10 University Engineering Programs for High School Students
Taking part in STEM summer programs in high school can set you apart when the time for college applications comes around. Such programs give you hands-on experiences and exposure to fields not covered in standard high school curriculums. You can gain skills that give you a head start and even meet mentors from whom you can learn in the long run.
For students interested in engineering, a summer program is a good way to get hands-on experience. You get to build foundational knowledge of the field and work on projects like building a robot or developing a website. You also get to explore the various types of engineering and the different career pathways the field offers. These factors can give your academic profile a boost and give you a better chance at getting into your dream college.
If you’re interested in pursuing engineering, here are 10 university engineering programs for high schoolers you should consider.
MITES is a prestigious summer program for high school students interested in STEM. The program encourages students from underserved backgrounds to pursue a career in STEM. As a participant, you will take 5 rigorous courses that cover high-level math, science, physics, and humanities and one project-based elective. Previous electives have covered topics like genomics, machine learning, and electronics. The acceptance rate of MITES is estimated to be between 3-10%, making it a highly selective program. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: The program runs for six weeks between late June and early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an intensive research program for high school juniors and seniors. During the program, you will learn how to conduct research under the guidance of mentors. You can choose from several research areas, including mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. Previous scholars have worked on “Secure Sensing with Passive Radar for Spectrally Congested Spaces” and “Binary Classification of COVID-19 Disease in CT Scans via Deep Convolutional Neural Networks.” With an acceptance rate of less than 3% per year, this is a very competitive program, and securing admission will help your college applications. To learn more, check out our full program guide here.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Stipend: $750
Program dates: June 16 – August 1
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are at least 17 years of age
NYU’s ARISE program offers the opportunity for high school students to engage in high-level research projects, work in labs, and receive mentoring from a graduate or postdoctoral student. The available research areas include various types of engineering, such as biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering. You will also attend workshops that explore the process of scientific inquiry and a colloquium, where you will present your findings at the end of the program. For tips on how to get into this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Program dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are residents of New York
The Hk Maker Lab is a free engineering design program offered by Columbia University in collaboration with HYPOTHEkids, a non-profit organization. The program consists of two phases. The first is a three-week course led by Columbia University faculty, and the second is a two-week period where you’ll work on an interdisciplinary group project. The project will involve creating digital media, such as an app or a website, that addresses a global health issue. Upon completion, you could also receive a paid summer internship at a healthcare institution. Check out our full guide to this program here.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 7 – August 8
Application deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors who attend a NYC public or charter school and demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage
SHAPE is a Columbia University pre-college program that allows you to attend a college-level engineering course. You can choose from topics like robotics, machine learning, sustainable engineering, computer programming, data science, electrical engineering, and more. These are project-based courses, and you can expect to engage in hands-on work like building a solar oven, developing a robotic car, or simulating a voting machine. Read our full guide to the SHAPE program here.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $5,875 for the commuter track and $10,790 for the residential track. Limited need-based scholarships are available
Program Dates: Session 1 from July 7 – 25, and Session 2 from July 29 – August 15
Application Deadline: December 18 for the residential track, March 3 as the final deadline
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
TUBERS is a prestigious summer program that offers a high-level research experience in biomedical engineering. You will study a specific field in great depth while learning about the research process—conducting experimental protocols, making predictions, and testing hypotheses. Previous students have worked on projects like examining breast cancer metastasis to the liver or the manufacture of a silk-scaffolded brain model. At the end of the program, you will present your findings during a poster session. Only 15-20 students are generally accepted from hundreds of applications. Check out our full guide to this program here.
Location: Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 1 – August 16
Application deadline: The application window generally opens in spring and closes in April
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious summer program that allows high schoolers to work on a research project under guidance from a mentor. The research areas include biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and more. You can go through the full list of mentors and their projects here. By the end of the program, you will develop a written research abstract and a research poster. Additionally, you will attend faculty research talks, workshops, tours, and other events. Read our complete guide to this program here.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free; students receive a stipend at the end of the program
Program dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 years of age
UCLA’s Engineering Design Summer Institute will introduce you to engineering design and its foundational principles. The program's highlight is that you get to build and test a real-life vehicle. You can choose between three tracks—aerospace engineering (building a rocket), mechanical engineering (GoKart), or electrical engineering (rover). This is a good option for getting hands-on experience in engineering design and learning how to use software and tools like 3D printing, finite element analysis, and computer-aided design.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $461 registration and misc fee, total cost approximately $3,800; check here for the most updated cost. Limited scholarships may be available
Program Dates: Session A from June 24 – July 12, Session B from July 15 – August 2
Application Deadline: June 1. Applicants will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis from February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
UPenn’s Engineering Summer Academy is a prestigious program that offers high schoolers the opportunity to explore a specific field within engineering. The three-week intensive program has tracks in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, computer graphics, computer science, nanotechnology, and robotics. You will engage in hands-on work and can expect to learn how to use various tools or software. This is a competitive program that only accepts 230 students each year. Read our review of this program here.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $8,585. Financial aid is not available
Dates: July 6 – 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15 years old
Cornell University’s CURIE Academy allows you to study engineering and learn about the various school and career pathways you can take. During the program, you will explore nine different fields of study within engineering through classes and hands-on experiences. You will also work on a group research project culminating in a final presentation. The 2024 cohort’s project was ‘Programmable Plants and the Internet of Living Things.’ As this is a residential program, you will also learn what living and studying at an Ivy League university is like. Check out our review of this program here.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,900. Scholarships are available
Program Dates: July 13 – 19
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who have a minimum 3.0 GPA and meet these eligibility criteria
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.