Knowing how to choose between residential and commuter pre-college programs often comes down to the program details themselves, how far you live from campus, what your budget allows, and how ready the student is to live independently. Every credit-bearing and enrichment course at Tulane Pre-College Programs can be taken either as a resident or commuter. The academics are identical. What changes is where students sleep, how long the session runs, what happens after class, and what the program costs. Residential students in Tulane Pre-College Programs live on campus for a two-week session with evening and weekend programming, while commuter students attend the same classes during the day and return home each night.
What’s Included in the Residential Experience at Tulane Pre-College Programs?
Residential participants in Tulane Pre-College Programs live in a single-point-of-entry residence hall with a roommate, with floors assigned by gender. They eat at the Malkin Sacks Commons, work out at the Reily Student Recreation Center, and study at Howard-Tilton Memorial Library alongside the rest of Tulane’s campus.
During a two-week Tulane Pre-College session, residential students take either one credit-bearing course or two enrichment courses. Live-in professional staff handle community building and enforce curfew and other policies, and current Tulane students serve as mentors.
Outside of class, residential students choose from a variety of evening activities and chaperoned weekend excursions. Co-curricular programming fills the late afternoon, and evenings bring Krewe meetings and campus events. Each participant joins one of our Krewes, Mardi Gras–inspired interest groups that build friendships and explore the city’s culture together on a themed evening excursion.
Residential students are expected to manage their own time, laundry, and basic needs in Tulane Pre-College Programs the way a first-year college student would. Families unsure whether a student is ready for that level of independence are encouraged to call our office at (504) 314-7619 before applying.
What’s Included in the Commuter Experience at Tulane Pre-College Programs?
The commuter option for Tulane Pre-College Programs suits New Orleans-area students and anyone staying nearby with a parent, legal guardian, or host adult. The academic day is the same one residential students follow:
- A college resource workshop at 9:00 a.m.
- Classes from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with an hourlong lunch at the Commons included in tuition
- Course field excursions and materials included
- Optional drop-in social programming from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Commuter enrichment courses run in one-week blocks with different offerings each week. Meanwhile, commuter credit-bearing classes meet on weekdays for two weeks. Students can enroll in as many weeks as they want across the summer.
At a Glance: Residential vs. Commuter Experiences in Tulane Pre-College Programs
| Feature | Residential | Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Session length | Two weeks | One week (enrichment) or two weeks (credit-bearing) |
| Housing | Residence hall with a roommate | Student lives at home or with a host adult |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Commons | Lunch at the Commons, included in tuition |
| Daily hours on campus | All day (curfew is 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday) | 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Evening and weekend programming | Krewe excursions, evening activities, weekend outings | Drop-in programming after class from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Summer 2027 tuition | $5,795 enrichment / $6,795 credit-bearing | $995 enrichment / $2,595 credit-bearing |
Tuition rates shift by cycle, so confirm current pricing on our Tuition + Aid page. Course supplies and materials are covered by tuition in both formats.
How to Decide Between Our Residential and Commuter Pre-College Options
Distance settles the question between going residential or commuter for most families. Students traveling from outside the New Orleans area generally choose residential. For families with a local home base, the trade-off is a higher cost against a preview of dorm life, and the answer depends on what your student wants out of the summer.
- Pick residential if your student wants practice living away from home before senior year, or if the social side of college like roommates, late-night study groups, or weekend excursions is a major appeal to them.
- Pick commuter if you want a lower-cost sample of college coursework, if your student has a summer job or family obligations, or if a one-week enrichment course fits the calendar better than a two-week commitment.
Outside guidance echoes this advice too. U.S. News notes that residential formats give students a realistic sense of campus living, while Forbes advises families to match the pre-college program format to a teen's actual interests and readiness rather than to prestige.
Frequently Asked Questions About Residential and Commuter Pre-College Programs
Do commuter students take the same courses as residential students?
Yes. Every enrichment and credit-bearing course in Tulane Pre-College Programs is open to both residential and commuter students, and both follow the same academic day.
Can out-of-state or international students choose the commuter option for Tulane Pre-College Programs?
Yes, as long as the student stays with an adult during the program. Commuter students are expected to live at home with a parent or legal guardian. If a student will stay with someone else, their parent or guardian must note that on the enrollment paperwork and provide the host’s address and phone number.
Is there a curfew for Tulane Pre-College Programs’ residential students?
Yes. Live-in professional staff enforce curfew along with other residence hall policies for our pre-college residential students, and Tulane student mentors accompany participants on excursions. Curfew is 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Can a student attend more than one session from Tulane Pre-College Programs?
Yes. Students can select multiple sessions and different experience types when they submit their application. All classes run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so students take one class at a time and cannot enroll in two courses that meet on the same dates. To add a session after applying, email summer@tulane.edu. Each additional session has its own fee.
Does financial aid apply to both residential and commuter students in Tulane Pre-College Programs?
Yes, but financial aid typically is only awarded for tuition costs, not room and board. Tulane Pre-College Programs have a limited number of need-based scholarships for admitted students, awarded first-come, first-served. Families request aid within our application, and aid decisions are shared along with admission decisions.