10 Engineering Programs for High School Students
10 Engineering Programs for High School Students
Written by
Written by
George Gatsios, Founder of Delta Institute
George Gatsios, Founder of Delta Institute
Published on
Published on
Summer is the best time for high school students to dive into their passion for engineering and gain exposure to real-world projects. These programs offer hands-on lab experience, team challenges, and mentorship from experienced engineers, giving participants a taste of college-level engineering.
Here are 10 engineering programs for high school students that can inspire your STEM journey and prepare you for college.
MITES Summer is a six-week, on-campus program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed for high school juniors passionate about STEM. You’ll complete five rigorous science, math, and humanities courses, along with project-based electives like machine learning, genomics, and engineering. You’ll also participate in lab tours, workshops, social events, and college admissions counseling, giving you firsthand exposure to life at MIT and the STEM community.
Throughout the program, you’ll work closely with instructors on homework, projects, and presentations and receive a written evaluation highlighting your strengths and contributions. The program is free of charge, covering room, board, and program costs, making it accessible to students across the U.S., especially those from underserved or underrepresented backgrounds.
Cost: Free
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: February (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: Late June through early August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The AWS Work-Experience Program by Delta Institute gives high school students a unique opportunity to explore cloud computing and AI in a professional setting. Over four weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience building machine learning models, understanding algorithms, and applying mathematical foundations in a team project.
You’ll start the program with an introduction to how AWS operates and skill-building lectures to prepare you for the project. You’ll work collaboratively on Python-based ML models, covering data collection, preprocessing, and feature engineering. At the end, you and your team will pitch your project to AWS representatives and receive a tailored referral letter as well as a certificate of completion.
Cost: $4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 29 (Summer I) & April 26 (Summer II)
Program Dates: June 20 to July 26
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
The Explore Engineering Innovation program by John Hopkins University is a college-level summer program that allows high school students to explore multiple engineering disciplines, including civil, chemical, electrical, computer, mechanical, and materials science. Over 4 to 5 weeks (depending on whether you participate in the virtual or in-person program), you’ll engage in hands-on projects such as designing and building a spaghetti bridge, programming an electronics project like a memory game, or running chemical process labs.
Throughout the program, you’ll complete an array of tasks, including hands-on or virtual experiments, quizzes, oral presentations, and the design, construction, and testing of structures. As you work, you’ll develop strong problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills to help you prepare for college and a future in engineering. If you complete all the required coursework, you’ll earn a John Hopkins University credit.
Cost: Varies by format, but ranges from $4,225 to $10,190
Location: Virtual or in-person in Baltimore, Maryland
Application Deadline: Varies by format
Program Dates: June 15 to July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors
The Deepen Mentorship Program by Delta Institute gives high school students the chance to explore their interest in engineering through a fully personalized, 8-week mentorship. You’ll be paired 1-to-1 with experienced mentors, including industry leaders and Ivy League alumni, to develop advanced skills and work on a project tailored to your specific engineering interests, whether it's biomedical, aerospace, or another field.
You’ll work closely with your mentor to develop a curriculum and program goals before working on a project that tackles real-world engineering challenges. When you present your project at the end of the program, you’ll receive expert feedback and future guidance on opportunities in engineering. You’ll also receive a strong letter of recommendation you can use to showcase your work and enhance your college application.
Cost: $6,500
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 29 (Summer I) & April 26 (Summer II)
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling
Eligibility: High school students globally
The UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars summer program lets high school students take university-level courses in engineering and STEM disciplines. You can choose from specialized courses like engineering mechanics, civil and environmental engineering, engineering data analysis, and electrochemical device engineering. You’ll learn from Berkeley faculty and have the chance to interact with like-minded peers from around the world, giving you a firsthand understanding of university-level engineering study and research.
Choose from 4 tracks: residential, commuter, virtual, or non-credit, offering flexibility and the choice to experience life on campus. If you pass the course, you’ll receive an official Berkeley transcript, credit you can transfer to another college program, and a letter of commendation from the Dean of Extended Education.
Cost: Varies by course
Location: Virtual or in Berkeley, California
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Program Dates: Various sessions between May 26 and August 14
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or 17
Delta Code Immersive by Delta Institute is a 12-week, personalized coding mentorship program designed for students at all skill levels. You’ll receive 25 hours of 1 to 1 guidance from industry experts at leading companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Ford, and Citibank. Choose from four coding pathways: web development, game development, data science, or app development and build an advanced, real-world project aligned with your interests.
The program also comes with unlimited TA support, a tailored curriculum, and step-by-step mentor feedback to help you learn programming skills, develop a live website or app, and produce a technical white paper showcasing your work. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a personalized letter of recommendation that can strengthen your college and future job applications. Delta Institute also offers a shorter, 5-week coding program called Delta Code Intensive if you’re looking for a more focused, fast-paced experience.
Cost: $4,800
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 29 (Summer I) & April 26 (Summer II). Students can apply here
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling
Eligibility: High school students globally
This 1-week residential engineering camp hosted by the Society of Women Engineers at the University of Michigan introduces students to various engineering disciplines through hands-on activities, team design challenges, and interactive workshops. You’ll work with your fellow campers to apply the engineering design process to real problems, explore different fields like aerospace and biomedical engineering, and gain insight into engineering at a leading research university.
The camp also includes campus tours, opportunities to meet current students and admissions representatives, and social team-building activities like kayaking and tie-dying. Camp ends with the SEE Camp Olympics Closing Ceremony, where teams can celebrate their accomplishments.
Cost: $750
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Application Deadline: February (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: July 5 to July 11
Eligibility: High school students globally going into grades 10 or 11
Georgia Tech’s Summer Engineering Institute offers rising 11th- and 12th-graders an immersive, one-week residential program to spark a passion for engineering and technology. You’ll stay on campus, engaging in hands-on experiments, interactive workshops, and team-based design challenges that introduce you to multiple engineering disciplines, including aerospace, computer, and mechanical engineering.
You’ll also tour Georgia Tech’s cutting-edge facilities, meet professors and current students, and gain valuable insights into the admissions process. By the end of the week, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of engineering, real-world experience, and connections with like-minded peers.
Cost: Free
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: June 7 to June 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th- and 12th-graders who live in Georgia
The Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers at Columbia University is a pre-college program designed to immerse high school students in engineering over two, three-week summer sessions (you can attend one or both). Choose a course in areas like robotics and autonomous driving, biomedical engineering, sustainable engineering, or data science, and participate in college-level lessons led by Columbia faculty.
You’ll also spend hands-on time in the lab and the Makerspace, equipped with 3D printers and laser cutters, allowing you to design, prototype, and build real-world projects. Beyond academics, the program includes electives, workshops on public speaking and college preparation, and opportunities to interact with Columbia undergraduates.
Cost: $6,241 (commuter students) or $11,492 (residential students)
Location: New York City, New York
Application Deadline: March (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates:
July 6 to July 24
July 27 to August 14
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
Drexel University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Summer Institute is a 4-day virtual program for rising high school juniors and seniors. You’ll explore the fundamentals of electrical and computer engineering, including signal processing, circuits, algorithms, and computer hardware and software, learning how these disciplines power technologies from smartphones to autonomous vehicles.
You’ll receive an ESP32 microcontroller in advance and work on hands-on projects during live Zoom sessions. You’ll also develop problem-solving and coding skills while gaining insight into engineering careers.
Cost: $500 registration fee
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: June 15
Program Dates: June 20 to June 23
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Summer is the best time for high school students to dive into their passion for engineering and gain exposure to real-world projects. These programs offer hands-on lab experience, team challenges, and mentorship from experienced engineers, giving participants a taste of college-level engineering.
Here are 10 engineering programs for high school students that can inspire your STEM journey and prepare you for college.
MITES Summer is a six-week, on-campus program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed for high school juniors passionate about STEM. You’ll complete five rigorous science, math, and humanities courses, along with project-based electives like machine learning, genomics, and engineering. You’ll also participate in lab tours, workshops, social events, and college admissions counseling, giving you firsthand exposure to life at MIT and the STEM community.
Throughout the program, you’ll work closely with instructors on homework, projects, and presentations and receive a written evaluation highlighting your strengths and contributions. The program is free of charge, covering room, board, and program costs, making it accessible to students across the U.S., especially those from underserved or underrepresented backgrounds.
Cost: Free
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: February (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: Late June through early August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The AWS Work-Experience Program by Delta Institute gives high school students a unique opportunity to explore cloud computing and AI in a professional setting. Over four weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience building machine learning models, understanding algorithms, and applying mathematical foundations in a team project.
You’ll start the program with an introduction to how AWS operates and skill-building lectures to prepare you for the project. You’ll work collaboratively on Python-based ML models, covering data collection, preprocessing, and feature engineering. At the end, you and your team will pitch your project to AWS representatives and receive a tailored referral letter as well as a certificate of completion.
Cost: $4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 29 (Summer I) & April 26 (Summer II)
Program Dates: June 20 to July 26
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
The Explore Engineering Innovation program by John Hopkins University is a college-level summer program that allows high school students to explore multiple engineering disciplines, including civil, chemical, electrical, computer, mechanical, and materials science. Over 4 to 5 weeks (depending on whether you participate in the virtual or in-person program), you’ll engage in hands-on projects such as designing and building a spaghetti bridge, programming an electronics project like a memory game, or running chemical process labs.
Throughout the program, you’ll complete an array of tasks, including hands-on or virtual experiments, quizzes, oral presentations, and the design, construction, and testing of structures. As you work, you’ll develop strong problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills to help you prepare for college and a future in engineering. If you complete all the required coursework, you’ll earn a John Hopkins University credit.
Cost: Varies by format, but ranges from $4,225 to $10,190
Location: Virtual or in-person in Baltimore, Maryland
Application Deadline: Varies by format
Program Dates: June 15 to July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors
The Deepen Mentorship Program by Delta Institute gives high school students the chance to explore their interest in engineering through a fully personalized, 8-week mentorship. You’ll be paired 1-to-1 with experienced mentors, including industry leaders and Ivy League alumni, to develop advanced skills and work on a project tailored to your specific engineering interests, whether it's biomedical, aerospace, or another field.
You’ll work closely with your mentor to develop a curriculum and program goals before working on a project that tackles real-world engineering challenges. When you present your project at the end of the program, you’ll receive expert feedback and future guidance on opportunities in engineering. You’ll also receive a strong letter of recommendation you can use to showcase your work and enhance your college application.
Cost: $6,500
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 29 (Summer I) & April 26 (Summer II)
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling
Eligibility: High school students globally
The UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars summer program lets high school students take university-level courses in engineering and STEM disciplines. You can choose from specialized courses like engineering mechanics, civil and environmental engineering, engineering data analysis, and electrochemical device engineering. You’ll learn from Berkeley faculty and have the chance to interact with like-minded peers from around the world, giving you a firsthand understanding of university-level engineering study and research.
Choose from 4 tracks: residential, commuter, virtual, or non-credit, offering flexibility and the choice to experience life on campus. If you pass the course, you’ll receive an official Berkeley transcript, credit you can transfer to another college program, and a letter of commendation from the Dean of Extended Education.
Cost: Varies by course
Location: Virtual or in Berkeley, California
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Program Dates: Various sessions between May 26 and August 14
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or 17
Delta Code Immersive by Delta Institute is a 12-week, personalized coding mentorship program designed for students at all skill levels. You’ll receive 25 hours of 1 to 1 guidance from industry experts at leading companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Ford, and Citibank. Choose from four coding pathways: web development, game development, data science, or app development and build an advanced, real-world project aligned with your interests.
The program also comes with unlimited TA support, a tailored curriculum, and step-by-step mentor feedback to help you learn programming skills, develop a live website or app, and produce a technical white paper showcasing your work. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a personalized letter of recommendation that can strengthen your college and future job applications. Delta Institute also offers a shorter, 5-week coding program called Delta Code Intensive if you’re looking for a more focused, fast-paced experience.
Cost: $4,800
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 29 (Summer I) & April 26 (Summer II). Students can apply here
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling
Eligibility: High school students globally
This 1-week residential engineering camp hosted by the Society of Women Engineers at the University of Michigan introduces students to various engineering disciplines through hands-on activities, team design challenges, and interactive workshops. You’ll work with your fellow campers to apply the engineering design process to real problems, explore different fields like aerospace and biomedical engineering, and gain insight into engineering at a leading research university.
The camp also includes campus tours, opportunities to meet current students and admissions representatives, and social team-building activities like kayaking and tie-dying. Camp ends with the SEE Camp Olympics Closing Ceremony, where teams can celebrate their accomplishments.
Cost: $750
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Application Deadline: February (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: July 5 to July 11
Eligibility: High school students globally going into grades 10 or 11
Georgia Tech’s Summer Engineering Institute offers rising 11th- and 12th-graders an immersive, one-week residential program to spark a passion for engineering and technology. You’ll stay on campus, engaging in hands-on experiments, interactive workshops, and team-based design challenges that introduce you to multiple engineering disciplines, including aerospace, computer, and mechanical engineering.
You’ll also tour Georgia Tech’s cutting-edge facilities, meet professors and current students, and gain valuable insights into the admissions process. By the end of the week, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of engineering, real-world experience, and connections with like-minded peers.
Cost: Free
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: June 7 to June 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th- and 12th-graders who live in Georgia
The Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers at Columbia University is a pre-college program designed to immerse high school students in engineering over two, three-week summer sessions (you can attend one or both). Choose a course in areas like robotics and autonomous driving, biomedical engineering, sustainable engineering, or data science, and participate in college-level lessons led by Columbia faculty.
You’ll also spend hands-on time in the lab and the Makerspace, equipped with 3D printers and laser cutters, allowing you to design, prototype, and build real-world projects. Beyond academics, the program includes electives, workshops on public speaking and college preparation, and opportunities to interact with Columbia undergraduates.
Cost: $6,241 (commuter students) or $11,492 (residential students)
Location: New York City, New York
Application Deadline: March (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates:
July 6 to July 24
July 27 to August 14
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
Drexel University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Summer Institute is a 4-day virtual program for rising high school juniors and seniors. You’ll explore the fundamentals of electrical and computer engineering, including signal processing, circuits, algorithms, and computer hardware and software, learning how these disciplines power technologies from smartphones to autonomous vehicles.
You’ll receive an ESP32 microcontroller in advance and work on hands-on projects during live Zoom sessions. You’ll also develop problem-solving and coding skills while gaining insight into engineering careers.
Cost: $500 registration fee
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: June 15
Program Dates: June 20 to June 23
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
About the Author
George Gatsios holds a BA and MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is the founder of Delta Institute. He leads the organisation’s global strategy, overseeing programme design, partnerships, operations, and product innovation across education, career development, and technology. His work centers on building scalable, hands-on learning experiences that connect students with real-world industry exposure and future-ready skills. Alongside his leadership at Delta Institute, George serves as a Research Assistant in Economics at the University of Cambridge and London Business School, contributing to research at the intersection of economic theory, empirical analysis, and policy. He is an active member of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network (IBEN) and a strong advocate for lifelong learning and internationally minded education.
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