Summer Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles: 2027 Guide
Is your teen already asking what they're doing next summer, or is that just you lying awake at 2 a.m.? Here's the secret nobody shares at ninth-grade orientation: the best summer programs for high school students in Los Angeles fill up while the rest of us are still packing away the holiday lights. Several of the most competitive Summer 2027 applications open in November 2026 and close by early February, so right now is the sweet spot to start planning.
We combed through the official pages of hospitals, universities, museums and city job programs to build this guide to summer programs for teens in Los Angeles, organized by interest. Where 2027 dates are posted, we lead with them. Where only 2026 info exists, we label it clearly so you know it's a preview. Science kid, budding artist, future filmmaker or a teen who mostly wants a paycheck? There's something here for each of them.
Key Takeaways
Earliest deadlines: City of Hope's research academy is due Feb 1, 2027, UC COSMOS closes Feb 5, 2027, and CSSSA's priority deadline is Feb 28, 2027.
Opening soon: CSSSA opens Nov 1, 2026, City of Hope opens Nov 2, and Otis Summer of Art registration opens Nov 16.
Paid options: LA County Youth@Work pays $18.47 an hour, the city's Summer Night Lights pays $18 an hour (ages 16–24), and the Getty and Bloomberg Arts internships are paid.
Free options: Girls Who Code Pathways, Kode With Klossy, Ghetto Film School's LA Fellows and LA Public Library teen programs cost nothing.
Cost range: From free, to $5,793 for UCLA COSMOS, to $8,371–$11,946 for USC's 2027 summer programs, with aid at many programs.
2026 vs. 2027: Listings marked "2026" haven't posted 2027 details yet, so treat those dates as a preview.
Golden rule: Always confirm dates, eligibility and costs on the official program page before you plan.
The Summer 2027 Deadlines Already Confirmed
These programs have already posted 2027 timelines on their official pages. Save this list and share it with your teen's counselor.
City of Hope Roberts Summer Student Academy: Opens Nov 2, 2026; due Feb 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
UC COSMOS: Open Jan 6 – Feb 5, 2027 (5 p.m.); aid application postmarked by Feb 6.
CSSSA: Opens Nov 1, 2026; application and scholarship priority deadline Feb 28, 2027.
Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy: Priority deadline Feb 26, 2027; final deadline March 31.
USC Summer Programs: International deadline March 12, 2027; domestic deadline May 7 at noon PT.
Otis College Summer of Art: Registration and scholarships open Nov 16, 2026; scholarship deadline April 16, 2027.
Bloomberg Arts Internship: Applications open in March 2027.
Kode With Klossy and NHM Marine Teens: Applications expected in February 2027.
Everything else shows 2026 dates. Recurring programs usually follow a similar calendar, so a 2026 date tells you when to start watching, not when to apply.
STEM, Research and Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
Got a teen who lights up talking about cells, circuits or saving lives? These STEM summer programs for high school students in LA put them in real labs and hospitals, and the applications are as serious as the experience.
City of Hope, Duarte June 1 – Aug 6, 2027 Apply Nov 2, 2026 – Feb 1, 2027
This is a true summer research internship for high school and undergraduate students who are at least 16 before the June 1 start and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. California high schoolers can also aim for the CIRM TEAMS track, which places up to 14 students with stem cell and regenerative medicine mentors and adds field trips and a symposium. The page doesn't list a cost or stipend, so ask before counting on either. Insider tip: students must be available for the full program and time off isn't approved, so check vacation plans first.
UCLA, Westwood (residential) Apply Jan 6 – Feb 5, 2027; program dates TBA
The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science is a four-week residential program for students completing grades 8–12, with 2026 UCLA clusters like brain-inspired computing, mini robot cars and rockets, and computational biology. It costs $5,793 plus a small application fee, with financial aid and fee waivers available, and decisions arrive March 25, 2027. Per the 2026 rules posted by UC Irvine, students need at least a 3.0 GPA (most admits have 3.5-plus), must live in California during the program and can't be past attendees. UC Irvine hosts COSMOS too, so compare on the statewide COSMOS deadlines page.
Caltech, Pasadena No formal deadline (2026 info); spots usually fill by early spring
This one is only for students currently enrolled at a Pasadena Unified high school, who spend six weeks in a Caltech research lab as part of a student-teacher team with a mentor, then present at a seminar. Instead of an application deadline, families contact the program coordinator named on the page. Cost and stipend info isn't posted, so ask when you reach out.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles 2026: June 22 – Aug 6; applications Jan 26 – Feb 2
In 2026, volunteers had to be 15 to 17 by the orientation date (no exceptions) and have finished freshman year, then serve 16 hours a week, Monday through Thursday, for 112 hours total. The application asked for two short answers, a 300-plus-word essay, two recommendations, a virtual interview with a parent and a health screening.
Insider tip: the 2026 window lasted one week, so expect a similar late-January window in 2027 and have essays drafted early.
A quick note on JPL: the official JPL SpaceSHIP page says JPL isn't offering an open call for applicants this summer, and any future program will be announced there in December or January.
Museum, Ocean and Science Teen Programs in LA
Not every science kid wants a lab coat. Some want to explain sharks to a crowd of second graders, and that's a skill colleges and employers love.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Select Saturdays April–May, then 6 weeks in June–July (2026 schedule)
Designed for juniors and seniors who live in or attend high school in Boyle Heights, this internship has teens build a marine-science project, share it with museum guests and take off-site trips with transportation provided. Interns are paid during the six-week summer portion (24 hours a week), but the museum's pages describe pay slightly differently, so confirm directly. Teens need a work permit and U.S. work authorization, and the museum says to check back in February 2027 for the application.
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach 2026: applications March 1 – April 15; shifts June 13 – Aug 7
Have a 14- to 16-year-old who can't stop talking about sea otters? VolunTEENs chat with guests about animals, staff conservation carts and help at the touch pools. The commitment is 60 hours over a 10-week session, one shift day a week from 9:30 to 3:30, and the page doesn't mention a program fee.
Arts, Music and Design Summer Programs for Teens
LA is a creative capital, and these art summer programs for high school students end with portfolios, performances and gallery walls.
CalArts, Valencia July 5 – 31, 2027 Apply Nov 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 (priority deadline)
CSSSA (also called Inner Spark) is for students in grades 8–12, mainly California residents, with tracks in animation, architecture, dance, film, music, theater, visual art and writing. The 2026 resident fee was $5,174 (2027 rates aren't posted yet), and the $20 application fee can be waived for economic need. The part that makes parents exhale: according to the CSSSA FAQ, nearly half of attending students get a significant share of tuition covered through need-based aid for California residents. Decisions arrive by April 30, 2027.
Otis College of Art and Design, Westchester Classes July 8 – 30, 2027 Registration opens Nov 16, 2026; scholarship deadline April 16, 2027
Teens 14 and up take college-level Specialization (2 credits) and Drawing Studio (1 credit) courses, so full-day students can earn 3 transferable credits before a final exhibition on July 30. There's an optional residence hall, and course previews go live Nov 2, 2026. Tuition wasn't on the pages we checked, so see the Summer of Art dates page for pricing; each course requires a $200 nonrefundable deposit.
Colburn School, Downtown Los Angeles 2026: mid-June through mid-July, varies by program
In 2026, Colburn's teen lineup included a Chamber Music Intensive (ages 13–18, June 16–28), the LA Brass Institute (July 7–18), a Musical Theatre Intensive (ages 13–18, audition required), a piano seminar and July guitar intensives. Costs and deadlines weren't listed on the pages we read, so watch the Summer with Colburn page for 2027.
Two more to bookmark: ArtCenter Summer Teens in Pasadena offers faculty-taught, project-based art and design courses for high schoolers (join the mailing list for next summer), and CalArts Extended Studies Pre-College runs online courses like an Animation Intensive and portfolio workshops. Neither has posted dates or prices yet.
Paid Summer Internships and Summer Jobs for LA Teens
Want your teen to earn money and a résumé line at the same time? Heads-up: paid roles usually need a work permit or proof that your teen can legally work in the U.S., so gather documents early.
Getty Center and Getty Villa Usually mid-June to early August; applications usually open in early February
Picture your teen leading public tours at the Getty. In this paid internship, rising juniors and seniors at LA County high schools (16 by the start, living within 25 miles of the Getty Center) learn the collections and lead gallery explorations at the Getty Center and Villa. Lunch and transportation are provided, and a stipend is paid at completion (amount not posted).
Arts nonprofits across LA County June 14 – Aug 6, 2027; applications open March 2027
Run by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, this paid internship places rising seniors from LA County public high schools at arts nonprofits Monday through Wednesday (120 paid hours over eight weeks), with Thursday mentoring and college-prep days and Friday cultural outings. There's a program-day stipend, transit help, lunch and an optional paid school-year extension. Students must live or go to school within 10 miles of the worksite and be legally able to work in the U.S.
Worksites across LA County Year-round, with summer recruitment
Youth@Work pays $18.47 an hour for 140-plus hours of part-time work, plus 20 hours of job-readiness training, for LA County residents ages 14–24. Priority goes to foster, justice-impacted, unhoused, LGBTQ+, disabled, out-of-school and low-income youth. Apply through the Youth@Work participant portal; since it runs year-round, there's no need to wait for spring.
Worksites across the City of Los Angeles Summer 2027 dates not yet posted
The City of LA's youth jobs program serves ages 14–24, requires work-readiness training first and includes at least 100 hours of work, a Work Readiness Certificate and financial literacy training. Related city programs listed on the site include Summer Night Lights (ages 16–24, $18 an hour, up to 560 hours) and Student to Student for high schoolers (minimum wage). The site says it's accepting applications, but summer dates and general pay aren't posted.
Free Summer Programs for High School Students in LA
Some of the best picks in this guide are completely free, including Girls Who Code, Kode With Klossy and Ghetto Film School (see the film, media and coding section). Here are two more.
LA Public Library branches citywide Year-round
LAPL offers free programs for grades 6–12, including college and career workshops, practice tests, tutoring and homework help, volunteering, Teens Leading Change for teen writers and the Teens of L.A. Film Fest.
Insider tip: a library volunteer gig is a low-pressure way to build a summer routine.
LACMA 2026 application window: July 1 – Aug 21
LACMA Teens isn't a summer program, but summer is when you apply. LA County residents ages 16–18 who are juniors or seniors join a 10-week stipend program on Sundays from October to February, designing an art workshop. Bonus: NexGenLA is LACMA's free membership for LA County kids 17 and under.
College Pre-College Programs at UCLA, USC and Beyond
Pre-college summer programs in Los Angeles offer a taste of campus life and, sometimes, real college credit. They're also the priciest category, so read the cost details closely.
USC, Los Angeles June 21, 2027 start (4 weeks) Domestic deadline May 7, 2027; international March 12
Open to students who've finished at least 9th grade and are taking a rigorous curriculum. For 2027, residential is $11,946 and commuter is $8,371, plus an $85 application fee and a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit, and the page doesn't mention scholarships.
Insider tip: admissions are rolling and classes fill quickly, so treat May 7 as last call.
UCLA, Westwood (commuter; some programs virtual) 2026 sessions: June 22 – July 10 and July 13 – 31
These three-week, for-credit programs are for high schoolers at least 15 by the first day, with topics like Economics, Engineering Design, Political Science and TeenArch Studio. The 2026 Engineering Design program for grades 9–11 cost about $3,002 total and earned 2 UCLA units. In 2026, rolling admissions began Feb 18 and the Summer Scholars Support aid deadline was April 1; 2027 details are typically posted in winter on the UCLA scholarships page.
UCLA, Westwood 2026: June 22 – July 31; domestic deadline May 1
SCIP lets students in grades 10 or 11 with at least a 3.8 unweighted GPA (no exceptions) take one or two real UCLA courses alongside undergrads, plus workshops, seminars, a volunteer project and mentors. In 2026, costs included a $1,675 program fee plus $385 per unit and smaller fees, and optional housing (from $2,745.20) was only for students 17 and up.
Also on UCLA's campus: Summer Discovery at UCLA is a third-party company, not UCLA itself, serving grades 6–12 for two to six weeks with tuition from $4,499 to $15,999. Its $250 early enrollment discount ends Oct 31.
Film, Media and Coding Programs for LA Teens
From newsrooms to code editors, these programs turn screen time into skill time, and three of the four are free.
USC Annenberg, Los Angeles 2026 deadline: April 19
This summer intensive brings together 26 students who live in and attend high school in one of 18 neighborhoods and cities near USC, like Boyle Heights, Compton, Crenshaw and Watts. Students do college-level work in writing, debate, multimedia production and interviewing, and meet industry pros. Cost isn't listed, so confirm your neighborhood qualifies and check back for 2027.
Los Angeles Applications reopen in January
Not summer-only, but too good to skip: a free, 20-month filmmaking and producing program where fellows visit sets, premiere films, travel abroad for a thesis film and get college advising. Grade and age requirements aren't on the page, so check when applications reopen.
Online
This free, fully virtual program for girls and non-binary students in grades 9–12 (including rising 9th graders and graduating seniors) offers six to seven weeks of self-paced projects, with optional in-person Industry Immersion Days in select cities. Dates aren't posted yet.
Virtual, plus in-person camps in select cities June–August 2027; applications February 2027
Free two-week immersive coding camps, no experience needed. Camps run virtually and in nine cities, though LA isn't confirmed, so virtual may be your teen's best bet; review eligibility when applications open.
Mental Health, Leadership and College Access Programs
These build what doesn't show up on a transcript: confidence, empathy and a sense of direction.
In person at assigned colleges, or virtual June 21 – July 23, 2027 Priority deadline Feb 26, 2027; final deadline March 31
Open to rising juniors and seniors ages 15–18 who live or go to school in California, with a 2.5-plus GPA and health insurance. The five-week academy covers mental health topics and a capstone research project, followed by mentorship from October 2027 to April 2028 and a summer 2028 internship, about 14 months total. Cost and stipend details aren't listed.
Camp Roberts and Sacramento 2026–27 signups opened July 1, 2026
A school-year program for California students in grades 9–12, with 2026–27 events Oct 30 – Nov 2 at Camp Roberts and Feb 12–15, 2027 in Sacramento. Cost varies by delegation, and financial aid is available. Set a reminder for next July.
Pomona College
For first-generation and/or low-income local students from rising sophomores to rising seniors, PAYS pairs a four-week residential summer program with three years of school-year engagement. Cost and deadlines aren't posted, so contact the program.
Summer 2027 Deadline Calendar: January to May at a Glance
Your winter-break homework (for the grown-ups). Items marked "2026 timing" are last year's dates, shown so you know when to watch.
January 2027
Jan 6: UC COSMOS applications open.
Late January (2026 timing): CHLA's one-week volunteer window opened Jan 26.
January: Ghetto Film School LA Fellows applications reopen.
February 2027
Feb 1: City of Hope applications due.
Feb 5: UC COSMOS closes (5 p.m.); aid postmark deadline Feb 6.
Early February: Getty Teen Gallery Guides usually opens; NHM Marine Teens and Kode With Klossy applications expected.
Feb 18 (2026 timing): UCLA Precollege rolling admissions began.
Feb 26: Child Mind Institute priority deadline.
Feb 28: CSSSA priority deadline.
March 2027
March 1 (2026 timing): Aquarium VolunTEENs applications opened.
March 12: USC international deadline.
March: Bloomberg Arts Internship applications open.
March 25: COSMOS decisions.
March 31: Child Mind Institute final deadline.
April 2027
April 1 (2026 timing): UCLA Summer Scholars Support aid deadline.
April 15 (2026 timing): Aquarium VolunTEENs applications closed.
April 16: Otis scholarship deadline.
April 19 (2026 timing): USC Annenberg Youth Academy deadline.
April 30: CSSSA decisions.
May 2027
May 1 (2026 timing): UCLA SCIP domestic deadline.
May 7: USC domestic deadline (noon PT).
Don't forget the fall dates, too: CSSSA opens Nov 1, City of Hope Nov 2 and Otis registration Nov 16, 2026.
Application Tips: Essays, Recommendations, Age Cutoffs and Aid
Competitive summer programs for high school students are basically a mini college application season. A little planning goes a long way.
Recommendations: CHLA required two in 2026 (from a teacher, counselor, coach or mentor). Ask three to four weeks ahead, ideally in December before the January rush.
Essays and interviews: CHLA asked for short answers, a 300-plus-word essay and an interview with a parent. Draft over winter break so your teen can polish instead of panic.
Age cutoffs: They're strict and tied to specific dates. UCLA precollege requires 15 by day one, City of Hope requires 16 by June 1, and the Getty requires 16 by the start.
Financial aid: CSSSA, COSMOS, UCLA and Otis offer aid or scholarships, often due with or before the application. COSMOS aid has a hard Feb 6 postmark.
Work paperwork: NHM requires a work permit, and Bloomberg Arts requires proof of work eligibility.
One shared calendar: Put every open date, deadline and decision date in a family calendar with reminders a week ahead.
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The Takeaway
The best summer programs for high school students in Los Angeles reward early planners, and the window is opening right now. With CSSSA, City of Hope and Otis opening in November and COSMOS, City of Hope and CSSSA closing in February, a few cozy evenings over winter break can land your teen in a research lab, a museum gallery, a music studio or a first paid job.
Pick two or three categories your teen is genuinely excited about, match them to the deadline calendar, and mix in at least one free or paid option alongside any pricey pre-college program. Then confirm every detail on the official page before you apply. Here's to a summer that's equal parts growth and fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should high school students apply for summer programs in Los Angeles?
Start in the fall, because many top programs open in November and close between January and March. For Summer 2027, City of Hope is due Feb 1, UC COSMOS closes Feb 5, and CSSSA's priority deadline is Feb 28. USC's domestic deadline is May 7, but admissions are rolling.
Are there free summer programs for high school students in LA?
Yes. Girls Who Code Pathways and Kode With Klossy are free coding programs, Ghetto Film School's LA Fellows program is free, and the LA Public Library offers free teen workshops, tutoring and volunteering. Several programs even pay teens.
Can high school students get paid summer internships in Los Angeles?
Yes. LA County Youth@Work pays $18.47 an hour for ages 14–24, Summer Night Lights pays $18 an hour for ages 16–24, and the Getty Teen Gallery Guides and Bloomberg Arts Internship are paid. Most paid roles require a work permit or proof of work eligibility.
How much do UCLA and USC summer programs for high school students cost?
USC's 2027 programs cost $8,371 for commuters and $11,946 for residential students. At UCLA, the 2026 Engineering Design precollege program cost about $3,002, and UCLA COSMOS costs $5,793 with financial aid and fee waivers available.
What summer programs in LA accept 14- and 15-year-olds?
Aquarium of the Pacific VolunTEENs is for ages 14–16, Otis Summer of Art welcomes teens 14 and up, and Youth@Work and HIRE LA's Youth start at 14. UCLA's precollege programs start at 15, and CHLA accepted ages 15–17 in 2026.
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