Online Summer 2026 Information

Program Dates: Live Sessions: July 6 - July 31, 2026

Program Times: Monday-Friday | 9AM-12:30PM U.S. Eastern Daylight Time

Format: Students participate online from anywhere in the world. Please note: this program takes place during U.S. Eastern Daylight Time morning.

TUITION
Base Price, credit bearing (3 college credits):
$2,000 - Early bird discount: $1,800 (if students register by March 1, 2026)
Base Price, not for credit:
$1,800 - Early bird discount: $1,600 (if students register by March 1, 2026)

Online Program Registration Deadline: June 9, 2026

Who is Eligible?

Students ages 14 and older are invited to join this online Summer Academy program. No experience is needed—just a passion for design! Perfect for aspiring artists, architects, interior designers, engineers, game designers, and more.

Why Attend BAC Pre-College?

For over 50 years, the BAC’s Summer Academy has been a cornerstone of design education for high school students. Offered online, the program allows students—no matter where they live—to take part in this dynamic pre-college experience. Students work in small studios (8-10 students) with a dedicated Studio Lead, developing essential design skills through individual and collaborative projects.

What Will You Learn?

Through curated design challenges, students delve into Ideation, Iteration, Sketching, Drawing, Digital Design, Digital Fabrication, Model Making, and Presentation Skills throughout the Summer Academy program.

Option to Earn College Credit!

Students can enroll either for credit with the Credit Bearing Option (CBO), or choose a Not For Credit (NFC) option. If enrolled in CBO, students who complete the Summer Academy program receive 3 college credits. Both CBO and NFC students are eligible for a $2,000 scholarship toward one of the BAC’s undergraduate programs, once they complete the Summer Academy program.

Choose Your Track

Summer Academy students can choose between two tracks - Exploration or Investigation.

The Exploration Track is recommended for first-time Summer Academy students and students with no design experience. This track prioritizes fundamental skills with learning across multiple design disciplines.

The Investigation Track is recommended for students with prior design experience or for those who wish to more strategically focus on singular design disciplines and challenges.

What to Expect

Online students engage in a virtual studio-like experience via Zoom, addressing real-world design challenges with lectures, individual feedback from practicing design professionals, design exercises, workshops, virtual site visits, digital fabrication, and more. The experience concludes with a digital pin-up and digital portfolio.

All essential materials, technology access, and tools are provided in a mailed kit at the beginning of Summer Academy.

To fully participate, online students require a Windows or Mac computer with stable, high-speed internet access, and a webcam.

Scholarships

The BAC’s mission to provide excellence in design education emerging from practice includes fostering the next generation through hands-on engagement. Through the Pre-College Design Access Fund, government grants, and the generosity of sponsors such as Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, Inc. and Robert Houseman, scholarships and fellowships are available to students for all our Pre-College programs, including Summer Academy - Boston, Summer Academy - Global, and Urban Design and Planning Studio.

The scholarship application deadline is March 1, 2026.