15 Pre-College Summer Engineering Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in engineering, pre-college summer programs can be one of the best ways to explore the field. These programs allow you to build practical skills like coding, prototyping, or CAD design, often while working in professional-grade labs. These programs bridge the gap between the classroom and industry through guest speakers or site visits, helping you see what engineers do every day.
Why should I participate in an engineering pre-college program in high school?
In addition to technical skill development, pre-college summer engineering programs for high school students give you valuable connections, allowing you to learn from university faculty or working professionals. Many top universities offer scholarships, making pre-college programs an accessible way to explore your interests. A pre-college program can also help you stand out in the college admissions process by showing that you can excel in advanced engineering courses.
With so many options available, choosing the right program can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve narrowed things down to the 15 best summer pre-college engineering programs for high school students.
1. MIT – Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $75 non-refundable application fee that can be waived
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 5% acceptance; ~100 students per cohort
Dates: Late June–early August
Application Deadline: Typically December
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 16 years old by the start of the program, are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; additional requirements can be seen here
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a highly selective, research-intensive program that introduces you to the full cycle of scientific and engineering research. You begin with a week of advanced seminars in fields such as engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer science, taught by leading researchers. This is followed by a five-week individual research internship in a university or laboratory setting, where students work closely with experienced mentors on original research projects. Engineering-focused work may involve computational modeling, experimental design, systems analysis, or applied engineering research, depending on placement. You’ll conclude the program by producing a formal research paper and delivering a conference-style oral presentation evaluated by an external panel.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25% acceptance; 70–100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program is a selective, eight-week virtual experience where you work directly with high-growth startups and nonprofits on real-world projects. You can explore diverse fields such as AI, finance, health tech, and environmental science, tailoring the experience to your specific career interests. During the program, you will define project deliverables, build tangible products like prototypes or market reports, and deliver a final presentation to company leaders. What makes this unique is the dual mentorship you receive from both a startup manager and a dedicated personal coach in a fully remote environment. This structured pathway helps you build a valuable professional network while gaining experience that stands out on college applications. Apply now!
3. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost except for the $25 application fee / $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12 students per cohort
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; must be at least 17 years old by program start; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program allows high school students to conduct faculty-mentored engineering and STEM research at Texas Tech University. Engineering-relevant research areas include electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, and applied bioimaging, depending on faculty availability. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors on an original research project, gaining experience in experimental design, data analysis, and technical problem-solving. The program emphasizes independent research, weekly seminars, and structured academic engagement rather than classroom-based instruction. Scholars are expected to complete a formal research project report by the end of the program.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, 1:1 mentor-student ratio
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring, ranging from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (accepted students typically maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students that offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas, such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper, and you will also become eligible to earn a UCSD Extended Studies credit. You can find more details about the application here.
5. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 60 students, roughly
Dates: 6-week residential program in late June–early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Summer is a six-week pre-college program at MIT that prepares high-achieving students for rigorous STEM and engineering study. You’ll complete an intensive academic curriculum that includes advanced math, physics, life sciences, humanities, and a project-based STEM elective such as engineering design, machine learning, electronics, genomics, or architecture. The program emphasizes both technical depth and academic readiness, with midterms, finals, and substantial project work comparable to a condensed college semester. Participants also engage in lab tours, seminars with STEM professionals, and structured college admissions guidance. MITES is particularly well known as a pipeline program for students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds who show strong potential in science and engineering.
6. MIT – Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (mix of in-person and virtual courses)
Cost: $2,350 for participants from families with a family income of $150,000 or greater (the course is free for participants with a family income of less than $150,000)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, 30–40 students per cohort
Dates: July 6–August 2 (online prerequisite courses to be completed between February 2 – June 19
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students in grades 9–11; check here for course-specific prerequisites
The Beaver Works Summer Institute is an intensive, four-week, project-based engineering program hosted at MIT and designed for students preparing for advanced STEM study. Admission requires completion of a rigorous online prerequisite course, which is used to assess your technical readiness. Summer courses span highly specialized engineering domains like autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, microelectronics, quantum software, remote sensing, and aerospace systems. You’ll work in teams on open-ended engineering challenges, using professional-grade tools such as Python, simulation environments, hardware kits, sensors, and version control workflows. Many courses culminate in complex system builds, competitive challenges, or capstone demonstrations that are evaluated by instructors and mentors.
7. Harvard Pre-College Program
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee; limited need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; courses typically enroll ~15 students per class
Dates: Session I: June 21 – July 2; Session II: July 5–17; Session III: July 19–31
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by program start
Harvard’s Pre-College Program allows you to enroll in a non-credit, college-level course within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) track while living on campus for two weeks. Engineering-relevant offerings may include computer science, physics, applied mathematics, or interdisciplinary technology-focused courses, depending on the session. Coursework emphasizes conceptual understanding, analytical thinking, and structured problem-solving rather than rote instruction. Classes are taught in small seminar-style formats, enabling close interaction with instructors who are active scholars in their fields. Outside of class, you participate in co-curricular activities that mirror college life and encourage peer collaboration.
8. Summer@Brown
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: Paid program; tuition varies by course length and format, details here; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 15–18 students per course on average
Dates: 1, 2, 3, and 5-week courses between June 15 and July 24; course dates vary by subject and format
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12; ages 14–18 by the program start
Summer@Brown allows you to enroll in non-credit, college-level engineering and technology courses taught through Brown University’s open curriculum framework. Engineering-relevant offerings span areas such as computer science, engineering design, renewable energy systems, biomedical engineering, CAD and 3D printing, and applied physics, depending on the session. Courses emphasize analytical reasoning, systems thinking, and applied problem-solving through structured assignments and hands-on projects. You spend several hours daily in class, supplemented by independent or collaborative work that mirrors undergraduate expectations. Select courses incorporate design challenges, software tools, or experimental demonstrations, offering practical exposure to engineering workflows. The program is well-suited for students seeking academic rigor and early familiarity with how engineering is taught at the college level.
9. UPenn Engineering Summer Academy – Computer Science
Location: University of Pennsylvania Campus, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,250; limited financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10–15%; roughly 30–35 students per cohort
Dates: July 12–31
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores to seniors who are at least 15 years old by the program’s start, have completed 9th grade, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA, or equivalent
In the Penn Engineering Summer Academy, you’ll learn directly from university faculty alongside a global student cohort and earn official college credit. Throughout this three-week experience, you will use Python to build complex systems and complete tasks like modeling data and designing recursive algorithms. The curriculum dives deep into the technical logic of computing, covering discrete probability, data analysis, and graph theory to show how machine language becomes software. By bridging the gap between basic coding and advanced computational theory, the program offers a rigorous, hands-on path to understanding the mechanics of the digital world.
10. Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Summer Session
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Residential 2 Courses: $14, 688; Commuter 1 Course: $7,409; Commuter: 2 Courses: $11,308; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 300–400 students across 30 different course subjects
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors; must be at least 16 years old by program start
Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Summer Session allows you to enroll in actual undergraduate engineering, computer science, and technology courses for college credit while studying on campus. Courses are identical to those taken by CMU undergraduates and are taught by faculty approved by their academic departments, with expectations aligned to first- or second-year university coursework. Engineering-relevant options may include foundational CS, engineering sciences, applied mathematics, or technology-focused interdisciplinary courses, depending on availability. Residential students complete two courses over six weeks, a workload comparable to a full-time undergraduate semester compressed into a short term. The program emphasizes sustained problem-solving, analytical reasoning, and independent academic responsibility rather than guided enrichment.
11. Dartmouth Precollege Summer Scholars
Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Cost: $4,999 – $8,299, depending on course and session; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 165–200 students in total over three sessions
Dates: Two 2-week courses between July 12 and August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until courses fill
Eligibility: High school students; specific grade or prerequisite requirements vary by course
Dartmouth Precollege Summer Scholars allows you to take intensive, college-level engineering courses taught on campus in a structured pre-college environment. Engineering offerings span applied and interdisciplinary areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, clean energy technologies, fabrication, prototyping, and design thinking, depending on the session. Courses emphasize practical problem-solving through hands-on projects, design challenges, and applied analysis rather than exam-driven instruction. Several offerings focus on real-world engineering workflows, including prototyping methods, computational tools, and systems-level thinking. Instruction is delivered in small classes that encourage discussion, collaboration, and iterative project work.
12. USC Pre-College Programs – Discover Engineering
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential domestic: ~$11,570; Commuter domestic: ~$8,130; International, excluding fees paid to the U.S. government: ~$12,208 + $85 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 20–25 students per class
Dates: June 22 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 13 (international); May 8 (domestic)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 9; international applicant eligibility applies
USC’s Discover Engineering is a four-week, credit-bearing pre-college program that introduces you to multiple engineering disciplines through structured lectures and applied design work. The curriculum rotates through fields such as civil, environmental, biomedical, electrical, aerospace, chemical, and mechanical engineering as well as computer science and robotics. You work in teams to design, build, test, and iterate engineering solutions using simulation tools, real-world materials, 3D printers, sensors, Arduino-based systems, and basic AI applications. Coursework emphasizes the engineering design process, computational thinking, and research skills, including producing a technical research paper. Weekly modules culminate in hands-on projects such as rocket launches, robot programming, bridge design, and circuit construction.
13. Tufts Pre-College Engineering & Computer Science Programs
Location: Tufts University (residential or commuter options available)
Cost: Residential: $5,950; Commuter: $4,425; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 15–20 students
Dates: Session 1: July 5–17; Session 2: July 19–31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students; grade level and prerequisites vary by program
Tufts Pre-College Engineering & Computer Science Programs allow you to explore engineering through coursework, design challenges, and applied computing projects in a university setting. Options include short summer intensives focused on robotics, AI, and engineering design, as well as pathways that let high-achieving students enroll in select undergraduate engineering or computer science courses for college credit. Instruction emphasizes building, testing, and refining solutions using engineering design principles, computational thinking, and ethical problem-solving. You’ll work in small groups with close faculty interaction and access to Tufts’ engineering labs and maker spaces. Depending on the track, you may develop a project portfolio or earn an official transcript reflecting undergraduate-level coursework.
14. Yale Summer Session (Pre-College Students)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT (in-person and online options available)
Cost: $5,480 per 1-credit course; more details here; financial assistance is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically, 10–12 students per class
Dates: Session A: May 25 – June 26; Session B: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school juniors (entering senior year) and graduating seniors; must be at least 16 years old by the program start date
Yale Summer Session allows academically strong high school students to enroll directly in Yale undergraduate courses alongside college students, completing college-level work held to the same academic standards. You may select engineering-adjacent courses in areas such as computer science, data science, applied sciences, and laboratory-based STEM subjects, depending on course availability. Pre-college students can earn Yale credit while experiencing residential college life and engaging with Yale faculty. The program offers a rigorous introduction to university-level academics and independent learning while living on campus.
15. Columbia Engineering SHAPE (Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers)
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY (commuter and residential options available)
Cost: Commuter: $5,880 per session; Residential: $10,705 per session; full need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited seats per course and session
Dates: Session 1: July 6–24; Session 2: July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates; residential option limited to U.S.-based students aged 16+
Columbia Engineering’s SHAPE is a selective, three-week pre-college engineering program offering immersive, project-based courses taught by Columbia faculty. Students focus on a single engineering discipline per session, such as robotics, biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, or sustainable engineering, working in labs and the Columbia Makerspace. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on design, prototyping, and problem-solving rather than lecture-only instruction. In addition to core coursework, you’ll participate in electives, professional development workshops, and college preparation sessions supported by Columbia undergraduates.
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