Vassar
Pre-College
Summer Program
A liberal arts college experience blended with the openness of summer—hands-on learning, tight-knit groups, and free-spirited campus adventures.
Be Empowered
To Thrive
The Vassar Pre-College Summer Program gives high school students the chance to explore their academic interests and personal passions while experiencing the hallmarks of a liberal arts education: small, discussion-focused classes, interdisciplinary learning, and an engaged campus community.
Our program offers a holistic experience that nurtures growth inside and outside the classroom, preparing students for future academic, social, and personal opportunities. Live and learn on Vassar’s campus, engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, and challenge yourself to discover your best self.
Summer 2026, Session I
July 5-11, 2026
Summer 2026, Session II
July 12-18, 2026
Summer 2026, 2-Week Program
July 5-18, 2026
1-Week Program (2026 Cost)
$3,850 + $45 application fee
2-Week Program (2026 Cost)
$6,950 + $45 application fee
Summer 2026 Courses
One-Session Option (One Week)
Enroll in one immersive course during either Session I (July 5-11, 2026) or Session II (July 12-18, 2026). Students may indicate up to three course preferences and will be placed in one course if admitted. All courses are offered in both sessions.
Full Program (Two Week)
Remain on campus for both sessions (July 5-18, 2026) and enroll in one course per week. We recommend pairing College Foundations & Leadership with any academic course, or students may choose two different academic courses—one in each week.
College
Foundations &
Leadership
- Mentor-Supported
- Workshop-Based
Exploring AI:
From Code
to Robot
- Faculty-Led
- Hands-on
Art,
Museums, &
Social Impact
- Expert-Led
- Seminar-Style
Designing
Sustainable
Futures
- Expert-Led
- Systems-Lab
Law,
Justice, &
Civic Life
- Faculty-Led
- Seminar-Style
Hudson
Valley
Ecology
- Expert-Led
- Field-Based
Health Access,
Community
Practice, & Care
- Faculty-Led
- Seminar-Style
Entrepreneurship
for
Changemakers
- Team-Taught
- Project-Based
Campus Life
What happens outside the classroom can be just as formative as what takes place within it. As fully residential participants, Pre-College students live and learn on Vassar’s historic campus, immersed in its intimate liberal arts environment. Students will have time to explore campus and its surroundings independently—discovering favorite spaces, meeting up with friends, and experiencing the rhythms of residential college life within a supportive community.
College Readiness
Our approach to college readiness focuses on the personal and intellectual skills that help students succeed once they arrive on campus: initiative, communication, reflection, and self-awareness. Through skill-building workshops and mentoring, students learn how to connect with faculty, seek support, and manage academic life—leaving better prepared for the transition to college.
