If you’re interested in engineering, high school is a great time to move beyond classroom physics and math and start building real technical skills. Boston is home to some of the country’s leading engineering schools, research labs, and innovation hubs, giving you access to programs where you can work with university faculty, use advanced equipment, and explore specialized engineering disciplines long before college.
Whether you’re interested in robotics, biomedical engineering, mechanical design, artificial intelligence, or sustainable technologies, these programs let you explore different branches of engineering through structured coursework and hands-on projects.
If you’re also considering flexible remote opportunities, you can check out our guide to 15 Online Learning Programs for High School Students.
Key Takeaways
- These 15 programs cover a wide range of engineering disciplines across Boston’s universities, from robotics and AI at MIT and Tufts to bioengineering at Northeastern and acoustic engineering at Tufts’ Engineering of Music program, alongside Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs, a virtual research track for students who want a fully remote option.
- Program formats vary considerably, from short one-week experiences like the MassRobotics Summer Drone Academy to longer four- to six-week programs like MIT BWSI and BU’s RISE Internship Track.
- Costs range widely, with a few free options like MIT’s RSI and the MassRobotics Drone Academy, while others, like Northeastern’s Accelerate Pre-College programs, run into the thousands, often with need-based financial aid available.
- Many programs restrict eligibility by residency or require prior technical experience, such as Northeastern’s YSP requiring Massachusetts residency and Tufts’ AI program requiring prior programming background, so it’s worth checking these details before applying.
- Nearly all of these programs are hands-on and project-based, having you design, prototype, and test real engineering solutions rather than just attending lectures, and most conclude with a presentation, showcase, or working prototype.
What do Engineering programs for high schoolers include?
Engineering programs expose you to the complete engineering design process, from identifying a problem to building, testing, and refining a solution. You may use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to model components, fabricate prototypes using 3D printers and laser cutters, and work with microcontrollers such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi to develop automated systems. Many programs also introduce Python programming, robotics, embedded systems, electronics, circuitry, soldering, and data collection techniques.
Depending on the specialization, you’ll explore concepts such as biomechanics, biomedical devices, structural design, or materials science, among others. Research-oriented programs may also teach experimental design, technical documentation, scientific literature review, data analysis, and presentation of engineering findings through posters or technical reports.
Why should you choose a program in Boston?
Boston is one of the strongest engineering ecosystems in the United States, making it an ideal place to explore the field while you’re still in high school. The city is home to globally recognized institutions such as MIT, Harvard University, Northeastern University, Boston University, Tufts University, and Wentworth Institute of Technology, many of which offer engineering-focused pre-college experiences.
Beyond universities, Boston provides direct exposure to industries driving innovation in robotics, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and artificial intelligence. Participating in a Boston-based engineering program also allows you to experience university makerspaces, research facilities, and engineering laboratories while learning from faculty, researchers, and industry professionals working at the forefront of technological development.
Here is our list of the 15 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Boston.
1. Boston University RISE Internship Track
Stipend: None
Program Dates: Six-week program (June–August)
Application Deadline: Applications open in December; deadline February 4
Cost: $6,415 + housing and dining ($3,978–$4,320). Financial aid is available
Location: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (entering Grade 12) who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
You will spend six weeks embedded in a Boston University research laboratory, working alongside faculty, postdoctoral researchers, or graduate mentors on an original research project. Engineering students can pursue projects in biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or related STEM fields. Along the way, you’ll develop laboratory techniques, experimental design, scientific data analysis, research ethics, literature review, and technical poster presentation skills. The program also includes workshops on reading scientific papers, research communication, and the broader research process.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th- or 11th-graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in subjects such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback you can use to improve future projects. Apply here!
3. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July (4-week summer program)
Application Deadline: Registration opens in late January; online prerequisite courses open in February; summer application released in March; teacher recommendation due by early April
Cost: $2,400; free for families with income and assets below $200,000 (housing not included)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students entering senior year (current juniors) who complete the required online prerequisite coursework and summer application.
BWSI is one of the most technically rigorous engineering programs available to high school students. Depending on your chosen track, you’ll work with tools and concepts such as Python, computer vision, control theory, GIS, embedded systems, semiconductor design, quantum computing, machine learning, PCB development, autonomous robotics, and synthetic aperture radar. Every track is project-based, requiring you to design, prototype, debug, and test engineering systems while collaborating in teams using professional workflows and development tools like Git and VS Code. Admission also depends on your progress in the prerequisite online courses, making technical preparation an integral part of the selection process.
4. Young Scholars Program (YSP), Northeastern University
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: Applications open December 15 and close in early spring (typically April)
Cost: Free
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Eligibility: Massachusetts residents entering 12th grade (current juniors) who live within commuting distance of Northeastern University; U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
If you’re looking for a research-intensive engineering experience, YSP offers direct placement in active university research labs across Northeastern’s Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences. Depending on your lab assignment, you could work with FPGA implementation, model compression algorithms, battery chemistry optimization, agent-based modeling, biomedical engineering, nanomedicine, or cancer therapeutics while learning experimental design and research methodology. The program also includes engineering seminars spanning civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, exposing you to concepts like robotics, radar systems, lasers, biotechnology, and advanced materials. Alongside lab work, you’ll interact with faculty researchers, visit engineering companies and research facilities, and gain a practical understanding of engineering education and research careers.
5. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Stipend: None
Program Dates: Six weeks (one week of STEM coursework followed by five weeks of research)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall and close in early- to mid-December
Cost: Free
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: High school juniors (rising seniors); U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students from participating countries are eligible.
RSI combines advanced STEM coursework with an individual engineering or scientific research project, guided by MIT faculty and research mentors. During the program, you’ll read primary research literature, formulate research questions, develop experimental or computational methodologies, analyze data, and produce conference-style written and oral presentations. Engineering participants may work across fields such as robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science, biomedical engineering, and applied physics, while gaining experience in professional research workflows and scientific communication. The program emphasizes independent inquiry, technical problem-solving, and the complete research lifecycle rather than classroom instruction alone.
6. MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP-ME)
Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 27 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications open in late October; deadline December 15
Cost: $2,000–$20,000 based on family income. Free for selected students with family income of $120,000 or less
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts (Greater Boston)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (rising seniors) who have a permanent family address in the U.S., have little or no prior engineering experience, and can attend the full four-week residential program; the program is designed primarily for young women and other students historically underserved in engineering
The program introduces you to mechanical engineering through intensive design-build projects, laboratory work, and collaborative problem-solving. You’ll strengthen engineering design methodology, prototyping, technical communication, and quantitative problem-solving while working on hands-on mechanical engineering challenges. The curriculum emphasizes experimental design, iterative testing, and teamwork rather than prior engineering experience, making it particularly suitable if you’ve excelled in math and science but haven’t yet explored engineering in depth.
7. Wentworth Institute of Technology ImpactLab
Stipend: None
Program Dates: Session I: July 5 – 17; Session II: July 19 – 31; Both Sessions: July 5 – 31
Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall; deadline May 15
Cost: $3,995 for one two-week session, or $6,990 for both sessions. Limited tuition assistance is available
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (Grades 11–12). Open to domestic and international students.
ImpactLab lets you explore engineering through project-based courses taught in Wentworth’s specialized labs. Depending on your course selection, you may work with CAD software, robotics platforms, digital fabrication tools, and engineering prototyping workflows. You’ll apply engineering design principles to solve practical challenges while building and testing physical prototypes. The program also introduces you to collaborative design processes commonly used in engineering and technology projects.
8. Tufts Pre-College: Engineering with Artificial Intelligence
Stipend: None
Program Dates: Session I: July 5 – 17; Session II: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: December 1 – May 1
Cost: Commuter: $4,425; Residential: $5,950. Limited need-based scholarships are available
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts (Greater Boston)
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 10–12 or recent high school graduates. Prior programming experience is required, including familiarity with variables, loops, conditionals, functions, and data structures
You’ll study the mathematical foundations of artificial intelligence and machine learning while developing Python-based AI applications. The curriculum covers machine learning algorithms, data analysis techniques, model implementation, and the engineering principles behind modern AI systems. You’ll also examine ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment through discussions and case studies. The program culminates in the development of an AI-driven solution to a real-world engineering problem.
9. Tufts Pre-College: Engineering Investigations
Stipend: None
Program Dates: Session I: July 5 – 17; Session II: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: December 1 – May 1
Cost: Commuter: $4,425; Residential: $5,950. Limited need-based scholarships are available
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts (Greater Boston)
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 10–12 or recent high school graduates.
The program introduces you to multiple engineering disciplines, including civil, environmental, mechanical, biomedical, electrical, and human factors engineering. You’ll apply engineering design processes, project management principles, fabrication techniques, and client-centered design through hands-on projects and design challenges. You’ll also interact with Tufts faculty, researchers, and industry professionals while exploring engineering ethics and real-world engineering workflows. The program concludes with a team engineering project presented at a public showcase and documented in a digital portfolio.
10. Northeastern University Accelerate Pre-College: Bioengineering Immersion
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 12 – 24 or July 26 – August 7
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall and remain open until programs fill
Cost: $7,095; includes tuition, housing, meals, course materials, and social activities. Need-based financial aid available
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
Eligibility: High school students; no prior bioengineering experience or prerequisites required.
You will learn core bioengineering concepts through project-based labs covering tissue engineering, biomedical circuit design, and medical implant design. The program introduces engineering design principles while giving you hands-on experience with techniques such as creating 3D cellular constructs and testing biomedical devices. You’ll also interact with professionals from biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical companies through site visits and industry sessions. The curriculum emphasizes experimental methods, engineering workflows, and real-world applications of bioengineering technologies.
11. Engineering Innovation & Design – Northeastern University
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 12 – 24 or July 26 – August 7
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall and remain open until programs fill
Cost: $7,095; includes tuition, housing, meals, course materials, and social activities. Need-based financial aid available
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
Eligibility: High school students.
You will explore engineering design by developing solutions to sustainability-focused challenges through hands-on projects. The curriculum introduces engineering workflows using 3D printing, laser cutting, Arduino hardware, and makerspace fabrication tools to prototype functional devices. You’ll strengthen skills in problem formulation, prototyping, programming, graphic design, and engineering analysis while iterating on your designs. The program emphasizes collaborative engineering design and culminates in the development of working engineering prototypes.
12. Engineering Research – Boston Leadership Institute
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 13 – July 31
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the program fills
Cost: $2,500: commuter tuition; Residential fee: $2,097
Location: Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts
Eligibility: High school students.
You will complete hands-on engineering projects that integrate mechanical, electrical, and computer programming. The curriculum introduces Arduino programming, soldering, wiring, circuitry, CAD modeling, and 3D printing while you design, prototype, and test functional engineering systems. You’ll conduct iterative testing and experimental research to improve the performance of projects such as autonomous sailboats and custom-designed watercraft. The program also emphasizes engineering design, fabrication, teamwork, and data-driven optimization through collaborative build projects.
13. Engineering Design Lab – Tufts University
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 5 – 17 or July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: December 1 – May 1
Cost: Commuter: $4,425; Residential: $5,950. Limited need-based scholarships are available
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts (Greater Boston)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or 2026 high school graduates
You will tackle real-world engineering challenges while learning engineering design, fabrication, robotics, and computational problem-solving. The program provides hands-on experience with laser cutting, 3D printing (Prusa i3 MK3), Raspberry Pi, GoPiGo3 robotics platforms, and Python programming through Jupyter Notebooks in Tufts’ Nolop Makerspace. You’ll prototype, test, and refine engineering solutions while interacting with university researchers and industry professionals working on current engineering problems. The curriculum emphasizes iterative design, digital fabrication, robotics integration, and engineering workflows through project-based learning.
14. Engineering of Music – Tufts University
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 5 – 17
Application Deadline: December 1 – May 1
Cost: Commuter: $4,425; Residential: $5,950. Limited need-based scholarships are available
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts (Greater Boston)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 – 12 or 2026 high school graduates
You will explore engineering principles through acoustics, sound recording, audio systems, and musical instrument design. The program introduces Computer-Aided Design (CAD), coding, digital fabrication, acoustical measurement, and engineering workflows while you build acoustic instruments, synthesizers, and loudspeakers. You’ll investigate concert hall acoustics, visualize sound data, and work with microphones and audio equipment to understand the engineering behind music production. The curriculum culminates in an independent engineering project that applies design, fabrication, and acoustic analysis to a topic of your choice.
15. MassRobotics Summer Drone Academy
Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: January – February
Cost: Free
Location: MassRobotics, Boston, Massachusetts
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors (must have completed at least one year of high school); teacher reference required.
You will assemble and program a working drone while learning flight mechanics, electronics, and embedded systems. The curriculum introduces soldering, electrical assembly, Linux terminal navigation, onboard computer calibration, and drone control before progressing to flight testing. You’ll gain hands-on experience with robotics hardware integration and troubleshoot systems throughout the build process. The program culminates in testing and flying the completed drone while applying engineering and programming concepts in a real-world robotics project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of engineering programs are available to high school students in Boston?
You’ll find a mix of formats, including research-intensive lab placements like MIT’s RSI and Northeastern’s YSP, project-based design courses like Tufts’ Engineering Design Lab and Wentworth’s ImpactLab, and specialized tracks like Northeastern’s Bioengineering Immersion and Tufts’ Engineering of Music. Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a different kind of option, letting you conduct independent, mentored research remotely across a wide range of subjects rather than joining a fixed in-person engineering program.
Do you need prior technical experience to apply?
It depends on the program. Some, like Tufts’ Engineering with Artificial Intelligence, require prior programming experience, including familiarity with variables, loops, and data structures. Others, like MIT’s Women’s Technology Program and Northeastern’s Bioengineering Immersion, are specifically designed for students with little or no prior engineering experience.
Are there free options available?
Yes, a few programs on this list don’t charge a fee. MIT’s RSI, Northeastern’s Young Scholars Program, and the MassRobotics Summer Drone Academy are all free to participate in. MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute and Women’s Technology Program are also free for families below certain income thresholds, with sliding-scale costs otherwise.
Which programs are restricted to Massachusetts residents?
A couple of these programs have residency requirements. Northeastern’s Young Scholars Program is limited to Massachusetts residents living within commuting distance of the university, and MIT’s BWSI is limited to U.S.-based students. Most other programs, including the Tufts pre-college courses and Wentworth’s ImpactLab, are open to both domestic and international students.
Which programs focus specifically on robotics or embedded systems?
If robotics interests you, MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute covers autonomous robotics and embedded systems at an advanced technical level, and the MassRobotics Summer Drone Academy gives you hands-on experience assembling and programming a working drone. Tufts’ Engineering Design Lab also incorporates robotics through its GoPiGo3 platform and Raspberry Pi projects, if you want a slightly less intensive introduction.
Is there a way to pursue independent research beyond a structured engineering program?
Yes. If you want a mentored research experience without needing to commute to a Boston-area campus, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar to develop a 20-page research paper you can submit for academic publication, entirely online. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback, and covers over 600 research specializations. You can find the application here.
When should you apply?
Deadlines for these programs are spread throughout the year, so it helps to plan ahead. MIT’s Women’s Technology Program has one of the earliest deadlines at December 15, followed closely by MIT’s RSI (early to mid-December) and BU’s RISE Internship Track (February 4). MassRobotics’ Drone Academy closes between January and February, while Wentworth’s ImpactLab and the Tufts pre-college programs run later, with deadlines in May. Horizon, by contrast, has multiple deadlines throughout the year across its Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts, giving you more flexibility if you miss an earlier cutoff.
Image source: Boston University