What ages does Harvard Pre-College Program accept?

Harvard Pre-College Program is open to children ages 16–18. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.

How much does Harvard Pre-College Program cost?

Harvard Pre-College Program publishes $3,050/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $3,050 median for academic camps in Cambridge. $6,100 + $75 application fee Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.

What are Harvard Pre-College Program's hours?

Harvard Pre-College Program runs Two-week residential program. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.

Who runs Harvard Pre-College Program?

Harvard Pre-College Program is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.

Does Harvard Pre-College Program provide lunch?

Yes — Harvard Pre-College Program includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.

How does Harvard Pre-College Program compare to other academic camps in Cambridge?

Harvard Pre-College Program is one of 9 academic camps in Cambridge that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

▌ Academic · Ages 16–18

Harvard Pre-College Program

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA · $3,050/week

A 2-week residential program for high school students to experience college life and academics at Harvard.

▌ Editor's read The Harvard Pre-College Program is an intensive two-week residential program for high school students, offering over 100 courses across various disciplines (summer.harvard.edu). Students live in Harvard dorms, attend classes, and participate in extracurricular activities, providing a comprehensive college experience. The program is run by Harvard University, indicating a university owner type. While the website does not explicitly mention staff-to-student ratios or background check policies, it emphasizes a supportive environment with residential deans and proctors. The program has a strong reputation, reflected in its association with Harvard University, and Google reviews for Harvard Summer School (which encompasses the Pre-College Program) generally show a high rating, often above 4 stars, from a significant number of reviewers. The program is not accredited by the ACA, which is common for university-run academic programs.

⌬

University programRun by an academic institution

Shortlist in planner → Visit website

Who thrives here Ages 16–18

Harvard Pre-College Program serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in academic, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Overnight camp
ACA accredited: Not verified
Established: Not listed
Operator: University program
Staff-to-camper ratio: Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Academic
Ages: 16–18
Hours: Two-week residential program
Address: Harvard University, 51 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Phone: 617-495-4024
Email: [email protected]
Cost notes: $6,100 + $75 application fee

Logistics

Lunch provided: Yes
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about Harvard Pre-College Program

What ages does Harvard Pre-College Program accept?: Harvard Pre-College Program is open to children ages 16–18. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does Harvard Pre-College Program cost?: Harvard Pre-College Program publishes $3,050/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $3,050 median for academic camps in Cambridge. $6,100 + $75 application fee Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
What are Harvard Pre-College Program's hours?: Harvard Pre-College Program runs Two-week residential program. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
Who runs Harvard Pre-College Program?: Harvard Pre-College Program is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does Harvard Pre-College Program provide lunch?: Yes — Harvard Pre-College Program includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
How does Harvard Pre-College Program compare to other academic camps in Cambridge?: Harvard Pre-College Program is one of 9 academic camps in Cambridge that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare Harvard Pre-College Program with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
STEM summer camps guide · Compare projects, staff fit, and age-readiness signals.
Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.

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