If you’re interested in becoming an architect, you’ll need to engage with not only the subject itself, but also various related fields, including civil engineering, sustainability, sociology, and more. High school curriculums are usually quite limited in exploring architecture in a comprehensive manner, and checking out a free + online architecture program can be a solid move for your portfolio!
Finding the right architecture programs can be tough, especially if you’re just starting to explore the field and that’s where a pre-college program comes in.
Whether you’re interested in 3D modeling, urban planning, or building design, these programs provide hands-on experience with industry-standard software. These free and online programs help you build a portfolio and gain skills for college applications and future careers.
To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of 15 free and online architecture programs for high school students!
(Note: While some of these programs are completely free, others offer scholarships to help cover part or all of the costs)
15 Free+Online Architecture Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program – Architecture Track
Cost: $5,950 (full financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Spring: February 16; Summer: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring: March 3; Summer: June 16! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade, with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in various fields, including architecture, design, data science, machine learning, political theory, biomedical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. If you’re interested in architecture or urban planning, the Environmental Health and Engineering course might be a good option, where you can research sustainability issues related to agriculture, urbanization, infrastructure, and modern engineering innovations.
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program includes a letter of recommendation for every student, plus feedback on projects that can assist with future work and college applications. Apply here!
2. MIT OpenCourseWare – Introduction to Architecture & Environmental Design
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
MIT OpenCourseWare offers a self-paced, college-level course on architecture and environmental design. You’ll learn core concepts like spatial reasoning, design methodologies, and environmental planning. Through project-based assignments, you’ll design at different scales, from individual objects to urban landscapes. The course focuses on practical skills like technical drawing, digital modeling, and material exploration, using tools like AutoCAD and SketchUp.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Architecture Track
Cost: $5,900 (full financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. If selected, you’ll work closely with mentors to create a college-level research paper based on your project, with additional support from writing coaches.
Throughout the program, you will explore your topic and attend workshops on the research process. By the end of the 12 weeks, you will produce an independent research paper. Some of the research topics are psychology, data science, economics, computer science, physics, engineering, international relations, chemistry, and more. More details about the application are here!
4. Academy of Art University – Pre-College Art & Design Experience
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: January 29 – March 11 (Spring), June 16 – June 25 (Summer)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Academy of Art University’s Pre-College Art & Design Experience offers high school students hands-on training in design. In the architecture track, you’ll learn spatial design, model-making, and digital rendering using tools like SketchUp and AutoCAD. You’ll also build technical and problem-solving skills through project-based assignments. The program ends with a final exhibition where you’ll present your completed work.
5. Harvard University The Architectural Imagination
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Architectural Imagination course from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design introduces you to the core principles of architecture. You’ll explore how design shapes culture, study the impact of technology on architecture, and trace key moments in architectural history.
Through drawing and modeling exercises, you’ll build skills in analysis and visualization. You’ll also study concepts like architectural typology and urban representation, gaining the tools to critically evaluate built environments from a designer’s perspective.
6. Introduction to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors and Design – FutureLearn
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Program Dates: Flexible, approximately 3 weeks (2 hours per week)
Eligibility: Open to all learners, no prior experience required
The Introduction to Freehand Drawing for Architecture, Interiors, and Design course from the University for the Creative Arts helps you build essential drawing skills for architecture, interior design, and product design. You’ll practice two-point perspective, line work, shading, and composition while creating a small portfolio of sketches. The course covers both observational and constructed drawing, with exercises designed to improve your confidence in freehand sketching for three-dimensional design.
7. MIT OpenCourseWare – The Once and Future City
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: None (Free and open access)
Program Dates: Available anytime
Eligibility: Open to all learners; no prerequisites required
If you’ve ever wondered why cities look the way they do, The Once and Future City course from MIT OpenCourseWare may be the answer. This course explores urban form, history, and development, focusing on 20th-century American cities. You’ll study city planning, architecture, urban history, and environmental factors shaping city growth. Through readings, field assignments, and projects, you’ll learn to analyze cityscapes, identify urban patterns, and understand the forces behind modern urban development.
8. University of Arkansas Design Camp
Cost: $100 (scholarships available)
Application Deadline: May 19
Program Dates: June 23–27
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders (Must be at least 13 years old)
The Virtual Design Camp gives you a chance to explore architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture from home. This one-week online program includes daily Zoom sessions, collaborative discussions, and virtual “desk crits” with Fay Jones School faculty.
You’ll take part in interactive lessons and hands-on projects, working in small studio groups and receiving individualized feedback. The program also provides a materials kit for design exercises, helping you develop skills in sketching, spatial thinking, architectural drawing, 3D visualization, conceptual design, and model-making.
9. Boston Architectural College Pre-College Program
Cost: $2,000 (Scholarships available)
Application Deadline: June 9 (Online), June 23 (Onsite)
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1 (Live Online Sessions), June 30 – August 8 (Urban Design and Planning Fellowship)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12, ages 14+
The Boston Architectural College Pre-College Program helps you build skills in architectural design, urban planning, and digital fabrication. You’ll learn sketching, model-making, and architectural visualization using industry-standard tools like Rhino and Adobe Creative Suite.
Through small studio-based learning, you’ll work on design challenges to improve your ideation, iteration, and presentation skills. If you’re interested in urban planning, you can apply for the Urban Design and Planning Fellowship to work on city-scale projects. You’ll also get a materials kit and take part in virtual site visits for hands-on learning.
10. UCLA TeenArch Studio Summer Institute
Cost: $3,300 (Full and partial scholarships available)
Application Deadline: June 6 (Residential), June 13 (Commuter/Virtual)
Program Dates: June 30 – July 18 (Virtual & Commuter), June 29 – July 19 (Residential)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 (must be at least 15 years old)
The UCLA TeenArch Studio Summer Institute introduces you to architectural design through hands-on projects that build your skills in drawing, modeling, and digital fabrication. You’ll work on spatial design, form-making, and structure, using techniques like origami to explore creative problem-solving.
Throughout the program, you’ll practice precision and learn about urban planning, architectural theory, and design thinking. By the end, you’ll gain experience with industry-standard software and tools, preparing you with technical skills for future architectural work.
11. Fallingwater’s High School Residencies
Cost: $250 (Full and partial need-based scholarships available)
Application Deadline: Rolling (programs currently full, waitlist available)
Program Dates: Various sessions between June 23 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 and gap year students
Fallingwater’s High School Residencies let you study architectural design at one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most iconic sites. Each session focuses on a specific theme like model-making, interior design, sustainability, or biophilic design, giving you a focused understanding of architectural principles. You’ll work with professional architects and designers on studio-based projects, building skills in drawing, digital fabrication, and hands-on design work.
12. Syracuse University Summer College Online – Architecture
Cost: $3,165 (Scholarships available)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: July 21 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or 2025 graduates
Syracuse University’s Architecture program helps you learn the fundamentals of architectural design over three weeks. You’ll study spatial relationships, form, and digital representation while building hands-on skills in mechanical drafting, physical model-making, and digital modeling.
You’ll use industry-standard software like Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop. The program includes virtual tours and lectures on contemporary and historical architecture. For your final project, you’ll design a small pavilion and present your work in a virtual exhibition to guest critics.
13. Virginia Tech Explore Architecture
Cost: $250 (Scholarships available)
Application Deadline: May 15 (or until spots are filled)
Program Dates: Blacksburg Session: June 15 – June 20; Virtual Session: July 15 – July 20
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Explore Architecture is a one-week program for high school students interested in architectural design. You’ll take on a design challenge focused on spatial narratives, digital modeling, and conceptual development. Through hands-on projects, you’ll build skills in model-making and work with design software, combining traditional and digital techniques. Virginia Tech faculty lead the program, giving you insight into architectural thinking and real-world design processes.
14. Software Design and Architecture Specialization – Coursera
Cost: Included with Coursera Plus; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Flexible, approximately 1 month at 10 hours per week
Eligibility: Open to all learners; basic Java programming knowledge recommended
The Software Design and Architecture Specialization from the University of Alberta helps you learn design principles, software architecture patterns, and service-oriented architecture. Through four courses, you’ll cover object-oriented design, design patterns, system architecture, and web services. You’ll build practical skills for creating flexible and reusable software. In the capstone project, you’ll develop an Android application step by step using Java and Android Studio.
15. Cooper Union Introduction to Architecture for High School Students Online
Cost: $2,980 (scholarships available)
Application Deadline: June 1
Program Dates: July 7 – August 8
Eligibility: Current high school students, including recently graduated seniors (International students are eligible)
The Cooper Union Introduction to Architecture for High School Students Online is a five-week intensive program where you’ll dive into architectural design, theory, and digital modeling. Through lectures, workshops, and critiques led by Cooper Union faculty and guest architects, you’ll develop a portfolio of architectural projects and enhance your skills in digital and physical modeling. You’ll gain hands-on experience in space planning, design concepts, and using tools like CAD and 3D modeling software.
Image source: University of Arkansas
