Summer Springboard
Knowledge Base
MAIN FAQ
GET ANSWERS TO SUMMER SPRINGBOARD'S MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BELOW BY EXPLORING OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE.
Main FAQ
Summer Springboard’s Knowledge Base is your go-to resource for quick, reliable answers to our most frequently asked questions, saving you time and effort. By exploring it, you’ll gain clarity and confidence, ensuring you have the information you need right at your fingertips.
Please click on the links to browse the FAQs by section:
Summer Springboard
Browse our Knowledge Base
How Do I Apply?
You can visit our website at www.summerspringboard.com/apply to get the application process started online or contact our Admissions Officers at 858.780.5660 today!
An application, $600 program deposit and application fee (starting at $99) are required to reserve your space. You can call one of our Admissions Officers with your credit card information or use our secure online system.
Criteria for Admission
All students may be required to be vaccinated for in-person programs (depending on university requirements)
High School:
- Must have completed 8th grade of high school by program start date
- 3.0 Grade Point Average (or local equivalent) for all programs
International students must demonstrate proficiency in English via a telephone interview, or they may provide one the following minimum test scores:
- TOEFL: 490 on paper test or 60 on iBT test
- Cambridge: PET-Distinction or FCE-C
SAT: 450 in Reading/Writing
Middle School:
• Must have completed 6th grade of middle school by the program start date
• 3.0 Grade Point Average (or local equivalent) for all programs
International students must demonstrate proficiency in English via a telephone interview, or they may provide one the following minimum test scores
A Completed Application for High School and Middle School Campus Based Programs Includes:
- Non-refundable Application fee (varies depending on time of year) + $600 program deposit
- Short answer essay questions
- Signed agreement forms
We review completed applications and notify students of final decisions by email in 7 to 10 business days.
Summer Springboard
Browse our Knowledge Base
How Much Does It Cost?
Campus Based High School Program
Residential tuition costs between $5,298 – $6,498 (+ supplemental fees) and includes orientation, site visits, guest speakers, college tours, college admissions overview, college readiness workshops, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening activities, and weekend excursions. Check in is day 1 at 3pm and check out is day 13 at 10am.
Residential tuition by campus
- Barnard College, Columbia University $5,998
- Berkeley $5,998
- Berkeley MS $2,998
- Cal Poly $5,398
- Duke University $5,798
- Georgetown $5,798
- Georgetown MS $2,998
- Georgia Tech $5,798
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology $6,798
- NYSID $5,998
- Oxford $4,998
- U of Michigan $5,698
- U of Washington $5,798
- UC San Diego $5,998
- UCLA $6,298
- Yale $4,298
Commuter tuition costs between $2,998 – $3,498 (+ supplemental fees) and includes orientation, site visits, guest speakers, college tours, college admissions overview, college readiness workshops, and lunch. Commuter students are welcome on campus from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
$3,498: MIT Campus
$3,398: NYSID
$3,298: UCSD, Barnard, Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Georgia Tech
$2,998: Cal Poly, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, Washington, Vanderbilt
$2,498: Yale, Oxford
* Tuition Supplements for Campus Based Programs:
Application fee: Starts at $99 (mandatory, non-refundable)
Course Tuition Supplement $250 (mandatory)
- Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence – A Responsible Approach (Micro-Internship)
- Automotive Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Dentistry
- Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping
- Emergency Medicine
- Engineering – A Project Based Introduction
- Fundamentals of Engineering
- Human Robotics Engineering
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Marine Bio
- Marine Science & Ecology
- Nursing
- Pediatrics
- Pre-Med
- Robotics
- Veterinary Medicine
Group airport transfers: $95 each way. (Transfers outside of the official group pick-up and drop-off time window are $195 each way)
Unaccompanied minor transportation: $145 total each way
Middle School Program
Residential tuition costs $2,898 (+ supplemental fees) and includes orientation, site visits, guest speakers, college tours, college admissions overview, afternoon labs, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening activities, and weekend excursions. Check in is day 1 at 3pm and check out is day 6 at 10am.
Commuter tuition costs $1,498 (+ supplemental fees) and includes orientation, site visits, guest speakers, college tours, college admissions overview, afternoon labs, lunch.
* Tuition Supplements for Campus Based Programs:
Application fee: Starts at $99 (mandatory, non-refundable)
Group airport transfers: $95 each way. (Transfers outside of the official group pick-up and drop-off time window are $195 each way)
Unaccompanied minor transportation: $145 total each way
Course Tuition Supplement $250 (mandatory)
- Architecture
- Marine Bio
- Medicine
- Zoology
Online Academies
9-Day Summer Immersion Academy: $1,798
Summer Springboard
Browse our Knowledge Base
What Ages are the Students?
Most students in the high school program are between 15 and 17.
Our flagship offering – two week pre-college summer programs for high school students – are only for students that are rising freshman Freshman to graduating seniors.
The middle school programs are for students that have at least finished 6th grade through completing the 8th grade. The middle school programs operate separately from Summer Springboard high school programs with separate staff, accommodations, schedules, classes, activities, and a more structured environment.
Summer Springboard
Browse our Knowledge Base
Who are the Instructors?
Courses are taught by accomplished and passionate faculty recruited from many area colleges, universities and professional forums. Each faculty member is selected for their subject area expertise and proven ability to both challenge and captivate students.
Beyond theory, students will hear firsthand from experts in their field. These professionals connect abstract concepts to real world practice. Additionally, these practitioners share their own stories about how they got to where they are today, and offer advice based on a lifetime of experience.
Summer Springboard
Browse our Knowledge Base
What is the Refund Policy?
Refund Policy for Campus Based Programs
All refund requests and cancellations must be made in writing and will be calculated according to the date in which Summer Springboard receives such request or cancellation. The application fee is not refundable at any time.
- Tuition credit from previous years is not refundable. If a family cancels from a program, any tuition credits will be forfeited.
- Until March 1:
- – Change programs for free
- – Cancel without penalty (except application fee)
- Between March 2 and April 1:
- – Change programs for free
- – All tuition is refundable (except application fee and $600 deposit)
- – Option to roll over 100% of monies paid as credit for a future year
- Between April 2 and May 1:
- – Change programs for free
- – 75% of tuition paid is refundable (except application fee and $600 deposit)
- – Option to roll over 100% of monies paid as a credit for a future year.
- Between May 1 and June 1:
- – $300 to change programs
- – 25% of tuition paid is refundable (except application fee and $600 deposit)
- – Option to roll over 75% of monies paid as credit for a future year
- After June 1:
- – $500 to change programs
- – 0% refundable
- – 0% can be rolled to future years
Terms & Conditions – where it is impossible for us to operate a specific program at a specific location due to force majeure or reasons outside of our control; we may operate the program at a different location or merge multiple programs; or roll-over the tuition fees to a program into the future.
Tuition Protection Plan – Families may purchase a Tuition Protection Plan for $699 at the time of application, before May 10, 2026, which allows cancellation for any reason until the day of the program. The protection plan is only valid for campus based programs. See the full terms & conditions here.
Refund Policy for Online Academies
- 60 or more days before start date: 100% refund
- 30-59 days before start date: 50% refund
- 1 – 29 days before start date: 0%
Summer Springboard
Browse our Knowledge Base
More Frequently Asked Questions...
When are the program dates?
Updated program availability can be found here on our Program Availability Page.
Where can I access my campus-specific Family Guide?
Your Family Guide will be emailed to you as the summer nears, and it can also be found in the Parent Portal.
*Note – this page is actively reviewed and updated and is subject to change.