Are you a high school student interested in anthropology? You don't have to wait until college to get started. There are many ways to get involved in anthropology that provide experiences, professional mentorship, and practice-based ways of learning.
In this guide, we have described 10 of the best anthropology programs for high school students; perfect for students that want to discover future careers in social sciences, history, or global studies! Find out how to apply, what you can expect and how each of these programs can help your college applications. Get involved with anthropology today and find out what it means to be human!
1. Penn Summer Prep: Thinking Like an Anthropologist
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania (Residential)
Program Dates: July 8–19, 2025
Cost: $8,500 (need-based scholarships available)
Eligibility: High school students with a 3.5+ GPA
Application Deadline: April 27, 2025
With Penn Summer Prep anthropology summer program, students learn how to examine human behavior using cultural, genetic, and linguistic analysis. Students conduct ethnographic research, interview subjects, and prepare recommendations for policy to address the issues using anthropological perspectives. Through this program, students work with professors in UPenn's Department of Anthropology. Looking ahead, students develop a proposal, or a research portfolio, for future applications to colleges and graduate programs.
2. Stanford Summer: Intro to Cultural and Social Anthropology
Location: Stanford University, California (Residential/Commuter)
Program Dates: June 26–August 20, 2025
Cost: $4,341
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: January 16, 2025
Stanford Summer is Ideal for students with an emphasis in cultural anthropology, this program applies case studies to examine gender, power, and immigration. Students will hear lectures from professors at Stanford University, perform field observations in communities in the Bay Area, and will present final research projects to the group. Students earn college credit, and will learn about the research methods at the university-level.
3. Harvard Summer School: The Stuff of Life
Location: Harvard University, Massachusetts (Residential)
Program Dates: July 10–21, 2025
Cost: $5,300
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: February 14, 2025
Harvard Summer School program from Harvard University centers on human experiences as examined through museum archives and material culture. The graduate students examine artifacts at the Peabody Museum, participate in workshops about archaeological ethics, and participate in group work on objects or objects that they will study through their original context, replication, or repair. The course concludes in a public display of the student research projects in what will provide concrete experience for their college portfolios.
4. American Anthropological Association’s Virtual High School Internship
Location: Online
Program Dates: June 23–July 18, 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: All high school students
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
American ANthropological Association is designed for students who are interested in science communication and the translation of anthropological research into K-12 educational materials. Interns develop and design infographics, video summaries, and lesson plans on topics like migration and displacement. Interns not only receive mentorship from professionals at AAA, and mentors from the Association of American Colleges and Universities but also develop a portfolio to use for a college application.
5. UPenn’s Precollege Online Program: Human Origins, Evolution and Diversity
Location: Online
Program Dates: May 27–July 2, 2025
Cost: $8,248
Eligibility: Grades 10–11 with a 3.5+ GPA
Application Deadline: March 30, 2025
Through Penn's Department of Anthropology, this Precollege Online Program will cover a broad side of human evolution, and genetic studies, and fossil studies. Students explore human evolution by collecting behavioral date on primates, engaging in virtual lab simulation experience, and presenting research results concerning heritable traits. The program will include guest lectures by Penn researchers and a certificate of completion.
6. Archaeological Research Institute (ARI) Public Archaeology Field School
Location: Ohio Valley, Indiana
Program Dates: June–August 2025 (exact dates TBA)
Cost: $1,200 (includes housing)
Eligibility: Ages 16+
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
In ARI Public Archaeology Field School ,Students are taught excavation methods, artifact conservation, and lab analysis in a live dig site and work alongside ARI archaeologists, document findings while participating in outreach with local communities. Students learn to explore ethical stewardship of cultural heritage and practice the archaeological survey methods.
7. Hoya Summer at Georgetown: Disability Studies
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (Residential/Commuter)
Program Dates: July 8–August 9, 2025
Cost: $4,500 (full scholarships available)
Eligibility: Rising freshmen to seniors
Application Deadline: March 2025
This course analyzes disability through the perspectives of gender, race, and inequality. Students attend seminars on psychiatric anthropology, meet with disability advocates and policy-makers in their communities, and ultimately develop inclusionary policy proposals. Students are mentored by Georgetown faculty and share their final presentations at the end of the course at a university symposium.
8. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology at Washington University
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
Program Dates: June–July 2025 (5 weeks)
Cost: $4,800
Eligibility: Rising sophomores to seniors
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
Over the course of this immersive experience, students explore diverse and complex global cultures through ethnographic studies, film, and fieldwork experiences in St. Louis communities. Some topics we will cover are kinship systems,kinship systems, rituals, and economic anthropology. Students can expect to have a final research paper to present to their peers as a part of this course and will receive a university certificate as well as guidance and materials for college or any applications.
9. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, New York
Program Dates: June 30–August 8, 2025
Cost: Free (includes stipend)
Eligibility: High school juniors
Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
Simons focuses strongly on STEM areas, but does offer two anthropology tracks: human evolution and primatology. Students collaborate with faculty on projects related to issues like digitizing fossils or analyzing cultural artifacts. Students work with a range of tools including 3D modeling software. There is a research symposium at completion, along with publication opportunities.
10. Smithsonian Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (High School Pilot)
Location: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Program Dates: July 2025 (4 weeks)
Cost: Free (includes housing + stipend)
Eligibility: Rising seniors
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Students are exposed to a variety of museum research processes, including artifact curation and other archival methods. Participants experience Indigenous collections, attend ethics workshops, and prepare research proposals with a Smithsonian anthropologist. Participants will experience networking opportunities with museum professionals, and ultimately will present their work to the NMNH staff.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
Read More
