An academic program in your field of choice can be a solid option for you in high school! Such structured programs help you explore an area of interest through advanced coursework, project work, and expert-led learning experiences. This can also be a way for you to kickstart your prep for future academics and career opportunities. If you are interested in engineering, many leading engineering institutes offer free or heavily funded programs for high school students!
Why should you choose an engineering summer program?
Spending your summer engaging in an engineering program before college can help you learn how to handle the rigor and expectations of an advanced academic/professional engineering environment. Such early immersion can help you sharpen your analytical skills and develop a specialized technical vocabulary. Each summer, leading institutions like MIT and NYU offer high schoolers rare access to cutting-edge laboratories and the chance to work on high-stakes projects, from autonomous rover navigation to quantum-level materials research. Securing a spot in these free, selective engineering programs allows you to work with industry-standard tools like MATLAB, Python, and CAD software to solve real-world problems alongside world-class faculty. Additionally, these experiences can help your CV stand out, highlighting a pre-professional narrative that admissions officers at universities seek.
To help you find the right fit, here we have listed 15 free engineering summer programs for high school students.
If you are looking for research opportunities in engineering, check out this blog. If you are interested in shorter, focused engineering programs, check out our curated list of camps here.
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Application deadline: December 10
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet the RSI academic prerequisites
RSI is a selective summer research opportunity for high school students conducted at MIT. You will begin the program with a week of seminars, exploring research topics in STEM and the humanities. For the next five weeks, you will work on a research project, which can focus on a question in engineering. You will gain exposure to literature review, experimental design, and quantitative data analysis under the supervision of MIT faculty and industry scientists. The program culminates in the production of a formal research paper and an oral defense, mirroring the technical requirements of graduate-level engineering.
2. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 15
Dates: Five to six weeks during the summer
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students attending schools in local districts; students must be 16 or older by the program start date.
Princeton University’s LLP is a free research program in the natural sciences and engineering. You will join research teams to work on ongoing engineering/science projects under the close supervision of Princeton faculty and research staff. You will engage in real research, following a schedule set by research personnel in accordance with project requirements. At the end, you will produce and submit a two-page summary of your research, where you will discuss the research question, data, methodologies, and conclusion of the study.
3. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories in the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,000 stipend for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants.
Application deadline: November 1
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 – 12 who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens
SEAP is a professional-grade apprenticeship that offers high school students the opportunity to work in naval labs under the close mentorship of scientists or engineers. As a participant, you will learn how to apply engineering principles to defense-focused projects. You will gain hands-on exposure to robotics, naval engineering, or materials science while working with your mentor within the Department of the Navy labs. During the program, you will also have access to seminars, meetings, professional shadowing opportunities, networking events, and workshops.
4. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application deadline: February 1
Dates: Six weeks over the summer—late June – early August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
MITES Summer is a six-week residential program that allows you to take courses in STEM and gain exposure to college-level academic rigor. You will take core courses in physics, calculus, life sciences, and humanities, along with a project-based elective, which can be an engineering design course. You will participate in laboratory tours and site visits to observe how engineering principles apply to industrial settings. You will also work on final projects and present your work at the end of the program.
5. Fermilab’s Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Application deadline: March 1
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Eligibility: High school seniors and recent graduates in Illinois
PRISM is a four-week internship that provides exposure to real-world engineering design, particle physics, quantum science, and AI. You will work on a research project under the guidance of a mentor and produce an abstract and a poster at the end of the program. You will attend lectures, engage in STEM activities, and tour Fermilab’s research facilities. During the program, you will also connect with Fermilab professionals and learn about STEM careers. This experience is designed to expose you to a particle physics laboratory’s work with a focus on engineering and physical science disciplines.
6. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost apart from a $25 application fee; a $750 stipend is available
Application deadline: February 16
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years of age and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a selective seven-week paid internship that allows you to conduct independent research under the mentorship of faculty. Opportunities typically span multiple areas, including engineering and computer science. You will join a small cohort of peers and connect with a faculty mentor to work on engineering-focused research. Seminars and social activities are part of the experience. At the end of the program, you will submit a research project report.
7. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Virtual and MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with family income under $200,000; $2,400, otherwise
Application deadlines: March 31
Dates: July 6 – August 1 or 2
Eligibility: High school students, grades 9 – 11, attending school in the U.S. who have completed the online pre-requisite course
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute allows you to take college-level courses in engineering, physics, and other STEM fields. During the program, you will attend sessions led by MIT faculty, explore core concepts within the theme, and practice what you learn through project work. You can choose from various engineering-focused courses, including Embedded Security and Hardware Hacking, Unmanned Air System-Synthetic Aperture Radar, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Challenge, and Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing. Some courses allow you to test your work through participation in challenges at the end of the program.
8. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No participation fee (optional residential costs apply for students who need housing); stipend provided upon completion
Application deadline: February 5
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors who are at least 16 years old
Simons Summer Research Program is an in-person research opportunity that places high schoolers on research teams working on STEM projects. You will join your assigned research team and work with a faculty mentor, contributing to a research project and building lab skills. You will also engage in weekly faculty talks to learn about STEM fields and participate in workshops to refine your research skills. The program emphasizes practical skill-building, culminating in the production of a formal abstract and a research poster for a campus symposium.
9. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program
Location: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Cost: Free + a monetary award available
Application deadline: March 31 (priority deadline)
Dates: June 14 – July 31
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
This is a six-week opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to research and science, medicine, math, tech, and engineering fields, like physics, cancer immunology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, and electrical engineering. You will spend 30 to 35 hours each week working in labs, collaborating with graduate researchers and postdoctoral fellows, engaging in research activities, and developing your project. You will learn the nuances of scientific communication and professional ethics while contributing to ongoing projects. Weekly seminars covering topics such as the college admission process and support, as well as poster presentations. At the end of six weeks, you will present your research poster at a symposium.
10. MIT’s Women’s Technology Program (WTP): Mechanical Engineering
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with family income under $120,000; tiered pricing starts at $2,000 for others. Check details here.
Application deadline: December 15
Dates: June 27 – July 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with strong math/science ability, little to no prior engineering experience; women and underrepresented students in STEM are encouraged to apply.
MIT’s WTP: Mechanical Engineering track is a month-long summer program designed for those with limited exposure to engineering. You will spend about four weeks diving into the field of mechanical engineering through lab-based sessions, lectures, and group projects, while living on campus at MIT. You will explore concepts like energy and momentum, materials and structures, static torque, motors, kinematics, and rotational motion. Other program activities include using CAD tools, building a crane, building a simple circuit, and engaging in computer programming. You will also engage in workshops focused on wire bending, building a foam cutter, woodworking, and developing a portfolio.
11. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) @ NYU
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: None!
Application deadline: May 15
Dates: Option 1: July 6 – August 7 | Option 2: July 13 – August 7
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 who are at least 15 years old and NYC residents
NYU’s ieSoSC is a four- to five-week program focused on introducing you to the technical infrastructure of urban environments. You will engage in hands-on coding, electronics, and microcontroller integration projects to come up with smart city solutions. You will also learn to use sensors and cloud computing to develop prototypes for smart infrastructure, such as solutions for waste management and transportation systems. Additionally, you will attend workshops to build communication skills and learn how to present your business pitch.
12. University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Engineering Summer Program (ESP)
Location: University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
Cost: Free
Application deadline: March 2
Dates: July 11 – 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA and U.S. citizenship/permanent residency
ESP is a free program that allows you to take rigorous classes in engineering design, math, chemistry, and physics, taught by UW-Madison faculty. You will work in teams of peers to solve problems using the concepts you learn during the program. You will also engage in faculty-led discussions, team-building activities, and professional development workshops covering topics like college admissions, life on a college campus, and financial aid. Additionally, you will participate in industrial site visits to connect with engineers at companies like Delve, Alliant Energy, Rockwell Automation, and Spectrum Brands.
13. UPenn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: None
Application deadlines: March 10
Dates: July 6 – 31
Eligibility: Current 9th and 10th-grade students who are Philadelphia residents with a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) at the University of Pennsylvania is a free four-week program for high schoolers who want to explore a field of interest and build skills for college and career opportunities. As a participant, you will be paired with one of five University of Pennsylvania Graduate and Professional Schools. If placed in the engineering track, you will attend classes led by Penn faculty and find opportunities to build practical skills in problem-solving, digital literacy, and technical applications relevant to engineering disciplines. The program also runs workshops on SAT preparation, financial literacy, and professional development, designed to equip you with essential academic and career readiness skills.
14. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) @ NYU
Location: NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $1,000 stipend
Application deadline: February 27
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who live in New York City
The NYU ARISE program is a 10-week, stipend-supported summer program offering high school students a STEM research experience within professional labs. In the first four weeks, you will attend training sessions to learn about lab safety, college writing, and research skills. Over the next six weeks, you will join one of 80+ NYU research labs, contributing to research in fields like molecular and cellular biology or bioengineering. You will spend the summer gaining 120 hours of lab experience, attending seminars, and working on your research presentation, which you will deliver at the end of 10 weeks. The program also offers college application support.
15. University of Maryland’s WIE RISE! An Introduction to Engineering Research
Location: Virtua
Cost: $25 (scholarships available)
Application deadline: Rolling admissions; best consideration deadline: April 25
Dates: July 27 – 31
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
WIE RISE is a free virtual summer program run by the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering and led by current UMD engineering students. Over five days, you will explore eight different engineering disciplines, including aerospace, bioengineering, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, through virtual lab tours and demos. Each day focuses on a different field and covers topics like the production of a scientific research paper. You will take part in hands-on experiments at home using basic household materials.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – University of Maryland