Summer 2026 Pre-College Programs Enrollment Now Open at Rhode Island School of Design
At the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Pre-College, high school students have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in an intensive artistic environment alongside a global community of creative peers. With a focus on fostering a rigorous and inspiring experience, the program encourages participants to push their creative boundaries and achieve their highest artistic potential.
Located in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island, the on-campus Pre-College program allows rising high school juniors and seniors to experience life as a RISD undergraduate. Over the course of five weeks, students engage in comprehensive studio classes, participate in critical critiques, and complete various projects. They can choose to live on campus or commute from home, gaining access to renowned resources and expert instruction to bolster their artistic portfolios and transform their approach to art and design.
One participant, Liz from the class of 2025, described her experience as eye-opening, emphasizing the sense of community and the joy of creating alongside like-minded peers. “Realizing there will be a community and a place to truly call home after high school was an eye-opening experience. Being able to do what I love with people I loved being around is what made RISD Pre-College so special to me.”
The on-campus program for 2026 is set to run from June 27 to August 1, with applications being accepted on a rolling basis until the program’s capacity is reached. In a new development for summer 2026, RISD is introducing Pre-College Online, a digital counterpart offering high school students in grades 10 to 12 a similar collegiate-level educational experience. This virtual program replicates the RISD first-year curriculum through live online studio classes and critiques. It requires two days of scheduled classes each week, coupled with flexible assignment timelines, allowing students to balance work or other interests while honing their artistic skills. The Pre-College Online session will occur from June 22 to July 30, with applications closing on June 1, 2026.
Participants, whether on-campus or online, become part of RISD’s vibrant community of committed art and design students, all centered around the philosophy of critical making. Highlights of the program include experiencing the RISD first-year student journey, learning directly from accomplished teaching artists, engaging in studio projects and peer critiques, receiving personalized final critiques, and showcasing their work.
These experiences are crafted to provide high school students with a solid foundation for pursuing art or design at the collegiate level, all while being part of an inspiring cohort. For more details and to compare the available programs, interested students are encouraged to visit precollege.risd.edu.