Programs for High School Students

A list of summer programs designed for high school students to explore various universities, offerings, and more.

Black Issues Forum

Colorado State University provides high school juniors an opportunity to engage in significant discussions, enhance their leadership potential, and deepen their understanding of their heritage while exploring issues the Black community faces at the local, state, national, and/or global levels. Eligible students spend four days on the university’s campus building connections, exploring various programs, and earning a $10,000 scholarship.

Application Deadline: April 2024

Eligibility: Low-income high school juniors with at least a 2.8gpa

Dates: June 7 - 11, 2024

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

Fee: Free

Achieving Excellence Academy

The Achieving Excellence Academy (AEA) is a yearlong cultural immersion program for diverse DPS current 8th and 9th graders that culminates every summer in June. The AEA uses a gradual expansion model and will continue adding one cultural affinity group and one grade level each year of the program. Year Two of the AEA program is especially for, but not exclusive to, Black/African-American, Latino/Latinx, and Asian American/Pacific Islander identifying students. Our culturally diverse students will journey into their own cultural identities, ancestral wisdoms, and histories of resilience by participating in rich classroom discussions, experiential learning activities, and cultural excursions (field trips) alongside peers and staff that share similar backgrounds or lived experiences. AEA student participants who graduate will commence in-person at the University of Denver surrounded by their peers, family members, and loved ones.

Application Deadline: TBD

Eligibility: Rising 9th and 10th grades from diverse backgrounds

Dates: June 12 - June 30

Location: Denver, Colorado

Fee: Free

Architecture in the City

Held for one week primarily at CU Denver in the College of Architecture and Planning, Architecture in the City is a noncredit, interdisciplinary program for entering sophomore, junior, and senior high schoolers. Students will have hands-on experience in model building and drawing techniques, while gaining exposure to architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning through a design-build project.

Application Deadline: March 15th

Eligibility: Sophomore, junior, senior, or recent high school graduate

Dates: June 12- 16

Location: Denver, Colorado

Fee: $700, need based financial assistance available

Art Students League of Denver

ASLD offers a number of courses and programs throughout the year and during the summer, giving teenagers and younger students the opportunity to explore media like ceramics, textiles, drawing, and more. Students can take advantage of offerings like Teen Studio Nights. Cost varies by program/class.

Application Deadline: Rolling Deadline

Eligibility: Teens aged 14-17

Dates: Summer 2024

Location: Denver, Colorado

Fee: Costs vary by session

Bolt Camp

BOLT is a camp for high school students that teaches about biomedical engineering and some of the exciting career options available for STEM-focused students. This in-person camp at the Department of Bioengineering at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus will be filled with interesting topics and activities designed to introduce high school students to biomedical engineering and leadership topics. The camp will be a four-day event offered entirely in person. 

Application Deadline: TBD

Eligibility: Students entering 9-12 grade

Dates: Summer 2024

Location: Denver, Colorado

Fee: $900, scholarships available

Colorado College Summer Pre-College Program

Enroll in one of our dynamic for-credit courses offered on subjects ranging from environmental science and the study of epidemics, to marketing and entrepreneurship, to cross-genre writing. CC's summer session provides students with a rich opportunity to explore challenging academics, get inspired by the wondrous Rocky Mountain Region, and be supported by faculty that are invested in your success.

Application Deadline: TBD (March 2024)

Eligibility: High school students

Dates: Summer 2024

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Fee: $4,500, need-based and merit scholarships available

Global Business Academy

Join other top high school students and distinguished College of Business and CSU faculty members in this immersive, ten-day summer business program on Colorado State University's beautiful campus. The activities and highly challenging courses will develop core business skills including international business, leadership and team building, cross-cultural communication, entrepreneurship, decision making, negotiation, ethics, financial literacy, and innovation.

Application Deadline: June 1, 2024

Eligibility: High school students (15-18 years old). Must be enrolled in high school for Fall 2024

Dates: July 15 - July 24, 2024

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado

Fee: $3750 per student, scholarships available