If you’re a high school student who’s always sketching buildings, daydreaming about city skylines, or just curious about how spaces shape our lives, diving into architecture early can be a game-changer. These summer programs aren’t just about sitting in a classroom—they’re about rolling up your sleeves, designing real projects, and meeting creative minds like yours. Here’s a friendly rundown of nine standout architecture summer programs that will help you build skills, confidence, and maybe even your first portfolio piece.
1. Columbia University’s Introduction to Architecture for High School Students
Location: New York, NY
Program Dates: July 1 – August 2, 2025
Cost: $5,230
Eligibility: Current high school students (Grades 9–12)
Deadline: May 1, 2025
This studio-based program provides students with direct experience in architectural drawing, computer modeling, and space design. Courses are instructed by Columbia GSAPP faculty, and students have one-on-one feedback on their work. The curriculum focuses on concept development and design process, providing teens with a portfolio appropriate for college applications.
2. Cornell University Introduction to Architecture Summer Program
Location: Ithaca, NY
Program Dates: June 24 – August 2, 2025
Cost: $6,870
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Deadline: March 8, 2025
This six-week intensive offers a deep dive into architectural theory, studio practice, and hands-on model construction. Students work closely with Cornell faculty in a studio environment that replicates college-level architecture classes. The program includes critiques, lectures, and final portfolio development, making it an excellent choice for students considering a future in design or architecture.
3. UCLA Teen ArchStudio Summer Institute
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Program Dates: July 8 – July 26, 2025
Cost: $4,245 (includes materials)
Eligibility: High school students ages 15+
Deadline: May 15, 2025
LA’s vibrant architecture scene becomes your classroom. Through site visits and studio sessions, you’ll learn to bring your ideas to life, on paper and on screen. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio that shows off your growth and creativity. By the end of the course, participants produce a series of portfolio-ready works that demonstrate design process, experimentation, and architectural thinking.
4. University of Pennsylvania Architecture: Summer at Penn
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: July 1 – July 26, 2025
Cost: $6,700
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
Deadline: April 5, 2025
At Penn, you’ll explore everything from model-making to digital design tools like Rhino and AutoCAD. The program focuses on how buildings affect people’s lives, with a big emphasis on sustainability and social impact. Interactive studio projects are paired with daily critiques and lectures, giving teens a full taste of college-level architectural education.
5. Syracuse University Summer College – Architecture
Location: Syracuse, NY
Program Dates: July 8 – July 26, 2025
Cost: $4,500
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
Deadline: June 1, 2025
This course recreates the first-year architecture student experience, focusing on architectural drawing, material investigation, and spatial reasoning. Studio is balanced with guest lectures and campus tours of area architecture. Students also engage in final reviews, a classic architectural education experience, in which they present their work to faculty and peers.
6. Boston Architectural College's Design Exploration for High Schoolers
Location: Boston, MA
Program Dates: July 8 – July 26, 2025
Cost: Free (tuition-waived for accepted students)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Deadline: April 15, 2025
This program opens its doors to everyone, especially those who might not otherwise have access to architecture and design education. With no tuition fees, it’s designed to remove financial barriers and welcome students from underserved communities. Here, you’ll dive into real-world urban challenges, using the latest design tools to create projects that matter, projects that address pressing environmental and social issues.
7. Pratt Institute PreCollege Architecture Program
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Program Dates: July 1 – July 26, 2025
Cost: $4,100 + materials
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 10–12)
Deadline: March 15, 2025
Brooklyn’s creative energy is contagious at Pratt. You’ll learn the basics of architecture through lectures, studio work, and city excursions. The program is perfect for building a diverse portfolio and getting mentorship from practicing architects. Students learn critical design skills and gain a broad portfolio of diverse work that expresses their individual design passions while having access to excellent facilities and mentorship from working architects.
8. Illinois Institute of Technology – Experiment in Architecture (EiA)
Location: Chicago, IL
Program Dates: July 15 – July 26, 2025
Cost: $1,800
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Deadline: Rolling
EiA provides an introduction to architecture, landscape, and urbanism through studio sessions, lectures, and collaborative workshops. Students design low-scale buildings, learn about iconic architectural pieces, and navigate IIT's own historic campus, housing Mies van der Rohe's modernist masterpieces. The program is a good fit for students seeking a condensed, intense experience in design thinking.
9. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Pre-College Architecture Track
Location: Providence, RI
Program Dates: June 23 – August 2, 2025
Cost: $6,250
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18
Deadline: April 1, 2025
RISD’s architecture track is a visual arts pre-college experience. RISD’s program blends art and architecture. You’ll take studio and academic classes, exploring history, theory, and hands-on projects. It’s a place for creative risk-takers who want to see how architecture and art connect.
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!
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