessions, and interactions with GE engineers. Additional UC engineering camps allow students to explore specific engineering fields through experiments, demonstrations, and small-group instruction in campus labs. Throughout the college camp for high school students, teams work on design projects that culminate in a showcase presented to faculty, families, and corporate representatives.
15. Camp SOAR (Summer Opportunities in Aerospace Research)
Location: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Cost: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 17
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (as of fall)
Camp SOAR is a five-day, in-person summer program hosted by Texas A&M University’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. Throughout the program, you take part in hands-on design challenges and guided tours while choosing a focus area in airplanes, helicopters, or space systems. Within your selected track, you work on engineering projects that introduce you to the full design process and strengthen problem-solving and collaboration skills. The experience includes visits to major research spaces such as the Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory, the Land Air and Space Robotics Laboratory, and the hypersonic wind tunnels at the National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonics Laboratory. You also interact with faculty members and current aerospace engineering students to learn about academic pathways and research work.
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