University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Madison, United States
About University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Badger Precollege is the University of Wisconsin–Madison's office for summer and online programs for students ages 9 to 18. Its programs range from a one-day music clinic to two-week residential courses, and almost all of them run on the UW–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin. Badger Precollege says it offers more than 60 classes each summer and served more than 2,100 students in 2025. The programs are split by age and interest. Middle schoolers can choose PACE, a one-week day program for students finishing grades 4 to 8, or STEP, a one-week residential course for grades 6 to 8. High school students can take the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) or Badger Summer Scholars, which both last two weeks and offer residential or commuter places. There's also College Ready, an online course. For arts students there's the Summer Music Clinic, which Badger Precollege says began in 1929, and the Summer Arts Clinic. International students aged 15 to 18 can join the Wisconsin International Precollege Academy (WIPA), which is now an academic track inside ALP. Most programs review applications on a rolling basis, and courses can fill early. For most summer programs, 2027 applications open on 12 January 2027.
Teaching style
Most Badger Precollege programs are built around one subject studied in depth. In ALP you take a single non-credit course for two weeks, with 68 hours of class time. Each weekday has a morning session, an afternoon session and a required study session. Badger Summer Scholars follows the same daily pattern and adds a weekly Jump Forward series on college applications, essays and financial aid. STEP and PACE give younger students one course for a week, with 25 hours of instruction. The teaching relies on hands-on work as well as lectures. ALP lists projects, case studies, simulations and labs. WIPA students finish with a small-group presentation on the Sustainable Development Goals. Badger Precollege says small classes let instructors get to know students and set learning goals with them. In the music and arts clinics you build your own schedule from ensembles, small-group lessons and electives, and each week ends with a performance or presentation day.
Reputation & Succeed take
Badger Precollege's standing comes mostly from its home university and its own long history. It describes UW–Madison as one of the nation's top-ranked universities, but it doesn't name a ranking. It says Summer Music Clinic started in 1929 and is the second-oldest music camp in the United States. Badger Precollege also reports that about 25% of its alums go on to attend UW–Madison. It doesn't publish independent reviews or an outside accreditation.
Our take
In Succeed's view, Badger Precollege is a sensible choice if you want time on a large university campus focused on one subject. The setup is simple. You pick one course, you live on campus or commute, and your days follow a set schedule of class, study and organized activities. The trade-offs are real, though. ALP courses carry no UW–Madison credit, scholarships are limited and given out first-come, and most programs offer no scholarships to international students. We'd suggest applying soon after 12 January 2027, because courses fill on a first-come basis and scholarship money can run out before the deadline.
Within Badger Precollege, the two high school summer programs are easy to mix up. ALP and Badger Summer Scholars each last two weeks and charge the same fees: $4,500 for domestic residential students, $2,650 for commuters and $4,800 for international students, plus a $100 non-refundable application fee. ALP is the more academic of the two. Its courses are designed to mimic a college-level course, and its students typically take advanced coursework and have an unweighted GPA of 3.2 or higher. Badger Summer Scholars puts more weight on the college process through its weekly Jump Forward series, and its students typically have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. WIPA charges the same $4,800 as ALP's international rate, but it requires an interview and centers its programming on studying in the United States.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you're between 9 and 18 and want to spend part of the summer on one subject at UW–Madison. It fits students who like structured days, since the high school programs schedule class, a required study session and evening activities. Wisconsin families who receive free or reduced lunch should look closely, because they can qualify for a full scholarship in ALP, Badger Summer Scholars, STEP and PACE. Young musicians and artists get a very wide choice of courses, from Brazilian drumming to a violin institute. Wisconsin high school juniors who plan to major in music can also audition at Summer Music Clinic for one of 10 tuition waivers to UW–Madison or UW–Milwaukee.
Who it may not suit
Who should skip it: students who want college credit from the university itself, because ALP courses are non-credit. You may be able to get credit through your own high school, but you'd have to arrange it. International families who need financial aid should know that most program pages say no scholarship is available to international students. International students also arrange their own visa, and Badger Precollege says it can't advise on visa procedures. In Succeed's view, the residential programs may not suit you if you'd rather not share a room or communal bathrooms. Phone rules are strict too. PACE students can't use phones during class, and Summer Music Clinic bans them from classes, rehearsals and performances.
Contact
Frequently asked questions
Programs by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
ProgramAccelerated Learning Program (ALP)
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
11 Jul – 23 Jul 2027
Duration
2 weeks (about 68 hours of class time)
ProgramBadger Summer Scholars
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
25 Jul – 06 Aug 2027
Cost
From $4,500
Duration
2 weeks
ProgramPsychology of Well-being: Happiness and Motivation
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
11 Jul – 23 Jul 2027
Duration
2 weeks
ProgramSocial Impact Leadership Online
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
18 Jan – 01 Apr 2027
Location
Online
Cost
From $450
Duration
About 11 weeks (13 live sessions)
ProgramSummer Arts Clinic
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
11 Jul – 17 Jul 2027
Cost
From $75
Duration
7 days (one week)
ProgramSummer Music Clinic Senior Session
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
27 Jun – 03 Jul 2027
Duration
1 week
ProgramThe Entrepreneur in You: Marketing and Managing a Business
Organized by University of Wisconsin-Madison Precollege
Dates
11 Jul – 23 Jul 2027
Duration
Two weeks
