If you’re a high school student interested in engineering, a pre-college program can give you a sense of what it’s like to study and work in the field. You’ll see how engineers approach problems, how design ideas are tested, and how solutions move from planning to building. Along the way, you’ll learn skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and research, all of which are useful no matter which direction you take later.
Engineering itself is broad, covering areas like electrical, civil, biomedical, and chemical. A pre-college program lets you test these subjects before you commit to a college major or career path. You might find a specific branch of engineering that excites you or decide you want to explore something different. Either way, you’ll leave with hands-on experience that helps you make informed choices. These programs also add strength to your college applications by showing initiative and academic curiosity.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 pre-college engineering programs for high school students!
15 Pre-College Engineering Programs for High School Students
1. Harvard’s Pre-College Summer School
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee
Application Deadline: February 11 (Regular application)
Dates: Session 1: June 21–July 2; Session 2: July 5– July 17; Session 3: July 19– July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who will graduate from high school and enter college in the next three years; are at least 16 years old by June 2; and will not turn 19 years old before July 31
Harvard’s Pre-College Summer School is a two-week residential program where high school students take one intensive college-level course while living on campus. The program offers nearly 30 non-credit courses across subjects like engineering, astronomy, computer science, biology, and social science. Engineering-focused courses include topics such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and applied physics. You’ll attend daily classes, participate in group discussions, and complete assignments designed to challenge your thinking and deepen your understanding of the subject. Since courses are non-credit, you can focus on learning without the pressure of grades. At the end of the program, you receive a written evaluation and an official Harvard transcript.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
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 12-week research experience for high school students. You work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor to design and complete an independent research project. One of the available tracks is Engineering, which includes Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as Chemical and Biological Engineering. You meet weekly with your mentor, explore a topic in depth, and write a college-level research paper by the end of the program. If you complete the program, you’re eligible for post-baccalaureate credit through UC San Diego Extended Studies. Admission is competitive, and engineering topics depend on mentor availability. Apply here.
3. Columbia University Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Commuter Fee: $5,875; Residential Fee: $10,790
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: – Session 1: July 7 – July 25; Session 2: July 28 – August 15
Eligibility: Current high school students (freshmen to seniors). The residential program is open to students 16 and above.
Columbia Engineering’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) is a three-week program where you take a college-level engineering course taught by Columbia faculty. You’ll learn by working on hands-on projects, joining electives, and getting advice from Columbia students. You can choose a course like Biomedical Engineering, where you explore how medical devices work and build one using rapid prototyping. Or you might pick Sustainable Engineering, where you study clean energy and design a project that solves a global sustainability problem. Beyond the main course, SHAPE includes electives, college preparation workshops, and mentorship from Columbia students.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard alumni, provides research opportunities for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session course designed for beginners in AI, machine learning, and data science, introducing core concepts while allowing you to work on real-world projects.
For students with prior experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase offers advanced engagement. In this track, you work one-on-one with mentors from leading universities to develop a personalized research project. You also receive support from the publication team to help publish your work in high school journals. More details are available through past student projects.
5. Engineering the Next Generation (ENG)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Stipend: $15/hour at 25 hours/week
Application Deadline: Rolling. January 20 (Ladders for Leaders); March 3 (CS3 MyStreetscape track)
Dates: July 7 – August 14
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current 11th graders) who reside in and attend school in the 5 boroughs of NYC or the Palm Beach, FL area
The Engineering the Next Generation (ENG) program at Columbia Engineering is a six-week summer research experience for rising high school seniors interested in STEM. You work directly with Columbia Engineering researchers on hands-on projects in areas such as biomedical engineering, computer science, and environmental engineering. The program emphasizes mentorship, pairing you with faculty, staff, and students to support your academic and professional growth. You also take part in college preparation and science communication workshops, learning how to navigate higher education and present research effectively.
6. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Applications open February 1 and close March 15
Dates: Five to six weeks in the Summer
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years and older by June 15 and reside and attend schools in NJ
Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a free, full-time summer research opportunity for high school students interested in natural sciences and engineering. Over five to six weeks, you join an active research group at Princeton and work under the guidance of faculty and research staff. You’ll gain hands-on experience in a university lab, contribute to real research, and learn how scientific investigations are designed and carried out. At the end of the program, you write a two-page report summarizing your work and findings, giving you a chance to reflect on your contributions and practice scientific communication.
7. Rutgers Honors Engineering eXperience (RHEx)
Location: Rutgers University School of Engineering, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $2,500
Application deadline: Early application: February 23; Regular application: April 26
Dates: June 22 – 27
Eligibility: Open to current 10th and 11th graders (i.e., rising juniors and seniors) who are interested in engineering and STEM
The Rutgers Honors Engineering eXperience (RHEx) is a one-week pre-college summer program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in engineering. You will gain exposure to different engineering fields through interactive workshops, laboratory activities, and collaborative projects. The program highlights material, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering with a focus on hands-on exploration. Each day introduces a specific theme, such as constructing solar cells, coding molecular models, using AI to study sports performance, or creating automata. The program also includes career-focused discussions and concludes with a symposium where you present your final project to family and friends.
8. Engineering in Health and Medicine Camp @ The College of New Jersey
Location: The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Ewing, NJ
Cost: $1,900 program fee + $39 application fee
Application deadline: Rolling basis till the camp is full; applications open on February 3
Dates: July 20 – July 25
Eligibility: High school students who rank in the top 30% of their class and have completed one year of high school math and science
The College of New Jersey’s Engineering in Health and Medicine Camp is a one-week residential program for high school students exploring biomedical engineering. You will take part in hands-on projects and labs in areas such as neural engineering, drug delivery, and medical imaging. Working in TCNJ’s design facilities and labs, you will test materials, use CAD systems, and apply diffusion principles. Projects may involve biomaterials, device design, imaging, or neural engineering topics. Evening activities provide opportunities to connect with peers and professionals, and you will present your project outcomes to faculty and fellow students at the program’s conclusion.
9. Rutgers’ The Governor’s School of New Jersey Program in Engineering & Technology
Location: Rutgers University School of Engineering, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: Free
Application deadline: January 10
Dates: July 5 – July 25
Eligibility: High school juniors who are New Jersey residents
The Governor’s School of New Jersey Program in Engineering and Technology is a free residential summer program for high school juniors that introduces you to engineering through coursework, research, and professional exposure. You’ll take four non-credit, ungraded courses taught by university faculty, covering topics like robotics, physics, and the role of engineering in different fields. As part of the program, you’ll work on a small research and design project, which you present at a closing symposium in a conference-style format. You’ll also attend workshops, participate in group activities, and connect with faculty, professionals, and fellow students from across New Jersey.
10. Summer@Brown Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,218 – $6,238, depending on the duration of the program.
Application Deadline: January 15 – May 9
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 15
Brown University’s Summer@Brown online program offers more than 50 courses across ten subject tracks, including Engineering and Technology. You can choose from different formats, fully asynchronous, mostly asynchronous, or blended, and earn a Digital Certificate of Completion. If your course lasts three weeks or longer, you also receive a Course Performance Report. In the Engineering and Technology track, the AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning course introduces you to analytics and programming through hands-on projects. Other options include Statistical Programming in R, where you learn to analyze data using R software, and Computational Mathematics with Big Data Visualization, which focuses on mathematical modeling and visualizing large datasets.
11. Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute – Artificial Intelligence
Location: Virtual / In-person
Cost: $3,080 + $65 application fee
Application Deadline: March 20
Dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27 | Session Two: July 7 – July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-11 at the time of application
Stanford’s Pre-College Summer Institute offers a residential Artificial Intelligence course for high school students who want to explore how intelligent systems work. You’ll study core machine learning methods, including supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, and learn how these approaches are used to solve real-world problems. The course blends theory with hands-on practice. You’ll apply mathematical concepts like calculus and linear algebra to AI challenges, and build programming skills by writing Python code to implement algorithms. You’ll work with both sample and real-world datasets to understand how models learn and make predictions.
12. Columbia University – NYC Residential Summer
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $12,764 per session + $80 application fee
Application Deadline: The general application deadline has passed; however, the application will remain open while space is available.
Dates: Session A: June 30–July 18; Session B: July 22–August 8
Eligibility: Students who will be enrolled in grades 9–12 in the fall and students currently enrolled in grade 12; 15 years of age or older, and must turn 16 by December 31
Columbia University’s NYC Residential Summer Program is a multi-week academic experience where you live on the Morningside Campus and take college-level courses taught by Columbia faculty. You can choose from over 70 subjects, including neuroscience, architecture, business, data science, machine learning, and programming. The program includes housing, meals, and full access to Columbia’s libraries and facilities. You study in a structured college environment, engage with peers from around the world, and explore academic interests in depth. At the end of the session, you receive a Columbia certification and a detailed performance evaluation from your instructors.
13. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: July 1 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years of age by the start of the program are eligible to apply; applicants must be residing in one of the following cities or towns in MA: Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, and Quincy
Tufts University’s TUBERS program is a six-week summer research experience where you conduct original work in biomedical engineering labs. You’ll join an active research team and work under the guidance of Tufts faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. Your role includes designing experiments, testing ideas, and using advanced lab techniques to solve real-world biomedical challenges. The program offers a rigorous introduction to university-level scientific research. You’ll gain hands-on experience in areas like tissue engineering, medical devices, and bioinstrumentation, depending on your assigned lab. At the end of the program, you present your findings in a formal session attended by peers, parents, and educators.
14. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program – Bioengineering Track
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee, which can be waived; all students receive a minimum $500 stipend
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in the Fall who are at least 16 years old or older by the program start date are eligible to apply
Stanford University’s SIMR program is a selective eight-week summer research internship for high school juniors and seniors. You’ll work in Stanford laboratories with one-on-one mentorship from faculty, graduate students, and researchers in fields such as bioengineering, cancer biology, and neuroscience. One highlight is the Bioengineering Team Internship, where you collaborate to design and prototype medical devices using tools like 3D printing, circuit design, and machine learning. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, giving you access to advanced lab equipment and real research projects in a university setting. At the end of the program, you present your research outcomes at a public poster session.
15. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Application Deadline: February 21
Dates: June 2 – August 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in the upcoming school year
NYU’s ARISE Program is a 10-week summer research experience for high school students that combines training and hands-on lab work. In the first four weeks, you build core skills in lab safety, academic writing, and research methods. During the final six weeks, you spend around 120 hours working in an NYU lab, conducting research in areas like bioengineering, artificial intelligence, or machine learning. You also develop public speaking, critical thinking, and networking skills through workshops and mentorship. The program ends with a formal research presentation at NYU and a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History, where you share your findings with peers, scientists, and educators.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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 – Columbia University