Top 9 Summer Engineering Programs for High School Students in California
Participating in summer programs is a good idea for high school students who want to explore engineering. These programs go beyond traditional classrooms, offering hands-on experiences that cultivate teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. By engaging with real-world applications of cutting-edge technology, you will gain valuable insights into engineering careers and the practical challenges they entail.
In this article, we’ve curated a list of the top 9 summer engineering programs for high school students in California. These programs provide a space to develop your skills, explore your interests, and prepare for future academic endeavors. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
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 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: University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: $2,781; Financial aid is available
Application Deadline: June 1
Program Dates: Session A: June 24 - July 12; Session B: July 15 - August 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 in the spring who are at least 15 years old by the program start date can apply.
The Engineering Design Summer Institute introduces students to fundamental engineering design principles through projects, detailed report preparation, and the engineering majors offered at UCLA. You can earn academic credit while still in high school and explore specific areas of interest within engineering. You will have access to engineering design software and materials, with specialized tracks available in aerospace engineering (focused on rockets), aerospace engineering (focused on planes), mechanical engineering (focused on GoKarts), and electrical engineering (focused on rovers). Upon completion, you will receive a letter grade. Additionally, UCLA offers three computer science summer institutes, including an introductory track, an intermediate track, and a generative AI track.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual.
Cost:
AI Scholars - $1790 (financial aid is available);
AI Fellowship - $4900;
Combination (AI Scholars + AI Fellowship) - $5900
Application Deadline: Upcoming fall cohort deadlines - September 8. You can apply here! Summer cohort deadlines typically fall around May.
Program Dates: You can find all available dates for the summer cohort here
Eligibility: High school students passionate about AI; Basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars is required for the AI Fellowship program.
Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students and our programs are geared towards high school students who want to build their foundations in computer science. In the program, students learn various concepts in data science and artificial intelligence like neural networks, image classification, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, coding using Python, and more.
Veritas AI offers up to 100% financial aid for the 10-week AI Scholars program. Through the program, students build real-world, hands-on projects in groups of 3-5 students to showcase their interests and skills. You can also apply for the AI Fellowship where you work 1-1 with mentors from top universities to build unique machine learning projects over a period of 12-15 weeks. These programs are a great option for you if you like engaging in hands-on learning and are a beginner!
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive a stipend (exact amount not specified)
Application Deadline: April 5
Program Dates: Year-round participation after school and on weekends, continuing for 2-3 years until graduation.
Eligibility: Students who
are currently enrolled full-time as a 9th or 10th-grade student in an SFUSD school - check if your school qualifies here;
have maintained a GPA of 2.5 and a grade of C or higher in science and math
can obtain a valid work permit (US citizens and others authorized to work in the US);
can commit to all attendance requirements for 2 or 3 years through high school graduation;
can commute to the Academy and nearby locations after school and on Saturdays during the school year and on weekdays in the summer (some remote work may be required)
The CiS program is a prestigious, multi-year, paid internship for students from underrepresented communities in STEM, including girls and students of color. As an intern, you will collaborate with scientists, researchers, and educators at the California Academy of Sciences. This program emphasizes learning the fundamentals of scientific research and effective science communication. You will participate in training sessions twice a week, engage in outdoor field activities, and receive guidance on college applications. Group projects involve conducting scientific research or working on environmental action initiatives. The program is highly selective, admitting only about 50 students each year.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA (for the residential courses)
Cost: $1,500 (online courses); $5,950 (residential courses tuition); scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: May 24 (residential) | June 2 (online)
Program Dates: Residential: July 7 - July 27; Online: July 1 - July 26
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
This program gives students an opportunity to engage in college-level coursework across a range of subjects. The program includes residential and online options, offering courses in ocean ecosystem dynamics, structural engineering, digital media literacy, and more. You will earn six units of UC San Diego Extension pre-college credit upon completion. The program emphasizes active learning, critical thinking, and the application of fundamental concepts culminating in a final project. Guided by UC San Diego faculty, you will have intellectual discussions with peers.
Location: University of California campuses, including Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Cruz.
Cost: $5,007 for the residential program, including housing, meals, orientation, field trips, and activities. There is also a $42 non-refundable application fee. Financial aid is available for California residents.
Application Deadline: Applications open January 10 and close on February 9
Program Dates: July 7 - August 3
Eligibility: Students in California in grades 8–12 who excel in mathematics/science. A minimum GPA of 3.5 is typically expected.
COSMOS is a distinguished 4-week summer program for talented students with an interest in STEM. The program allows you to engage with topics beyond the typical high school curriculum. You will participate in lab-intensive coursework and research, working with faculty, researchers, and scientists at UC campuses. You can identify and pursue a research topic in your area of interest, utilizing university resources such as teaching laboratories and libraries for your final research project. The program's on-campus nature offers an experience of college academic life.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: Course fees range from $175 to $450; scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: 4-day workshops across July until August for different courses. Students can choose more than one course:
Session 1: July 8 - July 12
Session 2: July 15 - July 19
Session 3: July 22 - July 26
Session 4: July 29 - August 2
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
This program offers a range of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) workshops covering topics such as coding, engineering, computer science, robotics, and more. These interactive sessions are led by instructors and scientists, providing opportunities to explore various interests while working on collaborative projects. You can earn 1.5 pre-college credits for each workshop you complete. The program includes both in-person and online options, providing flexibility for different schedules and learning preferences.
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA. There is a virtual track option as well.
Cost:
Residential Track (Session C): $15,800
Residential Track (Session D): $14,500
Commuter or Virtual Track: $595 per unit fee plus additional fees
Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: March 11 (residential track) | June 3 (commuter track) | June 3 (virtual track)
Program Dates:
Session C: June 16 - August 9
Session D: June 30 - August 9
Commuter and Virtual Tracks: Various dates throughout the summer.
Eligibility: Students who have completed the 10th or 11th grade by the start of summer classes and are 16–17 years old by the start of the program can apply.
This program offers high school students a taste of college life. For students interested in STEM, a broad selection of courses is available, with the full course list accessible here. The program includes subjects like Planetary Exploration, Integrative Biology Methods, Mechanical Engineering Principles, Advanced Mathematics, and Computer Science Applications. You can earn college credits during the program and attend college exploration workshops and social activities.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.
Cost: $4,975 (commuter option) | $11,874 (residential option)
Application Deadline: March 18
Program Dates: June 17 - August 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 (outstanding 9th graders may be accepted on a case-by-case basis) with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.80.
UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program (RMP) is a prestigious 6-week summer initiative that pairs high school students with UCSB faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and advanced graduate students for a research experience. You will work on your chosen research project, putting in 35-50 hours a week both virtually and on campus. You will also earn 8 university credits through two courses focused on research techniques and presentation skills. This program is particularly advantageous for students interested in exploring the intersection of STEM with other disciplines. The program concludes with a formal academic symposium where you will present your findings.
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.