The Office of Summer and Pre-College Programs offers four programs: Pre-College Workshops (2 weeks, non-credit), Summer Institutes and Intensives (2 weeks, non-credit), Summer Academy (4 weeks, earn college credit), and Pre-College Study Abroad: Rome (2 weeks, non-credit). Other parts of Temple University offer pre-college programs as well, including during the school year. View the full list. 

Most programs are open to students who will enter grades 10, 11, or 12 in the fall. Summer Academy offers college credit and is therefore only open to students entering grades 11 or 12 in the fall. Rising 9^th graders are invited to apply to Architecture Institute or Robotics Institute in Session I. If you will graduate from high school in spring/summer of the current school year and want to know what your options are for getting a head start on college, please contact [click-for-email]. 

Program Hours are Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. -– 4:30 p.m., plus a 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. study hour.  Residential options are available that offer a robust schedule of evening and weekend social activities.

Our Pre-College programs are a mix of interactive class sessions with your instructors, as well as time to work at your own pace on a group or individual project. Depending on your course or workshop, there will also be opportunities to go on field trips, talk with guest speakers or participate in lab experiences. In addition, residential students will be invited to participate in regularly scheduled social activities on evenings and weekends. Schedules will be provided in advance so you can choose activities that appeal to you.

Generally, no more than 22 students will be enrolled in a single workshop or course, but some workshops may have as few as seven or eight students enrolled. We want you to be in a small environment where you'll have plenty of opportunities to interact with other students and your instructor.

All Pre-College programs take place on Temple University’s main campus. There are opportunities to take college courses online as an individual student that is not part of a cohorted Pre-College program. If you are interested in this option, please reach out to [click-for-email].

Evening and weekend activities are hosted on or off campus every evening and on weekends for Residential students. Monday – Thursday activities are optional and Friday – Sunday activities are required.   You can expect on campus activities like game nights, sports, scavenger hunts and movie nights.  On weekends field trips to various sites around Philadelphia like the zoo or our Ambler Campus may be offered. 

Pre-College Workshops: $1450  

Institutes and Intensives: $1350 for session I, $1450 for session II and III

Summer Academy: $3900

*Lunch is included for all students

* Study hour is included for all students

Throughout your program, you will be guided by a dedicated staff of Temple undergraduate students who will serve as Pre-college Mentors (PCMs). In addition to your instructors, these PCMs will be there to help facilitate your experience in the classroom, brainstorm how to successfully complete your projects, and just generally be there to answer your questions.

Temple University believes that all students have something of value to contribute. Temple University’s Office of Pre-College Programs takes pride in fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel comfortable regardless of their race, background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. We support a commitment to diversity and inclusion and welcome all qualified students. If you have any concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [click-for-email] or call 215-204-2712. 

Applications are free. To apply, students should:

Apply using these forms

Workshops & Summer Institutes

Summer Academy

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0  (please address any challenges and plans for success in your essay)
• Essay submission (250-500 words) 
• 1 recommendation form (Summer Academy only)

The application opens on December 1 and closes on May 1. Priority is given to applications received by March 1.  We recommend applying early for the best chance to get the workshops you want.

You will be notified 2-4 weeks after your application is completed whether or not you are accepted.  You will be given instructions at that time on how to claim your space in your program by paying your 10% deposit.  

Once a student completes their application, that application will be reviewed by Temple Pre-College and students will be notified of their decision 2-4 weeks after application deadline (January 15, February 15, March 15, April 15 and May 15).

Most programs require an application to allow Temple to learn more about you and your interests. Summer Academy is more academically competitive and selective than the other three programs. There are no application fees for any Pre-College program.

Financial aid is available for students attending our Pre-College Programs with priority given to Pennsylvania residents and early applicants. Proof of family income and an essay are required as part of the financial aid application.

You will pay your 10% deposit when you enroll in the program.  Once enrolled you may pay in any installments that work for you.  The full balance must be paid by June 1.

After your deposit is paid, please visit our Next Steps for Admitted Students page to finish preparing for your program.

You will pay your 10% deposit when you enroll in the program.  Once enrolled you may pay in any installments that work for you.  The full balance must be paid by June 1.

Yes! You can choose to live on campus for the duration of your program (or for part of your program, if you are enrolled for four weeks). You will live in university housing typically open to first-year students (but designated as minors-only for the summer) with your peers and Pre-College staff.

No. Living on campus is an optional part of the Pre-College experience, but approximately 30% of our Pre-College students have historically been day students who commute back and forth from campus each day. Temple University's Main Campus is easily accessible by car, bus, subway, and train. 

2 weeks residential fee (optional): $2450

4 weeks residential fee (optional): $4400                                         

* Residential students have optional activities each weekday and mandatory activities each weekend.

*Residential students have 3 meals Monday – Friday and 2 meals on weekends (brunch and dinner)

*Other options include:

Weekend activity with meal for commuters ($50, includes Saturday 12:00-9:30 and Sunday 12-5:00)

Optional Linens for residential students ($50, includes towel, washcloth, sheets, pillow, blanket)

Optional airport/train pick up and drop off ($75, includes arrival and departure by Car service accompanied by adult staff)

Residential options are available that offer a robust schedule of evening and weekend social activities.  Weeknight events include scavenger hunts, gym sports, group games, and more.  On the weekend students experience field trips to exciting sites in and around Philadelphia like the Chinese Lantern Festival, Center City, The Zoo, sporting events, The Art Museum, our onsite Movie Theater and our beautiful Ambler campus.

Pre-College students live in a traditional co-ed residence hall. This means that you will share a bedroom with another student of the same gender identity. Students on the same floor share a communal bathroom for students of the same gender, which has stall toilets and showers.  Each student gets a twin XL bed, desk, wardrobe and/or a closet. Floors are organized according to gender identity, with girls towards one side of the building and boys towards the other.

Roommates will be paired based on gender identity, and on the results of a roommate preference survey, which will be sent to all students in the spring. We regret that we cannot accommodate roommate requests in advance.

If you need accommodations for housing due to a disability, medical need, gender identity, need for a service animal, or any other reason, please contact [click-for-email] as soon as possible. 

Check back in the spring for a full list of what to bring/not bring. Students commonly forget to bring a bed linens, pillows, towels. Linens can be provided for a $50 fee.

Pre-college mentors (PCMs) and a resident manager will live in the residence hall with students. There will be an on-call staff member available 24/7 to assist students in off hours, and the building is monitored 24/7 by security staff posted at the front desk.

Temple University has dozens of eating options on campus that are accessible for our students to utilize, including dining halls, quick-service restaurants, food trucks, and more. The program fee, which all students pay, includes lunch. The program fee includes lunch for all students in a dining hall. Residential students have dining hall access for: 3 meals on weekdays, 2 meals on weekends (brunch and dinner) and after class snacks are provided in the dormitory.

Only residence hall staff, Pre-College staff, and enrolled students are able to enter the residence halls. Doors will not unlock for anyone without an OWLcard to access the residence hall. Security guards are at the entrance of the building 24/7 to ensure everyone scans their OWLcard at the entrance. 

Guests, including parents, are not permitted in the residence halls except in the lobby area during move-in and move-out. This is in accordance with Temple's policies for the safety of minors on campus.

The Next Steps page will be updated with information about move-in and move-out plans as they are finalized. For any questions in the meantime, please contact [click-for-email].

Temple University no longer requires COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty, or staff. Temple strongly recommends that students, faculty and staff stay current on all age-appropriate vaccinations, including for COVID-19, as vaccination continues to prevent severe disease.

The safety and wellbeing of students is important at Temple. Students will have access to around-the-clock campus and housing security, the Temple University police, and an alert system to notify students of potential emergencies. Temple Pre-College also prioritizes student safety through the use of buddy systems, curfews, and 24/7 supervision. Learn more about Temple's campus safety measures.

In addition to general campus safety policies for all Temple students, pre-college students are also subject to the following additional safety policies and procedures:

• Dorm Access – The residence hall is limited to minors only. A security guard is posted in the lobby 24/7. The only people able to swipe into the building are residents and specific Temple staff. No guests allowed.

• Check-Ins – Your PCM will text you several times throughout the day.

• Buddy System – You must have a buddy while exploring campus!

• Curfew – Report back to your residence hall by curfew.

• Campus Boundaries – All campus activities and exploration happens within specific boundaries. You’ll get a campus tour on the first day.

• Leaving Campus – You are not allowed to leave campus without a pre-college mentor or without being signed out by a parent or guardian.

• On-Call PCMs – A PCM is on-call 24/7 for any student concerns.

Pre-College is designed for you to learn what college is and what it means to be a college student in a safe way. You will be given the freedom to learn skills for college life under the supervision of Pre-College staff. You will get to explore campus with other students using a buddy system and set campus boundaries, and when you travel off-campus to explore the city of Philadelphia, you will always be with at least one Pre-College Mentor (PCM). Leaving campus without an adult is not permitted.

If you need medical attention while attending our programs, you will be able to use the Temple University Student Health Services for minor illnesses and injuries. If you do get sick or hurt and need medical attention, you will be accompanied to the Student Health Services office by a qualified Pre-College staff member and parents/guardians will be made aware of the situation. In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, you will be brought to a local hospital or urgent care center depending on the severity of the illness or injury and will always have a Pre-College staff member with you.

This year, you will be able to choose from more than 6 full-day specialty intensives or mix and match over 20 topics, allowing you to customize your program to suit your unique interests or explore something new. You will learn in small classes, alongside other high school students, taught by Temple faculty, graduate students, and staff.  Support is provided by our Pre-College Mentors who are current Temple students.  You will apply what you learn to real-world challenges, and leave with a better understanding of what you may want to study in college.

The cost of Temple Pre-College Workshops in summer 2026 is $1450 for a two-week session including lunch.  Program Hours are 10:00 a.m. -– 4:30 p.m., plus a 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. study hour.  Residential options are available that offer a robust schedule of evening and weekend social activities. Commuters are welcome and may participate in optional weekend activities. 

Yes, partial scholarships are available. Be sure to apply early and fill out the financial aid portion of the Pre-College application.

If you still have questions, please email us at [click-for-email] or call us at 215-204-2712 and a member of our staff will be happy to help you.

While Summer Institutes and Intensives are topic-specific programs for high school students who want to focus intensely on one area of study, Pre-College Workshops allows students to mix and match classes to explore multiple interests. In either program, you will learn in small classes, alongside other high school students, from Temple faculty, graduate students, and staff, and you will get lots of support from our Temple student staff along the way. You will apply what you learn to real-world challenges, and leave with a better understanding of what you may want to study in college.

The cost of Temple Pre-College Workshops is $3700 per student. This fee covers the tuition for your college course, two (2) non-credit workshops, lunch daily and ongoing mentorship and support from Temple undergraduate students.

Yes. You will need to fill out an additional page on your application to be considered for aid and scholarships.

First, check out our broader FAQ page. If you still have questions, please email us at precollege@temple.edu or call us at 215-204-2712 and a member of our staff will be happy to help you.

Temple Summer Academy is a program only for high school students, designed to introduce you to college academics and fields you may choose to major in. You will learn with a small, tight-knit group of other high school students from all walks of life, and you will get lots of support from our Temple student staff along the way. By the end of the program, you will earn 3 or 4 college credits and automatically qualify for a $1,000 per year tuition grant towards your future undergraduate education at Temple University if you pass your college course with a B or better.

There is no minimum GPA, but we generally look for students who are at or near the criteria we use to evaluate our incoming freshman class. To read more about the admissions criteria we use for our freshman class, please visit the First-year Students page.

The cost of Temple Pre-College Workshops in summer 2025 was $3,200 per student. This fee covers the tuition for your college course, two (2) non-credit workshops, ongoing mentorship and support from Temple undergraduate students, and access to a robust schedule of evening and weekend social activities. 

Yes. You will need to fill out an additional page on your Summer Academy application to be considered for aid.

Temple Summer Academy is designed to give you a thorough introduction to college academics. While we hope you will consider Temple as a college choice, we recognize that you may not be sure yet. The knowledge you gain from this program will help you make informed decisions about what you are looking for in a college or university, things to consider when applying, and what fields you may be interested in majoring in. You will also have a Temple transcript that reports the grade you earn in your college course, and you can transfer the credits from that course to another institution.

If you still have questions, please email us at [click-for-email] (link sends email) or call us at 215-204-2712 and a member of our staff will be happy to help you.