15 Free Engineering Programs for High School Students

If you are a high school student interested in engineering, engineering programs can be a worthwhile way to explore the field. These programs help you explore career pathways, gain practical experience by working on projects, and network with professionals. You’ll gain exposure to a range of engineering fields, such as mechanical, electrical, civil, computer, aerospace, biomedical, and environmental engineering. 

If you are looking for an accessible engineering program, many programs are available free of cost, and some of them offer you a stipend as well. These programs allow you to develop technical skills, apply design thinking, and improve your problem-solving. To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 free engineering programs for high school students. 

1. Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) Summer

Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA,
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly Selective
Dates: June 15–July 26
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in November (deadline not specified)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents

MITES is a 6-week residential program designed for high school students interested in STEM. The program provides the experience of a fast-paced college semester, where you’ll engage in STEM classes in specialized subjects such as Machine Learning, Architecture, and Genomics. Throughout the program, you’ll also explore the real-world impact of STEM and learn about various career opportunities. MITES also includes workshops, lab tours, social events, and college counseling to support your personal and professional growth.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Acceptance rate is close to 10%
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: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8-12 weeks and devote 10-20 hours/week, 

Ladder Internships is a highly selective program that connects ambitious high school students with fast-growing startups. Through this internship, you will gain hands-on experience across a variety of industries, including tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies raising over a million dollars on average. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Women’s Technology Program (WTP)

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free for students with family income less than $120,000; the rest of the students will follow a tier system (students can apply for additional aid)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 28 – July 26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Students in 11th grade (rising seniors) residing in the U.S. with a permanent U.S. address; strong performance in math & science in high school

The Women’s Technology Program is a 4-week residential program designed to encourage students to explore careers in engineering. Through hands-on research and project-based learning, you can build technical, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills while exploring engineering concepts. The program focuses on mechanical engineering through interactive coursework, design challenges, and poster presentations. You’ll also visit labs, shop tours, and expeditions to local companies to see engineering concepts in practice.  

4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded 
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort; multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4); No prior knowledge of your field of interest is required.

The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a non-profit research program designed to support talented students from low-income backgrounds. Originating from the renowned Lumiere Research Scholar Program, known for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation offers the same independent research experiences at zero cost. The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program mirrors the Lumiere Education Individual Research Scholar Program. In this flagship program, talented high school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work one-on-one on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll produce an independent research paper. You can choose topics from a wide range of subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. 

5. ESTEEM/SER-Quest Summer Program

Location: A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders; minimum GPA of 3.2; Above C grade in all maths and science courses in high school; Grade B or higher in Chemistry; ready to opt for  Pre-Calculus by 12th grade

The ESTEEM Research Mentoring Program (Engineering Science and Technology to Energize and Expand Young Minds) and the Summer Engineering Research (SER)-Quest are 4-week research-focused programs designed for rising high school seniors. These programs allow you to engage in engineering concepts through hands-on research projects. You’ll learn how to develop a research proposal, conduct literature research, and review your research project. You’ll also receive guidance on your college application process, college preparation, and building professional skills. 

6. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; students receive a stipend of US$1,000 on successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2-August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current rising 10th or 11th grade students (in the upcoming school year); Must be full-time NYC residents and attend NYC schools only

Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) is a 10-week program where you’ll explore STEM through experiential learning. The first 4 weeks focus on foundational training in safety, research, and soft skill development. After this, you will apply your knowledge by working under the mentorship of researchers, contributing directly to research work. The program also features public speaking training, college readiness workshops, and networking opportunities with professionals and like-minded peers. At the end of the program, you'll get to showcase your research work at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Poster Symposium. 

7. Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE) Program

Location: Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 –  26
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens completing their junior year

Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE) is a two-week project-based summer program for high school students. It offers in-depth experience working and building small radar systems while learning about real-world radar applications and the underlying technology. You will be working under the mentorship of scientists and engineers to build both Doppler and range radar systems. The program will help you explore key engineering disciplines, such as electrical and computer engineering, while working on your project. 

8. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free (includes meals, housing, and programming; $25 as application fee)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Must be at least 17 years old by the program start date; U.S. citizens or permanent residents

The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is a specialized summer research program where students get an opportunity to conduct research work in STEM-focused fields. You’ll learn how to conduct research, gain practical research experience in the field of your interest, and receive mentorship from professionals. The research areas you can work in include Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Along with research, the program features field trips, weekly seminars, and discussions. Selection is highly competitive and based on factors such as SAT scores, academic performance, and teacher recommendations. 

9. Santa Clara University Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)

Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: SES Intro (Year-One) sessions: July 13-17; SES Advanced (Year-Two, returning participants): July 27-31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students finishing the sophomore or junior year of high school by July 1 

The Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) is a 5-day summer program hosted by the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University for high school students interested in exploring engineering. Through faculty-led lectures and hands-on projects, you will be introduced to various engineering disciplines. The program includes workshops, collaborative work, and field trips where you build connections with like-minded peers. You’ll also experience college life, explore what studying engineering in college would look like, and interact with engineering students and faculty. 

10. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs

Location: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free (housing, meals provided, but travel excluded); students receive a stipend after successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 20–August 1 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified (previous year deadlines have been in March)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders; students from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin are eligible to apply

The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research is a summer program designed for students interested in exploring STEMM fields. The program allows you to explore and gain practical experience in various subjects such as artificial intelligence, physics, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, and electrical engineering. There are three different research groups, with the Grainger Engineering Young Scholars program focusing on research work across multiple engineering disciplines. Within your research group, you will work closely with researchers on your own research project while receiving mentorship and guidance. Students will also receive guidance on college admissions, professional development, and scientific communication through workshops and interaction with faculty members and students. At the end of the program, you will get an opportunity to present your research at a poster symposium. 

11. Science and Engineering Apprentice Program

Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; students are paid a stipend for participation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 weeks (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; Must be 16 years old by the internship start date; Must be a U.S. Citizen (some labs may allow permanent residents or dual citizens)

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives high school students an opportunity to participate in Naval research. You’ll learn about naval research and technology while working alongside scientists and engineers. You’ll work in a department of the Navy laboratory, and can apply to the specific labs you are interested in, such as oceanography, meteorology, marine biology, and engineering. Selection is competitive and based on teacher recommendations, academic performance, personal statements, and career interests. 

12. Engineering Summer Program (ESP)

Location: UW-Madison, Madison, WI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 – August 2
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; completed at least one year of algebra and geometry; Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); U.S. citizen or permanent resident

The Engineering Summer Program (ESP) is a three-week residential program for students interested in engineering. You’ll engage in STEM and engineering concepts through lectures, practical workshops, and industry visits while observing practicing engineers in action. You’ll study subjects like engineering design, physics, chemistry, and math by tackling problems, collaborative projects, and developing creative solutions. The program also includes professional development workshops, faculty-led discussions, and guidance on the college admission process. 

13. Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Must be in junior year of high school at time of applying; participate in the summer before senior year; Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; at least 16 years old by program start

The Simons Summer Research Program offers high school students to conduct research in science, mathematics, or engineering. In this program, you’ll learn how to conduct STEM-focused research, learn laboratory techniques, and work alongside researchers. You’ll be paired with a faculty member on a research topic based on your interest and will produce a research abstract to present for a poster symposium at the end of the program. The program also includes faculty research talks, workshops, tours, and events. 

14. Beaver Works Summer Institute @ MIT

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free for students with family income less than $120,000; $2,350 for others
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (11th grade)

The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a STEM-focused program for rising high school seniors. The program focuses on hands-on learning and skill development through project-based and workshop-style courses. You can explore subjects such as robotics, autonomy, hardware, AI & machine learning, security, wearable tech, quantum computing, data science & sensors. You will gain practical experience working on projects such as building robotic software, creating wearable devices, designing custom silicon chips, and programming medical AI models. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work beside faculty members and like-minded peers, helping you to build collaborative, critical thinking, and technical skills.

15. Northeastern Young Scholars Program (YSP)

Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 30
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: US citizens or permanent residents; open to permanent Massachusetts residents who have completed their junior year of high school (rising seniors); living/attending school in MA, and living within commuting distance of Northeastern University 

The Young Scholars Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct research in engineering. You’ll work in research laboratories across focused areas such as engineering, science, and health science. Past students have worked on projects such as simulating particle behavior, designing model compression for programmable chips, improving batteries for remote energy needs, and developing cancer treatments to overcome drug resistance. You’ll have the opportunity to explore various engineering disciplines, industry visits, and gain insight into the college application process.

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