15 Architecture Pre-College Summer Programs

If you are a high schooler passionate about architecture, design, or just super curious about the built world around you, a dedicated pre-college architecture program can be a solid starting point. Architecture pre-college summer programs let you explore the process of turning a sketch into a finished building through hands-on exposure to AutoCAD drafting, structural design, and materials science, as well as broader concepts like urban planning and sustainable design. Instead of just learning theory, you will get to actually work through design problems, learn how to refine your ideas based on critique, and build something real under professional guidance.

These programs also give you a genuine sense of what studying architecture at the university level looks like. You will explore the field through studio-style coursework, collaboration with peers, and feedback from instructors who are practicing architects or faculty at accredited programs. For many students, that’s a practical way to test whether architecture is the direction they want to go before committing to a four-year degree.

How to choose the right architecture pre-college summer program for high schoolers?

Pre-college architecture programs usually let you take introductory architecture coursework, often earning college credit, while working in a studio setting alongside current architecture students and faculty. Certain other programs are shorter, non-credit workshops that introduce you to design thinking, drafting, and model-making without the commitment of a multi-week residential stay.

When choosing a program, it is important to think about what you actually want to get out of it. The right program is one that aligns with your preferences, experience level, and goals. If you are fairly certain you want to study architecture in college, a credit-bearing, studio-intensive program can help you build a portfolio and get a genuine sense of the workload and critique process you would encounter in an undergraduate program.

To help you choose, we have put together a list of 15 architecture pre-college summer programs for high school students.

To get a sense of what working in architecture involve, consider participating in architecture summer internships.

Key takeaways

Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Architecture costs $10,744 for residential students over five weeks, letting you work in the same studio environment as CMU architecture undergraduates.
Immerse Education’s Architecture Summer School runs across Oxford, Cambridge, and Singapore for two weeks, open to students worldwide aged 13 to 18, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement.
Syracuse University’s Summer College Architecture program costs $6,595 for residential students and awards three university credits for a final pavilion design project on a real downtown site.
UVA’s Design Discovery program is free for students with household incomes under $100,000, admitting just 20 students per session across two six-day summer sessions.
SCI-Arc’s Design Immersion Days cost $3,350 for four weeks and incorporate weekly field trips to landmarks like Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Boston Architectural College’s Summer Academy costs $1,800 to $2,000 and includes a $2,000 scholarship toward a future BAC undergraduate degree.
Tulane’s Explorations in Architecture and Design offers four different pricing tiers ranging from $995 for a one-week commuter enrichment track to $6,595 for a two-week residential credit-bearing option.
Program costs for architecture pre-college programs range from $995 at Tulane’s shortest track to over $11,570 for USC’s four-week Exploration of Architecture program.

15 Architecture Pre-College Summer Programs

1. Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Architecture

A student working on the model of something

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Residential: $10,744 | Commuter: $8,253 + application fee: $50; need-based financial aid available
Program dates: June 20th – July 25th
Application deadline: March 1st; international student deadline and scholarship application deadline: February 1st
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors, ages 16 and up; international students are eligible

CMU’s Pre-College Architecture is a five-week studio-based program structured to give you a real sense of what studying architecture at the undergraduate level feels like. Your days will consist of morning seminars covering drawing, digital media, and architectural theory, and afternoon design studios will let you work on progressively more complex projects.

The curriculum will cover 2D and 3D work, including physical model-making, orthographic drawing, digital modeling, and fabrication, with each skill building on the one before it. Special lectures, workshops on contemporary practice, and portfolio sessions will also be a part of the experience. The work you produce in the program can be added to an architecture portfolio that you can use while applying to undergraduate programs.

Why it stands out: You will work in the same studio environment as Carnegie Mellon architecture undergraduates and learn about the field through instruction led by faculty from the school itself.

2. Immerse Education’s Architecture Summer School

A person hanging up a diagram of architectural designs on a board

Location: Oxford, Cambridge, and Singapore
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Program dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students worldwide, ages 13-18, currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Architecture Summer School offered by Immerse is a residential academic program designed to offer high school students a structured introduction to the subject at a university level. During the program, you will explore core architectural concepts, including spatial design, sustainability, structural thinking, and urban planning through studio sessions, practical design projects, and organized field trips. The course will bring together hands-on workshops and theoretical knowledge, helping you build creativity, visual thinking, and technical design skills, which are core abilities for pursuing further architectural study.

Moreover, the program will include cultural immersion and exposure to the environments of notable places such as Cambridge, Oxford, or London, which can help you expand your knowledge of how architecture influences cities and societies. Upon finishing the course, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement that recognises your academic development and readiness for further study in the field. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You will learn through hands-on design projects and expert feedback while also exploring how architectural thinking and creative problem-solving operate in professional contexts.

3. Syracuse University Summer College: Architecture

Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Cost: $6,595 (residential) | $5,138 (commuter) + $65 nonrefundable application fee
Program dates: July 5-24
Application deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; high school graduates who are not enrolling in Syracuse University in the fall are also eligible. International students can apply

This architecture pre-college program at Syracuse University is a credit-bearing course that introduces you to the practice of architecture through lectures, design projects, and discussions. The first half will cover the field through seven short exercises in composition, spatial relationships, and representation using physical model-making with basswood and wood blocks alongside hand-drawn plans, sections, elevations, and axonometric drawings.

The second half of the course will shift to digital tools, primarily Rhino for 3D modeling and InDesign for presentation and layout. The course will wrap up with a final project, for which you will design a small pavilion on an actual site in downtown Syracuse, using what you have learned throughout the session. Guest lectures, workshops, and field trips will be woven throughout the schedule.

Why it stands out: You will learn about architecture through hands-on exercises, finish with three university credits on your transcript, and develop a portfolio project built around a real site in downtown Syracuse.

4. University of Michigan Taubman College’s ArcStart

Location: University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Cost: $6,250; need-based scholarships available
Program dates: July 12-31
Application deadline: February 26th
Eligibility: Current high school students (freshmen through seniors) including rising college freshmen; open to international students

Among architecture pre-college summer programs, ArcStart stands out for showing you what studying architecture at the college level actually involves. You will spend most of your time working in a working design studio developing original proposals, while building skills in drawing, drafting, and both physical and digital modeling. Hands-on workshops will run throughout the program, helping build the analytical and conceptual skills that form the foundation of architectural thinking.

Site visits will take you to buildings and architectural landmarks around the Ann Arbor region, and tours of professional architecture firms will bring you into direct contact with practicing designers. You will also explore architectural history to get some context for the design work you will be carrying out in the studio. By the end of the three weeks, you will put your studio work together into a digital portfolio, which can be used when applying to college architecture programs. The schedule includes a session with Taubman College’s admissions team, where you can ask questions about applying to architecture or urban technology programs.

Why it stands out: You will explore real sites, gain studio experience, and learn about Taubman’s architecture program while also preparing for college applications.

5. Southern California Institute of Architecture’s Design Immersion Days (DID)

Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,350
Program dates: June 15th – July 10th
Application deadline: TBA for the next cycle
Eligibility: High school students from around the world

DID is a four-week program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture designed to introduce you to design and architecture within Los Angeles. The curriculum is built around three project formats and scales, moving from analog physical work to fully digital output. You’ll develop skills in freehand sketching, mechanical drafting, Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, physical model-making, 3D modeling, and digital fabrication, including augmented reality through program projects.

You will develop projects through one-on-one desk critiques with SCI-Arc faculty, and regularly present your work in group pin-ups and review sessions. The city of Los Angeles is incorporated throughout the curriculum through weekly field trips that will take you to buildings like Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, offices like Gensler, and museums and galleries across the city. Portfolio workshops will also be integrated into the program throughout the four weeks, so you will be building and formatting your work as you go.

Why it stands out: You will learn about local LA architecture and broader design concepts through site visits, building tours, and discussions with working architects and university faculty.

6. USC Pre-College: Exploration of Architecture

Students studying an architectural structure in LA while part of an architectural walking tour

Location: University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $11,570 (residential) | $8,130 (commuter); additional costs apply for international students
Program dates: Four-week course starting on June 22nd
Deadline: May 8th (domestic students) | March 13th (international students)
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least 9th grade by the program start; domestic and international students (with demonstrated English proficiency) are welcome

The Exploration of Architecture is a credit-bearing pre-college program led by USC School of Architecture faculty that introduces you to architectural areas like analysis and composition, spatial experience, form and design methods, and architectural representation. During each week, you will build on progressively advanced concepts while working on a mix of interactive assignments and design projects.

You will develop skills across both analog and digital methods, including photography, freehand sketching, hand drawing, 3D modeling, and digital perspective collages. Field trips will be built into weeks two and three, taking you to architecturally and culturally significant buildings across Los Angeles. Conversations with practicing architects will be part of the regular schedule, so you will get a sense of what the profession looks like in practice.

Why it stands out: You will learn from USC School of Architecture faculty and gain exposure to design through projects and field trips while earning college credit.

7. Virginia Tech Explore Architecture

Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: $1,250
Program dates: June 21-27
Application deadline: May 15th or when spots are filled
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12; international student eligibility not specified

As one of the more condensed architecture pre-college summer programs, Virginia Tech’s Explore Architecture places you in Cowgill and Burchard Halls of VT’s School of Architecture and School of Design, with your own desk in the shared studio space that Virginia Tech students use regularly. You will explore the field of architecture following a curriculum modeled after the first year of VT’s undergraduate design studio and working on exercises in conceptual thinking, design methods, and the kind of open-ended problem-solving that architecture school is grounded in.

Lectures, group discussions, tutorials, and critique sessions will be part of the week-long program. The program will be taught by practicing architects, with contributions from faculty across multiple design disciplines and current students who will bring both academic and real-world perspectives.

Why it stands out: You will work in the same studio space VT architecture students use and receive instruction from practicing architects and faculty across architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture.

8. Tulane University Pre-College Programs: Explorations in Architecture and Design

Location: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Cost: $995 (1-week commuter enrichment) | $2,595 (2-week commuter, credit-bearing) | $5,495 (2-week residential, enrichment) | $6,595 (2-week residential, credit-bearing); financial aid available
Program dates: June 14th – July 25th (multiple sessions of varying lengths within this window)
Application deadline: February 27th (priority/internation student deadline); April 3rd (regular); April 24th (late)
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders; open to international students

Tulane’s Explorations in Architecture and Design is a studio-based pre-college program that lets you take college courses and explore the built environment in New Orleans, a city with one of the most architecturally distinctive urban landscapes in the U.S. The program offers multiple formats: a one-week commuter option and two-week residential or commuter tracks, with the option to take the course of your choice for university credit.

In each format, you will work on design projects focused on drawings and physical models, with Tulane faculty guiding your work from start to finish. Teaching assistants and current Tulane Architecture students will offer support during open studio hours on weekdays. Lectures, field trips, critiques, and discussions will be built into the schedule alongside studio hours. The credit-bearing tracks offer three hours of Tulane University credit, which may be transferable to another institution and can count as an architectural elective in Tulane’s own architecture program.

Why it stands out: You will explore architectural principles, learn from college faculty, connect with architecture students, and work on hands-on design projects with the option to earn college credit.

9. Texas A&M Camp ARCH

Location: College of Architecture at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Cost: $1,500; need-based scholarships available
Program dates: July 6-11
Application deadline: March 8th
Eligibility: Incoming 10th, 11th, and 12th graders; international student eligibility not specified

Camp ARCH is a week-long residential program at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, where you can choose to explore one of four areas: architecture, construction science, landscape architecture, or urban planning. Within your chosen track, you will spend the week exploring the subject like a first-year college student. In the architecture and landscape architecture tracks, you will work in a design studio environment, getting hands-on exposure to architectural thinking and the tools and methods used by first-year university students.

The construction science track will cover concepts like LEED principles, construction management, and scheduling, and the urban planning track will focus on city planning and real challenges within communities. Each track offers design workshops, hands-on work, and opportunities to connect with professionals. Social activities, campus exploration, and opportunities to connect with peers will be part of the schedule.

Why it stands out: You get to choose a focused architecture or related track and explore your interests while learning from faculty and working in studio environments, within a condensed one-week format.

10. University of Houston Design Experience Summer Programs: From the Ground Up

Location: Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $1,500; need-based aid available
Program dates: June 15th – July 17th
Application deadline: June 1st
Eligibility: Local high school students; no prior experience in architecture required

From the Ground Up at the University of Houston, developed in partnership with Wonderworks, is a summer program for high school students interested in exploring architecture through studio-based work. The program combines instruction on architectural history, theory, and building case studies with afternoons dedicated to hands-on design studio work. On Fridays, you will participate in field trips to buildings of architectural significance across Texas.

Led by Hines College faculty, you will learn how to design small buildings like cafes, bookstores, and food stands. Portfolio workshops throughout the session will help you build materials for undergraduate or graduate applications.

Why it stands out: It combines architectural theory and history with studio-based work, letting you explore sites in multiple Texas cities as well as prepare for applying to architecture programs after high school.

11. University of Miami’s Summer Scholars: Architecture, Engineering, and Technology Track

Location: University of Miami, Miami, FL
Cost: Residential: $10,225.20 | Commuter: $8,561.50; financial aid available
Program dates: June 27th – July 17th
Deadline: Early Action: December 1st; Priority: March 1st; Final: April 25th
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; open to international students

The University of Miami’s School of Architecture runs three-week credit-bearing pre-college courses for high school students interested in design, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and urban planning. You will explore the intersection of design and tech through drawing, model-making, and full design proposals using drafting equipment, computer-aided design software, and photographic tools, receiving one-on-one feedback from instructors while producing original work.

You will work on design projects and present them as well as refine them based on discussions with peers and faculty, gaining early experience with the kind of critique culture common in architecture schools. During the program, based on your chosen track, an Art Deco historian may guide you through the Miami Beach Art Deco District, a landscape scholar may cover the Renaissance gardens of Vizcaya, and practicing architects may lead tours of their own award-winning buildings, covering architectural styles from Mediterranean and MiMo to Bahamian, Cape Dutch, Mission, and Neo-Classical.

Why it stands out: You will earn six college credits while exploring architecture and related themes in a college environment and engaging in specialist-led urban tours.

12. Boston Architectural College Summer Academy

Location: Boston Architectural College, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,000 (for-credit) | $1,800 (no credits)
Program dates: July 6-31
Application deadline: June 22nd
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 and older; international student eligibility not specified

BAC’s Summer Academy is a commuter program at the Boston Architectural College’s Back Bay campus designed to help you engage in studio-based projects in small groups. You will spend four weeks exploring one of two tracks: the Exploration track that covers foundational skills across multiple design disciplines or the Investigation track, which focuses on a specific discipline or challenge.

You will practice architectural ideation, sketching, drawing, digital design, digital fabrication, and model-making through both individual and collaborative work in a studio environment. Site visits and hands-on sessions with practicing design professionals will be woven through the schedule alongside studio time. The program will wrap up with a presentation pin-up open house where you will share your work with peers and family through posters, models, and a digital portfolio. A dedicated Studio Lead will guide your work throughout.

Why it stands out: It lets you engage in studio work, explore core design concepts and processes, access college credits, and earn a $2,000 scholarship toward a BAC undergraduate degree.

13. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Discover Architecture

Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
Cost: $1,100 + $100 application fee (tentative); scholarships available
Program dates: July 11-17
Application deadline: Rolling till full, starting from November 1st
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores through seniors; international student eligibility not specified

Discover Architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a week-long residential program structured entirely around the design studio experience. You will gain direct exposure to introductory architecture education as a participant. You will work on drawing and physical modeling exercises, learning through hands-on work and support from faculty and current architecture students.

Alongside studio work, the program will offer you a clear picture of what life as an architecture student at a major university looks like. A field trip component will take your cohort to one of the Midwest’s most recognized architectural landmarks, offering you exposure to real buildings to explore beyond the campus. You will additionally get to explore life on campus as you will live in UIUC campus dorms.

Why it stands out: You will connect with architecture faculty and students, live on campus, engage in studio work, and explore the built environment to connect theory to practice, all within a week.

14. UVA Design Discovery

Location: University of Virginia (UVA) School of Architecture, Charlottesville, VA
Cost: Free for students with household incomes less than $100,000/year; cost starting from $1,350 (tiered pricing + additional overnight program fee) for other students
Program dates: Session 1: June 8-13 | Session 2: June 22-27
Application deadline: Early application: February 27th; Final: April 3rd
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th graders, ages 15-18, who are U.S. citizens

As one of the more accessible architecture pre-college summer programs, UVA Design Discovery is a six-day program offered by UVA’s School of Architecture and conducted in two summer sessions open to 20 students each. You will work out of Campbell Hall, the architecture school’s main building, using its studio space, FabLab, and design software, with design/build workshops focused on architectural themes. A visit to an architecture firm and a tour of an active construction site are built into the program, offering you a view of how design moves from a drawing to a real, physical building.

The program will also run a daily “I See Me” lunch-and-learn series that will bring in a wide range of professionals, faculty, and current students to discuss what working in architecture and design actually looks like. Each summer session will end with a “Celebration of Work” exhibition, where you will get to share your projects with families and community partners.

Why it stands out: The one-week program offers a tiered tuition model, including full waivers for lower-income families, and a small cohort format to offer an accessible opportunity to explore architecture on a university campus.

15. Drexel University’s Discovering Architecture

Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $3,575 (residential); $2,850 (commuter)
Program dates: July 5-18
Application deadline: Rolling till full; suggested deadline: March 30th
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old; international students are welcome to apply

Drexel’s Discovering Architecture is a two-week architecture-focused pre-college summer program that offers an introduction to academics and real-world practices in the field. You will attend design studio classes in the same spaces Drexel architecture students use during the academic year, learn from Westphal College faculty, and access support from a teaching assistant throughout.

Studio sessions will cover design thinking, iterative development, drawing, sketching, and model-making, with project work leading to a formal presentation before faculty and invited professional jurors, where you will defend your design decisions. You will explore a different part of Philadelphia almost every day, visiting significant buildings, squares, parks, museums, and traditional neighborhoods, with trips to architectural offices and a construction site also on the schedule. You will also learn about key digital tools, including SketchUp Pro and Podium for 3D modeling. The program will conclude with a gallery show and closing reception open to parents.

Why it stands out: You will learn how to design and present your work directly to professional jurors and defend your decisions out loud, an experience that mirrors real architectural practice.

Frequently asked questions: Architecture pre-college summer programs

Are architecture pre-college programs open to international students?

Most programs in this list explicitly welcome international students, including Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Architecture, Syracuse’s Summer College, and Tulane’s Explorations in Architecture and Design. UVA’s Design Discovery is a notable exception, restricted to US citizens. Immerse Education’s Architecture Summer School is also open globally to students aged 13 to 18 across three locations.

How much do architecture pre-college programs cost?

Costs vary enormously by program length and prestige. UVA’s Design Discovery is free for lower-income families, while Virginia Tech’s Explore Architecture costs $1,250 for one week. Longer, credit-bearing programs cost significantly more: USC’s Exploration of Architecture runs $11,570 for residential students, and University of Miami’s Summer Scholars costs $10,225.20. Financial aid is available for most programs listed here.

Do architecture pre-college programs award college credit?

Some do, though it varies by program. Syracuse’s Summer College, USC’s Exploration of Architecture, and Tulane’s credit-bearing tracks all award transferable university credit. Others, like Virginia Tech’s Explore Architecture and Texas A&M’s Camp ARCH, provide portfolio development and studio experience without formal academic credit. If credit matters to you, confirm this directly with each program, since even similarly structured studio programs handle this differently.

What is the difference between a studio-intensive program and a shorter enrichment workshop?

Studio-intensive programs, like Carnegie Mellon’s five-week Pre-College Architecture or SCI-Arc’s four-week Design Immersion Days, have you build progressively complex design projects over an extended period, closely mirroring an undergraduate studio term. Shorter enrichment workshops, like Texas A&M’s Camp ARCH or UVA’s Design Discovery, instead introduce foundational concepts and studio culture in about a week without the depth of a multi-week portfolio project. If you’re serious about applying to architecture school, a studio-intensive program builds more substantial portfolio work.

Do you need prior architecture experience to apply?

No, most programs are designed for beginners. The University of Houston’s From the Ground Up explicitly requires no prior experience, and Camp ARCH lets you explore architecture like a first-year college student regardless of background. A few programs, like Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Architecture, expect some prior interest but not formal training. Check each program’s eligibility section closely, since expectations range from complete beginner access to some prior portfolio expectations.

Is Immerse Education a good option for exploring architecture before college?

Immerse Education’s Architecture Summer School is a strong choice if you want flexibility in location alongside a genuine introduction to architectural thinking, spanning Oxford, Cambridge, and Singapore. The two week program covers spatial design, sustainability, and urban planning through studio sessions and field trips, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement. It’s a solid option if you want international exposure without committing to a longer US-based residential program, with financial aid available through its bursary scheme.