Elevate College Prep Summer Programs
Join Us in Â鶹APP and Make This Summer About STEM!
Experience a Powerful STEM Experience at Â鶹APP’s Leading Tech-Focused University
Unlock a summer of discovery, hands-on learning, and lasting impact with Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep programs this summer. Our unique programs are specially designed to provide middle school and high school students from throughout the world with an opportunity to gain invaluable experience at a leading tech university in the United States.
Programs are offered both online and in person on our beautiful, friendly campus in Â鶹APP.
Why Illinois Tech?
Â鶹APP is ranked the “Best Big City” in the U.S. for 9 years in a row
Conde Nast Traveler
STEM-based institutions in the U.S. to be named an “Opportunity College and University”
American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation 2025
In Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for the best salaries of graduates
Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026
Elevate College Prep Program Highlights
Designed for middle school and high school students, Elevate College Prep summer courses include interactive programs that bridge real-world knowledge with classroom skills. Students will work on hands-on projects and participate in an engaging lineup of activities across the Â鶹APP area.
In addition to receiving essential early-college exposure, students will receive an official certificate of completion.
Which Program Is Right for Your Student?
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep summer programs are designed to suit the unique needs of middle school and high school students. In summer 2026, we are offering the following summer program formats for students outside the United States:
Overnight Programs: Stay on Illinois Tech’s Mies Campus in Â鶹APP. Students are fully immersed in the college experience with hands-on learning, collaborative projects, and engaging campus activities.
Virtual Programs: Students participate in live, interactive virtual programs tailored to their interests, accessible from anywhere in the world.
Our Programs
Elevate College Prep summer programs are taught by Illinois Tech faculty who are experts and practitioners in their fields. Students can immerse themselves in subjects for which Illinois Tech is internationally renowned—including STEM, design, law, architecture, and more. All programs offer a unique, hands-on learning experience to broaden students’ skill sets and knowledge. Students can choose from two-week programs or select two one-week programs to make the most of their stay in the U.S.- Decision Leadership—In this program, your student will learn to think clearly, lead effectively, and make sound decisions under pressure in a world where change is accelerating and increasing competition means greater uncertainty and complexity. Hands-on and game-based, students in this program will conduct simulations, negotiations, and leadership challenges by blending theory with experience.
- Experiment in Architecture—A two-week studio, this program is designed to introduce high school students to the architectural profession in Â鶹APP, a city globally recognized for its influential architecture.
- From Lab to Life: A Chemistry Exploration—In this program high school students will gain practical lab skills, ranging from conducting chemical reactions and applying scientific methods to working with chemoinformatics, analytical devices, and computational tools. They will also see how chemistry connects with biology, physics, and medicine by analyzing environmental and biological chemicals.
- Pre-Health Academy: Discover Your Path in Health Care—This program offers high school students the opportunity to explore a variety of careers in the health professions, including medicine, dentistry, and optometry.
- Build Your Own Robot—Students explore robotics by working directly with robotic kits and the Arduino platform, building practical engineering skills and gaining insight into college-level learning and teamwork.
- Understanding the Human Mind—This program invites high school students to explore the fascinating field of psychology and the intricacies of human behavior.
- Game Design from the Ground Up—Students gain a foundation in game development—and no coding experience is required. They’ll learn about various coding languages and frameworks, tools that they will use to design and create their own video games. As the program progresses, students will explore key aspects of game development, such as graphics, sound, player interactions, and structuring games around a theme or objective.
- Influencing the Digital World: Social Media 101—This program will equip high school students with essential knowledge and skills in social media marketing, preparing them for the digital world of business. Students will collaborate on hands-on projects such as creating their own social media campaigns, designing advertisements, and developing crisis response strategies.
- Rocket Engineering 101: Design, Build, Launch—This program is designed for high school students who are passionate about aerospace and engineering.
- Biomedical Engineering: Drug Delivery Innovations—This two-week biomedical engineering program offers high school students an introduction to the innovative field of biomedical engineering through lectures and hands-on experiences.
- Cybersecurity Bootcamp—This program will introduce high school students to fundamental cybersecurity principles including network security, ethical hacking, threat analysis, and more.
- Summer Legal Academy—This dynamic five-day program is designed for high school students interested in exploring the legal system and civic engagement.
- AI Explorers (Virtual)—This online program offers a unique, immersive experience designed to introduce high school students to the foundational concepts of modern artificial intelligence.
- Math in Action: Real-World Problem Solving—Through virtual problem-solving sessions, interactive demonstrations, and real-world scenarios, students will discover how mathematical concepts directly apply to everyday challenges.
- Data Science Basics: Exploring Big Data—Through interactive projects in data analysis and visualization, students will explore essential data science concepts with hands-on guidance.
You can see all of our programs on the Elevate College Prep website.
Still Have Questions?
Our committed team at Elevate College Prep is readily available to ensure your confidence and comfort in selecting the ideal summer program for your teen. Email us at precollege@illinoistech.edu and one of our dedicated team members will address any concerns you may have. We’re here to support you and your student every step of the way.