College-Bound? Try These Catholic Summer Programs
What better way for a high school student to spend a week or two this summer, than to enjoy a fun and spiritual program at a Newman Guide Recommended college!
A faithful Catholic education can prepare students not only for a career, but also for life. Whether or not you plan to attend a Catholic college, a summer program at one of the faithful colleges recommended in The Newman Guide can be enriching and will give you a taste of the benefits of a Catholic education.
Summer programs are a great opportunity for high school students to strengthen their academic and extracurricular skills, grow in their spiritual lives, get a head-start on college visits, learn from distinguished professors, make lifelong friends and experience what faithful Catholic education is all about. Here are some options:
Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Fla., is offering its annual Summer Leadership Conference for rising high school juniors and seniors that is inspired by the Bible verse, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Running from June 22-27, students will “enter into a weeklong program rich in the Catholic faith, with multiple tracks of challenging academics, hands-on learning, mentorship, talks, and, of course, fun!”
Belmont Abbey College’s Schola program in Belmont, N.C., strives to cultivate a true life of leisure over a one-week session that runs July 6-12. According to the College, students will “build friendships together, through conversations with peers and professors; enjoy time to relax, join in the daily prayer life on campus, and pursue outdoor activities.” By the end of the week, students will have “grown in wisdom, critical thinking, and camaraderie.” Videos on the Schola program webpage show some of the highlights of previous years.
The Benedictine College Youth Conferences (BCYC) Immersion program in Atchison, Kan., offers four sessions for students to choose from more than 20 academic tracks, including computer science, engineering, nursing, pre-med, theology, philosophy, graphic design, voice, art, and many more. Outside of class, students participate in Bible studies, attend Mass and engage in a variety of social activities from dances to sports to scavenger hunts. Participants report that they come away from the week with a deeper relationship with God and a better understanding of their vocation. Benedictine also offers a one-week session for BCYC Leadership, which will help students discover how Catholic leadership principles can transform the way they lead at school, in their parish and in their community. There is also a weekend BCYC Encounter conference for parish and diocesan groups that focus on Benedictine spirituality. Finally, Benedictine College hosts a two-week Summer Intensive in Classical Architecture.
The Catholic Institute of Technology in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, one of the newest colleges to be provisionally recommended in The Newman Guide, is offering a Computer Science Intensive program for rising high school juniors and seniors. The program, which runs from July 5-August 4, will introduce students to computer science from a faithfully Catholic perspective while allowing students to experience all that Italy has to offer. Participants will even be able to attend the canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati while studying abroad.
The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., offers a wide variety of fun and educational summer programs for high school students. Whether students are interested in engineering, writing, nursing, drama, architecture, or 3D Animation, there’s something for everyone! In Experiences in Architecture, students will explore the academic and professional sides of architecture. Drama lovers will be drawn to the High School Drama Institute, studying voice, movement, and acting with industry pros. Budding engineers can dive into Engineering New Frontiers and the Computational Biosciences Institute, where students will delve into biomedical, mechanical, electrical, civil, and computer science engineering. Non-residential programs at Catholic University of America include the Nursing Intensive, 3D Gaming Animation, and two new camps: Script & Story Workshop and Young Writer’s Retreat. These programs are designed to provide an enriching educational experience in the nation’s capital.
Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., is offering “The Best Week Ever,” a choice of five different one-week sessions throughout June and July. Intended for rising high school seniors, the program instills in students “a deep appreciation for the liberal arts, Catholic culture, true friendship, and the beauty of God’s creation evidenced in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.” Participants attend daily classes in literature, philosophy, history and theology; hike in the mountains; canoe on the Shenandoah River; sing Irish songs; learn to swing dance and forge new friendships. As one student said afterward, “When I first heard about it, I honestly thought the ‘Best Week Ever’ was just an advertisement, but I truly did have the best week of my life and I have made memories I will treasure forever. Not only did I learn so much during my short time at Christendom this summer, but I’ve met the most amazing people and made friends I am still keeping up with. In learning so much about Christendom College and meeting such dedicated Catholics, I grew much closer to Christ and left the program with a desire to continue growing my relationship with God.” Summer program participants are eligible for a $8,000 scholarship if they apply and enroll in Christendom College.
Franciscan University’s summer Steubenville Conferences are popular with Catholic high school students across the country. The three-day Catholic conferences bring teens into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Conferences take place at multiple locations across the United States and Canada, including four conferences at Franciscan University’s campus in Steubenville, Ohio. The theme for the 2025 conferences is “Consumed” (Deuteronomy 4:24). Interested students must apply to attend a conference through a parish, high school or youth ministry group.
ITI Catholic University in Trumau, Austria, is hosting its first annual summer program. This program is geared for current college students or adults because participants must be 18 years old. The two-week program runs from June 30 to July 11. The program aims to “cultivate the virtue of wisdom regarding life’s most profound questions.” A typical day will include prayer, classes, Mass, and recreation time, with outings to Vienna, Salzburg and more. There is a scholarship discount for students who enroll at ITI following the summer program.
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, is offering a Veritas Summer Program for the first time for rising high school juniors, seniors and recent graduates. The program will run from June 29 to July 5 and includes daily access to the sacraments, academic seminars in the morning, and fun activities like swimming, canoeing, and hiking in the afternoons and evenings. Situated in a beautiful setting in Canada, the program will conclude with an overnight camping excursion. The cost of the program will be applied as a tuition credit for any student who enrolls in the College after attending the program.
Once again, Thomas Aquinas College is offering its Great Books summer program in two locations: its campus in Santa Paula, Calif., from July 6-19 or July 27-August 3, and its second campus in Northfield, Mass., from July 13-26. These two-week programs engage students in seminars on Plato, Pascal, St. Thomas Aquinas and Kierkegaard, among others. In addition to daily recreational and liturgical activities, the program also includes day trips to nearby cities. A detailed day-to-day picture of what the Great Books program is like can be found on the college’s blog. This program is offered to rising seniors.
Thomas More College in Merrimack, N.H., offers a Great Books program for high school-aged students. These two-week sessions, offered June 22–July 5 or July 13 – July 26, will immerse participants in a “healthy balance of prayer, work and play” as they read authors like St. Thomas More, Plato, and Aristotle. Along with academics, students will go on excursions throughout New England, including hiking mountains, visiting historic locations and traveling to the coast. Rising high school seniors also have the unique opportunity to attend the College’s Rome High School Summer Program, which runs from August 3-16. The program gives students a taste of the College’s Rome Program, in which sophomores spend a semester abroad, and “traverse catacombs and cloisters, piazzas and palazzos, exploring the heart of the Christian West.”
The University of Dallas in Irving, Tex., offers several summer programs for high schoolers interested in classical texts, art and music. Rising juniors and seniors can experience life on campus during the two-week Arete: An Introduction to the Classics from June 8-12. The Arete program is about the “questions of what constitutes excellence and how one lives a noble life” and students will earn three hours of college credit. Students as young as rising seventh graders can attend the Summer Art Academy or the Summer Music Academy to enhance their artistic potential. Both of these programs run for one week.
The University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., offers a summer program for high school students. The Cor Christi Institute program runs for two sessions in July on the University’s campus. This program invites high school students of all grades to encounter Jesus and learn the foundational teachings and practices of the Catholic faith through serious study, good conversation and wholesome friendship.
The University of Navarra is inviting high school students interested in traveling abroad to join the university on a pilgrimage walking the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago). The three-week program from June 8-28 will combine walking the Camino with Spanish lessons and liberal arts classes. Students will have the opportunity to grow in their faith and build friendships with Catholic students from around the world.
The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Tex., is hosting a Summer Writers Institute from June 12-14 for those who are 18 years of age or older. During this time, participants will meet at UST and hear from distinguished writers of poetry and fiction, and engage in seminars on art and beauty, Catholicism and literature, and the craft of writing.
Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, is hosting a summer program for rising seniors in high school for the first time. The Ex Nihilo summer program is designed to encourage teens to better live out their Catholic faith in the modern world. The program will expose students to the liturgical, intellectual, and cultural life of the Catholic church, as well as allow students to experience the joy of an authentic Catholic community. Daily activities will consist of theology seminars, pilgrimages to local shrines, and experiencing all that Walsh’s campus has to offer. The dates of the program haven’t been set yet, but students can email campusministry@walsh.edu for more information.
Wyoming Catholic College’s PEAK program in Lander, Wyo., offers a unique experience for rising juniors and seniors with adventurous spirits and a love for the outdoors. With the choice of two different sessions, from June 1-15 or June 16-30, students are given the opportunity to study the Great Books under the instruction of WCC faculty and to immerse themselves in the sacraments. Students are also engaged in a variety of outdoor activities, tailored to the experience and fitness of each participant, including rock climbing and a 4-day backpacking excursion. Students who register by March 1st will receive an early bird discount, and students are encouraged to ask a WCC admissions counselor about travel credit.
Finally, for students looking for a taste of faithful Catholic education from home, many Newman Guide colleges offer online courses, including Catholic International University and Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Catholic International University offers an Early College Program that allows high school students to take faithfully Catholic 100 and 200 level 3-credit hour courses. Most courses run for eight weeks and include courses like Latin 101, Foundations of Catholicism, and Intro to Catholic Health Care Ethics which is taught by Dr. Joe Zalot of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.
Holy Apostles College and Seminary offers a TakeCredit! program for high school students to take faithfully Catholic 100 and 200 level 3-credit hour courses. Students can earn up to 36 credits before graduating high school through Holy Apostles. Courses include Latin I, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the History of Sacred Art. Online programs recommended in The Newman Guide, including Catholic International University and Holy Apostles College and Seminary, allow students to experience the best of the Catholic intellectual tradition from home.