30 Summer Architecture Programs for High School Students in 2026

What’s Covered:

• Summer Programs Offered by Colleges and Universities
• Programs Aimed at Increasing Diversity in Architecture 
• Professional Architecture Associations
• How Much Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances? 

 

Summer programs are a terrific way to explore the architecture and design profession. Many colleges and universities with architecture majors offer a summer learning experience that also serves as a recruitment tool. If you have a particular school in mind that offers a summer program, you should seriously consider registering for it.  

 

These programs may offer an on-campus experience, allowing you to see what it’s like to be a student and determine if this is the place for you. Other perks can include earning college credit or a scholarship to their school. Even if they don’t offer these benefits, you will still come away with a great experience and projects to add to your portfolio.  

 

Summer Programs Offered by Colleges and Universities   

 

Some architecture programs are housed in their school’s fine arts department, while others are at home in engineering and technology. We’ve also included schools of design, liberal arts colleges, and universities from across the country.    

 

1. Boston Architectural College (BAC) Summer Academy  

 

Dates: July 6–31

Location: Boston Architecture College 

Application Deadline: June 22

Cost: $1,600–$1,800 

 

No design experience is required here, just an interest in learning. Students in 9th through 12th grade who participate in the BAC Summer Academy gain a deeper understanding of architecture, interior design, and landscape design, while engaging in hands-on building and design projects. 

 

At the program’s completion, students will have developed a digital and physical portfolio suitable for design school applications.  

 

2. Drexel Discovering Architecture  

 

Dates: July 5–18

Location: Drexel University  

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost:

• Commuter: $2,850
• Residential: $3,575

 

This two-week summer program is open to high school students aged 16 and older. Participants take courses led by Drexel faculty, work in the studios and labs used by Drexel architecture students, listen to lectures from distinguished speakers, and visit local architectural sites—ultimately gaining firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to be an architecture student at a major university and a better understanding of careers in the field. 

 

3. Pre-College Design Program at Georgia Institute of Technology 

 

Dates: 

• Session 1: June 14–26
• Session 2: July 5–17

Location: Georgia Tech University  

Application Deadline: May 1

Cost: $3,500

 

This two-week residential summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors offers students the opportunity to work with Georgia Tech’s world-class faculty, gain insight into what it’s like to study architecture in college, and develop a better understanding of careers in architecture. Participants will complete a portfolio-worthy hands-on design project.  

 

4. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Early College Program Summer Institute

 

Dates: Varies

Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: $1,908–$10,252

 

SAIC offers several programs for high school students, such as the Early College Program Summer Institute for students ages 15 to 18. The program offers everything from single-week to four-week college experiences that include courses, such as architecture, and living in residence halls. Successful completion provides a portfolio-worthy project and college credit.  

 

5. Career Exploration in Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture Workshop

 

Dates: June 7–12

Location: University of Nebraska, Lincoln 

Application Deadline: April 10 

Cost: $650  

 

The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, offers a hands-on workshop experience for high school students interested in architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. During the camp, students learn about the field, work in client/designer scenarios, create their own projects in the design studio, and learn what it’s like to be a college student. 

 

6. Columbia University Introduction to Architecture 

 

Dates: July 6– August 7

Location: Online and Columbia University 

Application Deadline: Rolling 

Cost: $4,590

 

This five-week summer program provides an overview of the fields of architecture, urban planning, and historic preservation. Participants will develop their skills in a design studio led by faculty and participate in seminars, lectures, and relevant readings on visualization, technology, and the history of architecture.

 

7. Norwich University Summer Design Academy  

 

Dates: June 21–26

Location: Norwich University 

Application Deadline: Rolling

Cost: $1,500 

 

A one-week, in-person architecture academy for high schoolers provides skill-building instruction, portfolio materials, and information on the college application process. Activities include seminars, sketching, drafting, and model building.  

 

8. UCLA Jumpstart Summer Institute | Introduction to Architecture

 

Dates: June 22–July 17 

Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Application Deadline: June 19

Cost: ~ $3,920

 

This is an intensive, four-week program for individuals with a high school diploma who are interested in pursuing architecture. The program offers six quarters of credit in the University of California system.  

 

9. Rhode Island School of Design Pre-College Program 

 

Dates: June 27– August 1

Location: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) 

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: 

• Commuter: $9,595
• Residential: $12,495  

 

RISD is arguably one of the country’s premier schools of art and design. Their Pre-College Program is a five-week, on-campus immersive experience for students with daily studio work, college-level education, and a unique insight into the life of a RISD student. 

 

10. Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Architecture 

 

Dates: June 20–July 25

Location: Carnegie Mellon University  

Application Deadline: March 1

Cost: 

• Commuter: $8,253
• Residential: $10,744 

 

This intensive college experience for current high school sophomores and juniors exposes them to college life, explores design, and introduces them to a network of similarly interested peers. Over the course of the program, students build foundational architectural skills through coursework, projects, seminars, workshops, and field trips. 

 

11. New Jersey Institute of Technology Summer Introduction to Architecture

 

Dates: July 20–31

Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology   

Application Deadline: N/A 

Cost: $2,500 

 

This two-week summer program introduces rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors to the techniques and vocabulary used in the field of architecture. Throughout the program, participants work on individual and group projects, meet with practicing architects, and take field trips. At the program’s completion, students will have a piece of work suitable for portfolio submission to colleges.

 

12. ArcStart

 

Dates: July 12–31

Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor    

Application Deadline: February 26  

Cost: $6,250 

 

Open to rising high sophomores, juniors, and seniors as well as rising college freshmen, ArcStart is a residential program designed to give students a firsthand introduction to the field of architecture. Participants learn about a variety of aspects of the field by using specialized drawing, drafting, and modeling tools, exploring architectural history, visiting an architecture firm, creating design proposals, and curating work in a digital portfolio. 

 

Students will also learn about—and prepare for—the college application process. 

 

13. embARC Summer Design Academy

 

Dates: July 6–31

Location: University of California, Berkeley 

Application Deadline: April 1  

Cost: $5,193

 

This four-week immersive pre-college program allows rising high school juniors and seniors to explore the fields of architecture, urban design, and city planning. Participants develop technical skills while taking college-level work and building their design portfolio for college applications. No prior design experience is required to take part in this program. 

 

14. Pratt Summer Architecture 

 

Dates: July 6–31

Location: Pratt Institute    

Application Deadline: May 1

Cost: 

• Commuter: $5,452
• Residential: $8,192

 

Pratt offers a number of pre-college summer programs, including a four-week architecture program. In this hands-on course, students draft plans, build models, and develop a strong foundation in key architectural concepts and skills. Open to both commuter and residential students, the program also allows participants to earn four college credits and bolster their portfolios.

 

15. Camp ARCH

 

Dates: July 6–11

Location: Texas A&M University   

Application Deadline: March 8 

Cost: $1,500  

 

Participants in this week-long residential program can choose from four areas of focus: 

 

• Architecture
• Construction Science
• Landscape Design
• Urban Planning

 

This program aims to introduce students to what life is like as a Texas A&M undergraduate—providing deeper knowledge of the university’s academic programs, curriculum, resources, and campus, while exploring a field of interest.

 

16. Architecture + Planning Camp @CAP

 

Dates: June 22–26

Location: Ball State University   

Application Deadline: N/A 

Cost: $400

 

This one-week program for students in grades 9 through 12 introduces them to architecture, site evaluation, ecology, sustainability, planning, sketching, and 3D modeling. In the program, students will complete projects they can include in their portfolios and increase their understanding of the thought process used by professional architects, landscape designers, and urban planners.

 

17. Virtual Architecture Summer Camp

 

Dates: July 26–August 1

Location: Online    

Application Deadline: N/A 

Cost: N/A 

 

Learn about architecture from the comfort of your own home this summer with this excellent virtual opportunity from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, School of Architecture and Urban Planning. 

 

The program is open to high schoolers in grades 9 through 12 and recent high school graduates interested in architecture, design, and 3D design. In the program, students learn the foundational elements of architecture and how to communicate their design ideas through mediums like models, drawings, and text.

 

18. Architecture in the City  

 

Dates: 

• Commuter: July 8–12
• Residential: June 20–27

Location: University of Colorado, Denver    

Application Deadline: N/A 

Cost: $750–$2,000 

 

This unique program for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors introduces students to architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning through a design-build project. Participants will gain hands-on experience with building and drawing techniques, visit firms and sites, and meet a network of like-minded students.

 

19. Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) Teen Fellows

 

Dates: June 22, 2026–May 8, 2027

Location: Harold Washington College

Application Deadline: March 31

Cost: Free

 

This free 15-month program helps Chicago-area youth build foundational architectural skills. Participants attend college courses and engage in hands-on projects—developing design projects and building their portfolios. Students also visit architectural sites and firms, familiarize themselves with design software, and intern at a local firm.

 

The program runs for 14 Saturdays in the fall, 16 Saturdays in the spring, and six weeks over the summer. Students earn a stipend for their participation in the program.

 

20. Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) Arch/Design Thinking Week

 

Dates: February 17–20

Location: BSA Space

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: Free

 

This four-day workshop offers Boston public school students the chance to learn about architecture from local architects. Participants gain firsthand experience working on a design project and build valuable soft skills like communication while connecting with local like-minded peers. 

 

21. Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED)

 

Dates: N/A

Location: Varies

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: Free

 

SEED is a free six-week summer program for Boston-area and Metro North Region high schoolers interested in architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture, and urban design. Participants will build foundational skills, explore career paths, and develop their resume and professional network through a paid internship.

 

22. WashU Architecture Discovery Program (ADP)

 

Dates: July 12–25

Location: Washington University in St. Louis (WashU)

Application Deadline: March 31

Cost: ~ $4,361

 

Participants in this two-week program push their creative limits and cultivate a passion for design. Students engage in activities like sketching and observation to build hard skills while developing the ability to communicate through drawing. Students will also explore outside the studio, visiting local architecture firms, artists’ studios, museums, and historic sites.

 

23. Hines College/Wonderworks Architecture Program for High School Students 

 

Dates: June 15–July 17

Location: Auburn University

Application Deadline: June 1

Cost: $1,500

 

This summer program helps participants build foundational architectural knowledge through hands-on activities, lectures, and field trips to buildings of interest in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin. No architectural experience is necessary to attend.

 

Programs Aimed at Increasing Diversity in Architecture 

 

1. Project Pipeline regional camps at the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)

 

Dates: Varies

Location: Varies  

Application Deadline: Varies

Cost: Varies 

 

NOMA’s mission is to empower young people to effect change in their community through design. NOMA uses the city as the classroom to introduce minority students (with a focus on Black students) to architecture. The program brings together architects, planners, and young people to foster the next generation of design professionals. As an organization, NOMA advocates for increased inclusiveness, diversity, fellowship, equity, and excellence in design.

 

2. Girls Garage

 

Dates: Varies

Location: Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA  

Application Deadline: Varies

Cost: Free–$500  

 

Girls Garage is a nonprofit building and design group for girls and gender-expansive youth from ages 9 through 18. For high school youth, there are one-week-long workshops, summer programs, and distance-learning opportunities—including building-focused summer programs.   

 

3. Hip Hop Architecture Summer Camps 

 

Dates: Varies

Location: Varies  

Application Deadline: Varies

Cost: Varies  

 

These camps use hip-hop culture to introduce young people from underrepresented groups to architecture, urban planning, and design. Blending design and music, participants write and record a track based on their observations, critiques, and visions for their communities. Cities across the country host summer camps, including major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. 

 

4. 400 Forward 

 

Dates: Varies

Location: Varies

Application Deadline: Varies

Cost: Free    

 

400 Forward takes its name from the 400th living African American woman to become a licensed architect in 2017 and seeks to support the next 400 women architects, with a focus on African American girls. The program provides free summer camps and workshops that expose young women to the field of architecture, provide mentorship, and highlight the work of its participants.

 

5. Women in Construction Management Summer Institute

 

Dates: June 2–6 

Location: Colorado State University

Application Deadline: March 15

Cost: $25

 

High school girls interested in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) will want to check out this five-day, four-night summer program. Participants will engage with women working in AEC fields and college mentors to gain a deeper understanding of construction management, discover career pathways, and explore AEC topics.

 

Professional Architecture Associations  

 

1. Build SF Summer Design Institute

 

Dates: 

• Session 1: June 8–26
• Session 2: July 6–24 

Location: Online

Application Deadline: N/A 

Cost: $3,000–$3,500 

 

This fast-paced three-week summer program offered by the Architectural Foundation San Francisco provides high school students with professional feedback, guidance, and design skills. Students learn multiple digital design platforms and complete portfolio-worthy projects for college applications or professional opportunities.

 

2. Fallingwater High School Residencies 

 

Dates: Varies

Location: High Meadow Educational Complex

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: N/A

 

 This program for high schoolers in grades 9 through 12 offers students the chance to engage in immersive studio-based learning while exploring careers and creative expression. Six sessions are held, all focused on five topics. They are: 

 

• Drawing and Model Making 
• Interior Design 
• Sustainability in Architecture
• Design and Build
• Biophilic Design  

 

No previous design experience is required to participate in this awesome architecture summer program. 

 

How Much Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?

 

Colleges look beyond excellent grades and test scores when evaluating applicants. At the most selective schools, extracurriculars generally play a huge role in determining which students will make the cut.  

 

There are four tiers of extracurricular activities that colleges think about when reviewing applicants’ activities. Selective, competitive, and prestigious activities are often found in the top tiers, Tier 1 and Tier 2.  

 

Tier 1 includes things such as being a highly recruited basketball player or an award-winning national science fair competitor. Tier 2 is similar, but is usually reserved for activities that are more common than those in Tier 1. Tiers 3 and 4 are reserved for more common extracurricular achievements, such as holding school leadership positions or being a member of a debate team.  

 

Summer programs vary in their impressiveness on the four tiers, but generally they will fall between Tiers 2 and 3. Typically, the more selective a program is, the better it will look on your application. Moreover, free programs are more likely to give you an edge than those that are costly.  

 

To find out how architecture programs and other aspects of your profile affect your chances of admission at top colleges, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine. This free tool will also give you tips on improving your profile!