12 Best Summer Engineering Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jan 19, 2024
- 12 min read
If you are a high school student considering engineering, summer programs are one of the most effective ways to test that interest before committing to a college major. They offer hands-on exposure to fields like robotics, biomedical engineering, machine learning, and aerospace, through lab work, design projects, and mentorship from university faculty and active researchers. Beyond the technical skills, completing a competitive program demonstrates genuine commitment to the field, which carries real weight in college applications.
Here are 12 of the best summer engineering programs for high school students, shortlisted for their academic rigor, range of engineering disciplines covered, format variety (remote, residential, and commuter), and accessibility across cost levels, from free government-funded internships to university pre-college programs with financial aid available. Note that dates and deadlines reflect the most recent available cycle and may shift year to year — always confirm on the program's official page before applying.
Quick Look
12 programs total spanning research internships, pre-college courses, and independent research mentorships across disciplines including robotics, AI, aerospace, biomedical, and chemical engineering
Costs range from fully free with stipend (RSI at MIT, SEAP at DoN, ARISE at NYU, Princeton LLP, MITES, Clark Scholars) to $8,500 residential (ESAP at Penn), with need-based aid at Columbia, JHU, UCLA, and Penn
Most programs target rising juniors and seniors; ARISE at NYU (grades 10 to 11) and UCLA's Engineering Design Institute (grades 9 to 11) are accessible to younger students; Lumiere is open to all high school grades globally
The earliest deadlines are MITES at MIT (February 1), Clark Scholars at Texas Tech (February 15), and JHU EEI early decision (February 23) — these three should be prioritised first
Lumiere and Veritas AI are the only fully remote options, both open to students worldwide
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note. students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Eligibility: All current high school students are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: December 15 (priority deadline) | March 26 (final deadline)
Program Dates: July 8 - July 26 | July 29 - August 16
Cost: $5,500 (this includes tuition, lab and materials fees, and activities fee). Students will have to arrange their own transportation. Housing is not provided. Need-based scholarships are available. Make sure you apply before the priority deadline to be eligible for financial aid!
Columbia University’s SHAPE offers high school students project-based, college-level courses taught by the university’s faculty. Courses include robotics, biomedical engineering, competitive programming, sustainable engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, data science, and math and operations research. The program also includes workshops, electives, lab work, and college preparation. Although there are no official statistics on the acceptance rate, spots tend to fill up quickly.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
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: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. 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 tailored for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. The fellowship encourages students to explore interdisciplinary approaches, enabling them to merge AI with various fields such as finance, medicine, sports, environmental science, and more! You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: NYU campus, New York City, NY
Eligibility: Students residing in New York City who will complete 10th or 11th grade in June.
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 3 - August 9 (10 weeks). The first 4 weeks will be remote after-school workshops, and the next 6 weeks will have weekday in-person labs.
Cost: Free. Students will receive a stipend of at least $750.
NYU's ARISE is a summer experience for students interested in engineering and its various subsets. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum covers disciplines such as chemical engineering, robotics, computer science, bio- and molecular engineering, machine learning, anthropology, biology, aerospace engineering, and AI. You will attend classroom learning sessions, workshops (on ethics, lab safety, and data collection), and college admissions prep sessions. One of the distinguishing features of ARISE is the mentorship provided by NYU's research faculty. This mentorship allows you to work on research projects that contribute to advancements in your chosen STEM field. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a colloquium. The program accepts 76-80 students.
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors are eligible to apply. It is recommended that PSAT Math Scores be at least 740 or higher and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score be 700 or higher. ACT math scores should be at least 33, and verbal scores at least 34.
Application Deadline: TBA.
Program Dates: July - August (6 weeks)
Cost: Free
RSI offers 100 high school students every year coursework at MIT and research opportunities. This prestigious program allows you to engage in high-level scientific inquiry and discussions with researchers and experts in your chosen field. You will spend the first week learning from STEM professors. The next five weeks will involve a research internship where you will draft and conduct your own research project under mentorship from researchers and scientists. You will then present your findings in the final week through written and oral presentations.
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9, are at least 16 years old when the internship begins, can apply. Graduating seniors are eligible as well. There is room for some exceptions. Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has any other particular requirements.
Application Deadline: Applications open in August and close on November 1st every year.
Program Dates: Eight weeks in the summer. The exact dates vary depending on the lab you choose.
Stipend: $4,000 (new participant) | $4,500 (returning participant)
Cost: There are no registration costs, however, housing, meals, transportation, and medical expenses are not covered. You can expect to have to travel to and from your lab, depending on your placement.
Every year, SEAP places 300 students across its 38 laboratories nationwide, making it a highly competitive program. It’s also regarded as prestigious because of its association with the US government. Many students go on to pursue careers in the DoN after this apprenticeship. SEAP offers you a chance to work alongside researchers and engineers at Navy laboratories and facilities on Naval research. As part of the program, you will receive mentoring from scientists and engineers at the Navy labs. You will gain valuable knowledge and skills in various STEM disciplines, such as engineering, computer science, and aeronautics. Note: Your lab choice is based on your subject of interest and the location you prefer to be in.
Note: The university also offers programs in Sustainable Energy Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.
Location: Students can choose between residential, commuter, and online options. Note that the residential options are all in Maryland, whereas the commuter options are spread across Maryland, California, and Washington DC.
Eligibility: All high school students who have completed courses in Algebra II, trigonometry, and physics and/or chemistry can apply. Make sure you look through all the academic prerequisites before you apply.
Application Deadline: February 23 (early decision deadline) | May 17 (final deadline)
Dates: July 1-26 (4 weeks)
Cost: $3,575 (tuition) + $5,500/$5,800 (residential) / $250 (commuter lunch). Need-based scholarships are available.
The EEI pre-college program is a three-credit college-level course for high school students. The program offers classes, workshops, and a chance to engage in lab work. The program covers activities across a number of engineering fields, including materials science, civil, chemical, mechanical, and electrical/computer engineering. Some of the projects you may work on in small groups include testing the material properties of spaghetti, designing a bridge, creating an electronic device, and using a small bioreactor by connecting concepts like heat transfer and chemical reactions. As part of the program, you will also pitch your ideas and present your final work!
Location: TexasTech University campus, Lubbock, TX. This is a residential program!
Eligibility: Students who will be at least 17 years old by the program start date, are set to graduate in this or next year, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply.
Application Deadline: February 15
Dates: June 16 - August 1 (7 weeks)
Stipend: $750 (on completion of the program)
Cost: Free. The program covers on-campus housing, meals, and weekend activities. Students are responsible for their own travel, personal, and medical expenses.
With an acceptance rate of less than 3%, this highly competitive program only takes 12 high school students annually. Once selected, you will join a cohort of high-achieving students to conduct research across a wide range of fields, including engineering, and receive 1-1 mentorship. As part of the program, you will also attend discussions, seminars, and field visits. You can expect to build your knowledge base, engage in social activities, and learn from faculty in the university’s engineering department. In the past, the program offered research options in biology, physics, electrical and computer engineering, and chemistry.
Location: University of California Los Angeles, CA.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 in spring who are at least 15 years old by the program start date can apply.
Application Deadline: June 1
Program Dates: Session A: June 24 - July 12; Session B: July 15 - August 2
Cost: $2,781. Financial aid is available. Housing is not provided.
This program, part of UCLA’s pre-college summer sessions, introduces students to engineering design concepts. You will work on hands-on projects, learn how to prepare a report, and put together a result presentation. This program allows you to earn credit while still in school. The program provides access to engineering design software and materials for you to work with. You will have the option to choose from 4 tracks – aerospace engineering (rockets), aerospace engineering (planes), mechanical engineering (GoKarts), and electrical engineering (rovers). You will receive a letter grade upon completion.
UCLA also provides three computer science summer institutes: an introductory track, an intermediate track, and a generative AI track.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This is a residential program!
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old by the program start date. Different tracks in this program might have additional prerequisites.
Application Deadline: March 1 (priority) | April 5 (general)
Program Dates: July 7-27 (3 weeks)
Cost: $8,500 (this includes housing, tuition, meals, course materials, and trips). Need-based scholarships are available.
This is a competitive program that only accepts around 230 students every year. The instructor-to-student ratio is typically 1:19, giving students the advantage of small classes. The program combines theory with practical experience by introducing you to cutting-edge technology. You will receive guidance from UPenn faculty, and you can earn college credit on completing the program! This program offers several tracks in the fields of engineering, tech, and computer science, including Robotics, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology. Each of these tracks will have group activities and independent study requirements.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: Students who are enrolled in a U.S. high school, are at least 16 years old, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. High school graduates who will not turn 18 by June 15 can apply. International students enrolled in a U.S. high school can also apply. Princeton does not sponsor visas for the program.
Application Deadline: March 15
Dates: 5-6 weeks in the summer, depending on the research project and the schedule of the researchers. Interns work full-time, Monday to Friday, with no weekend activities.
Cost: Free.
This program allows students to work with faculty and researchers in Princeton laboratories on engineering and natural sciences research. LLP is a highly selective program, with only 40 students selected across Princeton’s 25 labs. During this program, you’ll spend most of your time in the lab, conducting research and learning techniques. Princeton faculty lead research teams, which include postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students, and other staff researchers. At the end of the program, you must produce a two-page research summary report. Research opportunities change every year. Some past research projects include machine learning methods for power magnetics modeling, heat pumps to save the world, and investigating heteroresistance to antibiotics. You can see the entire list of past research opportunities here!
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA. This is a residential program!
Eligibility: High school juniors are eligible to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: The program typically runs late June through early August (6 weeks).
Cost: Free – housing and other fees will be covered.
MITES Summer is a prestigious program offering students the opportunity to explore a range of STEM subjects. You will take one math course, one life sciences course, one physics course, one humanities course, and one project-based elective course. In the past, elective courses have included Engineering Design, Architecture, Machine Learning, and Electronics. Students keen on engineering can pick courses suited to their interests! The program also includes social activities, events, lab tours, and admissions counseling for students to gain a deeper insight into careers in engineering. This program accepts around 80-100 students annually. You will receive a written evaluation at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior engineering or coding experience to apply?
It depends on the program. Most introductory programs — UCLA Engineering Design, Columbia SHAPE, JHU EEI, and MITES — welcome students with general math and science coursework and no prior engineering background. JHU EEI does require completion of Algebra II, trigonometry, and physics or chemistry. More advanced programs like Veritas AI Fellowship (expects Python or AI experience) and RSI at MIT (recommends strong PSAT or ACT math scores) expect a higher baseline. When in doubt, review each program's academic prerequisites page before applying.
Are any of these programs open to students outside the U.S.?
Yes, two. Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully remote and open to students worldwide. Veritas AI is also virtual and accepts students internationally. Among in-person programs, Princeton LLP does accept international students enrolled in a U.S. high school, but does not sponsor visas. All other programs on this list require U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or a domestic address for application purposes.
How do these programs compare for college applications?
Programs that produce a tangible research output carry the most weight. RSI at MIT, Princeton LLP, Clark Scholars, and SEAP are all well known to admissions officers at selective universities and involve genuine research projects with faculty mentors. Pre-college course programs like Columbia SHAPE, JHU EEI, and ESAP at Penn carry strong institutional name recognition and add meaningful context to your application, especially if engineering is your stated major interest. For students who cannot attend in person, Lumiere's independent research paper offers a concrete, verifiable outcome that translates well across different admissions contexts.
Key Takeaways
The three most selective programs on this list are Clark Scholars at Texas Tech (under 3% acceptance, 12 students), RSI at MIT (around 1.5%, 100 students from a massive applicant pool), and Princeton LLP (40 students across 25 labs). All three are free and deadline-heavy — apply early.
For students seeking stipends, SEAP at the Department of Navy ($4,000 to $4,500) and ARISE at NYU (at least $750) are the standout options. Clark Scholars also provides $750 on completion.
Students outside the U.S. have limited options on this list — most residential and government programs require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Lumiere and Veritas AI are the only programs fully accessible to international students.
Next steps: identify programs that match your engineering sub-interest (AI, biomedical, aerospace, etc.), check whether you meet the citizenship and grade requirements, and work backwards from the earliest deadline — February 1 for MITES — to give yourself enough preparation time.
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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