24 Summer Programs in Arizona for High Schoolers in 2024
What’s Covered:
Students and parents often think that “summer camps” are just for younger kids. However, summer programs specifically for high schoolers provide abundant opportunities for growth, by allowing them to develop their current interests, explore new fields, build skills, meet like-minded peers, and gain first-hand experience in their areas of interest.
The Grand Canyon State is home to a multitude of great options–check out 24 of them below.
24 Summer Programs in Arizona for High School Students
1. Business Careers Awareness Program
Dates:
- One-day experience: May 31
- Residential experience: June 2 – 7
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: March 31
Cost: Free
High schoolers from backgrounds underrepresented in undergraduate accounting and business classes are welcome to explore careers in the business field and learn about college life at the University of Arizona (UA). Participants can attend either the day-long experience or a week-long residential program. The program is hosted by UA’s Eller College of Management Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy.
2. Young Writers Institute
Dates: N/A
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $275
For more than four decades, the Writing Skills Improvement Program has been helping students develop their writing fluency and confidence. This three-week, non-residential program at the University of Arizona (UA) gives students the chance to participate in reading- and writing-focused activities, explore UA programs, and build the skills needed to succeed in both academic and personal ventures.
3. KEYS Research Internship
Dates: 7 weeks starting in early June
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: Application for 2025 will open in fall 2024, and will be due in January
Cost: Free
This seven-week program begins with a one-week crash course in bioscience and data science techniques, followed by a six-week internship with a University of Arizona researcher, and concludes with students giving a presentation of what they learned and experienced. Over the course of the program, students hone their STEM skills and gain real-world experience with science research, all under the mentorship of professional researchers.
4. Native American Science and Engineering Program (NASEP)
Dates: June 9 – 15
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: March 15 (priority deadline)
Cost: Free
Rising Native American high school juniors and seniors (participants must be enrolled members or descendants of AI/AN or Native Hawaiian tribe) with an interest in STEM will want to check out this summer program, which is only a week long but kicks off a year-long engagement. Students network with Indigenous professionals and participate in activities like building a computer and visiting Biosphere II, in order to hone the skills needed to pursue a STEM degree in college.
5. Summer Engineering Academy
Dates: Varies depending on program choice
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: March 29
Cost: $300 for day camps; $750 for residential camps
For more than three decades, Summer Engineering Academy has welcomed high schoolers to participate in engineering projects and learn what life is like as a Wildcat. Participants gain hands-on experience designing projects and conducting research, meet mentors and like-minded peers, explore engineering careers, and get a taste of college life. Both day and residential experiences are offered.
6. Summer Scrubs
Dates:
- Residential camp: June 2 – 8
- Day camp: June 10 – 14
Location: University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
Application Deadline: March 3
Cost: $300 for day camp; $500 for residential camp
Current 11th graders interested in becoming physicians can prepare for their future careers in healthcare by participating in hands-on labs, attending professional lectures, and going on health-related field trips. They will also explore various medical specialties and learn from practicing medical doctors.
7. University of Arizona Med-Start
Dates: Early June – mid-July
Location: University of Arizona
Application Deadline: February 1
Cost: $5,000
This program is a fantastic option for 11th graders interested in the health sciences. During six immersive weeks at the University of Arizona, participants will explore healthcare career opportunities and experience college-level coursework in English, science, and math.
The program is sponsored by the University of Arizona Health Sciences Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and students who are from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, live in rural areas or on reservations, are first-generation college applicants, or are Latino/Hispanic, American Indian, or African American are encouraged to apply.
8. Barrett Summer Scholars
Dates:
- 9th grade: June 2 – 6
- 10th grade: June 9 – 13
- 11th grade: July 7 – 11
- 12th grade: June 23 – 27
Location:
- 9th grade: ASU Polytechnic
- 10th grade: ASU Downtown
- 11th grade: ASU West
- 12th grade: ASU Tempe
Application Deadline: March 24
Cost: $1,000
This residential summer program allows talented and motivated high schoolers to engage with college-level coursework while experiencing a slice of college life and meeting other high-achieving students. Need-based scholarships are available.
9. Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program (JBMSHP)
Dates: June 2 – July 12
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: February 18
Cost: Free
This free residential program is aimed at high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in STEM careers and come from backgrounds that are typically underrepresented in the field. The program provides students the opportunity to begin their mathematical studies—and earn college credit—while still in high school.
10. César E. Chávez Leadership Institute
Dates: June 16 – 20
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: April 1
Cost: Free
Just 60 students in grades 11 and 12 are selected to participate in this free, week-long summer program that encourages students to embrace community service and civic engagement, as well as develop their leadership skills. Participants also explore the opportunities available at ASU and work with college advisors to plan for college admissions and learn how to translate their interests into career opportunities.
11. RISE Summer Leadership Institute
Dates: June 23 – 27
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: April 1
Cost: Free
This free, week-long residential program is aimed at Black and African-American students entering grades 9 through 12. The program highlights a variety of topics, but primarily focuses on college readiness, leadership skills, and community engagement. Program activities are led by Black and African-American industry leaders and educators.
12. The Burton Family Foundation Summer Health Institute
Dates:
- Camp 1: June 16 – 22
- Camp 2: June 23 – 29
Location: Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus
Application Deadline: April 1
Cost: Free
This immersive summer experience provides rising seniors with the opportunity to explore careers in healthcare. Participants engage in an immersive college experience while learning what it’s like to work in professions such as dentistry, physical therapy, and optometry. Students will also learn about essential skills like suturing, setting up IVs, and administering injections.
13. Summer Experience at Downtown
Dates: N/A
Location: Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: N/A
High schoolers in grades 9 through 12 can experience residential life at college through this summer program offered at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. Students will participate in interactive activities, sit for presentations, explore college majors, and take part in discussions led by current ASU students. They’ll also have the chance to attend events centered around the programs offered at ASU’s downtown campus.
Need-based scholarships are available for this program.
14. High School Game Camp
Dates: June 17 – 28
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,000
This camp takes a hands-on approach to teaching students about computer graphics and game development. Participants are led by an ASU professor with 20 years of experience in the field, and use the high-end game engine from Epic Games—Unreal Engine 5—to develop realistic 3D games.
15. Robotics Camp
Dates: July 1 – 12
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $850
Students interested in science and engineering will want to check out this summer program. Participants build and program a robot, by using the latest engineering concepts and technologies. The program culminates with students testing their creations in a robotics challenge.
16. Digital Culture Summer Institute
Dates: Varies depending on classes chosen
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $200 – $250 per class
This summer program is presented by Arizona State University’s School of Arts, Media, and Engineering and hosts five-day project-focused workshops. The Digital Culture Summer Institute is aimed at future makers, artists, designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Participants will get to hone the skills needed to succeed in a technology-fueled world through interdisciplinary classes in the arts, music, digital media, computer science, technology, and engineering.
17. Camp Cronkite
Dates: June 23 – 28
Location: Arizona State University
Application Deadline: April 1
Cost: $699
High schoolers can gain real-world media experience and get a taste of college life at this exciting residential summer program. Participants are exposed to a variety of types of media, including visual, audio, and narrative storytelling, while exploring numerous fields within journalism and mass communication, such as sports journalism, broadcast journalism, and digital marketing.
18. Mayo Clinic High School Student Summer Volunteer Program
Dates: June 3 – July 26
Location: Varies
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: Free
Students can volunteer in both clinic and hospital settings during this intensive nine-week program at the Mayo Clinic, where volunteers learn valuable skills about healthcare and medicine firsthand.
19. Helios Scholars at TGen
Dates: June 10 – August 2
Location: TGen North (Flagstaff)
Application Deadline: February 7
Cost: Free
Graduating seniors will want to look into this paid eight-week internship. The opportunity is open to incoming and continuing undergrad, graduate, and medical students who have studied at an Arizona high school, college, or university. As participants work on research projects focused on public health and pathogens under the mentorship of professional scientists, they will build professional skills, learn about career paths, and network with like-minded peers. The program culminates with participants presenting their project results at a formal research symposium.
20. Aerospace Engineering Camp
Dates: June 2 – 7
Location: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University
Application Deadline: March 18
Cost: $1,700
Take a hands-on journey to the heart of aerospace engineering through this exciting summer program, in which students learn about topics like aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and aircraft design. While working alongside Embry-Riddle faculty, students will participate in engineering labs and gain firsthand experience applying the principles of design. This is a residential program, so students also have the chance to get the full college experience—both living and learning on a college campus.
21. Astronomy Camp
Dates: June 16 – 21
Location: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University
Application Deadline: April 8
Cost: $1,750
If you’ve ever wanted to explore the secrets of the universe, this adventurous summer experience is for you! Students will listen to lectures, take part in hands-on activities, view planetarium shows, and go on eye-opening field trips—such as to the Lowell Observatory Meteor Crater in Winslow—as they learn about the cosmos alongside other peers who are drawn to the mystery of outer space.
Students live and learn on the university’s Prescott campus during the program, and are taught by Embry-Riddle faculty, so you’re sure to get an accurate, comprehensive taste of what college life is like.
22. Data Science Camp
Dates: July 21 – 26
Location: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University
Application Deadline: April 8
Cost: $1,750
Participants in this residential summer camp will dig into the mathematical and computational foundations of data science, to learn about an exciting discipline and college life simultaneously. Students will crunch numbers, write code, and explore the impact of data science on individuals and societies through hands-on activities and conversations.
23. Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP)
Dates: June 7 – 14
Location: Diné College
Application Deadline: March 22
Cost: Free
This eight-day program for Native American high schoolers in grades 10 through 12 introduces students to careers related to public health, health research, and service learning in local communities. Students build new skills, develop leadership qualities, and become part of a supportive network of mentors and students. Not only is this program free, but participants receive a stipend at its completion.
24. Indigenous Youth Media Workshop
Dates: June 19 – 29
Location: Northern Arizona University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
Indigenous storytellers and media makers will want to check out this free summer program focused on broadcast media and journalism. Students will create documentary-style multimedia news stories, produce a live broadcast news show, and explore careers in media. Participants will also build a range of skills related to journalism, collaborate with other students, and immerse themselves fully in college life, by eating in the student union, living in residence halls, and learning on NAU’s campus.
How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Participation in summer programs factors into college admissions, although their significance depends on various factors, including their prestige, how they align with your interests, and the value particular institutions place on extracurricular activities.
The more prestigious an extracurricular activity (like attending a summer program), the more weight it will hold with admissions officers. For example, attending a selective program like UA’s Young Writers Institute will generally grab attention. Similarly, participating in a program closely aligned with your interests—like a prospective pre-med student attending a program like UA Med-Start—is another great way to boost your admissions odds.
The four tiers of extracurricular activities are a good way to understand how colleges assess an applicant’s pursuits outside of the classroom. The top tiers—one and two—are the most desirable to colleges. Top-tier activities are impressive, unique, and rare. The lower tiers—three and four—are reserved for more common and less wow-worthy activities. Ideally, a college profile will have a few top-tier activities—like attending a prominent summer program—mixed with activities from the lower tiers.
CollegeVine can also help you determine the influence extracurricular activities have on your chances of college admission. Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors including grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.
