If you’re a high school student with a passion for building complex structures, tinkering with circuits, or experimenting with different chemicals, consider exploring engineering outside the classroom. There are numerous engineering programs available for high school students, ranging from academic enrichment programs to research experiences and internships. These programs offer an in-depth learning experience and help you develop skills like programming and data analysis.
If you’re a student in Ohio, there are plenty of opportunities to choose from, including short day camps and longer residential experiences. Whether you’re into robotics, environmental design, computer science, or aerospace, there’s something here for every budding engineer.
Here are the best 15 engineering programs for high school students in Ohio.
15 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Ohio
1 . Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts in the year
Eligibility: High school students with a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. During the program, you will be paired with Ph.D. mentors and will get to work with them 1-on-1 on an independent research project. You can choose from subjects like psychology, physics, economics, data science, and more. Engineering is one of the options, allowing you to explore subfields like bioengineering, genetic engineering, mechanical engineering, and more.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis; Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts
Eligibility: High school students
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. You can participate in the AI Scholars program—a 10-session boot camp that introduces you to the fundamentals of AI & data science—or the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program, during which you will work on a research paper under the guidance of a mentor. However, the latter is only open to those who have completed AI Scholars or those with experience in Python or AI concepts.
3. Ohio State University’s Mₐ²JIC High School Internship
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Application Deadline: September 1 – February 13
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have previously completed STEM courses/extracurricular activities
Hosted by the university’s Manufacturing and Materials Joining Innovation Center (Mₐ²JIC), this program offers high school students a paid summer internship in the field of welding engineering. As a participant, you will be matched with a graduate student, join a research team, and contribute to an ongoing research project. You will learn how to create, test, and analyze welding materials and culminate your work in a capstone project and presentation.
4. Ohio State University’s Summer Engineering Institute
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost: $100
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Summer Engineering Institute is a week-long day camp that allows high school students to get an introductory look at engineering and its various disciplines. You will learn about engineering tools, software applications, the engineering design process, and professionalism. There will also be plenty of hands-on work, such as building a boat that can cross a swimming pool and programming a robot. Additionally, you will tour a manufacturing facility and work on an Arduino-compatible microcontroller project.
5. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH
Cost: Free. You will be paid a weekly stipend of $501.60
Application Deadline: October 10 – January 10
Program Dates: 8 weeks; Dates vary based on location and project
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students who are at least 16 years of age and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program is a highly selective program that offers high school students a paid internship that dives into STEM research. As a participant, you will work side by side with AFRL scientists and engineers, contributing to their ongoing research projects. Previous cohorts have worked in fields like biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, biochemistry, and materials science. The projects at Wright Patterson AFB typically involve technologies within the Aerospace Systems, Materials and Manufacturing, and Sensors Directorates.
6. Ohio Supercomputer Center’s STEM Institute
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost: $600
Application Deadline: January 15 – April 1
Program Dates: June 1 – 13
Eligibility: Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are Ohio residents
A division of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Supercomputer Center gives high school students the chance to learn about science and engineering while also getting a taste of college life. During the residential program, you will use computational science on actual supercomputers to solve complex issues such as catching hackers using network forensics or studying the spread of diseases. This is a project-based program through which you can expect to learn about topics like video game programming, motion capture, network design, parallel processing, and visualization.
7. Ohio State University’s Camp CAR
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March (tentative)
Program Dates: July 15 – 19
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
Organized by the university’s center for automotive research, Camp CAR is a week-long day camp that dives into engineering, focusing on aspects like automotive, simulation, and manufacturing. You will learn about the latest research in the field and engage in hands-on work such as robot building, computer simulation, and welding. You will also go on field trips to research centers and automotive laboratories. Previous students had the opportunity to tour an advanced wind tunnel at the Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio.
8. Ross Mathematics Program
Location: Otterbein University, Columbus, OH,
Cost: $7,000; Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 15 – July 25
Eligibility: 15-18-year-old students
The Ross Mathematics Program is a prestigious program that specifically dives into number theory, offering a deep exploration of one field rather than trying to cover many topics superficially. As a participant, you will attend theory lectures, work with problem sets, and learn about topics like Euclid’s algorithm, binomial coefficients, polynomials, quadratic reciprocity, and more. In the process, you will be encouraged to investigate problems, observe patterns, and develop critical thinking skills.
9. University of Toledo’s Research in Science and Engineering Program
Location: University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: All high school students
The Research in Science and Engineering Program matches high school students with research groups on the University of Toledo’s campus. As a participant, you will contribute to the team’s overall research while also working on an individual research project, which you will present at the end of the program. Previous students have conducted research on topics such as designing and evaluating solar cell technologies, analyzing cell division in yeast, and assessing the toxicity of specific metals. You can go through the available topics here.
10. Ohio Northern University’s Pathways to STEM Camp
Location: Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH
Cost: $495
Application Deadline: Registration opens in December
Program Dates: June 15 – 19
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors
Ohio Northern University’s Pathways to STEM camp is a 4-day, residential program for high school students who want to improve their knowledge of STEM fields. The program offers a diverse range of activities, including multidisciplinary projects, practical laboratory exercises, and lectures covering topics such as microbiology, physics, automation engineering, mechanical engineering, and additional related fields. You will also have the chance to network with professional engineers and scientists to learn more about STEM career pathways.
11. University of Dayton’s Summer Engineering Experience
Location: University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Cost: $100 per day
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: June 16 – 18Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Summer Engineering Experience at the University of Dayton offers day camps for high school students to explore specific engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, chemical, and civil engineering. Each day dives into a single discipline—you can sign up for all three days if you wish. You should expect to learn about the field by interacting with current students and faculty, and taking part in interactive, hands-on activities. For example, you will work with wind turbines in the mechanical engineering camp and build circuits in the electrical engineering camp.
12. Kent State University’s Emerging Engineer Camp
Location: Kent State University, Kent, OH
Cost: $200
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: July 7 – 11
Eligibility: High school students
The Emerging Engineer Camp gives high school students the chance to learn about engineering through a hands-on engineering project. In the previous year, the program’s students designed and built a robot arm that can detect and sort electronic resistors based on their resistance, avoiding unnecessary electronic waste. Aside from learning about the engineering design process, this program is a good way to learn specific skills like programming, 3D printing, circuitry, and using computer-aided design.
13. University of Mount Union’s Experience Engineering Summer Program (EESP)
Location: University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH
Cost: $635 – 860, depending on whether you choose the commuter or residential track; You can pay an extra $100 to earn college credit
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – 21
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and recent graduates
The Experience Engineering Summer Program allows high school students to learn about five different engineering disciplines as well as topics like entrepreneurship, ethics, sustainability, and communication. As a participant, you will take part in an undergraduate course, engage in lab work, and work on hands-on engineering projects. Additionally, the schedule includes team-building activities and mentoring sessions. This program also offers the opportunity to earn two college credits!
14. University of Cincinnati’s Biology Meets Engineering Program (BME)
Location: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 19
Program Dates: June 2 – 18
Eligibility: All current high school students
The University of Cincinnati offers this transdisciplinary program that explores the intersection of biology and engineering. This is a 3-week program during which you will study animals’ sensory behavior and implement that information to build and program robots. The program also includes workshops on college readiness and career planning. On completion, you can apply for the BME program’s internship, which offers a paid fellowship in the same field of research.
15. OBAP’s Aerospace Career Education Academy
Location: National Veterans Memorial & Museum, Columbus, OH
Cost: $150
Application Deadline: June 24
Program Dates: July 7 – 12
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 12-18
Offered by a non-profit called the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, the Aerospace Career Education Academy allows high school students to explore the fields of aviation and aerospace. You will learn about aviation history, the fundamentals of aerodynamics, air traffic control procedures, and more. You will also engage in activities like flying a flight simulator and operating an unmanned aerial system.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like engineering, 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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