Precollege Studies
Experience the challenge of college study Explore your future major by studying with Cornell faculty while still a junior or senior in high school.
Apply now summer 2026! Applications are open.
Applications close as early as April 28, 2026. Classes fill quickly.
What is Precollege?
Cornell University’s precollege studies programs give high school students entering their Junior or Senior year of high school the chance to benefit from an Ivy League education before they apply to or attend college.
Whether participating in our Residential, Commuter, or Online Program, you’ll experience what sets our offerings apart—learning in regular undergraduate-level courses and earning real college credit for your work.
Summer and Winter courses
Get a head start on college by earning credits from Cornell online
Our online program features rigorous Cornell undergraduate classes taught during the summer and winter by university experts. In addition to experiencing college academics, you can explore potential majors, build college study skills, earn college credit, and receive a Cornell transcript.
Summer courses
Live, study & play at Cornell
Challenge yourself with a college experience. Spend three to six weeks living on the beautiful Cornell campus, taking fascinating classes with university instructors, earning credits and a Cornell transcript, and making friends from around the world.
Summer courses
Study on campus this summer & earn credits while living “at home”
If you’re a high school student who lives nearby or plans to stay in the Ithaca area with your parent/guardian during your class, you may apply to study in person, on the Cornell campus, during the summer.
Enroll in Cornell University courses alongside undergraduates.
Work with some of the brightest, most accomplished experts in their fields who love to teach and who share a passion for learning that’s contagious.
Prepare for college by experiencing classes at one of the world’s top universities. You’ll meet people from across the globe and learn as much about yourself as you will about your class subjects.
Receive an official Cornell transcript and credits that are generally transferable toward a degree at Cornell or elsewhere.
Student experiences
Request more information
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