14 Psychology Summer Programs for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
If you’re a high school student interested in how people think, feel, and behave, psychology summer programs can offer an early look into the field. These programs go beyond the basics you might find in a classroom, providing experience in areas such as cognitive science, behavioral research, mental health, and social psychology. Whether you're running experiments, analyzing case studies, or attending seminars led by professionals, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of opportunities in the field.
Why should you attend a program in New York City?
New York City is a good place to explore psychology, with its concentration of universities, research centers, and hospitals that offer specialized programs. You might assist with behavioral studies, collect and analyze data, or discuss theories in classes that connect psychology to fields like health, education, or technology. Whether you live in the city or are visiting for the summer, these programs give you a chance to learn from experts and explore your interests.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated 14 psychology summer programs for high school students in New York City.
If you are looking for free summer programs in NYC, check out our blog here.
1. Rockefeller University’s Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: August 4 – 15
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: New York City public high school students who are 16+
The Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP) is an intensive summer program designed to introduce high school students in NYC to neuroscience and psychology. Led by Rockefeller University graduate students, the curriculum includes interactive lectures, critical reading and presentation of scientific articles, and brain dissection. You’ll explore questions around memory, senses, addiction, disease, and more. You receive a firsthand look at current research topics, interact with practicing neuroscientists, and conclude the experience by designing and presenting your original scientific project.
2. Veritas AI's AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with Python
The Veritas AI Fellowship is an advanced program for ambitious high school students focused on artificial intelligence (AI), with a strong emphasis on applying AI models to real-world problems across domains such as healthcare, finance, and psychology/neuroscience. You work one-on-one with an AI expert to design and execute a novel, independent AI model in a field of your choosing. The program is a highly intensive research experience that includes technical instruction and publication mentorship, culminating in a completed AI project often submitted to research journals or science competitions.
3. BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia)
Location: Columbia University Zuckerman Institute, New York, NY
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~14 students
Dates: 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: October 31
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors attending schools in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, who are 16+ and enrolled in one of their partner programs
BRAINYAC offers an immersive, hands-on neuroscience research apprenticeship in Columbia University laboratories, with a strong psychology/biological psychology component. You’ll be matched with a neuroscientist mentor to work on a real laboratory research project, learning essential lab techniques and scientific methodologies. The program's goal is to expose NYC high school students to a professional academic environment and to foster the skills necessary for a career in science and research. You can gain valuable experience in research design, data analysis, and scientific presentation.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—Psychology Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program's psychology track offers highly motivated high school students the opportunity to conduct original, independent research under the guidance of a PhD-level mentor from a top university like Harvard or Stanford. Over the course of the program, you develop a robust research question, master appropriate methodologies, and culminate your work in a full-length academic research paper. This program is highly individualized, allowing you to design your own project across subfields of psychology, including social, cognitive, clinical, and developmental. More intensive tracks even include publication support, making this a rigorous academic undertaking that provides a significant differentiator for college applications.
5. NYU High School Academy’s Psychology and the Workplace
Location: NYU School of Professional Studies, New York, NY
Cost: $50 application fee + $2,579 + $640 (optional housing and dining)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions across July – August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
This specialized course within the NYU High School Academy explores the intersection of psychology and the workplace, with a focus on the social and functional roles of emotions. You examine how emotional intelligence, social dynamics, and psychological principles affect leadership, team performance, and overall organizational behavior. Through engaging activities and discussions, you learn to analyze complex social situations using psychological frameworks. This summer psychology program in NYC for high school students is designed for those interested in industrial-organizational psychology, business, and effective communication.
6. CCNY’s College Now: Applications of Psychology in the Modern World
Location: City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: NYC public high school students who have finished at least 3 semesters of college and have a minimum major course average of 80. You can find additional requirements here
This psychology summer program for high school students in NYC emphasizes how fundamental psychological theory and research can be directly applied to understanding individual and social problems in contemporary society. The curriculum covers a broad range of specialties, including human development, personality and motivation, sex differences, attitudes, aggression, and abnormal behavior and its treatment. You explore topics such as prejudice, how thought processes affect relationships, and the scientific processes underlying human perception and learning. A significant component involves developing college-level academic skills, with students responsible for submitting research papers on related psychological topics.
7. Columbia University’s Pre-College Programs
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $2,830 – $12,764 (depending on session and format)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by session
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising high school students
Columbia's Pre-College Programs offer college-level courses, including options heavily focused on psychology and social science topics. Courses cover subjects such as Social Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology, providing a rigorous academic experience taught by Columbia faculty or affiliates. You immerse yourself in the collegiate environment, engage in discussions, and complete college-level assignments and examinations. This summer program for high school students in NYC is a strong option for academically motivated students seeking to assess their readiness for university-level psychology studies.
8. Manhattan University’s Psychology Pre-College Camp
Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY
Cost: $100 registration fee + tuition (not specified) + residential costs; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1- and 2-week sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This immersive summer camp for high school students in NYC offers an exploration of many subfields within the discipline of psychological science. You explore areas like clinical psychology/psychological disorders, cognitive neuroscience, forensic psychology, and animal behavior and cognition. The program is held on the Manhattan University campus, providing access to college labs and facilities while offering a blend of interactive lectures, hands-on activities, and tangible academic outcomes.
9. Barnard Pre-College Programs: Health & Society Institute
Location: Barnard College, New York City, NY
Cost: $8,160 (commuter), $10,771 (residential); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and gap year students who are 14+
This specialized institute examines the critical interplay between science, medicine, and the experience of health and illness, placing a strong emphasis on social and psychological perspectives. The program examines power dynamics that shape disease definitions and explores why the benefits of scientific and medical advances are unequally distributed in society. Major themes addressed include biomedicine as a cultural system, the politics of surveillance and care, and the structure of the US public health system, which are deeply rooted in social psychology and anthropology. You also learn practical qualitative research techniques through fieldwork and case studies, connecting classroom learning to real-world health challenges in New York City.
10. NYU High School Academy’s Exploring Psychology
Location: NYU School of Professional Studies, New York, NY
Cost: $850
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
This program for high school students in New York City delves into the science of psychology, focusing on the fundamental principles that govern human behavior and mental processes. You explore major subfields of psychology, such as clinical, social, and cognitive psychology, gaining a comprehensive overview of the discipline. The curriculum often utilizes case studies and interactive discussions to apply psychological theories to real-world scenarios, giving you a sense of college-level coursework. The academy environment can help you develop critical thinking and analytical skills essential for future academic and professional success.
11. Summer Session at Fordham
Location: Fordham University, Bronx or Manhattan, NY
Cost: $1,085/credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 5-week sessions starting July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising seniors with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher
Fordham University offers a range of summer courses for high school students, including college-credit and non-credit options in Psychology. These courses provide a rigorous introduction to the scientific study of mind and behavior, covering foundational topics such as research methods, developmental psychology, and abnormal psychology. Taught by Fordham faculty, the experience mirrors undergraduate academics, allowing you to earn college credit or simply explore the subject in depth. This program is suitable for serious students seeking a collegiate experience and transcript notation.
12. Yale Summer Session’s Introduction to Psychology
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,270 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session A: May 25 – June 26 | Session B: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Pre-college and college students
Yale's Summer Session offers high school students the opportunity to enroll in Yale undergraduate courses for credit, including a full Introduction to Psychology course. This rigorous, college-level class explores the biological, cognitive, social, and emotional foundations of human behavior and mental health. You learn directly from Yale faculty, engage in small-group online discussions, and complete assignments equivalent to a college freshman course. Successful completion can result in an official Yale transcript, which can be a valuable addition to a college application.
13. Cornell University’s Pre-College Studies Summer Online Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,940/credit (financial aid available for eligible students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 3- and 6-week sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Rising/current high school juniors and seniors aged 15–19
Cornell's Precollege program allows high school students to earn college credit by taking a psychology course such as Introduction to Personality. This college-level course dives deep into the science of personality psychology, addressing fundamental questions about what personality is and how it is scientifically studied and measured. You review the major theoretical paradigms in the field, from psychodynamic theories to contemporary trait theories, engaging in debates on the extent to which personality is shaped by biological, social, cultural, or genetic factors. The curriculum discusses contemporary research and methodologies, providing you with a sophisticated understanding of the field's complexity.
14. Wake Forest Online Psychology Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13+
This online course, designed and led by Wake Forest University faculty, aims to distinguish common sense from genuine psychological insight into human behavior. The curriculum provides an insider's look at the human mind, helping you understand what drives love, friendship, conflict, and behavior by exploring how the brain forms perceptions and how easily cognitive biases can influence it. Major topics include the hidden world of unconscious emotion, the reliability of memory, and an overview of various psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. The course culminates in a capstone project in which you apply a concept learned in class to create an original screenplay or video, demonstrating your scientific understanding.
Image source - Veritas AI Logo