Top Summer Programs Library · Feature
Summer Programs Recommended by MIT AdmissionsAll 23 Explained
MIT Admissions keeps a list of summer programs in the Preparing for MIT section of its website: 6 held at MIT or co-sponsored by MIT, 17 run by other organizations, and 3 further resources. MIT says the list is incomplete and is meant as a starting point for students looking for a STEM-focused program. This page matches every program on the list to its EDUBUS library page, with eligibility, cost and selectivity.
Source: MIT Admissions, "Preparing for MIT: Summer programs" ↗checked 2026-10-07
What MIT Admissions says
Paraphrased; see the original on the MIT Admissions website.
- No right way to spend a summerMIT advises students to spend their summers in the way that best suits their own needs and goals; as with extracurricular activities, there are no right or wrong answers.
- Every program listed is selectivePrograms were chosen for rigorous content and teaching and a strong peer community, and are either free or offer generous need-based aid.
- Most summer programs admit whoever paysMIT notes that most summer programs admit all or most students who can pay, while merit-based programs are often free or comparatively affordable.
Programs on the list
MIT and partner programs6
MIT offers no open-enrollment summer courses for high school students; the programs below are run on campus by partner organizations or co-sponsored by MIT.
| Program | Eligibility | Cost | Deadline | Size and selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) | Citizens or green-card holders | Free | Feb 1, 2027 | Not published |
| √mathroots (MIT PRIMES) | Any status, must study in the US | Free | Mar 3, 2026 | Not published |
| Research Science Institute (RSI) | Citizens or green-card holders | Free | Dec 11, 2026 | Under 2.5% admitted |
| MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP) | Any status, must study in the US | Tuition · aid available | Dec 21, 2026 | 20 admitted per year |
| MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) | Any status, must study in the US | Tuition · aid available | Mar 31, 2027 | 450 students (2025) |
| Summer Science Program (SSP) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | TBA | About 700 admitted |
Science and research8
Selective research programs at other organizations, in the alphabetical order MIT uses.
| Program | Eligibility | Cost | Deadline | Size and selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston University Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) | Citizens or green-card holders | Tuition · aid available | Feb 3, 2027 | About 190 students in 2026 |
| Anson L. Clark Scholars Program (Clark Scholars) | Citizens or green-card holders | Stipend | Feb 15, 2027 | 12 scholars a year |
| Garcia Summer Research Program (Garcia) | Any status, must study in the US | Tuition | TBA | Not published |
| Michigan State University High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program (HSHSP)Paused | Citizens or green-card holders | Tuition · aid available | TBA | Not published |
| University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Feb 16, 2027 | Aid up to 95% |
| Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) | Citizens or green-card holders | Free | Feb 21, 2026 | About 50 students a year |
| University of Florida Student Science Training Program (SSTP) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Mar 25, 2026 | Not published |
| Summer Program for Applied Rationality and Cognition (SPARC) | Open to international students | Free | Jan 24, 2026 | About 30 admitted a year |
Mathematics9
Math programs MIT says its applicants especially like; the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and the Summer Mathematics Program Consortium keep fuller lists.
| Program | Eligibility | Cost | Deadline | Size and selectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AwesomeMath Summer Program (AwesomeMath) | Open to international students | Tuition | May 26, 2026 | Not published |
| 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 |
| MathILy | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Apr 28, 2026 | About 45 students |
| Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Feb 27, 2026 | About 80 students a year |
| Prove it! Math AcademyPaused | Any status, must study in the US | Tuition | TBA | Not published |
| Ross Mathematics Program (Ross) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Mar 8, 2026 | About 15% admitted (2023) |
| Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | Feb 2, 2026 | 40 residential, 64 online |
| Texas State Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC) | Open to international students | Tuition · aid available | TBA | Not published |
Further resources MIT recommends
- Davidson Institute summer program listsThe nonprofit Davidson Institute keeps lists of residential and day summer programs across the US for academically gifted students.Visit site ↗
- National Conference of Governor's Schools (NCoGS)MIT notes that 25 states run governor's school summer programs, most of them for in-state students only. California has no governor's school; the closest equivalent is COSMOS.In this library：COSMOSPGSSVisit site ↗
- QuestBridge College Prep ScholarsQuestBridge partners with institutions to send high-achieving, low-income high school students to residential or virtual summer programs, covering travel, tuition, housing, meals and supplies.Visit site ↗
MIT-Recommended Summer Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
Does attending an MIT-recommended summer program give an Irvine student an edge in MIT admissions?
MIT Admissions does not say so. It advises students to spend summers in the way that best suits their needs and goals, with no right or wrong answers, and offers the list only as a starting point for students looking for a STEM program. A summer program is not an admission requirement; admissions officers look at what the student did there.
Can students without a green card apply to the programs on MIT's list?
It depends on the program. SSP, Ross, PROMYS and Mathcamp accept international students; MIT BWSI only requires attending high school in the US; RSI and MITES require US citizenship or permanent residency, and RSI also has a route through participating countries. A student in Irvine on a student visa can start with the eligibility tag on each program card on this page.
Which programs on the list should an Irvine student prepare for first?
EDUBUS suggests choosing by direction: for math, the camps that use qualifying problems, such as Ross, PROMYS, Mathcamp and SUMaC; for research, RSI, SIMR and BU RISE. Most deadlines fall between December and March, and RSI's 2027 deadline is December 11, 2026, so recommendations and qualifying problems need early preparation.
Why are there no humanities or arts programs on MIT's list?
MIT wrote the page for students looking for a STEM-focused summer program, so the list covers only research and math. Irvine students headed for the humanities, writing or the arts can use the Humanities, Writing and Journalism and the Arts categories in this library.
Sources4 sources · checked 2026-10-07
Facts and sources for each program are on its own page.
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