15 College Summer Programs for High School Students in New York

College summer programs are a fantastic way for you to explore college-level academics and the undergraduate environment while building valuable skills for the future. College summer programs help you develop practical skills, connect with mentors, and form relationships with peers who share similar interests. These programs also provide practical benefits, such as the opportunity to earn college credits at a lower or no cost, easing your transition to higher education. Completing undergraduate-level coursework in high school can also help you stand out in the college admissions process, especially if you’re applying to top colleges. 

For high schoolers in New York, there are many opportunities offered by universities such as NYU, Columbia, Cornell, and specialized institutions. These include specialized programs in fields like science, arts, business, and technology. Additionally, college programs significantly enhance your college readiness, setting you up for academic success. To make the search easier, we’ve curated a list of 15 of the best summer college programs for high school students in New York. 

1. CUNY College Now

Location: City University of New York
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; > 20,000 students annually
Dates: 4 – 5 weeks between July and August
Application Deadline: Typically, May
Eligibility: 11th and 12th grade students (limited opportunities for 10th graders available) who either attend a NYCPS high school, supported by NYCPS, or are from an NYCPS GED program | GPA-based eligibility for college-credit courses

College Now is a free, dual-enrollment initiative run by CUNY in partnership with New York City public high schools. Designed to help high school students earn college credits and build academic momentum while still in high school, this program involves taking intro-level CUNY courses in a variety of fields such as biology, business, humanities, and computer science. The program also includes career-awareness activities, campus visits, and work-based learning initiatives, helping you understand possible college and career pathways. College Now is offered across many CUNY campuses and also supports you to choose courses that align with your strengths and ambitions, offering a personalized college-prep experience.

2. SHAPE Columbia Engineering Summer Program

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Commuter: $5,880; Residential: $10,705; a limited number of need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 – 40 students
Dates: July 6 – 24; July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: All current high school students (freshmen to seniors) are eligible for the commuter option | Students who are 16 and above are eligible for the residential option

In this program, you’ll take college-level, project-based courses in fields like robotics and autonomous driving, biomedical engineering, electrical systems, and innovation design. All courses are taught by Columbia professors and supported by current engineering students. Beyond the core curriculum, the program offers electives, labs, and workshops on research methodology, entrepreneurship, and college preparation, giving you both technical exposure and professional development. Recently, SHAPE has introduced on‑campus residential housing for a portion of students, giving you the chance to fully immerse yourself in the college experience while forging connections through social events, leadership sessions, and evening programming.

3. Cornell Pre-Collegiate Summer Residential Program

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,840 per credit + $75 application fee; Three-week residential: $2,879; Six-week residential: $5,714; limited financial assistance is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 1:10 staff-to-student ratio
Dates: 3 to 6-week sessions in the summer between June 22 and August 2
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors between the ages of 16 – 18

Cornell University invites high school students to live on campus for 3 or 6-week terms through its Summer Residential Program. Here, you will enrol in undergraduate courses taught by Cornell faculty. Along the way, you gain the experience of living in residence halls, dining in dining centers, and participating in supervised social and recreational activities. The program also includes admissions workshops to help you strengthen your college application skills. Hosted by a prestigious university, coupled with exposure to peers from across the U.S. and more than 50 countries, makes it both an intellectually enriching and globally connected experience to vie for.

4. City Visionaries: Summer Program for High School Students

Location: Cornell AAP, Roosevelt Island, NY
Cost: $13,000 + $45 application fee; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.3 or above

City Visionaries is a five-week project-based summer program hosted by Cornell College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. In this program, you will explore multiple facets of urban development through hands-on studio work, lectures, discussions, and field trips across New York City. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in close mentorship from Cornell faculty in design exercises and site analyses to learn how social, financial, and political forces shape cities. The experience culminates in a final project where you get to propose creative, community-focused design interventions for a real urban site. By the end, you’ll graduate with a certificate of completion and a folio of analytical and visionary work.

5. NYSID Summer Springboard

Location: Hybrid setup with on-site courses at 170 East 70th Street, New York, NY
Cost: Residential: $5,898; Commuter: $3,298; Commuter (class only): $2,398 + $99 application fee (minimum) + $250 supplement fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; around 60 students
Dates: Session 1: July 5 – 17; Session 2: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9 to 12 with a 3.0 GPA | International students must fulfill English proficiency criteria

NYSID’s Summer Pre-College program offers high school students an immersive two-week experience. You will dive into foundational interior design work, which will include drafting floor plans, choosing appropriate colors and materials, and exploring how spaces function. Along the way, you will visit designers’ offices, showrooms, and museums around the city. The program also features a portfolio workshop and a Photography in the City course, giving you a well-rounded feel for both design and visual storytelling. Overall, Summer Springboard is a great way to sample life as a design student under practicing professionals.

6. NYU Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP)

Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $350; fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Typically, early July – early August
Application Deadline: Typically, in April
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12 from New York who meet income criteria and get at least a B+ average in math, science, and English

STEP focuses on strengthening your skills in science and mathematics while providing research experiences through the Discovering Science Research courses. The program offers a combination of academic year and summer components, including core subject instruction, Regents exam prep, supervised practical and research training, and career awareness activities. By engaging in laboratories, research exercises, and enrichment workshops, you will gain exposure to real-world STEM careers and health-related fields. You will also receive guidance on college admissions and standardized test preparation, helping you to become a competitive applicant for selective colleges. Overall, STEP is a solid choice for college readiness, especially for students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds.

7. High School Summer Art Intensive

Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Around $7,360; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 54 slots
Dates: July 6 – August 2
Application Deadline: Domestic students: March 1; International students: February 15
Eligibility: High school students between 9 – 11 grades

NYU’s High School Summer Art Intensive is a four-week residential program for high school artists who want to deepen their practice in digital art, painting, and sculpture. Under the guidance of NYU Steinhardt faculty, you’ll be building studio work using professional materials while living in a university residence hall just steps from NYU’s art building. Beyond studio hours, the program includes a seminar on New York City’s art world, where you’ll tour galleries and studios and reflect on life as a working artist in the city. Evenings and weekends are full of social events and open studio time, giving you space to experiment with your peers and document your work.

8. College Edge: Summer

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $2,574 per point (1 point = 1 course) + $80 application fee + &65 student application fee per term; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies each year
Dates: Session A: May 25 – July 3; Session B: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have a minimum 3.3 GPA

Columbia’s College Edge summer program offers high-achieving high school juniors and seniors the chance to experience college life. Here, you will be earning real Columbia credit by taking undergraduate courses on the Morningside Campus alongside matriculated students. You’ll enroll in lower-division classes, attend regular lectures, labs, and discussions, and spend 2–3 hours of study for every in-class hour, mirroring a typical college workload. Beyond academics, the program supports you with academic advising, professional development workshops, and student life events that help you explore your identity, values, and long-term goals. One standout feature of this program is that you gain access to Columbia’s library, fitness center, and writing center.

9. Cornell CICER High School Summer Program

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $5,700; early-bird discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: July 13 – 25
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to high school students

This program offers a three-week high school summer program that introduces you to economics, finance, and systems thinking in a global context. You will be taking core seminars led by leading Cornell researchers on topics such as behavioral economics, environmental economics, and sustainable business, while choosing electives like big data analytics or engineering economics. One of the standout features of this program is the two-pronged capstone: a business analysis simulation and a business-pitch competition, where you’ll get to apply your learning to real-world challenges. You will better understand economic theory, data-driven decision-making, and business strategy tailored for global issues by the end.

10. Tisch School of Arts Summer High School Programs

Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Varies per track between $8,008 – $12,012 + additional fees apply; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies as per track between 14 – 36 students
Dates: 4 weeks between July – August
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are at least 15 years old | Animation & Film Workshops: only high school juniors | Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale

NYU Tisch’s Summer High School Program is a four-week residential experience in which high school sophomores and juniors explore creative majors in a college environment. You choose among artistic tracks like Animation, Drama, Dance, Filmmaking, Photography, Recorded Music, and more. Structured courses under this program are modeled after Tisch’s undergraduate curriculum. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in project-based work, receive professional training, and collaborate with peers. The program culminates in a final presentation where you get to showcase your work. This program is ideal for aspiring artists looking to grow in a challenging, supportive, and creative community.

11. Rochester Pre-College Programs

Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Cost: Varies as per type and course; more details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically, limited cohorts
Dates: Varies as per type and course between July 7 – 25
Application Deadline: Varies as per type and course between February and May
Eligibility: High school students between grades 9 – 12

The University of Rochester’s Pre‑College Programs offer high school students a flexible way to explore academic interests in business, engineering, health sciences, the humanities, or natural sciences. You can choose between residential three‑week intensive sessions, credit‑bearing college courses, or shorter half‑day programs. In the residential intensives, you’ll live in dorms, take classes taught by UR faculty, and join fellow pre‑college students, building both your academic muscle and your sense of independence. The online option extends this experience year‑round through asynchronous courses created by Rochester professors, complete with mentors and capstone projects.

12. AI + Art Summer Program

Location: NYU Steinhardt, New York, NY
Cost: $3,045 + $50 application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically, small class sizes
Dates: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically, April/May
Eligibility: High school students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in the following Fall

In this program, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of generative AI, how models work, how to program them, and how to adapt them for visual art, music, animation, and more. You’ll also explore the ethical, social, and policy implications of creative AI through hands-on discussions, design challenges, and policy workshops. The experience culminates in a final project and a public showcase where you present your AI-assisted art, offering a rare chance to reflect both technical skills and imagination. Guided by NYU faculty and technologists, this program is an ideal choice if you’re curious about the future of machine learning.

13. Fordham University – Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom

Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,200; financial aid is available; need-based discounts are available for students with family incomes below $50,000 per year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically small to moderate cohorts
Dates: Week 1: June 16 – 20; Week 2: June 23 – 27; Week 3: July 21 – 25; Week 4: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 12

Fordham University's Wall Street in the Classroom Finance Institute offers high school students an introduction to financial markets and core economic principles. The program provides practical, hands-on experience in analyzing traditional investments like stocks and bonds, alongside complex areas such as hedge funds and private equity. You develop skills in financial modeling, portfolio evaluation, and risk assessment through case studies and lectures led by faculty, alumni, and industry professionals. The curriculum also examines emerging trends like cryptocurrency, highlighting the role of technological innovation in modern finance. By applying analytical tools and critical thinking, you leave with a foundational understanding of sophisticated financial systems and market dynamics.

14. Queensborough Community College Summer Program

Location: Queensborough Community College, Queens, NY
Cost: In-City residents (Nassau, Suffolk, and other counties): $178.50 per credit; In-State Residents without certificate of residency: $225.25 per credit + $65 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open admissions; limited cohort sizes
Dates: Early July – early/mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically, late spring
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 10th grade | Overall GPA of 80 or higher with ELA Regents score of 75 or higher and 70 or higher on a Math Regents exam

The QCC Summer Program allows rising juniors and seniors to take college-level courses at Queensborough Community College during the summer. Through these courses, you can earn college credits and get yourself ahead in your academic career. Because QCC is part of the CUNY system, many of the credits you can earn are transferable to other colleges or count toward a degree at QCC. The application process includes submitting high school transcripts, a recommendation, and parental consent. Overall, if you’re able to comply with grade requirements and course prerequisites, QCC’s Summer Program is a good, structured, entry-friendly choice to experience college coursework before graduation.

15. Fordham Summer Leaders Academy

Location: Fordham University, Bronx/Manhattan, NY
Cost: Varies by specific program/course; more details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited seats
Dates: June 23 – 27; July 7 – 17; July 21 – 31; July 21 – 25; July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Resident: April 30; Commuter: May 1
Eligibility: All high school students

Fordham’s Summer Leaders Academy is a pre‑college program that combines academic courses across STEM, humanities, business, and the arts with college-prep and leadership training. Held on Fordham’s 85‑acre Rose Hill campus, you get to choose from one- or two-week “Immersion” courses where Fordham faculty lead daily classes in your chosen topic. Outside of classes, afternoon and weekend activities include career exploration, college admissions workshops, social bonding, and off‑campus excursions throughout New York City. The program offers both credit-bearing and non-credit courses, helping you build a stronger academic profile or try new fields in a low-risk, high-reward setting.

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