Chemical engineering sits at the crossroads of chemistry, physics, and mathematics, and it is a field that shapes everything from sustainable energy solutions to pharmaceuticals and consumer products. For high school students curious about how raw ideas turn into practical technologies, summer programs in chemical engineering can be a rare chance to dive into the subject early.
These programs move beyond the classroom by letting you experiment in labs, design small-scale projects, and even engage in research guided by university mentors or industry professionals. Whether it’s touring chemical plants, working on renewable energy systems, or conducting experiments in advanced labs, the experiences are designed to show you how this discipline connects to real-world challenges.
To help you choose, we’ve highlighted 13 chemical engineering programs for high school students that combine hands-on learning with exposure to cutting-edge research and applications.
13 Chemical Engineering Programs for High School Students
1. Lamar University – ChemE Summer Camp
Location: Lamar University, Beaumont, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who have completed Chemistry and Algebra II
At Lamar University’s week-long Chemical Engineering Summer Camp, rising juniors and seniors get to explore the discipline in a team-based, hands-on setting. You’ll gain exposure to equipment used in industries such as petrochemicals, food processing, and pharmaceuticals while learning about the variety of career paths chemical engineers pursue. The camp balances lab work with tours of local plants, giving you a direct view of how engineering concepts are applied in industry. Safety is a priority, so you’ll be required to wear protective clothing and follow lab guidelines throughout.
2. Manhattan University – Chemical Engineering Summer Program
Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 30 – 31
Application deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors and juniors of area high schools
Manhattan College offers a two-day program for rising juniors and seniors, providing an introduction to the diverse fields within chemical engineering. These fields include biotechnology, biomedicine, energy, food engineering, and consumer products. You’ll take part in interactive activities and competitions that demonstrate how chemical processes support everyday products and technologies. Faculty-led presentations and Q&A sessions will help you understand the scope of the discipline, while guest speakers from industry and alumni provide insight into career possibilities. The program also includes lab tours, an introduction to computer-based design in engineering, and information on student organizations that support aspiring engineers.
3. University at Buffalo – Chem-E Camp
Location: University of Buffalo (North Campus), Amherst, NY
Cost: $400
Dates: August 11 – 15
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th and 12th grade in the fall of the current year who have already completed Regents Chemistry
The Chem-E Camp at the University at Buffalo is a week-long program that combines hands-on experiments with digital simulations to introduce you to chemical engineering as a possible college path. Throughout the week, you’ll learn directly from faculty, current students, and industry professionals while completing projects that highlight how engineering principles shape real-world solutions. Off-campus visits include tours of facilities at Linde, DuPont, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and SAMCO, giving you a sense of how chemical engineers work in different settings. On campus, you’ll use labs within the chemical and biological engineering department to carry out activities alongside peers. The program concludes with a certificate of completion and materials to take home.
4. South Dakota Mines – Chemical Engineering Summer Institute
Location: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City, SD
Cost: $300
Dates: July 21 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8 to 12
At the South Dakota Mines Chemical Engineering Summer Institute, you will explore the foundations of chemical engineering through a mix of lab work and hands-on projects. Over the course of the program, you’ll create plastics and polymers, practice chemical separation methods, and experiment with sustainable energy production. A highlight of the experience is working in the Unit Operations Lab, where large-scale industrial processes are simulated. You will also explore how biofuels can be produced from biomass using high-pressure and high-temperature reactors.
5. University of Michigan – Summer Engineering Exploration Camp
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $700
Dates: July 6 – 12
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-11, especially those with limited access to engineering resources
The Summer Engineering Exploration Camp (SEE Camp) at the University of Michigan is a week-long residential program that introduces you to the variety of fields within engineering. Through hands-on projects, lab tours, and group problem-solving, you’ll gain exposure to areas such as chemical, mechanical, biomedical, and electrical engineering. A major part of the week is working on a design challenge that requires teamwork and creativity, giving you a sense of the engineering design process. Current engineering students and faculty serve as mentors, offering guidance and sharing their experiences.
6. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: No cost; a stipend of $750 is provided
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date
At Texas Tech University, the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program gives you seven weeks of full-time, faculty-mentored research across a range of disciplines, from natural sciences and engineering to the humanities and arts. You’ll attend seminars, field trips, and group discussions while focusing primarily on developing an independent project. If chemical engineering interests you, you might select topics like material synthesis, energy systems, or molecular-scale research under the guidance of a mentor in the field. By the end of the summer, you’ll complete a formal research paper and sharpen your ability to think critically and communicate findings.
7. University of Chicago’s After School Matters STEM Lab Internship
Location: Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, IL
Cost: None; stipend $16.60/hour
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Chicago Public Schools high school students who are at least 16 years old
If you attend a Chicago Public School, the University of Chicago’s STEM Lab Internship is a six-week program that places you directly into a research setting at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. The experience begins with a week-long research bootcamp covering lab safety, experimental design, and scientific inquiry. For the rest of the program, you’ll spend about 20 hours per week in the lab, conducting experiments under the mentorship of faculty, graduate students, and research staff. In addition to lab work, you’ll practice presenting your results, receive individualized support for college applications, and gain training in science communication.
8. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors with excellent standardized test scores from across the world
RSI at MIT is a six-week program that brings together 100 high-achieving students from around the world to conduct advanced research in science and engineering. The first week is dedicated to intensive seminars in subjects like chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and engineering, led by MIT faculty. For the next five weeks, you’ll join a laboratory where you design and carry out a research project under the guidance of a professional scientist or engineer. Throughout the summer, you’ll learn how to review literature, build research models, and prepare professional-level reports. The program concludes with written and oral presentations, giving you experience in communicating your findings at an academic standard.
9. NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: No cost; $1000 stipend provided
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York residents
ARISE at New York University is a free, 10-week summer program that blends training and independent research for motivated high school students. The first four weeks include safety instruction, academic writing workshops, and an introduction to research methods, while the remaining six weeks place you in one of over 80 university labs. Alongside lab work, you’ll develop public speaking skills, attend workshops that support college readiness, and connect with researchers and peers through networking activities. At the end of the program, you present your work at a poster symposium held at the American Museum of Natural History. Participants also receive a $1,000 stipend and opportunities for continued collaboration with NYU mentors.
10. Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)
Location: Fremont, CA
Cost: $0 – $1,070 (For students who meet financial need eligibility criteria, there is no cost to attending ASDRP)
Dates: Summer, Autumn, and Spring sessions
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students in 9th-12th grade; no prior research experience required
The Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP), based in the Bay Area, gives you the chance to carry out original research across fields such as chemistry, biology, computer science, and engineering. Instead of following a predetermined lab manual, you’ll work with a mentor to design your own project, whether that means studying chemical reactions, exploring materials for clean energy, or working in an interdisciplinary area. Research takes place in ASDRP’s dedicated labs, and you’ll also take part in mock peer reviews that simulate the publication process. At the end of the program, you’ll showcase your work at an expo, with opportunities to publish in the ASDRP journal or even present at external conferences.
11. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote, hybrid, and in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students must be over 15 for remote internships and 16 for in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships
ASSIP at George Mason University offers an eight-week, full-time research experience where you’ll work one-on-one with faculty or industry partners. You’ll spend the summer using advanced equipment, analyzing data, and learning how to communicate your results through writing and presentations. If chemical engineering interests you, past projects have included research on antibiotic development, measuring volatile organic compounds, and creating layered nanostructures for biomedical sensing. The program also features discussion forums that connect you with scientists who share their career paths and advice.
12. University of Maryland’s ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program
Location: University of Maryland campus at College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program at the University of Maryland is a four-week opportunity that introduces you to the process of engineering research. You will design a project proposal, conduct a literature review, and work through the steps of carrying out your own small-scale investigation. Students interested in chemical engineering can focus on projects related to materials, energy, or biochemical systems, depending on faculty mentors. Alongside research, you’ll attend workshops on the college application process, financial aid, and preparation for STEM careers. The program also connects you with undergraduate and graduate students, giving you insight into the academic environment of a research university.
13. Boston Leadership Institute – Chemistry Research Program
Location: Gann Academy/Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Cost: Tuition: $2,500 | Housing: $2,097
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application deadline: May
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 8–12 with strong academic records
The Chemistry Research Program at the Boston Leadership Institute introduces you to green chemistry, a field that focuses on reducing or eliminating harmful byproducts in industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical processes. You will explore toxicology studies and participate in guided lab experiments where you’ll practice developing hypotheses, designing experiments with effective controls, and ensuring reproducibility of your results. Along the way, you’ll study the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, conduct titration experiments, and examine case studies of award-winning sustainability projects. Field trips and research presentations are also part of the experience.
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 – Lamar University