Top 14 Summer Programs in Mechanical Engineering for High School Students

If you’re a high school student interested in mechanical engineering, summer programs can be a great way to start exploring the field. These programs offer hands-on projects, introduce the basics of design and engineering, and show how mechanical systems power the world around us. Participating in a summer program can also help you stand out when you’re applying to college, especially if you’re applying to colleges that are competitive for mechanical engineering. 

Many of these programs are hosted by leading universities and STEM organizations, giving you the opportunity to learn from professors and industry professionals. Several also offer virtual or hybrid formats, making them accessible no matter where you are. To help you choose, we've narrowed down the top 14 mechanical engineering summer programs for high school students, including both in-person and online opportunities.

14 Mechanical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students

1. Women’s Technology Program (WTP)  -  Track for Mechanical Engineering, MIT

Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: No tuition and housing fee; Travel and other related expenses apply and are to be paid by students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20 students selected from ~320 applicants (highly selective)
Dates: June 28  -  July 26
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: Rising senior high school students  who identify as female or gender marginalized; strong math/science background, but little prior engineering experience

The WTP program provides a residential experience spanning across 4 weeks related to mechanical engineering. You’ll attend academic classes, participate in lab sessions, and work on team-based projects as part of the engineering design process. The curriculum is developed and taught by MIT graduate students, with support from undergraduate assistants. WTP is structured as a full-time academic program rather than a summer camp or internship, and students are expected to commit to a rigorous schedule. While it does not offer academic credit or future admission to MIT, the program allows you to learn engineering, especially if you haven’t had prior opportunities to do so in school.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts
Dates: 8-12 weeks; Multiple sessions in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by session  -  Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to high school, gap year, and college students; must commit 10 - 20 hours per week

The Ladder Internship Program offers virtual, project-based internships to high school students where they will work directly with start-ups in sectors like technology, AI, healthcare, and consulting. Over 8 - 12 weeks, you’ll join a small group of peers and will be paired with a company based on your interests. You’ll contribute to real-world projects, receive mentorship from a company team member, and also get support from a Ladder Coach throughout the program. You’ll complete project work remotely and present your outcomes to the company by the end of the internship. This experience is designed to help you develop practical skills, build your portfolio, and gain early exposure to startup environments.

3. Exploring Mechanical Science and Engineering Camp (EAGER)  -  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost/Stipend: $1,000 (residential) or $600 (commuter) + $25 deposit; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; small cohort
Dates: July 20 - July 26
Application Deadline:  spring; notifications sent in May
Eligibility: High school students part of grades 10 - 12 as newly entered

Hosted by Grainer College of Engineering, the EAGER(Engineers Aiming for Gender Equity & Representation) camp gives students a week-long introduction to mechanical engineering through hands-on activities and real lab work. You will build and program robots taking inspiration from nature, create prosthetics, assemble 3D printers, and learn micro-manufacturing techniques useful in the semiconductor industry. The program supports students who come from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, though all eligible students in grades 10-12 are welcome to apply. In addition to lab-based projects, students make field trips to university labs and nearby research or manufacturing companies. The camp emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and learning by doing. This program is ideal if you’re looking to explore how mechanical engineering connects to real-world impact.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple Cohorts are scheduled depending on different months; Spring (March - June), Summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February)
Application Deadline: Varies on the cohort - Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Open to high school students with strong academic records; recommended GPA 3.3+; no prior experience in your chosen field required

The program allows high school students to interact with Ph.D. experts using a 1-on-1 mentoring model for an extensive 12-week independent research experience. Students can choose a topic in mechanical engineering, such as Civil & Environmental Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, and complete a formal research paper by the end. The program can be done remotely and helps students gain deep subject knowledge, research skills, and a strong portfolio.

5. UCLA Engineering Design Summer Institute

Location: UCLA campus (commuter program)
Cost/Stipend: Approx. $2,881 (includes program, registration, and administrative fees)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited cohort sizes
Dates: Session A: June 23 - July 11 | Session B: July 14 - August 1
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility:  Current 9th - 11th graders; must be at least 15 years old by June 23

This 3-week commuter program helps you to engage in hands-on engineering design projects while developing communication and teamwork skills. You’ll choose from tracks such as Go-Kart engineering (mechanical), microcontroller systems (electrical), or autonomous rovers (mechanical/electrical/computer science). The program includes technical instruction, team-based project work, and final presentations. You will learn various engineering disciplines and gain exposure to how real-world engineering projects are managed from design to execution.

6. TryEngineering Summer Institute

Location: Multiple University campuses in the U.S. (e.g., University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Rice University, University of San Diego)
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies by campus; the exact tuition fee is not publicly listed; it includes on-campus housing and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-enrollment; limited capacity per session
Dates: 9-day sessions during Summer (exact dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; enrollment open until sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 - 17

Over 9 days, you’ll explore multiple engineering disciplines, ranging from mechanical, civil, electrical, to aerospace, through design challenges and interactive lessons. You’ll work on progressively complex projects, collaborate with peers, and use a laptop that is loaned to support your learning. The program also includes tours of engineering firms and labs, helping you to understand how engineering impacts the world and its future growth prospects.

7. Anderson University Engineering Summer Institute

Location: Anderson University, Anderson, SC
Cost/Stipend: $60 total for all four sessions (materials and meals included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited capacity
Dates: June 13, June 20, July 11, July 25
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility:  Rising 9th graders through incoming college freshmen

You will be a part of one-day sessions that combine hands-on engineering activities with real-world industry insights. Each one-day session includes a visit to a local engineering company followed by an interactive workshop led by AU College of Engineering faculty. The program provides a low-cost opportunity to engage with STEM learning while exploring future academic and career prospects in engineering.

8. MITES Summer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free (students cover only transportation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Dates: Six weeks, late June through early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; current high school juniors

MITES Summer is a residential program that spans 6 weeks for high school juniors interested in learning STEM. Over six weeks, you'll take five challenging courses in physics, math, life sciences, humanities, and a hands-on elective like Machine Learning, Engineering Design, or Genomics. Beyond regular classes, you'll take part in lab tours, workshops, college admissions counseling, and community-building activities. The program aims to prepare you for top-tier colleges and STEM careers, especially if you’re from an underrepresented or underserved background. 

9. Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI)  -  Johns Hopkins University

Location: Multiple locations (e.g., Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore)
Cost/Stipend: Around $5,550(residential), Around $3,825(commuter); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30  -  July 25 (move-in day June 29; no class July 4)
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Rising juniors/seniors; must be 15 - 17 years old for residential option; must have As/Bs in math/science and completed Algebra II, trigonometry, and at least one lab-based chemistry or physics course

Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) is a four-week, college-level summer course for high school students interested in engineering. You will learn civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, and chemical engineering concepts using hands-on projects like building spaghetti bridges, designing electronic devices, and running a mini bioreactor. The curriculum is adapted from JHU’s first-year engineering course and requires a full-time commitment, where you should devote two hours of homework every night. Classes allow you to manage a real college workload and develop technical, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. You can participate either as a residential or commuter student, depending on your location and age eligibility.

10. (RISE) Research in Science & Engineering By Boston University

Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Varies on the basis of track and housing; financial aid available (no stipend)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Residential: June 29 - August 8 | Commuter: June 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: Opens in December
Eligibility: Current high school juniors(U.S. citizens or permanent residents)

RISE is a six-week intensive summer research program for high school juniors passionate about science and engineering. You’ll work 40 hours/week alongside BU faculty, graduate students, and postdocs on individual research projects in disciplines like mechanical engineering, electrical, computer engineering, and several other disciplines. You’ll gain technical and analytical skills and present your work at a Poster Symposium. All students participate in academic skill-building sessions and industry site visits. The program is designed to allow students to do real university-level research while developing their scientific thinking, presentation skills, and professional confidence.

11. Rutgers Honors Engineering eXperience (RHEx)

Location: Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (housing and meals included )
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - 27
Application Deadline: Early: February 23 (notifications April 1) Regular: April 26 (notifications May 9)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors

The RHEx program offers a comprehensive, one-week-long residential experience led by School of Engineering faculty. You will learn a new engineering discipline each day using daily themed sessions that focus on automata and motion design. You’ll work in teams to design and build your own automata inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, integrating principles of mechanics, motion, creativity, and storytelling. You will learn coding, sports motion analysis in electrical engineering, AI applications in chemical engineering, and making photovoltaic cells in materials science. The program ends with a symposium where you’ll present your project to family and faculty. You will do labs and gain mentorship from faculty and student leaders.

12. UTSA  -  Klesse College of Engineering Overview Camp

Location: University of Texas, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: $550 with provision for day camp ($250 with aid );  $750(Overnight with $450 of aid )
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 - 13
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising 9th - 12th graders

In this one-week camp, you’ll learn multiple engineering disciplines such as mechanical, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, and computer using hands-on challenges, interactive lectures, and tours to UTSA’s research facilities. The mechanical engineering modules will give you the opportunity to design, build, and test projects while applying key concepts like forces, motion, and material properties. You’ll work alongside UTSA engineering faculty, gain insights into college-level expectations, research opportunities, and career paths. Depending on your interests, you can either attend as a day camper or stay overnight in UTSA’s residence halls, where you’ll join in evening activities and become familiar with campus life. 

13. UTSA  -  Klesse College Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Summer Workshop

Location: University of Texas, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: $550 with day camp support ($100 of assistance );$750(overnight charges with additional $200 of assistance)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 - 20
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Students who are in 9th - 12th rising graders;3.0 GPA+

Backed by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration, this week-long workshop focuses on mechanical and electrical engineering using hands-on projects and demonstrations led by UTSA faculty and graduate students. You’ll work on piezoelectric energy harvesting, electronics fabrication, additive manufacturing (3D printing), robotics simulation, industrial sensing, and corrosion control for industry. Each day helps you to learn practical implementation along with technical proficiency, giving you the chance to design, build, and troubleshoot systems. The mechanical engineering components highlight materials, energy systems, and manufacturing processes, while the electrical engineering modules focus on circuits, sensors, and automation. You can participate as a day camper or stay overnight in the residence halls to become familiar with campus life. 

14. University of Arizona – Summer Engineering Academy

Location: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cost/Stipend: $350 (day); $750 (residential); scholarships available on a need basis
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple weeklong sessions in June and July (topics vary as per session)
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grade-level requirements vary by session)

 You will learn different engineering disciplines using interactive labs, field trips, and collaborative design challenges. Each weeklong session focuses on a specific theme, such as renewable energy, semiconductor technology, water systems, aerospace, or women in engineering. You’ll work in small teams to solve real-world problems, with the help of faculty, current engineering students, and industry professionals. Activities include prototyping, testing solutions, touring research facilities, and learning emerging technologies. Depending on your chosen session, you can attend as a day camper or stay in university residence halls to become familiar with campus life. With the right blend of technical skills, teamwork, and exposure to cutting-edge research, this program is designed to give you a clear view of what engineering is all about. 

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