Online electrical engineering programs allow you to explore engineering concepts without commuting to a physical classroom or lab. These programs can help you learn about circuits, robotics, microcontrollers, and signal processing. Even online, you will still get hands-on practice, build useful technical skills, and see how engineers approach problems. You will understand how electrical systems are designed through structured lessons, virtual tools, and simple guided projects. These programs are a great starting point for learning what electrical engineering involves.
Why should you participate in online electrical engineering programs for high school students?
Choosing an online electrical engineering program is a good option if you want something flexible, accessible, and academically solid. If your school doesn’t offer engineering classes or you just prefer remote learning, online options make it easy to explore the field without a big commitment. You can learn from home, move at your own pace, and use the tools and simulations used by professional engineers. Many programs also include small projects so you can apply what you learn, making the experience practical even while learning remotely.
Here are 15 online electrical engineering programs for high school students that are worth exploring.
If you want summer opportunities, you can also look at Electrical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students here.
15 Online Electrical Engineering Programs for High School Students
1. UCSD Extended Studies – Electronics and Telecommunications Review: Math, Circuits, and Signals
Location: Virtual
Cost: $750
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: January 13 – March 14
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
UCSD Extended Studies offers the Electronics and Telecommunications Review course, which covers the basics of electronic devices, digital circuits, and signal transmission. You’ll learn how Boolean algebra, binary arithmetic, and logic gates are used to design modern electronic and communication systems. You’ll get hands-on practice with digital systems ranging from logic gates to flip-flops and transducers, as well as build a strong foundation in electronics and communication concepts. You’ll also learn about OPAMP-based circuits like amplifiers, comparators, and adders, along with diode applications in rectifiers and filters. The course will prepare you for more advanced topics in RF engineering and telecommunications, as well as help you understand how communication systems work.
2. sci-MI Electrical Engineering Mentorship Program (EEMP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Limited cohort size
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students; Preference is given to students who are underrepresented in electrical engineering or higher education
The Electrical Engineering Mentorship Program (EEMP) is a free, five-week summer program that introduces you to electrical engineering while giving you room to explore your own research interests. It is fully remote and covers key topics like circuits, computer architecture, embedded systems, signal processing, and software engineering. You’ll work with volunteer mentors and use open-source tools and research papers to develop an independent project you choose. Each week, you’ll take part in interactive labs, journal clubs, and lectures that strengthen your understanding of core EE concepts. These activities will help you work on an independent project and present it at the end of the program, along with a written report. Some past students have even submitted their work to student journals.
3. Cornell SCE Fall & Spring Study – Introduction to Circuits for Electrical and Computer Engineers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition is $1,940 per credit hour + additional fees
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 25 – December 20 (Fall Session); January 20 – May 16 (Spring Session)
Application Deadline: August 20 (Fall session); January 20 (Spring Session)
Eligibility: High school students aged 18 or older; Additional prerequisites here
Cornell’s School of Continuing Education lets you take commuter or online classes for college credit alongside college students. You’ll get access to libraries, campus resources, and more than 100 courses in areas like engineering, history, data science, business, psychology, computer science, and political science. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, the Introduction to Circuits for Electrical and Computer Engineers course gives a solid overview of how electronic circuits work. You’ll learn the basics of voltage, current, and power, and study how resistors, capacitors, and inductors behave under different conditions. You’ll also work with transistors and op-amps to build simple amplifiers and power converters. In the lab part of the course, you’ll test real circuits using modern instruments and create simple MATLAB models to predict circuit behavior.
4. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free for students from lower-income households; $2,350 for those with a family income above $150,000
Acceptance Rate: Around 20%
Dates: July 6 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 2 – March 30
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 11 who attend school in person in the United States
The Beaver Works Summer Institute at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT’s School of Engineering is a hands-on STEM program where you’ll work on real projects in engineering, robotics, cybersecurity, AI, and similar areas. Current course offerings are available here, including online electrical engineering options like ASIC Basics and Microelectronics & Hardware Development. The Basics of ASICs will introduce you to the core building blocks of modern electronics and give you experience designing semiconductor components at the nanometer scale. The MicroElectronics and Hardware Development course will teach you how microchips, PCBs, and hardware systems are designed and built. You’ll also learn to design hardware using microcontrollers to build practical electronics for everyday use.
5. Drexel University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Summer Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost: $300 registration fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 21 – 24
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; No prior experience is required
Drexel University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Summer Institute is a virtual camp for high school students interested in computer or engineering majors. You’ll learn the basics of programming embedded systems with the ESP32, a low-cost and low-power microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi. Over four days, you’ll learn about computer programming and hardware and explore core ECE areas like computer hardware and software, signal processing, circuits, and algorithms. You’ll also learn how these fields shape everyday technology, from cell phones to autonomous vehicles.
6. Ecampus at Oregon State University – Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE): DC and Transient Circuits
Location: Virtual
Cost: $384 per credit + $30 nonrefundable application fee + additional expenses for books and supplies; Calculate the total cost here
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts in the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (see here)
Eligibility: High school students with a 3.0+ GPA
Oregon State University’s Ecampus allows you to enroll in online college courses for credit, giving you an early start on college work. Ecampus offers more than 100 courses in areas like engineering, psychology, data science, anthropology, communication, computer science, physics, economics, foreign languages, math, and other related fields. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, the DC and Transient Circuits course will give you a clear look at how linear circuits work. You’ll study circuit laws and theorems, first-order circuit behavior, DC responses, and how operational amplifiers function and are used. You will also learn about basic semiconductor devices and how they are made.
7. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual (hybrid + in-person options available)
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 for 3 credits of undergraduate coursework + $25 application fee (both waivable based on financial need); Unpaid
Acceptance Rate: Around 10%
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: For computer lab internships, whether remote, in person, or hybrid, students need to be at least 15 years old by the start date; For in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships, students must be at least 16 years old
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program is an eight-week research experience where you’ll work with George Mason University faculty. You’ll develop skills in scientific writing, research tools, communication, and problem-solving, as well as explore different STEM fields. Depending on your mentor and project, the internship can be in person, remote, or hybrid. Research areas include math, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, data science, cybersecurity, and more. Some projects may be published or presented at conferences; you can look through past projects from various departments here. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, you can work in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department on topics such as microelectronics, AI hardware, energy harvesting and storage, nanotechnology, quantum, logic, and memory. Other possible areas include brain-inspired computing, building light-than-air robots, and controlling them.
8. MITES Semester
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Around 3-5%
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Semester is a six-month STEM and college prep program for high school juniors. From June to early August (STEM Immersion Phase), you’ll take two rigorous STEM courses and explore fields like Thermodynamics, Machine Learning, Astrophysics, and more. You’ll complete one project-based course and one core course in areas such as Physics, Calculus, Computer Science, or Science Writing. Courses like Embedded Systems and Robotics include strong electrical engineering elements, giving you hands-on experience applying theory to real systems. You’ll work in teams on final projects for the MITES Semester Conference and connect with peers through webinars, Slack meetings, and game nights. From August to December (College and Career Prep Phase), you’ll join weekly webinars and cluster meetings with faculty and professionals, write blogs, and participate in mock interviews, essay reviews, and other college prep workshops. At the end of the STEM Immersion Phase, you’ll also receive a written evaluation summarizing your strengths, growth, and contributions.
9. UCSD Extended Studies – Futures: Bluetooth Technologies and Applications for High Schoolers
Location: Virtual
Cost: $390
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: January 5 – March 15; March 30 – June 6
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
The Futures: Bluetooth Technologies and Applications course introduces the core principles behind Bluetooth and its newest features. You’ll explore the Bluetooth 5.3 specification, including profiles, security, protocols, LE Audio, and how Bluetooth works in Android apps. The course will also share practical tips for Android Bluetooth, Android Automotive, Android Audio, and the Hardware Adaptation Layer, along with audio flow control techniques. You’ll review Bluetooth standards, packet formats, and the protocol stack, learn how connection modes, profiles, pairing, and authentication work, and study Bluetooth location services, audio sharing, and multi-stream audio. This course can help you learn about electrical engineering by introducing you to wireless communication concepts, circuit principles, and hardware platforms in a practical way.
10. Northwestern University’s Online Advanced Placement (AP) – Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Location: Virtual
Cost: $865 (1-credit course); $1,445 (2-credit course); $65 application fee; Tuition goes up by $25 after the Early Bird Deadline; Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Varies by cohort and type
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders who meet one of the required criteria
CTD’s Online AP program offers flexible, college-level courses that work well if you’re ready for advanced material, have a busy schedule, or want a lighter course load. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism course will introduce you to classical mechanics and electromagnetism, both of which are two core areas of the field. These concepts will help you learn how transformers, generators, motors, and power systems operate. The course is a strong choice if you already have some physics experience or plan to major in a technical field, since it aligns with the calculus-based physics classes required for electrical engineering majors. This is a 1-credit, flexibly paced, asynchronous AP course.
11. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs: Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI)
Location: Virtual (hybrid + in-person options available)
Cost: $3,900 tuition + $265 Lab Kit Fee + $60 application fee (Online Program); Details here
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 31 (Online Program)
Application Deadline: January 30 (early deadline); May 27 (final deadline)
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent graduates (15-17) who have earned As and Bs in math and science and have completed Algebra II, a class that covers trigonometric functions, and a full year of chemistry and or physics with a lab; Priority is given to juniors and seniors
EEI is a college-level summer program that will teach you to think creatively and solve problems like an engineer. You will also get to earn three Johns Hopkins University credits. Designed by JHU Engineering faculty, the program will allow you to explore fields such as electrical, civil, computer, chemical, and mechanical engineering, as well as materials science. You’ll work on hands-on projects in small teams, which will help you build critical thinking and communication skills. As you try out different engineering areas, you’ll learn how they connect and get a clearer sense of possible majors and careers. Projects include building a spaghetti bridge, using a Circuit Playground Express to make a Simon-style memory game, and designing chemical processes that are safe, efficient, and cost-effective.
12. Summer@Brown Online Pre-College Programs – Materials Science and Engineering: Designing for Society’s Needs
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,364 – $6,520; Some courses may have additional fees; Scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 23 – July 11
Application Deadline: January 14 – May 8
Eligibility: High school students (14-18) who have completed Algebra 1 and have some chemistry exposure
Summer@Brown Online allows you to explore more than 50 courses across engineering, data science, psychology, computer science, and finance. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, the Materials Science and Engineering course introduces the math and science behind materials science. You’ll research, test, and design nanomaterials, biomaterials, and other advanced materials used in many engineering applications. You’ll also work on a focused challenge by developing and theoretically testing a cost-effective, durable, structurally sound bridge component. The course will give you a solid introduction to materials science and general engineering thinking, which can help you decide on future study. It will also allow you to explore electrical engineering by covering the material properties of semiconductors, conductors, and other electrical systems.
13. UCSD Extended Studies – Futures: Digital Logic Circuits for High Schoolers
Location: Virtual
Cost: $390
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: January 5 – March 15; March 30 – June 6
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
The Futures: Digital Logic Circuits course will introduce you to how electronics work by studying how electrons move through physical components. You’ll learn the difference between analog circuit design, which deals with changing voltages and currents, and digital circuit design, which uses two fixed voltage levels to represent logic values. The course explains how analog electronics support digital components and how digital integrated circuits power devices like phones, wearables, computers, appliances, and cars. You’ll also explore how the pandemic-era chip shortage highlighted the need for onshore chip manufacturing, leading to major investments and growing job opportunities in digital design. By the program’s end, you’ll have a working understanding of combinational logic, sequential logic, state machines, and basic circuit implementation and testing. The course will also help you build a strong foundation in digital systems, including logic gates, Boolean algebra, and key concepts used in modern electrical engineering.
14. University of Maryland: WIE Rise Summer Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $25 per student; Need-based full scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: July 27 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 25; Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
The WIE Rise Summer Research Program is a week-long online program that introduces you to engineering research. It is offered through Maryland Engineering’s RISE Program and Women in Engineering Program. During the week, you’ll try simple at-home experiments, learn about research labs at the University of Maryland, practice reading and writing scientific papers, and talk with current Maryland Engineering undergraduates. You’ll also explore different engineering fields like Electrical and Computer, Bioengineering, Materials Science, Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Fire Protection, Aerospace, and Mechanical. The experience will give you a broad view of engineering research, including electrical engineering, through its mix of labs, activities, and projects.
15. Harvard University’s Secondary School Program (SSP) 7-Week Online – Thermodynamics for Energy Technologies
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,180 (4 credits); $8,160 (8 credits); $75 non-refundable application fee; Financial aid available
Cohort Size: 45 students per class
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 7 (early deadline); February 11 (regular deadline); April 1 (late deadline)
Eligibility: High school students (16-19) who have experience in high school physics
Harvard University’s 7-week Online Secondary School Program allows you to take for-credit college courses from home. You can choose from more than 200 courses in physics, engineering, computer science, economics, psychology, and other fields. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, the Thermodynamics for Energy Technologies course is a good option. It covers concepts like energy conservation and entropy and shows how they apply to real energy systems. While the course leans toward mechanical and chemical engineering topics, what you learn is useful in electrical engineering too, especially in areas like renewable power, energy systems, heat management in electronics, energy efficiency, and electronic materials and devices.
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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