Pre-College Programs – Summer Liberal Arts Institute

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Summer at Carleton: Where your college journey begins

Carleton’s Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI) is an immersive residential pre-college program for intellectually curious high school students looking for a rigorous academic experience. Courses and campus life are intentionally exploratory, collaborative, and creative, giving students the chance to dive deeply into new topics at a nationally ranked liberal arts college.

Pre-college students live like college students on our residential campus, learn through hands-on and engaging coursework, build independence, attend social activities and field trips, and for some programs, earn college credits.

2027 SLAI Dates Confirmed!

3-Week Programs: July 11 – 30

1-Week Programs, Session 1: July 11 – 16

1-Week Programs, Session 2: July 18 – 23

Applications will open December 15th!

Curious about past course offerings? Check out our courses from 2026! ↓

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3-Week For-Credit Courses

Session dates: July 5–24, 2026
Open to current high school sophomores and juniors
Students earn 6 college credits upon completion
A deep dive into college-level coursework with uniquely designed interdisciplinary courses, a rigorous academic structure, collaborative group work, research opportunities, and a final presentation

Learn More!