15 Chemical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in chemical engineering, summer programs can be a worthwhile way to explore the field in great detail. High school is an ideal time to move beyond the traditional chemistry classes and explore how chemical engineering principles can be applied to real-world industrial solutions and innovations.
What do chemical engineering summer programs include?
Chemical engineering summer programs for high school students bridge the gap between theoretical science and practical application, offering early exposure to careers in chemical engineering. These experiences go beyond the purpose of resume building, as they offer an opportunity to work in advanced labs, gain mentorship from experienced professionals, and collaborate with like-minded peers who share common academic interests. While some programs can be expensive, many leading universities offer fully funded or financial-aid-supported opportunities, making them accessible to motivated students.
If you’re interested in chemical engineering, materials science, biotechnology, energy systems, or related disciplines, you may benefit from participating in a chemical engineering summer program to determine whether this field aligns with your interests or not. Many programs offer certificates, project portfolios, or research exposure that can strengthen college applications and interviews.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 chemical engineering summer programs for high school students. This list was curated based on academic rigor, hands-on learning opportunities, faculty or professional involvement, and credibility of the hosting organization, with both in-person and virtual options included.
1. Lamar University Chemical Engineering Summer Camp
Location: Lamar University, Beaumont, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free (registration required)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited (approx. 20 - 30 students)
Dates: June 9 - 13 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Rolling (opens February; typically closes April 15)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The week-long residential camp offers an intensive introduction to the petrochemical and chemical engineering industries. You will experience core hands-on engineering concepts, such as mass and energy balances, using direct use of university laboratory equipment. The tour of a local industrial facility gives you a firsthand exposure to the operation of chemical plants. Faculty members and industry professionals lead team-based projects focused on solving real-world engineering problems. By the end of the week, you will have a clear idea about the available career options within the energy and chemical sectors.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote (you can work from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: 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); you can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week.
Ladder Internships offers a selective, remote internship program for high school students looking to gain professional experience. As an intern, you’ll work with a fast-growing start-up across a wide range of industries such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, medicine, mental health, consulting, and more. These companies are typically in the early stages of rapid growth, often backed by over a million dollars in funding. You’ll be paired with a company manager and receive guidance from a dedicated ladder coach as you contribute to impactful projects. By the end of the internship, you’ll showcase your work directly to the host company you’ve collaborated with.
3. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Various AFRL sites (e.g., Kirtland AFB, NM; Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Eglin AFB, FL)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded (stipend provided based on academic level)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Summer (8 - 10 weeks, typically starting late May/June)
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Students aged 16+ years; U.S. citizens only
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program places students directly in a professional research environment where they work alongside full-time scientists and engineers. You will contribute to cutting-edge research projects in areas such as aerospace systems, materials science, directed energy, and space vehicles. This is a paid internship where you are expected to deliver technical reports and, depending on the project requirements, present your research findings at the end of the summer. It is a mentorship-driven program that helps you gain specific technical skills and network with Department of Defense professionals. This is a great opportunity if you are seeking rigorous, government-level research experience.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Cost: Varies depending on the program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Program Dates: September - December
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students worldwide with a GPA of 3.3+
Founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, this program is suitable for students interested in medicine, public health, or biotech. Lumiere offers 1:1 research mentorship with a PhD-level scholar and allows you to work on independent research papers and learn how to conduct literature reviews, build research questions, and analyze medical datasets. You can explore specialized areas such as oncology, neuroscience, or epidemiology, depending on your interests. The final deliverable includes a full-length research paper reviewed by your mentor that you can submit to academic journals for potential publication.
5. South Dakota Mines Chemical Engineering Institute
Location: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City, SD
Cost/Stipend: ~$350 - $400 (lodging/meals are included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment (capped capacity)
Dates: Specific dates yet to be announced; typically 4 days
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising 8th - 12th graders
This camp is specifically aimed at simplifying the field of chemical engineering by emphasizing how raw materials are transformed into useful products. You will conduct experiments in university laboratories covering the processing of biofuels, water treatment, and renewable energy systems. The program often includes trips to local engineering companies or processing plants, offering insight into industry operations. You'll also get an insight into how chemistry, biology, and physics interact within faculty demonstrations.
6. UIUC WYSE CURIE Camp
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost/Stipend: ~$1,000 plus $25 deposit (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 27 - August 2
Application Deadline: Late April/Early May
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th grade girls
CURIE Camp is a residential engineering program specifically designed for high school girls with a strong aptitude for maths and science. You will choose a focus area, such as chemical and biomolecular engineering, and spend the week conducting lab research under the guidance of UIUC faculty and graduate mentors. The schedule balances intensive lab work with seminars on college admissions and engineering careers. You will complete a final project that applies the technical concepts learned during the week, and present your work to peers and families. The program aims to build a supportive community for women pursuing STEM fields.
7. Stanford Summer Institutes (Chemical and Environmental Engineering)
Location: Online (virtual classroom)
Cost/Stipend: ~$3,050 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 - 17
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: Grades 10 - 11
This rigorous online course explores chemical processes in natural systems and industrial applications. Core topics such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and reaction kinetics are taught through both live lectures and individual exercises. The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving in the context of environmental sustainability, with applications in water treatment and green energy. Students actively participate and contribute to discussions that challenge them to think creatively about using engineering solutions to solve ecological problems with a cohort of students from around the world under the guidance of Stanford instructors. It is a rigorous academic experience, preferred by students who want to enhance their theoretical knowledge before entering college.
8. University at Buffalo Chem-E Camp
Location: University at Buffalo (North Campus), Buffalo, NY
Cost/Stipend: ~$400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment (first-come, first-served)
Dates: To be decided
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students (juniors/seniors preferred)
Hosted by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, this non-residential camp introduces students to the discipline through a series of lectures and laboratory tours. During the camp, participants can perform daily experimentation to understand some of the core principles, such as distillation, heat transfer, and polymer science. Faculty-led sessions allow students diverse career pathways that chemical engineers may pursue across industries, including pharmaceuticals and processing materials. The program is designed to give students a sense of what the undergraduate engineering curriculum would be like at a major research university.
9. NC State Engineering Summer Programs (HS Residential)
Location: NC State University, Raleigh, NC
Cost/Stipend: ~$1,550 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Week 1: June 14 - 19; week 2 - 4: June/July
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
This residential camp places students in the college engineering experience by requiring them to select a specific engineering discipline. Those who select the chemical and biomolecular engineering track will spend time each day in university laboratories, addressing challenges related to biomanufacturing, energy, and materials science. You will live in campus dorms and work in teams to design and test engineering solutions. Additionally, the program includes sessions on college admissions and student life to facilitate your seamless transition from high school to a challenging undergraduate degree in engineering.
10. University of Arkansas Engineering Summer Academy
Location: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Cost/Stipend: ~$700 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: June 21 - 27
Application Deadline: Rolling (register by May/June)
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th graders
The Chemical Engineering Academy at the University of Arizona provides hands-on experience in the field through labs focused on separation processes, chemical reactions, and process safety. You will work in the facilities of the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering to conduct experiments that mirror industrial operations. Faculty instruction emphasizes the role of chemical engineers in sectors such as food production, medicine, and energy. The residential format gives you an insight into campus life while you collaborate with peers on a capstone design project. This program is ideal for students who want a hands-on, lab-intensive overview of the major.
11. NYU ARISE
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free plus ~$1,000 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (approx. 60 - 80 students)
Dates: June 1 - August 14
Application Deadline: To be decided
Eligibility: NYC residents completing 10th or 11th grade
ARISE is a seven-week intensive research program that places students in an NYU engineering lab under the mentorship of a graduate student or faculty mentor. You will work on an authentic research project in fields such as chemical engineering, bioengineering, and robotics. Your work will contribute to real ongoing scientific inquiry. Weekly workshops during the college preparation process will be focused on public speaking and scientific writing to assist you in your professional growth. By the end of the summer, you will present your findings at a formal colloquium attended by peers and faculty. This is a high-commitment program designed for students with a deep interest in STEM research.
12. Manhattan University Science & Engineering Camp
Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY
Cost/Stipend: ~$665 per week (varies depending on the registration date)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Chemical engineering week: July 6 - 9
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle and High School students
Manhattan University offers a modular summer camp, where each week focuses on different engineering disciplines. During the week of chemical engineering, you will engage in interactive modules on process design, materials properties, and sustainability engineering. The schedule combines classroom instruction with laboratory visits, where university faculty demonstrate how engineering principles are applied. You will also have lunch sessions with alumni providing insight into engineering careers and professional pathways. The flexible weekly format structure will enable students to focus only on subjects that really interest them.
13. Boston Leadership Institute Chemistry Research
Location: Waltham/Boston, MA (specific campus varies)
Cost/Stipend: ~$2,200+ (3-week program)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple sessions in June/July/August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This three-week research program offers college-level laboratory experience that can replace or supplement advanced high school chemistry coursework. You will be conducting sophisticated experiments in organic synthesis, spectroscopy, and analytical chemistry techniques normally introduced at the undergraduate level. The course goes beyond traditional textbooks, since you have to analyze data and troubleshoot the experimental procedures in a wet lab. You'll build a solid foundation in all areas of laboratory safety and protocols, setting you up well for university science courses. This is also a good choice if you want to build a portfolio showcasing practical lab skills.
14. UMD ESTEEM/SER-Quest
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free (application required)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 20 - August 14
Application Deadline: March 29
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders (current juniors)
Administered by the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering, ESTEEM/SER-Quest is an intensive, four-week research program hosted at the University of Maryland. You will be matched with a faculty mentor to work on an engineering research project, exposing you to the rigorous academic environment of UMD. In addition to laboratory work, the program includes seminars on engineering disciplines and college preparation. You will live on campus or commute, getting an entire glimpse of the undergraduate experience at the A. James Clark School of Engineering. This program will conclude with a research presentation, which will demonstrate your ability to conduct and communicate scientific work.
15. NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free (unpaid volunteer position)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; U.S. citizens only
The NIST SHIP provides an exceptional opportunity for students to volunteer in one of the nation's premier federal research laboratories. You will work full-time under the mentorship of a NIST scientist on a relevant research project spanning chemical engineering, materials science, and nanotechnology. The program, although unpaid, offers extensive professional experience with hands-on mentorship from government researchers. You will be required to commit full-time to participation throughout the course of the internship and will be expected to engage deeply in the scientific research process. This internship is well suited for students interested to pursue careers in research or public service in any of the STEM fields.
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