Online Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
Updated: 7 days ago
TL;DR
This list takes you through a wide range of online engineering summer programs for high school students, from broad engineering courses and technical programs to mentor-guided research and specialized options in areas such as sustainable energy, software, and data science. The programs vary in cost, length, eligibility, and the kind of experience you can gain, with options ranging from free programs to courses costing more than $4,000. If you want to build your own independent engineering research project with 1:1 PhD mentorship, you can explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you’re interested in engineering but haven’t decided which area you want to pursue, a summer program can give you a chance to explore the field before college. You could take a broad engineering course, work with a mentor on a research project, learn coding and other technical skills, or focus on an area such as sustainable energy. In this guide, we’ve put together 10 online engineering summer programs for high school students, with options ranging from short courses to longer research experiences. For more ideas, you can also read 25+ Research Ideas in Engineering for High School Students.
How broad are the engineering programs on this list?
If you’re not sure which branch of engineering you want to explore, a few programs give you room to try different areas. Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI), for example, covers civil, chemical, electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering, as well as materials science. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers engineering alongside subjects such as computer science and mathematics, while MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) gives you several technical tracks to choose from.
If you already have a specific area in mind, there are also more focused options later in the list.
Which engineering programs offer research and individual mentorship?
Several programs let you work more closely with a mentor on a research or technical project. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives you one-on-one mentorship from a PhD researcher while you work on an independent research project. The Horizon Academic Research Program also matches you with a professor or PhD researcher for a college-level research project, including an Environmental Health and Engineering track.
At Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP), you can work with a faculty mentor on active research in areas including mechanical, civil, electrical, and computer engineering. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program also connects you with mentors for individual projects in areas such as engineering, software, artificial intelligence, and data science.
Which engineering programs let you focus on a specific engineering field?
You don’t have to choose a general engineering program if you already know what interests you. Johns Hopkins Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) focuses on solar and wind power, smart grids, energy storage, and other energy systems. Kode With Klossy offers focused tracks such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, website development, and data science.
You can also choose from specialized tracks through MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI), including cybersecurity, autonomous systems, machine learning, quantum software, and microelectronics.
How much do online engineering summer programs cost?
The cost varies considerably across the programs. Kode With Klossy is free, while Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers need-based financial aid. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) also allows eligible students with financial need to have its college-credit and application fees waived.
At the higher end, Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) costs $4,225 for the listed summer cycle, while Johns Hopkins Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) costs $4,328 and offers financial aid. Check the current fee and financial-aid information before applying because costs can change between cycles.
How can you choose between these online engineering summer programs?
The programs below differ in the kind of work you’ll do, the length of the experience, and whether you earn college credit or receive financial support. This table can help you narrow down the list before you read through the individual program details.
If you want... | Consider |
A broad multi-discipline engineering overview | |
Independent mentor-guided research | |
A free or low-cost option | |
College credit included |
Online Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by 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 12-week research program for high school students. You work one-on-one with a PhD mentor on an independent research project and choose your topic from subjects like psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. By the end of the program, you will have completed an independent research paper. Apply here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Eligibility: Usually, 10-11th-grade high school students are accepted. Students need to have a good academic background (more than 3.67/4.0 GPA). Only some tracks have other prerequisites.
Horizon offers a research program where you spend a trimester working on a college-level research project in a subject of your choice. Once you select your subject and research type, you’re matched with a professor or PhD researcher from a top university. They guide you through the entire research process, from narrowing your topic to writing and editing your final paper. If you’re interested in engineering, you can choose the Environmental Health and Engineering track. In that course, you explore topics like sustainable agriculture, urban development, infrastructure systems, and how engineering is used to address environmental challenges. By the end of the program, you will produce a 20-page research paper that can be submitted to a high school research journal or used in college applications. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,225, including tuition, application fee, and estimated lab-kit fee; international students may incur additional taxes, shipping, or customs fees
Program Dates: Five weeks during summer
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: Typical students accepted are rising juniors or seniors in high school. Those in 9th grade and recent high school graduates (pre-college) can also apply. Please refer to the link here for prerequisites, including computer and lab requirements.
Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) is a college-level Johns Hopkins summer program where you explore different areas of engineering through live online classes, collaborative projects, and hands-on lab activities. You’ll learn about fields including civil, chemical, electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering, as well as materials science. You’ll also complete experiments using a lab kit at home and can earn three Johns Hopkins University college credits upon completion.
Why it stands out: You get a broad introduction to several engineering fields instead of focusing on one discipline, while also completing college-level coursework, collaborative projects, and hands-on experiments from home.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by project; some projects are free, while others may charge a project fee; any stipend is at the mentor’s discretion
Program Dates: Varies by project; mentors determine the project schedule and duration
Application Deadline: Applications are typically submitted in April; project details are announced in March and exact dates vary by cycle
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who currently reside in the U.S. and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; individual projects may have additional requirements
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program connects high school students with professionals from companies, universities, and other organizations for summer mentorship projects. You can apply to multiple projects based on your interests, with opportunities varying across areas such as software, artificial intelligence, data science, engineering, and other technical fields. If selected, you’ll work with a mentor on a project while taking responsibility for your own learning, communicating regularly, and submitting weekly updates.
Why it stands out: SPARK matches you with individual mentors and projects based on your interests and experience.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200; $65 application fee; some courses may require additional materials costing up to $100; need-based financial aid is available
Program Dates: Two sessions of two weeks each
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 8–11 who will be older than 13 and younger than 19 during the program; individual courses may have additional grade requirements or prerequisites
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes is an online summer program where you can take an intensive course in subjects ranging from engineering and computer science to mathematics, bioscience, business, and the humanities. Each course runs for two weeks with live classes Monday through Friday, along with office hours, assignments, discussions, and projects. Course offerings vary by year and may include topics such as data science, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, and natural language processing.
Why it stands out: You can spend two weeks focusing deeply on one academic subject while learning in a small online class with other academically motivated students.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Two weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive students ages 13–18; no prior computer science experience is required
Kode With Klossy offers free two-week coding camps where you can build technical skills through hands-on, project-based learning. Current camp options include Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Website Development, and Data Science, with opportunities to collaborate with peers and build your own technical projects. You can attend virtually or at select in-person locations, depending on the camp.
Why it stands out: You get two weeks of focused, hands-on coding experience without needing previous computer science experience.
Location: George Mason University campuses in Virginia or virtual, depending on the mentor and project
Cost: $1,299 for three college credits + $25 application fee; both may be waived for eligible students with financial need
Program Dates: June 18–August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students; 15+ for remote and computer-lab internships, and 16+ for wet-lab internships
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University allows you to spend your summer doing engineering research. You’ll get to work on real research in areas like mechanical, civil, electrical, and computer engineering, computer science, and bioengineering. You’ll be paired with a mentor doing active research, and yes, you can check out all the projects and mentors here. You’ll build skills like scientific writing, data crunching, and maybe even dive into software like MATLAB, CAD, or Python, depending on your project. See past projects here.
Why it stands out: You get to work on original research alongside a faculty mentor rather than simply taking a summer class.
Location: Virtual or in person at MIT’s Cambridge, MA campus, depending on the course
Cost: Fee varies based on household income and assets; families exceeding the current $200,000 threshold are required to pay, while fee waivers are available
Program Dates: July
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who reside in the U.S. and attend high school physically in the U.S.; current seniors and college students are not eligible
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a hands-on summer program focused on advanced STEM and technology topics. You can choose from courses covering areas such as quantum software, microelectronics, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, machine learning, remote sensing, and serious games. Depending on your course, you’ll work on coding, engineering, hardware, or research-oriented projects and collaborate with other students.
Why it stands out: You get to work on advanced technical projects through MIT’s Beaver Works program, with course options ranging from quantum computing and semiconductor design to autonomous vehicles and machine learning.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,328, including tuition, application fee, and estimated lab kit fee; financial aid is available
Program Dates: June 29–July 31
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent high school graduates; applicants should have As and Bs in high school math and science, have completed Algebra II, and have completed a high school science course with a lab
The Johns Hopkins Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) program is a five-week summer course where you explore engineering through the lens of sustainable energy. You’ll learn about solar and wind power, smart grids, energy storage, and other energy systems while working with real-world data and designing sustainable solutions. The fully online version includes live classes five days a week, collaborative projects, and hands-on work with a lab kit from home. You can also earn three Johns Hopkins University college credits upon completion.
Why it stands out: You get to explore engineering through real-world energy problems while completing a college-level course and earning college credit from Johns Hopkins
Location: Virtual
Cost: 4,180–8,160 for the seven-week online program, depending on the number of credits; a $75 application fee also applies
Program Dates: Seven weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the course and session
Eligibility: High school students who apply to and are accepted into Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program; individual courses may have additional prerequisites
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program gives high school students the chance to take college-level courses online during the summer. The Computer Science and Engineering offerings include courses in areas such as engineering and data science, energy technologies, robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, and artificial intelligence. You can take one or two courses during the seven-week online session and earn up to eight college credits.
Why it stands out: You can take an actual college-level engineering course through Harvard and earn college credit without attending the program in person.
Engineering Programs by Duration, Location, and Eligibility
The programs also differ in how long you need to commit, where you can participate, and who can apply. Here’s a quick comparison of some of those practical details.
If you want | Consider |
A program based in the Pacific Northwest or with an in-person option | |
A short, two-week commitment | |
A longer, multi-month research track | |
You’re not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and need to check eligibility carefully |
Questions to ask before applying to an online engineering summer program
1. Can you apply to these programs if you have little or no engineering experience?
It depends on the program. Some options are designed to introduce you to engineering or technical subjects, while others expect specific coursework or prior experience. Check the eligibility and prerequisite requirements for each program before applying.
2. Are high school seniors eligible for every program here?
No. Some programs on this list are limited to specific grade levels. For example, MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is open to students in grades 9–11 and does not accept current seniors or college students. It’s worth checking the eligibility requirements for each program before applying.
3. Do you need previous engineering experience to apply?
Not always. Some programs are designed as introductions to engineering or technical subjects and do not require extensive prior experience, while others have course-specific prerequisites. Check the eligibility and prerequisite requirements for each program before applying.
4. Do any of these programs let you earn college credit?
Yes. A few of the programs on this list offer college credit upon completion, typically tied to a specific university's own coursework. If you want to build an independent engineering research project with one-on-one PhD mentorship, you can explore the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.