For high school students who love math, summer is a chance to go far beyond the classroom. The best summer programs let you work on problems with no answer key, learn to write real proofs, and spend weeks with people who are just as excited about numbers as you are.
Here are five of the most respected math summer programs for high school students, from intensive number theory in Boston to advanced pure math at Stanford. For each one, we cover what you will do, who can apply, what it costs, and when to apply. Dates and fees change every year, so always confirm the latest details on each program's official site before you apply.
The Five Programs at a Glance
Program | Focus | Format | Who can apply | Cost | Usual deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PROMYS | Number theory and proofs | 6 weeks, residential, Boston University | Ages 14 to 18, completed 9th grade | Up to $8,000 (2026), need-based aid | End of February |
SUMaC | Advanced pure math | 4 weeks residential or 3 weeks online, Stanford | 10th and 11th graders | $8,950 residential or $3,750 online (2026), need-based aid | Early February |
NYU Summer Math Program for Young Scholars | Undergraduate-level math topics | 3 weeks, commuter, NYU | 9th to 11th graders | $2,500 (2026) | March 31 (2026) |
Canada/USA Mathcamp | Choose-your-own advanced math classes | 5 weeks, residential, campus changes yearly | Ages 13 to 18 | $0 to $7,500 depending on aid; free under $100,000 family income | Late February |
MathILy | Discrete math, taught interactively | 5 weeks, residential, Bryn Mawr College | High school students | $6,175 (2026), need-based aid | Rolling, full consideration in spring |
1. PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists)
PROMYS is a six-week residential program at Boston University built around number theory. Every weekday begins with a lecture, followed by challenging problem sets that ask students to experiment with numbers, form conjectures, and write their own proofs. Rather than being taught answers, students are treated as young mathematicians from the first day.
About 80 students attend each summer, supported by undergraduate counselors. Returning students can take advanced seminars and work on research projects proposed by professional mathematicians. The application centers on a take-home problem set, and PROMYS is clear that it cares more about how you approach hard problems than about solving every one.
PROMYS also has partner programs in Europe and Italy. For a full breakdown, see our complete guide to PROMYS.
Program dates: Six weeks, late June to early August
Cost: Up to $8,000 in 2026, free for U.S. families earning under $80,000, with need-based aid above that
Eligibility: Ages 14 to 18, having completed 9th grade, not yet enrolled in college
Application deadline: End of February
2. SUMaC (Stanford University Mathematics Camp)
SUMaC brings strong math students to Stanford for intensive study of advanced topics such as abstract algebra and number theory. Students learn through lectures, group problem solving, and guided research, exploring how major mathematical ideas developed and connect.
SUMaC is small and selective. In 2026 it offered one four-week residential session for 40 students on the Stanford campus and three-week online sessions for 64 students.
The application includes a take-home admission exam of proof-based problems, a math teacher recommendation, essays, and your transcript. If the exam problems feel unfamiliar, Stanford suggests building up with one of its pre-collegiate number theory or discrete math courses first.
Program dates: Four weeks residential or three weeks online, from mid-June to July
Cost: $8,950 residential or $3,750 online in 2026, plus a $65 application fee, with need-based aid and fee waivers available
Eligibility: Students in 10th or 11th grade at the time of applying
Application deadline: Early February
3. Summer Math Program for Young Scholars (NYU)
Run by NYU's Center for Mathematical Talent at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, this three-week program introduces high school students to undergraduate-level topics such as number theory, graph theory, topology, and computer science. Courant faculty lead every lecture, and graduate students run problem-solving sessions afterward.
Afternoons are lighter, with math puzzles and games and talks on how math is used across the sciences and in everyday life. It is a commuter program with no housing, which makes it an especially good fit for students in the New York City area. It is also open to younger students than most programs on this list, making it a great first step into higher math.
Program dates: Three weeks in August
Cost: $2,500 in 2026
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9, 10, and 11
Application: Open February 1 to March 31 in 2026, with a transcript, a teacher or counselor recommendation, and several math-related essays
4. Canada/USA Mathcamp
Mathcamp is a five-week residential program that feels like a summer camp built entirely around mathematics.
Instead of following one fixed curriculum, students choose from a large menu of classes taught by mathematicians and graduate students, ranging from accessible introductions to graduate-level topics. You design your own schedule, so you can go deep on one area or sample widely.
About 120 students attend each summer, roughly half new and half returning, and the host campus changes from year to year. In 2026, it was Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.
The application centers on the Qualifying Quiz, a set of challenging problems where Mathcamp wants to see your reasoning, your scratch work, and your persistence. There is no application fee, and no transcripts or test scores are required.
Program dates: Five weeks, late June to early August
Cost: Between $0 and $7,500 depending on financial aid, and free for U.S. and Canadian families earning under $100,000
Eligibility: Ages 13 to 18
Application deadline: Late February, with the application opening in January
5. MathILy
MathILy, short for Mathematics Infused with Levity, is a five-week residential program at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia.
Its core is discrete mathematics, taught at an undergraduate and graduate level in a completely interactive way: students discover the ideas, make conjectures, and present their own proofs, with lots of laughter along the way.
The program is small, with about 45 students, and intense. Classes meet around seven hours a day, six days a week, each led by a mathematician with a Ph.D. and supported by graduate student instructors.
The summer starts with two weeks of shared Root Class, followed by a Week of Chaos of short classes suggested by students and instructors, and ends with two weeks of advanced Branch Classes. Students who want to build up first can look at its sister program, MathILy-Er.
Program dates: Five weeks, late June to early August
Cost: $6,175 in 2026, with need-based aid that can cover the full fee
Eligibility: Mathematically talented high school students
Application: A three-part application, including an exam, reviewed on a rolling basis, with a full-consideration deadline in spring
Bonus: MIT PRIMES
MIT PRIMES is not a summer program, but it belongs on any list for serious math students.
It is a free, year-long research program run by MIT's mathematics department, in which high school students work on real, unsolved math problems under the guidance of mentors, usually graduate students or postdoctoral researchers. Students write up their results, and the year culminates in presenting their research at a conference at MIT.
There are two main ways in. MIT PRIMES is for students who live in the Greater Boston area and meet with mentors on the MIT campus. PRIMES-USA is the nationwide version for sophomores and juniors living elsewhere in the U.S., who meet with their mentors online each week. Since 2025, MIT PRIMES has focused on mathematics. Admission is highly selective and centers on a challenging entrance problem set, and the application is due in the fall, months before most summer programs.
Program dates: Year-long, roughly January to December
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students in Greater Boston for MIT PRIMES; sophomores and juniors elsewhere in the U.S. for PRIMES-USA
Application deadline: Late fall, usually late November or early December
How to Choose the Right Program
Start with what you want to get out of the summer. If you love proofs and want to go deep on pure mathematics, PROMYS and SUMaC are built for exactly that. If you are newer to higher math or want to stay close to home in New York, NYU's program is a welcoming first step. If you want the freedom to build your own schedule from dozens of topics, Mathcamp is hard to beat, and if you love discrete math and a small, lively class, MathILy is a great fit.
Next, check the practical details. Eligibility varies a lot: Mathcamp takes students as young as 13, while SUMaC is only for 10th and 11th graders. Most deadlines fall between February and spring, so mark them on your calendar early. And do not rule a program out because of its listed price. PROMYS and Mathcamp are free for many families, and PROMYS, SUMaC, Mathcamp, and MathILy all offer need-based financial aid.
Finally, apply to more than one if you can. Every program on this list is selective, and spreading your applications gives you the best chance of a great summer.
Whichever program you choose, think about what comes next. The proof-writing and problem-solving skills you build over the summer carry straight into an independent math research project, which you can enter in the mathematics category at science fairs, including the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). They are also excellent preparation for math competitions, like the Math Prize for Girls, or olympiads starting with the AMC contests, which lead to the AIME and the USA Mathematical Olympiad.
Keep Exploring Math All Year
A great summer program can change how you see mathematics, but you do not have to wait for summer to start doing real math. An independent research project lets you chase your own question during the school year and share it at a science fair, where mathematics is a category of its own.
At ScienceFair, our mentors are past science fair winners, including ISEF Grand Awardees, Regeneron STS Scholars, and alumni of MIT's Research Science Institute. They know what it takes to turn a good question into award-winning research.
If you would like to explore what that could look like for you, book a free call with one of our academic advisors.
