16 Engineering Programs for High School Students
If you are considering a career in engineering, exploring the discipline in high school is a fantastic way to test your interest and figure out which branch of engineering you are most suited for. Since engineering majors have a competitive application process, having experience on your resume is a great way to show colleges your interest in the field!
What to look for in an engineering program?
Stream Specialization: Look for programs that offer specializations within the engineering field, such as mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, aerospace, etc.
Research Opportunities: Look for programs that offer research opportunities, internships, or co-op programs that provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to real-world engineering challenges.
Curriculum: Are you looking for a hands-on project or a more introductory course on a particular subject? Take a good look at the curriculum of the program that you wish to apply for, including the concepts, types of sessions, assignments, projects, etc.
Career Support: Look for programs that offer career support services, such as resume building, interview preparation, and job search assistance.
Cost: While most of these programs are fully funded and provide a stipend, others may not be. If you are opting for accommodation near the location of the program, you may have to factor in that cost as well, keeping your parent/guardian in the loop.
In person vs. remote: A lot of programs require you to commute to their location. If you live in the vicinity of the location, you should factor in the time you may take to commute, your meals, as well as costs of commuting. Virtual programs, on the other hand, offer more flexibility.
Faculty/networking opportunities: Apart from mentorship and guidance, does your program offer valuable networking opportunities with faculty, researchers, and experts in the field? This can be through end-of-program symposiums, paper workshops, or meetings with scholars spread throughout the duration of the program.
There are many options out there, so we've compiled a list of 16 of the best engineering programs for high schoolers that you should consider before applying to college. We’ve selected programs based on the overall depth and breadth of research and programs from both public and private organizations. Besides being enriching and selective, most of these programs are fully-funded and offer stipends!
General Engineering Programs
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program, STEM Track
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.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
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 and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The YSP offered by Northeastern University emphasizes research opportunities for bright high school students. As a participant, you will work with Northeastern faculty at the research laboratories within Northeastern University’s Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences, with subject tracks including bioengineering. Along with lab exploration, you will receive career counseling. The program also offers a chance to explore college life, including going on field trips.
Costs: Fully-funded
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors based in Massachusetts or Maine. If you're based in Maine, you can apply for the YSP@Rouz Institute in Portland.
Location: Northeastern University Campus, Maine students attend the program at Rouz Institute in Portland.
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: June 26 – August 3
3. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
4. MITES Summer
Another prestigious offering by MIT, MITES Summer is a 6-week residential program focused on increasing diversity in STEM. It is highly competitive and selects about 80 students from hundreds of applications. As a MITES Summer participant, you can expect to take five rigorous courses on math, science, and humanities. The science courses will offer select modules from various topics, from Machine Learning to Architecture to Genomics. You’ll participate in lab tours and social events and benefit from college admissions counseling. You also have the chance to experience campus life at MIT and network with like-minded peers! Note: Along with classes and discussion sessions spread throughout the program, you will also have a midterm and final submissions/exams! Plus, you can also apply for MITES Saturdays!
Costs: Fully-funded
Eligibility: High school juniors from minority backgrounds and other underrepresented population segments are encouraged to apply. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
Location: MIT Campus
Application Deadline: TBA. Check here.
Program Dates: Late June through early August
If you've been looking for highly competitive summer programs, the Anson L. Clark's Scholars Program in Texas is worth considering. Once selected for this 6-week program, you will join a cohort of 12 students to conduct research in several fields, including engineering. You will receive mentorship from scholars. Along with the 1:1 research opportunities, you will also attend discussions, seminars, and field visits. This program recreates an intensive college application experience, taking into account the applicant’s test scores, grades, and activity list. Selected students usually have SAT scores in the 99th percentile, and the acceptance rate for the program is less than 3%.
Cost: Fully-funded, stipend of $750 provided
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date and should graduate in this or the next year (U.S. and International)
Location: Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
Application Deadline: February 13
Program Dates: June 18 - August 3
A research-based summer program for high school juniors around the world, RSI is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of <5%. RSI invites 80 of the brightest students from different countries to participate in a 6-week, fully-funded research program. You will conduct independent research in engineering and other STEM subjects and engage in college-level coursework. You are expected to keep abreast of the latest literature in the field of your interest, design a research plan from scratch, and work on oral and written presentations of your findings.
Cost: Free of cost, stipend provided
Eligibility: All high school juniors can apply
Location: MIT Campus
Application Deadline: January 15 for US citizens, and March 15 for International Students
Program Dates: June 26 to August 6
The Milwaukee School of Engineering’s (MSOE) Women in Engineering summer program offers female students entering 10th through 12th grades the chance to explore multiple engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering. Led by MSOE faculty and MSOE female engineering students, the program includes various engineering projects. The program hopes to teach you how to apply your skills and knowledge to the real world. Note: You could also check out the Women’s Technology Program (WTP), a 4-week summer academic and residential experience where 20 female high school students explore engineering through classes taught by female MIT graduate students, labs, and team-based projects.
Cost: $950
Eligibility: Female-identifying students from grades 10-12
Location: Milwaukee School of Engineering's campus
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: July 9-14
USC Viterbi's SHINE students join a research team for seven weeks. You will pick the top three engineering tracks that you would like to pursue in the program, and SHINE will pair you with a professor who's the best fit for you. You are expected to put in about 20 hours of work each week. You will work in an experimental lab or on computational research. Additionally, SHINE offers a strong community, with networking, college prep tips, and experience in science communication provided. Note: The program has a selectivity rate of about 26%. You can take a look at the complete application flyer here.
Cost: $5,750, scholarships available
Eligibility: Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors with a GPA of 3.4 or more on a 4.0 scale.
Location: USC Viterbi Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Application Deadline: February 24
Program Dates: June 12–July 28
Rising 10th through 12th graders can gain experience in engineering at the University of Arizona. As part of this program, you will work with professors, graduate students, and undergraduate students on design projects and activities. You will also meet mentors and learn about engineering degrees, research, and careers. Additionally, you will have the chance to explore the UA campus, facilities, and community. This program is a solid opportunity for anyone looking to learn about pursuing engineering majors in college.
Cost: Not defined for the Summer program yet, financial aid is available.
Eligibility: Open to all 10th-12th graders
Location: University of Arizona campus
Application Deadline: TBA, check here!
10. Michigan State University High School Honors Science / Mathematics / Engineering Program (HSHSP)
As the oldest continuously running program of its kind, HSHSP is a selective research program offering apprenticeships in all areas of science, engineering, and mathematics. Each participant indicates a preference for their research area and then works with faculty advisors and undergraduate and graduate students to identify the research methodology and begin their procedure. You will engage in the research process for seven weeks. Program alumni often produce award-winning research projects under the mentorship of the university’s faculty and graduate students. Note: HSHSP alumni have gone on to college at Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, Brown, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Michigan State University, to name a few.
Cost: $4,000
Eligibility: Rising seniors that are in the top 20% of their class
Location: Michigan State University
Application Deadline: March 1st
Program Dates: June 25 – August 12
11. UMD's Engineering Science and Technology to Energize and Expand Young Mind (ESTEEM) / Summer Engineering Research Quest
As an ESTEEM/SER Quest participant, you are expected to engage in a 4-week research-focused program. At the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, you will develop a research proposal on a topic of your choice, complete a literature review, and conduct a research project in engineering. You will also learn about engineering research and engineering concepts, the college application process, financial aid processes, and test-taking strategies. You will also meet undergraduate and graduate students through engineering-focused activities.
Cost: $350
Eligibility: Open to all high school juniors
Location: University of Maryland campus
Application Deadline: TBD
Program Dates: TBD
Aerospace Engineering Programs
A highly competitive program for high school students, SEES is a national-level internship program in aerospace engineering where you can work with NASA experts. The program is focused on Earth and space research and relies on interns to assist with analyzing and visualizing data. All project teams present their research during the Virtual SEES Science Symposium. There is a virtual learning component and then an onsite experience at the University of Texas, Austin. You are also expected to present your research at the program's concluding symposium. Note: The SEES team looks at your academic records, a written application that includes answers to essay questions, an introduction video, a letter of recommendation form, a transcript, and a demonstration of interest in STEM.
Cost: Fully-funded
Eligibility: High school juniors who hold U.S. citizenship can apply
Location: Hybrid (On-site experience at the University of Austin, Texas campus)
Application Deadline: February 20
Program Dates: May 1 - July 26
13. MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (MIT LLRISE)
If you're interested in radar systems, MIT’s LLRISE program may be a great fit for you. The program runs throughout July each year and gives rising high school seniors the chance to build small radar systems, such as a Doppler and range radar. Talented scientists and engineers work alongside the attendees and assist them. The program is completely free of cost and highly prestigious, making it a very competitive program to get into.
Costs: Fully-funded
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors based in the US
Location: The workshop will be held at two locations: the MIT campus in Cambridge, MA, and Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA.
Application Deadline: March 10
Program Dates: July 9 – July 22
If you're an upper-level high school student interested in aerospace engineering, the ARFL program is an enriching opportunity for your pre-college summer. Once selected, you will have the opportunity to receive guidance from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers while touring AFRL laboratories and working on research. You can expect to work on areas such as aerospace/mechanical design for morphing aircraft technology, complex electromagnetic structures, and metalens design and modeling. Be sure to filter for opportunities open to high school students.
Cost: Fully-funded, stipend provided
Eligibility: High schoolers with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale who are US citizens and have a valid driver's license. You must also be eligible to work 40 hours a week for summer internship positions.
Location: Kirtland/AMOS, Eglin/Hurlbert air force bases
Application Deadline: This may vary based on the AFRL sites and/or projects to which you are applying.
Program Dates: Varies from project to project, but you can expect it to be during the summer months for 9 weeks.
Mechanical Engineering Programs
One of the most prestigious apprenticeship programs in engineering, the SEAP program is offered by more than 20 naval laboratories across the country. SEAP is a competitive program with around 300 placements. Many participants go on to careers within the DoN. As an apprentice, you will work closely with research personnel, who act as mentors, and explore science and engineering practices unavailable at your school. For 8 weeks, you will gain engineering experience while earning a stipend.
Cost: None; first-year interns receive a stipend of $4,000, and returning interns receive a stipend of $4,500
Eligibility: All high school students with US citizenship can apply
Location: Depends on the lab you are assigned to
Application Deadline: November 1
Program Dates: Varies from lab to lab; you should expect your apprenticeship to be in the summer months.
ARISE at NYU is a free seven-week summer program for 10th and 11th graders residing in New York City. You will work under the guidance of NYU’s faculty, gaining research experience in various STEM disciplines, including mechanical engineering. ARISE participants will train in college-level research, professional development, and presentation skills. This is a great interdisciplinary STEM program; while it has specific subject areas involving mechanical engineering (such as robotics), you can easily explore topics in chemical engineering, computer science, etc.
Cost: Fully-funded
Eligibility: Sophomores and Juniors based in NYC
Location: NYU campus
Application Deadline: March 5
Program Dates: June 28 – August 11
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.
Image source: Research Science Institute logo