University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Academic Programs
Ready for a first-rate summer experience at America’s first university? Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, Penn offers an authentic Ivy League experience in the heart of Philadelphia for academically gifted high school students. Penn flourishes in and is enriched by a vibrant urban ecosystem steeped in history and brimming with arts, culture, and innovation. Explore America’s history in Philly’s urban setting and feel the pulse of arts, culture, and innovation.
Engage with leading faculty and build intellectual connections while taking challenging courses selected from a variety of disciplines. Penn is widely known for its expertise in medicine, business, and law, and students can immerse themselves in science, research, social justice, and mathematics classes.
Sample Courses and Academies for 2023
![American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Academy]()
University of PennsylvaniaAmerican Sign Language and Deaf Culture Academy An overview of topics integral to experiences of American deaf community members.Dates + Details![Global Culture and Communication Academy]()
University of PennsylvaniaGlobal Culture and Communication AcademyAM & PM Course
Understand the intricate and complex relationship between language, culture, communicative practices.Dates + Details![Penn Prep]()
University of PennsylvaniaPenn PrepAM & PM Course
Explore Penn’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum in an immersive and dynamic Ivy League environment.Dates + Details![Coding Academy]()
University of PennsylvaniaCoding Academy AM & PM Course
The summer Coding Academy is a 3-week residential introduction to front-end web development. Students learn Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript (JS) and discover how to put these tools together to produce useful and attractive web pages that run on any web-enabled desktop or mobile device. Dates + Details![6 Week College Credit]()
University of Pennsylvania6 Week College CreditAM & PM Course
Explore the intellectual challenge and residential freedom of a true undergraduate experience. Dates + Details
Campus Life & Activities
After class, take a walk down Locust Walk in the heart of campus, visit Ben on the Bench, or admire the campus architecture and tree-lined walkways. Penn is known for its extraordinary athletic and recreational facilities. Organize pick-up games, work out at the Pottruck Health and Fitness Center or play tennis with a friend at the Hamlin Tennis Center.
Located in the University City neighborhood, Penn is near a multitude of shopping and dining options. Immerse yourself in Philadelphia’s history and culture with supervised visits to art museums, parks, historic sites, and more! Test your skills at detecting counterfeit bills at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia or relax with friends overlooking the Delaware River. “The City of Brotherly Love” has something for everyone!
Students in our programs live in a university residence hall which are only a short walk from on-campus dining options, academic buildings, and the Pottruck Health and Fitness Center.
Top 10 Past Activities
- Soak up the sun on the beautiful beaches at the Jersey Shore.
- Ride the roller coasters at Hershey Park.
- Tour Times Square and Rockefeller Plaza during our day in New York City.
- Cheer for the Philadelphia Phillies at a major league baseball game.
- Visit the monuments and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital.
- Explore the history of Philadelphia at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Society Hill.
- Shop over 400 stores at King of Prussia Mall, the East Coast’s premier shopping destination.
- Test your skills at detecting counterfeit bills at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
- Try the city’s authentic cheese steaks at Steve's Prince of Steaks.
- Test your knowledge at our weekly “Trivia Night”.
2 week and 3 week students participate in many but not all activities listed. All on-campus activities are subject to change based on current safety protocols.
Dates & Tuition
- Jul 9 - Jul 22 $5,7002 WeekResidential Penn PrepSee Available Courses
- Jul 10 - Jul 28 $5,500 3 WeekOnline AcademySee Available Courses
- Jul 9 - Jul 29 $9,700 3 WeekResidential AcademySee Available Courses
- Jun 27 - Aug 5 Varies6 WeekResidential College CreditSee Available Courses
- Jun 29 - Aug 4 Varies6 WeekOnline College CreditSee Available Courses
Upcoming Deadlines
Penn SAS High School Summer Programs
(Pre-College Programs, Summer Academies, Penn Summer Prep)
Summer 2023 Application Deadlines:
Priority deadline: January 31, 2023
International students: March 31, 2023
Domestic students: May 1, 2023
Young Scholars High School Programs
Fall 2023 deadline: August 1, 2023
“The program has honestly been the highlight of my summer. The classes and after-class activities kept me in an excited state for the entirety of the two weeks. I am beyond grateful for my experience at Penn.” Sarah Z.
“This program was great! The dorms were nice, the RCs were nice, and the academics were spectacular. This experience allowed me to be independent for the first time, and it has helped me understand more of what I’m interested and what path I wish to follow in the future.” Riona W.
“I really enjoyed my time here. I made lifelong friends, learned from incredible professors, got to experience campus life, and had learning experiences that I never before thought I would have access to as a high schooler.”Jessica Z.
“This gave me a really good feel of how college will be. It made me super excited and I think I've become more motivated to become a better student and person overall due to the welcoming atmosphere here. I was also able to time manage really well, getting my work done while also participating in fun activities.”Linda S.
Program Details
6 week program open to students completing grades 10 & 11.
2 and 3 week programs open to students completing grades 9, 10 & 11.
Living: You will be part of a dynamic community of students and staff, living together in a university residence hall. Students live in a single, double or triple room in either a traditional or suite style set-up.. Every air-conditioned room includes a bed, study desk, closet, and free Wi-Fi. Lounges, laundry facilities, and the Summer Discovery Office are all in our residence halls.
Dining: Enjoy three meals Mon-Fri and two meals on Sundays, while on campus in a university dining hall. Choose from daily options at the salad bar, deli counter, pizza oven, burger bar, dessert bar, and more. Are you a vegetarian? Do you have food allergies? Special diets are not a problem.
Residential tuition includes: Term fees, academic programs, laundry, use of facilities, housing, 3 meals daily while on campus (2 on Sunday, none on Saturday), activities and trips.
Not included: Non-refundable $75 application fee, travel to/from campus, airport transfers, gym access (may be available for an additional fee); linens; class materials; meals eaten off campus; medical expenses; souvenirs; and personal spending money.
Important Dates
Priority deadline for all programs– March 1
International Student Deadline for all programs – March 31
Domestic Student Deadline for all programs – May 1
All application materials, including recommendations, should be submitted by above stated deadlines—no exceptions.
Updated Withdrawal policy as of 2/22/22
Penn Summer: Academies, Prep Program, and Pre-College Program
A nonrefundable deposit of $1,500 is required to officially reserve a student's spot in the program. Program fees minus the nonrefundable deposit of $1,500 are refundable until May 15. There is no adjustment in tuition for late arrivals or early departures. All withdrawals must be in writing and emailed to hsprogs@sas.upenn.edu and penn@summerdiscovery.com.