15 Civil Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
For students interested in exploring the world of design, problem-solving, and innovation, civil engineering summer programs for high school students can be an ideal first step. These programs combine hands-on activities, real-world projects, and mentorship to give you a clearer picture of what a career in engineering might look like. Whether you’re building scale models, experimenting in labs, or learning about sustainable infrastructure, you’ll get a chance to see how classroom concepts translate into practical solutions. Many of these opportunities also connect you with faculty, industry professionals, and like-minded peers, expanding your network early on.
We’ve gathered 15 of the best civil engineering summer programs for high school students, so you can find one that matches your interests and goals. From university-led camps to research-focused experiences, each option offers a unique way to learn, explore, and prepare for your future.
15 Civil Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
1. TryEngineering Summer Institute: Civil Engineering Camp
Location: University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA); University of San Diego (San Diego, CA); Rice University (Houston, TX); Columbia University (New York, NY)
Cost: $4,095 ($4,295 for Columbia University); Need-based scholarships available to U.S. students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: Several sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 13-17
The TryEngineering Summer Institute’s civil engineering summer program for high school students lets you explore topics such as structural integrity, load-bearing capacity, and sustainable design through a mix of guided lessons and hands-on projects. The program includes challenges like designing and testing model bridges to understand material properties and structural efficiency. You’ll also get to apply the design thinking process to develop solutions for real-world problems such as traffic congestion or water scarcity. You’ll work in teams, refining your designs based on testing and feedback, while developing problem-solving, collaboration, and presentation skills.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships connects you with a high-growth startup, where you’ll take on a real-world challenge from concept to final presentation. Guided by a company mentor, you’ll define project goals, produce deliverables, and refine your work based on feedback. Your tasks may involve market research, product design, technical problem-solving, or project documentation, depending on the host company’s focus. Each week has a clear milestone, from initial planning to final delivery, ensuring that you practice time management, communication, and adaptability.
3. Johns Hopkins University Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI)
Location: Johns Hopkins University: Homewood Campus, Baltimore, MD, and Hood College, Frederick, MD
Cost: $50 application fee + $3,800 (additional costs may vary); Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, talented sophomores, and recent graduates (ages 15-17) with As and Bs in math and science; Must have completed Algebra II, a trigonometry course, and a full year of high school chemistry and/or physics (including lab)
At EEI, you’ll take on college-level engineering projects condensed into a four-week summer schedule. Civil engineering is one of several disciplines you’ll explore, with activities like testing material properties of spaghetti and designing bridges for strength and stability. You’ll also create electronic devices, experimenting with heat transfer in a small bioreactor, and pitching your designs to peers. The program mirrors the first-year engineering course at Johns Hopkins, giving you a realistic preview of university-level expectations. In addition to teamwork, you’ll apply math and science to solve practical engineering problems and refine your approach based on testing results.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 3.3/4.0
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides you with the opportunity to conduct an in-depth, independent research project under the guidance of a Ph.D. mentor. Over 12 weeks, you’ll explore a topic of your choice from disciplines such as civil engineering, data science, psychology, or physics, developing both subject expertise and research methodology skills. You’ll meet individually with your mentor for tailored guidance, work through structured workshops on the research process, and receive feedback from a writing coach to shape your work into a formal research paper. By the end of the program, you will have produced a 15-page academic paper.
5. National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Engineering Summer Program
Location: Several universities
Cost: $4,095 – $5,950
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is not available
Dates: 9-12 days in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
During NSLC’s engineering track, you’ll rotate through hands-on projects that include elements of civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering. This civil engineering summer program for high school students includes activities like building a remote-controlled vehicle for timed and obstacle course challenges, as well as designing and testing gliders or wind turbines. You’ll also work on robotics, programming, soldering, and CAD to broaden your technical skill set. By the end, you’ll have practiced problem-solving under real constraints and collaborated with peers on a variety of engineering prototypes.
6. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Introduction to Engineering
Location: Virtual
Cost: $60 application fee + $3,080; Need-based financial aid and fee waivers available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: 8th to 10th graders
This online program offers a survey of engineering fields, including civil, biomedical, computer, and environmental engineering. You’ll collaborate in teams to design solutions, address potential obstacles, and consider the ethical implications of engineering work. The course emphasizes the engineering design process from concept to refinement, ensuring you learn both the creative and analytical sides of the discipline. Class sessions are supplemented by office hours for guidance and feedback.
7. Grainger Engineering Summer Camps: City Designers and Builders Camp (CEE)
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost: $1,000 (residential), $600 (commuter) + $25 deposit; Scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders
In this civil engineering summer program for high school students, you’ll investigate how infrastructure shapes communities and addresses pressing societal issues. Through hands-on projects, lab demonstrations, and field trips, you’ll explore areas like climate change, air and water quality, structural safety, and innovative construction techniques. The camp introduces you to the dual focus of civil and environmental engineering, showing how both fields intersect to solve real-world problems. Overall, you’ll learn how engineers evaluate environmental impact, design safe structures, and implement sustainable building methods.
8. Bucknell University Engineering Camp
Location: Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Cost: $1,500 (residential); $1,000 (commuter); Financial assistance is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: June 21 – 26
Application Deadline: Opens on January 2; Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 7-11 by the start of camp
At Bucknell’s Engineering Camp, you’ll experience engineering through direct access to research labs and faculty-led sessions. You’ll engage with several engineering disciplines as you work through lectures, demonstrations, and experiments designed to connect scientific concepts to practical problem-solving. Activities are structured into morning and afternoon blocks, combining theory with laboratory application. You’ll also get exposure to emerging technologies and their role in shaping infrastructure and other engineering domains.
9. Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Explore Summer Programs
Location: Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $1,100
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 11; Session 2: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students with a 3.5 GPA or higher who are interested in exploring MSOE degrees
MSOE’s Explore Summer Programs let you rotate through different engineering majors over the course of a week, with civil engineering included alongside fields such as architectural, biomedical, mechanical, and software engineering. Each day, you’ll take part in two half-day sessions that combine hands-on projects with discussions about career paths and industry applications. The civil engineering sessions focus on understanding how construction management and infrastructure planning work in real-world contexts. You’ll compare approaches from multiple engineering specialties, helping you see where your interests align.
10. Summer Springboard: Fundamentals of Engineering at Berkeley
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $5,998 (residential); $3,298 (commuter) + $99 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: Session 2: June 22 – July 4; Session 4: July 6 – 18; Session 6: July 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
In this civil engineering summer program for high school students, you’ll work on design challenges that require both creativity and technical problem-solving. Projects include building a scale model structure that meets code, zoning, and budget constraints, as well as designing and manufacturing an artificial limb to replicate real-world function. You’ll also explore mechanical, structural, and biomedical engineering concepts, applying them to practical builds. Additionally, industry excursions like visits to the TESLA Fremont Factory and Circuit Launch give you a firsthand look at engineering in action.
11. Seminar for Top Engineering Prospects (STEP)
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: $2,500; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 12; Session 2: July 13 – 19; Session 3: July 20 – 26; Session 4: July 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; Recommended to have completed 3 years of high school math and 1 year of chemistry/physics
STEP at Purdue University is a week-long residential program designed to immerse you in different branches of engineering, including civil engineering. You’ll select two disciplines to explore in depth, working on challenges that combine design, physics, programming, and 3D modeling. Throughout the week, you’ll work in small teams to tackle real-world problems, culminating in a final design competition. The program also integrates professional mentorship from faculty, staff, and current honors students, guiding you as you navigate complex projects.
12. Lyle School of Engineering Advanced Engineering Camp
Location: Lyle School of Engineering, Dallas, TX
Cost: $600
Cohort Size: 20 students
Dates: Girls Only Camp: July 7 – 11; Boys Only Camp: July 14 – 18; Co-ed Camp: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: Opens on February 17
Eligibility: Rising 9th-10th graders with experience in engineering, designing, or integrated STEM programs
This camp introduces advanced concepts in several fields, with civil and environmental engineering featured alongside mechanical, electrical, and computer science. You’ll follow the engineering design process to develop solutions through activities and projects designed by faculty and mentors. Civil engineering sessions may involve infrastructure-focused builds or environmental problem-solving tasks, helping you see the connection between technical planning and real-world application. Materials for the projects will be provided on-site, and you’ll be guided by university students who can share their academic and project experience.
13. Santa Clara University Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)
Location: Santa Clara School of Engineering, Santa Clara, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Session One: July 13 – 17; Session Two: July 20 – 24; Session Three (for returning participants): July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students who have completed sophomore and junior years; First-generation, low-income, women, non-binary, and underrepresented groups are strongly urged to apply
SES is a five-day engineering summer program for high school students that introduces you to multiple branches of engineering, including civil, sustainable, and environmental engineering. The faculty-led workshops combine lectures with interactive activities, giving you practical exposure to each discipline. You’ll complete your own engineering projects, learn about the academic expectations of college, and gain insight into potential career paths.
14. Purdue University’s Summer College for High School Students: Developing Tomorrow’s Infrastructure
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: $60 nonrefundable application fee (can be waived); Specific course costs are not listed but half the cost of tuition and fees will be covered for all students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: June 23 – 27 and July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: February 1; Regular deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students
Offered through the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, this week-long summer course focuses entirely on civil and construction engineering. Through this civil engineering summer program for high school students, you’ll learn how these disciplines shape communities by planning and building infrastructure that meets current and future needs. Project-based learning lets you apply mathematical and scientific principles to real-world design scenarios. Activities may include team-based design challenges, site analysis, and discussions with faculty and student researchers about cutting-edge engineering solutions. While on campus, you’ll also explore career opportunities within civil engineering and how the profession impacts daily life.
15. Michigan Tech Engineering Scholars Program (ESP)
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Cost: $425; Scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: June 22 – 27
Application Deadline: February 17, followed by rolling admissions
Eligibility: 9th-11th graders
ESP is a week-long residential program where you’ll select two engineering areas to explore in depth, with civil engineering among the options. The civil engineering track may involve infrastructure-focused builds, environmental planning exercises, or geohazard-related problem-solving. Across all disciplines, you’ll participate in project-based learning, group challenges, and presentations from industry professionals.
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