The Rutgers Pre-College Summer Academies are one-week certificate programs designed for international and U.S. high school (secondary school) students. We offer both residential and commuter programs.
Our residential academies are held on campus, where the student will reside/dorm for the entire week while taking courses, eating meals, and engaging in evening activities with their cohort. Commuter academies are held on campus, but students will be dismissed to their prospective homes daily. Commuter students will be provided with lunch and have a pickup time from campus daily. Commuter students will be given options to engage in some evening activities pre-planned ahead of time with their cohort.
The 2025 Pre-College Academies application is now open. View the full list of dates and deadlines here.
Please note: Our 2025 Engineering, Pre-Law & Mock Trial, and residential Physical Therapy Academies are now filled to capacity. Applications that are currently underway may be placed on the Wait List for that program, but admission into the residential program is not assured.
2025 Pre-College Summer Academies Topics
All summer academies are offered for high school students currently completing their sophomore and junior year between the ages 16 to 18 by Summer 2025.
Open Academies
Building Leadership Strategies
Identify personal leadership strengths and style, enhance critical thinking skills, and hone in on communication skills.
Physical Therapy
Learn about the exciting field of physical therapy and the Exercise Science major that provides an ideal track to the Rutgers' Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Graduate Program.
*Please note: only the Physical Therapy Commuter Academy remains open.
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Explore the science behind celestial phenomena in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and related disciplines.
IDEA Design
Gain an understanding on design thinking and how to apply it for problem solving in an area of interest or research.
Closed Academies
Engineering
Engage in hands-on, goal-directed projects and gain an understanding of real-world engineering applications.
Pre-Law and Mock Trial
Learn the basics of law and the legal field through interactive lessons and mock trials, taught by a distinguished Rutgers Law faculty member.