15 Best Robotics Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 3
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student interested in robotics, summer programs are an ideal way to get started and begin building fundamental skills in the field.
Robotics summer programs for high school students provide hands-on experience with engineering design, coding, and problem-solving. You’ll learn how to build and program robots, test different designs, and understand how software and hardware come together in real-world systems.
Depending on the program, you might work on projects involving autonomous navigation, mechanical design, or competition-based challenges. These experiences help you build technical proficiency, teamwork, and critical thinking while also giving you an early look at careers in robotics, computer science, and engineering.
Below, we’ve listed 15 of the best robotics summer programs for high school students!
15 Best Robotics Summer Programs for High School Students
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a competitive research program for high school students. The program provides in-depth 1-on-1 research experiences for high school students in a wide variety of subject fields that you can pursue as a high school student. The program matches high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. By the end, you will have created an independent research paper! You can pick topics for research in areas like psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, etc.
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost
Dates: Program runs from mid-July to early August
Application Deadline: Online course applications are until late March
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grade 12 (rising seniors); selection based on online course completion, essays, and recommendation
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a four-week STEM program held on MIT’s campus and run by MIT Lincoln Laboratory for high school students entering their senior year. You take part in hands-on courses in areas such as autonomous vehicle design, machine learning, computer vision, and control systems. In the Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix track, you build and program MIT-designed RACECAR robots to navigate complex environments and compete in a mini Grand Prix. Other tracks include Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing, Embedded Security, and Cognitive Assistance, each combining software, hardware, and real-world problem-solving.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp where you learn the fundamentals of AI, machine learning, and data science while working on real-world projects. For students with more experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase allows you to work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university on an individual project. This program also provides support from an in-house publication team to help you publish your work in high school research journals.
Location: Madison, WI
Cost: Free; includes housing, meals, instruction, and field trips
Dates: July 12–August 1
Deadline: February 1 (applications open in December)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (grades 11–12); must have completed Algebra I, Geometry, and Chemistry with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Engineering Summer Program (ESP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a three-week, virtual program for rising 9th and 10th graders focused on robotics. You receive a mailed engineering kit to build and design robots while participating in guided virtual instruction led by UW–Madison faculty and graduate mentors. The curriculum covers robotics construction, engineering principles, and connections to broader STEM topics such as math, physics, and chemistry. The program is free, highly selective, and requires transcripts, essays, and recommendations. By the end, you gain foundational experience in robotics and engineering and opportunities to connect with faculty and industry professionals.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,300 tuition; optional housing $616 + $192 meal plan
Dates: June 16–27, July 7–18, or July 28–August 8
Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12; must be 14+ by program start (15+ for housing)
The Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, & Coding (SPARC) at NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a two-week, full-day, in-person program for high school students entering grades 9 through 12. You learn robotics, mechatronics, and programming while working with microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators to build interactive robotic devices. The curriculum covers circuit design, coding concepts like variables, loops, and conditionals, and how to interface hardware components. You also learn to collect data from sensors and control actuators to create responsive systems.
Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Cost: $1,030; includes housing, meals, instruction, and materials
Dates: July 20–25
Deadline: Registration opens January 8; early sign-up recommended
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18; international students must provide B2 visa documentation
The Robotics & Autonomous Systems Camp at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a week-long residential program at the Daytona Beach campus for high school students ages 15–18. You work with faculty and collegiate robotics teams to design, build, and program autonomous robots. The curriculum covers mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, giving you a multidisciplinary foundation and preparing you for further study in engineering and robotics. Team projects simulate real-world engineering collaboration, and you learn how autonomous systems are applied in industries such as aerospace, defense, and transportation.
Location: St. Louis, MO
Cost: $650–$1,000; includes instruction, materials, and robotics hardware
Dates: May 27–30 or July 15–18
Deadline: Rolling until sessions fill; early registration encouraged
Eligibility: Rising sophomores to seniors (grades 10–12); no prior experience required
The Robotics Summer Academy at Saint Louis University is a one-week, hands-on program for high school students interested in engineering and robotics. You work in small teams to design and build robots using sensors, microcontrollers, and other hardware, with the opportunity to take your robot home at the end of the week. The program combines instruction in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering with real-world project work. Daily challenges encourage friendly competition, and the week concludes with a showcase where you demonstrate your creations. Faculty and engineering mentors lead the program, giving you insight into university-level learning and lab environments.
Location: Worcester, MA
Cost: $3,500; includes housing, meals, field trips, and materials
Dates: July 5–17 or July 19–31
Deadline: April 30 (applications open January 8)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors (grades 10–12)
Frontiers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a two-week, in-person residential program for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who want to experience college-level STEM and humanities learning. You choose a STEM “major” and pair it with a humanities, arts, or business “minor” to explore technical and creative subjects together. In the robotics track, you learn programming, pneumatics, microcontrollers, and sensor integration, while also covering mechanical principles such as force, torque, stress analysis, material properties, and power systems. The program is hands-on and project-based, ending with a robotics competition where teams present and test their robots for peers and faculty.
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100; includes housing, meals, instruction, and materials
Dates: June 15–20 or June 22–27
Deadline: Registration opens in January; early sign-up recommended
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 in Fall; must be at least 14 years old
The Academy for Robotics at the University of Texas at Austin is a summer program for high school students entering grades 10–12. Daily courses cover Linux, introductory C++ programming, Arduino development, and robot control systems, with topics such as sensor integration, motor control, skid steering, sensor thresholding, turn-and-push behavior, and PID control. You assemble and program the Bot’n Roll One, A robot, experiment with simulations, and compete in a final robot race to showcase your skills. UT Austin faculty and industry professionals lead the program, giving you exposure to research and real-world applications, along with workshops on college admissions and robotics career pathways.
Location: Virtual; robotics kit shipped to the student’s home
Cost: Typically $250–$400 depending on kit and session length; some packages start at $100
Dates: Flexible start dates; sessions scheduled individually
Deadline: Rolling admission; free trial class available
Eligibility: Students aged 8–16; grouped by age into Starter (8–10), Explorer (11–13), and Champion (14–16) tracks
Playto Labs’ Robotics Summer Camp is a fully virtual program for students ages 8–16 in over 65 countries. Developed by alumni from Harvard, IIT, Microsoft, Amazon, and Intel, it spans 50 one-on-one live sessions over about seven months, providing a mentorship-focused approach to robotics education. You start with basic robotics concepts, including sensors, motors, and programming, and move on to advanced topics like Python, C++, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. Each participant receives a robotics kit to use at home while working directly with a mentor.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $2,500–$3,050, depending on housing
Dates: June 20–30, July 10–21, or July 31–August 11
Deadline: Typically closes in May; early application encouraged
Eligibility: Students aged 14+ (15+ for housing); must have completed Algebra II and have some programming experience
The Machine Learning Summer Program at NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a two-week, in-person program for high school students with a strong background in math and programming. Held on the Brooklyn campus from July to August, you study the principles and real-world applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Topics include image and video recognition, autonomous vehicle systems, traffic control, medical diagnostics, and robotics. Courses are led by Tandon faculty actively engaged in AI research, supported by graduate student instructors and mentors who guide you through daily assignments and weekly projects.
Location: Medford, MA
Cost: $4,225 (commuter); $5,750 (residential) + $200 materials fee; need-based scholarships available
Dates: July 6–18 or July 20–August 1
Deadline: May 1 (applications open December 2)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or graduating seniors
The Engineering Design Lab at Tufts University is a two-week, in-person program for high school students entering grades 10–12 or recent graduates. Held on the Medford/Somerville campus, you explore engineering, fabrication, robotics, and computational design while working on real-world problems. Daily sessions are led by Tufts faculty and guest speakers from labs and industry, giving you insight into current research challenges. You work in teams on engineering design projects using tools in the Nolop Makerspace, including laser cutters, 3D printers, and Python programming. Each student receives a Raspberry Pi and GoPiGo3 robotics kit to use during the program and keep afterward for continued learning.
Location: New York, NY
Cost: $4,900; financial aid available
Dates: July 7–25 or July 28–August 15
Deadline: Typically closes in March
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
SHAPE at Columbia University is a three-week, in-person pre-college program for rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates interested in STEM. Hosted by Columbia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, you take college-level engineering courses taught by faculty. In the robotics track, you design, build, and program robots using Python, JavaScript, and microcontroller platforms. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, teamwork, and real-world problem solving, and includes electives, workshops, and visits to tech companies in New York City.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Ranges from $3,025 to $3,560
Dates: Typically in June
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
Education Unlimited’s Robotics Summer Camp is a one-week, in-person program for rising 9th–12th graders held on Stanford University’s campus. You learn robotics engineering, electrical circuits, and communication systems using the VEX5 platform, building and programming your own robot. The curriculum covers designing a chassis, mounting motors, integrating wheels and gears, and using sensors and robotic arms to solve challenges. The program concludes with a robotics sports competition where you demonstrate your robot.
Location: Regional U.S. sites
Cost: $2,500 per team; includes kit, software, training, and tournament entry
Dates: January–July; regional tournaments held in spring/summer
Deadline: Registration typically closes by January; varies by region
Eligibility: Middle and high school teams (grades 6–12); adult mentor required
The Botball Educational Robotics Program, run by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, is a global robotics competition for middle and high school students that combines engineering, artificial intelligence, and programming in a hands-on, team-based format. The program focuses exclusively on autonomous robots, requiring you to program your robot in advance using C, C++, or Java. You rely on sensors and embedded systems to navigate the game board and complete tasks. Along the way, you learn core STEM concepts, develop programming and AI skills, and document your design and code process to reinforce technical planning and writing.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.
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