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Pre-College Summer Programs
  • Programs
    • Summer Academies
      • Important Dates
      • Application Information
      • Costs
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Request Information
    • Summer Scholars
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • Application Information
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Resources
      • Request Information
    • Summer Session
  • Apply
  • About
  • Connect
  • Request Information

Summer Academies

  • Academies
    • Astronomy & Astrophysics
    • Building Leadership Strategies
    • Engineering
    • IDEA Design
    • Physical Therapy
    • Pre-Law and Mock Trial
  • Important Dates
  • Apply
  • Costs
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Request Information
Three pre-college academy students posing for the camera

The Rutgers Pre-College Summer Academies are one-week on campus programs, designed for international and U.S. high school (secondary school) students.

Program Overview

The Rutgers Pre-College Summer Academies offer high school students an opportunity for an immersive academic experience that allows them to explore potential academic or career interests and experience campus life to prepare them for college.

During the week-long program, academy students will attend daily academic workshops, lectures, tours and activities, taught by leading practitioners and Rutgers instructors. Outside of class, students will participate in activities and events, scheduled every evening to engage and entertain, as well as form connections between the pre-college student cohort. Students are supervised by program assistants (PAs) and resident assistants (RAs) throughout the program.

 

What are the benefits of the Pre-College Summer Academies?

- Join a community of like-minded academic peers in a university environment
- Challenge yourself in field of interest
- Learn about a discipline from experts and leading practitioners
- Practice skills and competencies required for success in field
- See how practitioners use these skills in their work
- Experience college life on a leading research university campus

Academy Topics

Who can apply?

High school students completing their sophomore and junior year, ages 16 to 18 by Summer 2026

What type of program options are available?

Students can select between residential and commuter focused academies* to experience a taste of college life on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus. Program type offerings vary by academy topic.

*The academic interests will remain the same in these programs, but where the student resides is the difference. 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. 

Information regarding Summer 2026's academy programs will be released in late fall 2025.

2025 Academy Topics

Astronomy & Astrophysics
Building Leadership Strategies
Engineering
IDEA Design and Research
Pre-Law and Mock Trial
Physical Therapy

Academy Topics

Astronomy telescope at Rutgers University

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Explore the science behind celestial phenomena in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and related disciplines.

Students presenting in front of their pre-college class

Building Leadership Strategies

Identify personal leadership strengths and style, enhance critical thinking skills, and hone in on communication skills.

An instructor showing an experiment to students

Engineering

Engage in hands-on, goal-directed projects and gain an understanding of real-world engineering applications.

Pre-College students studying together at a table

IDEA Design and Research

Gain an understanding on design thinking and how to apply it for problem solving in an area of interest or research.

Pre-College students performing PT exercises

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.

Pre-college students with a federal judge

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.

Learn More

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