Selective
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Overview
A selective three-week residential program for rising high school juniors and seniors that offers immersive instruction in humanities topics including literature, philosophy, art, history, and politics, taught by Stanford faculty and Ph.D. graduate students on Stanford's campus.
At a glance
Deadline
Feb 283 days
Sessions
Jun–Jul3 wk sessions
Formats
Residential
Location
Palo Alto, CA
Cost
$7,000+from $8,850
Entering grades
10th, 11th
Acceptance
Selective holistic review; students rank up to three course preferences and are placed into one course by the admissions committee if admitted
Application requirements
Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts from Fall 2023 through Fall 2025 from all schools/academic programs attended
Work Sample
One work sample in humanities or social sciences completed as school assignment within past year (analytical, persuasive, or research paper; max 5 pages of content plus directions/grading; no samples older than 2 years)
Teacher Recommendation
One teacher recommendation from teacher of English, history, or social science submitted via online form
Optional Video Essay
Optional but strongly encouraged for students whose primary instruction is not in English
Application Fee
$65 (fee waivers available)
Parental Consent
Parental/legal guardian consent and data submission required as applicant must be minor
Cost & sessions
Tuition of $8,850 includes housing in Stanford residence halls, all meals, daily activities, field trips with transportation and admission, course materials, and airport transportation for select times. Does not include airfare, incidental purchases, computers, clothing, school supplies, toiletries, or non-program meals during field trips.
Financial aid
Limited financial aid available based on demonstrated financial need, open to all applicants including international students. Financial aid application deadline is Monday, February 9, 2026 (one week after admissions deadline). Applying for aid does not affect admissions decision. Applicants must complete SSS Parents' Financial Statement Online (PFS) and submit supporting documents by February 16, 2026. Financial aid application fee is $60 (fee waivers available).
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