15 Summer Fashion Programs for Teens

Summer fashion programs for teens help you understand fashion in more depth. If you’re thinking about studying fashion after high school, school art classes alone may not give you a complete picture of the field. Fashion is a mix of design, illustration, textiles, construction, branding, and business, and many of those skills are best learned by creating rather than reading about them. A summer fashion program allows you to explore those areas before deciding whether fashion is something you’d like to pursue in college.

Think about spending part of your summer sketching collections in a design studio, experimenting with fabrics, learning pattern making, building a portfolio, visiting exhibitions, or receiving feedback from fashion designers and university instructors. You’ll also work alongside students who share similar interests, making it easier to exchange ideas and learn from different creative approaches.

How do you choose the right summer fashion program for teens?

Before applying, ask yourself a simple question: What do I want to leave with? Some students want a stronger portfolio for future applications. Others want to experience fashion school before college, while some are simply curious about whether they enjoy fashion enough to study it for the next four years.

Once you know your goal, choosing a program becomes much easier. Look for one that gives you plenty of time to create, receive feedback, and improve your work. By the end of the program, you should leave with new projects, new ideas, and a much clearer understanding of where your interests lie.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve put together a list of 15 summer fashion programs for teens!

Key takeaways

Vogue Summer School NYC costs $7,695 for residential students or $6,195 for day students, taught by Vogue editors and Condé Nast industry professionals across multiple summer terms.
Immerse Education’s Summer Fashion Programme spans six locations, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Boston, with small classes of seven to 10 students open to students aged 13 to 18.
FIT’s Summer High School Classes cost a flat $550 per class and are open to international students, with both in-person and virtual options available.
Parsons’ Youth & Teen Summer Intensive Studies costs $5,610 plus $265 in university fees, with separate application deadlines for domestic and international students.
NYU Steinhardt’s Curating Fashion program admits just 18 students for a highly selective, three week course exploring fashion history and exhibition design rather than studio-based design work.
Berkeley College’s Summer Youth Career Exploration Program is completely free but not open to international students, focusing on fashion merchandising and sustainability.
Milan Fashion Campus offers fully self-paced online courses with no fixed eligibility requirement, making it one of the most flexible options for exploring fashion independently.
Program costs for summer fashion programs range from free options like Berkeley College’s Career Exploration Program to over $8,192 for Pratt Institute’s residential Fashion Design track.

15 Summer Fashion Programs for Teens

1. Vogue Summer School NYC

Location: New York City, NY (Vogue College of Fashion)
Cost: Residential: $7,695; Day: $6,195 (covers tuition, materials, and mandatory fees; flexible installment plans available)
Dates: Term 1: June 7-19; Term 2: June 21 – July 3; Term 3: July 5-17; Term 4: July 19-31
Application Deadline: Priority: February 27th; Round 1 Regular: March 13th; Round 2 Regular: April 10th; Rolling Admissions begin April 13th
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (grades 10-12), as well as recent graduating seniors, aged 15-18; open to international students

Vogue Summer School allows you to explore fashion through practical workshops led by Vogue editors, industry professionals, and experienced educators. At this summer fashion program, teens can choose from topics such as fashion styling, fashion journalism, fashion business, creative direction, luxury branding, and image-making, depending on the course you select. You’ll work on practical projects, develop industry-relevant skills, and receive feedback while learning how different areas of the fashion industry operate.

The program also includes guest talks, collaborative activities, and opportunities to build a portfolio that reflects your creative interests. By studying at Vogue College of Fashion, you’ll gain insight into both the creative and commercial sides of fashion while exploring potential pathways into fashion-related university courses and careers.

Why it stands out: It offers direct exposure to the fashion and media industry through Vogue and Conde Nast professionals, combining classroom learning with behind-the-scenes access to New York’s fashion ecosystem.

2. Immerse Education’s Fashion Summer School

A fashion instructor hosting a class, holding up a green coat as they explain to a room full of seated students.

Location: New York
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7–10, learning from tutors from top universities like Oxford and Cambridge. You can explore over 20 subjects, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more.

The courses are experiential and hands-on – you may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You’ll study under expert academics, be guided daily by a university student mentor, complete a project you can show in future applications, and experience genuine university college life – with other campuses worldwide as alternatives.

3. Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) – Summer High School Classes

Location: New York City, NY (FIT campus) | Virtual
Cost: $550 flat fee per class (all-inclusive fee covering $522 tuition, $18 materials, and $10 nonrefundable registration; limited scholarships are available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 15-20 students
Dates: July 6-21
Application Deadline: June 10th
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 as of fall; open to international students

High School Summer Live lets you take non-credit precollege courses on FIT’s campus while exploring different areas of fashion, design, and creative industries. You can choose from courses such as fashion design, sewing, illustration, styling, textile surface design, accessory design, and digital design, depending on the summer schedule. Classes emphasize hands-on learning, allowing you to develop practical skills through studio projects and portfolio-building assignments under the guidance of FIT instructors.

You’ll study in FIT’s professional studios and classrooms while experiencing the creative environment of one of the world’s leading fashion colleges. By the end of the program, you’ll have completed creative projects that can strengthen your portfolio and help you explore future majors in fashion and design.

Why it stands out: It offers a flexible and accessible entry point into fashion education at one of the top fashion schools in NYC, with a wide range of beginner-friendly, hands-on courses.

4. Parsons School of Design at The New School – Youth & Teen Summer Intensive Studies

A design instructor showing a book to a table full of seated students with laptops.

Location: New York City, NY (Parsons, Greenwich Village campus)
Cost: $5,610 + $265 university fees
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically 15-20 students per studio
Dates: Session 1: June 8-26; Session 2: July 6-24
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 8th (Domestic); April 1st (International) | Session 2: June 1st (Domestic); April 1st (International); May 8th (Students applying for housing)
Eligibility: Students aged 16-18; open to international students

Parsons’ Fashion Summer Program for Teens introduces you to college-level fashion education through immersive studio courses at Parsons School of Design. Depending on your chosen program, you’ll develop skills in areas such as fashion design, styling, or portfolio creation while working on hands-on creative projects. The curriculum emphasizes design thinking, garment development, sketching, draping, and regular critiques, reflecting the teaching methods used in undergraduate design studios.

You’ll also use New York City as an extension of the classroom by exploring its fashion districts, museums, and creative spaces for inspiration. Parsons faculty teach the courses, giving you firsthand experience of the school’s project-based approach to fashion education.

Why it stands out: It offers a studio-driven fashion experience at a globally recognized design school, with strong emphasis on portfolio development and exposure to New York’s fashion ecosystem.

5. New York University (NYU) Steinhardt – High School Summer Art Intensive: Curating Fashion

Location: New York City, NY (NYU Barney Building, East Village)
Cost: $2,600 tuition; optional housing and dining available at an additional cost; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 18 students
Dates: July 5-25
Application Deadline: March 15th (for Financial Aid and International applicants); April 15th (Final general deadline)
Eligibility: Students ages 15-18 entering grades 10-12; open to international students with proof of English proficiency and an F-1 visa

This program explores fashion through the lens of history, curation, and cultural research, offering an alternative to traditional design-focused courses. You’ll examine topics such as fashion history, textile analysis, exhibition design, and the social and political significance of dress while working with objects from NYU’s Costume Studies collection.

Throughout the three weeks, you’ll collaborate with faculty from NYU’s MA in Costume Studies to develop a group-curated exhibition that is displayed in the Commons and Rosenberg galleries in the Barney Building. Museum visits, guest lectures, and discussions with curators, historians, and exhibition designers across New York City complement the curriculum. By combining classroom learning with field experiences, the program provides an introduction to museum, exhibition, and fashion studies at the university level.

Why it stands out: It approaches fashion through curation, fashion studies, and exhibition practice, giving you the chance to research and build a public-facing exhibition with NYU faculty in New York City.

6. Pratt Institute – Summer PreCollege (Fashion Design Track)

Location: Brooklyn, New York City, NY (Pratt Institute campus)
Cost: Residential: $8,192; Commuter: $5,492 + $65 nonrefundable application fee + $300–$500 course supplies; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 15-20 students per track/class
Dates: July 6-31
Application Deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 before December 31st; open to international students

Pratt Institute’s Summer PreCollege program allows you to experience fashion education through intensive studio courses taught at the undergraduate level. You’ll develop practical skills in fashion illustration, garment construction, and the design process while completing creative, project-based assignments. Regular critiques are built into the curriculum, allowing you to present your work, receive feedback, and refine your ideas in a collaborative studio setting.

Alongside your fashion coursework, you can explore elective classes in art and design to broaden your creative perspective. If you choose the residential option, you’ll live on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus and gain firsthand experience of the facilities, studios, and collaborative environment that shape student life.

Why it stands out: It offers a portfolio-focused, studio-driven fashion experience at a well-established design school, combining academic rigor with immersive campus life.

7. School of Visual Arts (SVA) Pre-College – Fashion Photography & Design

Location: Manhattan, New York City, NY
Cost: $3,400 (In-Person) or $2,800 (Online); housing fees: $1,950 (optional); meal plan: $650 (optional); a limited number of full-tuition, merit-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 20 students
Dates: July 13-31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14-18). Students must be entering their freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in the Fall; open to international students

SVA’s Pre-College program helps you build practical photography and visual design skills through college-level studio courses. You’ll explore subjects such as studio lighting, digital photo editing, camera techniques, and publication design while completing creative assignments throughout the program. Hands-on projects include planning and directing photo shoots, editing images with professional software, designing magazine layouts, and participating in classroom critiques.

You’ll also have access to professional photography equipment and learn from practicing artists and designers based in New York City. By the end of the program, you’ll have strengthened both your technical photography skills and your creative portfolio for future art or design studies.

Why it stands out: It lets you earn real college credit while getting hands-on practice in one of the world’s most creative cities.

8. LIM College – Fashion Academy (Pre-College Programs)

Location: New York City, NY (LIM College)
Cost: Fashion Merchandising, Branding & Marketing (NYC): $300; Fashion Merchandising, Branding & Marketing (Virtual): $250; Fashion Design Studio: $350; Fashion Styling:$325
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; approximately 15 students per class
Dates: July 13-16
Application Deadline: May 31st (for NYC-based courses); June 22nd (for Virtual courses)
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9-12 who are 14-18 years old by the first day of the program; open to international students

LIM College’s Fashion Academy offers you a practical introduction to fashion through short, non-credit courses taught in the heart of New York City’s fashion district. You’ll explore topics such as fashion branding, digital mood board creation, garment construction, sewing, and influencer marketing through hands-on classroom activities.

Depending on your chosen course, you’ll create original fashion pieces, visit local fashion businesses, or source materials through guided fabric shopping experiences that connect learning with the industry. The curriculum focuses on developing foundational skills while introducing you to different areas of the fashion business and design process. Because each course is designed for beginners and runs over a short period, the program is a useful way to explore potential interests before committing to a longer pre-college fashion program.

Why it stands out: It offers a flexible, affordable pre-college program in the middle of New York’s fashion industry, with subject choices spanning design, styling, and merchandising.

9. Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) – High School Summer Workshops

Location: New York City, NY (Fashion Institute of Technology campus)
Cost: $440 flat fee per 4-day workshop (includes all tuition, workshop materials, and registration fees; limited scholarships are available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; approximately 15-20 students
Dates: Week 1: June 22-25; Week 2: June 29th – July 2nd
Application Deadline: June 10th
Eligibility: High school students (generally grades 9-12); open to international students

FIT’s High School Summer Workshops let you explore fashion and design through short, intensive courses held on the Fashion Institute of Technology campus. You can select from workshops in areas such as fashion design, sewing, styling, illustration, and other creative fields, depending on the seasonal course offerings. Rather than following a long-term curriculum, each workshop focuses on developing specific practical skills through project-based learning and studio activities.

You’ll learn from FIT instructors with professional industry experience while working in the college’s classrooms and studios. With workshops lasting just a few days to a week, the program offers a flexible way to explore multiple areas of fashion based on your interests and availability.

Why it stands out: It offers short, specialized learning modules at FIT, making it a flexible way to explore different areas of fashion without committing to a longer program.

10. Berkeley College – Summer Youth Career Exploration Program (Fashion Merchandising)

Location: Woodland Park Campus, NYC, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; limited space
Dates: July 7th – August 8th
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9-12); typically ages 14-18; not open to international students

Berkeley College’s Summer Youth Career Exploration Program introduces you to fashion from a business and sustainability perspective through an immersive, hands-on workshop. You’ll explore topics such as fashion merchandising, trend forecasting, circular fashion, and brand strategy while learning from faculty and industry professionals.

The curriculum includes practical activities like sewing and garment repair, upcycling through deconstruction, collaborative merchandising projects, and styling looks for a student-produced fashion show in New York City. Throughout the program, you’ll also receive guidance from current Berkeley College fashion students, providing insight into college life and the fashion industry.

Why it stands out: It removes financial barriers by being totally free while actively emphasizing modern sustainability alongside core fashion business principles.

11. LIM College – Summer Fashion Academy

A student presenting something using a projector and screen

Location: Virtual
Cost: $250
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open registration; course seats may fill
Dates: July 13-16
Application Deadline: Virtual course registration deadline: June 22nd
Eligibility: Current high school students in Grades 9-12; students must be 14-18 by the first day of the program; open to international students if they can attend virtually

LIM College’s virtual Fashion Merchandising, Branding & Marketing course gives you an introduction to the commercial side of the fashion industry through a flexible online learning experience. You’ll explore how fashion products are developed, marketed, and positioned while learning about brand strategy, influencer marketing, and digital mood board creation. The virtual format allows you to build foundational business knowledge without traveling, making it accessible from anywhere.

Through practical activities and case-based learning, you’ll gain insight into how merchandising and branding shape consumer experiences in fashion. The course provides a useful starting point if you’re considering future studies in fashion marketing, retail, styling, or brand management.

Why it stands out: You explore fashion branding and merchandising online through a focused LIM College precollege course.

12. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Early College Program

Location: Online and Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Online 1-credit courses: $1,908; online 2-credit courses: $3,816; scholarships and financial aid may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size and acceptance rate are not publicly available
Dates: June 15-26
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until courses fill; scholarship deadlines may be earlier
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18; students must meet course and program requirements; open to international students for online options

SAIC’s Early College Program Summer Institute allows you to experience college-level art and design courses through its online offerings while earning undergraduate credit. For students interested in fashion, relevant courses may include drawing, illustration, textiles, design, and portfolio development, depending on the summer schedule. The curriculum emphasizes studio-based projects, creative experimentation, and instructor critiques that reflect the teaching approach used in art and design schools.

Throughout the program, you’ll strengthen your technical and conceptual skills while developing work for your creative portfolio. The experience provides a strong academic foundation for future studies in fashion design, textile design, illustration, or other visual arts disciplines.

Why it stands out: You can earn SAIC college credit online while developing studio and portfolio skills relevant to fashion and design.

13. Milan Fashion Campus

Location: Online
Cost: Fees vary by course; an optional final exam and certificate may involve an additional fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; cohort size not publicly listed
Dates: Self-paced; online course access typically lasts 1 year
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to international students; no fixed high school eligibility requirement is publicly listed

Milan Fashion Campus provides self-paced online courses that introduce key areas of the fashion industry, including womenswear design, fashion styling, image consulting, and portfolio development. Depending on your chosen course, you’ll develop practical skills through assignments focused on fashion illustration, collection planning, styling techniques, Photoshop fundamentals, or portfolio creation. The online format allows you to study remotely and progress through the material at your own pace, making it easy to fit around your schedule.

Throughout the course, you’ll build foundational knowledge while becoming familiar with industry practices inspired by Italian fashion education. The program is well-suited if you want to explore fashion independently before enrolling in a longer or campus-based pre-college program.

Why it stands out: You can study fashion online at your own pace while building practical design or styling work for a future portfolio.

14. Summer at RISD

Location: Online
Cost: Tuition-based
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; RISD notes that 500+ students join its on-campus Pre-College annually, but the online cohort size is not publicly listed
Dates: June 22nd – July 30th
Application Deadline: Applications for Pre-College Online are currently closed; next cycle opens in November
Eligibility: High school students around the world; online eligibility details vary by cycle and should be checked before applying

RISD Pre-College Online offers you a college-level introduction to art and design through live virtual studio courses and creative projects. Although the program is not exclusively focused on fashion, you can strengthen skills that are essential for fashion-related studies, including drawing, design thinking, visual communication, critique, and portfolio development.

You’ll participate in live online classes twice a week while accessing additional virtual events and learning resources throughout the program. The curriculum encourages experimentation, creative problem-solving, and independent artistic growth using RISD’s studio-based teaching approach. If you’re considering a future in fashion or another creative discipline, the program provides a strong foundation while allowing you to study remotely.

Why it stands out: You can experience RISD-style studio learning online while building foundational design and portfolio skills.

15. SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)

Location: Online and SCAD campuses
Cost: Tuition-based; varies by program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective or registration-based, depending on the program
Dates: Summer and year-round options
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students; international students can apply, depending on the format

SCAD’s online pre-college programs introduce you to college-level art and design through virtual courses led by Savannah College of Art and Design faculty. While the program covers a range of creative disciplines rather than fashion alone, you can develop skills that support future fashion studies, including design thinking, visual communication, and portfolio development.

You’ll complete creative projects, receive instructor feedback, and collaborate with other high school students in an online learning environment. The curriculum reflects SCAD’s studio-based approach, helping you understand how creative subjects are taught at the university level. If you’re interested in fashion design or related fields, the program offers an opportunity to strengthen your artistic foundation while studying remotely.

Why it stands out: You can explore art and design through SCAD’s pre-college ecosystem.

Frequently asked questions: Summer fashion programs for teens

Are summer fashion programs for teens open to international students?

Most summer fashion programs welcome international students, including Vogue Summer School NYC, Parsons’ Youth & Teen Summer Intensive Studies, and Pratt Institute’s Fashion Design track. Berkeley College’s Summer Youth Career Exploration Program is a notable exception, not open to international applicants. Immerse Education’s Summer Fashion Programme is also open globally to students aged 13 to 18 across six locations.

How much do summer fashion programs for teens cost?

Costs vary considerably by format and prestige. Free options include Berkeley College’s Career Exploration Program, while short workshops like FIT’s High School Summer Workshops cost as little as $440 for four days. Longer, more intensive studio programs cost significantly more: Vogue Summer School NYC runs up to $7,695, and Pratt Institute’s Fashion Design track costs $8,192 for residential students. Online and self-paced options, like Milan Fashion Campus, tend to be more affordable and flexible.

What is the difference between a design-focused and a business-focused fashion program?

Design-focused programs, like Pratt Institute’s Fashion Design track or Parsons’ Youth & Teen Summer Intensive Studies, have you build garments and portfolio pieces through studio work, sketching, and draping. Business-focused programs, like LIM College’s Fashion Academy or Berkeley College’s Career Exploration Program, instead cover merchandising, branding, and trend forecasting without hands-on garment construction. If you’re unsure which path suits you, a program like NYU Steinhardt’s Curating Fashion offers a third angle, approaching fashion through history and exhibition rather than design or business alone.

Do summer fashion programs award college credit?

A few do, though it’s not universal. SVA’s Pre-College Fashion Photography & Design program lets you earn real college credit, and SAIC’s Early College Program awards undergraduate credit through its online courses. Most other programs, including Vogue Summer School NYC and FIT’s Summer High School Classes, provide a certificate or portfolio pieces rather than transferable credit. Confirm credit policies directly with each program, since even similarly structured fashion schools handle this differently.

How selective are summer fashion programs for teens?

Selectivity varies considerably. NYU Steinhardt’s Curating Fashion program is highly selective, admitting just 18 students, while FIT’s Summer High School Classes and LIM College’s Fashion Academy operate on open or non-competitive enrollment. Regardless of selectivity, portfolio requirements and age eligibility, which range from 14 to 18 depending on the program, matter as much as your creative background.

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

Immerse Education’s Summer Fashion Programme is a strong choice if you want flexibility in location alongside a genuine university experience, spanning six cities including Oxford, Cambridge, and Boston. The two week program places you in small groups of seven to 10 students, where you’ll work on a personal project and receive written feedback from tutors at top universities. With financial aid available and multiple rolling cohorts, it offers scheduling flexibility that many single-location fashion programs in this list don’t provide.