If you’re a high school student interested in engineering, a summer internship can be a good way to see how the field works outside the classroom.
Engineering internships are usually more hands-on than regular classes. While you might spend the school year learning equations or theory, internships give you the chance to apply those ideas in labs, workshops, or professional settings. You could be helping with experiments, testing prototypes, or assisting research teams, which shows you how engineering is practiced day to day.
Internships also help you figure out which area of engineering excites you most, whether that’s mechanical, environmental, biomedical, or aerospace. The best part is that you’re starting early. Doing an internship in high school also makes your college applications stronger because you’ve already explored the field in a real setting.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 summer engineering internships for high school students!
15 Summer Engineering Internships for High School Students
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Through the Ladder Internship program, you spend eight weeks working remotely with a start-up in fields ranging from technology and AI to healthcare and marketing. You are paired with both a company mentor and a Ladder Coach, who help guide your progress while providing regular feedback. Your responsibilities depend on your placement and can include tasks such as research, product design, or data analysis, many of which connect to areas of engineering and applied science. The experience ends with a final presentation where you share your contributions with your host company.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: 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.
3. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – Department of the Navy
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Cost/Stipend: None / $4,000 (new participants); $4,500 (returning participants)
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 | 16 years old by the start of the program | U.S. citizens | Selected lab requirements or exceptions may apply
SEAP places you inside a Navy research lab for eight weeks during the summer. You work on real science and engineering problems with professional researchers. Depending on the lab, you might explore robotics, environmental systems, materials testing, or systems engineering. You could learn how to use tools like MATLAB for data analysis, SolidWorks for 3D design, or LabVIEW for building experiments. You might write code in Python, run simulations, or help test sensors and devices. You also learn how to read technical papers, write research notes, and explain your results clearly.
4. Texas Tech University – Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Cost: No cost; a stipend of $750 is provided
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date
The Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research opportunity at Texas Tech University for a small cohort of high-achieving high school students. Most of your time goes into designing, testing, and refining that project. If you’re in engineering, you might dive into robotics, electrical circuits, mechanical systems, or software design, depending on your mentor’s lab and your interests. You learn how to read technical papers, write research summaries, and present your findings clearly. You might use tools like MATLAB, Arduino, or CAD software, and you’ll get practice collecting data, debugging code, and building prototypes.
5. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost
Dates: June 22–August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors worldwide
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is a six-week program that begins with a week of advanced STEM classes and then moves into five weeks of full-time research under the guidance of a mentor, who may be a faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student. You work on projects in fields such as physics, biology, or computer science, learn to use tools like Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, R, and LaTeX, and practice reading papers, designing experiments, and presenting results. The program includes evening lectures on a range of disciplines and concludes with a research paper and presentation reviewed by scientists.
6. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars (AFRL) Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: None / $501.60 – $805.60/week (based on education level and credits earned)
Dates: Fall: 16 weeks (late August/early September – mid-December); Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May); Summer: 8-12 weeks (late May/early June – August)
Application deadline: January 10 (summer cohort)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens | Over 16 years of age with a valid government-issued ID | Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
In the AFRL Scholars Program, you join a research team inside an Air Force lab. You work on active projects in areas like aerospace systems, quantum sensing, autonomous platforms, or artificial intelligence. Your tasks might include writing code, building models, analyzing data, or testing hardware, depending on your lab and assignment. You learn how to read technical documentation, run simulations, and use research tools that match your field. That could mean Python for machine learning, MATLAB for control systems, or CAD software for mechanical design. You also get experience with lab workflows: version control, experiment logs, and structured reporting.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide
Stipend: Paid, varies by site
Dates: Varies by location; typically June – August
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old | Site-specific requirements may apply
The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship is a summer research experience where you work inside a U.S. Army or university-affiliated lab. You’re paired with a mentor and assigned to a project that reflects real federal research priorities, often in cybersecurity, environmental systems, materials science, or engineering design. You learn how to read scientific papers, write technical reports, and use tools that match your lab’s focus. That might include Python for data analysis, GIS software for environmental mapping, or CAD platforms for prototyping.
8. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Summer High School Intern Program
Location: IST laboratory at Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO
Stipend: None
Dates: Mid-June – Mid-August
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors | U.S. citizens
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) places you inside one of six federal research labs for eight weeks of full-time work. You join a team focused on measurement science, where your daily tasks might include coding, running experiments, or refining data analysis methods. Depending on your lab, you could work on quantum systems, cybersecurity tools, polymer testing, or nanotechnology. You might use Python, LabVIEW, or AutoDesk Inventor, and learn how to build and calibrate instruments, interpret sensor data, or model physical systems.
9. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person and hybrid at George Mason University, VA (virtual/remote opportunities are also available)
Cost: $25 application fee
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18 for the remote internships and for the in-person/hybrid internships with computer labs; Wet-lab in-person/hybrid internships require you to be at least 16 years old by June 18
ASSIP is an eight-week, full-time research internship where you collaborate with George Mason University faculty and affiliated professionals on current projects. Interns may engage in fields such as bioengineering, renewable energy, cybersecurity, nanoscience, or robotics. You will gain experience working with lab instruments, coding software, and analyzing scientific data, while also attending workshops on technical writing and presentation skills. Many students prepare formal research papers, and some have opportunities to co-author publications or present at academic conferences. The program also organizes discussions about career pathways in STEM.
10. NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: No cost; $1000 stipend provided
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are New York residents
The ARISE program at NYU Tandon is a free 10-week summer experience that begins with training in research methods, safety, and academic writing before moving into six weeks of lab work. You are placed in one of more than 80 research groups across engineering, computer science, and life sciences, where you contribute to projects under the guidance of faculty and graduate student mentors. The internship includes about 120 hours of hands-on research, along with workshops in communication, networking, and college readiness. Participants present their work at an internal colloquium and again at the American Museum of Natural History, gaining experience in scientific presentation.
11. University of Chicago – Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab
Location: Ryerson Laboratory, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend $4800
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago area high school students
At the DSI Summer Lab, you spend eight weeks contributing to research projects that apply data science to disciplines such as biomedical research, climate studies, public policy, or computer science. As part of the program, you are matched with a mentor and gain practical experience in coding, machine learning, and statistical analysis while collaborating with other students in a cohort model. The program includes professional development sessions and workshops to strengthen your communication and technical skills. By the end, you prepare a final research video and present your findings in a symposium-style event, similar to an academic conference.
12. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Students receive a stipend that varies with experience and internship placement
Dates: Varies by internship; both full-time summer and part-time year-round internships are offered
Application deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years of age; specific eligibility criteria vary by position
The Sandia National Laboratories High School Internship Program offers research roles where you work directly on active projects inside federal labs. These internships are available in several formats, full-time during the summer, part-time during the school year, and cooperative placements tied to school programs. You join a professional team and contribute to tasks like coding, data analysis, or experimental design. Depending on your assignment, you might work with simulation software, embedded systems, or materials testing platforms. Internships run at different Sandia sites, including New Mexico and California, giving you exposure to how large-scale government labs operate.
13. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia
Stipend: $500 weekly
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: January 13 – March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors or rising graduates enrolled in an Illinois high school; Must be U.S. citizens
PRISM is a four-week summer program designed for high school seniors and recent graduates, focusing on a different scientific theme each week. Topics include areas such as particle physics, artificial intelligence, quantum systems, and engineering applications, explored through workshops, facility tours, and group research activities. As a participant, you are paired with mentors who guide you through projects and discussions about STEM careers. By the end, you produce both a written abstract and a final presentation, gaining practice in scientific communication.
14. Princeton University: Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University
Cost: None
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents (16-17) enrolled in a high school; more details here
The Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) gives local high school students the chance to work full-time in a university research lab for 5 to 6 weeks during the summer. You’re matched with a faculty mentor and assigned to a project that reflects the lab’s current research. Depending on your placement, you might work on renewable energy systems, biomedical engineering tools, genetic analysis, or advanced materials. You’ll be expected to read scientific papers, collect and interpret data, and contribute to lab discussions. Some projects involve coding, others focus on experimental design or materials testing. You learn how to document your work clearly and submit a final written report that explains your methods and results.
15. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Paid based on their academic level and session duration
Dates: Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May); Summer: 10 weeks (late May – August); Fall: 16 weeks (late August – mid-December)
Application deadline: Fall: May 22; Spring: September 12; Summer: February 27
Eligibility: Full-time high school students | Over 16 years of age | Cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale | U.S. citizens
The NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) High School Internship Program places you inside a NASA center, virtually, in person, or hybrid, for hands-on research experience. You join a team working on real agency projects, which might involve aerospace systems, robotics, Earth science, or mission operations. Depending on your assignment, you could analyze satellite data, support systems engineering, or help design experiments tied to spaceflight. You learn how to use tools like Python, MATLAB, or GIS platforms, and you’re expected to document your work, interpret results, and contribute to team goals. Mentors guide your progress and introduce you to NASA’s research process, from planning through execution.
Image source – George Mason University