Engineering isn’t just about building bridges or designing circuits; it’s about learning to think systematically, solve problems, and create technology that shapes the world. For high school students in New Jersey who want to explore this field early, there’s multiple local programs that you can explore. These programs allow you to dive into mechanical systems, robotics, computer-aided design (CAD), coding for embedded systems, and even lab-based experimentation, all while sharpening critical problem-solving skills.
New Jersey is home to a wide range of universities, community colleges, and research organizations that run engineering-focused initiatives each year. From summer immersions to structured mentorship programs, you can gain exposure to both academic and industry perspectives. For those living in NJ, opting for a local program is also a financially smart move. Many opportunities are either free, subsidized, or significantly more affordable than out-of-state residential programs.
In this blog, we’ll walk through 15 engineering programs for high school students in NJ, including pre-college summer courses, research mentorships, and internships. Each entry details the cost, location, eligibility, program dates, and deadlines, alongside a clear look at the kinds of skills and tools students will practice.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Program Dates: 12-week cohorts offered during fall, spring, summer, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects high school students with Ph.D. mentors to carry out independent research projects in areas like engineering, computer science, machine learning, and more. Over 12 weeks, you learn how to design studies, review academic literature, and analyze data using domain-specific tools, such as Python for computational projects, MATLAB for engineering, or PubMed for biomedical research. The program concludes with a formal academic paper that can be submitted to journals or competitions.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday Lecture Series
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Maeder Hall, Princeton University, NJ
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: March 1, March 8, March 15
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students; students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
The Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday Lecture Series offers high schoolers exposure to frontier research through weekly lectures delivered by scientists and engineers. Topics span plasma physics, energy systems, environmental science, and materials engineering, with sessions designed to build conceptual grounding while connecting theory to practical applications. Presentations take place at Princeton University, and recordings are made available if you want to review the material independently.
4. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internship
Location: Various NASA centers; virtual options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipends available based on session and academic level
Program Dates: Spring: mid-January – early May
Application Deadline: September 12 (Spring)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16+ with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; must be full-time high school or college students
NASA’s OSTEM Internship places high school students on active agency projects across areas like aerospace engineering, robotics, data science, and mission analysis. As an intern, you will use professional-grade software and tools while working with NASA mentors to analyze datasets, test prototypes, or contribute to research briefs. The experience is structured to highlight both technical and cross-disciplinary applications, giving students direct insight into how engineering integrates with policy and scientific discovery
5. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (stipend provided, varies by project)
Program Dates: June – September
Application Deadline: April 8
Eligibility: Open to contributors 18 years or older who are new to open-source development
Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a global program that helps students and early-stage developers break into open-source software development. You apply to work with one of over 200 open-source organizations and, if selected, spend 12–22 weeks contributing code to practical projects. Under the mentorship of experienced developers, you’ll gain skills in collaborative software engineering practices like version control, code reviews, and community-driven workflows. Each coding phase is followed by evaluations, with stipends awarded as milestones are achieved. Beyond technical growth, the program builds a professional portfolio of publicly archived contributions, making it a standout credential for future internships and jobs.
6. Laboratory Learning Program – Princeton University
Location: Princeton University main campus, NJ
Cost: Free of cost
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: February 15–March 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents enrolled in a U.S. high school who are 16 years old by June 15
The Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton offers high school students the chance to work full-time in active university research labs under the guidance of faculty and staff. Over the five weeks, you’ll take on meaningful roles in cutting-edge projects across physics, engineering, and the life sciences. Past research has explored areas such as green energy modeling, supercritical biofuels, and genetic disease pathways. At the end of the program, you consolidate your experience by submitting a formal two-page report that highlights your research contributions.
7. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory High School Summer Internship
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Cost: Free of cost
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. work authorization required; open to graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the internship
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), operated by Princeton University for the U.S. Department of Energy, offers a summer internship that immerses students in the world of plasma physics and fusion energy research. Over the course of 8–10 weeks, you’ll collaborate with scientists and engineers on projects that advance clean energy solutions and experimental plasma technologies. Depending on your background, you may contribute through simulations, data analysis, or engineering support, with opportunities to use programming languages like Python or design tools such as CAD. The program provides both practical lab experience and exposure to the broader impact of cutting-edge energy research.
8. NASA Johnson Space Center: Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
Location: Online and Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid (students earn 0.5 science elective credit upon completing the online course)
Program Dates: Year-long program. Online course: October – April | Onsite residential experience: July
Application Deadline: Typically closes in October
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors who are U.S. citizens and residents of Texas
The Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program gives students a direct gateway into the world of NASA and space exploration. Beginning with a four-month online curriculum, you’ll study topics in Earth and space science, aeronautics, and advanced NASA technologies while completing assignments and collaborative design projects. Throughout the program, you interact virtually with NASA scientists, engineers, and staff. If you’re a top-performing participant, you will be invited to a four-day, in-person residential experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where you’ll work in teams on simulated space missions and receive mentorship from professionals in the field.
9. Stanford University’s SHTEM Summer Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost besides application fee; stipends available for students with demonstrated financial need
Program Dates: June 17 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 1 (extended)
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (age 14+ by June 17) or community college students ages 17–21 within first 3 years of enrollment; open to U.S. and international students
The SHTEM Internship, run by Stanford’s Compression Forum, places students on small research teams working with mentors across fields like engineering, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, and design. You dedicate 30–40 hours per week to virtual research, often combining technical projects with humanities-driven perspectives. Depending on project scope, you may also receive hardware kits to support applied experimentation. The structure emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and early exposure to academic research practices.
10. New Jersey Institute of Technology: High School STEM Research Programs
Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Cost: $150 (financial aid available)
Dates: June 23 – July 21
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Open to New Jersey students in grades 10–11 with an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher and a strong interest in STEM subjects
The NJIT STEM Research Internship immerses high school students in university-level labs where they collaborate on projects aligned with their interests. Guided by faculty mentors and graduate researchers, you’ll gain hands-on exposure to fields like bioengineering, materials science, or computer science. Daily activities may include conducting experiments, analyzing datasets, or drafting technical reports, offering a real sense of the research process. By the end of the program, students walk away with both practical lab skills and an insider’s view of how scientific inquiry unfolds in a university setting.
11. Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI) – Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,575 tuition + ~$300 lab kit; very limited financial aid
Program Dates: Fall: August 25 – December 5 | Spring: January 20 – April 27
Application Deadline: August 4
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, and graduated seniors (exceptional sophomores may apply; prerequisites required)
The Biomedical Engineering Innovation (BMEI) program introduces students to core methods in biomedical engineering through a mix of asynchronous learning and interactive faculty-led sessions. You complete problem sets, model biological systems, and design a biosensor project from conception to testing. A mailed lab kit enables hands-on experimentation, and the program concludes with a formal poster presentation, reflecting the process used in university-level research settings.
12. Cornell University: Curie Academy (Computer Science Track)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,900 (full scholarships available for selected students)
Program Dates: July 13 – July 19
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in the U.S. with a minimum 3.0 GPA; priority for students from underrepresented groups in STEM, especially girls facing educational, socio-cultural, or economic barriers
The Curie Academy introduces students to engineering and computer science through a week of immersive research and guided exploration. You attend faculty-led sessions in fields such as AI, robotics, and algorithm design, while afternoons are dedicated to mentored research projects. The program emphasizes collaborative learning in technical domains and provides exposure to the structure of college-level engineering courses.
13. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Illinois Aerospace Institute (IAI) Summer Program
Location: Urbana, IL (with a virtual option available)
Cost: $1,000 (on-campus) | $150 (virtual); scholarships available
Program Dates: June 22–28 (Residential) | July 13–19 (Residential) | July 20–26 (Virtual)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until all slots are filled
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 9–12
The Illinois Aerospace Institute (IAI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign introduces high school students to aerospace engineering through immersive, hands-on learning. Over the course of the program, you’ll explore key concepts like flight mechanics, aerodynamics, propulsion, and aerospace materials. Guided by university faculty and staff, you design and build projects such as model gliders and egg-drop landers, with all materials provided. Whether you choose the residential or virtual option, the program blends instruction, workshops, and teamwork to give you both practical engineering experience and a glimpse of life as an aerospace student at a top engineering school.
14. UC San Diego: Sally Ride Science Academy
Location: UC San Diego, San Diego, CA (in-person) or online
Cost: Varies by course selection
Program Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Sally Ride Science Academy, founded in honor of America’s first woman in space, brings STEM learning to life through summer workshops at UC San Diego. Over four weeks, you choose from courses that explore topics like aerospace, computer programming, engineering design, and environmental science. One highlight for aspiring aerospace students is the Deep Space Base Building workshop, which blends space science with hands-on engineering challenges. Led by UCSD instructors, the academy emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, giving you both practical skills and inspiration to pursue future STEM paths.
15. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SSMP)
Location: In-person or Virtual
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Program Dates: Multiple sessions offered
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9–12
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SSMP) pairs high school students with mentors from startups, universities, and industry to provide hands-on exposure to STEM careers. You are matched based on your interests and your mentor’s expertise, allowing for tailored projects in areas like mechanical engineering, design, and applied research. Mentors guide you in setting goals, developing technical skills, and learning professional practices. Whether through virtual collaboration or in-person experiences in the Greater Seattle area, SPARK offers a personalized path to explore engineering and research while gaining valuable career insights.
Image source – UC San Diego