Summer in New York is a unique experience, and for a high school student, summer is a pause from the regular school routine. What if, through a summer school in New York City, your summer could also become a chance to test a future major, build an advanced skillset, and experience university life in one of the world’s most dynamic academic hubs?

Imagine attending seminars in a lecture hall in Manhattan, working on a case study with global peers, and returning to your residence after a full day of classes and conversations that stretch your thinking. In a matter of weeks, you could move beyond textbook learning and step into focused study that mirrors the pace and expectations of college.

What kind of summer schools are available for high school students in New York?

Summer schools are short, intensive academic programs held during the summer months, designed to give you in-depth exposure to a subject area. Many are hosted by leading institutions across New York State, offering courses in business and economics, as well as in science, the arts, and technology. The format ranges from a pre-college course, a research mentorship, a subject-specific camp, to even an internship-style program.

Every summer program is designed with a different level of academic challenge. It is necessary to filter and find one that aligns with your specific goal.

To help you navigate, we’ve compiled a list of 15 Summer Schools in New York City for High School Students, based on their academic depth, learning format, and networking opportunities.

In addition to summer schools, to get an idea of what working in a professional environment involves, you can check out summer jobs in NYC.

15 Summer Schools in New York City for High School Students

1. Immerse Education’s New York Summer School

Location: Barnard College (Columbia University), Manhattan, NY
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class
Dates: Two-week sessions in summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions based on cohort
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18 from around the world who want to explore future career options

Immerse Education’s New York Summer School is one of the most immersive summer school in New York City, built around two weeks of project-based learning. You’ll work in a small cohort and build towards a final presentation. Options you can choose from include: Fashion & Design,Banking & Finance,and Marketing & Entertainment. In Architecture and Design, you sketch, build digital visualisations, and create simple 3D models. In Fashion and Design, you examine how culture shapes trends, experiment with tools like 3D printing and wearable tech, and translate concepts into studio pieces.

You’ll meet industry professionals and participate in visits across the city, including sessions at the Fashion Institute of Technology. You’ll also receive one-to-one career coaching as you refine your project and prepare to present it.

Why it stands out: The program combines the rich culture of New York with a distinct project-based learning experience.

2. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)

Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: June 22nd – August 6th
Application Deadline: January 2nd
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16+ by June 22nd, be a current high school junior or senior when applying, and may apply from outside the US

The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program is a six-week summer program for high school students. You will spend the summer working full-time in a laboratory at Rockefeller University, in an active biomedical research team. PhD candidates, postdocs, and faculty guide you as you contribute to ongoing work in areas such as neuroscience, cell biology, or genetics.

You’ll run experiments, analyze data, and learn the daily pace of a high-level research environment. Additionally, you will practice core lab techniques, draft scientific reports, and prepare your findings for a formal poster presentation.

Why it stands out: You conduct full-time, mentored research inside a leading biomedical lab and present original findings in a formal poster session.

3. Columbia University: Summer Programs for High School Students

Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost: $12,837 for a 3-week residential session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Session A: June 29th – July 17th; Session B: July 21st – August 7th
Application Deadline: Early Registration Deadline is February 2nd, and the General Application Deadline is March 2nd
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12, aged 15+; international students accepted

The Columbia University Pre-College Experience offers a residential academic immersion and is one of the most rigorous summer school in New York City options for high school participants. You will spend your summer living on Columbia’s Morningside campus while taking seminar-style classes led by university instructors. You can choose a subject area such as business, neuroscience, law, or creative writing, then dive into readings, discussions, and written assignments that mirror undergraduate coursework.

Mornings and afternoons are built around lectures and small group sessions, with independent college-level work. Outside class, you use campus libraries and other facilities and experience the pace of residential college life in New York City. By the end, you leave with a certificate and a clearer sense of what academic expectations at a research university actually feel like.

Why it stands out: You live and study on Columbia’s campus while completing college-level coursework in a subject you choose.

4. Cornell University Pre-College Studies: Summer Residential Program

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,940 per credit + Residential fee: $3,287 for 3-week, and $6,595 for 6-week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Multiple sessions available, check here
Application Deadline: May 5th
Eligibility: Students aged 16-18 worldwide who have completed their sophomore year of high school

The Cornell University Summer Residential Program offers you the opportunity to enroll directly in Cornell undergraduate courses and earn official university credit with college students. You can choose from three or six-week classes across fields such as engineering, business, architecture, computer science, international relations, veterinary medicine, and more.

The pace mirrors a full semester compressed into a few weeks, so you manage demanding coursework while adapting to college expectations. You live in a campus residence hall, eat in university dining halls, and use libraries, labs, and academic resources throughout the program. Students join from across the United States and more than 50 countries, creating a residential cohort that reflects the scale and diversity of a large research university.

Why it stands out: You earn an official Cornell transcript by completing real undergraduate courses on campus.

5. NYU Tandon Applied Research Innovations in Science & Engineering (ARISE)

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Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1st – August 14th
Application Deadline: February 20th
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students residing in New York City who are high-achieving and have demonstrated interest in STEM

ARISE is a ten-week, highly competitive summer school in New York City for high school sophomores and juniors, centred on research. You begin with technical workshops, then move into a research placement inside an NYU Tandon lab, where you work on an active STEM project under faculty and graduate mentors. Projects span fields such as biomedical engineering, civil and urban engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering. You will collect data, test methods, and track results as part of a functioning lab team.

You will also train in presentation and public speaking with the Irondale Ensemble Project and prepare to share your findings publicly. The program concludes with a formal colloquium where you present your research to faculty, graduate students, peers, and guests.

Why it stands out: You complete a mentored engineering research and present your findings at a formal NYU colloquium, all within a tuition-free program.

6. Fordham University: Summer Leaders Academy

Location: Fordham University (Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses), New York, NY
Cost: Varies by session, check here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Immersion 1 June 22-26; Immersion 2 July 6-10 (1-week) or July 6-16 (2-week); Immersion 3 July 20-24 (1-week) or July 20-30 (2-week)
Application Deadline: April 30th for resident application. And May 1st for Immersion 1; May 29th for Immersions 2 & 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors worldwide (entering 11th or 12th grade)

At Fordham University’s Summer Leaders Academy, you will choose a one or two-week academic track and attend seminar-style classes led by Fordham faculty in areas such as AI leadership, pre-health, pre-law, finance, global business, digital media, game design, and real estate. In class, you analyze case studies, work through group discussions, and deliver presentations that mirror introductory university coursework.

Depending on your track, you might practice data analysis, study medical research methods, build communication strategies, or develop basic coding projects tied to game design. The program also includes college application workshops, career sessions, and networking events with professionals connected to your field of interest. Outside of class, you’ll participate in campus activities and outings across New York City.

Why it stands out: You test out a specific major through faculty-led seminars while building presentation and career skills in a short, focused format.

7. Simons Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition charges/fees; however, participants are responsible for their own transportation/dining costs (commuters) and/or residential costs (if dorming on campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29th – August 7th
Application Deadline: February 5th
Eligibility: Students currently in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of applying; must be US citizens and/or permanent residents; and must be at least 16 years of age by the start of the program

The Simons Summer Research Program is a selective, summer research program for high school juniors that places you in a Stony Brook laboratory before your senior year. You are matched with a faculty mentor, join an active research group, and take responsibility for a defined project in science, mathematics, or engineering.

Throughout the summer, you run experiments or develop models, meet weekly for faculty research talks, and attend workshops tied to lab skills and academic pathways. You prepare a written abstract and design a research poster that presents your findings to the university community. The program concludes with a formal poster symposium and a stipend award.

Why it stands out: You complete a mentored research project at a major public research university and present your work at a campus-wide symposium.

8. New York University Pre-College

Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Varies based on the number of courses and credits, check here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: July 1st – August 12th
Application Deadline: June 1st (for residential track)
Eligibility: High school students worldwide entering 11th or 12th grade

NYU Pre-College is a summer school in New York City that allows high school participants to enrol in undergraduate courses alongside NYU students and earn college credit. You choose from more than 30 subject areas, including engineering, journalism, computer science, and the arts, then attend lectures and discussion sections on campus. You complete graded assignments, manage college-level reading, and meet the same academic standards as enrolled undergraduates.

Outside class, you live in NYU housing and use university libraries, labs, and study spaces as part of your daily routine. By the end, you leave with official credit and a clearer sense of whether you are ready for the pace and independence of university coursework.

Why it stands out: You earn college credit in real NYU classes while studying alongside enrolled undergraduates.

9. Columbia University: HK Maker Lab

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 6th – August 7th
Application Deadline: December 5th
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors from NYC public or charter schools. Applicants must demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage.

HK Maker Lab is a free five-week summer program for NYC public and charter high school students interested in engineering, digital media, and global health innovation. You spend the first three weeks at Columbia Engineering choosing either Biomedical Engineering or Innovation and Design, where you work through design challenges, build prototypes, and test solutions connected to healthcare problems.

In the final two weeks, you move into teams and develop a digital media project that addresses a real global health issue. Faculty and industry mentors guide your work, and you take part in workshops and lab visits that expose you to active research spaces. The program concludes with a public showcase where you present your final project.

Why it stands out: You work on a team-based project inside a Columbia laboratory setting, at no cost.

10. Albert Einstein College of Medicine: BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program

Location: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Cost: Free; $2,500 stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Eight weeks, late June through August
Application Deadline: January 12th
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years old by the program start date, live and attend high school in the Bronx, and be entering the 11th or 12th grade

The BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program is an eight-week summer program for high school students interested in learning cancer biology. You work full-time in a biomedical research lab alongside faculty, postdocs, and research staff, contribute to active projects, and learn core laboratory techniques.

There are structured seminars and workshops led by scientists, introducing you to research pathways in the field. You prepare your own research presentation and formally present your findings to faculty at the end of the program. An optional after-school component allows you to continue attending scientific talks and professional development sessions during the academic year.

Why it stands out: You complete an intensive cancer research placement and present your work within a major academic medical research center.

11. Columbia Engineering Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Commuter $6,250, Residential $11,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Session 1: July 6-24; Session 2: July 27th – August 14th
Application Deadline: March 2nd
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates; open to international students

The Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers at Columbia University is one of the most hands-on summer school in New York City options for aspiring engineers. You take college-level engineering courses taught by Columbia faculty and spend time in campus labs working on technical projects.

You might build robotics systems, write code, or test concepts in electrical or computer engineering. You also gain access to Columbia’s Makerspace, where you can prototype and experiment using professional-grade equipment. You’ll attend college readiness and engineering career pathways workshops. All students receive a certificate from Columbia Engineering upon completion.

Why it stands out: You complete college-level engineering coursework and prototype in Columbia’s labs and Makerspace while still in high school.

12. The New School: Parsons Summer Intensive Studies

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Location: The New School, New York, NY
Cost: $5,610 tuition + $265 university fees + Housing $2,180 for three weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 8th – June 26th; Session 2: July 6th – July 24th
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 8th; Session 2: June 1st; April 1st for international students
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students from around the world who are 16 years of age or older

The New School: Parsons Summer Intensive Studies is a three-credit summer program designed for high school students who plan to pursue art and design at the university level. You can choose a track such as fashion design, photography, graphic design, or architecture, and attend classes led by Parsons faculty.

The courses are project-based. You complete assignments, participate in discussions, and go on field experiences across New York City. By the end, you will have assembled a college-ready portfolio.

Why it stands out: You earn college credit while building a portfolio under direct critique from Parsons faculty in a professional studio setting.

13. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Internship (CCRI)

Location: NASA GISS, Morningside Heights, Manhattan, NY
Cost: Fully funded, this is a paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: February 27th
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16+ with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

The Climate Change Research Initiative is a highly selective research internship at NASA GISS that includes a limited number of positions for qualified NYC high school students. If selected, you’ll work with NASA scientists, use satellite observations and climate models to study Earth’s systems.

You might analyze datasets, run simulations, or support ongoing investigations in atmospheric and environmental science. As a high school student, you will be placed within a cohort that largely includes undergraduate and graduate researchers.

Why it stands out: You contribute to live climate research at a NASA institute, a setting where very few high school students are selected each year.

14. The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship Program

Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NY
Cost: No cost, interns receive a $1,100 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 7th – August 7th
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 residing in NYC, NJ, or CT

The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship Program places you inside one of the largest art museums in the world, where you work with professionals across departments such as curatorial, education, design, and digital media. You will assist with ongoing projects, observe how exhibitions are developed, and learn how several departments collaborate.

There are professional development sessions where you can interact with museum staff to understand career paths in the arts and cultural sector. You might have the opportunity to contribute to public-facing initiatives, including programs like Teen Fridays, which connect young audiences to the museum.

Why it stands out: You gain direct access to museum professionals and internal projects at one of the world’s leading art institutions.

15. Manhattan College Entrepreneurship Pre-College Camp

Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY
Cost: $1,400 plus a $50 non-refundable registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6-23
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: 15-17-year-old high school students; open to international students

At the Manhattan College Entrepreneurship Pre-College Camp, you will spend the program building a business from the ground up, working in a team to move from a rough idea to a developed venture plan. You will begin by brainstorming concepts in the first phase.

Then, you will draft financial projections, conduct market research, refine your value proposition, and assemble a pitch deck. Faculty-led sessions introduce you to core business topics in management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurial strategy. You will conclude the program with a formal pitch, where you present your business plan to a review panel.

Why it stands out: You leave with a complete business plan and investor-style pitch developed through teamwork.