If you’re a high school student interested in engineering and want something short, structured, and intensive, an engineering summer camp is worth considering. These camps are designed to give you focused exposure to the field in just a few weeks, making them a practical way to explore engineering before committing to longer or more expensive programs.
Engineering summer camps differ from regular programs because they are shorter, highly structured, and focus intensively on one subject area. Another advantage is that these camps are usually more affordable compared to full-fledged academic programs, making them an accessible option for students who want meaningful exposure without high costs.
Participating in an engineering camp can also help strengthen your college profile. Admissions officers value applicants who have taken the initiative to explore their interests in structured and applied ways, and camps are a clear demonstration of that.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 engineering summer camps for high school students.
15 Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students
1. MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE)
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA, and Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Cost: Free, except for transportation to and from MIT (transportation to Lincoln Laboratory is covered)
Program Dates: July 13 – 26
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors
MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE) is a free, two-week summer workshop for rising high school seniors who are interested in exploring radar technology and its real-world applications. You’ll study core concepts in radar engineering, as you design and build functioning Doppler and range radar systems under the mentorship of MIT scientists and engineers. Over the course of the program, you’ll sharpen your problem-solving and technical skills while gaining practical experience with hardware and systems design.
2. Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) @ MIT
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA (online courses are also available)
Cost: $2,350 for participants with a family income of $150,000 or greater; the program will be free for participants with a family income of less than $150,000
Program Dates: July 7 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 3 – 31
Eligibility: U.S. high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors | Participants have to complete online prerequisite courses before the start of their programs (by June 20)
BWSI is an intensive, four-week pre-college STEM program hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the School of Engineering. It offers hands-on, project-based courses in cutting-edge fields like robotics, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and radar engineering. You can choose from tracks such as Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix, Embedded Security and Hardware Hacking, Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing, and Unmanned Air System–Synthetic Aperture Radar. These courses combine lectures, technical skill-building, and collaborative projects to help you apply concepts in systems engineering, control theory, computer vision, and embedded programming. Before the summer session starts, you are required to complete an online, self-paced, prerequisite course for building foundational knowledge.
3. Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Session One: July 13 – 17 | Session Two: July 20 – 24 | Session Three: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Typically early May
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
SES is a free, five-day summer program for motivated high school students interested in engineering. Hosted on the Santa Clara University campus, the program introduces you to core concepts in fields like bioengineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science. You’ll attend faculty-led workshops that combine lectures with interactive, hands-on activities across multiple disciplines. Outside the classroom, you’ll stay in dorms and participate in team-building and recreational activities designed to give you a taste of college life. Returning students from the previous year have the option to join an advanced session, where you’ll explore a specific area of interest in more depth and build on your existing engineering skills.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Engineering Track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a selective research internship where you work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor from a top university. Over 12 weeks, you design and complete an independent research project in a subject you choose, like medicine, neuroscience, computer science, engineering, economics, or international relations. You’ll learn how to conduct a literature review, build a research question, and write a full-length academic paper. If you join the Premium Research and Publication track, you also work with a publication specialist to prepare your paper for journal submission. Apply here!
5. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas 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 that you can use to work on future projects.
6. University of Michigan’s Summer Engineering Exploration (SEE) Camp
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $700 (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: July 6 – 12
Application Deadline: January 8 – March 1
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 6.6%
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors of all genders, especially those with limited access to engineering resources
SEE Camp is a one-week, residential program hosted by the Society of Women Engineers at the University of Michigan for high school students entering 10th or 11th grade. The camp introduces you to a range of engineering disciplines through hands-on activities, lab sessions, and a week-long design challenge. You’ll learn how to apply the engineering design process, explore topics in fields like mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, and work in teams to solve real-world problems. The program also includes campus tours, sessions with current students and admission staff, and team-building activities like the Adventure Leadership Challenge.
7. MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $2,000 – $15,000 based on your family income (financial aid is available). The program is free for students with a family income of less than $120,000
Program Dates: June 28 – July 26
Application Deadline: January 15 (tentative, based on previous years)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors | Students who have already taken an engineering class or have experience in the engineering design process will not be accepted
MIT WTP is a four-week summer program that introduces rising high school seniors to mechanical engineering through hands-on classes, lab work, and collaborative projects. Designed for students with little to no experience in engineering, the program focuses on basic mechanical engineering concepts and gives you first-hand experience in the engineering design process. You’ll work in teams to build, test, and redesign engineering projects while learning to approach problems like a mechanical engineer. The curriculum is designed and taught by MIT graduate students with the help of undergraduate students.
8. A. James Clark School of Engineering’s ESTEEM / SER – Quest Summer Program
Location: A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a GPA of 3.2+ and at least a B in Math, Chemistry, and Science. Must show interest in engineering careers. Priority is given to students from underrepresented groups, including African American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and Latino/Hispanic.
Hosted by the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, ESTEEM/SER-Quest is a free, commuter-only summer research program for rising 12th graders from Maryland. Over four weeks, you’ll work with a research mentor on a hands-on engineering project and gain experience in developing a research proposal, conducting a literature review, and presenting your findings.
The program also includes workshops on college admissions, financial aid, and career readiness, plus networking with current undergraduate and graduate students. You’ll complete a college-level research project and receive mentorship designed to strengthen your future applications to engineering programs.
9. Georgia Tech’s Summer Engineering Institute (SEI)
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 8 – 16
Application Deadline: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20 students
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old
Hosted by Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering, SEI is a one-week residential program for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in exploring engineering and computer science. You’ll participate in hands-on experiments and technical workshops across engineering disciplines and computer science. Throughout the week, you’ll interact with Georgia Tech faculty, students, and staff, explore state-of-the-art laboratories and campus facilities, and attend sessions on college admissions and academic pathways in engineering. You’ll also get a glimpse into student life at Georgia Tech while developing foundational skills and insights to guide your future in STEM.
10. University of Washington’s Engineering Academy
Location: UW Seattle campus, WA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early March
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors attending high school in the greater Seattle area
The Engineering Academy is a free, weeklong summer program for high school students from the greater Seattle area who want to explore engineering in a hands-on, collaborative setting. Hosted by the UW College of Engineering, the program introduces you to multiple engineering disciplines through design challenges, lab tours, and interactive sessions. You’ll engage directly with UW engineering students and faculty, explore cutting-edge research facilities, and learn about college pathways in STEM.
11. Tufts University’s Engineering Design Lab (EDL)
Location: Tufts University Medford / Somerville Campus, MA
Cost: $4,225 (commuter program) or $5,750 (residential program) + $200 (materials fee) (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: July 8 – 18 (Session 1) and July 20 – Aug 1 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: December 2 – May 1
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 10–12
Tufts University’s Engineering Design Lab (EDL) is a two-week summer program where high school students explore engineering, robotics, and computation through hands-on design challenges and rapid prototyping. You’ll work in the Nolop Makerspace using tools like laser cutters, 3D printers, and Raspberry Pi-powered robots (which you keep after the program). Week one focuses on foundational skills in Python (via Jupyter Notebooks), computer-aided design, and fabrication. Week two is dedicated to team-based project development, culminating in a final showcase where you present your prototype and design process.
12. TRYEngineering Summer Institute
Location: University of Pennsylvania, University of San Diego, Rice University, Columbia University
Cost: $4,095 – $4,295 (depending on the university)
Program Dates: 9 days in June – August (exact dates vary based on session and university)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. Enrollment closes 30 days before each session begins
Eligibility: High school students aged 13–17
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is a nine-day residential program for high school students interested in exploring core engineering disciplines through hands-on, project-based learning. You will take part in team-based design challenges that introduce you to fields like mechanical, civil, electrical, and aerospace engineering, with projects increasing in complexity throughout the program. As part of the curriculum, you will also build foundational technical skills in soldering and breadboarding by working on practical circuits such as AM radios and illuminated signs. In addition to project work, the program might also include site visits to NASA’s Johnson Space Center (Rice University) and Qualcomm (University of San Diego).
13. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,000 + $90 application fee (financial aid available) | Click here for more information!
Program Dates: July 6 – 25
Application Deadline: January 2 – March 1
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30 to 60 students, depending on the course | Instructor to Student ratio of 1:19
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 15 years old | Minimum GPA of 3.0 | There might be course-specific prerequisites
At ESAP, you’ll spend three weeks exploring engineering at the college level through a mix of theory, lab work, and hands-on projects. You can choose from tracks like Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Computer Graphics, Computer Science, Nanotechnology, or Robotics, each designed to introduce core concepts and tools used in the field. Depending on your chosen track, you’ll learn skills like robot design, anatomy modeling, 3D rigging, molecular cloning, photolithography, and embedded programming. Faculty-led lectures and labs take place on the UPenn campus, with access to facilities like the Singh Center for Nanotechnology and the LiveActor motion capture studio. You’ll also complete a final project or group proposal and get a feel for what academic life in engineering is like.
14. Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) – Johns Hopkins University
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (virtual and hybrid programs also available)
Cost: $3,850 – $9,700 depending on the type of program (commuter or residential) and location. Click here for more information. (Financial aid available)
Program Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 28 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–17 | Grades B or higher in high school math and science classes | Completed Algebra II and a course where trigonometric functions are taught | Completed a full year of high school chemistry and/or physics, with a lab component
EEI is a pre-college program at Johns Hopkins University where you’ll take a three-credit college-level course that introduces you to key areas of engineering. Over several weeks, you’ll attend classes, participate in lab activities, and work in small teams on hands-on projects across fields like mechanical, chemical, civil, materials science, and electrical/computer engineering. Projects may include testing how materials respond to stress, building model bridges, designing simple electronic devices, or exploring chemical processes in bioreactors. The course ends with a final project and presentation, giving you insight into how engineers collaborate and communicate their work.
15. Columbia University’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost: $5,880 (commuter program) and $10,705 (residential program) (need-based financial aid available). Check here for more information!
Program Dates: July 7 – 25 and July 28 – August 15
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March (based on previous years)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Average class size of 25 students
Eligibility: High school students | You need to be at least 16 years old to be eligible for the residential program
SHAPE is a three-week, college-level, project-based experience designed for high school students interested in exploring engineering in depth. You’ll choose one focus area from a range of courses such as Robotics and Autonomous Driving, Biomedical Engineering: Where Biology, Medicine & Design Meet, Intro to Computer Programming, Product Studio: From Idea to Prototype, and more. Through hands-on projects, you may develop technical skills like 3D modeling, Python programming, rapid prototyping, and data analysis, while applying core engineering concepts to real-world challenges. You’ll also participate in electives and workshops led by Columbia students and faculty, gaining insight into the engineering design process, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.
Image source – Columbia University