Summer programs
Your Creative Journey
begins here.
What is PreCollege
PreCollege brings together fundamental skill building with immersive experiences in the majors you’re passionate about. Build your skills, then dive deep into what inspires you.
This is a life-changing summer experience for emerging artists and designers currently in their sophomore, junior, or senior year in high school.
Inspiration Starts Here!
Tia Kassim
How did you find out about PreCollege?
When I was in my sophomore year of high school, I saw a poster on my art teacher’s wall for Ringling College of Art and Design.
What was your biggest takeaway from PreCollege?
PreCollege was more than just a trial run for my major—it gave me hands-on experience with industry software I wouldn’t have been able to access before graduating high school. Every major interacts with these tools in some way, whether using them directly or working with vendors who do. Having that early exposure made it easier to adapt and speak the language of the field from day one.
“I was searching for the right place to start—PreCollege turned out to be exactly that”.
What advice do you have for upcoming PreCollege students?
PreCollege is not the end of the journey—it is a starting point for a journey in any field you choose. It’s a place to collaborate across disciplines, build lasting connections, and set the foundation for what’s ahead. Savor it!!
— Tia Kassim ’26
A typical day for PreCollege students:
Monday-Thursday
Breakfast: 7:30-8:30 am
Morning Core Classes: 9-11:30 am
Mid-day break 11:30 am - 2 pm
Lunch / Library / Fitness / Recreation / Majors & Portfolio Presentations
Afternoon Immersions: 2-5 pm
Dinner: 5-6:30 pm
Open Studio Required (+ Optional )
Friday Explorations
9-11:30 am and 2-5 pm
Explorations are mini-workshops designed to provide students with a variety of experiences that ignite their creative journeys.
Each week, students select their sessions for both the morning and afternoon.
Examples of previous immersions
PreCollege Immersions
Business of Art and Design: Brand Strategy and Marketing
3D Character Art and Design
3D Computer Animation
Game Design
Game Art: Building Worlds with Unreal Engine
Creative Writing: Comics and Picture Books
Stories and Scripts
Entertainment Design: Themed Environments
Film
Fine Arts: Conceptual Practices
Graphic Design
Illustration: Traditional / Digital
Visual Development / Concept Art
Motion Design: 2D Motion Graphics
Painting Storyboarding
Virtual Reality Development
Visual Effects (VFX)
Learn with the best
PreCollege faculty are Ringling College faculty.
As practicing professionals, they work with companies like:
Ringling College students serve as teaching assistants, guiding classes and open studios while sharing their college experiences.
Leo Motherway
How did you find out about PreCollege?
I was really late to thinking about pursuing art seriously. It wasn’t until the end of my junior year of high school that I started looking into it, which didn’t give me much time or experience to explore schools. I searched for art school summer programs, clicked on one of the first links, watched a video, and thought, “This seems cool.” Next thing I knew, I was applying to the Ringling PreCollege program.
What was your PreCollege experience?
My experience was incredible. It was the first time I felt like I was truly surrounded by people like me—artists who are passionate, creative, and driven. I attended every social event, both required and optional, and made some of my closest friends to this day.
One of the most meaningful moments for me was receiving the Student Leadership Initiative Award. This scholarship, awarded to two students, recognizes strong, caring leadership and support of peers. It was an honor to receive it, and it made me feel even more connected to the Ringling community.
Beyond that, PreCollege helped me discover so much about myself, different majors, and what I truly enjoyed in art. More than just a summer program, it felt like finding a place where I belonged.
What is your advice for the future PreCollege students?
Try everything you’re interested in. Talk to as many people as you can—especially the TAs and RAs—because they can give you firsthand insight into what life at Ringling is really like.
“PreCollege
is a great opportunity to explore your artistic interests, push yourself, and make connections that could last a lifetime”.
Life on campus
PreCollege students are strongly encouraged to live on campus to fully experience the independence and responsibilities of college life.
You will be living in a single-gender, air-conditioned residence hall with other students from around the world.
Students are supervised by in-residence professional staff, and upper-level Ringling students serve as resident assistants and mentors.
Commuter students will enjoy all the Student Life activities and campus amenities.
Either way, you will find PreCollege is an exhilarating preview of what life is like at Ringling College.
Students residing on campus are provided three meals per day, seven days a week.
Commuter students are required to dine on-campus for lunch on check-in day and Mondays through Fridays, and dinner Mondays through Thursdays when attending required Open Studios in the evenings.
Our beautful campus.
Forge new friendships
Our Student and Residence Life team hosts evening and weekend activities, including Fitness Center access, outdoor recreation, and the Esports Arena.
Community service projects and entertainment events enhance your summer experience.
Lucía Elizondo -Collado
How did you find out about PreCollege?
One day, a teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. As someone who enjoyed creating things but also liked STEM, I thought the path for me must be architecture or civil engineering. I mentioned that I wasn’t entirely sure since I had never felt drawn to building architectural structures in particular, but how else could I blend both my passions?
Having seen some of my artwork, he asked, “Have you ever considered art school?” I had never even considered that option. He said the best way to find out is by doing it, so I should look into a summer program. His daughter had been looking into a PreCollege program in Florida named Ringling College of Art and Design. That night, I looked it up and knew it was what I needed to do.
What was your biggest takeaway from PreCollege?
PreCollege gave me the opportunity to see if I could truly pursue art and knowledge about the computer animation industry that I could not have found in my high school in Texas.
Doing the computer animation concentration for the second two weeks of the program gave me a chance to put myself in the shoes of a Ringling Computer Animation student for the entire day. I discovered a passion for 3D modeling and digital illustration.
What is your advice for upcoming PreCollege students?
Try everything. PreCollege is about selfdiscovery, and the best way to discover what you’d like to pursue is to try it.
“Most of all, PreCollege gave me confidence in my college decision.”
— Lucía Elizondo-Collado ’27
A summer you’ll always remember
Work together as a team
Ringling College’s Design Center provided us with the skills and opportunities to collaborate on projects viewed by thousands worldwide.
For our project, we wanted to show the wide range of creative mediums that Ringling students explore—everything from traditional art techniques to cutting-edge digital experiences. It was such a rewarding experience to bring our ideas to life and see how our design could connect with a worldwide audience!
©2025 Ringling College Design Center
Graphic Design: Daniel Mainou Reyes ’26, Ivy Jenkins ’26
Motion Design: Lucia Alonso Eiras ’26, Kiu Cheung ’26
Student Spotlight Photography: Cecilia Marty ’26
Photography: Karen Arango ’13
Check out the PreCollege 2026 motion teaser at: www.ringling.edu/precollege
Hi! We’re the students who branded PreCollege 2026!
Kiki Leung
How did you find out about PreCollege?
My high school art teacher introduced me to PreCollege, and I’m so glad he did! He really pushed me to explore different art schools for my education and encouraged me to check out the Ringling College PreCollege program. It turned out to be an amazing opportunity to grow as an artist and dive
What was your experience of PreCollege?
My experience was absolutely incredible! I got to connect with students already enrolled at Ringling College, some of whom have even become industry connections! The program gave me a real inside look at the four-year college experience, helping me figure out what I’m truly passionate about before diving into my application. It was a huge help in making smarter decisions
people who are now lifelong friends, including my roommate! I met some amazing And the best part? “
— Kiki Leung ’26
What is your advice for upcoming PreCollege students?
Stay curious and adventurous! I’ll admit, I was a little nervous at first
How to apply
PRECOLLEGE
A life-changing 4-week summer experience you’ll always remember. June 21–July 18, 2026
Three elective college credits will be awarded to all first-time students who successfully complete PreCollege.
Eligibility:
• Ages 16–18
• Current high school sophomore, junior, or senior
Program Highlights:
• 4-week immersive experience
• Earn 3 elective college credits
• Residential or commuter options
Application Requirements:
• Complete online application
• 250-word essay on creative experience & goal
• Apply at: www.ringling.edu/precollege
Fees for All Applicants:
• $55 application fee (due upon application)
• $500 program deposit (due upon acceptance)
Residential Option:
REGISTRATION OPENS November 1, 2025 APPLY EARLY Spaces fill up FAST!
• Balance due (tuition, room, meals, supplies) 6625
• Refundable damage deposit 300
• Total due by May 30, 2026 $6925
Commuter Option:
• Balance due (tuition, meals, supplies) 4640
• Refundable damage deposit 150
• Total due by May 30, 2026 $4790
Scholarships & Need-Based Aid
• See information online under Quick Links
Refund Policies
• PreCollege Handbook online
Enter to win $1,000 PreCollege tuition! Scan QR Code to enter. *
*For full contest details, visit www.ringling.edu/contest-rules. For questions, please contact: precollege@ringling.edu.
Additional Summer Programs:
PRECOLLEGE DISCOVERY
Explore learning and living on campus during this 1-week themed experience. Four one week sessions: June 21–July 17, 2026
PCD is a fully residential non-credit program.
Eligibility:
• Ages 15–18
• Current high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior
Program Includes:
• 1-week, fully residential
• Discover a focused college-level experience in a select area of study related to our college majors
• Work with Ringling College professors
• Full campus experience
Application Requirements:
• Complete online application
• Apply at: www.ringling.edu/precollege-discovery
Required Deposit:
• $500 (due upon acceptance)
Fees:
• Balance due (tuition, rooom, meals, supplies) 1725
• Refundable damage deposit: 150
• Total due by May 30, 2026 $1875
Scholarships & Need-Based Aid
• Not available for PCD
Refund Policies
• PreCollege Discovery Handbook online
PreCollege and PreCollege Discovery Admission Decision
The Ringling College Continuing and Professional Studies PreCollege office will review your application and email notification of your decision. To assure you receive our emails SAVE THE FOLLOWING THREE EMAILS TO YOUR CONTACTS: precollege@ringling.edu, cps@ringling.edu, admissions@ringling.edu. When admitted, your next steps will be to accept your offer of admission, submit your Program Deposit, and begin remaining enrollment documents.
TEEN STUDIOS
Designed for commuters to explore creative, hands-on projects on our main campus. June 15–July 23
Weekly day-sessions Monday–Thursday
Eligibility:
• Ages 13–18
• Rising into 7th through 12th grades
• Enroll in multiple classes or just one Studio, Digital Arts, and Maker Workshops
• Animation
• Character Design
• Concept Art
• Digital Painting
• Drawing
• Figure Drawing
• Glass Blown Forms
• Graphic Design with 3D Workshop
• Illustration
• Immersive Media Game Workshop
• Painting
• Lens-based media
• Portfolio Workshop
How to register: Please register 2-weeks prior to class start
• Go to www.ringling.edu/teen-studios
• Select class of interest and click on Register Now
• Review the full class description and personal supplies
• Payment is due at the time of registration
Fees: include tuition and most supplies
• $265 per class due at the time of registration
Need-Based Aid
• See information online under Quick Links
Cancellations, and Refunds
• Classes may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. In this case, students may elect to transfer to another class or a full refund will be issued in the payment method received.
• Individual cancellations must be made in writing to teenstudios@ringling.edu at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled class start date. A $25 cancellation fee will be withheld from the refund.
Out-of-town families are encouraged to give their students this exceptional, creative opportunity while they explore the beautiful Sarasota area. More information can be found on the Teen Studios website.
Siona Kalambi
How did you find out about PreCollege?
During my freshman year of high school, I visited Ringling College of Art and Design while touring different colleges. That was where I met Ed Cheetham, the Motion Design department head, who recommended taking PreCollege to help me improve my portfolio and get college experience while in high school. And here I am now, with Ed as my department head! It’s kind of full circle.
What was your experience of PreCollege?
My PreCollege experience ended up being online due to the pandemic, but I never felt isolated from the other students. Some of my closest friends now are people that I met there. In addition, the program made me confident that I wanted to do animation as my career. Taking classes that excited me and working on projects that I was passionate about relieved any doubts I previously had.
“It was so refreshing to be around so many creative people who also had similar goals as me”.
What is your advice for upcoming PreCollege students?
Make the most of your PreCollege experience! It’s so important to be able to talk directly with professors who have been part of the industry for years and current college students. This is your chance to not only make great work but also make great friends!
