12 Chemical Engineering Programs for High School Students
Participating in chemical engineering programs offers high school students invaluable opportunities to gain hands-on experience, industry exposure, and valuable academic connections. These programs introduce students to fundamental engineering concepts, laboratory techniques, and real-world problem-solving scenarios, fostering a deeper understanding of the field, along with access to top-tier faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and a collegiate learning environment.
Many of these programs are designed to be accessible, offering scholarships or financial aid to ensure participation from students of diverse backgrounds. These experiences serve as stepping stones toward college readiness, allowing you to explore your interests while building a strong academic portfolio. Check out our list of 12 chemical engineering programs for high school students.
1. Lamar University - ChemE Summer Camp
Location: Lamar University, Beaumont, TX.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: Applications open in early March and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: June 9-13.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. Applicants should have completed Chemistry and Algebra II.
Lamar University offers a week-long day camp for high school juniors and seniors, providing an immersive experience in chemical engineering within a collaborative environment. You will gain exposure to common equipment used in the petrochemical and pharmaceutical/food processing industries while also exploring various career opportunities available to chemical engineers. The program incorporates a combination of industry plant tours and hands-on activities.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual.
Cost: AI Scholars: $2,290 | AI Fellowship: $5,400 | Both: $6,900 | Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions.
Program Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: High school students worldwide are eligible to apply.
Acceptance Rate: Competitive; accepts a small cohort for one-on-one mentorship.
The Veritas AI Summer Research Program offers AI and machine learning experiences to high school students. Founded and run by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI provides two distinct tracks.
The AI Scholars Program is a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. However, if you have prior AI experience and are looking for something more intense, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase offers 1:1 mentorship from researchers at top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. You can work as a fellow on independent research projects, gaining hands-on experience in AI applications while receiving support for publication in high school research journals. The program also provides need-based financial aid for AI Scholars, ensuring accessibility to students from diverse backgrounds.
3. Manhattan University - Chemical Engineering Summer Program
Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: July 1.
Program Dates: July 30 - 31.
Eligibility: Rising seniors and juniors of area high schools are eligible to apply.
This two-day summer program is designed to introduce local high school juniors and seniors to the field of chemical engineering through interactive, hands-on activities and competitions. You will gain insight into the diverse industries where chemical engineers play a vital role, including biotechnology and biochemical production, green and sustainable engineering, electronics and semiconductor materials processing, biomedicine and biomedical device manufacturing, food-engineering, and more. Additionally, students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to apply to Manhattan University’s Chemical Engineering program. They will receive a Certificate of Completion and a $75 application fee waiver for the university’s Chemical Engineering Program.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting at $2,490. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks are eligible to apply. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Acceptance Rate: Relatively selective.
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual start-up internship program for ambitious high school students that is usually eight weeks long. In the program, you will get to work with one of many high-growth start-ups on an internship. These start-ups on average raise over a million dollars and also offer internships across a variety of industries, from chemical engineering, tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. In the program, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
5. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the country.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Application Deadline: January 10.
Program Dates: Varies depending on the program.
Eligibility: High schoolers with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, who are US citizens and have a valid driver’s license are eligible to apply. Applicants must also be eligible to work 40 hours a week for summer internship positions.
The AFRL Scholars Program provides a pre-college summer experience for highly motivated high school students with a strong interest in chemical and aeronautical engineering. You will receive mentorship from experienced AFRL scientists and engineers, gaining exposure to laboratory tours and direct engagement with cutting-edge technologies and research. Areas of exploration include propulsion systems, materials science, and mechanical and aerospace design. Chemical engineering research topics may involve developing composite materials for lightweight aircraft structures, enhancing fuel formulations for efficiency and environmental impact, and designing coatings to extend the durability of aerospace components.
6. University at Buffalo - Chem-E Camp
Location: University of Buffalo (North Campus), Amherst, NY.
Cost: $400. Need-based scholarships are available to cover the full cost of the program.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: August 11 - 15.
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th and 12th grade in the fall of the current year are eligible to apply. Applicants should have already completed regents chemistry.
This program offers an interactive and engaging experience through hands-on activities and digital simulations, providing you with the opportunity to explore chemical engineering as a potential college major. You will learn from university faculty, students, and industry professionals while engaging in real-world applications of the field. A full-day visit to Linde (formerly Praxair) and off-site tours of DuPont, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and SAMCO will complement laboratory work at the University at Buffalo’s Amherst campus. You will receive a t-shirt, drawstring bag, water bottle, safety glasses, and a certificate of completion, along with valuable insights into the impact of chemical engineering and guidance for future academic and career choices.
7. Boston Leadership Institute - Chemistry Research Program
Location: Gann Academy/Bentley University, Waltham, MA.
Cost: $2,500 for tuition and $2,097 for housing. Need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: May.
Program Dates: June 30 – July 18.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 8–12 with strong academic records are eligible to apply.
This research program focuses on green chemistry, an emerging field that is creating job opportunities in corporate research and the medical and health sectors. You will engage in toxicology studies and guided laboratory activities, gaining experience in experimental design. You will also learn to implement effective controls, ensure repeatability of results, and conduct background research prior to designing an experiment. You will examine the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, conduct titration experiments, deliver detailed research presentations on Green Chemistry initiatives, and analyze global energy production, engineering, and product innovation.
8. New York University - Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: February 21.
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8 (Remote Evening Workshops in June/Whole Day In-Person programming in July/August).
Eligibility: High school students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade in June are eligible to apply.
NYU’s ARISE is a 10-week summer program that immerses students in STEM disciplines. It offers an enriched learning experience for students interested in scientific research. You will develop skills in professional development, ethics, scientific methodology, and expository writing while engaging in authentic research experiences. Research opportunities span various STEM fields, including bioengineering, molecular engineering, chemical engineering, robotics, and computer science.
9. Cornell University - CURIE Academy
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Cost: $1,900. Need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: February 15.
Program Dates: July 13–19.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. Additional eligibility requirements can be found here.
CURIE Academy is a one-week residential program at Cornell University for rising juniors and seniors who demonstrate strong aptitude in mathematics and science. The program encourages you to explore engineering disciplines, including chemical engineering, through research projects, field trips, and daily engineering seminars. While the program is open to students of all identities, Cornell actively encourages applications from students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields.
10. University of Maryland - ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: April 25.
Program Dates: July 7 - August 1.
Eligibility: H school students who have completed 11th grade by June are eligible to apply. Additional eligibility requirements can be found here.
The ESTEEM (Engineering Science and Technology to Energize and Expand Young Minds) and SER-Quest (Summer Engineering Research) programs offer a rigorous four-week experience for high school students at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering. You will gain exposure to engineering research principles and conduct your own research projects, including in chemical engineering. Throughout the program, you will develop proposals, perform literature reviews, and refine your research skills. Additionally, you will attend sessions on financial aid and the college admissions process.
11. University of Michigan - Summer Engineering Exploration Camp
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Cost: $700. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: March 1.
Program Dates: July 6 - 12.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-11, especially those with limited access to engineering resources, are eligible to apply.
The Summer Engineering Exploration Camp (SEE Camp) is a week-long residential program. Open to high school students, it introduces various engineering disciplines, including chemical engineering, and offers insight into university life. You will engage in hands-on projects, campus tours, and team-building activities, including the Adventure Leadership Challenge. This is a highly selective program with only 40 students selected from over 600 applicants in 2023. Through interactive sessions with current students and faculty, you will gain practical engineering experience and a clearer understanding of your academic and career interests.
12. South Dakota Mines - Chemical Engineering Summer Institute
Location: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City, SD.
Cost: $300.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: July 21 - July 24.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8 to 12 are eligible to apply.
South Dakota Mines University’s summer program offers an engaging introduction to chemical engineering, where you will explore the fusion of science and mathematics to develop essential materials used in everyday life. Through hands-on activities, you will create plastics and polymers, practice chemical separation techniques, and investigate sustainable methods of generating electricity. Additionally, you will work in the Unit Operation Lab and gain insight into biofuel production from biomass. This immersive program offers high school students a dynamic learning experience, combining education with practical applications.
Image source - Cornell Logo