15 Summer Civil Engineering Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in civil engineering, summer internships can be a worthwhile way to explore the field. Internships play an important role in helping high school students strengthen their academic profile, build an early resume, and gain exposure to professional work environments. Summer civil engineering internships for high school students allow you to observe workplace expectations, collaborate with mentors or peers, and understand how classroom concepts connect to real-world applications.
If you want to check out other summer programs, here’s a list of free leadership programs & here’s a list of some STEM-specific internships!
Why should I do a Civil Engineering Internship in High School?
For students interested in civil engineering, internships can offer valuable insight into how infrastructure projects are planned, designed, and managed across research environments, engineering firms, and university-led programs. Early exposure to internships can also help you to identify which areas of civil engineering align closely with your interests, including transportation, environmental systems, or structural design. Because programs vary widely in structure, depth, and focus, identifying the right opportunity can be challenging.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 summer civil engineering internships for high school students based on program credibility, learning exposure, and relevance to civil engineering.
Quick Look
15 programs total spanning structural design, transportation systems, environmental infrastructure, and general engineering exploration, hosted by institutions including Johns Hopkins, MIT, Columbia, and Purdue
Costs vary widely, from fully free options like Santa Clara's Summer Engineering Seminar and MIT's MITES to premium programs like Columbia's SHAPE ($5,500) and TryEngineering Summer Institute (over $4,000)
Most programs introduce civil engineering as one of several disciplines rather than exclusively, including MSOE Explore, Santa Clara SES, and the University of Maryland's Women in Engineering program, which all rotate students through multiple engineering fields
Grainger's City Designers and Builders Camp and Purdue's Developing Tomorrow's Infrastructure are the two most narrowly focused programs specifically on civil and infrastructure engineering rather than general engineering exposure
Ladder Internships and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program are the only fully remote options on this list, letting you explore civil engineering-adjacent topics like infrastructure planning or urban development research from anywhere
1. Johns Hopkins University Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI)
Location: Various colleges in Baltimore, MD; a virtual option is available
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee; $3,575 tuition fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 1 - 26
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Current high school students between the ages of 15 and 17 years
The Engineering Exploration Institute (EEI) at Johns Hopkins University places students in a structured summer program where they explore foundational civil engineering concepts alongside faculty and peers. You participate in modules covering topics such as structural analysis, materials behavior, transportation systems, and environmental infrastructure, delivered using guided activities and problem-solving challenges. The curriculum includes lectures, lab sessions, and project work that demonstrate how civil engineers address infrastructure needs and technical constraints. You work with common engineering tools, apply data interpretation techniques, and follow design principles common to the discipline. Throughout the program, faculty mentors provide instruction and feedback as you complete assignments and team projects. At the end of the session, you present your work using a formal project presentation that reflects standard engineering communication practices.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
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, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a fully virtual internship program that places students with startup companies or organizations to complete a defined project over several weeks. If you are interested in civil engineering, you may be matched with projects related to infrastructure planning, construction technology, urban development, sustainability analysis, or data-driven modeling used in the built environment. Your responsibilities typically involve completing assigned deliverables, conducting research, or supporting design and planning tasks under the guidance of a company mentor. Projects are designed to deliver clearly defined outputs such as reports, analyses, or documentation that reflect your role in the organization’s workflow. Interns follow a structured weekly schedule commitment with regular check-ins from company mentors and additional oversight from a ladder coach. At the end of the program, you receive formal documentation from the host organization outlining your participation and contributions.
3. 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/Stipend: $4,095 ($4,295 for Columbia University); scholarships available to U.S. students on a need-basis
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 - 17 years
The TryEngineering Summer Institute civil engineering module introduces students to the civil engineering fundamentals of how civil engineers design and analyze infrastructure such as bridges, buildings, water systems, and transportation networks. During this part of the program, you participate in activities such as the bridge engineering challenge, where you apply key concepts of structural design and materials to build a bridge that can meet load criteria while working with a team of professionals. The curriculum also includes a design thinking challenge that guides you through the process of problem identification, brainstorming solutions, prototyping, and presenting your ideas to peers and engineering professionals. These activities help you demonstrate principles of load distribution, materials behavior, foundations, and collaboration. The program is hosted on university campuses and combines project work with peer interaction, exposure to engineering work, and guidance from instructors.
4. National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Engineering Summer Program
Location: Several locations across the US
Cost/Stipend: $4,095 - $5,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 9 - 12 days in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The NSLC on Engineering summer program allows students to explore foundational engineering concepts, including civil engineering aspects related to infrastructure, sustainable systems, and structural problem-solving, alongside other core disciplines such as mechanical and electrical engineering. Over a 9- to 12-day residential experience, you participate in design challenges, prototype development, and workshops that demonstrate how engineers address complex problems using science, mathematics, and creative thinking. The program takes place on university campuses where you live in supervised dormitories and engage in classroom sessions, field trips to engineering-related sites, and attend guest speaker events with professionals from the same field. Trips and tours linked to the program may involve visits to engineering departments, bridges, laboratories, and technology centers that explore how engineering principles are applied in various environments. NSLC also integrates a leadership curriculum into every session, offering workshops on communication, teamwork, and resilience alongside technical exploration.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including fall (September - December)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.0
Lumiere Education is a research mentorship program that allows students to pursue an independent academic research project under the guidance of a Ph.D.-level mentor. You work one-on-one with your mentor to develop a research question, conduct a literature review, and produce a written research paper over several weeks. The program follows a defined set of milestones, including topic selection, outlining, drafting, and revision, with regular mentor meetings throughout the process to provide feedback and guidance. All work is conducted online, allowing you to manage your research alongside other academic commitments. Your final output is a completed research paper that reflects your analysis, sources, and written work. At the conclusion of the program, you receive formal documentation confirming your participation and completion.
6. Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Explore Summer Programs
Location: Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI
Cost/Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance rate/cohort Size: Not specified; highly selective
Dates: Session 1: July 6 - 11| Session 2: July 27 - August 1
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
The MSOE Explore Summer Program includes focused exposure to civil engineering through half-day sessions that introduce students to how engineers plan, design, and manage infrastructure systems. During the civil engineering component, you participate in structured activities that demonstrate concepts related to construction methods, materials, and the built environment, using laboratory spaces and classroom instruction on the MSOE campus. You interact with faculty and current students who explain how civil engineering principles are applied in academic coursework and professional environments. The one-week residential program allows you to experience a college campus while rotating through multiple engineering disciplines. Civil engineering is presented alongside related fields such as architectural engineering and construction management, helping you understand how these areas intersect.
7. Grainger Engineering Summer Camps: City Designers and Builders Camp (CEE)
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (in-person; residential and commuter options)
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $1,000; commuter: $600; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 20 - 26
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders
The City Designers and Builders Camp is a weeklong, in-person program that examines how civil and environmental engineers manage infrastructure systems. The program is organized around guided projects and demonstrations that introduce structural design, construction methods, and environmental considerations. Program sessions emphasize collaborative work, with students completing design-oriented tasks in small groups. Throughout the week, you work through supervised activities and lab-based demonstrations that connect engineering concepts to real-world urban challenges. Instruction is complemented by field trips and applied exercises that show how engineering decisions impact communities. All activities take place in person and follow a fixed daily schedule. The camp is categorized as a 3-D session and aims at broadening participation in STEM fields.
8. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Introduction to Engineering
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $60 application fee plus $3,080; need-based financial aid and fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Session One: June 15 - 26 | session Two: July 6 - 17
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Grades 8 - 10 (at the time of application)
Stanford’s Introduction to Engineering course offers middle and early high school students a structured entry point into the engineering discipline through live, instructor-led online sessions. The program introduces core concepts from multiple engineering fields, including civil, biomedical, computer, and environmental engineering, allowing students to understand how different disciplines can be used to tackle current problems. Participants work collaboratively on design-based activities that emphasize problem framing, trade-offs, and ethical considerations. The course emphasizes the engineering design process, helping students understand how ideas move from concept to implementation. Interactive discussions and team-based projects form a core part of the learning experience. By the end of the program, students gain foundational exposure to engineering methods and a clear understanding of potential academic pathways within the field.
9. Bucknell University Engineering Camp
Location: Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (on campus)
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 (residential); $1,000 (commuter/day camp); financial aid available on a need-basis
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 21 - 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 7 - 11 by the start of the program
The Bucknell University Engineering Camp is a residential summer program that offers a full week on campus, providing an introduction to engineering concepts through structured academic sessions and laboratory activities. You attend daily classes led by faculty and staff that introduce core engineering principles using demonstrations, experiments, and problem-based activities. The program takes place in Bucknell’s academic buildings and labs, allowing you to work in facilities used by undergraduate engineering students. Alongside instructional time, you follow a scheduled routine that includes meals in campus dining facilities and supervised residence hall living. Activities are organized providing you with exposure on how engineering topics are studied and discussed in a university environment. Throughout the week, you interact with peers who share an interest in engineering and participate in group-based academic tasks, offering a realistic preview of undergraduate engineering study.
10. Santa Clara University Summer Engineering Seminar (SES)
Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Free (includes housing and three meals daily)
Acceptance rate/cohort Size: Highly competitive
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 the sophomore and junior years
The Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) at Santa Clara University offers a free, five-day on-campus experience for current high school sophomores and juniors interested in exploring engineering. Throughout the week, you engage with lectures, interactive workshops, and collaborative projects. During the program, you attend introductory workshops across multiple disciplines, including bioengineering, civil, sustainable and environmental engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering. You’ll work on hands-on engineering projects, interact with faculty and undergraduate students, and experience life on campus, including dorm living and recreational activities. SES provides an overview of academic expectations and engineering projects you may encounter in college, while highlighting the roles of engineers in societal and humanitarian efforts. If you are a returning participant, you will also attend an advanced session focused on a deeper exploration of specific engineering disciplines.
11. Michigan Tech Engineering Scholars Program (ESP)
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Fee-based; some pathway programs are offered at no costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 21- 26
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Grades 9 - 11
The Engineering Scholars Program (ESP) is a weeklong, in-person summer program hosted by Michigan Technological University that introduces high school students to a range of engineering disciplines. The program is organized around daily engineering sessions, group-based projects, and topic-focused presentations led by faculty and program staff. All activities take place on campus and follow a fixed, full-time format. During the week, you select two engineering fields to explore and spend dedicated time working through projects linked to those disciplines. Activities emphasize collaboration, with students working in teams to complete design challenges and problem-solving exercises. The schedule also includes sessions with engineering professionals who discuss their academic and career paths. Program activities are supplemented by organized group events and competitions that are integrated into the overall learning schedule.
12. Purdue University’s Summer College for High School Students: Developing Tomorrow’s Infrastructure
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Fee-based
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: One week during the summer
Application Deadline: Typically December - early February
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ years who have completed freshman year
Developing Tomorrow’s Infrastructure is a weeklong, in-person civil engineering program offered through Purdue University’s Summer College for High School Students. The program introduces core civil engineering concepts through a schedule of faculty-led sessions, campus activities, and collaborative projects. Activities take place entirely on campus and are organized as a short-format academic experience rather than a multi-week course. Throughout the week, you will explore how civil engineers approach infrastructure-related challenges by working through guided problem-solving activities and team-based exercises. The program includes visits to engineering facilities such as Hampton Hall and Bowen Laboratory, where faculty members discuss ongoing research and real-world applications. Instruction is paired with short projects and puzzles designed to illustrate engineering decision-making and design considerations.
13. Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) at Columbia University
Location: Columbia University, New York City
Cost/Stipend: $5,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 6 - 24 and July 27 - August 14
Application Deadline: December 15 (priority deadline) | March 26 (final deadline)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students and recent graduates
SHAPE is a pre-college summer engineering program by Columbia University faculty that offers college-level engineering coursework. The program runs in two separate three-week sessions, with the option to attend one or both, and is available in commuter and residential tracks. During each session, you enroll in a single engineering course and follow a fixed academic schedule centered on project-based learning. Coursework is supported by laboratories, makerspace activities, and faculty-led sessions designed around the chosen subject area. In addition to core classes, the program includes workshops, electives, and structured academic support provided by Columbia students. Instruction is delivered in an in-person classroom and lab setting and does not include online components. The program is designed as a non-credit academic experience rather than a survey or enrichment camp.
14. MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (in-person, residential)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
MITES Summer is a six-week, residential STEM program hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for rising high school seniors. The program is organized around intensive coursework in science and engineering, with classes taught by MIT-affiliated instructors and structured similarly to introductory college-level courses. Throughout the program, you follow a full-time academic schedule that includes lectures, problem-solving sessions, labs, and collaborative work periods. Coursework is complemented by longer-term projects that require sustained engagement across several weeks rather than short, isolated activities. Faculty, instructors, and program staff remain closely involved, supporting both academic work and residential programming. All instruction and activities take place in person, with no virtual or hybrid options.
15. Women in Engineering Summer Camp: University of Maryland
Location: University of Maryland, College Park (in-person, residential)
Cost/Stipend: $1,500; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 12 - 17
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students
The University of Maryland’s Women in Engineering (WIE) programs offer campus-based structured summer experiences that introduce students to a range of engineering disciplines. You participate in scheduled sessions that include lab visits, faculty-led discussions, and group projects designed to demonstrate how engineering concepts are studied and applied at the university level. Each program focuses on multiple engineering fields, with activities that rotate across departments and facilities within the engineering school. You also interact with current engineering students and staff who share insights on coursework, academic pathways, and campus life. Depending on grade level and session, programs are offered in both commuter and residential formats.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. Most of these programs introduce civil engineering alongside other disciplines rather than focusing on it exclusively. Are there any programs that focus specifically on civil engineering?
Yes, two stand out for their narrow focus. Grainger's City Designers and Builders Camp at the University of Illinois centers specifically on infrastructure systems, structural design, and construction methods. Purdue's Developing Tomorrow's Infrastructure program is similarly focused, with campus visits to engineering facilities like Bowen Laboratory that reinforce infrastructure-specific concepts. If you want broader exposure to see how civil engineering compares to other disciplines first, MSOE Explore, Santa Clara SES, and the University of Maryland's WIE program are better starting points.
2. I want a research-focused, independent experience rather than a structured campus program. Are there options for that?
Yes, Lumiere Research Scholar Program is the strongest option here, pairing you one-on-one with a PhD mentor to design and complete an independent research project. You can shape the topic around civil engineering-adjacent areas like infrastructure planning, sustainability, or urban systems. Ladder Internships is another option, matching you with startup projects that can touch on construction technology, urban development, or infrastructure-related data analysis.
3. Several programs are free, like MITES and Santa Clara's SES, while others cost thousands of dollars, like Columbia's SHAPE. What's the difference in what you get?
Free programs like MITES and Santa Clara SES tend to be shorter or more selective, and are funded specifically to reduce financial barriers for high-achieving students. Paid programs like Columbia's SHAPE and TryEngineering typically offer longer, more intensive coursework with access to specialized facilities like makerspaces and labs, along with a broader range of engineering electives. If cost is a barrier, prioritize applying to the free, highly selective options first, since most also offer strong mentorship despite the lack of tuition.