Summer Academy is a six-week college immersion experience taking place on the campus of College of Mount St. Joseph.   During Summer Academy, Upward Bound students live in campus housing and attend academic classes  in the areas of math, composition, foreign language and science designed to reinforce their current skills and prepare them for the next academic year’s curriculum. Additionally, rising seniors (pre-12th grade students) may participate in a career/service internship, while graduating seniors enroll in up to two 3-credit college course at the Mount which is transferable to any post-secondary school they choose to attend.  Students return home on the weekends and receive a weekly stipend for successful completion of the weekly activities offered. 

Students also participate in a variety of workshops emphasizing such topics as academic skill enhancement, study skills development and career exploration and college preparation.  Additionally, rising seniors receive an opportunity to participate in paid career-exploration (work-study) internships.

Summer Academy's  primary objectives are to develop the academic, study, community engagement and self-discipline skills  within students which are necessary for successful scholarship at both the high school and college levels.  Upward Bound achieves these goals by creating a summer program centered on academic rigor,  intellectual stimulation and student empowerment which in turns, fosters a solid peer community of support.  Beyond attaining these goals, students also participate in many off-campus, receational field trips, and college tours in the Greater Cincinnati area and the region.  The culmination of the Summer Academy component is a college exploration/educational  trip involving travel outside of the Greater Cincinnati area for approximately, 3-5 days.