Does Stanford have summer programs for high school students?

Summer at Stanford Sets You Apart.

Balance challenging academics with a rich menu of educational and social activities as a visiting Stanford student. Explore a possible career path or future area of study while experiencing genuine Stanford University courses alongside current Stanford students. Study with a dynamic, diverse student body from more than 50 countries, with the opportunity to earn credit and an official transcript from Stanford.

Tuition & Fees

  • Attending as a commuter and taking the minimum 3 units? Costs start at $4,926
  • Living on campus and taking the minimum 8 units (typically 2-3 courses)? Costs start at $15,875

Stanford University sets tuition rates for all students. To see a detailed breakdown of what the program may cost you, use our Calculator.

Attending as a High School Student

Summer Session offers an opportunity to experience an academic quarter at one of the world’s leading universities. In joining our community, high school students are expected to bring interpersonal competency, self-directedness, and a commitment to expanding their intellectual horizons.  

Program Dates

June 24 – August 20, 2023

How to Apply

To be eligible to apply, you must:

  • Be a current sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of application.
  • Be at least 16 at the start of the program, June 24, 2023, and no more than 19 by the last day, August 20, 2023. There are no exceptions to these age restrictions.
  • Not be matriculating into Stanford as a first year.

Application requirements include:

  • Transcripts
  • Two short essays
  • Proof of English proficiency (if necessary)

Residential students join a vibrant, diverse community, living on campus with current Stanford students and fellow visitors from around the world. Make new friends, expand your worldview, and continue the conversation beyond the classroom.

Commuter students live off-campus and commute to class, with access to many of the same events, resources, and on-campus facilities as residential students. Connect with current Stanford students and fellow visitors from around the world.

Learn More About

Stanford AI4ALL

We are pleased to share that Stanford AI4ALL will be managed by Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). To learn more about the program and upcoming opportunities, please visit the HAI website.

Stanford Science Circle

The Stanford Science Circle is suspended for the 2021-2022 academic year.

We encourage you to explore our other science enrichment opportunities above.

Stanford Humanities Circle

The Stanford Humanities Circle is suspended for the 2021-2022 academic year.

We encourage you to explore our other humanities enrichment opportunities above.

Discover. Explore. Grow.

Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes provides a taste of the Stanford classroom experience and challenges students with advanced content not typically found in the high-school curriculum.

Single-Subject Study

Our 30 summer courses provide in-depth and interactive exploration of academic material. Courses are ungraded and are not awarded credit. Courses are available in subjects including computer science, math, creative writing, philosophy, engineering, and more.

Global Focus and Real Connections

Bright peers from around the world create a truly special and unforgettable experience. Study and discuss academic topics alongside peers that share the same talents, interests, and curiosity.

Live Online Classes

With small class sizes, our online classes allow students to engage in every aspect of a course through real-time discussions in which instructors and students see, hear, and interact with one another.

Learn from Scholarly Instructors

Attend courses designed, created, and taught by instructors who are knowledgeable in their fields and passionate about teaching. Many courses highlight new areas of research and professional practice.

20+ Stanford Summer Programs for High School Students

Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s 2022 Summer Calendar

High school students have over 20 Stanford summer programs to choose from in 2022.

From philosophy to neuroscience, these programs give students a taste of college academics, campus life, and beyond.

Summertime is an important time for high school students, especially given the fact that many college applications ask students how they’ve spent their previous two summers. Pre-college programs like Stanford can bring a special focus to these valuable summers and give students rich material to draw upon when applying.

In this post, we’ve compiled over 20 Stanford summer programs that are up and running this year. We’ve included relevant details like application deadlines, session dates, and links.

We’re also giving readers access to PrepMaven’s 2022 Summer Calendar, which includes the top summer programs at elite U.S. institutions, including NYU and Princeton, in one easy-to-use spreadsheet. Grab it below!

Here’s what we cover:

  • Stanford Summer Programs for High School Students
    • Pre-Collegiate Programs
    • Arts & Humanities Programs
    • STEM Programs
  • Bonus: PrepMaven’s 2022 Summer Calendar

Does Stanford have summer programs for high school students?

Stanford Summer Programs for High School Students: Pre-Collegiate

There are currently 2 summer programs at Stanford that emphasize pre-collegiate studies and experiences.

  1. High School Summer College
  2. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes

Stanford’s High School Summer College

Get a taste of college academic life with Stanford’s High School Summer College, an 8-week program that gives students a chance to take actual Stanford courses for credit. Along with peers from over 40 countries, participants can study a wide range of subjects, from molecular genetics to Greek and Latin roots.

  • Program Cost: $4,926 – $15,875
  • Program Length: 8 weeks, June 18 – August 14, 2022
  • Rolling Admissions Deadline: May 20, 2022
  • Online/in-person: In-person

Note: There is a $95 application fee to apply to Stanford’s High School Summer College. Students find out within 20 days of applying if they’ve been admitted.

Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes

Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer shorter, online courses, giving participants the chance to pursue your passions as a member of a vibrant intellectual community spanning over 50 countries. Participants pursue a single-study program track for non-credit enrichment.

There are 30 possible courses spanning philosophy, humanities, engineering, math, writing, science, and more.

  • Program Cost: $2,700 per course (financial aid is available)
  • Program Length: 11 days
    • Session One: June 20, 2022 – July 1, 2022
    • Session Two: July 11, 2022 – July 22, 2022
  • Application Deadline: March 15, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Will be all online for summer 2022

Does Stanford have summer programs for high school students?

Stanford Summer Programs for High School Students: Arts & Humanities

Stanford has one Arts & Humanities related summer program for eligible high school students: the Humanities Institute.

Stanford Summer Humanities Institute

Rising juniors and seniors can participate in Stanford’s Summer Humanities Institute, a non-credit academic enrichment program that “explore the big questions at the heart of humanities” with Stanford professors. Students participate in daily group discussions and activities.

  • Program Cost: $3,000 (financial aid is available)
  • Program Length: 11 days
    • Session One: June 20, 2022 – July 1, 2022
    • Session Two: July 11, 2022 – July 22, 2022
  • Application Deadline: March 15, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Will be online for summer 2022

We’ve added all of Stanford’s summer programs for 2022 to our Summer Calendar, which compiles summer programs for elite U.S. institutions like NYU and Princeton. It’s free, and you can download it below right now!


Stanford Summer Programs for High School Students: STEM Programs

There are 7 STEM-related summer programs for high school students at Stanford:

  1. Stanford University Mathematics Camp
  2. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program 
  3. Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute: Medical Internships
  4. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
  5. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience at Stanford
  6. Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics
  7. Stanford AI4ALL
Does Stanford have summer programs for high school students?

Mathematics Camp

Current 10th and 11th graders around the globe are eligible for this three-week math intensive at Stanford. Take a deep dive into advanced mathematics through lectures, research, and group collaboration.

  • Program Cost: $3,250 (financial aid is available)
  • Program Length: 3 weeks
    • Session One: June 20, 2022 – July 8, 2022
    • Session Two: July 18, 2022 – August 5, 2022
  • Application Deadline: March 15, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Will be online for summer 2022

Medical Youth Science Program

Through Stanford’s five-week Medical Youth Science enrichment program, students can take a deep dive into the world of medicine. This is a tuition-free program specifically for low-income juniors from certain counties in Northern and Central California.

Over the five weeks of this program, participants work on a group research project and get valuable advising in college admissions and health careers.

  • Program Cost: Free for admitted applicants
  • Program Length: 5 weeks, June 20, 2022 – July 22, 2022
  • Application Deadline: March 15, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Will be all online for summer 2022

Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute: Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Summer Internships

At the Anesthesia Summer Institute, participants get valuable hands-on experience via Stanford’s School of Medicine over a rigorous two weeks. This institute qualifies as a medical internship and is led by Stanford faculty.

  • Program Cost: $5,000 in-person // $4,000 online (scholarships available)
  • Program Length: 2 weeks
    • Session One: June 13, 2022 – June 24, 2022
    • Session Two: July 25, 2022 – August 5, 2022
    • Advanced Clinical Skills (internship): July 11, 2022 – July 15, 2022
  • Application Deadline: May 12, 2022
  • Online/in-person: In-person or online for summer 2022
Does Stanford have summer programs for high school students?

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

This eight-week summer program gives students a rich opportunity to conduct medical research with Stanford faculty, graduate students, and peers. Participants also receive a stipend for their work (minimum of $500).

  • Program Cost: Free to admitted applicants ($40 application fee, waivers available) // participating students are given a stipend of at least $500
  • Program Length: 8 weeks, June 13, 2022 – August 4, 2022
  • Application Deadline: February 20, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Cancelled for summer 2021

Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience at Stanford

Over a period of two weeks, participants in Stanford’s Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience get a rich introduction to neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology through seminars and collaborative learning. Students complete a capstone project at the end of the program.

  • Program Cost: $1,295 (scholarships available)
  • Program Length: 2 weeks
    • Session 1: July 11, 2022 – July 22, 2022
    • Session 2: July 25, 2022 – July 5, 2022
  • Application Deadline: February 15, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Will be online for summer 2022

Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics

High school students with a passion for math and science can take online advanced courses through Stanford for college credit this summer. Choose from 13 courses ranging from Multivariable Calculus to Light and Heat. Open to 9th through 12th graders.

  • Program Cost: $1,500 per course ($35 application fee) // financial aid available
  • Program Length: June 20, 2022 – August 10, 2022
  • Application Deadline: May 16, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Online
Does Stanford have summer programs for high school students?

Stanford AI4ALL

Through AI4ALL, participants experience hands-on learning in a vibrant peer community and take a deep dive into AI’s power to make the world a better place. This three-week summer program, open only to 9th graders, aims to increase representation in the world of artificial intelligence.

  • Program Cost: $4,000 (financial aid available)
  • Program Length: June 27 -July 15, 2022
  • Application Deadline: March 11, 2022
  • Online/in-person: Online for 2022

Download PrepMaven’s 2022 Summer Calendar

High school students have a lot to choose from when it comes to Stanford summer programs this 2022.

That’s why we created PrepMaven’s Summer Calendar, which compiles competitive summer programs for high school students in one easy-to-use spreadsheet.

Here’s what you’ll get:

  • An organized list of Stanford Summer Programs for 2022
  • Additional summer programs for 2022, including NYU and Princeton summer programs
  • Session start and end dates
  • Relevant links

Greg Wong and Kevin Wong

Greg and Kevin are brothers and the co-founders of PrepMaven and Princeton Tutoring. They are Princeton engineering graduates with over 20 years of education experience. They apply their data and research-backed problem solving skills to the college preparation and test prep process. Their unique approach places a heavy emphasis on personal development, character, and service as key components of college admissions success.

How much does Stanford summer session for high school students cost?

Living on campus and taking the minimum 8 credit-bearing units (typically 2-3 courses)? Costs start at $16,095.

Does Stanford have a summer program?

Summer Session offers an opportunity to experience an academic quarter at one of the world's leading universities. In joining our community, high school students are expected to bring interpersonal competency, self-directedness, and a commitment to expanding their intellectual horizons.

Who gets invited to Stanford Summer Session?

About Summer Session High School and gap year students (ages 16-19), undergraduate (age 17+), and graduate students (age 18+) are welcome to apply for Summer Session. These students are also considered visiting undergraduate or graduate students over the summer.

Is Stanford Summer Humanities hard to get into?

The Stanford Humanities Institute is an elite summer program that allows students to build their humanities and extracurricular portfolio while being able to dive into their own interests and questions. The Stanford Humanities Institute takes place at Stanford, a top ten school with an acceptance rate of 4.3%.