If you are a high school student interested in mathematics and want to explore it at a university level, you should consider participating in a pre-college math program. These programs introduce mathematical theory and its applications and are structured similarly to undergraduate coursework.
They cover advanced topics beyond the standard curriculum, such as number theory, combinatorics, algebraic geometry, commutative algebra, computational acoustics, and applied mathematics. You will develop problem-solving and analytical skills while gaining experience that can support future research and internships.
Unlike typical summer programs, pre-college math programs follow a rigorous, college-level structure and are often hosted by top universities. You might attend lectures, collaborate on projects, and, in some cases, earn college credit.
Here is a list of 15 popular pre-college math programs for high school students.
1. California State Summer School for Mathematics & Science (COSMOS)
Location: University of California campuses: Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, or Santa Cruz, CA
Cost: The program costs $5,256 plus a non-refundable $44 application fee, covering housing, meals, activities, orientation, field trips, and on-site support. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: February 7
Dates:
- UCI, UCSD: July 6 – August 1
- UCD, UCLA, UCSC: July 6 – August 2
Eligibility: California students entering grades 9–12 with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
COSMOS is a four-week residential summer program for high school students interested in STEM, including mathematics. You will engage in hands-on, lab-based projects alongside faculty, researchers, and scientists. The program is organized into clusters at different UC campuses, each focusing on advanced STEM topics such as mathematics, physics and astronomy, materials science, computer science, ecology, engineering, biomedical sciences, marine science, robotics, and game theory.
Math-related clusters include topics like Number Theory, Computation and Machine Learning, Mathematical/Computational Modeling, Tissue and Tumor Biology, and Mathematical Modeling of Biological Systems. You’ll explore subjects beyond the high school curriculum in modern facilities while developing skills and insights into STEM education and careers. You can choose from five University of California campuses, each offering a curriculum based on faculty expertise, with 160–200 spots available per campus.
2. Harvard University’s Pre-College Summer School Program for High School Students—Discovering Mathematics
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee. Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline:
- Early deadline: January 8
- Regular deadline: February 12
- Late deadline: April 9
Dates:
- Session I: June 22 – July 3
- Session II: July 6 – July 18
- Session III: July 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16–19 who will graduate from high school in 2026 or 2027
Harvard’s Pre-College Program is a two-week summer program where high school students live on campus and take college-level courses alongside their peers. You can choose from over 30 non-credit courses taught by Harvard-affiliated instructors in small classes of 12 to 18 students. Classes meet for three hours each day and include research presentations and homework. The program also features lectures, academic workshops, social activities, and excursions in Cambridge, Boston, and Southern New England.
If you’re interested in math, the Discovering Mathematics course explores mathematical concepts through inquiry, exploration, and collaboration. Topics, which play a central role in modern mathematics but are often not covered in standard primary and secondary curricula, include discrete geometry, game theory, combinatorics, information theory, infinity, and impossibility. Through small group exploration, large group discussions, and individual writing, you’ll develop skills in problem-solving, collaboration, logic, abstraction, and creativity.
3. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: The six-week residential program costs up to $7,000, depending on financial aid. Domestic students from families earning under $80,000 per year can attend for free.
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: June 29 – August 9
Eligibility: Students who have completed 9th grade (or its equivalent), are at least 14 years old, and have not yet enrolled full-time in college or university
PROMYS is a six-week summer mathematics program at Boston University for about 80 high school students and 25 undergraduate counselors. You’ll engage in research through exploration labs for first-year students and mentored projects for returning students, working on original problems proposed by research mathematicians and presenting your findings to the PROMYS community. Some student papers have been published or presented at conferences like the Joint Mathematics Meetings.
Daily Number Theory lectures run from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with problem sets that will help you explore patterns, develop conjectures, and create proofs through numerical experiments and analysis. First-year students focus on foundational problems, while returning students and motivated newcomers can join advanced seminars on topics such as Discrete Dynamical Systems, Galois Theory, and Graph Theory. These seminars, led by PROMYS faculty and guest mathematicians, include lectures and problem-solving sessions. The program also features weekly faculty and guest lectures on related scientific fields, ethics in science, the relationship between pure and applied sciences, and career paths.
4. Summer@Brown—Financial Mathematics: Applications in Investment Analysis
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: The cost ranges from $2,960 to $10,386, depending on program length and format, with some courses having additional fees. Scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: May 9
Dates: On-campus programs lasting 1 to 3 weeks and a 5-week hybrid program are offered between June 16 and July 25.
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12 and aged 14–18 by June 15 are eligible to apply. Check course pages for additional prerequisites.
Brown University’s Pre-College Programs offer high school students over 230 non-credit courses across various fields, allowing them to engage in college-level academics without the pressure of grades or credits. Courses are taught by experienced instructors, and you can participate in workshops, activities, and events throughout the day.
If you’re interested in math, the Financial Mathematics: Applications in Investment Analysis course covers Probability Theory, Portfolio Theory, Markov Processes, and Risk Management. Topics include Sample Space and Probability Models, Mean and Variance, Random Variables, Conditional Probability, Asset and Portfolio Rates of Return, Long and Short Positions, and Optimal Portfolio Selection. You will create financial simulations using historical data to estimate parameters. Learning methods include lectures, discussions, individual assignments, group work, and presentations.
5. Ross Mathematics Program
Location: Otterbein University in Columbus, OH | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN
Cost: The program fee is $7,000, which includes tuition, housing, and meals. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: March 15
Dates: June 15 – July 25
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18 can apply, with exceptions considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Ross Mathematics Program is a residential summer session for high school students with a strong math background, offering an opportunity to explore advanced topics through independent mathematical research rather than competitions. You will attend classes for at least three hours daily, including small “family group” sessions led by a counselor. Beyond class, significant time is dedicated to problem sets and exploring challenging mathematical ideas. You’ll work through a sequence of related problems, identifying patterns, making conjectures, testing examples, formulating theorems, writing proofs, refining arguments, and considering generalizations.
You’ll also develop skills in logical reasoning, problem-solving, and effectively communicating mathematical ideas. Each site hosts around 60 first-year students, supported by 12–15 counselors and on-site staff.
6. University of Chicago’s Pre-College Summer Immersion Program—Proof-based Discrete Mathematics
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $8,900 (Residential) | $5,850 (Commuter). Need-based financial aid is available for the 3-week Immersion program, ranging from $500 to $6,600.
Application Deadline:
- Priority deadline: January 22
- Regular deadline: March 5
- Extended deadline: April 9
Dates:
- Session 1: June 14 – July 4
- Session 2: July 7 – July 26
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at least 14 years old
The University of Chicago’s Pre-College Summer Immersion Program offers high school students the opportunity to take undergraduate-level courses and study a subject in depth. Through lectures, discussions, research projects, and hands-on activities, you’ll learn from faculty, researchers, and professionals. Courses cover various fields, including biology, economics, neuroscience, public policy, law, and data science. Immersion courses last three weeks, are graded, and provide 100 units of credit, equivalent to a quarter-long undergraduate course.
If you’re interested in math, the Proof-based Discrete Mathematics course introduces higher-level mathematical reasoning and proof, helpful for transitioning from high school to undergraduate math. It explores the foundations behind mathematical concepts, focusing on the question, “How do we count?” Instead of relying solely on numbers, you’ll learn to think in terms of sets, starting with naïve set theory and basic set operations. These concepts are then applied to counting problems, including infinite sets. The course also covers topics such as paradoxes of infinity, countability and uncountability, and advanced counting theories. You will attend daily lectures, work in small groups, and present your mathematical arguments in a supportive and inclusive environment.
7. Michigan Math and Science Scholars
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost:
- The total cost is $2,500, including $1,300 for tuition, $1,100 for residential stay with lodging, linens, supervision, and meals, plus a non-refundable $100 application fee.
- Limited need-based financial aid is available
- A full breakdown of costs, including optional and additional fees, is available here.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates:
- Session 1: June 22 – July 4
- Session 2: July 6 – July 18
- Session 3: July 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least one year of high school but have not yet finished their senior year, including rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS) program introduces high school students to current research in mathematics and science through two-week courses focused on a single subject. Topics include Art & Music, Astronomy, Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Math courses cover areas such as Mathematics and Music Theory, Graph Theory, Art and Mathematics, Mathematics and the Internet, and the Mathematics of Decisions, Elections, and Games.
You will explore concepts like the Gale-Shapley algorithm, group theory, graph theory, geometry, and metric spaces through lectures, lab research, field trips, and problem-solving exercises. During the weekends, the program offers optional counselor-led trips to places like Cedar Point Amusement Park, the University of Michigan’s Botanical Garden, and professional baseball games. The program has a 50% acceptance rate.
8. Stanford Summer Session—Introduction to Probability Theory
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Tuition starts at $8,091 for commuters and $18,443 for residential students with a full-time course load and meal plan. A detailed breakdown is available through the Tuition & Fees Calculator.
Application Deadline:
- Early deadline: December 13
- Regular deadline: February 12
Dates: June 21 – August 17
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors aged 16–19 who will not be enrolling at Stanford as first-year students
Stanford Summer Session offers high-achieving students the opportunity to take rigorous courses and participate in extracurricular activities. With over 130 course options, you will attend advanced lectures taught by Stanford faculty alongside undergraduates and visiting students. Commuters must enroll in at least five units, while residential students must take a minimum of 8 units. Math courses cover topics such as Calculus, Applied Statistics, Probability, Stochastic Processes, and Data Science.
If you’re interested in math, the Introduction to Probability Theory course is a great option that explores the foundations of probability, including probability axioms, conditional probability, independence, random variables, and expectation. You will study joint, marginal, and conditional distributions, as well as discrete models like binomial, hypergeometric, and Poisson distributions, and continuous models such as normal and exponential distributions.
9. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) at CMU
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline:
- Preferred deadline: February 1
- Final deadline: March 1
Dates:
- Virtual Jumpstart: June 16 – June 17
- In-person (Residential): June 21 – August 2 (6 weeks)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Carnegie Mellon University’s six-week pre-college program offers high school students hands-on STEM research experience. Before the residential session, you will complete virtual training in essential research skills. During the in-person portion, you’ll take courses taught by CMU faculty, participate in lab sessions, discussions, and seminars, and present your work at a symposium in August.
You will participate in Quantitative and Computational Skill seminars in Math and Science, and conduct a STEM research project with guidance from faculty or graduate student mentors. Workshops led by alumni, university leaders, and industry professionals cover STEM research, career exploration, college admissions, and financial aid. The program includes “Student to Scholar,” a credit-bearing research course designed to ease the transition to college. The program is fully funded and highly selective, with an acceptance rate of about 7%.
10. Harvard University’s Secondary School Program—Mathematical Modeling
Location: Available online or in person at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,050–$14,950 + $75 application fee; financial aid is available
Application Deadline:
- Early deadline: January 8
- Regular deadline: February 12
- Late deadline: April 9
Dates:
- 4-week session: July 13 – August 9
- 7-week session: June 21 – August 9
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 who will graduate and start college in 2025, 2026, or 2027 are eligible to apply. Check individual course pages for specific prerequisites.
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program (SSP) is a 4- or 7-week academic program where high school students can take college courses for credit. With over 200 options, subjects include physics, biology, literature, computer science, economics, finance, investments, and psychology. Coursework generally requires 8–12 hours of work per week outside of class, depending on the course and assignments.
If you’re interested in math, the Mathematical Modeling course introduces modeling through discussions, hands-on exercises, and projects using both continuous and discrete mathematical tools. You will explore how mathematical models provide a quantitative framework for understanding, predicting, and decision-making in various areas, such as traffic systems, disease control, resource management, and sports.
11. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: The program is free for all accepted students, but they must cover their transportation to and from MIT.
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: The program runs for six weeks from late June to early August.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Summer at MIT is a six-week pre-college program where high school students take up to five college-level courses in math, science, and the humanities. You’ll take one math, life sciences, physics, humanities, and project-based elective course, with placement based on a knowledge assessment during orientation. Electives cover real-world STEM applications such as machine learning, architecture, and genomics. You will engage in discussions, receive one-on-one mentoring from STEM professionals, tour MIT labs, and visit companies employing MITES alumni. The program also includes STEM seminars and college admissions counseling.
At the end of the program, you’ll receive a detailed report from your instructors outlining strengths, areas for growth, and contributions, providing feedback for college applications and academic development. The program will help you develop academic, research, critical thinking, and personal skills.
12. Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs—Thinking and Problem Solving: Math in the Real World
Location: Offered in person at Columbia University, New York, NY, or online
Cost:
- Residential program: $12,750 per session (3 weeks)
- Commuter program: $2,825 per session (1 week) | $6,300 per session (3 weeks)
- Online program: $2,810 per session (1 week) | $3,960 per session (2 weeks)
- There is an $80 application fee, along with additional course-specific fees. Students should budget at least $50 for course materials, including textbooks and supplies.
- Scholarships are available for eligible NYC commuter students.
Application Deadline:
- Early deadline: February 2
- General deadline: March 2 (residential) | April 2 (commuter and online)
Dates:
- Residential program: June 30 – July 18 | July 22 – August 8
- Commuter program: June 30 – July 18 | July 22 – August 8 | August 11 – August 15
- Online program: July 7 – July 18 | July 21 – August 1 | August 11 – August 15
Eligibility: Students who will be in grades 9–12 in the upcoming school year, along with those currently in 12th grade, can apply. For the NYC Residential Summer program, applicants must be at least 16 years old by the start date.
Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses in subjects such as business, finance, art, architecture, filmmaking, creative writing, law, marketing, philosophy, journalism, and politics.
If you’re interested in math, the Thinking and Problem Solving: Math in the Real World course explores how math is applied in fields like economics, computer science, media, and the physical sciences. Through practical problem-solving, you will develop independent thinking and analytical skills. Topics include algorithmic computation for optimizing paths, probability applications in economics and media, and real-world uses of counting methods, combinatorics, and Nash equilibria. You will also examine concepts such as the prisoner’s dilemma in economics, algorithm complexity in computer science, financial modeling, and population growth in biology. Coursework involves both individual and group problem-solving exercises.
13. MathILy
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
Cost: $5,300; need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until April 29.
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 17
MathILy is a five-week residential summer program for high school students with strong math skills. You’ll develop and prove conjectures while exploring advanced mathematical concepts and problem-solving techniques under the guidance of instructors. The curriculum follows a 2-1-2 structure: two weeks of foundational “Root Class,” a “Week of Chaos” with short student- and instructor-led topics, and two weeks of advanced “Branch Classes.” Week of Chaos topics typically include cryptography, combinatorial optimization, knot theory, and Markov chain modeling, while this year’s Branch Classes will likely cover topological graph theory and discrete and computational geometry.
In addition to coursework, you will strengthen your mathematical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills. The program features mathematical films, shared spaces with MathILy-EST (a college research program), and at least one trip to Philadelphia. At the end of the summer, instructors provide personalized evaluations with feedback on progress and areas for improvement. The program admits about 45 students annually.
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes—Discrete Mathematics
Location: Virtual (synchronous lectures)
Cost: The program costs $3,080, with some courses requiring additional purchases, such as textbooks or course readers, costing up to $100; need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: March 20
Dates:
- Session 1: June 16 – June 27
- Session 2: July 7 – July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 can apply, though some courses may have specific grade requirements.
Stanford University’s Pre-College Summer Institutes offer a two-week virtual program where high school students worldwide can take one online course. With 60 options available, subjects include computer science, engineering, social justice, math, creative writing, and philosophy. Courses are ungraded, not for credit, and limited to one per summer. Each class includes two hours of live instruction, along with assignments, seminars, workshops, and activities. Students receive a written evaluation and a certificate of completion. Each class has a maximum of 16 students.
If you’re interested in math, the Discrete Mathematics course introduces non-continuous mathematical structures relevant to mathematics and computer science. You will work on daily problem sets covering number theory, cryptography, complexity theory, combinatorics, the Pigeonhole principle, graph theory, Boolean algebra, and logic design. Applications include studying modern public key cryptosystems like RSA, Diffie-Hellman, and ElGamal, as well as exploring graph theory concepts such as planarity, shortest path algorithms, and isomorphism. The course will also help you strengthen proof-writing skills through mathematical induction and proof by contradiction.
15. Young Scholars Program (YSP) at the University of Chicago
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: The program costs between $250 and $1,000, depending on family income, with financial assistance available for eligible students.
Application Deadline: April 11
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Eligibility: Students from the Chicago area who will be in grades 7–12 in the upcoming school year
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) at the University of Chicago is a four-week day camp designed to help students in grades 7–12 develop their mathematical thinking through in-depth exploration rather than acceleration through the standard curriculum. The program provides a structured experience in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving.
Students are divided into three cohorts based on their grade level: grades 7–8, grades 9–10, and grades 11–12. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including geometry, topology, combinatorics, algebraic geometry, representation theory, probability, number theory, analysis, dynamical systems, logic, and financial mathematics. This year’s program will be held in person, focusing on the theme of Geometry. Each weekday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., you will attend four 75-minute sessions: two lecture-based classes taught by faculty, a small group session led by an undergraduate mathematics major, and a lunch/recess period.
16. Mathroots at MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: The program is free, but students must cover their transportation to and from MIT. Limited travel scholarships are available for those with financial need.
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: July 1 – July 15
Eligibility: Students who are U.S. citizens or attend high school in the U.S., are between 14 and 18 years old, and have not yet entered their final year of high school
Mathroots is a 14-day summer program for high school students interested in exploring creative mathematical topics and problem-solving. Hosted by the MIT PRIMES program, it is led by MIT faculty, staff, and students with expertise in both research and competition mathematics.
Through classes, group activities, and invited lectures, you will develop problem-solving skills and explore mathematical concepts taught by instructors with diverse teaching backgrounds. Topics include noncommutative algebra, representation theory, mathematical physics, graph theory, numerical analysis, theoretical computer science, commutative algebra, semigroup theory, algebraic combinatorics, cybernetics, astronautics, computing, and the social and cultural history of mathematics. The program emphasizes problem-solving beyond the standard curriculum, introduces fundamental proof techniques, and provides insight into the broader applications of mathematical ideas.
17. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Available virtual or in person at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Starts at $3,580
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates:
- Online program: June 16 – July 4 | July 7 – July 25
- Residential program: June 22 – July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 at the time of application are eligible to apply, but those who will be 18 or older during the program can only apply for the online version.
Stanford University’s SUMaC program provides high school juniors and seniors with an in-depth study of advanced mathematics. You can enroll in either Program I or Program II, both of which explore fundamental mathematical concepts with historical significance and connections to modern research. Program I introduces topics through five key problems, including limitations of straight-edge and compass constructions, two-dimensional pattern classification, error-correcting codes, cryptography, and symmetry analysis. Program II focuses on algebraic topology, a major area of contemporary research.
You will engage in guided research, examine current mathematical developments, and explore historical and practical applications. The residential program includes in-person interactions and field trips, while the online version provides virtual social activities, guest speakers, and instructional support. The residential session accommodates 40 students, and the online program accepts 64 participants.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like math, 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 – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
