If you’re a high school student in Maryland, joining a summer program at a local college can help you explore subjects outside the classroom and see what college is like! Summer college programs take place during your summer break and in Maryland, are hosted by well-recognized universities like Johns Hopkins, UMBC, and the University of Maryland.
You take part in classes, group work, and hands-on activities led by faculty and professionals. Some programs offer college credit, while others focus on building skills in areas like writing, science, technology, international studies, or the arts. These experiences can also help you figure out what you enjoy studying and what kind of work you might want to do later on.
Since these programs are local, you can also save on travel and housing costs. Whether you already have a subject in mind or just want to explore, summer programs can help you grow academically and get ready for college.
With that, here are 15 summer college programs for high school students in Maryland!
15 Summer College Programs for High School Students in Maryland
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: 10%–19%, but can vary by internship opportunity and cohort
Dates: Programs run year-round in 8 to 16-week sessions, with cohorts offered in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, or gap year students who can work 5–15 hours a week for 8–16 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective program founded by Harvard graduates that connects high school students with remote internships at startups and nonprofits worldwide. Many of these startups are backed by Y Combinator, and their founders have experience at companies like Google, McKinsey, and Microsoft.
Internship fields include health tech, mental health, environmental science, nonprofits, AI, finance, consulting, software engineering, and journalism. You’ll also develop skills like communication and time management, take part in group sessions with other interns, and get guidance from a site manager and a Ladder coach. You can check the application form to see current openings.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective; the exact acceptance rate is not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts are offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort; you can apply here
Eligibility: AI Scholars is open to all high school students. To join the AI Fellowship, you’ll need prior experience with Python or must have completed the AI Scholars program.
Veritas AI offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. Founded by Harvard researchers, the courses are taught by instructors from top schools like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. The AI Scholars program is a beginner-friendly, 10-session course that teaches you about AI, machine learning, and data science through hands-on projects based on real-world problems.
If you already have some programming experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase is a more advanced option. You’ll work one-on-one with a university mentor on a research project and get support from a publication team to prepare your work for submission to high school journals. You can browse past student projects here.
3. Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students earn $15 per hour
Acceptance Rate: Competitive program; the exact acceptance rate is not specified
Dates: July 8 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students who attend a Baltimore City Public School, live in Baltimore City, and have taken chemistry can apply if they’re in the summer between junior and senior year, or the summer right after graduating
Biophysics Research for Baltimore Teens (BRBT) is a paid program for Baltimore City high school students that offers hands-on experience in biomedical research at Johns Hopkins University. For five weeks, you’ll work full-time in a modern teaching lab alongside a group of other high school and college students. You’ll be guided by full-time instructors and spend time in Hopkins’ research labs with grad students, postdocs, and faculty.
You’ll learn key scientific concepts in the classroom and apply them in the lab. You’ll start by preparing materials for biophysical studies, then move on to DNA/protein engineering and microbiology techniques. The program is designed to give you a strong foundation in biomedical research and a chance to explore science at the molecular level.
4. Morgan State University’s National Summer Transportation Institute
Location: Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Around 20 high school students
Dates: June 30 – July 11 (Introductory Program) | July 21 – August 1 (Advanced Program)
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–12 with at least a 2.5 GPA can apply for the Introductory Program. Students entering grades 9–12 who have already completed the NSTI Introductory Program and have at least a 3.0 GPA can apply for the Advanced Program.
The NSTI at Morgan State University is a two-week summer program that introduces high school students to transportation engineering and helps them prepare for college. The program includes hands-on engineering projects, SAT prep, field trips to transportation sites, and guest talks from faculty and professionals.
There are two tracks. The Introductory Program is for students who are new to transportation and STEM. It includes interactive lessons and site visits to help you learn how transportation systems work. The Advanced Program is for students who have already attended NSTI before. It includes residential housing, more complex projects, and opportunities to build early professional connections.
5. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 3–5%
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are 15 to 18 years old at the start of the program
TASS is a free six-week summer program for high school students who want to study the humanities and social sciences in depth. The focus is on understanding how power and privilege shape society through reading, discussion, and writing. You choose one of two tracks: Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS) or Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS).
In TASS-CBS, you study the history, literature, politics, and art created by people of African descent. In TASS-AOS, you examine systems like white supremacy, patriarchy, and class, and how communities have responded to them. You spend about three hours each day in class with faculty, taking part in lectures, group discussions, and collaborative projects.
6. Morgan State University’s Summer Academy of Actuarial and Mathematical Sciences (SAAMS) Program
Location: The program is mostly virtual, with the final week held on campus at Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students earn a stipend post-program
Acceptance Rate: Competitive program; the exact acceptance rate is not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 28 (priority deadline) | April 30 (final deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th graders, graduating high school seniors, or incoming freshmen at Morgan State University
SAAMS is a summer program for high school students who want to explore actuarial science, math, and computer science. It is run by the Department of Mathematics and is meant to introduce you to what studying these subjects in college is like. During the program, you take courses in math, actuarial science, and computer science. You also go on field trips related to these subjects and attend sessions focused on professional development. The program helps you build study habits, manage time, and work well in teams.
7. ASPIRE by the Johns Hopkins University
Location: Online or in person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 10%
Dates: Summer session: June 24 – August 21. Academic-year session: September 15 – May; seniors must complete 60 hours by December 31, and juniors need to finish 30 hours
Application Deadline: February 15. With mentor approval, you can continue your participation during the school year; no separate application is required.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who will be 15 or older by June 1, have at least a 2.8 GPA, and live in designated Maryland counties
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins pairs you with a mentor from the Applied Physics Lab to work on a STEM project. You build research, writing, and technical skills through virtual or in-person internships. Virtual interns must attend some in-person events.
You list two areas of interest when applying, but the program assigns you to a mentor and project based on availability. Topics include AI, programming, data analysis, environmental science, aerospace, space systems, and more. You can also select up to three project types, such as lab work, research and development, communications, or social impact.
8. Johns Hopkins University’s Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students earn a $3000 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 23 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students living in the greater Baltimore area who come from low-income households (below 200% of the federal poverty line) and are educationally under-resourced
The SARE program gives high school students a chance to do biomedical research while building academic and lab skills. You work on an ongoing research project at Johns Hopkins and take courses in writing, math, data analysis, and bioethics to support your work in the lab. As part of the program, you learn basic lab techniques, complete weekly assignments, and practice thinking through scientific problems.
You also receive guidance on financial planning, college applications, and time management to help prepare for college-level work. By the end of the program, you will create a scientific poster based on your research and practice presenting it with your lab team.
9. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): In-Person Experience
Location: Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: No cost; interns earn $15 per hour and receive transportation support
Cohort Size: 8 students
Dates: June – August (8 weeks in-person)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who live in Baltimore City, Maryland, and attend a Baltimore City Public High School full-time
JHIBS is an eight-week summer research program for high school students from the Baltimore area who are interested in neuroscience. The program is focused on supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds and selects eight participants each year for the in-person track. As a participant, you work on a neuroscience research project with support from faculty, student mentors, and lab staff.
You also attend weekly sessions on college planning and science careers, join clinical rotations with neurologists, and take part in seminars and mentor meetings to help guide your interests. At the end of the program, you present your research through a talk or a poster session. If you are not selected for the in-person program, you may be offered a place in the virtual version, which still includes mentorship and academic support.
10. ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program at the University of Maryland
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive program; the exact number of participants is not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Students who have finished 11th grade by June, have at least a 3.2 GPA with no Cs in math or science, and have earned a B or better in chemistry
ESTEEM/SER-Quest is a four-week summer program for high school students interested in engineering. It is run by the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland. You take part in college-level classes, complete a literature review, and write a research proposal based on your project.
You also work with mentors, learn lab and research skills, and connect with current college students studying engineering. In addition to academic work, the program includes sessions on college applications, financial aid, and career paths in engineering. By the end of the program, you’ll have experience with research, writing, and presenting your work.
11. Girls Talk Math Camp at the University of Maryland
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free with a $25 registration fee
Cohort Size: Around 40 students
Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders who attend a high school within commuting distance of the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland’s Girls Talk Math is a weekday summer camp for local high school students interested in exploring math beyond the usual classroom topics. You’ll attend mini-lectures, learn advanced math concepts, and create and publish a podcast about a notable female mathematician.
Previous topics have included Cryptography, Knot Theory, Graph Theory, Mathematical Modeling, Group Theory, and Surfaces. You might explore shapes and their properties, probability, polynomials, and secret sharing, or learn how the Jones polynomial is used in knot theory and how groups work in abstract algebra. You can read about what past students have accomplished here or listen to previous podcasts.
12. UMBC’s Summer Enrichment Academy
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Costs range from $299 to $599, based on the length and timing of the one-week courses
Cohort Size: Depending on the course, each academy accepts between 10 and 25 students.
Dates: June 23 – June 27 | July 7 – July 11 | July 14 – July 18 | July 21 – July 25 | July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
UMBC’s Summer Enrichment Academy (SEA) offers one-week courses for middle and high school students who want to explore STEAM subjects in a hands-on setting. Courses are led by UMBC faculty, graduate students, and professionals, and give you a chance to try out topics you may not study in school.
As a high school student, you can choose from courses in areas like Electrical Engineering, AI, Game Development, Cybersecurity, Earth Science, Politics, Physics, Financial Literacy, Arduino Robotics, Guitar, Chess, and more. Classes include workshops, projects, and group discussions designed to help you learn by doing.
13. Maryland Institute College of Art Pre-College Summer Program
Location: Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Residential: $3,660 (2-week session) | $7,320 (4-week session); Commuter: $2,600 (2-week session) | $5,200 (4-week session); There is a $25 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 2-week sessions: June 30 – July 11 | July 14 – July 25; 4-week session: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Students aged 15–17
The PreCollege Program at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) gives high school students a chance to study art and design in a college setting. You take college-level courses in subjects like Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design, Photography, Ceramics, Printmaking, Textile and Fashion, and more.
You build your skills through studio work, critiques, workshops, and talks with artists. To earn college credit, you must complete all assignments and receive at least a C in your course. The credit may count toward your degree if you later attend MICA as an undergraduate.
14. University of Maryland’s Terp Young Scholars
Location: Online or in person at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $1,730 (Commuter) | $1,365 (Online); a limited number of partial financial scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive program; the exact acceptance rate is not specified
Dates: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduating seniors with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA
Terp Young Scholars is a three-week summer program where high school students take a college course at the University of Maryland and earn up to three college credits. You can join the program in person as a commuter or take part online. Each student enrolls in one course from subjects like Architecture, Creative Writing, Business, Neuroscience, Engineering, Social Psychology, or International Relations.
Classes run Monday through Friday, usually from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with some courses offering optional afternoon labs or discussions. You attend lectures, complete assignments, and work with UMD faculty and students in a college-style classroom. You are registered as a non-degree student during the program, and your final grade is recorded on an official UMD transcript.
15. Johns Hopkins University Pre-College Summer Programs
Location: Online or in person at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: $6,140 (Residential) | $4,660 (Commuter) | $1,950 (Online) + a non-refundable $85 application fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: Not listed; competitive admissions
Dates: Residential: June 21 – July 2 | July 6 – July 17 | July 20 – July 31; Commuter: June 22 – July 2 | July 7 – July 17 | July 21 – July 31; Online: June 23 – July 4 | July 7 – July 18 | July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 with a minimum 3.0 GPA can apply. International applicants should review the admissions guide before applying.
Johns Hopkins offers two-week summer programs where high school students can take college-level courses and earn one academic credit. Course options include medicine, neuroscience, psychology, social sciences, film, and more. The program is designed to help you build academic skills and prepare for college.
You can choose between an on-campus and an online format. In the on-campus program, you attend morning lectures, join afternoon activities, hear from guest speakers, and take part in social events. You also have access to university resources and can meet other students and mentors.
If you prefer more flexibility, the online option lets you learn from recorded lectures and live sessions. Some courses have prerequisites, so be sure to check the on-campus course catalog and the online course list before applying.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you 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 – Johns Hopkins University