Many schools offer educational opportunities for current high school students during the summer. Each college website has a search box; type in “summer programs for high school students,” and you should get results. The costs and requirements for these programs vary from school to school. Each program may have different parameters as to what grade level the student should have achieved in order to do the program so do the research. To assist in paying for a program, as long as college credit is not being obtained, consider a grant from the Falcon Foundation with a due date of April 15. Please be mindful of due dates and availability of all summer opportunities.
United States Military Academy
The Summer Leaders Experience is a weeklong immersion into a West Point cadet’s academic, military, and social life. Led by current West Point cadets, you will explore the Academy from all angles, including their high-tech educational facilities, team-building athletic activities, and realistic military training.
United States Naval Academy
Plans to host traditional experiences for both Summer Seminar and Summer STEM, providing students with an on-campus experience and a glimpse of life at the Naval Academy. The applications are open at U.S. Naval Academy Summer Programs Applications. Program fees are $550.00 for Summer Seminar and $800.00 for Summer STEM. Keep in mind, as always, need-based scholarships are available for both the program fee and travel. The applications for both Summer Seminar and Summer STEM are free and are open.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
They will host the 2025 PREFACE Program this summer. The program is for talented rising 11th and 12th graders who are interested in pursuing a career in Engineering or Technology. It’s a 2-week program that will run on their campus in Troy, NY, from July 20 to August 2. Applications are due by April 4.
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Bucknell University
Bucknell Academy Summer Experience.
Bucknell Engineering Camp.
Carnegie Mellon University
There are various in person summer programs including for Pre-College Programs including the National High School Game Academy. See this webpage for information: Carnegie Mellon University Programs for High School Students. There are a variety of programs such as Architecture, Art, Computer Science and Gaming, Drama, Math & Science, and Music.
DeSales University
The Summer Video Institute offers students an introduction to the theories of techniques of digital movie making. Their Summer Theatre Institute works with their faculty and professional actors from the PA Shakespeare Festival stage.
Drexel University
Engineering Summer Programs (3 of them):
Summer Music Technology
ASM International Materials Camp
Materials Science & Engineering Summer Institute
Information for all camps can be accessed at Drexel University Engineering Summer Programs.
Elizabethtown College
They offer several summer programs: Engineering Summer Academy, Music Camp, Performance Training Camp, Speed Camp, and Social & Civic Leadership Academy. You can access further information at their Summer Programs page.
Gettysburg College
Camp Psych Virtual
Young Writers Virtual Workshop
Civil War Era Studies Camp
Eisenhower Institute’s Civic Engagement Camp
Athletic Camps
Registration information can be found at Gettysburg College Summer Programs.
Lebanon Valley College
Actuarial Science Camp
Health and Biomedical Sciences Camp
Summer Music Camp
Applications for the 2025 camps are now available.
Lehigh University
Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive is a program where students learn about entrepreneurship, globalization, team building, project management, leadership and working within a culturally diverse environment. Also, they run other programs in the summer such as their Engineering Institute.
Messiah University
Exploring Careers in Healthcare
Oakes Museum Summer Day Camps: Field Biology Camp and Vertebrate Anatomy Camp
Young Filmmakers’ Workshop
Theater & Dance Academy
Young Writers’ Workshop
Cyber Camp
Psychology Camp
Jazz Camp
Orchestra Camp
Information for all sessions can be accessed at Messiah University Academic Summer Camps.
Millersville University of PA
Arts Smarts Camp
Camp Will (as in Shakespeare)
World Language Camp
Music Camp
Science Training Program
Technology & Engineering Camp
Athletic Camps
Information for all camps can be accessed at Millersville University Summer Camps. Registrations open on various dates (some are open now and some only open in March). Check availability and details.
Misericordia University
Career Exploration Camps for various subjects:
Biology
Chemistry & Biochemistry Sciences
Communications & Media
Literature
Speech-Language Pathology
Access information at Misericordia University Career Exploration Camps.
PA College of Technology Summer Camps 2025
Unsure what you want to study in college? Explore their career options at one of their overnight summer camps. Most programs are for students entering grades 10 – 12 and some are for grades 9 – 12. Selections include: Architecture Odyssey, Automotive Technology, Aviation, Landscape & Horticulture, Diesel Truck & Heavy Equipment, Future Restaurateurs, Graphic Design, Health Careers, and ACEE for the Autism College Exploration Experience. Registration opens in April.
Penn State University
Programs for High School Students at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
Penn State Berks has several STEM based High School Discovery Summer Camps.
Main Campus has BOSS (for Business)
The Penn State Harrisburg campus is offering a STEM Summer Enrichment Program as well. The program is free but you need to provide your own transportation.
Susquehanna University
Exciting summer pre-college programs await high school students seeking to to learn new skills, improve their abilities, and explore topics for enrichment. These week-long courses cover acting, music, engineering, entrepreneurship, law, media, writing, ecology, sports media, and business. Learn more and register at susqu.edu/summer-programs.
Temple University
Temple Summer Academy
Tyler School of Art & Architecture Programs
College of Engineering Programs
Boyer College of Music & Dance Programs
College of Science & Technology Programs
School of Theater, Film & Media Art Programs
Information for all programs can be accessed at Summer Programs at Temple.
University of Pennsylvania
Engineering Summer Academy at Penn – explore Biotechnology, Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Robotics, Nanotechnology, and Complex Networks.
The Penn Summer High School Programs offer the challenge of college-level academics within an exploratory non-credit environment. There are the Penn Summer Prep Program and also their Summer Academies. Their Pre-College program is for college credit, though. Course topics are varied; most are in the fields of Biomedical, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Neuroscience, Social Justice, and the Arts.
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh Health Career Scholars Academy is often a springboard for future studies in medicine.
Pitt is also hosting the Air Force Association CyberCamp for students who will be incoming HS freshmen to graduating HS seniors. The camp teaches systems security and cyber ethics for all skill levels. The camp is free and will be held June 23-27, 2025. Housing is not provided.
Villanova University
Public Speaking and Debate Camp
Villanova University Summer Tech Camps & Academies encompass various fields including Coding, Game Development, Robotics, and Game Design.
Check each program for registration information.