Pre-College Summer Session provides high school students with the unique opportunity to choose from approximately thirty summer courses from academic disciplines offered by Carnegie Mellon and earn college credit. Students will receive the same rigorous, college-level work as an undergraduate student studying at Carnegie Mellon.

Credit

Residential

Commuter

Accepts International Students

Financial Aid

Final project

Pre-College Summer Session provides high school students with the unique opportunity to take summer courses offered by Carnegie Mellon University for credit.

Students earn college credit while working in an academic setting that mirrors the supportive, rigorous environment of the first year of college. Every summer, Summer Session offers approximately thirty courses from academic disciplines across the university, including: science, humanities, social science, engineering, computer science, and technology applied to the arts. Successful Summer Session students leverage their experiences to demonstrate their ability to succeed in college. Upon successful completion of a course, they receive college credit at Carnegie Mellon University, which is transferable to other institutions that accept CMU college courses for credit.

Please note that admittance into Pre-College Summer Session does not guarantee admittance to Carnegie Mellon University within the Undergraduate Admission process. 


The Summer Session program is comprised of undergraduate-level Carnegie Mellon courses. The courses are the same ones taken during the fall and spring by Carnegie Mellon students, usually in their first or second years. Students will receive the same rigorous, college-level work as an undergraduate student studying at Carnegie Mellon. All of the Summer Session instructors are vetted by their respective academic departments, and the majority of them are Carnegie Mellon professors who teach these courses during the academic year.

Students living on campus must remain enrolled in two courses throughout the entire summer program (six weeks). Students living at home (who must have a permanent local address) may enroll in either one or two courses. Two courses completed in six weeks is as academically demanding as a full-time undergraduate course schedule.

Courses offered remain relatively similar from year to year. Please see the 2023 Summer Session course list posted on the program website. We do not offer any courses online.

Students request their courses after admission to the program, as part of the enrollment process completed in the spring (generally February or March).

Single Session

Jun 21 - Aug 02

6 weeks

Residential

13792 USD

6-week Option (One Course)

Jun 21 - Aug 02

6 weeks

Commuter

6957 USD

6-Week Option (Two Courses)

Jun 21 - Aug 02

6 weeks

Commuter

10618 USD

The cost includes:

• Tuition for college-level classes taught by accomplished Carnegie Mellon University faculty.
• Housing on a vibrant and welcoming college campus. Residential students only.
• Dining Services that offer diverse eating options that emphasize health, wellness, and delicious food! Dining options include (but not limited to) vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and Halal.
• University fees for the use of the campus health center, fitness center, library, Student Success Center, and so much more!
• Transportation Pass to attend an organized program or extra-curricular events.

Additional Fees:

• Application Fee - $50
• Enrollment Deposit - $800

Application Fee and Enrollment Deposit are non-refundable.

Financial Aid

Scholarships

Full scholarships covering tuition, housing, and dining are available to students demonstrating financial need. You can elect to be considered for a scholarship within the online application.

Please note: International students are not eligible for scholarship consideration.

Scholarship Eligibility

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be available to attend the entirety of the program
• Demonstrate financial need
  

Financial Need

Students in any of the below categories are considered to demonstrate financial need:

• Students who have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
• Students who are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program (FRPL).
• Students whose family income falls within or near the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• Students who are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g. TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
• Students whose family receives public assistance.
• Students who live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
• Students who are a ward of the state or an orphan.
• Students who can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

Documentation of financial need is required to be considered for scholarship opportunities in all available programs.

Documentation required includes tax documents or a completed NACAC Application Fee Waiver signed by your high school guidance department.