For high school students interested in mechanical engineering, many programs offer an early, practical entry point into engineering by introducing concepts like design principles, robotics, materials science, thermodynamics, and mechanical systems. These programs go beyond classroom theory by allowing you to work with real tools, build prototypes, analyze data, and collaborate on technical projects that mirror real engineering workflows.
Why choose a fall program as a high school student?
Fall programs allow students to learn engineering concepts gradually over the semester rather than in a short, intensive period. With more time to work on projects, students can refine designs, absorb challenging material, and apply new ideas directly to their school-year learning.
Below, we’ve put together a list of 11 mechanical engineering fall programs for high school students to help you explore your options. You can also check our blog on online mechanical engineering summer programs for high school students.
11 Mechanical Engineering Fall Programs for High School Students
1. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Varies by internship; Part-time year-round internships are offered
Application deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years of age with a GPA of 2.5+; Specific eligibility criteria vary by position
Sandia National Laboratories offers paid internships that place high school students directly into active research teams working in areas such as cybersecurity, energy systems, computational modeling, and engineering design. Interns collaborate with professional engineers and scientists who treat students as junior contributors and outline specific tasks tied to ongoing projects. For students drawn to mechanical engineering, the opportunity to observe hardware testing or model physical systems offers meaningful exposure to real-world engineering environments. You also attend structured mentorship sessions, professional development workshops, and networking events with researchers across the institution.
2. Jackson Lab Academic Year Fellowships
Location: Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME & Farmington, CT (virtual & hybrid options available)
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Fall through late spring
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors (16+) in good standing; Must be within commuting distance
The Jackson Laboratory Academic Year Fellowship places high school students inside active research groups, where you work with a mentor to design and carry out an independent project aligned with the lab’s scientific goals. Throughout the fellowship, you gain experience in research fundamentals, including experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and literature review, while also participating in lab meetings and project discussions. Although the focus is biomedical, students interested in mechanical engineering can explore areas that rely on mechanical concepts, such as biomechanics, instrumentation design, or device testing within ongoing research. Mentors guide your progress and help you develop skills in problem-solving, scientific communication, and project management. Over the academic year, you interact with lab members regularly to discuss results, refine methods, and learn how multidisciplinary teams collaborate.
3. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars (AFRL) Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $501.60/week
Dates: Fall: 16 weeks (late August/early September – mid-December) | Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May) | Summer: 10 weeks (late May/early June – August)
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students over 16 years of age who are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 3.0 GPA
The AFRL Scholars Program offers paid internships that place high school students within Air Force research units working on aerospace systems, materials science, sensors, and computational technologies. Scholars assist engineers and scientists with tasks such as data analysis, computer modeling, experimental testing, or software development, depending on their assigned project. For students considering mechanical engineering, the program offers opportunities to observe or contribute to work in structural design, aerodynamics, materials behavior, and mechanical components used in defense technologies. Each participant is paired with a professional mentor who guides their technical growth. Participants also benefit from interaction with AFRL staff, other interns, and specialized research teams.
4. Los Alamos National Laboratory Internship
Location: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
Stipend: ~$14/hour
Dates: Fall/Spring: Part-time during the school year
Application deadline: September 30
Eligibility: High school seniors who are at least 16 years of age with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and who attend a high school in northern New Mexico.
The Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship Program offers New Mexico high school seniors the opportunity to work in paid part-time positions during the academic year and full-time roles during the summer. Interns can assist with research or technical tasks in STEM areas such as physics, engineering, and materials science, as well as in administrative or operational departments across the laboratory. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, you may contribute to data collection, experimental work, or analysis related to engineering systems, giving you insight into how mechanical concepts appear in large-scale scientific projects. Interns participate in workshops and team meetings where they learn how interdisciplinary teams coordinate complex tasks.
5. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) Fall High School Program
Location: Remote
Cost: None
Dates: October 11 – December 6
Application deadline: September 30
Eligibility: Applicants must reside and attend high school physically in the U.S.; currently enrolled in 10th or 11th grade
The MIT Beaver Works Saturday Program runs in the fall and offers in-person sessions for high school students that explore robotics, engineering design, programming, and artificial intelligence through hands-on, project-based learning. Students attend workshops led by MIT faculty, Lincoln Laboratory researchers, and industry professionals who guide them through activities involving autonomous systems, digital logic, or computational modeling. Many challenges require you to think like an engineer–testing mechanisms, refining prototypes, or analyzing system behavior, which provides indirect exposure to mechanical engineering concepts. Participants also engage with specialized tracks, such as the “Girls Who Can” initiative.
6. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Year-round; varies by location and placement
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify
The AEOP High School Apprenticeship places students in paid, full-time research roles within U.S. Army laboratories or affiliated university labs. Interns assist with experiments, data analysis, and technical documentation in fields such as materials science, engineering, cybersecurity, and biology, depending on their assigned lab. Each student is paired with a mentor who provides daily guidance and helps build their understanding of laboratory procedures, research ethics, and the scientific method. In addition to hands-on work, the program includes access to workshops, webinars, and career panels that introduce you to Army research initiatives and STEM career pathways.
7. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory: High-School Internships
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Stipend: Paid or for-credit
Dates: Year-round; exact dates vary
Application deadline: Exact deadlines for year-round internships vary
Eligibility: U.S. High school seniors at least 16 years old
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) offers academic-year internships that allow high school seniors to contribute to ongoing research in plasma physics, fusion energy, and related engineering fields. Students interested in mechanical engineering gain exposure to thermal systems, structural components, and mechanical assemblies used in experiments with high-temperature plasmas. Participants meet regularly with mentors who guide their technical development and help them understand how laboratory research contributes to clean energy efforts funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. You also attend project meetings where they observe how interdisciplinary teams coordinate experimental planning and engineering analysis.
8. MIT Splash
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $70
Dates: November 22 – 23
Application deadline: Starts mid-October
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
MIT Splash is a two-day fall program in which high school students spend a weekend on the MIT campus taking short, student-led classes across an unusually wide range of academic and technical subjects. Participants create their own schedule from hundreds of sessions, each lasting 30 minutes to several hours, covering topics such as mathematics, the humanities, engineering principles, and practical demonstrations of mechanical systems or robotics. Over the weekend, students complete up to 21 hours of interactive learning, often led by MIT undergraduates and featuring hands-on demonstrations and problem-solving activities.
9. Northwestern Pre-College Online Program – Engineering: Solving Problems Through Design
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,895
Dates: 2-week and 4-week sessions
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Northwestern’s online pre-college course introduces high school students to the engineering design process through case studies, interactive lessons, and guided assignments completed on their own schedule. Over 20–30 hours of coursework, you explore how engineers identify needs, propose solutions, prototype designs, and evaluate outcomes across disciplines such as mechanical, civil, biomedical, and materials engineering. You also examine how mechanical engineers interpret human–machine interactions, create sketches, and refine prototypes through iterative testing. A personal mentor provides feedback on assignments and assists with questions as you progress through each module. The course concludes with a capstone project.
10. Cornell SCE Pre-College Studies: Fall & Spring Study
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,940/credit hour
Dates: August 25 – December 20
Application deadline: August 20
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 years and above
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education allows high school students to enroll in credit-bearing university courses during the fall or spring, studying alongside Cornell undergraduates in fields such as engineering, architecture, technology, and business. You can take introductory courses related to mechanical and aerospace engineering, where you learn about statics, fluid mechanics, materials behavior, and thermal sciences through lectures, labs, and problem-solving sessions. Coursework may include CAD design, hands-on experiments, group design projects, and analyses of real mechanical systems, all of which help you develop engineering intuition and familiarity with professional tools. Enrolled students gain access to university resources and academic support services, and all completed coursework is listed on an official Cornell transcript.
11. Rice University Precollege Program – Engineering: Solving Real-World Problems
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,795
Dates: 2-week and 4-week sessions
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Rice University’s online pre-college engineering course introduces high school students to the major engineering disciplines and the scientific principles of real-world problem solving. Through video lessons, interactive modules, and case studies, you learn how engineers analyze needs, design solutions, and use physics, chemistry, mechanics, and calculus to develop functional systems. Mechanical and materials engineering units highlight how engineers evaluate forces, study material behavior, and design mechanical components for practical applications. Additional sections cover chemical, bioengineering, electrical, and civil engineering, showing how each discipline contributes to innovations ranging from medical devices to infrastructure systems. Students listen to practicing engineers and examine how issues like climate change and technological advancements influence engineering priorities. The program concludes with a final capstone project.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
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