If you wish to pursue opportunities beyond standard high school STEM courses, engineering programs are an excellent choice. They provide hands-on project experience and the chance to develop practical problem-solving skills, as well as exposure to engineering tools and professional practices. Many engineering programs also offer insights into college expectations by providing opportunities to work in university laboratories, classrooms, or campus facilities. They also allow you to gain practical skills in designing, constructing, and solving real-world problems using mathematics, science, and technology across various disciplines, such as civil engineering, aerospace, robotics, computer science, and biomedical engineering.
Why should you choose Nevada as a high schooler?
Nevada is home to several institutions that offer reputable engineering programs for high school students, such as the University of Nevada. As a local student, exploring engineering programs within the state provides a practical opportunity to assess your interest in the field while establishing a solid foundation for future academic endeavors. Selecting a local program can also be financially advantageous for Nevada residents, as it reduces travel costs and allows you to stay connected to your communities while gaining valuable experience.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 engineering programs for high school students in Nevada.
You can also check out these guides on 15 Internships for High School Students in Nevada and 15 Math Programs for High School Students in Nevada.
15 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Nevada
1. Civil and Environmental Engineering Camp by J-U-B Engineers
Location: University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Cost: $250
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: Registrations open February 1
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15-17)
During the Civil and Environmental Engineering Camp, you’ll investigate how civil and environmental engineers create and manage infrastructure systems while placing emphasis on sustainability and protecting community well-being. You’ll gain direct exposure to the planning, design, and implementation phases that define civil and environmental engineering practice. Through hands-on projects, you’ll design water filtration systems, build aerodynamic structures, and work with advanced simulation technologies used in the field. Faculty members and professionals from civil and environmental engineering firms will guide you through interactive sessions and real-world experiences. The program also includes visits to active construction sites and water treatment facilities where you can observe engineering concepts being applied to actual challenges.
2. FIRST Robotics Competition
Location: Various venues statewide, including Las Vegas and Reno
Cost/Stipend: Team participation fees vary; Grant funding is available through the REC Foundation
Dates: Competition season: August – April; State championships: March
Application Deadline: Team registration typically opens in the summer
Eligibility: High school teams (grades 9-12); Students of all skill levels welcome; Teams require mentor supervision
During the FIRST Robotics Competition, you will design, build, and program robots to compete in themed engineering challenges against other school and community teams. Through hands-on engineering work, you will develop skills in mechanical design, electrical systems, programming, and project management. Your team will participate in regional competitions and state championships, with top teams advancing to nationals and the world championship in April. FIRST Robotics emphasizes professional teamwork, communications, and documentation alongside technical skill development. Research shows that 95% of FIRST participants report increased interest in STEM fields, and the experience builds confidence in engineering capabilities while fostering career exploration.
3. College of Southern Nevada: Dual Enrollment Program
Location: College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, NV, Henderson, NV, or North Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Varies by number of credits
Dates: Aligns with CSN’s academic calendar
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The College of Southern Nevada’s Dual Enrollment Program allows you to take college-level courses taught by CSN faculty while you are still in high school. This gives you the chance to earn credits that apply toward both your high school diploma and a future college degree. Since dual enrollment students can enroll in any CSN course available to regular college students, engineering courses offered by CSN’s degree programs would likely be accessible, subject to any prerequisites.
4. Aerospace Engineering Mini-Camp
Location: University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Cost: $215
Dates: June 29 – 30
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 1
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15-17)
During the Aerospace Engineering Mini-Camp, you’ll explore aerospace engineering through hands-on activities that focus on flight and space concepts such as aerodynamics, propulsion, structural design, and emerging aerospace technologies. You’ll work alongside university faculty and engineering students, which gives you a structured introduction to how aerospace topics are studied in a college setting. You’ll collaborate with peers to build, test, and refine aerospace creations, reinforcing iterative design and evidence-based troubleshooting.
5. Engineering Adventures Camp
Location: University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Cost: $450
Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: Registrations open February 1
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15-17)
As part of the Engineering Adventures Camp experience, you’ll explore multiple engineering disciplines and discover how they solve real-world challenges in infrastructure, medicine, and technology through this hands-on camp. The program uses interactive demonstrations and project-based activities to show you the diverse career opportunities that exist within engineering fields. You’ll receive guidance from experienced faculty members and practicing engineers who share insights about different engineering specializations and what each involves. By the conclusion of the program, you’ll have gained a practical understanding of various engineering disciplines and how they approach problem-solving.
6. Student Interactions with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SISTEM)
Location: UNLV, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Free
Dates: 5 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students in southern Nevada
SISTEM (Student Interactions with STEM) is a program at UNLV open to all high school students in Southern Nevada. If you’re considering a STEM degree, and particularly one that leads to a career requiring a bachelor’s degree or more, this program will give you direct exposure to that path. Each session features talks and hands-on activities led by working STEM professionals across a range of disciplines, giving you a grounded, realistic picture of where a STEM education can take you.
7. Advanced Technologies Academy: Engineering
Location: ATECH, Las Vegas, NV
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 4-year program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Clark County School District (CCSD) resident students entering grade 9
Engineering at A-TECH is a four-year, college-preparatory program that puts you in the mindset of a working engineer, in that it moves you from abstract ideas to practical, real-world solutions. You’ll work across electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering, building skills in building and site design, VEX robotics, and industry-standard 3D design software. The coursework draws heavily on advanced math and science, applying both to hands-on design projects throughout your four years. By the time you graduate, you’ll be equipped to pursue virtually any post-secondary engineering program or career with a strong technical foundation already in place. You don’t follow a standard curriculum here; instead, the emphasis is on project-based learning, creative problem-solving, and hands-on skill development across all subject areas.
8. UNLV STEM Institute
Location: UNLV Campus, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Enrollment fee of $599
Dates: Multiple modules from June – July
Application Deadline: Varies by module
Eligibility: High school students
The UNLV STEM Institute runs hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs for middle and high school students, led by faculty and instructors from UNLV’s College of Engineering. As a participant, you’ll work across a range of subjects like robotics, cybersecurity, programming, advanced mathematics, AI, and more. The program emphasizes the application of concepts rather than just studying them in theory. Sessions run throughout the year, with summer intensives as well as Saturday workshops each spring and fall, giving you flexible options depending on your schedule. The program brings together students from a wide range of backgrounds, and the focus throughout is on doing real work: building robots, writing functional code, navigating cybersecurity challenges, and solving practical engineering problems.
9. UNLV TechTrekker
Location: Various locations in Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Free
Dates: Flexible
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High schools in the Las Vegas area
Tech Trekker is a free STEM outreach program run by UNLV’s College of Engineering, sponsored by the Nevada National Security Site, and available to all K-12 schools in the Las Vegas Valley. Rather than enrolling in a course directly, the program operates through your school by having your teacher request a visit, and Tech Trekker staff will bring science and engineering equipment directly to your classroom. The equipment spans a wide range of modern engineering tools, and each visit comes with standards-aligned lessons that connect what you’re already studying to real STEM applications. Teachers can schedule up to three visits per year, and a UNLV student comes along to manage the equipment so your teacher can stay focused on instruction. The program’s core goal is to increase your exposure to STEM fields that are in high demand, giving you a practical sense of what engineering actually looks like before you graduate.
10. Cornell University Pre-College Studies: Summer/Winter Online Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by credits
Dates: 3-6 weeks between June – July (summer)
Application Deadline: April 28 (summer)
Eligibility: Rising or current high school juniors and seniors (ages 15-19)
Cornell University’s Online Pre-College Program lets you take actual Cornell courses from wherever you are, earning real college credits that appear on an official Cornell transcript. You’ll study college-level material, guided by some of the university’s faculty, and gain a genuine sense of what college-level academics feel like. Several engineering-related subjects are available, like “Introduction to Engineering,” “Computer Science,” or “Data Science,” which you will study alongside matriculating university students.
11. Johns Hopkins University’s Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,225; Scholarships offered
Dates: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 27
Eligibility: Must be a current high school student or recent graduate (at least 15 on move-in day and no older than 17 on the last day of the program)
Johns Hopkins’ Engineering Innovation Pre-College programs provide high school students with a rigorous introduction to engineering disciplines. As an EEI participant, you’ll dedicate several hours daily to live class sessions, independent study, and assignments, alongside hands-on project work that applies engineering principles to real challenges. Projects include testing the material properties of spaghetti, developing electronic devices aimed at enhancing well-being, and designing structurally sound bridges. Throughout the program, you’ll also present your engineering solutions and ideas to your peers, building both technical knowledge and communication skills essential for engineering careers.
12. BlueStamp Engineering Remote Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $2,400; Need-based financial aid offered
Dates: Session 1: June 8 – 26; Session 2: June 29 – July 17; Session 3: July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Typically, the end of March
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
The BlueStamp Engineering Remote Program is a live, synchronous summer program that lets you develop hands-on engineering skills entirely online, with all necessary parts and tools mailed directly to you before the program begins. You’ll start by browsing BlueStamp’s project book and meeting with a lead instructor to select a project that aligns with your interests, which then becomes the central focus of your summer work. From day one, you’ll begin building a starter project that helps you practice and refine fundamental skills like soldering, circuit assembly, and engineering troubleshooting. Once you complete your base project, you will have the opportunity to design and implement custom modifications, giving you a chance to apply independent engineering thinking beyond the guided curriculum. Throughout the program, you’ll document your process in an engineering portfolio, which becomes a tangible record of your technical work that you can reference in college applications or future engineering pursuits.
13. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Location: Virtual options available
Cost: Free (if family Income <$200,000); $2,400 (if family Income >$200,001)
Dates: Varies depending on courses
Application Deadline: Online registrations open February 1
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors living and attending high school in the U.S.
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a project-based summer program offered through MIT’s School of Engineering and Lincoln Laboratory. If you’re interested in engineering and technology, the program provides opportunities to tackle projects that mirror current real-world challenges facing engineers in the field. You can participate in online courses such as Basics of ASICs, Microelectronics and Hardware Development, and Quantum Software. These courses extend beyond introductory material, challenging you to apply critical thinking and collaborate with teammates to develop functional solutions. You’ll gain experience with professional engineering tools and engage with advanced technical content typically encountered at the college level.
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200; Financial aid offered
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 26; Session 2: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students who are in grades 8-11 while applying
Stanford University’s Summer Institutes offer you the opportunity to dive into advanced subjects beyond their typical high school curriculum. You can enroll in online courses tailored to your grade level and academic interests, including options like Introduction to Engineering or Introduction to Structural Engineering. These courses feature live online lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on project work that deepen your understanding of engineering concepts. In the Structural Engineering course, for instance, you’ll study how to design durable structures, explore construction materials such as timber and steel, and analyze how buildings and bridges withstand different loads and forces. The curriculum includes collaborative group projects, such as a bridge-building challenge, which strengthen your teamwork abilities and presentation skills. Stanford also provides additional virtual STEM programs for high school students that you can explore to further expand your learning opportunities.
15. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual; (in-person or hybrid options available)
Cost: $25 application fee (waivable); $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits (waivable with financial need)
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: Remote internships: students 15+ years old by June 18
During ASSIP, you will work one-on-one with faculty researchers on cutting-edge projects across diverse disciplines, including cybersecurity, engineering, computational science, data science, and applied mathematics. You will spend eight weeks developing practical competencies in research methodology and technical problem-solving. You will develop scientific writing and communication skills through mentored interactions with experienced researchers and participation in discussion forums exploring STEM career pathways. The program emphasizes how academic research functions in university settings, including documentation practices, iterative testing, and collaboration protocols. You will earn three college credits from George Mason University and conclude with a research symposium where you present your findings alongside other program participants.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like engineering, physics, mechatronics or related fields, 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: University of Nevada, Reno