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Reason & Rationality Foundation Program - Princeton 2026

Reason & Rationality's Foundation Program immerses high school students in lively, small-group discussions around twenty core topics in philosophy, economics, politics, and decision-making. Taught by Ph.D. students and young professors from Princeton, Harvard and other leading philosophy graduate programs, the two-week program emphasizes serious but playful intellectual conversation — testing ideas in real time, revising views with humility, and continuing discussions beyond the classroom, sometimes late into the evening. Some of our students go on to participate in Reason & Rationality podcasts and related projects, which you can explore on this website. 

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Sample Topics: ​Foundation Program topics include free will and determinism; probabilistic arguments for the existence of God; the legitimacy of democratic political institutions; and and how economists and philosophers think about cost-benefit analysis, utility maximization, and their limits.

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Location: ​Both sessions of the Foundation Program are held at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ.

Program Details: Students who, as of Summer 2026, are entering 9th grade through those who have just graduated from high school are eligible to apply. While preference will be given to those applying to the full 2-week session, you will also find an option to apply for a single week.

  • Session 1 - Week 1: June 7 - 13, 2026

  • Session 1 - Week 2: June 14 - 20, 2026

  • Session 2 - Week 1: June 21 - 27, 2026 (single week enrollment option for S1W1 now sold out) 

  • Session 2 - Week 2: June 27 - July 2, 2026

Note: Full two-week enrollment for Session 2 remains available.

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Oral Exam Contest: Students who attend the full 2-week program are eligible to participate in an Oral Exam Contest on the second to last day of classes. Led by members of our Princeton-based teaching team, the Oral Exam Contest follows the same oral examination methods used in Princeton undergraduate courses.​ Participation involves a small additional tuition charge; details will be announced.​​​

Hear Student Reflections:

Hear Instructor Reflections:

Foundation Program
2026 Sample Schedule

Week One

Week Two

Program Schedule

Tuition and Pricing


The program fee of $6,900 covers all classes, activities, housing, and meals for the full two-week program ($4,600 for a single week). A $1,000 deposit is due at the time of application, which promptly will be refunded if the application is not accepted, with the remaining balance being due within seven (7) days of acceptance. Reason & Rationality will refund the full deposit and any tuition payments if request is made prior to April 22, 2026. Program fees will increase in Spring 2026. If your student needs financial aid, please contact us at: info@reasonandrationality.com.  

Questions About Reason & Rationality's Vision for Conversation-Based Education?

Check out the frequently asked questions on our website or reach out to Reason & Rationality at info@reasonandrationality.com.

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