10 Electrical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
For high school students passionate about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), electrical engineering summer programs offer an invaluable opportunity to explore one of the most dynamic and impactful fields within the broader engineering spectrum. Whether you're intrigued by designing innovative electronics, understanding power systems, or developing cutting-edge communication technologies, these programs provide an immersive experience where theoretical concepts meet practical application.
By participating in these focused summer courses, students can dive deep into the world of electrical engineering while gaining hands-on experience with real-world projects, collaborating with like-minded peers, and learning from industry experts and esteemed professors. Moreover, students get early exposure to potential career paths in high-demand sectors like renewable energy, telecommunications, robotics, and AI, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their college majors and future professional aspirations. Summer programs stand out as they provide a more intensive, focused learning environment away from the usual classroom setting.
With so much to gain, we’ve curated a list of 10 electrical engineering summer programs that will allow high school students to expand their horizons, gain hands-on experience, and develop key skills in this rapidly evolving field.
1. Electrical Engineering: Smart Lightning @ BU
Cost: $7,400 (financial aid available)
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Application Deadline: Applications will open December 15, 2024.
Program Dates:
Session 1: June 15 - June 27, 2025
Session 2: July 6 - July 18, 2025
Session 3: July 20 - August 1, 2025
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Summer Challenge course on Electrical Engineering focuses on Smart Lighting and optical wireless communication using LED technology. Designed for high school students, this two-week program introduces modern electrical and computer engineering concepts. Developed with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center, the course covers key topics such as electrical components, circuits, LED technology, and visible light communication (VLC).
By the end of the course, students will have hands-on experience with tools like the Analog Discovery platform and Arduino software, and will learn to measure electrical and optical properties, build LED circuits, and establish a wireless VLC link. Teams will work on assembling printed circuit boards, maintaining lab notebooks, and presenting their final projects. This course provides a solid foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of electrical engineering, preparing students for future academic and professional pursuits.
2. UMass Amherst’s Summer Engineering Institute
Cost: $3,636 (Residential); $2,167 (Commuter)
Location: UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA
Application Deadline: Expected to open in December.
Program Dates: July 14 - 27, 2024
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores to seniors
The Summer ENGineering Institute (SENGI) is a dynamic program designed to give students an in-depth look at how engineers create innovative solutions that improve everyday life. Throughout the course, participants will explore various fields of engineering—including biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, and mechanical—through faculty presentations, guided discovery, and hands-on design activities.
Participants will work in team-based labs equipped with modern technology, tackling challenges related to environmental sustainability, infrastructure design, and more. The program culminates in a final presentation where students showcase their projects, allowing them to develop essential skills in engineering design, leadership, teamwork, and communication.
Beyond the technical aspects, SENGI helps students gain a clearer understanding of potential career paths within engineering, while also fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The program aims to provide an enriching experience that prepares students for both college and future careers in engineering.
3. Ladder Internships (Engineering Track)
Cost: $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Likely to close in April based on previous years.
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The Summer 2025 cohort has not released dates yet.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships connects high school students with dynamic start-ups across a variety of industries, including engineering, technology, AI, health tech, and more. This selective, fully remote internship provides participants with hands-on experience, working directly with company founders and industry professionals on real-world projects. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
4. John Hopkins Engineering Innovation Program
Cost: $3,575 for base tuition. Additional fees based on residential/commuter options ($5,800 for residential students at Homewood, $5,550 at Hood College, $250 for commuters).
Location: Johns Hopkins University (Homewood Campus, Baltimore, MD); Hood College (Frederick, MD); and additional commuter locations at JHU's Applied Physics Laboratory (MD), Ohlone College (CA), and University of the District of Columbia (DC).
Application Deadline: Applications for summer 2025 will open in December.
Program Dates: June 30 – July 25, 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students with a preference for rising juniors and seniors
The Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation (EEI) Program offers high school students a chance to dive into hands-on projects spanning various engineering fields, with a key focus on electrical engineering. Participants work in teams to design and test a structurally stable bridge, experiment with bioreactors, and develop an electronic device aimed at improving user well-being.
Students will also be introduced to disciplines such as mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as materials science. The program combines college-level lectures with problem-solving exercises and team-based projects to help students enhance their engineering skills and boost their confidence. Both residential and commuter options are offered. For those interested, we have a detailed overview of the program, so feel free to check it out!
5. Tufts Engineering Investigations
Cost: $4,000 for commuter students; $5,500 for residential students (plus an additional $200 materials fee).
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024 - May 1, 2025
Program Dates: 2025 dates will be posted soon
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 10-12 or a Spring 2024 high school graduate
The Engineering Investigations (EI) program introduces students to a wide range of engineering disciplines, providing a comprehensive overview of the field. As engineering plays a critical role in addressing societal challenges like clean water, renewable energy, and personalized medicine, this program broadens students' understanding of how engineers impact the world. Over two weeks, students will explore various branches of engineering, including civil, environmental, mechanical, biomedical, human factors, and electrical engineering. The program introduces students to engineering concepts such as design processes, ethics, project management, and fabrication.
Each day, students engage in projects that challenge them to think creatively and critically about real-world problems. Throughout the program, students will work on projects that apply these ideas, culminating in small group projects where they focus on a specific area of interest. The program concludes with a final showcase where students present their work and document their experience in digital portfolios.
6. TESI Electrical Engineering Camp
Cost: $3,895 (residential program); $3,295 (commuter program). Discounts available for IEEE members and returning students.
Location: Multiple locations including Rice University (Houston, TX), University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA), and University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots are filled; early application is encouraged.
Program Dates:
University of San Diego: June 30 - July 8, 2024 & July 11 - July 19, 2024
Rice University: June 30 - July 8, 2024 & July 11 - July 19, 2024
University Of Pennsylvania: July 14 - 22, 2024 & July 25 - August 2, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13-17
The TryEngineering camp is designed to progressively build students' skills through a hands-on, project-based curriculum. Over the course of the camp, participants will explore various fields of engineering, including electrical, mechanical, civil, aerospace, chemical, and computer engineering. The activities are carefully structured to build upon each other, helping students gain confidence and experience as they engage in designing, engineering, and building throughout the session.
Key projects include exploring electrical engineering through basic circuitry and breadboarding, where students wire LEDs and resistors, followed by soldering exercises. The camp also introduces microcontrollers, allowing students to choose between building a weather station or programming a song using buzzers. In addition, participants tackle an AM Radio Challenge, where they build a functional AM radio from a kit, practicing advanced soldering skills. Soldering is highlighted as a valuable life skill, with safety and effectiveness emphasized throughout the camp.
7. Science Mentorship Institute - Electrical Engineering Mentorship Program (EEMP)
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May.
Program Dates: July 15 - August 10, 2024 (~5 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to high school students and older
The Electrical Engineering Mentorship Program (EEMP) is a free, five-week summer initiative aimed at introducing high school students to the field of electrical engineering while allowing them to explore their own research interests. This remote program covers essential topics such as circuits, computer architecture, signal processing, embedded systems, and software engineering. Students are guided by volunteer mentors and are provided with valuable resources, including open-source software and research papers, to help them pursue the independent research project of their choosing.
Throughout the program, participants engage in weekly journal clubs, interactive labs, and content-rich lectures designed to deepen their understanding of electrical engineering principles. . Using these tools, participants will work on an independent project of their choosing, which will culminate in a final presentation and written report by the program's conclusion. EEMP provides a valuable opportunity for aspiring engineers to gain hands-on experience and deepen their understanding of the field.
8. Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)
Cost: Free
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Application Deadline: March 12, 2024
Program Dates:
Session 1: July 14 - 18, 2024
Session 2: July 21 - 25, 2024
Session 3 (Advanced Session for returning participants): July 28 - August 1, 2024
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors. Underrepresented groups in the engineering field are highly encouraged to apply.
This exceptional five-day summer program is tailored for high school sophomores and juniors who have a strong interest in engineering. The program features a series of introductory workshops led by our engineering faculty, combining lectures with interactive activities that cover multiple engineering disciplines.
Participants will also experience life on campus, living in dorms and taking part in recreational activities that foster teamwork and community. For returning students, an advanced session is available, allowing them to delve deeper into specific areas of interest and further develop their engineering skills. It is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to the various disciplines within engineering, including bioengineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science.
9. Grainger Engineering Young Scholars (GEnYuS)
Cost: Free (Housing, meals, and a fellowship stipend are provided; students are responsible for transportation).
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
Application Deadline: The priority deadline is March 24. After that, students can apply on a rolling basis until spots are filled.
Program Dates: June 20 - August 2, 2024
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th-12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin.
The Grainger Engineering Young Scholars (GEnYuS) program offers high school students an unparalleled opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research at one of the nation’s top engineering schools, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This prestigious six-week summer program immerses students in STEMM research, with disciplines ranging from electrical and mechanical engineering to artificial intelligence, bioengineering, quantum mechanics, and cancer immunology.
The program is part of the Increasing Diversity, Equity, & Access (IDEA) initiative, which focuses on supporting and empowering traditionally underrepresented groups in STEMM. Through these initiatives, students are provided a safe and inclusive environment where they can build a strong community of peers and mentors who encourage one another to be confident and bold in their STEMM exploration.
Students are assigned to department-specific research groups based on their interests and previous academic work. Working closely with faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers, participants gain hands-on experience in real-world research while developing professional skills through weekly seminars. The program culminates in a research symposium, where students showcase their findings in front of peers, mentors, and faculty.
10. High School Summer Internship Program - HighTech Bound
Cost: There is no cost. Students are paid at a competitive hourly rate.
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Program Dates: 5 weeks in June/August
Eligibility: Open to rising seniors who are U.S. residents.
The UNH-IOL High School Summer Internship Program provides high school students with a unique chance to gain valuable experience while earning money. Hosted at the university's renowned InterOperability Lab (IOL), this program offers participants hands-on experience in computer science, electrical engineering, and computer networking.
Geared toward academically exceptional candidates, this five-week program offers hands-on learning in a real-world networking environment and partnerships with global tech companies like Cisco, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, and Motorola. Interns get a comprehensive overview of computer technology, while also being introduced to the fields of computer science, electrical engineering, and computer engineering at the University of New Hampshire.
Participants will engage in hands-on projects, collaborate one-on-one with UNH-IOL engineers, and solve problems with cutting-edge technologies. The program also includes visits to high-tech companies and the opportunity to meet experienced engineers, allowing students to explore various career pathways and gain insight into the industry.
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Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - Johns Hopkins Logo