25 Summer Programs in New Jersey for High Schoolers in 2026
What’s Covered:
- 25 Summer Programs in New Jersey for High Schoolers
- How do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
With numerous colleges and universities, New Jersey offers plenty of opportunities for high school students to learn and prepare for post-secondary education. Summer is a great time for you to take advantage of all New Jersey has to offer, and there is no shortage of programs available in the Garden State for you to explore your interests through a pre-college program.
25 Summer Programs in New Jersey for High Schoolers
1. Summer Early College Summer Program
Dates: Varies
Location: Fairleigh Dickinson University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $799–$1,065
Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can choose from a wide array of courses in technology, design, the arts, science, and more, to experience a college atmosphere for a three- or six-week nonresidential program. Courses are offered asynchronously online, in person, or remotely via Zoom, so you can choose the format that works best with your other summer commitments.
2. Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Dates: Late June–Early August
Location: Princeton University
Application Deadline: January
Cost: Free
During this hybrid program, high-achieving high schoolers interested in journalism attend both online and in-person workshops and lectures led by reporters, editors, and program alumni from prestigious publications and media outlets such as:
- The New York Times
- The Washington Post
- The New Yorker
- Politico
- CNN
Participants will also tour Princeton’s world-class facilities, cover local events, and work on journalism projects in the surrounding community. All costs, including transportation to and from Princeton, are covered.
3. Laboratory Learning Program
Dates: Varies
Location: Princeton University
Application Deadline: March 15
Cost: Free
This free summer program offers high schoolers the opportunity to gain research experience in the natural sciences or engineering. Students work full-time—typically for five to six weeks—on a research project under the guidance of Princeton faculty and staff. At the conclusion of the program, students are required to submit a two-page summary of their summer project.
This is a highly selective program, which typically receives over 700 applications.
4. STEAM Academy | Navigators
Dates: July 5–17
Location: Rowan University
Application Deadline: May 1
Cost: $2,600–$3,900
Students learn from top faculty at Rowan University, combining STEM topics with art, design, culture, and humanities. While participating in STEAM-focused learning experiences, students will also receive leadership training, career counseling, and standardized test preparation.
Participants will also receive college credit for their participation in this program, which is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
5. STEAM Academy | Pathfinders
Dates: July 5–17
Location: Rowan University
Application Deadline: May 1
Cost: $4,300
STEAM Academy participants may also choose the Pathways experience, which includes STEAM-focused courses, workshops, and a research internship, with personalized mentorship from a Rowan faculty member. Students who choose this option will also earn college credit.
All Pathfinders participants will stay on Rowan’s campus for the program’s duration, and will get a sneak peek of college life by sleeping in a residence hall, eating in a dining hall, and exploring the campus in their free time.
6. Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TLAE)
Dates: July 6–9
Location: Rowan University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
Business-minded rising high school juniors and seniors can start building their entrepreneurial thinking abilities and earn three college credits in this non-residential summer program. Students will explore the challenges facing modern entrepreneurs while learning about topics like:
- Business models
- Customer discovery and engagement
- Financial analysis
- Prototyping
- Design thinking
The program concludes with students pitching their ventures to a panel of judges.
7. Stevens IT Pre-College Programs | Business Explorer
Dates:
- Session 1: July 5–11
- Session 2: July 12–18
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $3,350
Over one week, participants in this residential program are led by professors from Stevens School of Business, who guide them through business cases and exercises, using the resources of Stevens’ own Hanlon Financial Systems Labs. Participants will explore business fields such as:
- Marketing
- Finance
- Management
- Ethics
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
The program concludes with a field trip to New York City, where participants visit the offices of major corporations such as Google and Bloomberg, meet executives, and gain firsthand insight into corporate life.
8. Stevens IT Pre-College Programs | Civil Engineering Design
Dates:
- Session 1: July 5–11
- Session 2: July 12–18
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $3,350
This unique program provides an overview of the evaluation, design, and construction phases of infrastructure projects. It also addresses the increased challenges facing such projects because of hurdles like population growth, urbanization, and the need to work more safely and sustainably.
When not in class, students can get a taste of college life by living in a Stevens residence hall, eating in a dining hall, and exploring Hoboken.
9. Stevens IT Pre-College Programs | Cybersecurity
Dates:
- Beginner: July 5–11
- Advanced: July 12–18
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $3,350
Available at both beginner and advanced levels, this program explores the need for data security awareness across a spectrum of industries. At the beginner level, students will gain a basic understanding of important cybersecurity principles. At the advanced level, students will learn how to hack and secure a system. AP Computer Science or similar coursework is required for the advanced level.
Regardless of whether enrolled in the beginner or advanced program, students will live in a Stevens residence hall and have chances to explore the campus and the surrounding area.
10. Stevens IT Pre-College Programs | Introduction to Game Design
Dates: July 19–31
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $4,950
Over the course of the summer program, participants develop their own video game—beginning with designing simple card and board games and progressing to creating their own 2D game. Students learn the C# programming language and gain experience using Aseprite, along with other industry-standard software.
11. Stevens IT Pre-College Programs | ECOES (Exploring Career Options in Engineering and Sciences)
Dates: July 19–31
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $4,950
This two-week residential program enables students to get a taste of engineering disciplines, including:
- Biomedical engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Civil engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Robotics
Students will not only take classes at Stevens and work with its faculty, but also live on campus for the duration of the program, giving them a firsthand look at what college life is like.
12. Stevens IT Pre-College Programs | Engineering Bootcamp
Dates:
- Beginner: July 5–11
- Advanced: July 12–18
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $3,350
Students will participate in a crash course in engineering by exploring disciplines including civil, mechanical, chemical, and biomedical engineering. Participants will also collaborate with their peers and work with faculty to design their research projects.
When not in class, students will stay in a Stevens residence hall and participate in on-campus activities to get a comprehensive sense of what their future college life will look like.
13. Game Design Academy
Dates: July 5–11
Location: Rider University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $1,500
Participants in this summer program will learn the skills and tools needed to create and develop video games through hands-on study. At the end of the week-long program, students will have developed a playable game that they can share with their family and friends.
This program also provides a sneak peek of college life, as students will live in a dorm and participate in various activities when they are not working on their games. The program is capped at 36 participants.
14. Musical Theatre Institute
Dates: July 26–August 8
Location: Rider University
Application Deadline: April 15
Cost: $3,400
Distinguished faculty, with experience everywhere from Broadway to film to television, lead participants in this summer program through conservatory-style instruction in singing, acting, and dancing. Students will also receive guidance on how to ace auditions and college applications alike.
The program concludes with a showcase performance, where students can demonstrate all their new skills.
15. High School Solo Pianist Week
Dates: June 28–July 3
Location: Rider University
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: $1,400
Learn the artistic and practical aspects of solo piano performance through this musical summer program. Instruction includes techniques for dealing with performance anxiety, memorization, and tips for applying to/auditioning for colleges of music. The week concludes with a solo piano performance at a staged concert.
16. High School Solo Vocal Artist
Dates: July 5–18
Location: Rider University
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: $2,650
This summer program allows high school classical singers to hone their craft through hands-on instruction while participating in activities aimed at building body awareness, learning opera and song history, and exploring voice science. Students also take master classes focused on college auditions and perform a concert at the culmination of the program.
17. Rutgers Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics
Dates: July 6–31
Location: Rutgers University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $4,800
Mathematically talented high school students will want to look into this four-week residential summer program focused on discrete mathematics. Participants will develop their problem-solving skills by applying mathematical concepts to a wide range of problems. They’ll also meet professionals and learn about careers in mathematics while experiencing a slice of college life.
Note that housing is not provided on weekends, so students must organize their own accommodation in the area around Rutgers.
18. Toxicology, Health and Environmental Disease (THED) High School Summer Program
Dates:
- Session 1: July 20–24
- Session 2: July 27–31
Location: Rutgers University
Application Deadline: March 2
Cost: $975
This program is aimed at rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in careers in the biomedical and environmental sciences. Students participate in a variety of activities covering topics such as:
- Laboratory ethics
- Experimental design
- Genetics
- Drug disposition and pharmacogenetics
- Clinical toxicology
Participants also explore career paths in fields like medicine, pharmacy, and biomedical research.
19. STEMx High School Program
Dates:
- Session 1: July 6–10
- Session 2: July 13–17
- Session 3: July 20–24
- Session 4: July 27–31
Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology
Application Deadline: May 9
Cost: $725
Students in 10th and 11th grade have the opportunity to immerse themselves in various STEM fields through this series of week-long programs—students can participate in as many, or as few, weeks as they would like. No matter what program(s) they participate in, students will explore a curriculum infused with mathematics, language arts, data literacy, and computer science.
20. Stockton CSI Summer Camp
Dates:
- Session 1: June 28–July 2
- Session 2: July 12–16
- Session 4: July 19–23
Location: Stockton University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $995 – $1,095
Do you love television shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, and Law & Order? If so, this is the summer program for you! Participants get a behind-the-scenes look at a murder investigation and trial.
Over the program’s five days, students work as a team to solve a murder, doing everything from collecting evidence at a mock murder scene to interviewing witnesses to trying the case in front of a judge and jury. Campers will also learn from law enforcement experts and take field trips to sites like an autopsy room or a county jail.
21. Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA)
Dates: July 12–18
Location: Stockton University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
Rising sophomores and juniors who are interested in business will want to check out this free residential summer program focused on the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. Participants will explore fields like accounting, finance, and marketing.
They’ll also compete in a business plan competition and live and learn on Stockton’s campus, giving them insight into life as an undergraduate.
22. Wall Street and the Investment Experience
Dates: July 12–18
Location: Montclair State University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,900
Get an inside look at the world of Wall Street and learn to analyze financial data, interpret business news, and trade securities during this week-long summer program. Students will also study famous financiers and explore Wall Street’s role in popular culture.
The highlight of the program is a field trip to New York City’s Financial District, which will include the opportunity to meet industry experts and gain real-world insight into careers in finance and investment.
23. Pre-College Summer Programs
Dates:
- Session 1: July 12–18
- Session 2: July 26–August 1
Location: Montclair State University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,900
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors experience what it’s like to be a college student while living on a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art facilities. One-week sessions cover a diverse selection of academic interests, ranging from animation to entrepreneurship to mathematics.
24. Giant LEAP STEM Program
Dates: July 20–26
Location: Seton Hall University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,200
This summer program aims to provide high school students with hands-on scientific research experience. Participants work in small groups on projects under the guidance of researchers, faculty, and graduate students while developing their passion for science, gaining practical skills, and learning about STEM majors and career paths.
25. Summer Entrepreneurship Institute
Dates: July 7–17
Location: Seton Hall University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,000
This five-day summer program instills participants with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, startups, and small businesses. During the program, participants create a prototype product and pitch their idea at the end of the session.
How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Not all summer programs are created equal, and some have more influence on college admissions than others. The best way to understand the impact of activities outside the classroom, like summer programs, on college admissions is through the four tiers of extracurricular activities.
Tiers 1 and 2 include the most prestigious, impressive, and rare extracurricular activities. The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a good example of a Tier 1 extracurricular—a maximum of just 40 students are selected annually, which makes it super-selective, uncommon, and sure to improve college admissions odds.
Conversely, participation in a summer program like Wall Street and the Investment Experience is best categorized in Tier 3 or 4. Programs like this are less selective, more common, and less likely to hold significant weight with colleges.
Participating in a program like Wall Street and the Investment Experience might not grab the attention of admissions officers, but they are not without value. They show a student’s interest and passion while also helping develop soft skills—like problem-solving and communication—that can bolster chances of admission.
CollegeVine can also help you determine the impact 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, as well as to provide insight into how to improve your profile.
