Thinking about a future where you design the buildings that shape our world? Pre-college architecture programs are a great way for high school students to explore what studying architecture is really like. These programs offer a realistic look into the field through studio work, digital design, model-making, and critique sessions. Many also include hands-on fabrication, site visits, or opportunities to learn from professional architects and designers, helping you understand how ideas turn into real structures.
You’ll spend time developing practical skills such as architectural drafting, 3D modeling, and design iteration, skills that are useful whether or not you ultimately pursue architecture in college. Many students also walk away with stronger confidence in presenting their ideas and a clearer sense of how creative and technical thinking come together in architecture.
What you can gain from pre-college architecture programs
Beyond skill-building, these programs often provide structured mentorship, portfolio-ready projects, or even college credit. Some expose students to real-world environments through firm visits or internships, giving insight into what architects actually do day to day. By the end of the program, you’ll likely have at least one strong project to showcase and a better understanding of whether architecture fits your interests and goals.
To help you explore options, here are 15 pre-college architecture programs for high school students! You can also check out our blog on architecture research programs for high school students, here.
15 Pre-College Architecture Programs for High School Students
1. Columbia University Pre-College Summer Programs – Architecture Tracks
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: NYC Residential Summer (3 Weeks): $12,764; NYC Commuter Summer (3 Weeks): $6,310; NYC Commuter Summer (1 Week): $2,830 + $80 application fee; financial aid is available for NYC Commuter Summer programs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 8 – 10 students per studio
Dates: Summer AA: June 22 – 26; Summer A: June 29 – July 17; Summer B: July 21 – August 7; Summer C: August 3 – 7
Application Deadline: NYC Residential Summer: March 2; NYC Commuter Summer: April 2
Eligibility: High school students | Only students aged 15 or older can apply to the NYC Residential Summer program; they must turn 16 by December 31 of the attending year
Subject Areas: Architectural design and theory, Spatial design, Urban planning, or Contemporary architecture
Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer intensive architecture-focused courses for high school students interested in exploring design, spatial thinking, and architectural history. You can choose from options such as Introduction to Architectural and Spatial Design, Introduction to Architectural Design and Theory, Contemporary Architecture in New York City, and Urban Planning and Design. Depending on the course, you’ll work through hands-on studio exercises, model-making, architectural drawing techniques, site analyses, and discussions of history, theory, and urban systems. Many classes incorporate field visits, peer critiques, and iterative design workflows used in real architectural practice. If you choose a studio-based course, you might even get to end the program with a completed design project you can add to your portfolio.
2. Cornell Architecture Summer Program for High School Students
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: Commuter Program: $1,940 per credit; Residential Program: $1,840 per credit + $2,879 housing costs for three weeks and $5,714 housing costs for six weeks + $75 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 20 students
Dates: June 22 – August 1
Application Deadline: Residential Program: May 1; Commuter Program: May 19
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16–19 (16–18 for the Residential Program)
Subject Areas: Fundamentals of architecture
Cornell’s Architecture Summer Program for High School Students is a six-credit studio and lecture-based course taught by faculty from Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. You’ll take two structured courses that cover fundamental concepts in architecture, such as space, form, function, environment, and technology. You’ll participate in collaborative design studio sessions while attending workshops and lectures on architectural drawing, pragmatic drafting, representational techniques, and portfolio design. You will also join in critiques led by instructors and guest critics. By the end of the course, you’ll have built a portfolio that reflects your engagement with architectural process and technique.
3. Chicago Architecture Center (CAC)’s Teen Fellows
Location: Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend offered, but the exact amount is not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 – May 8
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from Chicago and the surrounding area (out-of-city participants may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but they will not receive some of the benefits available for Chicago students)
Subject Areas: Architectural Design, Technical Skills, Representation, Urban Planning, Civic Engagement
The CAC’s Teen Fellows program gives you a long-term structured introduction to architecture through college courses, studio projects, and real-world work experience. You’ll take classes at Harold Washington College, build physical models, and develop digital designs using software like SketchUp, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, and Photoshop. The program also includes firm visits, exploration of Chicago’s built environment, and opportunities to study how architecture evolves. During the final summer, you may even participate in a paid internship at an architecture or design firm, depending on your performance during the program. Throughout the 15 months, you will receive guidance that helps you build a portfolio, strengthen technical skills, and understand career pathways in the field.
4. Boston Architectural College’s (BAC) Pre-College Program
Location: Boston Architectural College, Boston, MA (virtual option is also available for BAC’s Summer Academy)
Cost: Summer Academy – Boston: Credit-bearing: $2,000; Not for credit: $1,800 | Urban Design and Planning Studio: Credit-bearing: $4,000; Not for credit: $3,600; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; 8 – 10 students
Dates: Summer Academy – Boston: July 6 – 31 | Urban Design and Planning Studio: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: Summer Academy – Boston: June 22 | Urban Design and Planning: June 9
Eligibility: Summer Academy – Boston: High school students aged 14 and older from anywhere in the world | Urban Design and Planning Studio: International students are not eligible
Subject Areas: Architecture, Urban planning and design, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture/Design
BAC’s Pre-College Program introduces you to architecture and design through two complementary course options: the Summer Academy and the Urban Design and Planning Studio. The Summer Academy places you in small studio groups where you work on sketching, drawing, digital design, model making, digital fabrication, and iterative problem-solving, with guidance from practicing design professionals. You choose between a broad exploratory track or a more focused investigation track, depending on your experience and interests. Students who also opt for the Urban Design and Planning Studio study foundational concepts in urban planning and urban design in conjunction with their studio work. Both programs are designed to help you understand how designers think and to begin assembling a portfolio for future applications.
5. UTSA’s Summer Career Academy in Architecture & Interior Design
Location: University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
Cost: $650; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; up to 40 students
Dates: June 2 – 13 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and above
Subject Areas: Design Fundamentals, Architectural Representation Skills
UTSA’s Summer Career Academy in Architecture & Interior Design gives high school students a hands-on introduction to how architects and interior designers think, work, and solve problems. You’ll spend each day in studio sessions focused on design fundamentals, sketching, and model-building, supported by lectures, discussions, and films that shed light on topics covered in first-year design school courses. The program also includes field trips to architecture firms, interior design offices, and construction sites, allowing you to observe professional workflows up close. Along the way, you’ll receive guidance on assembling a portfolio and gain insight into academic pathways in architecture and interior design.
6. University of Michigan’s ArcStart Program
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $4,950 (tentative); scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 50 – 60 students annually
Dates: July 14 – August 1 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 28 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors, as well as rising college freshmen
Subject Areas: Architectural history and design, Representation & Skill-Building, Architectural Theory & Context
The University of Michigan’s ArcStart Program is a residential pre-college studio that introduces you to the fundamentals of architectural design. You’ll work with architectural drawing, drafting, and modeling tools, explore basic design principles, and study architectural history to understand how built environments are shaped. The program includes hands-on workshops that emphasize analytical problem-solving and the development of original design proposals. You’ll also visit a professional architecture firm to observe how designers operate in practice. By the end, you’ll assemble your work into a digital portfolio and receive guidance from Taubman College admission staff on the undergraduate architecture application process.
7. USC School of Architecture Pre-College Programs
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential: $11,570; Commuter: $8,130 + $85 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically, limited cohorts
Dates: June 22 – July 17
Application Deadline: Domestic students: May 8; International students: March 13
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the 9th grade and are pursuing a rigorous curriculum | English proficiency requirements for international students apply
Subject Areas: Design Fundamentals, Architectural Representation, Spatial Awareness, Design Methods and Tools, Thematic Focus
USC’s four-week pre-college architecture program introduces you to core design methods through a mix of practical assignments, lectures, and field-based observations. You’ll study topics such as composition, form, temporal qualities of space, and other basic architectural concepts. You will also gain experience in sketching, modeling, digital drawing, and graphic analysis of architectural sites. The course structure moves from analyzing existing spaces to developing your own design proposals using iterative testing and both analog and digital representation tools. You’ll also visit architecturally significant sites in Los Angeles and participate in discussions with faculty and professionals to understand how architects approach real-world problems. Students earn college credit upon completion.
8. TryEngineering Summer Institute (TESI) – Civil Engineering Track
Location: Universities across the U.S., including the University of Pennsylvania, University of San Diego, Rice University, and Columbia University
Cost: $4,095 – $4,295, depending on the university; need-based scholarships are available to eligible U.S. students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; around 310 students across all locations
Dates: Varies depending on session and university between June 11 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; enrollment closes 30 days before each session begins
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 – 17 (14–17 for the TryEngineering Summer Institute at Columbia University)
Subject Areas: Structural Integrity and Design, Sustainable Design and Infrastructure, Problem-Solving Projects, Engineering Fundamentals
TESI’s Civil Engineering track is a hands-on introduction to the structural logic and design principles that also underpin architectural practice, making it a relevant option for students interested in architecture and related fields. You’ll work through core concepts like structural integrity, load-bearing capacity, material performance, and sustainable design while testing your ideas through projects such as bridge-building challenges and design-thinking problem sets. The program emphasizes design thinking, teamwork, and iterative prototyping, skills that transfer directly to architectural model-building and spatial problem-solving. You also gain exposure to real-world engineering workflows through guest speakers and field trips that shed light on the role engineering plays in our daily lives.
9. Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Architecture Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Residential: $10,744; Commuter: $8,253 + $50 application fee; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; typically, low student-to-instructor ratio
Dates: June 20 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are at least 16 years old by June 20
Subject Areas: Architectural Design Studio, Representation Skills, Architectural Theory and History Seminars, Portfolio Preparation, Interdisciplinary Exposure
Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Architecture Program is a five-week studio-intensive experience that introduces you to the technical and conceptual foundations of architectural design. You’ll work through a sequence of projects that build skills in analog drawing, digital media, spatial representation, and interactive problem-solving, supported by seminars and workshops on architectural history and theory. Studio work is the core of the program, where you will investigate context, scale, materiality, and perception through both independent and collaborative design work. Field trips and evening sessions offer additional exposure to contemporary practice, digital fabrication labs, and local architecture sites.
10. Pratt Summer PreCollege – Architecture Track
Location: Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Residential: $8,192; Commuter: $5,452 + $65 application fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; 12 – 15 students per group
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18 before December 31 | Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or international student with a valid U.S. F1 visa
Subject Areas: Design Studio Projects, Representation and Technique, Portfolio Building, NYC Urbanism
Pratt Summer PreCollege program offers a four-week, credit-bearing architecture track that focuses on core design methods and technical skills used in the field. You’ll work through assignments that move from 2D visual systems to more complex 3D forms. You’ll also practice technical drawings, freehand sketches, and conceptual model building to understand how light, space, form, and scale operate in built environments. The curriculum introduces foundational architectural theory and emphasizes how to communicate spatial ideas through multiple media. If you choose the architecture track, you’ll be automatically enrolled in its required foundation course. You can expect regular studio hours and hands-on design projects throughout the program.
11. Syracuse University’s Summer College Architecture Program
Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Cost: Residential: $6,295; Commuter: $4,831 (tentative); discounts and scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically, small, focused class sizes
Dates: July 6 – 25 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors
Subject Areas: Architectural Design Fundamentals (Studio), Drawing and Modeling Techniques, Digital Design and Representation, Professional Exploration, Portfolio Development
Syracuse University’s Summer College Architecture program introduces you to architectural design through a combination of drawing, physical modeling, and digital tools. You’ll begin with a series of short exercises on composition, representation, and spatial organization before moving into software-based work in Rhino and Adobe InDesign. Throughout the course, you’ll attend lectures, virtual tours, and discussions on contemporary and historical topics in architecture. You’ll also complete a final project, where you design a pavilion in downtown Syracuse. You will have access to studio spaces for extended work time. Students who finish the course receive a certificate and can request a Syracuse University credit transcript.
12. Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Camps – Army Camp
Location: Vicksburg, MS
Cost: $100; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 40 students
Dates: June 7 – 13
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who are on track to attend an accredited engineering college or university | Must be physically fit | Must be at least 15 years old | Required minimum GPA is 3.2 | Must be U.S. citizens
Subject Areas: Civil and Construction Engineering, Engineering Skills and Tools, Military and Professional Exposure
The SAME Army Camp is a week-long residential program where you explore engineering and construction through hands-on, project-based activities. You’ll work on tasks such as building concrete beams, testing cardboard boats, and using surveying tools, experiences that will prove useful to students interested in pursuing architecture and related fields. The program also connects you with professionals from architecture and engineering firms, construction companies, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, giving you a clearer view of how design and construction teams collaborate.
13. New York City School Construction Authority (SCA)’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Various SCA departments and business partner companies across NYC
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $16.50/hour stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically, more than 100 students
Dates: Six weeks in the summer between June and August, depending on your placement and assignment
Application Deadline: March 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: NYC public high school students with good academic standing | Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Subject Areas: Architecture, Engineering, Construction
The SCA High School Summer Internship Program is a six-week, paid placement that gives you real-world experience in architecture, engineering, and construction. You’ll spend most of your week working with SCA department staff or partner companies, gaining insight into how school projects are designed, planned, and executed. The internship also includes a 10-hour OSHA construction safety course and supervised site visits, so you can see directly how architectural plans become reality. Outside of your intern work, you’ll participate in educational programming, design challenges, panel discussions, and mentoring to help you understand career pathways in architecture and related fields. You’ll also build professional connections with architects, engineers, and construction managers.
14. Girls Garage Young Women’s Design and Building Institute
Location: Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30% – 40%; 16 students per week
Dates: Summer Cohort I: June 16 – 20; Summer Cohort II: June 23 – 27 (tentative)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th grade girls and gender expansive youth
Subject Areas: Architectural Drafting, Carpentry, Woodworking, Welding, Metalwork
The Girls Garage Young Women’s Design and Building Institute is a week-long immersive program where you work with a small cohort to design and build a real project for a local nonprofit. Over the week, you will gain experience with core build processes such as architectural drafting, measuring, material selection, and full-scale fabrication. You’ll practice skills like carpentry, welding, and applied math while transforming design concepts into functional structures. The program is led by experienced educators, architects, artists, and builders who will offer you mentorship and guidance throughout the experience. No prior building experience is required, and all accepted participants receive materials and safety gear.
15. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)’s Summer Architecture Career Discovery Program
Location: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Cost: $1,850 (tentative)
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: In-person session: July 7 – 18; Online Session: July 21 – August 1 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Subject Areas: Architectural Design Studio, Representation and Fabrication, Architectural Context and Practice
RPI’s Summer Architecture Career Discovery Program gives you hands-on experience with core architectural design practices. You’ll spend most of your time in the studio, where you move from initial concepts to abstract models and eventually develop a full architectural proposal with regular feedback from instructors. During the first week, you’ll focus on physical model building and hand drawing, and in the second week, you’ll transition to digital tools like Rhinoceros and Adobe Creative Suite. By the end, you’ll have a completed project suitable for inclusion in a college application portfolio.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like urban planning, sustainable architecture, spatial analysis, and architectural history, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Carnegie Mellon Univeristy