Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

Philadelphia, United States

About Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs runs University of Pennsylvania courses and summer programs for high school students. It's based at 3440 Market Street in Philadelphia and sits within Penn's School of Arts and Sciences. The summer options are two- and three-week residential Summer Academies, the Pre-College Programs (on campus or online) and short Online Seminars. During the school year, the Young Scholars Program lets juniors at nearby high schools take one Penn undergraduate course per semester. The biggest difference between the options is credit. Penn says only the Pre-College Programs and Young Scholars courses earn undergraduate credit and a Penn transcript. Summer Academies and Online Seminars give a certificate of completion instead. Penn faculty, staff and visiting scholars teach the courses, and some Academies are led by experienced professionals in their field. Penn has also announced new middle school programs for summer 2027.

Teaching style

How you're taught depends on which program you choose. In the Summer Academies, you study one subject in depth for two or three weeks. You don't pick courses, because Penn enrolls you in your Academy once you pay the deposit. Days mix lectures, labs, field trips and guest speakers, and many Academies end with group work or a presentation. In the Experimental Design Academy, for example, students spend the second week designing, running and presenting their own experiments in groups. Pre-College and Young Scholars students join real undergraduate courses. Penn says Pre-College residential students take on-campus courses alongside Penn undergraduates. Young Scholars students are graded by the same standards as Penn undergraduates. Penn says most of their classes meet two to five times a week and set homework, research papers and exams. Academy students have to bring a laptop or tablet with administrative access.

Reputation & Succeed take

Penn's reputation here rests mostly on the University of Pennsylvania's name and on student stories Penn publishes itself. In one, a Young Scholars student says he joined to see what a university class is like, from the rigor to the class size. Penn also says its summer programs have historically filled well before their final deadlines. Several 2026 Academies, including Experimental Physics and Forensic Science, were listed as having reached capacity.

Our take

In Succeed's view, the real draw is time inside Penn, with its own teachers, labs and libraries. The key decision is which program fits what you want from the summer or the semester. If you want credit and a transcript, only Pre-College or Young Scholars give one. If you want a focused, hands-on taste of a subject, an Academy fits better, but it ends with a certificate rather than a grade. Cost is the other big factor. Penn offers no financial aid, and the $1,500 deposit to hold a summer place is non-refundable. Students at School District of Philadelphia public and charter high schools get the best deal. They're eligible for Academy and Online Seminar scholarships and tuition-free Young Scholars courses. Because programs tend to fill early, we'd suggest getting your essays and recommendation ready before the next summer cycle opens.

Who this provider suits

Who should choose them

This may suit you if you're in 9th to 11th grade, have strong grades and want to study a subject in depth at an Ivy League university. Penn's minimum is a 3.5 GPA for summer applicants. It's a strong fit for students who want undergraduate credit through the Pre-College Programs, or a hands-on Academy in a subject such as astronomy, forensic science or environmental policy. It's an especially good option for juniors at Philadelphia-area high schools within about an hour's commute. They can take a Penn course during the school year through Young Scholars, and School District of Philadelphia students pay no tuition. International students are welcome in the summer programs, and online options suit students who can't travel.

Who it may not suit

Who should skip it: families who need financial aid and don't attend a School District of Philadelphia school, since Penn offers no financial aid and no scholarships for the Pre-College Programs. Graduating seniors aren't eligible. Residential students can't hold a summer job, do an internship or research, or attend another summer program while enrolled, so this won't work if you need to combine commitments. Students under 13 can't live in the residence halls. If your main goal is an edge in Penn admissions, Penn says taking part does not guarantee admission to its undergraduate programs.

Contact

hsprogs@sas.upenn.edu

(215) 746-2309

Visit Website

Frequently asked questions

Only some of them do. Penn says Pre-College Programs students earn college credit and a University of Pennsylvania transcript. Young Scholars Program students earn one course unit, equal to 4 college credit hours, for each course. Summer Academies and Online Seminars give a certificate of completion and no official transcript. Whether another college accepts Penn credit is up to that college.

Not directly. Penn says admission to its high school programs does not guarantee admission to a Penn undergraduate program. It also says undergraduate admission is highly competitive.

No. Penn says financial aid isn't available and high school students don't qualify for FAFSA aid, though families can use 529 college savings plans. A limited number of scholarships go to select School District of Philadelphia students for the Summer Academies and Online Seminars. There are no scholarships for the Pre-College Programs. School District of Philadelphia public and charter students can take one Young Scholars course tuition-free each fall and spring semester.

Penn asks summer applicants for excellent writing skills and a minimum 3.5 high school GPA. The online application includes one or more essays and a letter of recommendation. Each program has its own non-refundable $100 application fee. Standardized test scores aren't required, but Penn strongly encourages them for Pre-College applicants. Non-native English speakers submit a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score unless they've attended an English-medium school for two or more years.

You confirm your enrollment in the application portal and pay a non-refundable $1,500 deposit. Penn holds seats on a first-come, first-served basis. The deposit can't be transferred to another Penn program.

You have to be at least 13. Penn says that's the minimum age to live in the University residence halls. Students must be 15 to use the gym.

No. Graduating seniors aren't eligible for Penn SAS High School Programs. Penn suggests they apply to Penn Summer Sessions instead.

Contact the Penn SAS High School Programs office at hsprogs@sas.upenn.edu or (215) 746-2309. The office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Programs by Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

Academic English & University Readiness Academy

Program

Closed

Academic English & University Readiness Academy

Organized by Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

HistoryHumanities

Dates

26 Jul – 08 Aug 2026

Duration

2 weeks

Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

About Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

Teaching style

Reputation & Succeed take

Who this provider suits

Contact

Frequently asked questions

Do Penn's high school programs give college credit?

Will attending help me get into Penn?

Is financial aid available?

What do I need to apply for a summer program?

How do I hold my place after I'm admitted to a summer program?

How old do you have to be for a residential program?

Can recent high school graduates apply?

Who do I contact with questions?

Programs by Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs

Academic English & University Readiness Academy

American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Online Seminar

Astronomical Techniques Research Academy

Biomedical Research Academy

Chemistry Research Academy

Developing the Leader Within Online Seminar

East Asian History Academy

Economics Academy

Environmental Policy Academy

Experimental Design Academy

Experimental Physics Research Academy

Forensic Science Academy

Genomics and Bioinformatics Online Seminar

Global Culture and Media Academy

Mathematics Academy

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Academy

Neuroscience Research Academy

Pre-College Online Program

Pre-College Residential Program

Social Change and Social Justice Academy

Writing and Research in the Age of AI Academy

Writing for Researchers Online Seminar