Interested in knowing how medicine, biology, and engineering meet? Check out biomedicine. Biomedical engineering summer camps for high school students are the perfect way to explore this growing field. These camps give you an opportunity to develop advanced technical skills, work on practical applications, and learn from expert mentors – all the while teaming with other students who share your passion in healthcare innovation. Unlike regular research programs, these camps are shorter in duration, highly structured, and often centered on a single subject area—allowing for deep focus and hands-on learning in a compressed timeframe.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 14 biomedical engineering summer camps for high school students. Each program provides practical experience, mentorship, and career guidance to help you discover whether biomedical engineering could be the right path for your future.
1. BIOMED Summer Academy
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $1,500. Need-based financial aid is available
Program Dates: Session I: July 7–11 | Session II: July 14–18 | Session III: July 21–25 | Session IV: July 28–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling basis starting from January 1
Eligibility: Rising 11-12 graders residing in the Philadelphia area and beyond
Drexel University’s BIOMED Summer Academy is a weeklong program designed to introduce high school students to the world of biomedical engineering. You will gain experience in basic laboratory methods while exploring how biomedical engineers develop new healthcare technologies. This biomedical engineering summer camp for high school students combines interactive seminars, expert guest lectures, and site visits to provide a broad perspective of the field. You’ll dive into topics including prosthetics, biotechnology research, and medical imaging. At the end of the program, you’ll walk away with both hands-on skills and valuable exposure to the biomedical industry.
2. Engineering Overview Camps
Location: University of Texas at San Antonio, TX
Cost: $550 – $750
Program Dates: June 9 – 13 | June 30 – July 4
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Engineering Overview Camp, offered twice each summer, gives high school students an opportunity to explore six engineering disciplines—including Biomedical, Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil—through interactive labs and activities. UTSA faculty guide you through each field and related career opportunities. You will also learn about UTSA’s programs and admissions process. This camp is a fun, supportive and low-pressure setting to discover the area of engineering that sparks your interest.
3. Engineering Summer Camp at the University of Chicago, Illinois
Location: University of Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $500/week
Program Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
UIC’s Engineering Summer Camp is a five-day program that gives high school students the opportunity to explore five different fields of engineering. You will dive into areas including Biomedical, Software, and Mechanical Engineering through hands-on projects in real university labs. In the past, campers have designed robots, 3D-printed prototypes, tissue models, and app mockups – so expect plenty of creativity! Working in small teams with guidance from UIC faculty and graduate students, you’ll take on a variety of engineering challenges. The program also offers career insights into emerging fields and college prep support, making it a good introduction to the world of engineering.
4. Bioengineering Opportunities and Leadership Training (BOLT) Camp at the University of Colorado
Location: CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost: $975
Program Dates:
June 2 – 5
June 9 – 12
June 23 – 26
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the seats are filled
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 in the fall
The BOLT Camp at the University of Colorado is a four-day in-person experience that introduces high school students to the world of biomedical engineering. Held at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, this biomedical engineering summer camp for high school students shows how engineering and medicine come together to develop technologies that improve healthcare. You will participate in a team-based competition, where you design and test your own prototype. Along the way, you’ll explore biomedical engineering concepts, general engineering principles, and leadership skills under the guidance of faculty and students. You will also see demonstrations of cutting-edge research, giving you insights into the future of healthcare.
5. USF Biomedical Engineering Camp
Location: USF Tampa – College of Engineering (DFX Lab), FL
Cost: $1,350
Program Dates: The residential camp takes place from June 23 –27
Application Deadline: Registrations open on February 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
The USF Biomedical Engineering Camp is a hands-on program for high school students curious about how engineering meets medicine. Hosted on the USF Tampa campus and led by faculty from electrical and biomedical engineering, the camp will introduce you to the basic principles of biomedical engineering. You will work in the Design for X (DFX) lab, planning, building, and testing bioelectrical interfaces using professional tools. With guidance from USF faculty, you will explore topics such as instrumentation, bioelectrical signal measurement, and cooperative learning. By the end of the program, you will walk away with both technical skills and a clearer sense of the career paths available in Biomedical Engineering.
6. Power of Bioengineering Camp
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Cost:
Residential: $1,000 plus a $25 deposit
Commuter: $600 plus a $25 deposit
Program Dates: July 13 – 19
Application Deadline: Generally towards the end of March
Eligibility: 9th – 12th graders
The Power of Bioengineering Camp introduces high school students to the interdisciplinary field of bioengineering. Over the course of the program, you will attend faculty-led lectures and participate in hands-on lab activities. Using bio-instrumentation and innovative techniques, you will learn to probe, manipulate, and visualize health and disease. You will also see how bioengineers design medical devices and develop new treatments. As part of a STEM broadening initiative, the program supports students from traditionally under-represented groups to get involved and look at bioengineering as a possible career path.
7. Engineering Summer Academy
Location: Rutgers–New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $2,699
Program Dates:
July 13 – 19
July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: May 23 (For domestic students)
Eligibility: Students completing their sophomore and junior year, ages 16 to 18 by the summer
At the Engineering Summer Academy, you will get the opportunity to explore multiple branches of engineering, from biomedical and civil to industrial and systems engineering. You’ll see how math and science concepts apply to real-world problem-solving and quantitative modeling, and work on hands-on projects that simulate professional engineering work. Along the way, you’ll build communication skills by learning how to present findings clearly to peers and broader audiences. You will also get a taste of campus life and resources, offering insights into the college experience.
8. Pre-Med Biomedical Engineering Program
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,150
Program Dates: Session I: July 6 – 12 | Session II: July 13 – 19
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, or senior in high school
The Pre-Med Biomedical Engineering Program is a weeklong opportunity for high school students to explore careers at the crossroads of medicine and engineering. You will work with medical devices, analyze physiological data, and conduct lab activities that show how engineering principles improve healthcare. The program also includes talks by professionals, who share their experiences and give a clearer picture of career paths in biomedical engineering. You’ll also explore emerging technologies, from pacemakers and artificial hips to 3D-printed organs and stem cell applications. By the end of the program, you’ll have both practical training and insights into how biomedical engineering is driving healthcare innovation.
9. Biomedical Engineering Camp
Location: UTSA – Klesse College, San Antonio, TX
Cost: $250 – $750
Program Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: 9th – 12th graders
The Biomedical Engineering Camp provides high school students with an opportunity to explore careers where engineering meets medicine. Hosted by the UTSA Biomedical Engineering Society, the camp introduces you to technical skills used by biomedical engineers each day. You can also attend guest sessions, where practicing engineers will highlight career paths in academia and industry. One of the highlights of the program is the make-a-thon, where you’ll work in teams to brainstorm and prototype ideas to address healthcare challenges. The program is built around innovation, collaboration, and connecting with professionals, giving you a glimpse of what biomedical engineering is all about.
10. NC State University The Human Machine Biomedical Engineering Camp
Location: NC State University, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $1,500
Program Dates: June 15 – 20
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade in the Fall
At NC State’s Biomedical Engineering Camp, you will explore how biomedical engineers innovate to improve healthcare. The program kicks off with real problems outlined by medical professionals and learn how to define needs and brainstorm solutions. You will collaborate with fellow students, prototype your solutions to healthcare problems and present them in an investor-style pitch – just like how a startup team would. Each project is unique, giving you an opportunity to show your creativity and problem-solving skills. The camp combines teamwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and applied learning, giving you a real sense into how engineering shapes healthcare.
11. Biomedical Engineering Bootcamp
Location: Opus College of Engineering at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $200
Program Dates: July 28 – 30 | August 4 – 6
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th graders
The Biomedical Engineering Bootcamp is an opportunity to explore the many dimensions of biomedical engineering. You’ll dive into biomechanics, bioelectronics, and biocomputing, working with coding, electronics, and mechanical devices to see how engineering technologies improve patient care. Along the way, you’ll learn how biomedical engineers contribute to real-world healthcare solutions and discover how the field connects with other disciplines, including computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering. This bootcamp is a perfect introduction to engineering careers in medicine and health.
12. Summer Engineering Institute for High School Students
Location: Ohio State Marion, Ohio State University, OH
Cost: $100
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, or senior in high school
The Summer Engineering Institute is a weeklong program for rising high school freshmen through seniors interested in exploring the world of engineering. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of engineering, including the design process, teamwork, problem solving, and professional ethics. You will build and program a robot, work on an Arduino microcontroller project, and tackle a mechanical engineering challenge. You’ll also participate in problem-solving sessions such as piloting a boat across a swimming pool, go on a facility tour and network with engineering professionals to learn about engineering careers. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a certificate of completion from Ohio State Marion.
13. Advanced Engineering Summer Academy
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel , Athens, GA
Cost: $530
Program Dates: July 14 – 18 | June 2 – 6
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 15-17
The Advanced Engineering Summer Academy is designed for high school students eager to experience engineering firsthand. In this one-week program, you will plan, design, and fabricate solutions using professional software and tools. Students focus on a single project track, with choices spanning chemical, civil, biomedical, environmental, and more. Teamwork is a big part of the experience – you’ll team up with other students on projects, under the guidance of faculty experts. By the end of the program, you’ll see first-hand how creativity and problem-solving power engineering careers.
Image source – Ohio State University