13 Summer College Programs for High School Students in NYC
Summer college programs give high school students the chance to explore academic subjects in depth, develop critical thinking skills, and experience what life is like on a university campus. You might take on research projects, attend seminars with faculty, or build practical skills that prepare you for college-level work. They’re also a chance to connect with peers and mentors, helping you expand your network to people who may be able to write your letters of recommendation for college.
New York City has many good universities and institutes, such as NYU, Columbia, and Juilliard, where you can access labs, take part in funded STEM research, or explore your interests in greater depth. Since these programs are local, you would also save on travel and housing costs. To get you started, we’ve curated this list of the 13 summer college programs for high school students in NYC based on their academic rigor and the opportunities they provide.
13 Summer College Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. NYU Tandon – Applied Research Innovation in Science & Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / $1000 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 60 students
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders who are New York City residents and can commit full‑time
The NYU Tandon Applied Research Innovations in Science & Engineering (ARISE) program is a free, competitive 7-to-10 week summer research program for motivated 10th and 11th-grade students residing in New York City. It places you in a university research lab, where you’ll work under NYU faculty and graduate students in fields like robotics, computer science, and bioengineering. You’ll begin with skill-building workshops before moving into a six-week research internship, where you contribute to ongoing projects. The program ends with a symposium where you present your findings to peers, mentors, and family.
2. Columbia University Zuckerman Institute — BRAINYAC
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically Fall via partner program (exact dates vary each year)
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who reside in New York City and are from select partner programs and schools that serve students in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx
The Columbia University Zuckerman Institute's BRAINYAC program (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia) is an immersive summer research internship designed for high school students. It offers hands-on experience in neuroscience research by placing students in Columbia neuroscience laboratories where they work closely with a neuroscientist mentor. Before the summer, you’ll complete training workshops to build lab skills. During the summer session, you’ll spend full days in a Columbia lab working alongside graduate students and postdocs. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to peers and faculty.
3. HK Maker Lab
Location: Columbia University campus (Hypothekids), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high‑school juniors and seniors who attend NYC public or charter schools; priority to students from educationally or economically under‑resourced backgrounds
The HK Maker Lab is a free engineering design program, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of biomedical engineering and apply them to design solutions for real health challenges. You’ll choose between a biomedical engineering track or an innovation & design track, tackling health or social challenges through digital prototyping, teamwork, and entrepreneurship, giving you practical experience in problem-solving. You will also receive guidance from Columbia faculty and graduate mentors. The summer ends with a pitch competition where teams present their prototypes to engineers and health professionals.
4. Columbia ENG (Engineering the Next Generation)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 7 – August 14
Application Deadline: Typically mid-April
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current 11th graders) from local partner schools in New York City | Must comply with Columbia’s vaccination requirements (MMR)
The Columbia ENG (Engineering the Next Generation) program is a six-week summer research program for highly motivated high school students, typically rising seniors (11th graders). It places you in the Columbia engineering labs for mentored summer research, where you’ll spend six weeks working on projects in areas like mechanical engineering, computer science, and applied physics. The program is designed to prepare underrepresented students for STEM careers and includes both lab work and career workshops. By the end, you’ll have completed a lab-based research project under faculty guidance.
5. Rockefeller University — Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipends may be awarded to students experiencing financial hardship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 23 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a prestigious, fully immersive summer research experience for high school juniors and seniors. In this program, you’ll work full-time in a lab on the Rockefeller campus, mentored by graduate students and postdocs. You’ll participate in ongoing experiments in fields like molecular biology or genetics and present your research at a final symposium. This program is a great choice among summer college programs for high school students in NYC because it is dedicated solely to biomedical research, giving you unique exposure to advanced scientific work.
6. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — Summer Student Program
Location: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Eight weeks; June – August (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Typically mid-February
Eligibility: High school students in NYC
This eight-week summer program involves placing NYC high school students in biomedical research labs under the supervision of experienced researchers. You’ll gain hands-on experience in techniques like PCR, tissue culture, and data analysis while actively participating in molecular biology or genetics research projects. Weekly seminars will introduce you to a variety of medical research areas and potential career options. The program concludes with a symposium where you will present your project, enhancing both your scientific knowledge and communication abilities. You will also get to collaborate with professionals, analyze real-world cases, and present your work.
7. Fordham Summer Leaders Academy
Location: Fordham University campus, New York City
Cost/Stipend: Varies by specific program/course; more details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
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
The Fordham Summer Leaders Academy is a dynamic program designed to give high school students a taste of college life while exploring a variety of academic fields. It covers topics like Pre-Health, Pre-Law, and Real Estate Development, allowing you to explore subjects you’re interested in. Throughout the program, you engage in interactive activities such as case studies, group discussions, and hands-on projects that foster critical thinking and teamwork. Beyond subject knowledge, you develop essential skills like leadership, communication, and problem-solving, which are crucial for academic and personal growth.
8. Columbia Engineering SHAPE
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $5,880 Commuter; $10,705 Residential; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 6 – 24; July 17 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 3
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
The Columbia Engineering SHAPE program (Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers) is a selective pre-college summer program for rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates interested in STEM fields. In this program, you’ll take college-level engineering courses while also completing projects while working in Columbia’s engineering labs, learn from faculty, and explore fields such as robotics, computer science, and electrical engineering. You’ll also join workshops on college readiness and STEM careers. At the end of the session, you’ll present your project to peers and instructors, showcasing the skills you developed during the program.
9. NYU Democracy Scholars
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 26
Application Deadline: Typically late March
Eligibility: Rising seniors (high school seniors about to enter 12th grade) at NYC public high schools, typically aged 15–18
The NYU Democracy Scholars program is an intensive three-week summer seminar focused on political philosophy and the foundations of democracy. You explore big ideas about social justice, civic leadership, and the role of democracy in society through deep discussion and critical reading of historical and contemporary texts. During the program, you engage in seminar-style classes, group discussions, presentations, and research projects, helping them develop skills in analytical thinking, public speaking, and persuasive writing. You also gain a real college experience by living on campus and connecting with peers who share their passion for social change.
10. City College of New York STEM Research Academy
Location: City College of New York, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,575 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Spring Course: February 11 – May 22; Summer Internship: June 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: NYC public high school 10th or 11th graders | 75 or above on ELA, NYS Living Environment, or Earth Science Regents | 85 or above GPA in English or U.S. History | Minimum overall GPA of 80 | Passed the NYS exams of at least one of Algebra, Algebra II, or Geometry with a grade of 66 or better
The College Now STEM Research Academy at CCNY offers a two-semester program that begins in the spring with a 45-hour science course focused on inquiry-based research skills, which may count as an elective credit. From this group, 10 students are selected for a summer internship where they join a CUNY or CCNY faculty lab to work on a structured research project. The summer experience involves full-time lab work, weekly seminars, and personalized mentorship. The program culminates in a poster presentation held at both CCNY and the American Museum of Natural History. You benefit from hands-on research experience and the opportunity to develop critical scientific skills.
11. Cooper Union Summer STEM Program
Location: The Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, New York, NY
Cost: 3 weeks: $1,950; 6 weeks: $3,950; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 3- and 6-week classes starting July 7
Application Deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: 9th–12th graders in the current academic year should reside in New York City or within its five boroughs | High school students who have completed grades 9-11 can be from anywhere in the world
Cooper Union’s Summer STEM program allows you to select a focus area like biomedical engineering, environmental science, or robotics. Over several weeks, you’ll engage in a mix of lectures, hands-on laboratory work, and collaborative projects. With no prior knowledge required, you can choose from introductory topics like engineering problem-solving approaches or advanced subjects such as data visualization, embedded systems, and computational physics. With guidance from faculty and graduate mentors, you’ll develop and design solutions to scientific and technical challenges. The program concludes with a presentation of your work to both instructors and fellow participants.
12. Baruch College STEM Research Academy
Location: Baruch College, New York City (CUNY campus)
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,575 stipend
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Mid-July – mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically December
Eligibility: NYC public high school sophomores or juniors | Overall 80+ average
This two-semester program is designed for New York City public high school students, mainly in 10th or 11th grade. It offers an introduction to college-level research through a 60-hour spring course where students learn to formulate research questions, design experiments, analyze data, and interpret scientific literature. Over six weeks in the summer, you participate in a research internship working closely with CUNY faculty on real scientific projects in fields like biology, chemistry, or environmental science. This hands-on experience includes working full-time in labs, attending seminars, and developing communication skills, culminating in a presentation of their findings. The program fosters critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and collaboration.
13. NYU GSTEM (Girls in STEM)
Location: NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York, NY
Cost: $5,500; optional housing with meals: $3,840; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade high school students (rising seniors) in the U.S.
The NYU GSTEM (Girls in STEM) program is a highly selective six-week summer research program designed for talented high school juniors with a strong interest in STEM fields. In this program, you’ll join a faculty-led research project at NYU in fields such as mathematics, computer science, or data science. You’ll spend six weeks working in labs, learning research methods, and collaborating with graduate mentors. Professional development workshops will help you build skills in presenting and writing about your work. You’ll finish the program with a presentation of your research project at a closing symposium.
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