College Edge: Summer

College Edge: Summer at Columbia University is a credit-bearing summer program that lets high school juniors and seniors take real Columbia undergraduate courses. Students choose classes from a pre-approved list and study alongside Columbia undergraduates on the Morningside campus in New York City. Because these are college courses, students earn college credit and should plan on two to three hours of study outside class for each hour in class. Participants also get academic advising and professional development workshops. Summer 2027 has two six-week sessions: Session A runs from late May to early July, and Session B runs from early July to mid-August. Tuition is charged per credit point; the Summer 2026 rate was $2,666 per point, so a typical two-course load of 6 points cost $15,996.

Open to domestic and international students entering or currently enrolled in grades 11 or 12, who must remain enrolled in high school while studying at Columbia. Minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA. Apply online with a 600-800 word statement of purpose, a graded 3-10 page writing sample, grade 9-12 transcripts, two recommendations, and an application fee, which rises from $80 to $95 starting in spring 2027. The Summer 2027 application opens in mid-November 2026, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the deadline for both sessions is April 1, 2027.