If you are looking to get ahead academically, explore subjects beyond your school curriculum, or simply make better use of your summer, online courses for high school credit are one of the more practical ways to do it. These courses give you structured access to advanced academic material, flexible scheduling, and the opportunity to earn credits that count toward your high school diploma or college applications, without the logistical demands of attending an in-person program.
For students with ambitions to apply to competitive universities, taking additional credit coursework during the summer also carries real weight. It signals academic initiative and a willingness to challenge yourself beyond what your school requires, which is exactly the kind of profile that stands out to admissions committees.
What do online summer courses for high school credit include?
Depending on the course, you might work through advanced material in subjects like mathematics, science, history, English, computer science, or foreign languages, all while earning credits that strengthen your academic transcript. Most courses combine video lectures, reading assignments, written work, and assessments in a format that mirrors the rigor of in-person coursework without requiring you to be in a physical classroom.
The flexibility of online learning also means you can pursue subjects your own school does not offer, go deeper into areas you are already strong in, or use the summer to get ahead on graduation requirements. That combination of academic depth and scheduling freedom makes online credit courses one of the more efficient investments a high school student can make.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 online summer courses for high school credit. For students interested in Artificial Intelligence, here is another blog of 15 AI summer programs for high school students!
Key Takeaways
- Online summer courses for high school credit range from self-paced, flexible options like BYU Independent Study and Excel High School to structured university programs at Harvard, Yale, Cornell, and Syracuse that award official college transcripts
- Most programs serve both original credit and credit recovery needs, letting you get ahead on graduation requirements, explore new subjects, or strengthen your academic profile for college applications
- Costs vary widely, from around $215 for BYU courses to over $15,000 for Harvard SSP, with financial aid, scholarships, and free options available across several programs
- Credit transferability depends on your home school, so confirming acceptance policies with your school counselor before enrolling is a necessary step regardless of which program you choose
15 Online Summer Courses for High School Credit
1. Harvard Secondary School Program Online
Location: Online (Virtual), Residential, or Commuting to Cambridge campus
Cost: $4,180–$15,735
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: Early (January 7), Regular (February 11), Late (April 1)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; minimum 16 years old by June 20 (can include some rising sophomores)
Harvard Summer School offers you the Secondary School Program with both online and residential options that provide immersive college-level academic experiences designed to build your confidence and prepare you for university-level work. You can choose between multiple program lengths, including a 4-week option or a 7-week option, with the 7-week program allowing you to take two full-term courses simultaneously for maximum credit accumulation. The program offers over 200 on-campus and online college courses across diverse subjects, including biological sciences, engineering, literature, political science, psychology, fine arts, and many others, taught by Harvard faculty members.
Your coursework involves rigorous academic content equivalent to what Harvard College undergraduates study, with discussion-based learning, problem sets, projects, and exams. Upon successful completion, you’ll receive college credit on an official Harvard transcript that can be transferred to your college when you enroll, and you’ll also receive a written evaluation from your instructor documenting your performance.
2. K12 Online Summer School
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: Varies by courses
Dates: Varies by courses
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
K12 Online Summer School is designed for students who want flexibility without giving up structure. You can use the summer to recover credits, complete graduation requirements, or finish courses early and free up room in next year’s schedule. The platform offers classes across core subjects, electives, arts, music, and world languages. Lessons include interactive activities, assignments, quizzes, and teacher feedback throughout the course. Because the courses are delivered through established K12 school partners, the credits count the same way traditional high school credits do. You’ll work largely on your own schedule while still meeting deadlines and completing required coursework.
3. Fusion Global Academy Online Summer Programs
Location: Online (Virtual) with hybrid and on-campus options available
Cost: Varies by courses
Dates: Varies by courses
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Fusion Global Academy is built around one-to-one instruction, which means you’ll spend much of the summer working directly with a teacher instead of sitting in a large virtual classroom. Depending on your goals, you can take courses for credit, join small group classes, complete remediation work, or focus on college preparation. The school offers more than 250 courses across subjects such as math, science, history, English, and world languages. In some cases, you can complete an entire course in about four weeks by working intensively with your instructor. Scheduling is highly flexible, making it easier to balance coursework with travel, sports, jobs, or other commitments. The programme is also known for supporting students who benefit from individualized instruction.
4. Excel High School Online Summer School and Credit Recovery
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: Varies by program
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Excel High School’s Online Summer School gives you complete control over when and how quickly you complete your coursework. You can start courses throughout the year rather than waiting for a fixed summer session, making it one of the most flexible options on this list. The catalog includes more than 50 courses ranging from core subjects to electives such as biotechnology, astronomy, business management, and American Sign Language. Lessons, assignments, and assessments are completed online, and you’ll have several months to finish each course, depending on the credit type. If you move quickly, you can accelerate through the material. If you need more time, the programme allows that too.
5. Yale Summer Online
Location: Online (Virtual) via Zoom
Cost: $5,480 and an $80 application fee
Dates: Session A: May 25 – June 26; Session B: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students
Yale Summer Online allows you to take actual Yale College courses without traveling to campus. Classes run for five weeks and combine live Zoom sessions, recorded content, discussions, assignments, and faculty interaction. You’ll need to attend scheduled class meetings throughout the week because the programme is not self-paced. Courses are taught by Yale faculty members and follow the same academic standards used in Yale’s undergraduate curriculum. Expect regular readings, discussions, written work, and assessments that require active participation. Each completed course earns one Yale College credit, equivalent to four credit hours. The format is demanding but gives you a clear sense of what studying at Yale feels like.
6. Cornell Pre-College Online Programs
Location: Online (virtual)
Cost: $1,940 per credit, plus a mandatory $75 non-refundable application fee.
Dates: Multiple 3-week and 6-week sessions available
Application Deadline: Varies depending on course dates
Eligibility: You must have completed the sophomore year of high school (Grade 10)
Cornell’s Pre-College Online Program allows you to enroll in actual Cornell courses while you’re still in high school. You’ll choose from subjects ranging from business and veterinary medicine to science, technology, international relations, and the humanities. These are not special courses created only for teenagers. You’ll be studying material taught by Cornell faculty and held to the same standards as undergraduate coursework. Depending on the class, your summer could involve research papers, discussions, projects, exams, or problem-solving assignments. Courses run in either three-week or six-week sessions and award official Cornell credit upon successful completion. By the end, you’ll have a Cornell transcript showing the work you’ve completed.
7. Michigan Virtual – Summer Learning High School Courses
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: Around $370 per course for in‑state students and higher for out‑of‑state; reduced cost for credit recovery.
Dates: Summer term runs about 10 weeks, with multiple start options in May
Application Deadline: Enrollment typically remains open until late June
Eligibility: grades 9–12
Michigan Virtual runs 10‑week, teacher‑led online summer courses that allow you to earn high school credit, take prerequisites, or recover credits you previously failed. You’ll work at your own pace within the term, completing readings, quizzes, discussions, and exams under the guidance of Michigan‑certified teachers. The catalog includes core courses, world languages, and electives, so you can either stay on track for graduation or free space in next year’s schedule by finishing a required class early. Courses are designed for flexibility over summer, with several start options so you can align schoolwork with camps, travel, or a job. Michigan Virtual issues a grade report that your home school can use to award credit, so you should coordinate with your counselor before enrolling
8. Pearson Online Academy – Summer High School Courses
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: Tuition varies by course
Dates: Multiple summer sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling until just before each session begins
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grades 6–12)
Pearson Online Academy offers more than 100 online high school summer courses for original credit and credit recovery, including core subjects, honors, and NCAA‑approved options. You’ll complete daily assignments, quizzes, and unit tests in an LMS, with certified teachers grading your work and providing feedback. High school original credit and credit‑recovery courses typically require about four hours of work per day, five days a week over the session, so you cover a full semester in a short summer window. Many classes incorporate writing assignments, problem-solving tasks, and cumulative exams that appear on a Pearson transcript you can submit to your school for credit review. Student‑athletes can choose from selected courses pre‑approved by the NCAA Eligibility Center, which is important if you plan to compete in college sports.
9. BYU Independent Study – High School Online Courses
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: $215 – $768
Dates: Rolling start
Application Deadline: None, enroll online as long as the course is open
Eligibility: High school students
BYU Independent Study offers more than 220 accredited courses for grades 7–12 that you can start anytime and complete at your own pace, making them easy to use as summer classes. You’ll read, watch instructional videos, submit assignments, and take online exams, with free tutoring and support available when you need help. Many courses provide high school credit, and some concurrent‑enrollment options allow you to earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Because you will have up to 12 months to finish original‑credit courses and several months for credit‑recovery versions, you can decide how intensively to work during the summer. Schools across the U.S. commonly accept BYU Independent Study credits, but you should verify transfer policies with your counselor before enrolling.
10. Georgetown Summer College with Online Options
Location: Online (Virtual) and On-Campus at Georgetown
Cost: Varies by program
Dates: Summer sessions; 5-week on-campus or 8-week online options
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: High school students; ages 13+ for pre-college online courses
Georgetown Summer College Online allows you to earn college credit while studying a subject that interests you in a university setting. Over eight weeks, you’ll complete readings, assignments, discussions, and projects under the guidance of Georgetown instructors. The online format offers flexibility, but the expectations remain similar to a college course. Depending on your class, you may analyze case studies, write research papers, participate in discussions, or complete larger academic projects. Georgetown also offers additional online pre-college courses focused on areas such as college admissions, writing, and test preparation. Throughout the programme, you’ll get a realistic sense of how university coursework is structured and evaluated.
11. Apex Learning Virtual School – Summer School
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: Tuition varies by type of enrollment
Dates: Summer courses are typically offered in two four‑week sessions, with schedules set in June and July
Application Deadline: Registration remains open until shortly after each session starts or until classes fill
Eligibility: Middle and high school students seeking initial credit or credit recovery, subject to school approval for transcript posting
Apex Learning Virtual School (ALVS) runs an online summer school with both original‑credit and prescriptive credit‑recovery courses across core subjects and electives. You’ll complete interactive lessons, practice activities, and assessments in the Apex platform, with teachers monitoring your progress and offering support. Initial‑credit courses let you earn a high school credit outside your traditional school schedule, while credit‑recovery versions focus on essential standards and exempt work you have already mastered through pre‑tests. Summer sessions are structured so that you can recover up to multiple semester credits by attending intensive morning and afternoon blocks, or by working consistently from home. Apex notes that prescriptive credit‑recovery courses are not NCAA‑approved, so if you need NCAA eligibility, you should choose standard initial‑credit courses instead.
12. Syracuse University Pre-College Online Summer College
Location: Online (Virtual) via video conference
Cost: $3,905 for most courses; discounts and scholarships available
Dates: 3-Week Session I: Monday, July 6 – Friday, July 24; 3-Week Session II: Monday, July 27 -Friday, Aug. 14; 6-Week Session: Monday, July 6 – Friday, Aug. 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school junior and above for credit courses
Syracuse University’s Summer College Online lets you take a university course and earn Syracuse credit while studying from home. Courses are taught through live video sessions and follow the same grading structure used in many college classes. Depending on the subject, you may complete research projects, presentations, written assignments, discussions, or practical activities connected to the course material. Students also participate in virtual events that help create a broader pre-college community during the summer. The programme is particularly useful if you want to explore a potential major before applying to college. Upon completion, you’ll receive an official Syracuse transcript documenting the credits you’ve earned.
13. Tufts University Dual Enrollment Courses
Location: On-Campus at Tufts (Medford, MA) or Online, depending on the course
Cost: Contact Tufts Pre-College Programs for pricing
Dates: Contact program for summer course dates
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students who graduated the school year before the summer of enrollment, as well as students entering grades 10–12
Tufts University’s Dual Enrollment Courses place you in a real college course while you’re still in high school. You’ll follow a university syllabus, complete assignments, meet deadlines, and receive feedback from Tufts faculty throughout the term. Many of the courses are taught in cohorts made up entirely of high school students, which keeps the environment approachable while maintaining college-level expectations. Depending on the course, you might write research papers, participate in discussions, complete projects, or take exams. You’ll also gain access to many of the same academic resources and learning platforms used by Tufts undergraduates. When the course ends, you’ll receive official Tufts credit and a university transcript.
14. Global Online Academy (GOA) – Summer Courses
Location: Online (Virtual), asynchronous with scheduled touchpoints
Cost: $840–$1,200 per course for member school students; $1,200–$1,400 for non-member school students
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling; final day to add a course is approximately June 20
Eligibility: High school students (all grades)
Global Online Academy is built around flexible, project-based learning that connects you with students from schools around the world in a fully asynchronous format. You’ll work through readings, projects, and real-world assignments on your own schedule while still meeting weekly deadlines. GOA offers over 20 courses during the summer, covering subjects like computer science, cybersecurity, bioethics, psychology, architecture, creative writing, and more. You’ll have regular check-ins with teachers and collaborative touchpoints with classmates, so the experience is structured despite the flexible format. GOA is accredited by NEASC and WASC, and students receive a narrative grade report along with an official transcript at the end of the course. Because credit acceptance depends on your home school, you should confirm transfer policies with your counselor before enrolling.
15. UC Scout – On-Demand Online Summer Courses
Location: Online (Virtual), self-paced
Cost: $399 per course enrollment; free for eligible California public school students with promo code
Dates: Summer: May 27 – August 4
Application Deadline: Enrollment closes June 25 for the Summer term
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; open to students nationwide
UC Scout is a program run by the University of California that offers over 65 fully online, A-G approved courses directly to high school students, covering math, science, English, history, world languages, AP courses, and more. Because the courses carry UC A-G approval, they meet the subject requirements that the University of California and California State University systems look for in applicants, making them particularly strong for college preparation. You’ll work at your own pace within the term window, completing lessons, midterm exams, and final assessments under the guidance of certified teachers. California students may qualify for a scholarship that reduces the cost significantly, and all students receive an official UC Scout transcript upon completion that can be submitted to their high school for credit review. As with any external credit programme, you should confirm acceptance policies with your school counselor before enrolling.
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are online summer courses for high school credit? Online summer courses for high school credit are structured academic programs that let you earn credits toward your diploma or strengthen your transcript during the summer. Depending on the program, you might take standard high school courses, advanced coursework, or university-level classes taught by college faculty, all completed remotely without attending a physical campus.
Do online summer courses count toward high school graduation? Most do, but it depends on your home school’s transfer policies. Programs like K12, Michigan Virtual, and Apex Learning are specifically designed around high school credit standards. University programs like Harvard SSP, Yale Summer Online, and Cornell Pre-College award college credit rather than high school credit directly. You should confirm acceptance policies with your school counselor before enrolling in any program.
Can high school students earn actual college credit through these programs? Yes. Harvard SSP, Yale Summer Online, Cornell Pre-College, Syracuse University, Georgetown Summer College, Tufts Dual Enrollment, and BYU Independent Study all award official university credit upon completion. These credits appear on a university transcript that you can submit when you enroll in college, though individual colleges decide whether to accept them.
Are there free or low-cost online summer courses for high school students? Yes. UC Scout courses are free for eligible California public school students and cost $399 for all others. Michigan Virtual charges around $370 per course for in-state students. BYU Independent Study courses start at $215. Excel High School and K12 Online School offer variable pricing with credit recovery options that are typically lower cost than original credit courses.
What subjects can I take through online summer courses? The range is broad. Core subjects like math, science, English, and history are available across nearly all platforms. Electives vary by program and can include computer science, world languages, bioethics, creative writing, astronomy, biotechnology, business management, American Sign Language, and cybersecurity. University programs like Harvard and Yale offer hundreds of courses spanning arts, social sciences, engineering, and more.
When should I enroll in an online summer course for high school credit? Enrollment timelines vary significantly. Programs like BYU Independent Study and Excel High School accept rolling enrollments year-round with no fixed deadlines. University programs like Harvard SSP open applications in January with deadlines through April, while Yale and Cornell have session-specific deadlines. UC Scout closes summer enrollment by late June. Planning your course selection in early spring gives you the most options and time to confirm credit transfer with your school.
Image Source: Georgetown University