15 Tech Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students
The landscape of higher education is shifting, and for high school students, the transition from a traditional classroom to a competitive university environment can feel like a significant leap. Pre-college programs for high school students can bridge this gap by offering a preview of campus life and academic rigor before they enter freshman year. In addition, these programs are designed to reflect how technical subjects are actually studied and applied, which can help you better understand what different fields involve. These programs offer you the chance to explore academic interests, build practical skills, and experience different learning styles.
What are the benefits of a tech pre-college program?
While general pre-college programs offer broad academic exposure, tech-focused tracks provide a distinct competitive advantage in an increasingly digital economy. Tech pre-college summer programs tend to emphasize applied learning, where you work with tools, programming languages, and systems used in various contexts. You may gain exposure to areas that aren’t typically covered in school, such as machine learning, cybersecurity, or advanced engineering concepts. In addition, interacting with instructors and peers who share similar interests can shape how you approach collaboration and learning in technical environments.
In this blog, we’ve put together 15 tech pre-college summer programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for tech research programs, check out our blog here.
1. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA | Virtual
Cost: Free for families with income <$200,000/year; $2,400 otherwise
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 1 or 2
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school students (excluding seniors) who attend school in the U.S.
This tech pre-college summer program for high school students focuses on hands-on, project-based learning in advanced technologies, including autonomous RACECARs, hardware hacking, underwater robotics, and more. You’ll participate in rigorous online prerequisite courses before transitioning to the intensive four-week summer session. The curriculum is designed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory staff to mirror the difficulty and pace of undergraduate engineering. You work in teams to solve complex system-level engineering challenges using Python, ROS, and specialized hardware. The program culminates in a final competition day where teams demonstrate their functional prototypes to experts and peers.
2. NYU Applied Research In Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors attending high school in NYC
ARISE is a tech pre-college summer program that places high school students directly into NYU research labs. You work on active projects in fields like cybersecurity, wireless technology, and urban informatics alongside graduate researchers. The program begins with four weeks of technical training in lab safety, ethics, and research methods. The remaining six weeks might be spent on high-level data collection, coding, and hardware testing, depending on your assigned lab project. The program concludes at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Poster Symposium, where you’ll present your research to the NYU community.
3. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,675 (commuter) | $13,274 (residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: 10th or 11th graders with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA
RMP is a tech pre-college summer program where high school students conduct university-level research in fields such as computer science and engineering. You’ll be paired with faculty or graduate student mentors to work on a specific project, such as developing machine learning algorithms or testing new semiconductor materials. The program requires 35-50 hours of lab work per week, giving you a realistic view of a professional researcher's life. You also earn university credit by enrolling in courses on research and presentation techniques. The experience culminates in a formal research symposium where you present your technical findings.
4. CMU Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 11th graders (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents from an underrepresented background and/or with demonstrated financial need
SAMS is a pre-college summer program for high school students that provides a rigorous introduction to STEM through a mix of traditional classroom instruction and hands-on projects. You take specialized courses in calculus, physics, and computer science while living on the CMU campus. The curriculum is taught by CMU faculty and focuses on developing the technical skills and academic confidence needed for elite engineering degrees. You work in teams to solve complex problems, simulating the nature of CMU’s undergraduate degrees. The program includes professional development workshops and college application mentoring, in addition to the technical coursework.
5. Rice University ELITE Tech Camps
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,899 (residential) | $1,799 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions across June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Rice’s ELITE Tech Camps focus on building applied engineering and programming skills through project-based learning. You work with tools and technologies such as Python, C++, robotics systems, and machine learning frameworks to complete multi-day technical projects. Instruction is delivered primarily by current engineering students, with oversight from faculty and industry professionals. In addition to technical training, this tech pre-college summer program includes workshops on communication and project management within engineering contexts. The overall experience is structured around applying engineering concepts to practical problem-solving scenarios.
6. Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions across June and July
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: High school students
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep includes a range of STEM-focused tracks where you can explore areas like robotics, cybersecurity, and game design. Programs such as robotics and rocket engineering emphasize hands-on building, testing, and iteration using industry-relevant tools like Arduino. In cybersecurity sessions, you examine concepts like network security and threat analysis through simulated scenarios. Game design courses introduce programming logic alongside creative elements such as user interaction and storytelling. This tech pre-college summer program for high school students combines technical instruction with collaborative, project-based tasks.
7. UPenn Engineering Summer Academy (ESAP)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,250 (need-based financial aid)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 31
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising sophomores to seniors (15+) with a 3.0+ GPA
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) introduces you to core engineering fields through a combination of theoretical instruction and applied project work. You can choose from specialized tracks such as artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, and computer science, each focused on a single subject area. Coursework is designed to mirror introductory college-level engineering classes, with an emphasis on problem-solving and technical application. You engage directly with faculty as you work through structured assignments and hands-on components tied to each discipline. It allows you to explore how different engineering fields operate in practice.
8. Harvard Pre-College Summer Program
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session I: June 21 – July 2 | Session II: July 5 – 17 | Session III: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: February 11
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are 16–18 years old
Harvard’s Pre-College Summer Program allows you to explore a single subject through intensive, discussion-based classes without the pressure of grades or credit. You engage with college-level material in small groups, which encourages deeper interaction with both instructors and peers. Course options span computer science, mathematics, physics, and the social sciences, giving you the flexibility to explore your technical interests. Outside the classroom, structured activities create a balance between academic focus and peer engagement. Overall, this tech pre-college summer program for high school students is structured to help you test different subject areas before committing to them in college.
9. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session One: June 15 – 26; Session Two: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11
In this tech pre-college summer program, you study a single subject in depth through live online classes and guided independent work. Sessions are built around real-time discussions, supported by office hours and asynchronous assignments that reinforce core concepts. Topics include artificial intelligence, engineering, discrete mathematics, and more. You’re expected to actively contribute to discussions, which shapes a more collaborative learning environment. Instructor feedback at the end of the program provides insight into your progress and areas of improvement. The structure reflects a seminar-style academic experience adapted for high school students.
10. Brown Pre-College Programs: Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE)
Location: Virtual and Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $3,364 (online) + $8,372 (on campus); scholarships available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 24
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 10–12 who are 16–18 years old
Brown’s Course-Based Research Experiences guide you through the full research process, from forming a question to presenting your findings. You begin by studying existing literature and learning research methods before developing your own hypothesis and experimental design. The program transitions into a hands-on phase where you conduct and refine your research, often adapting to unexpected results. Topics can include areas like machine learning, nanotechnology, and bioengineering, depending on the field you select. The experience concludes with a formal presentation in which you communicate your results in a research-focused setting.
11. Georgia Tech CEISMC Summer PEAKS
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $400 – $550 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Weeklong sessions across June and July
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: Rising high school students
This tech pre-college summer program for high school students offers short, topic-focused experiences that explore various STEM areas through applied activities. Depending on the course, you might work with Python for data science applications, study energy systems through interactive models, or examine industrial engineering concepts using simulations and games. Many sessions incorporate real-world contexts, such as supply chains, machine learning, or renewable energy systems. You also engage in collaborative tasks that require problem-solving and communication within a group setting. The structure allows you to test specific interests through compact, skill-based modules.
12. Purdue Summer College for High School Students
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: $347.85/credit (Indiana residents) | $948.30/credit (domestic non-residents)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1- and 2-week sessions across May 18 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16-17 years old) with a minimum 3.3 GPA
Purdue’s Summer College program allows you to enroll in a wide range of courses alongside undergraduate students, including options in coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and engineering. You participate in regular college classes that include lectures, assignments, and assessments similar to those in a standard semester. Course topics can range from applied programming to specialized areas like nuclear engineering or materials science. In addition to academics, peer mentor groups provide structured guidance and introduce you to aspects of college learning environments.
13. Columbia University NYC Residential Summer
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $12,837 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session A: June 29 – July 17 | Session B: July 21 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students (15+)
Columbia’s pre-college summer program for high school students offers a selection of technology-focused courses, including data science, machine learning, blockchain, and Python programming. You attend daily classes that emphasize discussion, analytical thinking, and problem-solving within your chosen subject. Instruction is designed to challenge you to engage critically with the material, and many courses incorporate practical components, such as coding exercises or case-based analysis. The variety of course options allows you to explore different areas without committing to a single specialization.
14. UT Austin Computer Science Summer Academies
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $1,400 – $2,100 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: 1 week academies
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders
UT Austin’s Computer Science Summer Academies focus on specific areas of computing through structured, hands-on instruction. You choose a track such as machine learning, robotics, data science, game development, or app development, each centered on applied problem-solving. Courses are taught by faculty and emphasize building practical skills through guided projects and exercises. You work with tools and frameworks relevant to each specialization, gaining exposure to how these technologies are used in real-world contexts. As a tech pre-college summer program for high school students, it offers a more focused approach by concentrating on one domain at a time.
15. Girls Who Code Pathways Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls or non-binary
The Girls Who Code Pathways Program introduces you to multiple areas of computer science through self-paced coursework and project-based learning. You can explore tracks such as data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, game design, and web development, depending on your interests. Projects are designed to reflect real-world applications, helping you understand how technical skills are used across different domains. In addition to coursework, you can attend virtual workshops and industry sessions that focus on emerging technologies and career pathways. The flexible format allows you to engage with content and activities at your convenience.
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