The Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP), a key component of Harvard Summer School, provides a rigorous academic platform for high school students ready to immerse themselves in a college-like environment. Each year, the program offers students a four week residential term, or a seven-week residential, online, or commuter term.
Within Harvard SSP, students engage with over 200 college-level courses in more than 50 subject areas, ranging from the humanities to STEM, taught by Harvard professors and distinguished visiting faculty. The program’s broad course selection allows students to explore potential majors and career paths, delve into topics unavailable at their high schools, and gain insights into global issues directly from leading academics.
This guide aims to provide a detailed overview of the Harvard Secondary School Program, offering insights into the application process, the academic opportunities available, and the personal growth that students can expect.
For 2026, to participate in Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program, applicants must be graduating high school and starting college in 2026, 2027, or 2028.
Additionally, they need to meet age requirements: at least 16 years old by June 20, 2026, and not older than 19 as of July 31, 2026.
The Harvard Secondary School Program offers high school students the opportunity to experience college life and academics at one of the world’s leading universities. Here’s how you can register for this enriching summer program.
Harvard SSP welcomes applications from students from around the world. If you are an international student, you may also need the following information:
The program does not have minimum GPA requirements and adheres to a non-discrimination policy based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, or any other protected classification. This ensures a fair and inclusive admissions process for all applicants.
Here are some important dates surrounding the application process to Harvard SSP:
Depending on the track selected, the timing of the program will look slightly different. In 2026, the Harvard Secondary School program will operate on the following schedule:
The Harvard Secondary School program offers residential, commuter, and online modalities. For the residential option, students will be taking classes and living at Harvard’s Cambridge campus. For the commuter option, students will only be taking classes on Harvard’s Cambridge campus, but living at home.
In 2026, the Harvard Secondary School Program costs the following:
The cost of each includes the following:
The following expenses are not covered by the program:
Scholarships are available to Secondary School Program students with excellent academic records who demonstrate financial need. To apply, simply complete the financial aid application within the program application portal – no separate application is needed.
To be eligible:
Financial aid to Harvard SSR is a scholarship award, meaning that it does not have to be repaid. Usually, awards only cover a portion of the cost, NOT its entirety, and families are expected to contribute to the remaining portion as well as other expenses like books and school supplies.
Harvard Summer School has two flagship offerings, the Secondary School Program and the Pre-College Program. Harvard SSP is longer and for-credit, while the pre-college program operates more frequently on shorter durations and has non-credit bearing courses. If the pre-college program sounds more appealing, you can learn more about that program here.
SSP is distinctive through its blend of intensive coursework, diverse extracurricular activities, and the opportunity to forge new friendships over the summer.
The Harvard Secondary School Program is a widely recognized pre-college program available to high school students. Its affiliation with Harvard University, a storied Ivy League institution, contributes significantly to its esteemed reputation. Most courses are taught by Harvard faculty and are subject to their rigorous expectations. Each summer, the summer school program attracts students from around the globe, eager to experience Harvard’s challenging academic environment and vibrant campus life.
While there are no official admissions statistics posted, online reports indicate that the acceptance rate to Harvard’s summer school programs are typically around 25%. There are no minimum selection criteria, but these placements are highly coveted, admissions to Harvard SSP can be competitive.
This program will afford academically motivated students the ability to earn college credit. The Harvard Secondary School Program confers credit – either four or eight credits depending on the number of classes taken – through Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. These are potentially transferable credits that could be put toward credit hour requirements for undergraduate degrees.
Students can choose from a variety of courses across multiple disciplines. Each course is designed to provide a rigorous academic experience similar to what Harvard undergraduates receive. The program allows students to plan their days on class days, giving program attendees the ability to live like college students. This program offers a wide variety of courses that mimic the interests of the diverse group of program attendees.
Students can only apply to either the Secondary School Program or the Harvard Pre-College program, but not both. Within the summer school program, students can only choose one programming term: four week residential, seven week residential, seven week online, or seven week commuter.
Following admission, Harvard SSP students will have access to course advising to help elucidate the course registration process and help students select courses that match their interests.
In the 4-week program, students attend classes for 2.5 hours, four days per week. These courses are designed to be interactive and are held in small groups to enhance learning experiences and connections with peers and guest speakers.
Through this track, students can receive 4 college credits. In 2026, Harvard SSP is offering courses in the following areas:
The 7-week courses offer a more extended period of study. Depending on course modality, students can either take one or two courses for four credits each. A four-credit course load will have students meet for 3 hours, two days per week, while an eight-credit course load will have students meet five days per week. This format allows students to dive deeper into their subjects, designing a specialized program of study focused on one area.
In 2026, Harvard SSP will offer 7-week summer courses in the following topics:
7-week students also have the option to use their two classes to focus on an interdisciplinary area of study. Harvard SSP has some pre-curated options from which to choose, but students are encouraged to create their own unique courses as well:
Harvard SSP also offers Career Pathway courses through their 7-week program, allowing students to explore potential future careers through academic study and real-world project work.
In 2026, Harvard SSP is offering the following Career Pathway Courses:
Beyond rigorous academics, the program provides a wealth of extracurricular activities that combine fun and learning.
Participants can access Harvard’s extensive athletic facilities, join cultural outings to museums, and attend social events like dances and talent shows, enriching their summer experience.
There are also a litany of online activities specific to the Secondary School program, including open mic nights, language meet-ups, journal clubs, and college admissions panels. These activities foster deep bonds among an international group of students and promote ways of meeting new friends with shared passions.
On-campus students enjoy additional perks like themed socials, music groups, and organized college visits to institutions such as Yale, Brown, and MIT, enhancing their understanding of the college environment and application nuances.
Students interested in learning more about this programming can find information from Harvard SSP’s website here.
Available to Harvard Pre-College and SSP students is programming geared toward college admissions, including workshops on college essay writing and financial aid, panels featuring admissions officers from various universities, and talks geared to help narrow a student’s target school. These sessions are designed to demystify the college application process and provide practical advice.
The Harvard Secondary School Program is best suited for high-achieving high school students interested in challenging themselves academically across a broad range of subjects from humanities to STEM.
According to Harvard SSP’s website, the program values applicants that possess the following criteria: academic motivation, intellectual curiosity, and the maturity/personal responsibility that is required when successfully navigating life on a college campus.
College admissions officers value applicants who pursue their passions genuinely, and this program provides a platform to explore those interests deeply. While the program does not ensure admission to Harvard, it strengthens any college application by showing a student’s readiness for college-level work and dedication to academic excellence.
According to their website website, 20 percent of respondents to a 2024 survey reported attending an Ivy League institution after attending SSP. This program demonstrates interest in an academic topic to college admission officers, and allows students to engage it with rigorous inquiry.
The Harvard Secondary School program offers motivated high school students with the opportunity to take academically rigorous college courses for college credit. It provides a holistic enrichment experience, strengthening the confidence future college students and young professionals. By combining advanced coursework taught by expert faculty and targeted college admissions support, it equips students with essential skills and knowledge.
Participants explore potential career paths, develop life skills, and build a global network, crafting compelling personal narratives that enhance their college applications. This program is a great first step on one’s learning journey, preparing talented high school students to lead and innovate across various fields.
Based on a recent survey from Pioneer Academics alumni, 71 percent of Pioneer Research scholars’ college admissions records were to the top 20 US colleges and universities. Six percent of Pioneer’s alumni attended university-affiliated summer programs.
If you’re interested in conducting the highest level of research for high school students, consider joining a Pioneer information session to learn more about the Pioneer Research Institute.
If you are a 9th or 10th grader, you should check out the Global Problem-Solving Institute today. You’ll have the rare opportunity to study current world problems in an interdisciplinary approach and earn college credits from UNC-Chapel Hill at a young age.
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