25 California Summer Programs for High Schoolers in 2026

What’s Covered:

• 25 Summer Programs for High School Students in California
• How Impressive Are Summer Programs in College Admissions? 

 

Summer programs provide a host of benefits to high school students, allowing them to explore potential career paths, gain firsthand experience within specific fields, network with like-minded peers, and build new skills. 

 

If you’re looking for summer programs in California, the list below features options in fields ranging from medicine to the arts—some programs are even free!

 

25 Summer Programs for High School Students in California 

 

1. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) 

 

Dates: June 22–July 26

Location: Stanford University 

Application Deadline: March 23

Cost: Free  

 

This five-week, in-person program admits around 24 low-income, first-generation students from Northern California. Participants spend between 30 and 40 hours per week in the program, Monday through Friday. 

 

Students participate in Stanford faculty lectures on health science, public health, and medicine; engage in a group research project to improve health and access to care across all communities; attend professional development workshops; and develop lasting relationships with their peers. 

 

2. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

 

Dates: June 8–July 30

Location: Stanford University

Application Deadline: February 21

Cost: Free

 

Participants in this eight-week summer program gain firsthand lab experience while researching a medically oriented project. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors, aiming to both increase their interest in the biological sciences and medicine and help them gain a deeper understanding of how scientific research is conducted. 

 

3. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) 

 

Dates: June 8–July 24

Location: Stanford University

Application Deadline: February 23

Cost: Free

 

This six-week program is focused on introducing high school students to careers in science, medicine, and research. The program provides rising juniors and seniors from the Bay Area with hands-on experience conducting research projects and an in-depth look at how scientific research is performed. 

 

This program is free and students with financial need are eligible to receive a stipend up to $3,000 for their participation. The program is open to students who reside and attend school in the following California counties:

 

• San Francisco
• San Mateo
• Santa Clara
• Marin
• Alameda
• Contra Costa
• Santa Cruz 

 

4. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) 

 

Dates: 

• Session 1 (online): June 15–July 3
• Session 2 (online): July 6–24
• Residential Session: June 21–July 17

Location: Online and Stanford University 

Application Deadline: February 2 

Cost: $3,750–$8,950  

 

SUMaC is a chance for mathematically gifted high school sophomores and juniors from around the world to explore math beyond what is typically taught in the classroom. Students should expect a heavy workload and a variety of engaging assignments outside of class time. 

 

Both the online and residential options have equal levels of rigor, with the online sessions providing virtual social opportunities with peers, guest speakers, and teaching assistants. The residential program serves 40 participants, while the online programs will serve 64 per session. 

 

Financial aid is available for students who may need it. 

 

5. SAGE Camp at SLAC

 

Dates: June 21–27

Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University 

Application Deadline: March 18

Cost: Free

 

SAGE, or Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement in STEM, is a free, one-week residential camp for public school students from all backgrounds. Students make professional connections, learn about scientific discoveries and engineering processes, and explore STEM careers. 

 

The program is open to high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in Northern California high schools.   

 

6. Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)

 

Dates: N/A

Location: Pomona College  

Application Deadline: March 3 

Cost: Free   

 

Pomona College’s PAYS program provides over 90 students from local high schools with preparation for admission into some of the country’s most selective colleges and universities. Admission is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors from groups traditionally underrepresented on college campuses, like first-generation students and low-income students. 

 

Participants live in a dorm on Pomona’s campus while taking math and critical inquiry courses taught by Pomona professors. Senior students can work on a research project with a Pomona faculty member—this research could be published in academic journals. 

 

The program is open to students from the following California counties:

 

• Los Angeles
• Orange
• Ventura
• Riverside
• San Bernardino 

 

7. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)

 

Dates: July 6–August 2

Location: 

• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UC Los Angeles
• UC Merced
• UC San Diego
• UC Santa Cruz

Application Deadline: February 6

Cost: $5,256    

 

COSMOS allows students in grades 8 through 12 the opportunity to explore STEM topics; work with renowned faculty at six UC campuses—UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC Merced, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz—and conduct research in state-of-the-art facilities. 

 

This is an intensive, four-week summer residential program for academically gifted and talented students—the typical COSMOS participant has a GPA of 3.5 or above. Students participate in “clusters,” which address various advanced topics in STEM fields with like-minded peers. 

 

8. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)

 

Dates: July 4–August 1

Location: Cal Poly Pomona 

Application Deadline: February 28

Cost: $5,174–$10,475  

 

Founded by the California state legislature in 1987, CSSSA supports future artists and creates a pipeline of talent for the state’s entertainment industry. Through this intensive, four-week residential program, students are provided the opportunity to explore a variety of fields, including:

 

• Music
• Theater
• Visual arts
• Dance
• Writing
• Animation

 

Full and partial scholarships are available to students who need financial assistance. 

 

9. Engineering Possibilities in College (EPIC) 

 

Dates: 

• Session 1: July 5–10
• Session 2: July 12–17
• Session 3: July 19–24

Location: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Application Deadline: March 31

Cost: $2,100 

 

A residential program at California Polytechnic State University, EPIC provides rising 9th through 11th graders the chance to experience college life while exploring engineering fields and meeting like-minded peers. 

 

Participants attend a daily engineering class, collaborate on a group engineering project, and hear a series of talks covering topics ranging from navigating college admissions to exploring the different types of engineering programs. There is also a wide variety of social activities hosted on campus.  

 

10. UCLA Writing Project Summer Camp

 

Dates:

• Online: July 13–24
• In-person: June 22–July 2

Location: Online and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: $650

 

This program for rising 9th through 12th graders helps participants develop writing skills and find their voice while engaging with relevant social issues. The workshop focuses on a range of writing genres, including poetry, narrative essays, and argumentative writing. Students will work in a close-knit community of other young wordsmiths to sharpen their skills and build a network of similarly interested peers.

 

11. UCLA Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP)

 

Dates: June 22–31

Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Application Deadline: May 1

Cost:$2,521 

 

Participants in this six-week program for exceptional high school students—the program is open to sophomores and juniors with a minimum 3.8 GPA—gain firsthand experience with college life. Participants study alongside undergraduates, attend classes, sit in lectures, and engage in workshops.

 

Ultimately, students will gain a real-world understanding of university life, earn college credit, and be better prepared for the challenge of college. 

 

12. Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement (AYA) 

 

Dates: N/A

Location: University of Southern California (USC)

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: Free  

 

AYA is a free, three-week summer intensive academy that accepts 26 high school students from the surrounding community. Students will strengthen their skills in writing, critical thought, public speech and debate, multimedia production, interviewing, and ethnography. 

 

Participants gain an understanding of USC Annenberg’s undergraduate programs and potential career paths, as well as the opportunity to meet the school’s innovative scholars advancing issues of race, gender, and ethnicity in communication and journalism. They complete college-level coursework and have access to college advising and essay prep from the USC Annenberg Admissions Team. 

 

13. CAMP CHLA 

 

Dates: 

• Session 1: June 15–19
• Session 2: July 27–31

Location: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles 

Application Deadline: January 19

Cost: Free  

 

Camp CHLA provides freshmen, sophomores, and juniors from Los Angeles County the chance to explore careers in healthcare and meet similarly interested peers. Over the camp’s five days, students will have the opportunity to learn, observe, and participate in a variety of daily activities at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, meet medical professionals, and gain firsthand experience in the healthcare field.   

 

14. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program

 

Dates: Varies 

Location: Varies 

Application Deadline: February 13 

Cost: Free  

 

Started in 1969, the Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program encourages high school students to pursue careers in medicine—the program is often described as a medical mentorship. Open to students from Los Angeles and its surrounding counties, participants attend daily sessions, presentations, and interactive lessons hosted by professionals in the medical field, including:  

 

• Surgeons
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Dietitians
• Ophthalmologists
• Radiologists
• Therapists (physical, speech, occupational, or cognitive)    

 

15. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

 

Dates: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15

Cost: $2,990–$8,900

 

Founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program pairs high-school students with PhD mentors to work one-on-one on an independent research project. 

 

At the end of the 12-week program, participants have written an independent research paper! Students can choose research topics from subjects such as:

 

• Medicine
• Computer science
• Psychology
• Physics
• Economics
• Data science
• Business
• Engineering
• Biology
• International relations

 

This program is designed to accommodate students’ schedules—they can participate in the summer, fall, winter, or spring, and the program is also conducted fully remotely. While students must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate high academic achievement (most have an unweighted GPA of 3.3), no previous knowledge of their field of interest is required. 

 

Note that this is a selective program. Last year, over 4,000 students applied for 500 spots in the program. 

 

16. UC Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies

 

Dates: June 26–July 24

Location: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

Application Deadline: March 23

Cost: $3,475–$9,874 

 

UCSB’s summer research academies are open to current high school students in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade, with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.6. Students will earn four college credits by taking a research course that will teach fundamental concepts in whichever track they choose. 

 

Participants learn how to compose a formal research report and gain key communication skills to present their findings. There are 12 tracks to choose from, with an option for any student’s interests. 

 

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available, with priority given to California residents. 

 

17. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program 

 

Dates: June 15–July 31

Location: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

Application Deadline: March 9

Cost: $5,675–$13,274 

 

This competitive six-week summer program allows talented high school students to conduct hands-on, university-level research. Over the course of the program, students communicate their findings in a technical paper and present at a formal symposium.

 

Opportunities are available in a range of fields, including:

 

• Anthropology
• Biology
• Computer science 
• Economics
• Engineering 
• History 
• Music
• Sociology 
• Statistics

 

18. Pacific Summer High School Institute

 

Dates:

• Session 1: June 1–11
• Session 2: June 16–26

Location: University of the Pacific

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: $3,800  

 

The University of the Pacific’s Summer High School Institute is a two-week residential program designed to immerse students in the college lifestyle through experiences in the school’s labs, studios, fields, and makerspaces. The offered courses span five categories: 

 

• Performing and Visual Arts
• Health and Science
• Engineering and Technology
• Business and Society 
• Athletics

 

Students live in dormitories, eat in dining halls, and learn in the school’s state-of-the-art library. They also have access to a variety of extracurricular social activities to meet and form bonds with their peers. 

 

19. Girls Who Code Summer Programs

 

Dates: June 29–August 14

Location: Online

Application Deadline: April 10 

Cost: Free

 

The Girls Who Code six-week Pathways program is open to high school students in grades 9 through 12 who identify as girls or non-binary, with or without prior computer science experience, at no cost.

 

Participants learn coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, and explore fields including cybersecurity, web development, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI).

 

20. AstroCamp 

 

Dates: Varies 

Location: AstroCamp 

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: $2,800 – $4,400 

 

AstroCamp is a two-week residential program for students ages 12 to 17. Participants can choose to pursue over 40 activities in fields ranging from STEM to Creative Arts to Mountain Adventure, including:

 

• Animation
• Astronomy 
• Improv
• Mountain Biking
• Podcasting 
• Robotics 
• Rocketry
• Wilderness Survival 

 

While the camp is STEM-focused, it also offers social events, like a carnival, a Renaissance festival, and a talent show at its 100-acre facility.  

 

21. Meta Summer Academy

 

Dates: June 15–July 24

Location: Meta

Application Deadline: February 14 

Cost: Free

 

Meta Summer Academy externs get an up-close look at the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s most prominent social media companies. During the six-week program, students will build work experience and bolster the skills needed for a successful tech career. 

 

This opportunity is open to high school students who live in:

 

• East Palo Alto
• Belle Haven
• North Fair Oaks
• Redwood City. 

 

A minimum 2.0 GPA is required to participate in the program.  

 

22. embARC

 

Dates: July 6–31

Location: University of California, Berkeley

Application Deadline: April 1

Cost:

• Commuter: $5,193
• Residential: $10,493

 

This summer program for rising juniors and seniors from the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design immerses participants in the fields of architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning. 

 

Students will engage in college-level coursework, tackle challenging design assignments, take field trips around the Bay Area, and complete a design/build project. At the completion of the program, students will earn college credit and have built a portfolio for use in their college applications.

 

23. B-BAY

 

Dates:

• Session 1: July 5–18
• Session 2: July 19–August 1

Location: University of California, Berkeley

Application Deadline: March 1

Cost: $7,450–$7,950

 

This prestigious two-week program focused on entrepreneurship attracts students from across the globe to UC Berkeley’s campus. Participants immerse themselves in life at the renowned institution—taking classes, sitting for lectures, conducting research, and working on projects while exploring a variety of business subjects and building skills.  

 

Participants also work with admissions advisors to develop a better understanding of the college admissions process and get a head start on crafting personal statements and college essays.

 

24. Voyage Seaward  

 

Dates:

• Session 1: July 6–10
• Session 2: July 13–17
• Session 3: July 20–24

Location: Seaward

Application Deadline: N/A

Cost: $1,495

 

Students ages 13 to 16 with an interest in oceanography, coastal and marine ecology, and life at sea will want to check out this summer program. Taking place on the Seaward, a classic 82-foot schooner, participants sail along the California Coast developing their skills, knowledge, confidence, and leadership.

 

Activities during this five-day adventure at sea include whale watching, plankton study, navigation, squid dissection, and vessel handling.

 

25. Summer of Art  

 

Dates: July 6–31

Location: Otis College of Art and Design

Application Deadline: June 23

Cost: $2,690–$7,315

 

Young artists ages 14.5 and older will want to explore this summer art program. Ideal for experienced young artists, participants will deepen their skills, explore pathways, and connect with creative peers while experiencing a slice of college life. The program culminates with an art exhibition, giving students a chance to share their work with friends, family, and the public. 

 

How Impressive Are Summer Programs in College Admissions? 

 

Colleges look for students who explore their interests outside the classroom. Extracurricular activities are an important way to demonstrate your passions. 

 

Extracurricular activities are more easily understood when broken down into four tiers, with Tier 1 home to the most impressive and unique activities and Tier 4 consisting of the most common. In general, aim to have at least a few Tier 1 and Tier 2 activities combined with Tier 3 and Tier 4 activities.

 

Summer programs fall into different tiers depending on factors like selectivity, theme, and more. While they usually fall into Tier 3 or 4, a particularly prestigious and selective program could be considered Tier 1 or 2.

 

Curious how a summer program or extracurricular activity will impact your chances of admission? CollegeVine’s free chancing engine will help you learn your real odds of getting into more than 1,600 schools across the country, plus give you tips for improving your profile.

 

Disclaimer: This post includes content sponsored by Lumiere Education.