Summer programs give you time to work deeply on ideas you normally only skim during the school year. Instead of juggling five classes at once, you can focus on a single subject for weeks and build real technical or analytical skills. Many programs also expose you to college-style expectations such as independent research, long-form projects, and peer critique. From an admissions standpoint, summer programs matter most as they show sustained intellectual curiosity and concrete skill development. The strongest programs give you something specific to talk about, whether that’s a dataset you analyzed, a design you prototyped, or a policy proposal you defended.
Why choose Providence for a summer program?
Providence is unusually dense with academic and cultural institutions for its size. The city is home to Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, and Rhode Island College, along with a large network of youth nonprofits and research-oriented community organizations. Often called the “Creative Capital,” the city is packed with history, arts, and food culture, giving you plenty to explore outside the classroom without the overwhelming rush of a massive metropolis. That combination creates programs that are academically serious but still grounded in real-world problems. Many Providence programs emphasize applied learning, whether through field research, design studios, or paid internships. If you’re interested in research, design, public policy, or social impact, Providence offers a variety of options for high school students.
Below, we have listed 15 summer programs for high school students in Providence, RI. For more articles like these, you can view these blogs.
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Providence, Rhode Island
1. Brown Summer High School (BSHS)
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; approximately 150–200 students
Dates: Summer, typically July
Application Deadline: Rolling, first come first served
Eligibility: Local high school students entering grades 9–12 and who will be at least 14 by September
Brown Summer High School is a morning enrichment program where you’ll take academic courses in English, math, science, or social studies on the Brown University campus. Classes are taught by teams of Master of Arts in Teaching candidates who have experienced mentor teachers’ support, so you get a structured classroom environment with a strong focus on discussion and projects. The program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning and asks you to think critically about equity and justice through the course content. It is designed primarily for local commuter students (Providence and surrounding RI communities), as housing is not provided.
2. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Summer Residential Immersive
Location: RISD, Providence, RI
Cost: Residential: $12,495; Commuter: $9,595 + a non-refundable $60 application fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; approximately 500 students
Dates: June 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: High school students between grades 10–11 or 11–12 during the summer of the program; between ages 16–18
The RISD Pre-College on-campus program is a five-week residential experience that follows a college-level art and design curriculum similar to that of first-year RISD students. Your days are spent in long, studio-based classes focused on making work, participating in critiques, and completing major projects rather than rotating through short lectures. You’ll live on campus, work in RISD’s studios, and experience the pace and expectations of an undergraduate art and design program. Students come from across the US and around the world, which shapes both the studio culture and the feedback you’ll get on your work.
3. Teen In-Person Courses – Rhode Island School of Design (Continuing Education)
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: Varies by course length and type; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; ~15–20 students per class
Dates: 5 independent weekly sessions between July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling; summer registration opens March
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17
RISD’s Teen In-Person Courses are short, studio-based classes held on the campus of Rhode Island School of Design that let you focus on a specific medium or skill for a week at a time. You’ll work in areas like drawing, illustration, comics, photography, fashion, or mixed media, using RISD facilities such as the Nature Lab and specialized studios. Classes are taught by practicing artists with teaching assistants, and you receive daily feedback plus an end-of-course review of your work. The structure is technical and skill-driven, emphasizing observation, visual analysis, and hands-on studio practice rather than broad surveys.
4. Johnson & Wales University: Career Explorations
Location: Providence, RI (Downcity Campus)
Cost: $499
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration; small studio/lab groups
Dates: Session 1: July 9–12; Session 2: July 16–19; Session 3: July 23–26
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior or senior year
At Johnson & Wales University’s Career Explorations program, you get a taste of college independence by living in the dorms and dining on campus just like an undergraduate. Instead of sitting in lectures, you dive into hands-on tracks like Criminal Justice, Food Innovation, Graphic Design, Health & Wellness, or Hospitality. You might find yourself processing a mock crime scene, designing a streetwear logo, or touring local hotel venues to see how the industry actually operates. This three-day experience stands out because it’s led by actual faculty, giving you direct access to expert mentorship and current student ambassadors. You will walk away with the confidence to decide if a specific career path is right for you.
5. Summer Programs – New Urban Arts
Location: Providence, RI (Central and Classical High School sites)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $400 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~10 students per track
Dates: July 8 – August 15
Application Deadline: Late May
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
New Urban Arts offers several summer pathways, including Summer Art Inquiry, the Student Team Advisory Board (STAB), and College Explorations, all built around independent creative work and critical discussion. You’ll develop projects in visual art, writing, or interdisciplinary formats while learning how to articulate ideas, critique peer work, and reflect on process. Programs emphasize self-directed inquiry, revision, and presentation, which build skills in creative research, synthesis, and communication. You also collaborate with community partners, including a utility box painting project with The Avenue Concept that introduces public art planning and execution.
6. Young Actors Summer Institute (YASI) Casting Call
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: $450; need-based financial aid and payment plans available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; up to 20 students
Dates: July 6–10
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12+
YASI Casting Call is a one-week, full-day acting intensive focused on audition skills for theater, film, television, and commercials. You’ll work on monologues and short scenes while learning practical techniques for auditions, including how to avoid common mistakes. A major focus is on preparing and recording self-tapes, and you’ll leave with files from your on-camera mock auditions. The program also covers the basics of resumes and headshots, which are useful if you’re starting to audition more seriously. The week ends with a mock audition where you perform two monologues and receive direct feedback.
7. Brown Environmental Leadership Lab (BELL): Rhode Island
Location: Providence, RI (with field trips across Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts)
Cost: $6,274; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; ~25 Students per course
Dates: June 21 – July 2; July 5–16
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 10–12; ages 16–18 by June 14
The Brown Environmental Leadership Lab (BELL) is a two-week residential program where you’ll study environmental science and sustainability while building leadership skills. Based at Brown University campus, the program combines classroom learning with site visits across Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts, depending on the course you choose. You’ll attend lectures, take part in group discussions, and participate in field trips that explore different ecosystems and environmental challenges. A central part of the experience is developing an Action Plan around an environmental issue you care about, with guidance from instructors and peers.
8. YASI Musical Theater – Trinity Repertory Company
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: $475; need-based financial aid and payment plans are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited to 20 students
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12+
YASI Musical Theater is a one-week, full-day program focused on building skills in acting, singing, and dancing through ensemble-based work. You’ll explore characters and storytelling through movement, music, and text, with daily activities that emphasize performance fundamentals rather than lectures. The program is designed to help you practice being a “triple threat” in a supportive studio setting with instructors guiding each discipline. Days run from morning through late afternoon and require comfortable, movement-ready clothing and closed-toe shoes. Financial aid and payment plans are available, though you need to apply for aid before registering.
9. Rhode Island College Upward Bound Program
Location: Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~70 students selected annually
Dates: Six-week residential program between late June and early August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis / Early Spring
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 at targeted high schools (Central Falls HS, Central HS, East Providence HS, Hope HS, Mount Pleasant HS, and Shea HS); applicants must be U.S. citizens/permanent residents, low-income or first-generation college-bound, and under 19 years old
The Upward Bound Summer Program at Rhode Island College is a six-week residential academic experience designed to support students as they prepare for college. You’ll live on campus during the week and take part in structured classes, tutoring, advising, and enrichment activities that focus on building academic skills and college readiness. The program is fully funded, covering room, board, instruction, and activities at no cost to students or families. During the summer, you’ll also participate in workshops related to SAT prep, study skills, and the college application process.
10. Young Actors Summer Institute (YASI) Improv & Comedy
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: $450; need-based financial aid and payment plans are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited to 20 students
Dates: July 13–17
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12+
YASI Improv & Comedy is a one-week daytime program that introduces you to improvisation, comedy writing, character creation, and physical comedy. You’ll spend the week practicing comedic timing, developing short scenes, and experimenting with scripts and spontaneous performance. The focus is on learning how comedy works on stage, from quick thinking to building characters that connect with an audience. Instruction is hands-on and collaborative, with plenty of time performing rather than watching. Like other YASI programs, enrollment is capped at 20 students to keep the class interactive.
11. Hub Financial Literacy Camp – PASA (Providence After School Alliance)
Location: Providence, RI (Central High School and Classical High School)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; ~15–20 students
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling basis / Late June
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
PASA’s Hub Financial Literacy Camp is a four-week summer program focused on financial literacy and career exploration for Providence high school students. You’ll attend weekday sessions covering topics like personal finance, career pathways, and workplace skills, with the opportunity to earn a financial literacy graduation credit. The program includes a stipend, making it both a learning and paid summer experience. Programming is run in partnership with Fidelity Investments, which shapes the real-world focus of the curriculum. The course size is intentionally kept small to allow for personalized mentoring and to meet the state standards for ELO credit-bearing coursework.
12. Leadership Institute – Brown University
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: Residential: $6,052; Commuter; $4,748; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; ~20–25 students per course
Dates: June 21 – July 2; July 12–24
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12; ages 14–18 by June 14
The on-campus Leadership Institute is a two-week residential program where you’ll study leadership and social justice through a college-style seminar experience. You’ll live in residence halls at Brown University and spend about five hours each day in class, combining lectures, discussions, and leadership workshops. Courses explore topics like civic engagement, gender equity, law and social movements, and leadership across cultures. A key part of the program is developing an Action Plan that connects what you learn in class to an issue you care about in your own community. Outside of class, you’ll manage independent work, homework, and structured free time alongside other pre-college students.
13. Summer Design Studios – DownCity Design
Location: Providence, RI (PCTA)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 50 students
Dates: July 8 – August 15
Application Deadline: Late May/Early June
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
DownCity Design’s Summer Design Studios is a six-week, full-day program where you’ll learn design by working on real projects for community clients. You’ll join either the Design/Build Studio or the Creative Change Studio, both of which focus on solving authentic problems for nonprofits or municipal partners. A defining feature of the program is that you collaborate with real-world clients, which makes the work feel closer to professional design practice than a typical classroom project. Days are structured around hands-on studio work, teamwork, and critique. The program is intensive and runs Monday through Friday, similar to a full-time commitment.
14. PrepareRI High School Internship Program – Skills for Rhode Island’s Future
Location: Providence, RI (internships placed across Rhode Island)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid at $17/hour (up to ~$4,700 total)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 250–300 students accepted annually
Dates: June 22 – 26; Internship: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Rhode Island public, charter, or home-schooled high school juniors; age 16+ by March 30; Rhode Island residents; U.S. work eligibility required
The PrepareRI High School Internship Program is a seven-week, paid work-based learning experience for Rhode Island high school juniors. You’ll start with a required, paid work-readiness bootcamp, then be placed in a summer internship with one of over 200 employer partners across the state in fields such as technology, healthcare, and finance. Interns earn $17 per hour and can make up to $4,700 while gaining real workplace experience. Along the way, you’ll build professional skills like communication, teamwork, and time management, alongside exposure to different career paths.
15. Princes 2 Kings (P2K) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence
Location: Providence, RI (Alvarez site)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, varies by project
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~15–25 students
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling / Late May
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 (high school men of color)
Princes 2 Kings (P2K) is a summer mentorship and leadership program focused on identity, community, and career exploration for high school men of color. You’ll take part in group discussions, creative projects, and community-based activities that emphasize civil discourse, justice, and leadership. Programming includes hands-on skill development through art, mural creation, culinary activities, and collaborative projects tied to social issues. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement through guided reflection and dialogue. While it operates year-round, its summer component often involves specific projects (such as the “One Gun Gone” art anti-violence initiative) or partnerships that may offer stipends.
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 – Skills for Rhode Island’s Future