10 Pre-College Programs for High School Students
10 Pre-College Programs for High School Students
Written by
Written by
George Gatsios, Founder of Delta Institute
George Gatsios, Founder of Delta Institute
Published on
Published on
If you want to experience college-level academics before graduating high school, pre-college programs can help you explore your interests in a more serious and independent setting. Many of these programs are run directly by universities and give students the chance to take advanced courses, live on campus, and build skills that can support future college applications.
Here are 10 pre-college programs for high school students run by universities.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program is a two-week residential experience designed for high school students who want to explore college-level learning in a structured academic environment. Students choose one non-credit course per session and experience small class sizes, discussion-based learning, and life on Harvard’s campus. Course options include topics like psychology, medicine, sociology, law, government, computer science, math, and creative fields.
Outside class, you’ll take part in the Pre-College Passport program, which includes academic exploration events, college readiness workshops, social activities, and field trips. At the end of the program, you’ll receive an evaluation from your instructor as well as a Harvard transcript showing whether you met the program requirements.
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: April (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates:
June 21 to July 2
July 5 to July 17
July 19 to July 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
Summer@Brown gives high school students the opportunity to explore over 230 college-level courses across a wide range of subjects, including business, writing, science, and the humanities. The program offers on-campus, hybrid, and online options, with 1-, 2-, and 3-week sessions available.
Beyond lectures, students can join workshops, activities, and events throughout the program and on-campus students also get a fuller campus-life experience. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a digital certificate of competition and a course performance report for sessions lasting 2 weeks or longer.
Cost: $3,096 to $10,858
Location: Providence, Rhode Island, with some hybrid and online options
Application Deadline: May 8
Program Dates: June 15 to July 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12 who are ages 14 to 18
Columbia’s NYC Residential Summer program is a non-credit pre-college experience that allows students to choose from more than 70 college-level courses while living on campus in New York City. Students spend about four hours in class each weekday, and courses focus on discussion, analysis, projects, and college-level academic work.
In addition to coursework, students also get to experience campus life, college prep workshops, community-building activities, and health and wellness programming. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a Columbia University Certificate of Participation and an evaluation letter reflecting your performance.
Cost: $12,837 per session
Location: New York City, New York
Application Deadline: April 20 or May 11, depending on session
Program Dates:
June 29 to July 17
July 21 to August 7
June 29 to August 7
Eligibility: Rising 9th- through 12th-grade students who meet the age requirements
Stanford Summer Session offers high school students the chance to take real Stanford courses during the university’s summer quarter and earn credit with an official Stanford transcript. It is one of the more rigorous options available, giving students access to university-level courses from more than 30 departments, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Residential and commuter options are available, making it a strong fit for students looking for a full summer academic experience. Either way, you’ll be able to take part in lectures as well as guest speaker events and other campus activities during the summer.
Cost: From $8,226 for commuters and $18,771 for residential students
Location: Stanford, California
Application Deadline: March 2
Program Dates: June 20 to August 16
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors
The Yale Summer Session allows qualified high school students to take Yale courses during the summer in either an in-person or online format. Rather than offering a lighter enrichment experience, Yale’s program is built around actual summer session coursework, and students are held to Yale’s strict academic standards. This makes it a strong option for students who want a more traditional university learning environment and are ready to handle college-level expectations.
Choose from topics like psychology, sociology, data analysis, and econometrics taught by real Yale instructors with assistance from Yale undergraduates as residential counselors. When you complete the program, you can order an official Yale transcript to enhance your college or job applications.
Cost: $5,480 for a 1-credit course, plus additional fees
Location: New Haven, Connecticut, with online options available
Application Deadline: March 20, March 30, or May 4, depending on session
Program Dates:
May 25 to June 26
June 29 to July 31
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old
Cornell’s Precollege Studies program gives high school students the opportunity to take undergraduate-level Cornell courses before applying to college. Students can participate online, as commuters, or on campus, studying subjects like health and humanities, international relations, social change, and veterinary medicine.
Students are taking real, credit-bearing Cornell classes, so this program is especially valuable for those who want a genuine college academic experience rather than a general summer enrichment program. Students can also participate in admissions workshops, learning activities, and social events throughout the program for a full college experience.
Cost: $5,820 to $15,520 + $75 application fee
Location: Ithaca, New York, with online and commuter options
Application Deadline: April 28 to June 2, depending on the session
Program Dates: June 1 to July 31
Eligibility: Students who have completed sophomore year and meet the format-specific age requirements
Berkeley’s Pre-College Scholars program allows high school students to take UC Berkeley summer courses and earn university credit. Students can choose from a large selection of lower-division courses, making it one of the broadest pre-college academic options available.
Instead of following a single themed program, students can build a summer experience around the subjects that interest them most while getting a sense of Berkeley’s academic pace. The program also includes college preparation workshops and co-curricular activities, as well as a Berkeley transcript upon completion.
Cost: $635 per unit + registration and application fees
Location: Berkeley, California
Application Deadline: March 9 or June 1, depending on format
Program Dates: May 26 to August 14
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The University of Chicago’s 3-Week Immersion program is designed for students who want to explore a subject in depth over a short period of time. Courses are taught at the undergraduate level and often include discussions, research, and project-based work, covering topics like computer science, politics, and creative writing.
This program is a great option for students who are already curious about a specific subject and want an academically demanding experience. Because of its focused format, it works especially well for students who enjoy discussion-heavy and intellectually challenging classes. When you complete the program, you can request an official University of Chicago transcript.
Cost: $9,300 residential or $6,100 commuter
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Application Deadline: March 12
Program Dates:
June 15 to July 2
July 7 to July 23
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9 to 11 who are at least 14 years old
WashU’s High School Summer Scholars Program gives students the chance to study in an online, commuter, or residential format while taking college-level coursework. The program is designed to introduce students to university academics while also offering more support and structure than some other pre-college options. That balance makes it especially appealing for students who want to challenge themselves academically but still want a guided introduction to college life.
Students can choose from subjects across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and math taught by WashU instructors. In addition to coursework, students can add a non-credit Exploration Course and take part in college readiness, community-building, and evening enrichment activities.
Cost: $4,075 to $12,135, depending on format and course load
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, with online and commuter options
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 7 to July 11
Eligibility: Current juniors in high school
Georgetown’s Summer College gives high school students the chance to take college-credit courses in a university setting. Students can participate on campus or online, depending on the session, and choose from approved courses designed for motivated high school learners in subjects such as economics, psychology, theology, writing, and international affairs.
Courses combine lectures, class discussions, and guest speakers, and students take classes alongside current Georgetown undergraduates. At the end of the program, you’ll receive access to an official Georgetown University transcript, and students who complete two courses in a session can also earn a Summer Honors Intensive Certificate.
Cost: About $7,113 per class + housing and fees
Location: Washington, D.C., with online options available
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Dates:
June 1 to July 3
July 6 to August 7
June 1 to July 24
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, or 12th graders with at least a 3.0 GPA
Another Option: Delta Institute
If you’re looking for something more personalized than a traditional university-run pre-college program, Delta Institute is another option to consider. Delta Institute offers virtual enrichment programs for high school students in areas like career exploration, work experience, AI, coding, entrepreneurship, and communication.
Two programs that may be especially relevant are Delve and Deepen. Delve is a 4-week guided work-experience program where students work on real-world projects with companies like AWS, Ferrari, Stripe, and Adobe. Deepen is an 8-week 1:1 mentorship program where students build an advanced personalized project in a chosen subject area with expert guidance.
You can also explore other summer programs here!
If you want to experience college-level academics before graduating high school, pre-college programs can help you explore your interests in a more serious and independent setting. Many of these programs are run directly by universities and give students the chance to take advanced courses, live on campus, and build skills that can support future college applications.
Here are 10 pre-college programs for high school students run by universities.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program is a two-week residential experience designed for high school students who want to explore college-level learning in a structured academic environment. Students choose one non-credit course per session and experience small class sizes, discussion-based learning, and life on Harvard’s campus. Course options include topics like psychology, medicine, sociology, law, government, computer science, math, and creative fields.
Outside class, you’ll take part in the Pre-College Passport program, which includes academic exploration events, college readiness workshops, social activities, and field trips. At the end of the program, you’ll receive an evaluation from your instructor as well as a Harvard transcript showing whether you met the program requirements.
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: April (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates:
June 21 to July 2
July 5 to July 17
July 19 to July 31
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
Summer@Brown gives high school students the opportunity to explore over 230 college-level courses across a wide range of subjects, including business, writing, science, and the humanities. The program offers on-campus, hybrid, and online options, with 1-, 2-, and 3-week sessions available.
Beyond lectures, students can join workshops, activities, and events throughout the program and on-campus students also get a fuller campus-life experience. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a digital certificate of competition and a course performance report for sessions lasting 2 weeks or longer.
Cost: $3,096 to $10,858
Location: Providence, Rhode Island, with some hybrid and online options
Application Deadline: May 8
Program Dates: June 15 to July 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12 who are ages 14 to 18
Columbia’s NYC Residential Summer program is a non-credit pre-college experience that allows students to choose from more than 70 college-level courses while living on campus in New York City. Students spend about four hours in class each weekday, and courses focus on discussion, analysis, projects, and college-level academic work.
In addition to coursework, students also get to experience campus life, college prep workshops, community-building activities, and health and wellness programming. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a Columbia University Certificate of Participation and an evaluation letter reflecting your performance.
Cost: $12,837 per session
Location: New York City, New York
Application Deadline: April 20 or May 11, depending on session
Program Dates:
June 29 to July 17
July 21 to August 7
June 29 to August 7
Eligibility: Rising 9th- through 12th-grade students who meet the age requirements
Stanford Summer Session offers high school students the chance to take real Stanford courses during the university’s summer quarter and earn credit with an official Stanford transcript. It is one of the more rigorous options available, giving students access to university-level courses from more than 30 departments, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Residential and commuter options are available, making it a strong fit for students looking for a full summer academic experience. Either way, you’ll be able to take part in lectures as well as guest speaker events and other campus activities during the summer.
Cost: From $8,226 for commuters and $18,771 for residential students
Location: Stanford, California
Application Deadline: March 2
Program Dates: June 20 to August 16
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors
The Yale Summer Session allows qualified high school students to take Yale courses during the summer in either an in-person or online format. Rather than offering a lighter enrichment experience, Yale’s program is built around actual summer session coursework, and students are held to Yale’s strict academic standards. This makes it a strong option for students who want a more traditional university learning environment and are ready to handle college-level expectations.
Choose from topics like psychology, sociology, data analysis, and econometrics taught by real Yale instructors with assistance from Yale undergraduates as residential counselors. When you complete the program, you can order an official Yale transcript to enhance your college or job applications.
Cost: $5,480 for a 1-credit course, plus additional fees
Location: New Haven, Connecticut, with online options available
Application Deadline: March 20, March 30, or May 4, depending on session
Program Dates:
May 25 to June 26
June 29 to July 31
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old
Cornell’s Precollege Studies program gives high school students the opportunity to take undergraduate-level Cornell courses before applying to college. Students can participate online, as commuters, or on campus, studying subjects like health and humanities, international relations, social change, and veterinary medicine.
Students are taking real, credit-bearing Cornell classes, so this program is especially valuable for those who want a genuine college academic experience rather than a general summer enrichment program. Students can also participate in admissions workshops, learning activities, and social events throughout the program for a full college experience.
Cost: $5,820 to $15,520 + $75 application fee
Location: Ithaca, New York, with online and commuter options
Application Deadline: April 28 to June 2, depending on the session
Program Dates: June 1 to July 31
Eligibility: Students who have completed sophomore year and meet the format-specific age requirements
Berkeley’s Pre-College Scholars program allows high school students to take UC Berkeley summer courses and earn university credit. Students can choose from a large selection of lower-division courses, making it one of the broadest pre-college academic options available.
Instead of following a single themed program, students can build a summer experience around the subjects that interest them most while getting a sense of Berkeley’s academic pace. The program also includes college preparation workshops and co-curricular activities, as well as a Berkeley transcript upon completion.
Cost: $635 per unit + registration and application fees
Location: Berkeley, California
Application Deadline: March 9 or June 1, depending on format
Program Dates: May 26 to August 14
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The University of Chicago’s 3-Week Immersion program is designed for students who want to explore a subject in depth over a short period of time. Courses are taught at the undergraduate level and often include discussions, research, and project-based work, covering topics like computer science, politics, and creative writing.
This program is a great option for students who are already curious about a specific subject and want an academically demanding experience. Because of its focused format, it works especially well for students who enjoy discussion-heavy and intellectually challenging classes. When you complete the program, you can request an official University of Chicago transcript.
Cost: $9,300 residential or $6,100 commuter
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Application Deadline: March 12
Program Dates:
June 15 to July 2
July 7 to July 23
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9 to 11 who are at least 14 years old
WashU’s High School Summer Scholars Program gives students the chance to study in an online, commuter, or residential format while taking college-level coursework. The program is designed to introduce students to university academics while also offering more support and structure than some other pre-college options. That balance makes it especially appealing for students who want to challenge themselves academically but still want a guided introduction to college life.
Students can choose from subjects across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and math taught by WashU instructors. In addition to coursework, students can add a non-credit Exploration Course and take part in college readiness, community-building, and evening enrichment activities.
Cost: $4,075 to $12,135, depending on format and course load
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, with online and commuter options
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 7 to July 11
Eligibility: Current juniors in high school
Georgetown’s Summer College gives high school students the chance to take college-credit courses in a university setting. Students can participate on campus or online, depending on the session, and choose from approved courses designed for motivated high school learners in subjects such as economics, psychology, theology, writing, and international affairs.
Courses combine lectures, class discussions, and guest speakers, and students take classes alongside current Georgetown undergraduates. At the end of the program, you’ll receive access to an official Georgetown University transcript, and students who complete two courses in a session can also earn a Summer Honors Intensive Certificate.
Cost: About $7,113 per class + housing and fees
Location: Washington, D.C., with online options available
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Dates:
June 1 to July 3
July 6 to August 7
June 1 to July 24
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, or 12th graders with at least a 3.0 GPA
Another Option: Delta Institute
If you’re looking for something more personalized than a traditional university-run pre-college program, Delta Institute is another option to consider. Delta Institute offers virtual enrichment programs for high school students in areas like career exploration, work experience, AI, coding, entrepreneurship, and communication.
Two programs that may be especially relevant are Delve and Deepen. Delve is a 4-week guided work-experience program where students work on real-world projects with companies like AWS, Ferrari, Stripe, and Adobe. Deepen is an 8-week 1:1 mentorship program where students build an advanced personalized project in a chosen subject area with expert guidance.
You can also explore other summer programs here!
About the Author
George Gatsios holds a BA and MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is the founder of Delta Institute. He leads the organisation’s global strategy, overseeing programme design, partnerships, operations, and product innovation across education, career development, and technology. His work centers on building scalable, hands-on learning experiences that connect students with real-world industry exposure and future-ready skills. Alongside his leadership at Delta Institute, George serves as a Research Assistant in Economics at the University of Cambridge and London Business School, contributing to research at the intersection of economic theory, empirical analysis, and policy. He is an active member of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network (IBEN) and a strong advocate for lifelong learning and internationally minded education.
May 13, 2026
May 13, 2026
May 13, 2026
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