AsULEAD (Boone, NC)

• • A program at Appalachain State University for emerging leaders in their schools and communities. 

  • Includes a four day in-person summer session focusing on community building opportunities, leadership development training, and overall college preparedness. AsULead also includes a virtual component over the course of the students’ senior year to continue discussing the importance of college and give students access to resources they may not otherwise learn about.

  • AsULead students will be competitive for selective colleges and scholarship opportunities as a result of this program, as well as having the opportunity to return to their communities as ambassadors for college success. Students that complete the program and maintain eligibility will be guaranteed admission to App State.

Boston University Summer Term Programs (Boston, MA)

• • Programs for current high school juniors. Financial aid available.

Brown University Pre-College Programs (Providence, RI)

Cambridge Summer School (Cambridge, UK)

• • Students must be at least 14 years old. Summer program in the United Kingdom. 

Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs (Pittsburgh, PA)

• • Mirrors the undergraduate experience, giving rising juniors and seniors the opportunity to explore their interests and passions while receiving instruction from acclaimed Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff. We provide a holistic and robust student experience that includes academic and personal development both inside and outside of the classroom in order to prepare students for the future. Live and learn in a college setting that will challenge you to discover your best self. Applications are due between February and March for the following summer. Scholarships available. 

Chowan University Campapalooza

• • June 22-26, 2025 - Interest Form

CIEE Global Navigator (international, locations vary by program)

• • High School Study Abroad Programs

  • Applications typically due the third week of January for the following summer. 

Clarkson University Horizons Program (Potsdam, NY)

• • Our mission is to drive genuine and inclusive culture change for middle and high school students from all backgrounds. In addition, we aim to provide tools to help our participants excel in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) and attend college well prepared to pursue employment or advanced degrees and eventually assume leadership roles in STEAM. 

Columbia University Pre-College Programs (New York, NY and Online)

Dartmouth Precollege Online Program (Online)

• • Explore college-level courses designed by top instructors—all from the comfort of home. Created for motivated students aged 13 and older, this program allows you to develop a holistic view that reflects Dartmouth’s liberal arts philosophy. 

  • With flexible, dynamic lessons and mentor support, you can explore multiple fields of study and find your passion. You’ll learn to think critically and creatively, positioning yourself for an impactful future.

Duke STAR Program (Durham, NC)

• • The Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program provides a high-quality research experience for high school students. The six-week program will give participants interested in science and medicine real hands-on experience in research methodology and writing. 

  • Participants are placed in teams and matched with Duke faculty mentors to work on an original, hypothesis-driven project, originating as a one-page summary and culminating in a complete research paper. 

  • A goal of the program is to have every participant qualify for co-authorship on a peer-reviewed manuscript related to their team’s project. 

  • Participants receive a stipend to attend, which makes the program an option even for students who plan to work over the summer break.

Elon University (Elon, NC)

• • Emerging Journalists Program (Priority Deadline is March 1)

  • Elon University K-12 Programs for Students

Georgetown University Pre-College Programs (Washington, DC)

Guilford College RISE (Greensboro, NC)

• • A three-week, residential experience that allows rising high-school seniors to earn college credits while living and learning in Greensboro, NC. 

GTCC Career and College Promise (Guilford County, NC)

• • Offers high school students the chance to earn college credits through GTCC. 

  • Tuition-free for high school juniors and seniors (semester fees will apply). You must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher or passing test scores. 

Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs (Bethesda, MD and Online)

Leadership Initiatives Youth Development Programs (in-person and online internship options, locations vary)

Lehigh University Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive (Bethlehem, PA)

• • IGEI is an immersive, hands-on program that combines experiential learning and intercultural connection. After completing the program, IGEI graduates can: evaluate the potential of ideas to become successful innovations, create functional business/marketing plans and compelling pitches, navigate cultural differences and collaborate to succeed as a team

Marist College Summer Pre-College Programs (Poughkeepsie, NY and Online)

MIT LearnSTEM (Online)

• • Led by MIT researchers and alumni, the STEM Research Program introduces ambitious students to the cutting edge of your scientific field of interest. You'll work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor and create an independent research project. Explore cool topics like astrophysics, quantum mechanics, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, robotic control, game theory, genetic engineering, and many more! The Program runs 4x per year: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. 

National Student Leadership Conference (locations vary)

• • Career Exploration for high school students where they live and learn on a college campus, engage in leadership training and hands-on simulations, hear from guest speakers, and go on tours. There are over 30 different programs and participants can choose from 6, 9, or 18-day sessions. 

  • Request a nomination from your school counselor. Nominations are due in December for the following summer. 

NC A&T University (Greensboro, NC and Online)

• • NC A&T Summer Camps

  • NC A&T College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences Summer Programs for High School Students

  • Professional Accounting Career Exploration (PACE) Summer Camp - A 5-day free residential program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in accounting, finance, or other areas of business. Hosted by North Carolina A&T’s Department of Accounting and Finance, PACE offers a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and explore the accounting profession in a fun and interactive way.

NC Governor's School (in-person at designated NC college campus)

• • For current 11th grade students

  • A no-cost, four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. Learning focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests, or grades. 

  • Students are selected to attend through a competitive process after being nominated by their public school unit or non-public school. 

  • Click here for more information about Page's selection process.

NCSSM Summer Ventures (in-person and designated NC college campus)

• • For current 10th/rising 11th grade students

  • A no-cost, state-funded program for academically talented NC students who aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  You will have the opportunity to engage in research with faculty and get hands-on experience at a university.  

  • Applications due early January of 10th grade

NC State University Pre-College Programs (Raleigh, NC and Online)

NC Wesleyan Shelton Challenge (Rocky Mount, NC)

• • a six-day residential leadership experience to help students expand their knowledge and skills of what it takes to be an effective leader. Offered to rising 9th-grade to graduating seniors (graduating seniors included) with a 3.0+ unweighted GPA. 

  • Hands-on activities focus on: personal leadership assessment and interpersonal dynamics, the role of values and ethics in leadership, leadership traits and approaches, empowering others, civic and social responsibility and goal setting.

Oxbridge Programs (throughout Europe)

Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes and Summer Humanities Institute (Online)

• • NexGen Roundtable: AI & Democracy Summer Institute at Stanford University

UNC-Asheville Pre-College Programs (Asheville, NC and Online)

UNC-Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC and Online)

• • Summer Discovery

  • Summer Institute for the Gifted

  • Upward Bound's Pre-College Expo - July 10th, 2025 on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. This Event is hosted by the Carolina Higher Education Opportunity Programs (CHEOP) Office. The Pre-College Expo will provide students from any high school age Pre-College Access Program an opportunity to collaboratively learn about key topics for college-bound students. Students will participate in Workshops, Panel Discussions, Poster Presentations, a College Fair, and more!

  • Pre-College Programs

  • Project Uplift - a summer enrichment and college access program designed to promote and increase access to higher education for rising high school seniors, especially those underrepresented in postsecondary education. Every summer, approximately 1,000 high school seniors participate in one of multiple Project Uplift sessions. Participants learn about the college admissions process, interact with faculty, staff, and current students, and participate in educational, cultural, and social activities.

UNC-Charlotte (Charlotte, NC and Online)

• • Summer Camps

  • STEM Pre-College Program

UNC-Greensboro Summer Opportunities (Greensboro, NC and Online)

UNC-Wilmington Youth Programs (Wilmington, NC and Online)

University of Notre Dame Pre-College Online Programs (Online)

University of Toledo Virtual Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Summer Camp (Toledo, OH and Online)

University of Wisconsin Madison PreCollege Programs

• • Badger Precollege offers in-person and online programs in humanities, music, business, psychology, government, STEM, college prep and more — all designed to help students in grades 2–12 find their passion, meet new friends and explore their future. 

Wake Forest Pre-College Programs (Winston-Salem, NC and Online)

• • includes CollegeLaunch, Summer Immersion, Summer Exploration, and Online Immersion Programs)

  • Wake Forest School of Medicine Middle and High School Summer Research Exposure Programs

Wingate Summer Experience (Wingate, NC)

• • Includes camps for Health Science, Pharmacy, and Athletics

ACLU National Advocay Institute High School Program (Washington, DC)

• • An in-person gathering of high school students to participate in a week-long learning experience for the next generation of social justice advocates. Students will engage directly with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts working to defend the civil rights and civil liberties that are critical to a free and open society. Through classroom sessions, lectures, site visits, and policy discussions, students will explore the complex nature of issue advocacy, legal strategy, and real-world political decision making as well as return home with advocacy tools to make change in their community.

AnyTown (Greensboro, NC)

• • NCCJ's flagship human relations and leadership summer camp for high school students

Democracy Summer (locations vary)

• • Students work in one of our departments — Organizing, Communications, Policy, Development or Operations — to gain valuable skills and experience while fighting for a democracy that works for all.

  • Student interns work up to 40 hours per week (including some evenings and weekends) from late May to late July for a total of 9 weeks and earn a stipend of $6,000 (taxable) for the summer.

  • Applicants must be a rising sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior enrolled in a North Carolina community college, college, or university. This is a full-time job, so students taking summer classes or who have other part-time work cannot realistically participate in the program.

Greensboro Public Libraries - Volunteer Program

Greensboro Science Center Camps for Rising 9th-12th Graders

Air Force Academy Summer Seminar (Colorado)

• • Open to current Juniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Apply between December 1-January 15

Coast Guard Academy Summer Program (New London, CT and Online)

• • Program for current Juniors. Apply between February and April. 

  • Financial aid/scholarships are available but students must write an extra essay and apply.

West Point Summer Leaders Experience (West Point, NY)

• • Led by current West Point cadets, Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) is a week-long immersion into the academic, military, and social life of a West Point cadet.  

  • At SLE, you will explore West Point from all angles, including our high-tech educational facilities, team-building athletic activities, and realistic military training. SLE gives you a taste of the character, determination, commitment to excellence, and leadership skills required to become a cadet at West Point.