If you’re a high school student interested in figuring out how things work or want to know what’s inside the machines you use every day, electrical engineering is a good place to start. This field contributes to a ton, from phones and laptops to electric cars and solar panels. A summer program in electrical engineering gives you hands-on experience that helps you learn how real systems are built and controlled.
Some of the electrical engineering summer programs teach you how to design small devices, connect hardware to software, or use tools like Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Others let you explore how power moves through systems or how machines send signals to each other. These skills are useful if you want to study engineering in college or work in fields like robotics, energy, or technology.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer programs in electrical engineering made for high school students. You can also check out our blog on 15 best STEM research opportunities for high school students.
15 Electrical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) – Engineering track
Location: Online
Cost: $5950. However, financial aid is available
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The next upcoming deadline is May 18 for the summer cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon is an online research program where you work one-on-one with a professor or PhD researcher. You choose a research track in fields like Data Science, Engineering, Political Theory, Psychology, Business, Medicine, or Philosophy. Within engineering, you can focus on Environmental Health and Engineering, Bioengineering, or Network Science. You also choose whether to use quantitative or qualitative research methods.
The program starts with weekly lectures and discussions in a small group. You learn how to do literature reviews, design a research question, and use the right methods for your field. In the second half, you meet one-on-one with your mentor each week and write a 20-page research paper. You get detailed feedback on every draft.
At the end of the program, you present your research at a live online symposium. Horizon also gives you a letter of recommendation that reflects your research and performance. You can apply for the program here!
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Engineering Track
Location: Online
Cost: 100% financial aid is available
Program dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the fall cohort from September to December, the winter cohort from December to February, spring cohort from March to June
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I priority application deadline is May 11
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a minimum 3.3 GPA; no prior experience needed.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is another virtual research program that offers high school students the chance to develop their research projects. The program will pair you with a PhD mentor who will provide 1-on-1, personalized guidance through the process. You can choose to focus on electrical engineering, and at the end of the program, you will have a completed project to add to your academic profile. You can find the application here.
3. Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: $25 application fee. On completion of the program, you will receive a $750 stipend.
Program dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are US citizens or permanent residents and are at least 17 years of age.
The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University selects 12 high school students each summer for a seven-week, research-focused experience. You can choose from a range of research areas, including electrical and computer engineering. You’ll work one-on-one with faculty mentors, participate in lab research, and complete a final project.
A past student in electrical engineering worked on a project titled “Secure Sensing with Passive Radar for Spectrally Congested Spaces.” The program also includes seminars, writing support, and a $750 stipend for all participants.
4. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia (remote, hybrid, and in-person formats are available)
Cost: None. There is a $25 application fee, but waivers are available for those who need them
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 16 years old
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) allows you to work alongside university researchers on real research projects. If you’re interested in electrical and computer engineering, you can join mentors working on topics like nanotechnology, AI hardware, energy systems, robotics, microelectronics, and brain-inspired computing.
You’ll spend the summer in labs gaining practical skills, running experiments, analyzing data, and contributing to ongoing research. This is a full-time program that ends with a presentation of your work at a research symposium. You can go through the details here.
5. Johns Hopkins University’s ASPIRE
Location: You can choose between in-person and virtual programs
Cost: Free
Program dates: The program generally begins in the last week of June and goes on for 6-9 weeks
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High-school juniors and seniors residing in one of the given Maryland counties, who have a minimum GPA of 2.8 and are at least 15 years of age
Johns Hopkins University’s ASPIRE program gives you the chance to work closely with a mentor on a hands-on STEM project over the summer. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, you can take on projects like building autonomous vehicles, designing sound systems, or developing drone technology.
You’ll pick from project types including design, research, experimental lab work, or hardware development. Throughout the program, you’ll gain technical skills, problem-solving experience, and a deeper understanding of how engineering is applied in real-world settings.
6. Columbia University’s Hk Maker Lab
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free. Travel and lunch stipends are provided after the completion of the program.
Program dates: July 7 – August 8
Application deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who attend a NYC public or charter school and can demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage
Columbia University’s Hk Maker Lab is a summer engineering program for high school students that runs in two parts. In the first part, called SHAPE, you spend two weeks focused on a specific engineering field.
If you choose electrical engineering, you’ll study solar energy systems, build digital circuits, program sensors, and design a working solar oven. In the second two-week part, you’ll create a piece of digital media that responds to a global issue, applying what you’ve learned to real-world problems.
7. Engineering Design Summer Institute at UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: $2,881. Limited scholarships may be available
Program Dates: Session A from June 23 – July 11, Session B from July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
UCLA’s Engineering Design Summer Institute is a hands-on program where you choose one of three tracks, including two focused on electrical engineering. In the microcontrollers track, you’ll design circuits and write code to control hardware through a computer interface.
In the wireless rover track, you’ll build a robot from scratch by fabricating its chassis, wiring its motors, and installing sensors. At the end of the program, you’ll write a report and present your work to peers and instructors.
8. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at NYU
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: None. A stipend of $1,000 is provided.
Program dates: June 2 – August 18
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York
NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) is a four-week summer program where you work alongside researchers in university labs. Several labs in the program focus on electrical engineering topics like machine learning, mechatronics, nanostructured materials, and device fabrication.
You’ll help with ongoing research, learn lab techniques, and meet regularly with your assigned mentor. The program ends with a research presentation at a colloquium, where you share your work with peers and faculty.
9. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free, however, if you choose the residential track, you will need to pay $2,360.25 as residential fees.
Program dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are US citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years of age
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program places you in an active research group, where you take responsibility for a specific project throughout the summer. In electrical and computer engineering, you can work on topics like algorithm design, distributed optimization, machine learning, quantum computing, or epidemic network modeling. You’ll learn research methods, develop a project abstract, and create a poster to present your findings at the program’s closing symposium.
10. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 23 – July 31
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who reside in Massachusetts within commuting distance of the University
Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program places you in one of the university’s research labs for six weeks of hands-on research. If you’re placed in an electrical engineering lab, you might work on projects like solar-powered phone chargers, intelligent circuits and surfaces, or bio-inspired robots.
Some students have also created web-based games to improve circuit-solving skills. You’ll gain experience using lab equipment, analyzing data, and sharing your results through a final presentation. The program is free and includes mentorship from university researchers.
11. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Program dates: 5-6 weeks during the summer (depends on the specific project)
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age and are US citizens, legal permanent residents, or international students currently in the United States
Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program is a solid research opportunity for high school students. The program lasts five to six weeks and allows you to conduct research at Princeton’s labs.
You can work on projects within electrical and computer engineering, including mid-infrared photonics, ECG analysis using machine learning, conductivity of metal halide perovskite films, or light sheet microscopy image processing with deep learning. You’ll receive mentorship from faculty and researchers. At the end of the program, you’ll submit a two-page report summarizing your findings.
12. University of Illinois’s Learning Electronics, AI, and Programming (LEAP) Camp
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: $1,000 for the residential program, $600 for the commuter program. Scholarships are available
Program dates: June 22-28
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12
The University of Illinois’s LEAP summer camp focuses on electrical engineering and computer science. This project-based program centers around small embedded systems with microcontrollers that collect atmospheric data.
You’ll learn how the system works and create a portable weather station using cloud computing and AI algorithms. During the camp, you’ll gain skills in programming, soldering, hardware assembly, data analysis, cloud computing, and working with printed circuit boards and sensors.
13. Drexel University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Camp
Location: Online
Cost: $300
Program dates: Session 1 from July 21-24, Session 2 from August 18-22
Application deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This four-day virtual summer camp teaches high school students the fundamentals of electrical and computer engineering. You’ll learn the basics of programming embedded systems and work with the ESP32 microcontroller (sent to you). Through live lessons, you’ll explore signal processing, computer hardware, software, circuits, and algorithms. The camp also covers how these concepts are used in phones and autonomous vehicles.
14. Johns Hopkins University’s Explore Engineering Innovation
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (An online format is available as well)
Cost: Ranges from $4,115-$9,950 depending on the format (more details here)
Program dates: June 30-July 25
Application deadline: June 15
Eligibility: All high school students and recent graduates who are at least 15 years of age and meet the academic prerequisites mentioned on the website (priority is given to juniors and seniors)
Johns Hopkins University’s Explore Engineering Innovation is a summer program for high school students to dive deep into various engineering fields. This three-credit course allows you to engage with civil, chemical, electrical/computer, and mechanical engineering. You’ll participate in problem-solving exercises, hands-on projects, and theoretical testing.
One notable project involves designing and building an electronic device aimed at improving user well-being, where you’ll apply engineering principles to real-world challenges. You will also gain exposure to the tools and technologies used by professional engineers, from CAD software to lab-based experiments, and work with faculty to refine your design ideas.
15. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: None. A fellowship payment is provided, but the amount is not specified
Program Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: Applications open February 1. Deadline not specified.
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors residing in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program is a 6-week program offering high school students hands-on research experience in STEM fields. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, you can apply for the Grainger Engineering Young Scholars group.
During the program, you’ll spend 30-35 hours per week working on research projects, learning from faculty, and attending seminars. You’ll get to engage with real-world research, gaining insights into the engineering field. The program ends with a final symposium where you’ll present your research findings in the form of a research poster.
Image source – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign