25 Summer Art Programs for High School Students in 2026
What’s Covered:
- 25 Summer Art Programs for High School Students
- How Impressive Are Summer Programs in College Admissions?
- Other Ways to Spend Your Summer
Summer programs are a great way to enrich your time between academic years, especially if you want to explore subject areas or deepen specific knowledge and skills that you wouldn’t have time for during the regular school year. For students interested in the visual arts, many summer programs allow you to pursue your passion while surrounded by other aspiring artists.
While many pre-college programs carry a significant price tag, many listed here are free or offer substantial financial assistance.
25 Summer Art Programs for High School Students
1. City Art Lab
Dates: February 24 – May 15
Location: City College of New York (CCNY)
Application Deadline: February 13
Cost: Free
City Art Lab is a free 12-week after-school arts program for New York City high schoolers, based at City College of New York (CCNY). The program joins CCNY’s Art Education graduate students with local youth to collaborate on community-based art projects.
High schoolers can explore new materials and methods with practicing artists, develop their artwork for a portfolio, and learn about college life on a Manhattan campus, all while meeting other artistically inclined teens from all over NYC.
The program concludes with an art exhibition to celebrate the program’s high school artists.
2. Academy of Art University Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE)
Dates: June 16– 26
Location: Academy of Art University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
Offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, the Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE) at the Academy of Art University is a free educational program for high schoolers. Students can dive into artistic fields such as:
- Animation
- Fashion
- Fine Art
- Filmmaking
- Game Design
- Photography
Participants also get a taste of college-level coursework and meet other young artists.
3. UCLA Acting and Performance Laboratory
Dates: June 21 – July 10
Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost:
- Commuter Session: $7,130
- Residential Session: $9,149
This UCLA Acting and Performance Summer Laboratory is designed to immerse students in the world of high-level performing arts. Over the course of the program, students learn about performance training, movement techniques, and writing, while working on a showcase performance put on at the end of the program.
Participants gain practical experience in the creative process of theater, including rehearsals, conceptualizing, writing, and performing.
4. UCLA Game Lab Summer Institute
Dates:
- Session 1 (residential): June 22 – July 9
- Session 2 (commuter): July 12 – 30
Location: Online or the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Application Deadline: June 15
Cost:
- Session 1 (residential): $3,591
- Session 2 (commuter): $6,541
UCLA frames game-making as an art form in this summer program. Students learn the techniques required to create both digital and physical games in either an in-person or virtual program.
Throughout the program, students learn the fundamentals of game design, create 3D game characters with fully formed stories, build game worlds, and program and code their own games. Students leave the program with a portfolio of completed games or game assets that can be used for college or job applications.
5. Teen Gallery Guides at The Getty Center Museum
Dates: N/A
Location: Getty Center Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
The Getty Museum Teen Gallery Guide program is a paid summer internship for teens interested in the fundamentals of museum education. Interns are trained to lead guided tours of the Getty Center’s collection for visiting school groups.
This is a great opportunity for high schoolers interested in art, but also helps develop public speaking and facilitation skills. Interns are provided with transportation to and from the Getty Center, along with a stipend.
A similar program is also offered at the Getty Villa.
6. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)
Dates: July 4 – August 1
Location: Cal Poly Pomona
Application Deadline: February 28
Cost:
- California residents: $5,174
- Out-of-state students: $10,475
The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is a rigorous four-week, pre-professional visual and performing arts training program for high school students held each summer.
Participants hone their skills, push their creative boundaries, and live and learn like college students while exploring disciplines like:
- Architecture and Environmental Design
- Animation
- Dance
- Film
- Music
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
- Writing
Financial aid is available and awarded on a need-based basis, though only to California residents.
7. University of Michigan Stamps Pre-College Summer Portfolio Prep Program
Dates:
- In-person Session 1: July 12 – 25
- In-person Session 2: July 26 – August 8
- Online: June 15 – 26
Location: Online or the University of Michigan
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost:
- Online $750
- In-person: $6,000
Stamps Pre-College Summer Portfolio Prep Program at the University of Michigan is aimed at high school students (grades 9 through 11) interested in building a competitive portfolio. Students receive personal training and advice as they immerse themselves in studio work and gain firsthand experience with the structure and rigor of college-level courses. Participants also gain insight into the college admission process.
Partial and full scholarships are available based on need and merit.
8. Parsons Summer Intensive Studies NYC
Dates:
- Session 1: June 8 – 26
- Session 2: July 6 – 24
Location: The New School
Application Deadline:
- Session 1: May 8
- Session 2: June 1
Cost: $8,055
The three-credit art and design program at Parsons immerses high schoolers preparing for college in the environment of one of the country’s most prominent design schools. Over the program’s three weeks, students dive deep into creative practices such as:
- Animation
- Architecture
- Drawing
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Interior Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Product Design
Participants also have the opportunity to attend art and design field trips and meet industry professionals. All studio courses are geared toward developing and enhancing college application portfolios.
9. Parsons Summer Academy
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Location: The New School
Application Deadline: July 15
Cost: ≈ $1,720
Parsons Summer Academy offers a number of art-focused courses for high schoolers in grades 9 through 12. For example, some of the courses offered include:
- Animation Design
- Architecture
- Digital Video and Photography
- Fashion Design
- Illustration
- Interior Design
- Painting and Drawing
In addition to building hard skills through hands-on activities, participants also develop soft skills like creative thinking and collaboration.
10. Otis College of Art and Design Summer of Art
Dates: July 6 – 31
Location: Otis College of Art and Design
Application Deadline: June 23
Cost: $2,690 – $7,315
The intensive program at Otis College of Art and Design is designed for students between the ages of 14½ and 19 who want to strengthen their art and design skills. Students are taught by award-winning, practicing artists.
The program includes drawing studio courses and specialization courses that deepen skills in specific areas of artistic studies, including:
- Animation
- Ceramics and Sculpture
- Character Development and Design
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Painting
The program also includes lectures and final critiques, giving participants a firsthand look at what it’s like to study at a top art and design college.
11. Ringling College of Art and Design PreCollege
Dates: June 21 – July 18
Location: Ringling College of Art and Design
Application Deadline: May 1
Cost:
- Commuter: $5,345
- Residential: $7,480
Located in Sarasota, Florida, Ringling College offers an intensive four-week program that teaches students the fundamentals of art and design, allowing them to earn college credit and meet like-minded artists from around the world.
The program revolves around core classes for fundamental skill-building, as well as immersions for deeper investigation in areas of interest. Some unique immersions include computer animation, game design, virtual reality development, and creative coding for artists and designers.
12. The Putney School Summer Arts
Dates: June 28 – July 24
Location: The Putney School
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $1,600 – $10,050
Located in Southern Vermont, The Putney School Summer Arts is a technology-free arts program for teens—participants turn in their cell phones and other internet-ready devices at the beginning of the session. Students in grades 9 through 12 can sign up for a three-week immersive session, a one-week intensive, or both (a total of four weeks). The Putney School focuses on process over product and stresses its supportive environment.
Need-based financial aid is available to qualifying students.
13. NYU High School Summer Art Intensive: Studio Practice
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Location: New York University (NYU)
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: N/A
Only 54 students are selected to participate in this competitive summer art program in one of the world’s great creative capitals, New York City. Participants take studio classes, explore a range of materials and technologies, and gain firsthand insight into what it means to be a working artist.
Students leave the program with a strong body of work for college portfolio applications, along with meaningful connections to professional artists and talented peers.
14. SCAD Rising Star
Dates: June 28 – July 24
Location: Savannah College of Art and Design (both at its Savannah and Atlanta campuses)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $6,620
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), with campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, offers a Rising Star program in which students take part in two college-level, credit-earning courses taught by faculty at the school. These credits are transferable to other institutions, should a student not attend SCAD for their higher education.
Courses span a variety of disciplines and include demonstrations, lectures, studio work, and field trips to various historical sites, museums, parks, and music venues around the area. Students have access to the university’s libraries and studios, which feature extensive technology resources.
15. Summer Art Intensive at The Cooper Union
Dates: July 13 – August 6
Location: The Cooper Union
Application Deadline: July 5
Cost: $4,350 – $4,500
The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive program offers rising sophomores to rising seniors an opportunity to experience the art college environment and learn from professional art instructors while meeting peers who share their interests. Students can choose from concentrations in animation, drawing, graphic design, painting, and studio practice. Students are included in special focus workshops, social events, field trips, and an exhibition for program-created work.
16. Summer Arts Camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts
Dates: Varies
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $2,050 – $10,350
The Interlochen Arts Camp offers many programs, including:
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Film
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Music
- New Media
- Theatre
Classes include students in grades 3 to 12 and offer a diverse experience. Students engage in classes, rehearsals, and performances, with plenty of activities available in their free time, like crafts, swimming, basketball, and field trips.
Students live on the 1,200-acre campus that features over 120 cabins, two lakes, three dining halls, and several open-air venues.
17. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Art Program
Dates:
- Three-week session: June 20 – July 11
- Six-week session: June 20 – August 1
Location: Carnegie Mellon University
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: $6,184 – $12,204
Students in this summer arts program will explore both traditional tools and cutting-edge technologies to express their creative ideas. Structured like a college-level studio, participants develop their portfolios, build technical skills, receive critiques of their work, and connect with a network of faculty and peers.
18. MassArt Pre-College Summer Studios
Dates: July 20 – August 14
Location: Online or Massachusetts College of Art (MassArt)
Application Deadline:
- For-credit: May 1
- Non-credit: May 31
Cost: $4,020 – $4,650
The Massachusetts College of Art and Design offers a four-week program for artistically inclined high schoolers. The Summer Studios program is an intensive experience in which students develop their artistic skills and begin to create a portfolio.
Students attend three courses- 2D Fundamentals, 3D Fundamentals, and Issues and Images, all of which serve to build their artistic foundations at the college level. They also choose an elective that begins in the program’s third week and extends throughout the rest of the course.
19. ASU Summer Art Camps
Dates: Varies
Location: Arizona State University (ASU)
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $475 – $575
The Summer Art Camps hosted by Arizona State University’s School of Art are designed for students ages 13 to 18. These four- and five-day camps welcome students at any experience level, exposing them to a variety of studio art practices.
Participants connect with like-minded peers and receive feedback from specialized instructors. With all materials provided, campers need only bring themselves and their creativity.
ASU offers a variety of program mediums, including:
- Clay Sculpting
- Comics
- Figure Drawing
- Portrait Painting
- Screenprinting
- Stop Motion Animation
- Woodworking
20. Rhode Island School of Design Pre-College Program
Dates: June 27 – August 1
Location: Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost:
- Commuter: $9,595
- Residential: $12,495
Spend five weeks experiencing what life is like at one of the country’s most prestigious art and design schools in this immersive summer program. Participants push themselves as artists, following a college curriculum and exploring new tools, techniques, and materials. Ultimately, students will get out of their comfort zone, refine their work, and strengthen their portfolios.
21. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Pre-College Program
Dates:
- Two-week Session 1: July 13 – 24
- Two-week Session 2: July 27 – August 7
- Four-week Session: July 13 – August 7
Location: Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Application Deadline: April 30
Cost: $2,725 – $7,700
This program for high schoolers ages 15 to 17 offers a college experience with similarly creative peers while allowing students to develop their artistic techniques and skills. Participants follow a college-level curriculum that includes classroom instruction, studio time, workshops, and seminars.
The program is available in two formats: residential and commuter.
22. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Pre-College Program
Dates: Varies
Location: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD)
Application Deadline: May 1
Cost: $2,060 – $3,790
MIAD offers two pre-college summer programs for high schoolers:
- Core Studio Concepts
- Advanced Studio Concepts
Regardless of which program students choose, they are guaranteed to spend their days making art, engaging with college-level curriculum, and connecting with creative peers from across the country.
23. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI)
Dates: Varies
Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $1,908 – $10,252
ECPSI allows artistic high schoolers to bring their ideas to life while experimenting with a multitude of forms of media and creating portfolio-quality work. Students will experience what it’s like as an undergraduate at a competitive art school—tackling rigorous coursework, participating in workshops, spending time in the studio, and receiving mentorship from renowned faculty—all while living and learning on a college campus.
Participants in the program can earn college credit and, if applying to SAIC’s undergraduate program, can have the portfolio requirement of their college application waived.
24. Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) Pre-College Program
Dates:
- Session 1: July 5 – 17
- Session 2: July 19 – 31
Location: Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA)
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $1,950 – $5,950
CIA’s pre-college program is open to students in grades 9 through 12. The immersive program provides high schoolers the opportunity to experience college life, build a portfolio, and bolster their artistic skills. Courses are available in a variety of disciplines, including:
- Animation
- Ceramics
- Glassblowing
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture Fabrication
- Video production
25. University of Hartford Pre-Collegiate Visual Arts Portfolio Workshop
Dates: N/A
Location: University of Hartford
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: N/A
This summer workshop connects young artists with like-minded peers while building problem-solving skills and strengthening their portfolios. Designed for students serious about pursuing art at the college level, the program helps participants develop a compelling application and the foundational skills needed to thrive in a rigorous art or design program.
How Impressive Are Summer Programs in College Admissions?
Summer programs, as part of your extracurricular activities, show colleges your dedication to and pursuit of your artistic passions. In addition, you will likely come away with a solid portfolio that you can build upon to submit as part of your college application. Different colleges weigh extracurriculars like summer art programs differently.
CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator can tell you how colleges value your extracurricular activities. It uses factors like grades and test scores (and extracurriculars) to estimate your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the country. It can also provide insight into how to improve your profile.
Other Ways to Spend Your Summer
Though summer break provides you with the most time to explore your passions, it’s not the only time, and participating in summer programs isn’t the only way to pursue your interest in art. You can spend the summer touching up your foundational art skills on your own, like drawing and painting. Entering art competitions is another great way to have your college application stand out and show your merit as a young artist.
While we listed some paid programs in this list that operate like internships, there are many more official summer art internship programs. Internships demonstrate initiative and combine your passion for art with a clear career direction.
