If you’re a high school student interested in engineering, a free university summer program can be a smart (and financially accessible) way to learn what the field is all about. These programs introduce you to core engineering concepts and give you a chance to build technical skills early on. You’ll get a closer look at how engineers approach problems, design systems, and work with technology.
These programs are also a good space to explore whether you’d enjoy majoring in engineering later. You’ll have opportunities to attend academic sessions, connect with faculty, and learn about college-level research. Some programs teach you how to work with software like MATLAB, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks. Others might cover topics like circuit design, basic robotics, environmental systems, or mechanical structures.
With that, here’s a list of 15 free university engineering summer programs for high school students!
15 Free University Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Program dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University for high school juniors and seniors. You work one-on-one with a faculty mentor and complete a full research project.
If you’re interested in engineering, you can choose topics like electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical systems, robotics, cancer bioimaging, or computer science. You can also explore fields like physics, mathematics, chemistry, or economics if you propose a strong research plan.
2. NYU Tandon’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Program dates: June 2–August 8
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York residents
ARISE is a free 10-week summer research program at NYU Tandon for NYC high school students. It includes a $1,000 stipend. In the first four weeks, you complete lab safety training, improve your writing in college-level workshops, and build core research skills. For the final six weeks, you join one of 80+ NYU labs and work around 120 hours on real research projects with faculty and graduate mentors.
There are over 80 labs to choose from, including ones focused on machine learning, materials science, robotics, biomedical engineering, and data science. You work on a research project, develop presentation skills, and present your work at a research colloquium and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History. The program is free and includes a $1,000 stipend.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Program dates: June 22–August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors worldwide
RSI is a free six-week summer research program for high school students, combining advanced STEM coursework with a full-time research internship. It’s hosted at MIT and brings together top students from around the world.
In the first week, you attend intensive seminars in fields like biology, engineering, math, and physics taught by university faculty and industry professionals. You’re then matched with a research mentor and spend five weeks working on an individual project.
You read scientific papers, form research questions, run experiments or simulations, and prepare a research paper and presentation. The program ends with a conference-style presentation where your research is reviewed by a panel.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers a fully funded version of the Lumiere Research Scholar Program for high school students from low-income backgrounds. Over 12 weeks, you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor on an independent research project.
The program supports topics across economics, psychology, physics, chemistry, data science, engineering, and more. You develop a research question, study academic sources, and complete a full-length research paper. You can also earn UCSD credit upon completion of the program.
The Breakthrough Scholar Program is the non-profit version of Lumiere’s Individual Research Scholar Program. It’s designed for students with strong academic potential who need financial support to access research opportunities.
5. MIT Women’s Technology Program: Mechanical Engineering (WTP-ME)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with family income less than $120,000. Know the detailed cost of the program here.
Program dates: June 28–July 26
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors with a permanent family home address in the U.S. and who have demonstrated the ability to excel in math and science are eligible to apply.
WTP-ME is a free four-week summer program at MIT for U.S. high school students identifying as female, held after your junior year. It introduces you to core mechanical engineering topics like thermodynamics, statics, materials, and fluid mechanics through lectures, coding, simulations, and hands-on design projects.
The program is for students strong in math and science but with little background in engineering. You’ll work in teams, solve analytical problems, and use tools like computer-aided design. Led by graduate instructors, the program blends theory with real application. WTP-ME admits only 20 students each year, making it highly selective.
6. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Virtual and in-person at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Program dates: Online Courses: February 3 – June 20 | In-person Summer Program: July 7–August 3
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year who are U.S. citizens
BWSI is a free four-week summer program for rising high school seniors interested in hands-on engineering and technology. Hosted at MIT, the program offers specialized tracks like autonomous drone racing, medical analytics, quantum computing, underwater vehicle design, embedded security, and more.
You’ll work in teams to solve real engineering problems, build systems, and apply coding, machine learning, and systems thinking. Depending on your course, you might design radar systems, secure embedded devices, or use AI to analyze healthcare data. Each track ends with a capstone project, and many include simulations and guest sessions with experts.
7. MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, and Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Program dates: July 13–26
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school students completing their junior year of high school and who are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
LLRISE is a two-week summer workshop where you build and test your radar systems. Hosted at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the program is for high school students entering 12th grade who want a hands-on introduction to radar and signal processing.
You’ll start with the basics of electromagnetics and waveform analysis, then use that knowledge to construct Doppler and range radar units. The work is team-based and supported by MIT scientists and engineers. You troubleshoot, refine, and test your systems in real time.
8. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Program dates: July 1–August 2
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Open to New York City residents currently enrolled in grades 8–10 with a strong academic record and demonstrated interest in STEM
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) is a free five-week summer program at NYU Tandon School of Engineering for high school students living in New York City. You’ll attend the program in person on weekdays from July 7 to August 8.
This program takes you through hands-on training in coding, electronics, sensors, and microcontrollers. You’ll build working prototypes, analyze how systems like water, waste, transportation, and power can be improved, and learn how to apply cloud computing and circuit design to smart infrastructure.
Beyond the tech, you’ll dive into the entrepreneurship side. That includes learning how to develop a business model, protect intellectual property, manage a project, and present a product pitch.
9. University of Wisconsin-Madison – Engineering Summer Program
Location: University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
Program dates: July 12–August 1
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are interested in engineering, have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and have completed at least one year of algebra and geometry are eligible to apply.
At UW–Madison’s Engineering Summer Program, you’ll explore college-level STEM courses and apply engineering principles through hands-on learning. Open to rising high school juniors and seniors, this free residential program includes daily classes in math, physics, chemistry, and engineering design.
You’ll work in labs, visit local engineering companies, and join team-based workshops that mirror real-world engineering. You’ll also be paired with a mentor—either a faculty member or an engineering student, who’ll support your learning and college planning. The program includes professional development and group activities.
10. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote, hybrid, and in-person at George Mason University
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old for remote internships and at least 16 years old for in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships.
At George Mason’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP), you’ll work full-time for eight weeks with university researchers or industry professionals. You’ll join real research projects in fields like bioengineering, civil and software engineering, renewable energy, machine learning, nanoscience, and cybersecurity.
You’ll get hands-on experience with lab equipment, use data analysis tools, and attend writing workshops and research seminars. You’ll also work on problems with real-world impact—topics like disease diagnostics, robotics, environmental policy, and urban hydrology. Each student is matched with a mentor, and some participants co-author academic papers or present their work at conferences.
11. University of Maryland – ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program
Location: University of Maryland, A. James Clark School of Engineering, College Park, MD.
Program dates: July 7–August 1
Application deadline: April 25
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 11th grade by June, have a minimum 3.2 GPA with no Cs in Math and Science courses, and are ready to take Pre-Calculus by 12th grade are eligible to apply. See the full eligibility requirements here.
At the University of Maryland’s ESTEEM SER Quest Program, you will spend four weeks working on an independent research project with guidance from faculty and graduate mentors. You will go through the entire research process, including literature review, proposal writing, data collection, and analysis, while learning core engineering concepts.
In addition to research, you will attend college planning sessions, learn how financial aid works, and get introduced to academic life at the A James Clark School of Engineering. You will also connect with current students and get a clear view of the campus and its engineering environment.
12. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Program dates: June 30–August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are at least 16 years old by the program start date are eligible to apply.
Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is a seven-week research experience where you work on an independent project in science, engineering, or mathematics under the guidance of university researchers. You get matched with a research group, contribute to ongoing investigations, and apply lab techniques.
You present your work as a formal abstract and a research poster at a campus symposium. The program also includes weekly talks by faculty, lab tours, and workshops that deepen your understanding of the research process. This free program includes a stipend.
13. University of Chicago – Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab
Location: John Crerar Library at the University of Chicago, Hyde Park campus, IL
Program dates: June 16–August 8
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Current high school seniors starting college in the fall and residing in Chicago.
University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab is an 8-week research program where you work on real research projects that apply data science to fields like public policy, computer science, biomedical research, or climate science. You get matched with a mentor and contribute directly to ongoing projects through coding, data analysis, and research writing.
You join a cohort, attend skill-building workshops, and take part in professional development sessions. By the end, you create a final research video and present your work at a symposium designed like a professional conference.
14. Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) at Santa Clara University
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Program dates: Session 1: July 13–17 | Session 2: July 20–24 | Advanced Session 3: July 27–31
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Open to students who will have completed their sophomore or junior year of high school by July 1
The Summer Engineering Seminar at Santa Clara University is a five-day residential program for high school sophomores and juniors. You rotate through faculty-led workshops in fields like bioengineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, mechanical systems, and electrical design.
Each day combines lectures with hands-on lab sessions that help you explore how different engineering disciplines approach problem solving. You’ll live on campus, interact with Santa Clara students and faculty, and work on group activities that reflect real engineering challenges.
15. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – Department of the Navy
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program and are U.S. citizens
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in the Department of the Navy research labs for eight weeks during the summer. You’ll work under professionals and engineers on defense-focused projects in fields like robotics, marine engineering, materials science, or computational modeling.
You’ll get direct lab experience, build research and technical skills, and explore potential careers in Navy science and engineering. The program includes a stipend of $4,000 for first-time participants and $4,500 for returning students, paid biweekly. Some students may continue their research through extended placements after the summer.
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!
Image source – Texas Tech University