Program Participation Options, Discounts, & Costs

Below is the breakdown of the ways one can participate and the associated costs in one of our "for credit" programs: Summer College for High School Students, Summer Music Academy, Summer Theatre Conservatory

Program Options

FULL RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE

The total cost for the full residential experience in our 2026 summer program is $5,900. This includes a three-credit Ithaca College undergraduate course, three weeks of housing and meals, structured recreational activities, access to campus resources and all program fees (this includes the $500 deposit). Additionally, a non-refundable $50 application fee is due upon application to the program and if applying to the Summer Theatre Conservatory, an additional non-refundable $25 application fee for Acceptd applies.

COMMUTER EXPERIENCE

The 2026 commuter rate is $4,368. The total cost for commuters includes a three-credit Ithaca College undergraduate course, activity fees, 16 meals (orientation dinner and lunch during the weekdays), and all program fees (this includes the $500 deposit). Additionally, a non-refundable $50 application fee is due upon application to the program and if applying to the Summer Theatre Conservatory, an additional non-refundable $25 application fee for Acceptd applies.

OPTIONS FOR ITHACA COLLEGE EMPLOYEES

The dependents of Ithaca College employees are welcome to participate in our programs and can apply for tuition remission to offset some of the costs of participation (this applies to our "for credit" programs SCHSS, SMA, & STC; and does not apply to SPI). Your dependent may choose between being a commuter or living on campus. Please contact the Office of Extended Studies at oes@ithaca.edu for program pricing if using tuition remission.

For COSTS Associated with THE summer Piano Institute

Please visit this webpage: Summer Piano Institute Program Costs 

Confirming Your Participation in the Program

Your participation in our summer pre-college program is not confirmed until you have paid your $500.00 deposit in Campminder.

Upon receiving an acceptance communication, you will have 14 days to submit your deposit or we will assume that you are not interested and we will then offer your spot to another person. Note: This does not apply to our foundation students as the foundation will cover the cost of the deposit when submitting payment for the total program.

Please note that the balance will need to be paid in full by June 1.

Discounts

Discount TypeAmount
Early Registration Discount
(All application materials submitted by Feb. 1, 2026) 		$200
Returning Student Discount
(For a student who has previously attended SCHSS, SMA, or STC)		$200
Multiple-Child Discount
(Amount per child attending concurrently)		$100

Discounts will be applied after submitting the $500 deposit and confirming your spot.

Billing and Payment

DateAmount DueSubmission Portal
Upon Application

$50, non-refundable (all programs)

$25, non-refundable (Accetpd - Theatre)

Will be paid when submitting the application.

If applying to the Summer Theatre Conservatory, $25 is due to Acceptd

Within 14 days of acceptance$500, non-refundable depositCampMinder Account (Once logged in, click on Financial Management and then on Make Payment.)
June 1Remaining balanceCampMinder Account (Once logged in, click on Financial Management and then on Make Payment.)

The deposit reserves a seat in the program, but seat availability cannot be guaranteed until full payment is made.

Scholars supported by foundation partners (Minds Matter, FDA, Summer Search, Achievement First, etc.) are considered paid in full once program sponsorship is confirmed and you have confirmed your attendance with your sponsor.

Refund Policy

The $50 application fee is non-refundable. If applying to the Summer Theatre Conservatory, an additional non-refundable application fee of $25 for Acceptd applies and is non-refundable.

The $500 enrollment deposit is non-refundable.

Full refunds of paid program fees due to withdrawal from the program by June 1 will be provided, minus the enrollment deposit of $500. Partial refunds of program fees after June 1 may be considered on a case-by-case basis. All refund requests should be made in writing to the Office of Extended Studies and can be sent to summercollege@ithaca.edu.

No refunds are given once the programs begin or to participants who miss portions, fail to comply with institutional policies, or who are dismissed from a program.

Ithaca College Scholarships - Due by April 1, 2026

Ithaca College provides a limited number of need-based, partial-tuition scholarships. If you believe you will be eligible for financial aid when you apply to college, you are encouraged to apply for financial aid for the summer college program. The maximum award is 50% of the program fee. Financial Aid requests can be made via the Financial Aid form in your Campminder account (in the Forms and Documents section).

All financial aid applications are due by April 1, 2026.

The application for financial aid can be found in Campminder when you setup your participant record (upon acceptance).

Note: Applicants from our Foundation partners are not eligible to receive additional discounts or financial aid beyond the 35% discount for Foundation partner applicants.

Foundation and College-Prep Scholarship Partners

We welcome partnerships with foundations, non-profit service organizations, and college-prep organizations seeking to fully support or offset costs for students to attend our summer pre-college residential programs. For more information on partnering, please contact the Office of Extended Studies at oes@ithaca.edu. A financial aid application is not required from students receiving scholarships via foundations, non-profit service organizations, or college-prep partners.