Barnard College at Columbia University: Summer Enrichment

Barnard & Columbia Summer Enrichment Programs 2026

Barnard College and Columbia University host separate but adjacent summer programs for high school students. Both offer residential college-level coursework in New York City. Programs vary by duration, intensity, and cost. Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, participants experience NYC culture alongside academics.

Barnard Pre-College Program

Two-week residential program on Barnard campus. Rising high school seniors preferred. Choose from seminars in science, social science, humanities, and arts. Taught by Barnard faculty. Small class sizes. Dorm living in Barnard residence halls. Dining hall access, gym, library facilities.

Cost: $3,500 including tuition, housing, meals.

Vibe: Focused on empowering young women (Barnard is all-women’s college). Strong emphasis on leadership and intellectual curiosity.

Columbia Summer Programs for High School Students

Columbia Pre-College Program: Two-week residential. Students choose one course from Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science, or School of the Arts. Taught by Columbia faculty. Dorm living on Morningside Heights campus in Upper Manhattan. Cost: $3,800 including tuition, housing, meals.

Columbia Summer Language Programs: High school students can enroll in intensive language courses (Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, etc.). Four-week sessions. Cost: $3,500–$4,500 including housing.

Summer Sessions at Columbia

Columbia's official Summer Sessions allow high school students to enroll in regular Columbia University courses. Two six-week sessions: June-July or late July-August. All departments available. Same credit and rigor as academic year courses.

Cost: $2,000–$3,000 per course plus housing if on-campus (additional $2,500–$3,500 for six weeks).

Impact: Strong. Columbia is Ivy League; a successful Summer Sessions course strengthens applications to Columbia, peer Ivies, and other top universities.

Location: New York City

Both Barnard and Columbia are located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Students have access to: Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Broadway theaters, world-class restaurants, Central Park, publishing houses, technology companies, nonprofit organizations. The NYC environment is part of the educational experience.

Application Timeline

Applications open February–March. Most programs fill by May. Apply early. Competition moderate-to-competitive. Transcripts, essays, teacher recommendations required.

Compare with other elite pre-college programs nationwide.