13 Graphic Design Programs for High School Students

If you’re a high school student interested in visual creativity, storytelling, or digital media, joining a graphic design program can help you turn those interests into tangible skills. These programs introduce you to tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma while teaching the principles of layout, typography, color theory, and branding. You can work on projects such as designing posters, logos, or interactive media, building a portfolio that showcases your style and voice.

Why should I participate in a graphic design program in high school?

Many graphic design programs for high schoolers are hosted by universities, design schools, or arts organizations and offer both in-person and online options. Whether you want to pursue a career in digital design, marketing, animation, or UI/UX, these experiences can help you understand how professional designers operate and what the field requires. A graphic design program can also give you a solid portfolio for your college applications, which is especially useful if you’re applying to competitive design schools. 

With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 13 graphic design programs for high school students to explore. Options include campus-based workshops and virtual courses, allowing participation from anywhere.

1. Smithsonian National Museum of American History Graphic Design Internship

Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free; minimum $500 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 15 students
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students

The National Museum of American History offers internships across multiple departments, including roles involving design for exhibitions and digital media. You might prepare visual materials, develop layouts for interpretive content, and support the creation of graphics for museum publications and online platforms. The program assigns you to a specific supervisor who outlines your responsibilities and reviews your progress throughout the internship period. Some placements involve working with teams that handle exhibition planning, where design elements are incorporated into labels, signage, and visitor-facing materials. Other placements may focus on digital content, where you contribute to visual assets used for educational or outreach initiatives. Internships follow a defined schedule and take place in person at the museum, with occasional hybrid options depending on the project.

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students

Ladder Internships offers a remote internship structure where you work with a startup on defined projects over several weeks. The program matches you with a company based on the type of work the startup is recruiting for. You complete project tasks assigned by the company team and follow a schedule that outlines weekly expectations. A company coach monitors your progress and clarifies project requirements. You also interact with a startup mentor who reviews your work and explains how it aligns with the company’s ongoing activities. Some tracks include research-focused assignments created in coordination with the startup mentor. The program organizes regular check-ins to outline upcoming milestones and maintain a consistent workflow.

3. RISD Pre-College Program in Graphic Design

Location: Providence, RI
Cost: $12,495
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 11 (payment deadline)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16-18

The RISD Pre-College on-campus program runs for five weeks, during which students take studio classes inspired by RISD’s undergraduate courses. Participants complete a foundation course and select a concentration that influences their projects throughout the session. The program includes planned studio time, instructor-led critiques, and assignments. You work in RISD’s classrooms and studios, using the same materials and equipment as degree students during the academic year. The schedule features regular feedback sessions to clarify expectations and review your progress. You also participate in organized campus activities that explore various fields of art and design. Housing and dining facilities are available on campus throughout the program.

4. Immerse Education’s Fine & Digital Art Track

Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program; financial aid available
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 

The Career Insights Program lets high school students explore careers in major global industry hubs. The Fine & Digital Art track is designed to give you hands-on exposure to creative processes, digital design tools, and professional art practices while collaborating on projects with peers and mentors. Participants engage in project-based learning with established companies, attend interactive workshops, and visit offices, factories, and headquarters. The program also includes in-person weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback on your resume and overall profile. You’ll also present your findings to industry experts at the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here!

5. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Rising Star Program

Location: Savannah/Atlanta, GA
Cost: $6,620
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 28 – July 24
Application Deadline: No formal deadline; payment deadline is May 29
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors

The SCAD Rising Star program offers a structured summer term where you take two college-level courses taught by SCAD faculty. You will work in studios, classrooms, and digital labs that give you access to the same equipment and resources used in SCAD’s undergraduate programs. The schedule includes instructor-led sessions, project work, and critiques that help you understand how college design courses are organized. The program also offers structured on-campus activities to introduce you to various academic departments and facilities. You live in SCAD housing and adhere to a residential schedule. The program ends with a review of your completed coursework and a final assessment of the projects you worked on during the session.

6. UCLA Design Media Arts Summer Institute

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20 students
Dates: Various 2-week sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students at least 15 years old (17 years old for residential sessions)

The UCLA Design Media Arts Summer Institute offers a two-week curriculum that introduces you to design and media practices through structured studio and lab sessions. You work on projects involving 2D imaging, web and interactive media, 3D worldbuilding, and motion design. The program offers daily guidance from faculty and program assistants who monitor your progress and clarify project requirements. You utilize software and equipment available in UCLA’s Design Media Arts facilities while working on assignments across various modules. The schedule includes structured work sessions that help you progress from initial concepts to finished projects. Additionally, you participate in a final review where your work is presented within the program.

7. Pratt Institute Precollege Program in Graphic Design

Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: 2-week session; exact dates vary
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

The Pratt PreCollege Explore Graphic Design course is a two-week program where you complete projects focused on visual communication and design principles. You work on assignments that cover layout, composition, typography, and other elements used in graphic design. Instruction is provided by Pratt faculty, who review your work and provide guidance on each project. The program takes place in studio and classroom environments, enabling the use of traditional and digital design tools. Scheduled sessions feature dedicated work periods, demonstrations, and feedback discussions. 

8. Parsons Summer Institute Graphic Design 

Location: New York, NY
Cost: $5,610 + $265 university fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – 26 | July 6 – 24
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students ages 16–18 who meet application requirements

The Parsons Summer Institute Graphic Design is a three-week program that introduces you to graphic design through structured studio coursework led by Parsons faculty. Classes run full days and combine demonstrations, critiques, and project development, with additional assignments completed outside scheduled hours. Projects focus on visual communication and digital design, and students use Adobe Creative Cloud for the duration of the program. Field trips to art and design sites in New York City are built into the curriculum, offering direct exposure to professional creative environments. Faculty provide regular feedback through individual and group critiques that support steady progress on coursework.

9. The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive - Graphic Design & Drawing

Location: New York, NY
Cost: $2,700
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – August 6
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–18 (rising sophomores–seniors)

The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive is a four-week in-person program focused on studio-based learning in drawing and graphic design. Participants spend each day in full-day classes, dividing their time between core concentration projects and required drawing sessions. Projects are supported by instruction from Cooper Union faculty, with undergraduate teaching assistants providing additional guidance throughout the studio process. Weekly workshops introduce focused topics and techniques, and scheduled field trips take you to museums, galleries, and artist studios across New York City. Visiting artists and designers meet with students to discuss their work, adding context to the projects completed during the program. During the final week, your work will be part of a program exhibition open to families and guests.

10. Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Design Program

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: $10,647
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1 (early deadline) | March 1 (final deadline)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; must be at least 16 by program start date

In Carnegie Mellon University's Pre-College Design Program, you will learn how designers approach problem-solving and create solutions through organized studio activities. Participants attend classes taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty, focusing on essential design principles from the university’s first-year curriculum. The program includes studio lessons, lectures, critiques, and structured work sessions that simulate a typical college design experience. You use sketching, diagramming, prototyping, and other tools as you work through projects in products, communications, and environments. You also take courses in design drawing, photography, and research methods, allowing you to practice how designers visualize ideas, capture images, and gather information. Throughout the program, you work from your own assigned studio space and participate in regular critiques with faculty.

11. School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Early College Program Summer Institute

Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,908 (1-week) | $3,816 (2-week) | $7,632 (4-week)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 26 | June 29 – July 10 | July 13 – 24 | June 29 – July 24 | July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 15–18 who have completed their sophomore year

In this program by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, you will take studio classes that give you structured time to develop projects in your chosen discipline. Each session includes full-day studio work along with evening workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where you explore specific techniques and materials. Your coursework may involve drawing, painting, photography, design, sculpture, or other areas, depending on the class you select. Throughout the program, you work with SAIC instructors who guide you through assignments that reflect college-level studio practice. You also have access to facilities and equipment that support a wide range of media. Each session ends with an exhibition where you display the work you have produced for classmates and faculty.

12. Tufts University Pre-College Studio Art Intensive

Location: Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: Commuter: $5,445 | Residential: $7,245
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 24
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12

The Tufts University Pre-College Studio Art Intensive program places you in a structured studio environment where will you work across drawing, painting, sculpture, and animation. Each day is organized around foundational classes that introduce methods for 2D, 3D, and digital practices, with instructors guiding you through material exploration and project development. Scheduled critiques give you time to discuss your work with faculty and classmates and consider approaches used by other artists. You can also visit the SMFA art library and take guided trips to major Boston museums, which are used as extensions of studio learning. Evening and daytime sessions are designed to give you consistent access to tools, spaces, and instructional support. You also meet with members of the SMFA admissions team, who outline the school’s portfolio expectations and review process.

13. NC State Design Camp

Location: Raleigh, NC
Cost: $900 
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 80 seats
Dates: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: April 10 (late registrations include a $50 fee)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students

The NC State Design Camp introduces you to the design process through a series of short studio projects across architecture, graphic and experience design, industrial design, and media arts. You rotate through four studios, giving you a clear sense of how each discipline approaches problem-solving and creative exploration. Throughout the week, you also participate in activities that develop observation, critique, and analytical thinking outside the studio. Daily presentations from College of Design faculty help you understand how design education works at the undergraduate level. The schedule is structured to mirror college studio culture, with consistent movement between making, reviewing work, and learning from peers.

Image Source - Rhode Island School of Design Logo