Top Summer Programs LibraryTop Summer Programs
Top Summer Math ProgramsRoss, PROMYS, Mathcamp, SUMaC
Top math programs do not teach contest tricks. They teach college-level proof in number theory, combinatorics, abstract algebra and related areas. Admission rests mainly on the qualifying problem set: students spend several weeks at home on open-ended proof problems, and reviewers read the reasoning and the writing rather than counting correct answers. Most of these programs accept international students, and most tuition-charging programs reduce or waive fees for lower-income families.
How students are chosenThe qualifying problem set is central: a set of proof problems solved at home with full write-ups, plus essays and recommendations
- Programs listed
- 111 paused, closed or changed
- Open to international students
- 8
- Free or with a stipend
- 2
- Next deadline
- Nov 2, 2026PRIMES
Mathematics Programs: 10 Programs Compared
The five columns show the program, citizenship requirement, cost, the most recent application deadline, and officially published size or selectivity. Select a program for its full page.
| Program | Eligibility | Cost | Deadline | Size and selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Mathematics Program (Ross) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Mar 8, 2026 | About 15% admitted (2023) |
| Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Feb 27, 2026 | About 80 students a year |
| Canada/USA Mathcamp | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Feb 23, 2026 | 120 students a year |
| Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Apr 17, 2026 | 51 students in 2026 |
| Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Feb 2, 2026 | 40 residential, 64 online |
| MathILy | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Apr 28, 2026 | About 45 students |
| Texas State Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | TBA | Not published |
| MIT PRIMESSchool year | Any status, must study in the US | Free | Nov 2, 2026 | 47 in PRIMES-USA (2024) |
| √mathroots (MIT PRIMES) | Any status, must study in the US | Free | Mar 3, 2026 | Not published |
| AwesomeMath Summer Program (AwesomeMath) | Open to international students | Tuition | May 26, 2026 | Not published |
Paused, discontinued or changed
These programs are well known and often searched, so we keep them listed and explain their current status and alternatives on each page.
| Program | Eligibility | Cost | Deadline | Size and selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prove it! Math AcademyPaused | Any status, must study in the US | Tuition | TBA | Not published |
Program by Program
- Ross Mathematics Program (Ross)About 15% admitted (2023)Ross is a six-week residential math program where students spend the whole summer on a single subject, number theory, and learn to write rigorous proofs. Its FAQ says about 15% of complete applicants were admitted in 2023, making it one of the few elite math programs to publish an admission rate.Full details →
- Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)About 80 students a yearPROMYS, founded in 1989 by Boston University's math department, is a six-week residential program where about 80 high school students study number theory through problem sets, lectures and research. The problem set carries the most weight in admissions, and the program is free for US families earning under $80,000.Full details →
- Canada/USA Mathcamp120 students a yearMathcamp is a five-week residential program where 120 students choose their own college-level math classes. Admission centers on a qualifying quiz, with no transcripts or test scores, and the program is free for US and Canadian families with household incomes under $100,000.Full details →
- Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)51 students in 2026HCSSiM is a six-week residential math program for high school students that held its 54th session in 2026. Students take four hours of class each morning and work problems in the evening, with a focus on doing mathematics. About 51 students were expected in 2026; Hampshire College closes in December 2026, and the program moves to a new campus in 2027.Full details →
- Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)40 residential, 64 onlineSUMaC, founded at Stanford in 1995, is an advanced math camp for students in 10th or 11th grade when they apply. Students study abstract algebra and number theory or algebraic topology and complete research projects. In 2026 it served 40 residential and 64 online students, and Stanford says qualified applicants far outnumber places.Full details →
- MathILyAbout 45 studentsMathILy is a five-week residential program run by a nonprofit, where about 45 high school students spend roughly seven hours a day on college-level mathematics centered on discrete math. The admission exam is timed at four hours, and for 2026 the program guaranteed to meet every admitted student's financial need.Full details →
- Texas State Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)HSMC, run by Mathworks at Texas State University, is a six-week residential math camp for grades 9 to 11. The application needs only an essay, a transcript and a teacher recommendation, with no qualifying problems. Returning students do original research with mentors, and the 2027 cost is $6,600.Full details →
- MIT PRIMES47 in PRIMES-USA (2024)MIT PRIMES is a free year-long research program run by MIT's math department, in which sophomores and juniors spend a year on mentored research in mathematics or bioinformatics. The remote PRIMES-USA section had 47 students in 2024, and the 2027 deadline is November 2, 2026.Full details →
- √mathroots (MIT PRIMES)√mathroots is a 14-day residential math program on the MIT campus run by MIT PRIMES with MIT Admissions. Tuition, housing and meals are free, and families pay only for travel. It is open to students aged 14 to 18 who are US citizens or attend a US high school, with no competition background required.Full details →
- AwesomeMath Summer Program (AwesomeMath)AwesomeMath offers three-week online competition math courses for students aged 12 to 18 preparing for AMC, AIME and USA(J)MO. MIT Admissions lists it among the math programs its applicants like; the admission test is untimed and can be retaken in the next round.Full details →
- Prove it! Math AcademyProve it! is a two-week residential math program at Colorado State University that teaches students strong in computational contests to write proofs. The official site says it will not run in 2026, and the last residential session was in 2018; this page keeps the past details and lists proof-based alternatives.Full details →
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