Summer doesn't have to be a time for high-achieving high school students to fill with binge watching Netflix, lounging around the house, and/or getting a temporary job. Why not "test drive" that college you've long dreamt of attending? Would you like to make the transition to the whole college experience easier by giving it a trial run? Is there a favorite area of study that doesn't push you far enough in high school? Do you have an artistic talent you would like to refine with the helpful guidance of a college instructor? Is there an area of study that you would like to explore? Could you use some help in a subject that is giving you trouble? If any of these things are true for you, then you should take advantage of one of the growing number of summer programs being offered by many of the top-ranked colleges and universities.
Pre-college summer programs are much more fun and rewarding than a traditional campus tour. Most competitive colleges and universities offer at least one pre-college summer experience. These programs give students opportunities to explore campuses, meet with instructors, take courses, and get a sense of college life. Such experiences can be beneficial to high school students still exploring schools, majors, and career paths.
The variety of summer programs abound. There are residential and commuter options. There are programs that offer college credits and those that do not. There are those that are less than a week and others that can have you on campus for as many as eight weeks. Some are selective and available only to the most qualified students, and others operate on a first-apply first-accepted basis. Some have only a few open slots, others have many. Some are free of charge to those accepted, others offer financial assistance to those who need it, and still others are tuition-only. Students are encouraged to explore the schools, the length of the programs, the courses offered, and the costs of attending.
With so many options, it is almost guaranteed that any student interested in the pre-college experience can find a good fit for their schedules and interests. But the number of options can be a little overwhelming. We at College Choice hope to make your exploration easier. We have compiled a list of the 35 best pre-college summer programs, considering criteria such as: 1) a representative cost of one week of an extended-stay residential program; 2) the number of summer program options a school offers; and 3) the reputation of the programs based on freely available sources like U.S. News & World Report and directories of pre-college summer programs.
While students in pre-college programs can gain from getting a jump start on college credits, dipping a toe in the waters of higher education, exploring a fascination, honing a skill, or just simply having something to do for the summer, they should not forget it is summer after all. Have fun!
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What are the top Pre-College Summer Programs?
To compile the College Choice score for Best Summer Programs, we considered four factors: typical cost for a week of a residential program, the number of programs/courses offered, the reputation of the school, and reputation of the summer programs. We were aware that many programs had scholarship and no-cost options, but in calculating the cost score, we selected an example, middle-range, tuition-based program on offer by each school, selecting neither the cheapest nor the most expensive if there was a wide variety. Calculating the score for the number of programs and courses was little more than counting those things and assigning a score from 1 to 100 based on the count. A school's reputation score was based on its ranking and score from US News and World Report. The score for the reputation of the programs was a bit less straightforward. We calculated that score by compiling rankings for summer programs from sites that specialize in summer program information. These sites included USummer, Student Educational Programs, and College Transitions, among others.
Top 10 Best Pre-College Summer Programs
See our rankings methodology page.
