Application deadline
1 March 2027
Scholarship consideration; financial documentation required.
In-person Program
Architecture Pre-College Program
by Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs
Build architectural design skills through studio projects, critiques and digital media at Carnegie Mellon, while creating work with portfolio potential.
Last verified: 5 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
Get the full picture before you decide
See Succeed's assessment of the programme, who it may suit, the estimated total cost, what applying involves and what is still to confirm.
or let us know if .
What Succeed checks
We review public program details such as eligibility, age range, cost, duration, location, format, accommodation, meals and application timing.
What Last verified means
Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Program dates, prices and availability can still change.
How official sources are used
Succeed uses official provider information where available, then rewrites it into a student-facing summary for comparison and planning.
Why some dates are reference dates
If the current cycle is not available, Succeed may show the latest verified cycle dates so you can understand typical timing.
Succeed is independent from this provider unless a partnership is clearly stated.
Architecture Pre-College Program at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Current high school sophomores or juniors
Age range / Year group
Ages 16+
Location / Region
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Cost
$8,253; $10,744
Duration
5 weeks
Format
In-person
ArchitectureDesign
Accommodation: Furnished campus rooms; usually shared doubles
Meals: Dining plan covers most weekly meals
Outcome: Potential portfolio work; no college credit
Campus experience: Studio work, seminars and Friday field trips
Housing options: Resident or commuter
Faculty: Carnegie Mellon Architecture faculty
Architecture Pre-College Program summary
Carnegie Mellon's Architecture program introduces the discipline through a college-style design studio supported by drawing, digital media, seminars and workshops.
Students develop increasingly complex projects, work independently and collaboratively, and use critiques to refine their ideas. The work may become material for an architecture portfolio.
It suits students who want to test their interest through sustained design work and can commit to projects beyond scheduled classes.
What is Architecture Pre-College Program?
The Architecture Pre-College Program is Carnegie Mellon University's intensive introduction to architectural education. Its central experience is Design Studio, supported by analog drawing, digital media, history/theory seminars and workshops. Students explore how design responds to the built environment, technology and the future of cities.
Projects grow more complex as students build technical skills and develop their ideas through drawings, models and digital representations. Individual critiques and group discussions help them review their work, while collaboration and field trips broaden their understanding of architectural practice.
Why Succeed highlights Architecture Pre-College Program
Studio projects and individual critiques offer a practical way to test whether architectural design holds your interest.
Drawing and digital media are integrated with design work, helping students connect ideas with the tools used to represent them.
The curriculum combines independent and collaborative work rather than relying only on lectures.
Program work may support a portfolio, giving students something concrete to reflect on after the experience.
Heather Bizon's role as a Carnegie Mellon Architecture teaching professor provides a clear connection to architectural education.
Who is Architecture Pre-College Program for?
Best for
Students curious about architectural study who enjoy making, revising and discussing design work, and want an immersive studio experience.
Not ideal if
You want a light summer activity or college credit, or need an international program that issues its own I-20.
Is Architecture Pre-College Program worth it?
The strongest reason to choose this program is to experience architecture as an iterative studio discipline. Projects, critiques and integrated media coursework can help you decide whether you enjoy the work itself, while producing material that may support a portfolio.
Its value depends on your willingness to sustain substantial work outside class and your family's budget. It awards no college credit, and participation has no influence on undergraduate admission to Carnegie Mellon. Treat it as subject exploration and skill development when comparing it with other summer plans.
A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$8,253; $10,744; includes College-level classes taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty, Materials and tools required for media and design studio, Campus housing for residential students, Campus dining plan covering most weekly meals, CMU ID Card with Arts Pass museum access, Pittsburgh Regional Transit transportation access.
Accommodation
Furnished campus rooms; usually shared doubles
Meals
Dining plan covers most weekly meals
Provider details
Review the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
5 weeks; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Architecture Pre-College Program need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Begin six to eight weeks before your applicable application deadline, allowing time for essays, a recommendation and optional artwork preparation.
Main challenge
Developing and revising design ideas while managing sustained studio work.
Typical preparation
Ask a teacher or counselor for your recommendation early and confirm how it will be submitted.
Draft both 300–500-word essays around your interest in architecture and what you hope to gain.
Record a clear video of no more than 30 seconds; elaborate staging and editing are unnecessary.
If submitting artwork, organize 5–10 original images into one PDF and allow extra time for scholarship or immigration planning.
Useful if
You want to test your commitment to architecture before undergraduate study.
What do students do on Architecture Pre-College Program?
You develop architectural ideas through studio projects, using drawing and digital media to explore spatial environments. Critiques, seminars and field trips help you connect your design decisions with wider questions about architecture.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Begin with projects that build understanding of fundamental architectural principles.
- 2
Learn drawing and digital techniques alongside design, media and history/theory seminars.
- 3
Develop increasingly complex designs through 2D, 3D, analog and digital investigations.
- 4
Review your work through individual critique and group discussion, then refine your ideas.
- 5
Collaborate with classmates while completing independent project work.
- 6
Join Friday field trips and special projects, with additional studio work during evenings and weekends.
Architecture Pre-College Program dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Programme dates
26 June-31 July 2027
Applications open
December 2026
Exact day is not announced.
Scholarship decisions
1 April 2027
Applicants receive scholarship decisions together.
International move-in
25 June 2027
Residential arrival between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Orientation day
27 June 2027
Campus orientation and introductions to other students.
First classes
28 June 2027
Academic instruction begins.
Classes end
30 July 2027
Residential checkout follows the next day by 2:00 p.m.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 March 2027 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Programme dates | 26 June-31 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Applications open | December 2026 | Local | Upcoming | |
Scholarship decisions | 1 April 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
International move-in | 25 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Orientation day | 27 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
First classes | 28 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Classes end | 30 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming |
Eligibility and requirements
Be at least 16 by June 26, 2027.
Be a current high school sophomore or junior when applying.
Commuters must meet local permanent-residence requirements with their parent or guardian.
Scholarship applicants must demonstrate financial need.
Scholarship applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
International applicants need immigration status permitting participation.
Provide qualifying English proficiency results unless exempt.
How much does Architecture Pre-College Program cost?
Residential fee (2026)
$10,744 — Five-week residential program.
Funding or discounts
- Commuter fee (2026): $8,253 — Five-week commuter program.
- Application fee: $75 — Non-refundable; waived for qualifying scholarship applications.
- Enrollment deposit: $800 — Non-refundable; deducted from program cost and due within seven days of admission.
- Need-based scholarship: Tuition, housing and dining — Full scholarships require financial need and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
- Scholarship deposit: $100 — Available for student campus spending through the CMU ID Card.
What's included
College-level classes taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty, Materials and tools required for media and design studio, Campus housing for residential students, Campus dining plan covering most weekly meals, CMU ID Card with Arts Pass museum access, Pittsburgh Regional Transit transportation access
How to apply to Architecture Pre-College Program
- 1
Use the official Pre-College application and select Architecture in your program preferences.
- 2
Enter student, parent or guardian, and academic information, then upload your unofficial transcript.
- 3
Request one recommendation through the application using your recommender's email address.
- 4
Submit two 300–500-word essays on your goals for participation and interest in architecture.
- 5
Upload a video of no more than 30 seconds introducing something about yourself.
- 6
Add optional test scores and a highly recommended PDF of 5–10 original artwork images if you choose.
- 7
Request scholarship consideration and provide financial documentation if applicable.
- 8
Submit the complete application and applicable fee, including any required English proficiency results.
- 9
If admitted, return the enrollment reply form and pay the applicable deposit within seven days.
Next step with Succeed
Interested in this programme?
or let us know if .
Succeed replies first, usually within a working day
What does Architecture Pre-College Program cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Architectural Design Studio
Explore spatial environments through independent and collaborative projects addressing context, scale, perception, light and materiality.
Drawing and representation
Use analog drawing and 2D and 3D techniques to develop and communicate architectural ideas.
Digital Media
Learn creative software techniques using Photoshop, Illustrator and Rhinoceros for images, drawings and three-dimensional environments.
Seminars and contemporary practice
Connect design with history, theory, environmental questions and contemporary practice through seminars, lectures and field trips.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Architecture Pre-College Program?
A typical day during the program.
Design, media and history/theory
Seminars run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Architectural Design Studio
Studio runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Help sessions and open studio
Teaching-assistant help and open studio run from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Field trips and studio work
Fridays feature field trips; weekends provide open studio.
Who teaches on Architecture Pre-College Program?
The program is guided by Carnegie Mellon Architecture faculty and directed by Heather Bizon, an Assistant Teaching Professor who teaches design studios and seminars. Teaching assistants provide evening help sessions and some optional workshops outside class.
Where do students stay on Architecture Pre-College Program?
Residential plan
- Furnished campus rooms: Most students share a double room furnished with extra-long twin beds, desks, drawers and closets.
- Campus dining: The dining plan covers most weekly meals, with vegan, vegetarian, kosher and Halal options.
- Residential absence procedures: Overnight and private-vehicle absences require advance requests and parent or guardian verification.
- Campus and city access: The CMU ID Card includes Arts Pass museum admission and Pittsburgh Regional Transit access.
Non-residential plan
- Commuter option: Students and their parent or guardian must satisfy local permanent-residence requirements.
Pillows, sheets and fans are not supplied. Students are responsible for administering and securely storing their own medication.
What happens after Architecture Pre-College Program?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Build a foundation for future undergraduate architectural study.
Develop original design and media work with portfolio potential.
Strengthen architectural literacy, analytical thinking and conceptual development.
Explore the architecture profession through seminars, lectures and field trips.
The program awards no college credit, and Pre-College admission has no influence on undergraduate admission to Carnegie Mellon.
Where does Architecture Pre-College Program take place?
The program takes place at Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Free airport shuttles are provided on designated arrival days for students traveling alone, with reservations made through the Travel Plans form.
Five-week residential students must check out by 2:00 p.m. on their published move-out day.
Architecture Pre-College Program FAQs
No previous experience or specific computer skills are required. Digital Media introduces Photoshop, Illustrator and Rhinoceros, but dedication and commitment are important.
Students should expect significant project work outside class, including evenings and weekends. Individual and collaborative investigations are central to the studio experience.
No. Pre-College Architecture does not award college credit.
Yes. Work created during the program may provide material to package for a portfolio.
Residential and commuter options are offered. Most residential students share a furnished double room; commuters must satisfy local permanent-residence requirements.
Materials and tools required for media and design studio are provided as part of program costs. Students may purchase additional supplies from the campus Art Store.
No. Carnegie Mellon issues Pre-College I-20 documents only for its residential Summer Session program. Architecture applicants must establish that their existing immigration status permits participation.
Admission to Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs has no influence on a student's undergraduate application to the university.
Alternatives to Architecture Pre-College Program
Compare these adjacent art, design and engineering programs if you are still choosing a creative or technical direction.
Alternatives to Architecture Pre-College Program
An in-person summer option focused on art.
Art
Deadline: Not announced
From £7400
13-18
St Andrews
In-person
Best for
Students comparing art with architecture
A high school course focused on branding and design.
Design
Deadline: Not announced
From $2998
14-18
San Luis Obispo
In-person
Best for
Students considering a broader design direction
An in-person academic summer option centered on engineering.
Engineering
Deadline: Not announced
From £5995
13-18
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Students comparing architecture with engineering
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Join our Pre-College Mailing List
- Pre-College Programs Application
- Absence from Campus Request - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Packing List - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Move-Out Information - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Admitted Students - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- International Applicants - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Admission - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Cost and Scholarships - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Arrival - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Discover Sessions - Presentations and Q&As - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Architecture - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 5 Oct 2026)
Program identity checked
Application deadlines checked
Eligibility requirements reviewed
Reference fees distinguished
Scholarship conditions reviewed
Studio schedule reviewed
Housing arrangements reviewed
International guidance reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Architecture Pre-College Program
by Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs
Applications open
Get the full picture before you decide
Succeed's assessment, estimated total cost and what applying involves.
No account needed for the Guide or Compare.
Not ready to decide yet? Keep it for later.
Save this program
Keep dates visible
Compare similar programs
Keep recommendations organised