25 High School Summer Programs in New York State in 2024
What’s Covered:
- 25 Summer Programs in New York State for High School Students
- How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Home to numerous colleges and universities, government institutions, theaters and performance venues, landmarks, and much more, New York State is a place of opportunity, including for high school students.
What better location to explore your talents, interests, and prospective career and education paths? We’ve rounded up some of the best summer programs for high schoolers in New York State, in numerous fields from science to art.
25 Summer Programs in New York State for High School Students
1. Adelphi Pre-College | Art and Digital Production
Dates: July 7 – 27
Location: Adelphi University
Application Deadline: June 14
Cost: $3,000 (commuter program); $5,205 (residential program)
Participants in this program explore the fundamentals of drawing and design in two-dimensional art. Students will gain hands-on experience working with a variety of wet and dry media, along with collage.
Outside of the studio, visual presentations and peer critiques will help bolster their ability to create and analyze art. Students earn three college credits upon the successful completion of this program.
2. Adelphi Pre-College | Psychology and Pop Culture
Dates: July 7 – 27
Location: Adelphi University
Application Deadline: June 14
Cost: $3,000 (commuter program); $5,205 (residential program)
In this fascinating program, students learn how to use basic psychological principles to analyze youth culture, social media, advertising, contemporary music and television, and the internet.
Participants will explore real-world issues, like how social media and societal pressure affect human emotions, and gain a deeper understanding of mental health disorders and their impact on individuals. Students will also participate in college preparedness workshops and sample a slice of college life.
3. Alice Hoffman Young Writers Retreat
Dates: July 14 – 19
Location: Adelphi University
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: Free
Aspiring young writers will want to check out this free week-long retreat. Participants will work with accomplished writers and artists, along with English graduate students, hone their skills, and network with a community of writers. The program is open to high school juniors, who must be nominated by their high school to apply.
4. Young Women’s Leadership Institute
Dates:
- Session 1: June 30 – July 19
- Session 2: July 22 – August 10
Location: Barnard College
Application Deadline: April 15
Cost: $7,772 (commuter program); $9,687 (residential program)
Young women have the opportunity to explore the relationship between gender and leadership at one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the country, Barnard College. Participants will focus on one of the following tracks: STEMinist, Writing and Literature, Global Humanities, and Art, Movement, and Performance.
5. Summer Food Institute
Dates: July 22 – August 10
Location: Barnard College
Application Deadline: April 15
Cost: $7,772 (commuter program); $9,687 (residential program)
This three-week summer program has students examine the U.S. food system through four key lenses: agriculture; health, policy, and justice; food systems and climate change; and soil health. Participants will visit farms, meet farmers, and see firsthand how food is grown. They’ll also explore ways to produce food in an ecological manner that supports communities and the planet.
6. Musical Theatre Intensive
Dates:
- Session 1: June 23 – July 6
- Session 2: July 7 – 20
Location: Marymount Manhattan College
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $4,550, or $4,775 with optional private voice lessons
While learning from Marymount faculty and theater professionals, students who take part in this program at Marymount Manhattan College will explore the dance, voice, and acting process in New York City.
In addition to developing fundamental skills, they will gain insight into the audition process, as well as attend Broadway shows and participate in activities. At the program’s end, they will perform their work in front of family and friends.
7. Summer Leadership Academy
Dates:
- Session 1: June 23 – 29
- Session 2: July 7 – 13
- Session 3: July 21 – 27
Location: Mercy University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $595
Students must be nominated to attend this week-long program focused on building entrepreneurial and leadership skills. They will learn from Mercy University faculty and leaders from top companies in areas including career mindset, personal branding, careers in finance, accounting, marketing, and more.
While most of the program takes place on the Dobbs Ferry campus, participants will also visit the Manhattan Campus and the offices of several Fortune 500 companies.
8. Mathematical Modeling at Mercy University (M3U)
Dates: July 8 – August 3
Location: Mercy University
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: Free
This program intends to attract students to mathematics and science, particularly women and minority students. Program participants are introduced to math- and science-related career paths, engage in hands-on activities in computer and science labs, and explore ethical issues facing today’s scientific community.
Students will complete a project over the course of the program, and are given the opportunity to present the project to their peers and parents at the culmination of the program. Not only is this summer program free, but students receive a $700 stipend for their participation.
9. Pace PreCollege Summer Immersion Program
Dates: July 14 – 27
Location: Pace University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $3,700
This two-week program features courses in business, theater arts, digital film productions, and psychology. Students will have an intensive educational campus on Pace University’s NYC campus while learning from faculty from around the world.
10. Pratt Institute Pre-college Summer Program
Dates: July 8 – August 2
Location: Pratt Institute
Application Deadline: May 1
Cost: $7,221
Young artists will participate in college courses modeled after Pratt’s undergraduate offerings, taught by faculty and industry professionals, with the opportunity to earn four college credits. Students will also attend events throughout New York City and develop strong portfolio pieces to help them with their college applications.
11. Summer Science Research Program
Dates: June 24 – August 8
Location: The Rockefeller University
Application Deadline: January 5
Cost: Free
Under the mentorship of leading scientists, high schoolers in this program will conduct hands-on research in one of the top biomedical research facilities in the world. Students will participate in real lab experiments while learning about research techniques, scientific literature, important skills, and more. Stipends are available to students experiencing financial hardship.
12. School of Visual Arts Pre-College Program
Dates: July 8 – 26
Location: School of Visual Arts and online
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $2,700 – $5,800
SVA’s Pre-College Program is taught by the top faculty from the college’s undergraduate degree programs. Programs are available in-person and online and allow young artists to explore topics such as Animation, Interior Design, Cartooning, Painting, and Photography. Upon successful program completion, they will receive three college credits.
13. Skidmore College Summer Pre-College Program
Dates: July 1 – August 3
Location: Skidmore College
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $3,030 – $10,804
Modeled after real college-level courses, these programs, compressed into just a few weeks, challenge students in areas like Anthropology, Psychics, Writing, and more. At Skidmore College, students get a head start on college life, by learning alongside other exceptional students from around the world.
14. Stony Brook | Research Experience for High School Students
Dates: June 26 – August 9
Location: Stony Brook University
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: $4,000 – $7,097.50
Talented high schoolers will be immersed in an intensive experience at the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, as they both receive formal instruction and conduct independent research under the guidance of faculty, staff, and current students.
Participants are encouraged to enter their research in national competitions, publish it in scientific journals, and present it at national conferences.
15. Simons Summer Research Program
Dates: July 1 – August 9
Location: Stony Brook University
Application Deadline: February 7
Cost: Free
Academically talented high schoolers currently in their junior year are given the chance to participate in hands-on research in science, math, or engineering in this free summer program. Participants are paired with a faculty mentor, whom they work underneath to engage in research and ultimately produce a written research abstract and research poster. They present their poster at a closing symposium.
This program is not only free, but participants receive a stipend upon successful completion.
16. Syracuse Summer College
Dates: Varies
Location: Syracuse University
Application Deadline: May 1 (March 1 for financial assistance and scholarships)
Cost: Varies
Students will participate in noncredit and credit-bearing programs for up to four weeks across subjects such as forensic science, coding, writing, art, and more. Options are available for residential, commuter, and online students. Hybrid and online offerings are also available.
17. Parsons Summer Intensive Studies
Dates:
- Session 1: June 10 – 28
- Session 2: July 8 – 26
Location: The New School
Application Deadline: April 24
Cost: $5,390
This art and design program will prepare students for college-level work in studio art and earn them three college credits. Participants will choose from courses such as graphic design, product design, illustration, printmaking, and more. Students will also develop portfolio pieces for their college applications.
18. Rochester Pre-College Program
Dates: Varies
Location: University of Rochester
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,000 – $8,520
The University of Rochester offers a multitude of summer programs for high schoolers, including both full- and half-day programs, credit- and non-credit-bearing, as well as residential and commuter offerings, to cater to a wide range of preferences and interests. Programs are offered in fields like engineering, medicine, business, and the humanities.
19. NYU Precollege
Dates: July 2 – August 15
Location: New York University (NYU)
Application Deadline: June 12
Cost: Varies
This six-week program allows students to experience college life, explore potential majors, and earn college credit. Precollege courses are offered in four areas of study: Arts and Media; STEM; Humanities and Social Science; and Business.
Outside of the classroom, students will experience the best of what New York City has to offer through trips to Broadway shows, baseball games, and more.
20. GSTEM
Dates: July 1 – August 9
Location: New York University (NYU)
Application Deadline: April 15
Cost: $5,300
Students in this six-week summer program explore academic and career paths in STEM. Participants are paired with a professor or researcher and pursue a project of their choosing, to build their STEM skills and gain first-hand research experience.
The program aims to empower students underrepresented in STEM while building their programming skills, writing abilities, lab techniques, and overall college readiness.
21. Ithaca Summer College for High School Students
Dates: July 14 – August 2
Location: Ithaca College
Application Deadline: May 17
Cost: $3,900 – $5,480
This three-week program introduces students to college life and provides a chance to earn three college credits. Students can take courses in communications, environmental sciences, health, and natural science fields while, outside of the classroom, numerous social activities allow them to make friends and become part of the campus community.
The summer program closely aligns with Ithaca’s commitment to racial equity and inclusiveness—students should be prepared to engage in conversations that explore race, antiracism, and what it means to be in an inclusive classroom.
22. Exploring Entrepreneurship
Dates: June 24 – 28
Location: Fordham University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,600
Students in this week-long summer program at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business gain firsthand experience with entrepreneurship. Participants will work with their peers to develop a business idea and pitch it to a panel of experts. They will also visit a start-up incubator to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to begin a business.
23. Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
Dates:
- Session 1: June 17 – 21
- Session 2: June 24 – 28
- Session 3: July 22 – 26
Location: Fordham University
Application Deadline: April 1 if applying for a need-based discount
Cost: $1,100
Students interested in studying finance will want to check out this week-long summer program—it covers topics like personal finance, investing, and economics. Students will leave this course with a better understanding of the fundamentals of finance while getting the chance to interact with top finance firms and executives in New York City.
24. Writer’s Week: A Creative Writing & Performance Arts Workshop
Dates:
- Online: July 15 – 19
- In-person: August 5 – 9
Location: Sarah Lawrence College and online
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,025 (virtual session); $1,550 (in-person session)
This immersive week-long experience allows aspiring young creatives to explore writing—covering topics such as what defines a poem, a story, and the best way to communicate ideas through writing. Students are encouraged to write, read each other’s work, and work as professional writers—generating content, revising, and rewriting. Classes are intentionally intimate, each is limited to just 18 students and led by two faculty members.
25. Hk Maker Lab
Dates: July 8 – August 13
Location: Columbia University
Application Deadline: February 29
Cost: Free
This free five-week program for 10th- and 11th-grade students introduces them to the design process through coursework and hands-on activities. Participants build fundamental engineering skills, develop a support network, and get a head start on a career in STEM. Students who complete the summer program also have the opportunity to obtain a paid internship the following summer.
How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Extracurricular activities are typically evaluated according to four tiers, with Tier 1 indicating those that are the most exceptional, and Tier 4 indicating those that are the most common and least impressive. While summer programs are usually considered Tier 3-4 activities, some particularly selective (and free or low-cost) programs can be in higher tiers.
How do particular summer programs affect your chances of admission? Our free chancing engine will estimate your true odds of acceptance to hundreds of colleges across the country. You’ll also receive free tips on how to improve your profile!
