If you’re interested in fashion and thinking about studying it in college, high school is a good time to start exploring the field beyond social media, trends, and brands. Fashion is a serious academic and professional discipline that brings together design, business, marketing, consumer behaviour, and creative thinking, which is why pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students can be a useful way to experience the subject in a university-style setting.

Imagine spending part of your summer on a university campus developing design concepts, creating portfolio pieces, studying fashion marketing, or learning how fashion brands are built. You might attend workshops, work on projects with other students, and receive feedback from instructors who teach the subject at a higher level. At the same time, you’ll get a glimpse of the expectations and pace of college-level learning.

Why should I attend a pre-college fashion program?

Pre-college programs are different from many other summer opportunities because they are designed to introduce students to university academics. Rather than simply exploring a topic casually, you’ll often engage with the subject in a way that more closely resembles college coursework and projects.

For students considering fashion-related majors, these programs can help answer important questions early. Do you enjoy the design side of the field? Are you more interested in branding, marketing, merchandising, or business? Spending time in a university setting can make those decisions easier later on.

These experiences can also strengthen college applications by showing sustained interest in a field while giving you concrete projects, skills, and experiences to discuss in essays and interviews.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve put together a list of 15 pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students!

For adjacent opportunities, consider the design program and the art program.

Key Takeaways

• Costs range from $300 at St. Catherine University’s Fashion Summer Workshop to $12,495 for RISD’s five-week residential Pre-College Program.
• Most programs are based in major fashion hubs, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, with additional options in Ohio, Texas, and Minnesota.
• Program length varies widely, from four days at FIT’s Summer High School Workshops to five weeks at RISD’s Pre-College Program.
• Several programs offer transferable college credit, including Marist College’s Fashion Design & Merchandising program and Parsons’ Summer Intensive Studies.
• International students are welcomed at most programs on this list, including NYU’s Curating Fashion intensive, RISD’s Pre-College Program, and Vogue Summer School.
• Some programs focus on a specific niche within fashion, such as NYU’s exhibition-curation approach and Vogue Summer School’s emphasis on media and journalism through Condé Nast.
• Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School is one of the few options open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18, combining foundational design coursework with a personal project, 1:1 tutorials, and a certificate of excellence.

15 Pre-College Fashion Summer Camps for High School Students

1. NYU High School Summer Art Intensive: Curating Fashion

Location: New York City, NY (NYU Barney Building, East Village)
Cost: $2,600
Dates: July 5-25
Application Deadline: April 15th
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th grade students ages 15-18; open to international students with proof of English proficiency and an F-1 visa

NYU High School Summer Art Intensive: Curating Fashion offers a three-week learning opportunity to high school students. You’ll conduct fashion history research, engage in the designing of an exhibition space, and also work on a unique fashion story narration for an audience. The program will help you understand the impact of the fashion industry in different areas of life, including political, cultural, and social.

You’ll engage in a range of activities focused on garment research, such as textile analysis, interpretation of garments as creative expression and cultural artifacts, along with gaining active listening and collaboration skills. The program will help you engage in thoughtful discussions about fashion exhibitions, attend studio workshops, and listen to guest speakers, and culminate in an exhibition held in the Commons and Rosenberg galleries in NYU’s Barney Building.

Why it stands out: You will explore fashion through research, exhibition design, and storytelling while examining its cultural, social, and historical impact and contributing to a curated fashion exhibition.

2. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School

Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: Rolling admissions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 18 years old from around the world

The fashion industry is a massive world full of opportunities from every side. If you are a high school student who is looking to kickstart your journey in the fashion world before college, the Immerse Education Fashion and Design Summer School is the right option for you. In this course, you get to explore professional paths in fashion, learn the basic foundation of fashion design, create a personal project, and earn a certificate of excellence at the end of the program.

During the program, Immerse also helps you through 1:1 tutorials, conducting seminars from experts, and creating friendship bonds through day trips and excursions in your free time. In short, this program will really prepare you for reality in the fashion industry.

Why it stands out: The program balances academic foundations, personal projects, and one-on-one mentorship while offering structured insight into real fashion career pathways.

3. Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Fashion Design Camps

Location: Denton, Texas, on the TWU campus
Cost: $595
Dates: Vary by camp types and sessions. More information here
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 13-18; Open to international students

Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Fashion Design Camps offers five-day learning opportunities to high school students. You’ll engage in a range of projects focused on design concepts, color theory, trend board development, and fashion show production.

You’ll receive guidance and instructions from the program faculty and local industry professionals. Some of the camp sessions offered through the program include the teen fashion design camp, junior fashion design camp, and adult patternmaking workshop. 

Why it stands out: You will learn the fundamentals of fashion design through hands-on projects in design, color theory, trend development, and fashion show production while receiving guidance from faculty and industry professionals.

4. RISD Pre-College Program

Location: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Cost: Residential: $12,495; Commuter: $9,595 + $60 non-refundable application fee
Dates: June 27th – August 1st
Application deadline: Opens November 5th
Eligibility: Open to all students who have completed their 10th or 11th year of high school, are between 16 and 18 years of age, or will be 16 by October 1st

RISD Pre-College Program offers a five-week learning experience to high school students. You’ll learn through a college-level curriculum through projects, studio-based classes, and critiques. The program provides an immersive learning environment and allows you to connect with like-minded and motivated peers.

You’ll gain access to resources such as materials and museum collections while engaging in garment construction and translation of ideas into physical forms through hands-on projects. The program offers foundational courses and gives you the chance to develop skills in technical and design thinking. 

Why it stands out: You will experience college-level art and design education through studio projects, critiques, and hands-on creative work while developing technical skills and design thinking.

5. LIM College – Summer Fashion Academy

Location: LIM College, New York City, NY, or virtual
Cost: Varies by course
Dates: July 13-16
Application deadline: In-person: May 31st, Virtual: June 22nd
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th high school students ages 14-18 years by the program start; Open to international students

Among pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students, LIM College – Summer Fashion Academy offers week-long non-credit learning opportunities with different courses based on your interests. Some of the courses offered by the program include fashion design studio, fashion merchandising, branding and marketing, and fashion styling, along with virtual options.

The program will give you a chance to work on portfolio-building projects, gain knowledge from industry professionals, and explore future career pathways in areas of fashion and retail. 

Why it stands out: You will explore the fashion industry through specialized courses, hands-on projects, and industry mentorship while building your portfolio and learning about careers in fashion and retail.

6. FIT’s Summer High School 4-Day Workshops

Location: Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City, NY
Cost: $440 per 4-day workshop
Dates: Multiple week-long sessions in June and July
Application deadline: June 10th
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th-grade students worldwide

FIT’s Summer High School 4-Day Workshops allow you to engage in short-term learning through multiple sessions. You’ll develop valuable skills and explore career opportunities while interacting with like-minded peers. The sessions explore specific subject areas, including fashion, trend forecasting, styling, journalism, and more.

You’ll engage in fast-paced learning through a combination of classes, hands-on activities, and guided instructions. You’ll explore fundamental concepts, allowing you to prepare for college-level education while also having the chance to explore the campus.

Why it stands out: You will explore specialized fields such as fashion, styling, trend forecasting, and journalism through hands-on workshops while developing practical skills and experiencing college-level learning.

7. Kent State University, School of Fashion – Summer Fashion Academy

Location: School of Fashion, Kent State University, Kent, OH
Cost: $1,650
Dates: June 14-20
Application Deadline: Opens March 1st; Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-18 who have completed their sophomore year, Open to international students

Kent State University, School of Fashion – Summer Fashion Academy, offers a one-week Pre-College learning experience to high school students. You’ll be introduced to important areas in merchandising and fashion design, explore future career pathways in the fashion fields, and have the chance to experience college life through a residential learning experience.

You’ll attend lessons, work on creative projects, and explore the history of fashion. The program gives you a chance to engage in the creation of a 3D design, test prototype ideas by using KnitLab and TechStyleLAB, and gain knowledge about product development techniques by spending a day at the Design Innovation Hub. 

Why it stands out: You will explore fashion design and merchandising through hands-on projects, innovative design technologies, and residential campus experiences while gaining insight into fashion careers and product development.

8. Drexel University – Pre-College Fashion Design Program

Location: Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $2,400 ($300 registration deposit)
Dates: July 12-18
Application Deadline: June 12th
Eligibility: High school students around the world who have completed their sophomore year

Drexel University – Pre-College Fashion Design Program offers a one-week summer residential learning experience within this list of pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students. You’ll gain knowledge about the creative process involved in fashion design, work on hands-on studio projects, and develop skills to build a strong portfolio.

You’ll attend lectures, engage in, and learn about a range of activities, including print design, natural silk dyeing, draping, fashion illustration, and work with modern tools like Clo-3D and Shima Seiki’s Apex knitwear design software. The program also includes fun activities such as a silk screen workshop, evening trips, and interactions with peers while gaining industry exposure through visits to local attractions, art museums, and design studios.

Why it stands out: You will develop fashion design skills through studio projects, portfolio-building activities, and industry-standard design tools while exploring techniques such as draping, illustration, textile design, and digital fashion creation.

9. ASU FIDM Summer Camps

Location: Los Angeles, CA, and Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Varies by camp; Ranges from $1,000-$1,300
Dates: Fashion Design I: June 15-19 | Fashion Merchandising (only in LA): June 15-19 | Fashion Design II: June 22-26
Application Deadline: Varies by camp; June 11th or June 18th
Eligibility: Students worldwide ages 15-19

ASU FIDM Summer Camps will allow you to explore different pathways in the fashion industry. You’ll develop fundamental knowledge and skills in a range of areas, including design, marketing, styling, and more.

You’ll gain knowledge from industry experts and explore different activities and concepts such as illustration, trend forecasting, patternmaking, sewing, and more. The program allows you to engage in hands-on learning through ongoing projects while building your network with peers and professionals in the fashion industry.

Why it stands out: You will explore careers in the fashion industry through hands-on projects in design, styling, and marketing while developing practical skills and learning from industry professionals.

10. OTIS College of Art and Design’s Summer of Art – Fashion Design

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $2,690
Dates: July 7-31
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Grade 9th-12th high school students worldwide

OTIS College of Art and Design’s Summer of Art – Fashion Design introduces high school students to fundamental concepts in the field. You’ll gain knowledge about the complete design process and develop creative thinking and technical skills.

You’ll explore a range of topics and activities, including pattern making, fashion history, garment construction, sketching, and textiles. You’ll get the chance to engage in design creation and show your style and skills through multiple pieces. 

Why it stands out: You will learn the fundamentals of fashion design through hands-on projects while developing your creative and technical skills.

11. Vogue Summer School

Location: Conde Nast College of Fashion & Design, New York City, NY
Cost: Residential Option: $7,695; Day Option: $6,195
Dates: Varies by course; Multiple sessions available in June – July
Application Deadline: April 10th (Round 2)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th grade or recently graduated high school students worldwide, ages 15-18

Vogue Summer School offers two-week pre-college learning sessions to high school students. You’ll get to explore careers in creative fields through hands-on learning in a range of areas, including fashion business, communication, styling, and media.

You’ll gain knowledge from journalists at Vogue and Condé Nast, along with other top experts in the industry. The program will help you learn the fundamentals of fashion and pursue a future career in the field with confidence. 

Why it stands out: You will explore careers in fashion, media, and creative industries through hands-on projects and industry-led sessions while learning from Vogue and Condé Nast professionals.

12. Pratt’s Summer Scholars

Location: Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $395 per course
Dates: July 6-17
Application deadline: Applications open on April 22nd; Rolling basis
Eligibility: All high school students

Pratt’s Summer Scholars offers a two-week learning experience to middle and high school students. You’ll be introduced to education in art and design through classes taught by the Schools of Art, Design, and Architecture faculty. Some of the courses offered by the program include architecture, drawing the figure, painting, drawing the object, and sustainable fashion + textile exploration.

Through different courses, you’ll participate in studio activities, understand the fundamentals of design, and engage in sustainable fashion practices. The courses are offered according to grade levels and allow you to explore the design and fashion world through hands-on learning. 

Why it stands out: You will explore art, design, architecture, and fashion through studio-based courses and hands-on projects while developing creative skills and an understanding of design principles.

13. St. Catherine University – Fashion Summer Workshop

Location: St. Catherine University, Saint Paul, MN
Cost: Standard: $300; For families qualifying for free/reduced price lunch: $50
Dates: July 6-10
Application Deadline: Not specified (registration opens via parent/guardian email)
Eligibility: Rising grade 10th-12th students in the fall who identify as women, nonbinary, or genderqueer; Open to International students

St. Catherine University – Fashion Summer Workshop offers a five-day learning experience to high school students. You’ll get to explore different career tracks and receive guidance from fashion industry professionals.

You’ll gain knowledge about a range of activities and concepts, including making a trend board, sketching fashion figures, assembling a photoshoot, styling a model, creating collage figure drawings, and more. The workshop will help you build a strong portfolio through practical exposure to the field.

Why it stands out: You will explore fashion careers through hands-on projects in styling, trend forecasting, sketching, and photoshoot planning while building your portfolio with guidance from industry professionals.

14. Marist College Summer Pre-College: Fashion Design & Merchandising

Location: Poughkeepsie, New York (Marist College Campus)
Cost: $3,700 per session (or $6,660 for students who participate in both sessions)
Dates: Session I: June 28th – July 11th | Session II: July 12th – July 25th
Application Deadline: Accepted on a rolling, space-available basis
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors); open to international students

If you are looking through pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students with college credit, Marist College’s Summer Pre-College Program offers you the chance to dive into either Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising. Over an intensive 13-day residential session, you will live on Marist’s campus overlooking the Hudson River and earn three transferable college credits.

Depending on your chosen track, you will learn the elements of basic fashion design sketching, garment silhouette rendering, and capsule collection development, or master retail math, brand promotion, and product development. Both programs include curated field trips into New York City’s Garment District to visit designer showrooms, corporate headquarters, and retail spaces.

Why it stands out: You will experience authentic college residential life and earn three university credits while building a competitive design portfolio or business plan, capped off with exclusive behind-the-scenes field trips to New York City’s fashion capital.

15. Parsons (The New School) Summer Intensive Studies: New York

Location: Greenwich Village, New York City, NY
Cost: $5,610 tuition + $265 university fees (Optional on-campus housing and dining available for an additional $2,180)
Dates: Session 1: June 8-26 | Session 2: July 6-24
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 8th | Session 2: June 1st (April 1st for international students)
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-18; open to international students

As one of the most academically rigorous pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students, Parsons’ Summer Intensive Studies program allows you to study art and design at the top-ranked design school in the United States. During this three-week program, you will enroll in a three-credit studio course of your choice, such as Fashion Design: Sewing & Construction, Fashion Design: Visual Communication, or Fashion Merchandising.

Under the guidance of world-class Parsons faculty, you’ll engage in project-based learning, participate in active critiques, and attend panels with Parsons alumni and industry experts. Whether commuting or living in the Greenwich Village residence halls, you will also take part in supervised evening and weekend activities to explore New York City’s art galleries and cultural hotspots. 

Why it stands out: You will earn three transferable college credits and work alongside globally recognized design faculty to elevate your technical skills, refine your artistic vision, and build a standout portfolio for university applications.

Frequently Asked Questions: Pre-College Fashion Summer Camps for High School Students

What is a pre-college fashion program?

A pre-college fashion program is a structured experience that introduces high school students to fashion design, merchandising, or styling through college-level coursework and projects. Programs typically include studio work, portfolio development, and feedback from instructors or industry professionals, often hosted at design schools or universities. Most run between one week and five weeks during the summer. Students usually leave with a portfolio piece, certificate, or completed project they can use in future applications.

Do I need prior design experience to apply?

No, most pre-college fashion programs are designed to introduce students to the field regardless of prior experience. Programs like Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School and ASU FIDM Summer Camps are built to teach foundational design and industry concepts from the start. A genuine interest in fashion and willingness to engage with creative projects matters more than existing technical skill.

How much do pre-college fashion programs cost?

Costs range from $300 for St. Catherine University’s five-day workshop to over $12,000 for RISD’s five-week residential program. Mid-range options include Drexel University’s one-week program at $2,400 and Kent State’s Summer Fashion Academy at $1,650. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School offers bursary support that can reduce costs for eligible students.

Can international students attend these fashion programs?

Yes, the majority of programs on this list accept international students. NYU’s Curating Fashion intensive, RISD’s Pre-College Program, and Vogue Summer School all welcome applicants from outside the US, sometimes with additional requirements like proof of English proficiency. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School is open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18.

What age do I need to be to apply?

Age requirements vary by program, generally falling between 13 and 19 years old. Texas Woman’s University’s Fashion Design Camps accept students as young as 13, while RISD’s Pre-College Program requires students to be between 16 and 18. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School accepts students aged 15 to 18 from anywhere in the world.

Will I leave with a portfolio piece?

Yes, nearly every program on this list is built around producing portfolio-ready work. Drexel University’s program has students work with tools like Clo-3D and Shima Seiki’s knitwear software to build technical pieces, while St. Catherine University’s workshop has students build a portfolio through styling and photoshoot planning. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School also concludes with a personal project that contributes to a student’s overall portfolio.

How do these programs help with college applications?

Participating in a pre-college fashion program shows admissions officers sustained interest in the field along with concrete creative output. Programs like Parsons’ Summer Intensive Studies and Marist College’s Fashion Design & Merchandising program offer transferable college credit, giving students an academic credential alongside their portfolio. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School provides a certificate of excellence and 1:1 mentorship, both useful talking points for personal statements and interviews.

What’s the difference between design-focused and business-focused fashion programs?

Design-focused programs, such as Drexel University’s Pre-College Fashion Design Program and OTIS College’s Summer of Art, emphasize garment construction, sketching, and technical design skills. Business-focused programs, like LIM College’s Summer Fashion Academy and Vogue Summer School, focus on merchandising, branding, marketing, and media within the fashion industry. Immerse Education’s Fashion & Design Summer School offers a broader introduction to professional pathways in fashion, helping students figure out which side of the industry interests them most before committing to a more specialized program.

From Design Projects to Career Possibilities

From design sketches to styling choices, every project can reveal what excites you most about fashion, creativity, and professional problem-solving.

The 15 pre-college fashion summer camps for high school students included in this guide introduce design, merchandising, branding, media, portfolio-building, and industry-led learning.

With feedback, campus experiences, and hands-on projects, you can start seeing which fashion pathways match your strengths, interests, and long-term goals before fully committing to a course.

Ready to turn creative curiosity into direction? Explore our Career Exploration blogs for guidance on industries, roles, skills, and future opportunities as you plan your next move with purpose and confidence.