If you’re a high school student interested in mechanical engineering, a summer research program can be a practical way to learn more about the field. You may work on projects involving machine design, material testing, and understanding forces in motion. These hands-on tasks will teach you how to apply core engineering skills in real-life situations.
You will build skills like reading blueprints, using CAD software, analyzing data, and writing clear technical reports. Trying out these programs lets you see what mechanical engineering work looks like. They can help you decide if this field fits your interests and strengths before college.
To help you find the right fit, here is a list of 15 mechanical engineering summer research programs for high school students!
15 Mechanical Engineering Summer Research Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Engineering Track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Individual Research Program – $2,990; Premium Research & Publication Program – $5,900; Research Fellowship – $8,900
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 deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: You must be a current high school student with at least a 3.3 unweighted GPA. No prior experience in the subject is required.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive academic experience tailored for high school students. It provides you with one-on-one research mentorship and allows you to explore a wide variety of academic disciplines. You’ll be matched with a Ph.D. mentor and work closely on a research project.
Over 12 weeks, you’ll craft and complete your research paper. Subjects range from economics, psychology, and engineering to computer science, chemistry, data science, and international affairs. To learn more about applying, further information is available here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program – Engineering Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,950
Application Deadlines: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The summer cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
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 offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across various subject areas. It is one of the few programs that lets you choose to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. The STEM research track includes different branches of engineering, such as mechanical engineering.
Once you select your subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar who mentors you throughout your research. You are expected to complete a 20-page research paper that you can submit to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides detailed feedback on your project and a letter of recommendation to support your future academic work.
3. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 1
Dates: June 15 – July 26 (tentative- based on previous year dates)
Eligibility: 11th graders
MITES Summer is a six-week, on-campus program for high school seniors interested in STEM. You will live at MIT, take five courses, and work on real projects like engineering design, which is great if you want to learn about mechanical engineering.
The schedule is full, with classes, homework, and chances to explore Boston on weekends. You’ll get mentorship from MIT students and help with college applications and financial aid. The program includes midterms, final exams, and a project presentation at the Final Symposium.
4. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: Hybrid
Cost/Stipend: The program provides a full scholarship to participants. Students also receive a $1,000 stipend.
Application Deadline: February 21
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade in June
The ARISE program at NYU offers a 10-week research experience for high school students interested in STEM. You can explore fields like mechanical engineering, bioengineering, AI, and robotics through hands-on work. In the mechanical engineering track, you’ll learn skills such as CAD design, prototyping, materials testing, and thermodynamics.
You’ll work with about 50 expert mentors from various science and engineering areas. The program focuses on teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving to help you tackle real-world science problems and build your technical skills.
5. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Dates: 5-6 weeks during the Summer
Eligibility: Students who are 16 years or older by June 15
Princeton’s Laboratory Learning Program gives high school students a full-time, in-person summer research experience in science or engineering, including mechanical engineering. If you live nearby, you can spend 5 to 6 weeks working with faculty and research staff on active projects.
Each project has its schedule, but usually follows regular weekday office hours. You’ll do hands-on work, getting real experience in labs and learning how academic research works. Transportation and housing are not provided, and all work happens on campus.
6. MIT’s Women’s Technology Program in Mechanical Engineering
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with family income less than $120,000. To know more, click here
Application Deadline:
Dates: June 28 – July 26
Eligibility: High school students now in grade 11
WTP-ME at MIT is a four-week summer program for rising seniors interested in mechanical engineering. You’ll study fluid mechanics, materials, and heat transfer through lectures, problem sets, labs, and CAD projects, all led by MIT graduate students.
The program focuses on both analytical thinking and hands-on design skills. WTP-ME selects 20 students nationwide who are strong in math and science but have little formal engineering experience. The course moves fast and does not require prior engineering knowledge.
7. ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program
Location: University of Maryland, MD
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 25
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Eligibility: Students who have completed 11th grade by June with a minimum GPA of 3.2. You can find the detailed eligibility criteria on the program website
The ESTEEM/SER-Quest Program offers a four-week summer research experience for rising high school seniors interested in engineering and technology. This program is designed for high-achieving students and gives you a chance to explore college-level engineering.
You’ll work on a hands-on research project, write proposals, review scholarly articles, and study key engineering principles. Mentors and faculty will guide you, and you’ll also attend workshops on college admissions.
8. MSOE’s Women in Technology
Location: MSOE University
Cost: $1,100
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – July 11
Eligibility: Girls entering 10th through 12th grades
MSOE’s Women in Engineering is a week-long residential camp for high school girls entering grades 10 to 12. You’ll explore different engineering fields like mechanical, civil, biomedical, software, and more through hands-on sessions led by MSOE faculty and female engineering students.
The program also includes industry tours where you’ll see how engineering works in real life. Mechanical engineering is one of the fields covered, giving you a chance to learn about design, systems, and problem-solving. In the evenings, you can relax with activities like comedy shows and tours around Milwaukee, which also help you connect with other students.
9. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 11
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Eligibility: High school juniors
MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI) is a six-week program for students who want to explore advanced STEM topics. The first week includes lectures from top professors. Then, for five weeks, you’ll work on a research project with a mentor in your chosen field.
You’ll read academic papers, run experiments, and present your results in written reports and oral presentations. Evening seminars with leading scientists will help you learn about new research and improve your communication. The program is fully funded and selects 100 students worldwide each year.
10. The University of Arizona Summer Engineering Academy – Experience Engineering 1
Location: University of Arizona College of Engineering
Cost: $750 + $50 application fee
Application Deadline: March 28
Dates: June 22- June 26
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders
Experience Engineering I is a one-week residential camp at the University of Arizona for rising 9th to 12th graders and recent graduates. You’ll work on hands-on projects and design challenges in areas like mechanical, civil, aerospace, and environmental engineering.
Professors and student mentors lead the program, giving you access to advanced labs and real-world engineering work. You’ll live on campus, get a taste of college life, and meet other students interested in engineering.
11. North Carolina State University Look Up! Way Up! Program
Location: North Carolina State University
Cost: $1,500
Application Deadline: January 13 – March 28
Dates: Multiple sessions through June – July
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th graders
NC State’s Look Up! Way Up! program is a one-week residential camp for rising 11th and 12th graders focused on mechanical and aerospace engineering. You’ll live on campus in university housing and spend your days working on a single engineering workshop.
This workshop covers flight, motion, and design, giving you hands-on experience with real mechanical and aerospace engineering projects. Afternoons and evenings include camp activities that help you connect with others and have fun.
12. StanfordOnline: Introduction to Haptics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $159 for a verified certificate
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: 5 weeks of self-paced learning
Eligibility: High school students
StanfordOnline’s Introduction to Haptics is a five-part course about how technology copies the sense of touch. You will learn about haptic device engineering, mechanical system behavior, and how tactile feedback works using mechatronics and control programming.
You will build the Hapkit, getting hands-on experience assembling parts, designing circuits, and programming with Arduino. These skills are important in mechanical engineering. Lab exercises let you practice motion control and feedback systems.
If you want, you can skip the hardware part and still finish the theory part of the course.
13. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SSMP)
Location: In-person/ Virtual
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities are available
Application Deadline: Varies as per program
Program Dates: Multiple opportunities are available
Eligibility: Grades 9-12 for the current school year
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program connects you one-on-one with professionals in areas like mechanical engineering. It is open to high school students in the Greater Seattle area. You get matched with mentors from startups, universities, and industry.
If you are interested in mechanical systems, you may work on design or research projects. Your mentor will set clear goals and guide you. This helps you build technical skills and learn industry practices. SPARK matches you based on your interests and your mentor’s expertise, giving you a real look at engineering careers and research.
14. Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free; a stipend is provided
Application Deadline: February 7
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Students in their junior year of high school at the time of applying; at least 16 years of age by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program lets you dive into hands-on scientific work with a faculty mentor at Stony Brook University. You’ll join a research lab and work on a specific project, learning lab techniques and problem-solving skills. You can check mentor profiles and research topics by clicking here.
Each week, you’ll attend seminars from top scientists and take part in group enrichment activities. After eight weeks, you’ll write a research abstract and present your work at a poster symposium. All participants get a financial stipend.
15. Research Mentorship Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara
Cost: Commuter: $5,175; Residential: $12,474
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 17
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th or 11th grade with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA
UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program offers full-time research experience with university experts across fields like engineering. You start with a virtual orientation, then spend six weeks on campus working with a mentor on a project that fits your interests.
You’ll spend 35–50 hours each week on tasks such as data collection, analysis, or fieldwork, often working late into the evening. You might explore topics like sustainability, robotics, or materials science.
The program includes writing a formal research paper and presenting your findings at a university symposium. You earn college credit and gain experience similar to real academic research.
Image source – University of California, Santa Barbara
