If you’re curious about how computers actually work from the inside out, computer engineering camps are one of the best ways to explore that hands-on. Instead of just reading about circuits, processors, or coding, you get to build things yourself. You’ll experiment with real hardware, write your own code, and see how software and electronics work together to bring ideas to life. Whether you’re interested in robotics, circuits, or embedded systems, these camps give you a practical way to learn by doing.
Why choose a camp?
Camps are short, immersive, and focused, which makes them perfect if you want a meaningful experience without committing to a long-term program. You don’t just sit through lectures; you work on real projects using tools like microcontrollers, sensors, breadboards, and robotics kits. The fast-paced structure keeps you engaged and helps you build something tangible in a short amount of time. By the end, you usually walk away with a finished project that you can proudly include on your resume or college applications.
If you’re looking for longer, research-based opportunities instead, you can also check out our guide to computer engineering summer programs for high school students.
With that, here are 13 computer engineering summer camps for high school students.
13 Computer Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students
1. UC Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Cost: $5,160 + Application Fee of $25
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22–July 4
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–17 with strong academic standing
The Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy is a two-week program for motivated high-school students who want a hands-on introduction to computer science and a feel for university life. The course is based on the Beauty and Joy of Computing curriculum and starts with block-based programming (Snap!), then guides you through key CS ideas like abstraction, conditionals, recursion, and problem-solving. You’ll spend your time writing code, working on daily challenges, and building a small project of your own by the end of the program.
2. MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free to attend for families earning less than $120,000 per year. Fees for higher-income students are listed on the WTP website.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 20 students
Dates: 4 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Female high school students who have completed 11th grade (rising 12th graders) with a strong STEM interest.
The MIT Women’s Technology Program gives high school students a focused introduction to engineering on campus. You spend your time learning programming, working with circuits, building mechanical systems, and creating prototypes that help you understand how engineers move an idea from concept to design. Lab sessions are hands-on and use tools like CAD software, microcontrollers, and soldering equipment, so you get direct practice with the basics of hardware and software. You also work with programming languages such as Python and MATLAB to run simulations and control simple systems.
3. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Computer Science
Location: Online
Cost: $3,200. Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (around 20-30 students per class)
Dates: Session One: June 15 – June 26; Session Two: July 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-11
This program gives you a focused introduction to algorithms, artificial intelligence, and software development using Python and Java. You learn core computer science ideas like data structures, recursion, automation, and common debugging approaches, and you see how these concepts show up in real projects. Much of the work involves building software through the stages of the engineering lifecycle, so you get a sense of how coding projects are planned, developed, and refined in industry. You are guided by Stanford professors and graduate students who help you work through complex problems and prepare clear technical presentations.
4. University of Pennsylvania Engineering Summer Academy
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Approximately $9,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 40 students
Dates: Sessions run through Late June to mid-July for three weeks
Application: Typically Late February
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with strong STEM interests
The University of Pennsylvania Engineering Summer Academy gives you a solid introduction to electrical engineering with an emphasis on programming microcontrollers through Arduino and working with data science tools in MATLAB and Python. You spend your time completing lab experiments in circuit design, signal processing, and basic hardware interfacing, which helps you understand how electrical systems behave in real situations. Team projects ask you to combine software and hardware in simple embedded systems, so you take an active role in planning, building, and testing your designs. You meet regularly with mentors who help you strengthen your understanding of engineering concepts and think through future academic or career paths.
5. CS Scholars – Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Program
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, around 30 students per session
Dates: June 20 to July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–11th graders (age 16+ by June 20)
Carnegie Mellon’s CS scholars give you a strong introduction to algorithmic thinking, data structures, and software development using C++ and Python. You work on mobile apps, basic databases, and other projects that require steady debugging and performance tuning, which helps you understand how real programs behave under pressure. Faculty lectures mix theoretical ideas with practical coding skills, so you see both the concepts and their applications. Team projects ask you to design and build software with others, giving you experience with collaboration and the kind of workflow used in real engineering settings.
6. US Naval Academy Summer STEM Program
Location: Annapolis, MD
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohorts by grade level
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in June
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising 9th–11th graders (students entering grades 9–11); U.S. citizenship required.
The US Naval Academy Summer STEM Program gives you a hands-on introduction to core STEM ideas with a strong focus on robotics, engineering mechanics, and basic computing. You spend the week designing and programming small robotic devices, working through physics-based projects, and learning the logic behind simple programs. The activities are practical and push you to think through problems step by step. You also get guided tours of the Naval Academy and meet staff who talk about STEM and military career paths, which helps you understand how technical skills are used in real service settings.
7. Elite Tech Camp – Rice University
Location: Houston, TX (Virtual option available)
Cost: Residential: $3,899/week and Commuter: $1,799/5-day session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, limited spots
Dates: One‑week sessions from late June through mid‑July
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 with an interest in programming
Elite Tech Camp introduces you to advanced programming through languages like Python and C++, and it gives you an early look at machine learning and AI. The curriculum combines robotics workshops with hands-on coding labs, so you learn to solve problems by writing and testing programs. You also work with basic machine learning libraries to build simple AI models and use them in tasks like controlling a robot. Instructors include university faculty and experienced teaching assistants who offer steady guidance as you learn new concepts. You practice debugging, think about algorithmic efficiency, and see how software and hardware fit together in real engineering projects.
8. Columbia University Summer Immersion – Computer Science
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Varies by format
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies
Dates: Multiple sessions over the summer. Sessions run late June to July, mid-July to early August, and a shorter session in mid-August
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by session
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 (and some recent graduates), with course‑specific prerequisites.
Columbia’s summer course brings together software development, computational theory, and basic database management. You spend the program building web and mobile applications with tools like Python, SQL, and JavaScript, which helps you see how different parts of a system work together. Group projects ask you to design software that can handle data at scale, so you practice thinking about structure, storage, and performance. You work with faculty who guide you through problem-solving and help you explain your technical choices clearly. Industry guest speakers talk about current trends in computing and what innovation looks like in real workplaces.
9. University of Michigan SEE Camp
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $700 (Varies by year). Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive; 600 applications for 40 spots last year.
Dates: July 5 – July 11
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-11, especially those with limited access to engineering resources
The University of Michigan SEE Camp introduces you to electrical engineering through embedded programming, circuit design, and basic systems work. You use tools like MATLAB, Simulink, and Arduino while building small projects that combine hardware and software. The hands-on fabrication and prototyping help you see how real devices come together and how engineers move an idea from design to testing. Faculty mentors guide you through topics such as signal processing, control systems, and sensor networks, and the lab exercises give you steady practice with these concepts.
10. University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Summer Program
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Starting at $8,130
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Four weeks over summer
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with programming experience
The University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering Summer Program gives you an introduction to software engineering, AI, and robotics through courses that use Java, Python, and basic robotic control systems. You work on coding projects that cover applications, algorithms, and simple automated systems, which helps you understand how these fields connect in real engineering work. USC faculty and graduate students mentor you throughout the program, offering guidance as you build technical skills and think about possible career paths. You also get exposure to lab spaces and ongoing research, giving you a sense of the kinds of problems engineers are trying to solve today.
11. YoungWonks Coding Summer Camp
Location: Pleasanton, CA (online option available)
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: N.A.
Dates: June 9 – August 1 (multiple two-week and four-week session windows); online sessions run Wed–Fri or Mon–Wed, 1.5 hours per session
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 8-18
YoungWonks emphasizes project-based learning with a self-paced rhythm but includes instructor-led guidance and feedback. You’ll progress through Python fundamentals, object-oriented programming, and advanced concepts like multithreading, networking, and database design. Intermediate students can branch into robotics projects using Raspberry Pi and PyGame, where you write Python control scripts for your own electromechanical builds. The curriculum is self-paced, meaning you move through material at your own speed while maintaining structure through homework assignments and instructor check-ins. You engage with hands-on exercises and real projects, asking questions as you encounter challenges. Online participants gain 24/7 access to video lessons, problem sets, and reference sheets, making it ideal if you need scheduling flexibility or live outside California.
12. ASU SUCCESS Summer Camp
Location: Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited capacity
Dates: June 30- July 11
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Grades 6-12
SUCCESS (A Survey of Computing, Coding, and Engineering Software Systems) is a week-long camp designed to introduce you to diverse computing fields through hands-on experimentation. Each day focuses on a different domain: Artificial Intelligence, Augmented/Virtual Reality, Mobile/Web development, Game development, Embedded Systems, and Cybersecurity. You might create games, experiment with VR headsets, build an LED message wall, develop an AI-powered web application, and practice identifying and defending against simulated cyberattacks.
13. iD Tech Summer Camps
Location: 65+ locations nationwide at prestigious universities (including Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UCLA, Caltech, Northwestern, Princeton, and many others)
Cost: Day camp from $949/week; Overnight camp from $679/week (room and board included); Two-week academies from $4,399. Payment plans available starting at $375.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, no selective admissions
Dates: Multiple sessions, May 24 – August 14 (varies by location)
Application Deadline: Rolling registration
Eligibility: Ages 7–17 for weeklong camps; ages 13–18 for two-week academies. No prior coding experience required for most courses.
iD Tech offers a flexible alternative to single-location summer camps through its network of 65+ university campuses nationwide. You choose a location near you or explore a campus across the country, and then select from 50+ in-demand courses spanning coding, artificial intelligence, game design, robotics, 3D modeling, and cybersecurity. The weeklong structure runs Monday through Friday with 5 hours of daily instruction in small groups led by certified instructors recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU. Your days balance hands-on lab work with campus exploration, outdoor activities, and evening socializing.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in topics like embedded systems, hardware design, robotics, microcontrollers, and computer architecture, consider applying toHorizon’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 – UC Berkeley