15 Engineering Programs for High School Students
Want to spend your summer building and innovating in the physical or digital world? A summer engineering program might do the trick.
Engineering summer programs are solid immersive hands-on opportunities for high school students to delve into the field of engineering. These programs are typically offered by universities and engineering institutions, aiming to inspire and engage young minds interested in pursuing a career in engineering. The duration of these programs can vary from several days to a few months, depending on the institution and the program's scope.
The objective of the program is often to expose students to the various disciplines of engineering such as mechanical, electrical, and biomedical. Engineering programs also offer opportunities to take a deep dive into one area of engineering and its applications. Through workshops, lectures, lab sessions, and team projects, students get a taste of what it's like to work as an engineer. You may also be introduced to cutting-edge technologies and real-world challenges.
Why should you consider taking part in an engineering program?
First off, many of these summer programs are a chance to discover which field of engineering really excites you. If you are confused about which subject to pick (such as civil or mechanical engineering), you can take an immersive program that covers both these fields well. Not only will this give you a better idea of which field you prefer studying, but also give you some knowledge/skill-building opportunities before you apply for college.
You'll not only learn in the classroom and lab, but you'll build a network of future and current engineers that can open doors to mentorship opportunities and future collaborations. Plus, it looks great on college applications and resumes - colleges love to see that you're passionate and proactive about your interests.
How we selected and ranked the 15 programs
1. Program Content: We prioritized programs that offer hands-on experiences, exposure to various engineering disciplines, and deep-dives into specific applications of engineering.
2. Instructors and Student Support: Experienced professionals and educators can make a significant difference in the quality of learning and mentorship. Support structures for students are also essential.
3. Cost and Financial Aid: We wanted to ensure accessibility to all high school students, and provide valuable options to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
4. Affiliation and Industry Connections: We love a good summer program that maintains high standards of quality and offers unique networking opportunities. (And may lead to internships or real-world projects!)
1. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
COSMOS offers talented and ambitious students from grade 8 to 11 the chance to engage with distinguished faculty, researchers, scientists, and fellow students in the cutting-edge facilities at various locations at the University of California. Students delve into advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects beyond typical high school offerings, nurturing interests, skills and awareness of educational and career opportunities. Participants choose a specific curriculum (such as "BioEngineering Your Brain: Controlling the World with Your Brainwaves") which takes place in person at one of four University of California Campuses. All the curricula are intensive and hands-on, providing a challenging learning experience.
Cost: $4,770. Financial Aid is available based on need.
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, or UC Santa Cruz
Pre-requisites: Selection is highly competitive with only 160-200 spots available. Most COSMOS students have a GPA above 3.5 and have achieved general academic excellence. Students must reside in California.
2. The Research Science Institute @ MIT
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a prestigious and full-funded summer program at MIT, selecting only 100 accomplished high school students worldwide. It combines one week of on-campus STEM coursework with five weeks of off-campus research in a particular field under the mentorship of MIT scientists and researchers. Students are guided through the research cycle from literature review to individual project execution, culminating in conference-style presentations of their findings. Upon presentation of research, some projects receive prestigious awards. Last year, award-winning research included the Astrophysics-meets-engineering project "Effective Automated Stellar Substructure Detection using the Supervised Neural Clustering Algorithm" and a computational mathematical discovery entitled "Computing the Mosaic Number of Reduced Projections of Knots and Links." However, if you're looking for a program that's classroom based, or prioritizes exposure to the various disciplines of engineering, you probably want to check out one of our other listed options.
Cost: Free!
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: MIT in Boston
Pre-requisites: Exceptional PSAT or ACT scores (particularly in math), and general academic excellence.
Additional Information: Only high school juniors are eligible to apply.
3. MITES Summer
For students who come from historically underrepresented groups in STEM and haven't had much exposure to engineering before, MITES is a great place to start your engineering journey and prepare for college apps.
MITES Summer invites around 80 students from all over the country to join their on-campus program, offering an enriching experience of life at MIT. As a MITES participant, you will have the chance to engage in five rigorous courses covering STEM and the humanities. You will also engage in lab tours and social events. Additionally, the program provides college admissions counseling. The program boasts a sweet statistic: 90% of MITES alumni are accepted into elite universities.
One more thing that we absolutely love: students receive a written evaluation from their instructor, highlighting the students strengths. This is a great piece of supplemental material to submit with college applications.
Cost: Free – you only pay for transportation.
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: MIT Campus in Boston
Pre-requisites: None
Additional Information: Only high school juniors who are US citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply.
4. Engineering Summer Academy at UPenn
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) extends a welcome to exceptionally driven and gifted students who wish to delve into college-level engineering. The Engineering Summer Academy offers intensive programs that blend advanced theory with hands-on experience in cutting-edge technologies. You will choose one of six engineering courses, such as nanotechnology or robotics, taught by Penn's esteemed faculty. College credit is awarded. The professor to student ratio is delightfully low, with most courses boasting a ratio of around 30:1. Participants will reside on Penn's historic campus, fostering connections with peers from diverse backgrounds across the globe. ESAP provides a unique opportunity to explore Engineering, combining academic rigor with practical application and a global community of like-minded learners. (Their uniquely supportive global alumni community is a bonus too.)
Cost: $8000. Need based financial aid is available to all students, international and US based.
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Pre-requisites: Admission is highly selective. The admissions committee looks for academic excellence, but also creative thinking skills and ability to work on a team. Each course has its own pre-requisites.
Additional Information: Applicants must have finished their first year of high school and be at least 15 years of age.
5. High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program @ Michigan State
At Michigan State, a popular major research-intensive university, motivated high school students spend their summer on campus, conducting STEM research under the mentorship of a faculty researcher. Students enjoy math and engineering seminars along with other educational and social events. Often students produce award winning projects, but the goal of the program is to educate students about the social context and intensive process of research. The program doesn't offer college credit, but one alumnus called the research enrichment and network building so invaluable. Additionally, don't forget to ask for that letter of recommendation from your faculty mentor!
Cost: Around $4,000. Scholarships based on financial need are available.
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: Michigan State University in central Michigan
Pre-requisites: No specific pre-reqs, but the requested application materials are extensive. The program is highly selective.
Additional Information: Only high school juniors are eligible to apply.
6. Women's Technology Program @ MIT
Trying to figure out what engineering is all about? Check out the Women's Technology Program at MIT in Boston! WTP is a women-focused, collaborative community that aims to empower students from groups historically underrepresented and underserved in engineering. It is meant to expose students to engineering who have no prior background in the field. Students take classes in either Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The curricula for both tracks are rigorous and taught through hands-on classes, labs, and team based projects. This particular program doesn't offer housing, so if you're not in the Boston area and finding housing would pose an obstacle, this program might not be for you.
Cost: Free. They also offer free lunch, loaner laptops, and all course materials. Aid for transportation costs to MIT is available, however housing is not provided.
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: MIT in Boston
Pre-requisites: Little to no experience in engineering.
Additional Information: Only high school juniors who are US permanent residents or citizens are eligible to apply.
7. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) @ NYU
10th and 11th grade New York students looking to delve into engineering research should definitely consider ARISE at NYU. The summer program includes five weeks of working with a research mentor in an NYU faculty lab, two weeks of workshops to discuss ethics, context and best practices of engineering research. The program also offers individualized college application prep over the course of seven weeks. Students can conduct research in labs specializing in various subjects from AI and machine learning to aerospace engineering.
Cost: Free! You'll also get a $750 stipend.
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: NYU in New York City
Pre-requisites: None, although they are looking for academically motivated students with proven aptitude in STEM.
Additional Information: Only students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade are eligible to apply.
8. SHTEM: Summer Internships @ Stanford
Love engineering, but don't want to let go of the humanities? Stanford's got you!
Stanford offers many summer programs for high school students. If you're looking to learn from Stanford affiliates online, Stanford Pre-collegiate Summer Institute may be appealing. Stanford also offers specific virtual educational opportunities to high schooler engineers, like a lecture series on biomedical research or Introduction to Symbolic Logic.
The goal of the Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SHTEM) program is to emphasize the inseparability of the humanities and human element from research in STEM. It provides high school students exposure to cutting-edge academic research, introducing them to myriad research topics pursued under the engineering umbrella. During the program, participants are grouped to interdisciplinary engineering-based research projects. Past student projects included "Fundamental Differences Between The Driving Patterns of Humans and Autonomous Vehicles," "Applications of Astrophysics to Multimedia Art-Making In Parallel to Narratives of Science and Social Justice," and "Artificial Neural Networks with Edge-Based Architecture." Mentored by students, faculty, and staff associated with the Stanford Compression Forum, the project themes encompass various fields, incorporating fields from engineering to psychology, from computer science to philosophy.
Cost: Free. Stipends are available on a need-based system.
Duration: 8 weeks, 30-40 hours a week.
Location: Recently, the program has been online, but may return to in-person in the future. No housing is provided, but it will take place on Stanford campus.
Pre-requisites: None – the admissions process strives to be as open to as many students as possible.
Additional Information: Applicants must be in the 11th or 12th grade at time of application and of at least 14 years of age. International students are welcome to apply.
9. Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers @ Columbia
SHAPE is a selective pre-college program at Columbia Engineering, designed for rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates with a passion for STEM. The 3-week sessions include college-level project-based engineering courses taught by esteemed faculty at Columbia University. Participants interact with peers and engage with current Columbia students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners through interactive programming, site visits, and workshops. Students take one course per three week session, with options ranging from robotics to computer science to innovation and design. College prep and presentation workshops are also given.
Cost: $4900, not including housing. However need-based scholarships are available which cover the full cost. (Lunch every day is also provided!)
Duration: Two rounds, each lasting three weeks. You can apply to do both rounds (totaling six weeks), or just one.
Location: Columbia University in NYC.
Pre-requisites: None
Additional Information: rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates are eligible to apply. Columbia offers resources to help students not already living in NYC find housing, on campus or nearby.
10. Stanford Robotics Summer Research Program
The Stanford Robotics Center Summer Research Program (SRC SRP) offers a 6-week paid research internship aimed at high school students aged 16 or older with an interest in Robotics/Engineering. Participants are assigned research projects in labs associated with the Stanford Robotics Center, receive guidance from lab mentors, and attend demos showcasing various lab projects. The internship concludes with a poster session where students can present their work and learnings. If you're looking for a classroom environment, this program isn't for you. At SRC SRP, you'll perform engineering research at a university, learn Stanford's unique design thinking process, learn technical lab skills, including how to utilize special equipment and tools, learn from world-class researchers, and get paid!
Cost: You get paid! Although no housing is provided.
Duration: 6 weeks. Students work 16 hours per week, paired with additional wellness check-ins and educational activities (such as faculty talks).
Location: Stanford University in Stanford, CA.
Pre-requisites: None, but some experience in Robotics is a plus!
11. Summer Academy for Math and Science @ Carnegie Mellon University
Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) scholars experience a rigorous STEM curriculum with renowned faculty and staff, focusing on classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and engagement with mentors. The program takes place in two parts. Part one is a two week virtual jumpstart to the program that focuses on skill-building that will be needed for part two, the in-person session. The next 5 weeks, scholars live on campus. Students quantitative and computational skill seminars, develop a STEM-based project, and attend college prep workshops. Projects will be showcased at a final symposium. SAMS prioritizes applicants who come from historically underrepresented backgrounds in their application consideration, especially those who face financial hardship.
Cost: Completely free! SAMS is a fully funded, merit-based program.
Duration: 2 weeks of virtual prep, then 5 weeks of in-person, on-campus programming and instruction.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pre-requisites: Students must show commitment to diversity and inclusion in education, activities, and community engagement, and display a strong interest in STEM disciplines.
Additional Information: Participants must be 16 years of age, a US citizen or permanent resident, and a rising senior.
12. STEM 9/10 @ Brown University
Are you a younger or soon to be high school student, eager to start exploring STEM in depth? Brown offers a program to rising 9th and 10th graders. Students participate in two weeks of hands-on team research projects and experiments, alongside like-minded peers. The program offers a variety of engaging courses in STEM, combining rigorous academic content, laboratory exercises, and research projects or design challenges. Participants may also interact with Brown graduate students and explore graduate-level research projects. The program emphasizes advanced academics and fosters a love of learning without the stress of formal grades, allowing students to showcase their projects through a final presentation to peers and instructors. The alumni network is supportive as well. No college credit is awarded.
Cost: $5,218. Scholarships are available to US students.
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island
Pre-requisites: The admissions committee prioritizes academically high-achieving students who present well-written application essays showcasing their intellectual curiosity, social maturity, and self-motivation.
Additional information: Students completing grades 8 and 9, ages 13 to 15 are eligible to apply.
13. Harvard Secondary School Program
Harvard Secondary School Program for high schoolers is similar to Stanford Summer Session and programs at other leading universities. You can choose to live on campus with other students, commute, or attend virtual classes. You will take Harvard classes taught by Harvard professors and will earn college credit – including engineering courses. You will also have access to Harvard student facilities and tutoring services. If you're interested more in applying engineering skills to research or industry experience, this program won't be for you. However, if you're looking to academically delve into STEM amongst the nation's brightest minds, Harvard's Secondary School program could be for you. And don't forget – a letter of recommendation from a Harvard professor looks great on a college app!
Cost: $3,600–$13,750, depending on residential, online or commuting. Financial aid is available based on need.
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: Harvard University in Boston
Pre-requisites: The admissions committee seeks intellectually mature and highly motivated applicants.
Additional information: Must be between 16 and 19 years old to attend.
14. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program
If you are interested in focusing on bioengineering, the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program is a good fit for you. The Bioengineering Team Internship is a specific sub-track of Stanford's Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR), geared toward various types of medical research. The SIMR Bioengineering Internship is a learn-by-doing design experience in bioengineering. Students attend lectures on various bioengineering research topics and work on a team for three days a week on a meaningful biodesign project. A team of Stanford undergrad and graduate students mentor the students through the design and building process. You will present your prototypes with the rest of the cohort at the end of the program.
Cost: No cost for any student. All students receive at least a $500 stipend, but stipends of $2500 and more are available on a needs-based system. No housing is provided.
Duration: 8 weeks, 40 hours a week/
Location: Stanford University in Stanford, CA.
Pre-requisites: Nothing specific, but a proven desire to work in a medical or engineering field is
Additional Information: SIMSR strongly favors local students due to various grant requirements. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents, at least 16 years of age, and rising juniors or seniors.
15. Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) @ Boston University
RISE is a program meant to advance STEM knowledge and skills to passionate high school students. The program offers two tracks: Practicum and Internship. Practicum offers a structured research experience in computational neurobiology at a university setting with a BU instructor. The curriculum consists of two hours of lectures and four hours of group research. The Internship track offers more flexibility in subject matter, but less direct education. The internships are a 40-hour-per-week research experience under the guidance of faculty and postdoctoral fellows, providing opportunities in various fields like astronomy, biology, computer science, and more. All students showcase their research at a final colloquium, and upon graduation, students join a tight-knit supportive alumni community.
Cost: Tuition, housing, and fees range between around $7,900 and $8,900, depending on meal plan. Need based financial aid is available.
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: Boston University in Boston
Pre-requisites: No specific prerequisites, however they are looking for a rigorous academic track record.
Additional information: Only high school juniors who are US citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply.
If you want to kick start your computer science and AI journey, consider applying to the Veritas AI programs. We have had over 1000 students learn AI with us in the past year and build some incredible projects! You can apply here.
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Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also 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 data science and AI with us. You can apply here!
Image source: COSMOS logo