Summer Programs
Summer Programs for 12th Graders
18 selective summer programs open to 12th graders. 6 are free to attend and 13 are residential.
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- Programs
- 18
- Free to attend
- 6
- Residential
- 13
- 2027 deadline posted
- 8
- of 18
| Program | Where | Who can apply | Cost | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPIREJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | Laurel, MDCommuter | High school juniors and seniors | Free | Not posted |
| Clark ScholarsTexas Tech University | Lubbock, TXResidential | Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates | Free with stipend | February 15, 2027, 11:59 pm CT |
| Columbia Summer ImmersionColumbia University School of Professional Studies | New York, NYResidential or commuter | Rising 9th through current 12th graders; residential students must be 15 or older | Paid | Early registration February 1, 2027; general deadline March 1, 2027 (residential) or April 1, 2027 (commuter) |
| Cornell PrecollegeCornell University School of Continuing Education | Ithaca, NYResidential | Students who have completed 10th grade, ages 16 to 18 | Paid | May 14, 2026 (rolling admission)Last cycle’s date |
| CSSSACalifornia State Summer School for the Arts (State of California) | Pomona, CAResidential | Currently enrolled in grades 8 through 12 | Paid, aid available | February 28, 2027 (priority deadline) |
| Duke Pre-CollegeDuke University | Durham, NCResidential | Current 9th to 12th graders | Paid | Not posted |
| Georgetown AcademiesGeorgetown University School of Continuing Studies | Washington, DCResidential | Current 8th graders through high school seniors | Paid, aid available | Early bird January 31, 2027; final deadline for Academies May 15, 2027 |
| ICS Summer AcademyUC Irvine Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences | Irvine, CACommuter | Rising 9th to 12th graders and graduating 12th graders | Paid, aid available | Not posted |
| IYWSUniversity of Iowa | Iowa City, IAResidential | Students currently in 10th, 11th or 12th grade | Paid, aid available | February 7, 2027 |
| NYT Summer AcademyThe School of The New York Times | New York, NYResidential or commuter | Students entering grades 10 to 12 and graduating seniors, ages 15 to 18 | Paid, aid available | Priority February 27, 2026; Round 1 March 13, 2026; Round 2 April 10, 2026; rolling after April 13, 2026Last cycle’s date |
| PathwaysGirls Who Code | OnlineOnline | 9th to 12th grade girls and non-binary students, including rising 9th graders and graduating seniors | Free | Not posted |
| PROMYSPROMYS at Boston University | Boston, MAResidential | Ages 14 to 18 who have completed at least 9th grade | Paid, aid available | February 27, 2026, 11:59 pm EST (teacher recommendation due March 3)Last cycle’s date |
| SIMRStanford University School of Medicine | Stanford, CACommuter | Current juniors and seniors as of fall 2026 (graduating classes of 2027 or 2028) | Free | Late February 2027 (the 2026 deadline was February 21, 2026) |
| SSPHarvard Summer School | Cambridge, MAResidential or commuter | Students who will graduate high school and enter college in 2027, 2028 or 2029 | Paid, aid available | Early January 13, 2027; regular February 10, 2027; late March 31, 2027 |
| SSRPThe Rockefeller University (RockEDU Science Outreach) | New York, NYCommuter | Current high school juniors and seniors | Free | January 2, 2026, 11:59 pm ET (letters of recommendation due January 5, 2026)Last cycle’s date |
| Summer@BrownBrown University Pre-College Programs | Providence, RIResidential or commuter | Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 | Paid, aid available | May 15, 2026Last cycle’s date |
| USSYPUnited States Senate and The Hearst Foundations | Washington, DCResidential | High school juniors and seniors | Free with stipend | Varies by state; December 1, 2026 is the national deadline for states to submit their selections |
| Young WritersThe Kenyon Review at Kenyon College | Gambier, OHResidential | Rising juniors, rising seniors and recent high school graduates, ages 16 to 18 | Paid, aid available | March 1, 2026 (teacher recommendations due March 7)Last cycle’s date |
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Frequently asked questions
When should I start a summer program application?
Each program sets its own deadline, and some fall months before summer. Check each deadline in the table and work backward from the earliest one.
Do summer programs help with college admissions?
A program is one line on an application. What a student did there, and what they did next with it, matters more than the name.
Each program was read from its own official site. A date or fee the site has not posted is left blank. Last checked 2026-10-09. A deadline marked “last cycle’s date” is from the previous year, shown because the new one is not posted. Dewey Smart is not affiliated with these programs.
