If you are a high school student interested in STEM or curious about college-level academics, a university-run STEM program can be a good place to start.
Many of these programs allow you to explore different fields, join interactive activities, and get a taste of college-level academics. One such option is Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Program—a selective, academically focused learning experience designed for students who want a structured, challenging experience beyond typical camps or enrichment programs. The Elevate College Prep Program focuses on college-level coursework, critical thinking, and understanding how university classes actually function. It is especially well-suited for students who are already strong academically, want to challenge themselves, or are interested in STEM-focused learning in a college setting.
In this blog, we will break down what the Elevate College Prep Program is, who it’s best suited for, and how to decide if it’s the right choice for you.
If you also want to explore other summer programs for high school students in Illinois, you can find them here. You can also check out free summer programs for high school students in Chicago here.
What is Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Program?
Elevate College Prep, offered by the Illinois Institute of Technology, is a series of programs, courses, and apprenticeships designed to bridge the gap between high school STEM learning and college readiness. It gives middle and high school students early exposure to college-level coursework and academic expectations. Here, you will join an immersive university environment where you will explore advanced subjects, work on real-world projects, and learn from faculty and industry professionals. Elevate offers options like academic programs, camps, apprenticeships, experiential learning opportunities, and STEM competitions to help you develop useful skills. It also provides mentorship, hands-on experience, and guidance in planning for college and future careers. Additionally, as a participant, you will learn how similar opportunities help Illinois Tech undergraduates graduate with career-ready skills.
How is the program structured?
Elevate College Prep offers a wide range of opportunities, each differing in scope, structure, and format. Here is what to expect from each option:
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep summer programs allow middle school and high school students to explore a wide range of STEM-focused topics in a college setting. You will find in-person and online programs here, with options for overnight, daytime, and virtual participation. Courses cover areas such as coding and programming, architecture, sustainability, biomedical engineering, robotics, science and research, human sciences, law, security, and computing. These programs can help you add to your classroom knowledge and practical skills, as you learn about topics that are relevant in today’s technology-driven world. You will also gain early exposure to college life and a better sense of what an education at Illinois Tech is like.
Illinois Tech offers dual enrollment courses through partnerships with select high schools in Illinois and across the country. These courses will allow you to start earning college credit early and are available in online, in-person, or hybrid formats. Classes are taught by Illinois Tech faculty and cover subjects such as math, biology, engineering, business, IT, computer science, chemistry, and related fields. Students in grades 10 through 12 from across the United States can enroll during the spring and fall semesters. To participate, you must check with your school counsellor to confirm that your school is a partner. All dual enrollment credits transfer to Illinois Tech and may also transfer to other colleges and universities.
If you live in Chicago and are between 14 and 18 years old, Illinois Tech offers paid apprenticeship opportunities through Elevate College Prep. These programs pair you with Illinois Tech faculty for mentorship in areas like business and cybersecurity. You will gain practical skills, build independence, and take part in pre-college experiences with real-world impact. The apprenticeships focus on helping you apply your skills to address challenges in your community.
Elevate College Prep partners with high schools across Chicago to help students explore STEM fields and develop college readiness throughout the school year. Through these partnerships, students from participating schools can join the STEM Café program to explore subjects such as computing, IT, engineering, math, and business. The program will start with an interactive tour of Illinois Tech’s Mies Campus and opportunities to connect with faculty. After that, faculty will visit your classroom each month to lead collaborative STEM projects and discussions that will help you build and explore your skills.
The DevUp Scholars Program is a three-year program for high school students from Chicago’s South Side that focuses on STEM, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Here, you will connect with mentors and work on building skills to become an innovative STEM leader in your community. Cohorts will be selected at the end of your freshman year. In the first year, you will meet your mentors, explore STEM through events and summer programs, and get familiar with Illinois Tech’s campus and resources. In the second year, you will prepare for standardized tests, continue exploring STEM fields, and learn how to write a strong college essay. The third year focuses on the college application process, covering steps like applying for financial aid and networking, with support from mentors who are current Illinois Tech undergraduates.
The Chicago Difference scholarship is meant for incoming first-year students who show significant financial need, with a focus on graduates from partner high schools across Chicago. Through this scholarship, Illinois Tech covers the full cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board for four years of full-time study (or five years for architecture students) after factoring in the Student Aid Index, federal and state grants, and other Illinois Tech scholarships. Additionally, throughout your time at Illinois Tech, you will receive wraparound services like academic advising, career coaching, on-campus housing and community programs, health and wellness support, financial aid guidance, and access to campus life resources.
Illinois Tech’s GenCyber Elevate+ is a residential camp for rising 10th through 12th graders from the Chicago area. The program focuses on building cybersecurity awareness and encouraging interest in college pathways and careers related to cybersecurity and technology.
This Illinois Tech’s Elevate program offers four-week online experiential learning opportunities focused on hands-on, practical skills used in today’s workplace. Here, you can join courses that will help you develop teamwork, creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving skills. New experiential learning opportunities begin in the first week of each month and are listed on the Excelerate platform, where you can explore all options and sign up. You can also compete for a $1,000 Edge Award, available to high school students who plan to enroll as undergraduates at Illinois Tech.
Elevate College Prep works with partners within and outside the university to offer year-round academic and experiential learning opportunities for middle and high school students across the region. The program also hosts competitions where you can compete for an Edge Award. If your summer schedule is already full, these events are still a good way to build skills and potentially earn extra money.
Location
Program locations vary by offering:
- Summer Programs: Virtual or in person at the Illinois Institute of Technology Mies Campus, Chicago, IL
- Dual Enrollment Courses: Online, hybrid, or in-person at Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
- Apprenticeships: Different locations across Chicago, IL
- High school partnerships: STEM Cafés include an interactive tour of Illinois Tech’s Mies Campus in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighbourhood, plus sessions within your own school classroom, where Illinois Tech faculty visit each month.
- DevUp Scholars Program: Illinois Tech + participating students’ high schools
- GenCyber Elevate+: Illinois Tech Mies Campus, Chicago, IL
- Elevate Experiential Learning programs: Online
Dates and Deadlines
Dates and deadlines vary depending on the specific program. Here’s a quick summary:
- Summer Programs: Programs of varying lengths run between June 15 and July 31. Applications usually close in May.
- Dual Enrollment Courses: Spring: January 12 – May | Fall semester: TBA
Spring applications close on December 26. Fall applications open in March.
- Apprenticeships: Year-round opportunities, subject to availability. If you’re interested in applying, you can email the Apprenticeship Coordinator, Isaiah Perez, at [email protected].
- STEM Café: Academic year—dates for monthly classroom visits at partner high schools and tours of Illinois Tech are scheduled based on each school.
- DevUp Scholars Program: Three-year program starting in August of sophomore year. Nominations are due by April 6.
- Chicago Difference Scholarship: November 1 (Priority Deadline) | February 1 (Regular Deadline). May 1 is the deadline to accept the scholarship and confirm enrollment at Illinois Tech.
- GenCyber Elevate+: July 21 – 25; the application deadline is May 9.
- Elevate Experiential Learning: Four-week programs starting in the first week of the month (commitment of five to six hours per week); exact dates vary by opportunity
Cost and Stipend
- Summer Programs: $1,500 – $3,000 (Overnight Programs) | $550 – $4,500 (Daytime Programs) | $300 – $350 (Virtual Programs)
- Dual Enrollment Courses: $300/course; Chicago Public Schools students receive a voucher that covers the full cost of dual enrollment courses at Illinois Tech.
- Apprenticeships: No cost to apply + stipends available (amount varies by opportunity)
- STEM Café: No cost!
- DevUp Scholars Program: Fully funded STEM activities during high school | Annual tuition scholarship of $25,000, housing scholarship of $5,000, and possible additional financial aid available to those who enroll in a degree-seeking undergrad program at Illinois Tech upon program completion
- Chicago Difference Scholarship: 100% of tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board for Chicago Difference scholarship recipients; the coverage is applied after subtracting your Student Aid Index (with negative SAIs counted as 0), federal and state grants, and any other Illinois Tech scholarships you may have.
- GenCyber Elevate+: Free!
- Elevate Experiential Learning: Costs vary by opportunity; each program comes with a $1,000 Edge Award to help support future undergraduate studies at Illinois Tech. More information about the Edge Award is available here.
Who is eligible for Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Program?
- Summer Programs: Middle school and high school students
- Dual Enrollment Courses: Students in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade (including homeschooled students)
- Apprenticeships: Students, ages 14 – 18, who live in Chicago
- STEM Café: High school students from partner schools in the Chicago area
- DevUp Scholars Program: High school freshmen from partner schools in Chicago’s South Side who are nominated by teachers, counsellors, or school administrators; nominated students typically show leadership, curiosity, a strong work ethic, and an interest in contributing to the future of STEM or the humanities.
- Chicago Difference Scholarship: Incoming first-year students at Illinois Tech who demonstrate significant financial need, with priority given to students graduating from partner high schools across Chicago. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and graduate from a high school in the city of Chicago, with a focus on students from the South and West Side neighbourhoods. Students must submit the FAFSA every year and complete the financial aid verification process through the Office of Financial Aid.
- GenCyber Elevate+: Rising 10th – 12th graders
- Elevate Experiential Learning: High school, college, and graduate students, professionals, international high school students, and nominated students from participating partner high schools
Things applicants should consider
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Program is selective, affiliated with a well-known STEM-focused university, and designed to prepare you for college-level academics in areas such as math, science, and engineering. Most offerings are paid, with dual enrollment fees waived only for Chicago students, which may limit the applicant pool. Scholarships are also available only to students from partner schools. The apprenticeship option is more competitive since it offers a stipend. The program offers structured coursework, academic support, and a clear look at what college classes are like, which adds to its credibility. It may not have the same national visibility as highly selective summer research programs, but it is well regarded for its academic rigor and strong emphasis on college readiness, particularly for local students interested in STEM.
What skills will you develop?
By participating in Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Program, you can build a mix of academic, technical, and soft skills that are useful for college and beyond. You will develop stronger foundations in math and science, especially in STEM coursework. You will gain experience in engaging in college-style lectures, assignments, and assessments, which can help you understand academic expectations early on. Participating in apprenticeships will also help you gain experience working on real-world challenges. You will also build skills in note-taking, test preparation, and time management while balancing classes, homework, and deadlines. The program can also help you feel more comfortable in a college setting, learn how to communicate clearly with instructors, and adjust to structured academic environments.
Testimonials and Feedback
Students often share that the Elevate College Prep Program helped them feel more comfortable with college-level coursework. They say that they developed stronger study habits and time management skills. Many describe the math and science classes as challenging but manageable. Students appreciated the academic support and being able to reach instructors when they needed extra help. Spending time on a college campus also made the idea of college feel more real and less intimidating.
Illinois Tech has also shared YouTube videos highlighting the program. One shows students working on hands-on biomedical engineering projects, including creating alginate polymer beads designed to carry drugs like vitamin B12. A student in the video explains that a freshman-year chemistry class sparked their interest in drug delivery and that the program is helping them pursue that path. Another video features students talking about how Elevate helped them solidify their interest in engineering or physics and connect with other students who are planning for college.
Pros and Cons to Consider Before Applying
Pros
- Early exposure to college-level academics
The program offers a preview of how college classes are structured and paced. You will understand what is expected in terms of assignments, exams, and participation. This can make college feel more familiar later on. You will also interact with instructors who teach at the university level. This will help you get used to different teaching styles and expectations.
- Access to a wide range of options
You can choose from summer programs, dual enrollment courses for college credit, apprenticeships, mentorship programs, camps, and hands-on courses, based on your schedule, preferences, location, and budget.
- Opportunity to build a strong STEM foundation and boost your profile
The Elevate College Prep coursework can help you strengthen core math and science skills with opportunities to apply concepts instead of just reviewing basics. This can make future high school or college classes feel more manageable. Such exposure is especially useful if you plan to major in a technical field. Additionally, your participation in such programs shows that you are willing to take on challenging coursework and helps explain your interest in STEM and college preparation. While it does not replace strong grades, it strengthens your overall academic profile and demonstrates sustained effort, which colleges often value.
- Access to mentorship throughout high school
The DevUp Scholars Program provides ongoing mentorship to students in grades 10 – 12. As a result, you will get access to summer programs, college-level courses for credit, college labs, skill-building workshops, and personalized college counselling.
- Opportunity to earn scholarship awards
Through the Elevate Experiential Learning and DevUp Scholars Program, you can earn multiple $1,000 Edge Awards that can be used toward other Elevate College Prep programs or applied to tuition for your bachelor’s degree. If you qualify, the Chicago Difference Scholarship can also cover tuition and required fees for four years of full-time undergraduate study.
Cons
- Best suited for STEM-focused students
The program content is designed for students interested in technical subjects. If you are unsure about STEM or leaning toward other fields, the program may feel less relevant. So, assessing your interests and goals is an important step before deciding to apply to the program.
- Many fee-based options
Most courses and programs require payment, or are free only for students based in Chicago. Apprenticeships are also limited to Chicago students, and scholarships are offered only to those from partner schools in the city. This limits both the program’s accessibility. Aside from the Edge Award, there are no financial aid or scholarship options for students outside of Chicago.
- Fewer benefits if you live outside Chicago
The DevUp Scholars program is only open to high school students from Chicago’s South Side. Most special events and competitions also take place at Illinois Tech or partner high schools in Chicago. Apprenticeships are limited to Chicago students, and city students also receive a fee waiver for dual enrollment courses. The Chicago Difference Scholarship is also available to incoming Illinois Tech freshmen who graduate from partner high schools across Chicago. The location often makes these programs inaccessible to students outside Chicago.
Our review
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Program is a good choice if you want early experience with college-level academics, especially in STEM. It can help you build stronger study habits, understand college expectations, and feel comfortable on a university campus. The program works best if you are motivated, able to commit the required time, and already interested in math or science. If you live in Chicago and attend a partner school, Elevate College Prep can offer you better access to scholarships, apprenticeships, and internships. If you live outside Chicago and are not planning to attend Illinois Tech, other programs closer to you may be more beneficial than Elevate College Prep.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: Illinois Tech Logo