15 Summer Engineering Programs for High School Students in New York
- Stephen Turban
- Feb 25
- 9 min read
If you want to understand what studying engineering might look like before college, summer programs provide a useful preview. These programs allow high school students to work on engineering problems in a focused environment, often with access to labs, tools, and instructors experienced in the field.
Why consider summer engineering programs in New York?
New York is home to universities and organizations that run engineering programs for students at different levels. Many programs introduce you to college-style learning through labs, design challenges, and project-based work. Being in a major academic and professional hub means exposure to different branches of engineering and how they are applied. Participating in a summer engineering program helps you explore your interests early and build confidence working with technical ideas. It can also strengthen your college applications by showing academic preparation and sustained interest in engineering.
To help you get started, here are 15 summer engineering programs for high school students in New York!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
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 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: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free ($1,000 stipend)
Dates: June 1 - August 14
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, NYC residents
ARISE at NYU Tandon is a 10-week summer research program where you spend most of your time working inside an active university lab. The program begins with short workshops on lab safety, research methods, and scientific writing, after which you are placed with a faculty member and graduate mentors. Your daily work depends on the lab you join and may involve robotics experiments, coding, engineering design, data analysis, or cybersecurity research. You learn how research questions are defined, how experiments or systems are built, and how results are documented. The program ends with a formal presentation where you explain your work and process, similar to how research is shared at the college level.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. 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: 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 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, you 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, you will 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. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free; stipend awarded upon completion
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 31 (nomination by teacher required)
Eligibility: High school juniors; teacher nomination required; highly selective
The Simons Summer Research Program places you inside a working research lab at Stony Brook University for six weeks. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and join a research group, where you will run experiments, analyze data, and learn lab techniques. The work depends on the lab you join and can include biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, or engineering research. Alongside lab work, you attend weekly research talks and workshops that explain how scientists design studies, interpret results, and communicate findings. You finish the program by writing a research abstract and presenting a poster that explains your project, methods, and conclusions.
Location: City College of New York, Manhattan, NY
Cost: Free; eligible students may receive a $1,575 stipend after the summer component
Dates: Spring: February 10 – May 23; Summer: July 6 – August 6
Application Deadline: November 20 – January 16
Eligibility: High school students in NYC
The CCNY STEM Research Academy runs in two stages and combines coursework with lab research. In the spring, you attend an in-person research class on the City College campus where you learn how scientific questions are formed, tested, and revised through hands-on activities. The course focuses on research skills such as data analysis, experimental design, and scientific reasoning. Students who perform well in the spring course can continue into the summer portion, where a smaller group is placed into active research labs at CCNY or other CUNY campuses. During the summer, you work several days a week with a faculty mentor, learning lab techniques and contributing to ongoing research projects. The program ends with a poster presentation at the American Museum of Natural History.
Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 6 -10, July 13 -17
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
Manhattan University’s engineering awareness programs introduce you to engineering fields through short, focused sessions. You will explore topics such as robotics, sustainability, geotechnical systems, and computer-aided design through labs, demonstrations, and small projects. Faculty and practicing engineers explain how these fields operate in professional settings and what coursework looks like in college. The program blends technical activities with career discussions, giving you a clearer picture of engineering pathways without requiring prior experience.
Location: Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY
Cost: $2,500
Dates: August 2 - 8
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students
Manhattan College’s summer engineering program gives you a week on campus learning how different engineering fields actually work. You will rotate through areas like civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and computer engineering and engage in labs, demonstrations, and guided projects. Faculty members explain how engineering problems are framed and solved, and you practice applying math and science concepts to real design questions. You live on campus during the program, work in small groups, and spend time talking with engineers and alumni about college majors and careers.
Location: Columbia Engineering Outreach Programs, New York, NY
Cost: Commuter: $6,250; Residential: $11,500. Scholarships are available
Dates: July 6 – July 24 and July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
SHAPE is a three-week engineering program where you take structured courses taught by Columbia instructors and work on team-based projects. You will study topics such as robotics, circuits, programming, and design thinking through labs and workshops. The program emphasizes building systems, testing ideas, and explaining how your designs work rather than just following instructions. You also complete writing and presentation assignments tied to your technical work. The program ends with project presentations that reflect how engineering coursework is assessed at the undergraduate level.
Location: New York Institute of Technology, NYC, NY
Cost: $250 per program
Dates: August 11 – 15
Application Deadline: May 6
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14–18)
NYIT’s Summer Maker Academy is a short, project-based program focused on engineering design and sustainability. You will work with tools such as 3D modeling software, printers, Arduino boards, and basic electronics to build working prototypes. Depending on the session, you may design systems related to water delivery, transportation, or smart cities. Faculty and lab mentors guide you through planning, building, testing, and revising your work. The program concludes with a presentation where you explain how your design meets technical and real-world constraints.
Location: Columbia University (hosting location), New York, NY
Cost: $4,495
Dates: June 12 - 20; June 24 - July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students (ages 14–17)
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is a hands-on engineering program hosted on a university campus where you explore several engineering fields in a short period of time. You will work on design challenges involving structures, circuits, robotics, and computational thinking through guided labs and group projects. Sessions are led by instructors with engineering backgrounds, and guest speakers explain how similar problems appear in industry. Much of the time is spent building, testing, and revising ideas with your team. The program focuses on learning how engineers think and work rather than specializing in one discipline.
Location: The Cooper Union School of Engineering, New York, NY
Cost: $3,150
Dates: July 6 – July 23; July 27 - August 13
Application Deadline: March 22
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9–11
Cooper Union’s Summer STEM program places you in studio-style engineering and computer science classes that resemble early undergraduate coursework. You will work on design, drawing, prototyping, and digital modeling projects while learning how engineers move from concept to finished system. Classes are hands-on and discussion-based, with emphasis on iteration and problem solving. Faculty members guide you through technical tools and methods used in real engineering workflows. The program is commuter-based and requires steady daily engagement similar to a college schedule.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Not specified
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Typically mid-December
Eligibility: High school groups (program-specific)
Inside Engineering is a structured campus experience where you spend time inside Columbia Engineering labs observing research and participating in guided demonstrations. You will learn how engineering research is organized, how equipment is used, and how ideas move from theory to testing. Faculty and graduate students explain ongoing projects and answer questions about methods and applications. The program focuses on exposure rather than independent research, helping you understand what engineering study and research look like inside a major university.
Location: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY
Cost: $4,000
Dates: July 20 - August 2
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students (rising juniors/seniors)
RPI’s Pre-College Engineering Academy is a residential summer program where you work through engineering labs, design challenges, and group projects. You will explore mechanical, electrical, civil, and computer engineering concepts through activities similar to first-year college courses. Faculty members lead workshops that emphasize problem solving, systems thinking, and technical communication. You also spend time on campus experiencing student life while collaborating closely with peers on engineering tasks.
Location: Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Cost and details: Tuition for the Young Scholars program includes instructional and activity fees and room and board on campus. A non-refundable application fee applies.
Program Dates: Usually runs in early/mid-summer
Application deadline: April/May for the summer session. Details and deadlines are posted on the official program page.
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors)
Clarkson’s Young Scholars summer program gives high school students a one-week, campus-based academic experience. You will work with faculty from engineering, business, applied math, and other areas on a structured project that involves research, problem-solving, and a final presentation to peers and family. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking and exposes you to real-world applications. Participants live on campus in dorms and take part in supervised activities throughout the session.
Location: Webb Institute, Glen Cove, NY
Cost: $1,700 (deposit of $500 required once accepted)
Dates: Session 1: July 13–24; Session 2: July 27–August 8
Application Deadline: Registration opens January 30
Eligibility: Rising 8th–12th graders; daily program (no residential housing)
The Webb Institute Summer Engineering Academy is a two-week daytime program where you learn how engineers move from ideas to working solutions. The program starts with basic training in lab safety and equipment use, then shifts into a mix of short lectures, lab sessions, and design projects. You spend time building, testing, and revising systems while working in small teams, with faculty and lab instructors guiding each step. Classroom sessions explain the engineering concepts behind what you are building, and lab time focuses on applying those ideas using real tools. The program ends with a project presentation where you explain your design choices and what worked or did not work.
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.
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