Engineering Summer Programs
What you do with your summer matters a lot for college strategy. If you’re aiming for the ivies, the summer isn’t a time for rest. It’s a time to get research opportunities, push ahead in your sport or academic subject of choice, get into prestigious programs that you can add to your resume, and more. This is my resource to help you find the right summer programs and get into the college of your dreams.
Keep in mind, there are plenty of local programs that can be really amazing. I list the big ones here, but feel free to send me any local camps, courses, etc. that you think sound cool! I’ll look it over and let you know if it seems worthwhile.
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Some of the Best
Summer Engineering Exploration Camp (SEE)
Age Range: Rising 10th and 11th graders
Location: University of Michigan
When: July
Cost: $650
Deadline to Apply: March 1.
SEE Camp is a one-week camp focusing on design challenges and hands-on engineering. Students also get a tour of the campus, and will work with the Society of Women Engineers (though the program is open to boys and girls).
Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT
Age Range: only Juniors may apply
Location: MIT (Cambridge, MA)
When: June-August
Cost: Free
Deadline to Apply: Dec 11, 2024
RSI hosts students for math and science. It is perhaps the most respected summer program for science research, and it will nearly guarantee admission to ivies and MIT. You’ll start with some lectures and then focus your remaining weeks on research. By the end, you should have completed research, a paper, and an oral presentation.
Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
Age Range: Juniors
Location: Boston University (Massachusetts)
When: June-August
Cost: ~$6000 commuter, $9000 residential
Deadline to Apply: February 14.
For RISE, you’ll apply to a particular research discipline and participate in existing research in that track.
Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE)
Age Range: 11th grade
Location: MIT: Massachusetts
When: July. (2 weeks)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: January 8.
At LLRISE, you will work in groups to build a Doppler and range radar. This one is more specific than other summer programs, but if it’s your current area of interest, then go for it!
California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
Age Range: Grades 8-12
Locations: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz
When: July to August. (4 weeks)
Cost: $5,256
Deadline to Apply: February 7.
COSMOS is for students interested in science, engineering, and math. You’ll take courses in your chosen topics and work with other students on group projects and learning.
Engineering Science and Technology to Energize and Expand Young Minds (ESTEEM)
Age Range: 11th grade
Location: University of Maryland
When: July to August. (4 weeks)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: End of April.
The ESTEEM (Engineering Science and Technology to Energize and Expand Young Minds) and the Summer Engineering Research (SER)-Quest is a program focused on research in which you will conduct your own research and create a full research project.
National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Engineering Summer Program
Age Range: Grades 6-12. (Middle school and High school options!)
Location: Several.
When: Varies by location. (9-10 days)
Cost: ~$4000-$6000
Deadline to Apply: Mid-March, but submit early to take advantage of rolling admissions!
NSLC for Engineering has several options and locations. NSLC also offers tons of programs in many other fields. Check out this link to learn more about their other offerings. In addition to time spent learning and creating projects, you’ll take some tours of wherever you end up.
The Clark Scholars Program
Age Range: 17+ by the program’s start date
Location: Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
When: June-August. (7 weeks)
Cost: Free with a stipend
Deadline to Apply: mid-February
Clark Scholars will give you hands-on research experience. They release a list of research disciplines each year that you can choose from. Within that area, you’ll have some freedom to choose your own research topic. They are not specific to engineering, but they are very prestigious and a great addition to your resume if you can get in.
CURIE Academy
Age Range: 10th and 11th grades (Rising Juniors & Seniors)
Location: Cornell University
When: July. (1 week)
Cost: $1900
Deadline to Apply: mid-February
At CURIE Academy, you’ll attend classes for a week and present a research project by the end. All of these programs are intense, but the shorter time frame can make this one feel more so! CURIE Academy specializes in biomedical research and life sciences, particularly cancer research.
CATALYST Academy
Age Range: 10th and 11th grades (Rising Juniors & Seniors)
Location: Cornell University
When: July. (1 week)
Cost: $1900
Deadline to Apply: mid-February
At CATALYST Academy, you’ll attend classes for a week and present a research project by the end. It’s very similar in structure to CURIE Academy, but it’s more broadly STEM-based.
Simons Summer Research Program
Age Range: Juniors, 16+
Location: Stony Brook University (New York)
When: July-August
Cost: Free
Deadline to Apply: February
For Simons, you need to be nominated by your high school. You’ll want to express interest in this program in your Sophomore year or high school and reiterate your interest early in your Junior year. In Simons, you will come up with your own research question, and you will be paired with a research mentor who can help guide you. I can help you come up with your research question.
Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Age Range: 9th grade and up, 16+ by the start of the program
Location: Multiple locations
When: Varies by location
Cost: Free with a ~$4000 bi-weekly stipend
Deadline to Apply: November 1, 2025
SEAP is run by the Department of the Navy. If selected, they will place you in a DoN laboratory.
High School Honors Science, Math, and Engineering Program (HSHSP)
Age Range: Juniors
Location: Michigan State University
When: June-August. (7 weeks)
Cost: ~$4000
Deadline to Apply: early March
HSHSP is long-standing and interested in helping you foster a depth of interest in your favorite area of STEM. You’ll conduct research with peers and faculty.
Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP)
Age Range: 15+ (post 9th grade)
Location: University of Pennsylvania
When: July. (3 weeks)
Cost: ~$8500
Deadline to Apply: March 1.
At ESAP you will attend some courses, gain hands-on experience, and earn college credit. They have courses in nanotechnology and robotics.
Engineering Summer Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Age Range: Rising Juniors & Seniors (with a virtual option for rising Freshmen & Sophomores)
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison
When: June-August. (3 weeks)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: March.
At ESP, you will attend courses and have a social schedule. It’s more of an introduction to what an engineering major could look like, but it’s not as huge on deliverables. Still, it’s free. So, if you can get in…go for it!
The Engineering Place
Age Range: Rising Juniors & Seniors (with day camp options for Kindergarten through rising Sophomores)
Location: North Carolina State University
When: June-July. (Three 1-week sessions)
Cost: $1500
Deadline to Apply: March.
At the Engineering Place, you’ll get solid hands-on opportunities. If you’re a rising Junior or Senior, start your search here. If you’re younger, start your search here. There are many course offerings available across a few weeks of programming.
Michigan State University Engineering Summer Programs
Age Range: Rising Juniors & Seniors (rising Sophomores also accepted for one program)
Location: Michigan State University
When: June or July, depending on the program. (1 week)
Cost: $1099-$1199, depending on the program.
Deadline to Apply: June.
At MSU, you will gain hands-on experiences. Start your search here. There are two options: High School Engineering Institute and Making a Game of It. The first is engineering focused. The second is coding and computer science focused. There are also other options for other ages that you can explore on the same page! They also offer Spartan LEGO Robotics for grades 4-7, found under Programs on this page.
Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
Age range: 11th grade for MITES Summer or Semester. 7th-10th grade for MITES Saturdays.
Location: MIT: Massachusetts
When: Late June through Early August. (6 weeks)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: February 1.
MITES will provide five courses in math, science, and humanities. You’ll get to tour labs and attend social events. They offer a summer program and a semester program. They will accept non-minorities, but they do focus on minority admissions and underserved communities.
Pre-College Programs
Many elite universities offer summer programs in various fields. Their programs can be attended by younger and older students, and they have a lot to offer students with varied interests.
Many people will tell you that these programs are kind of just “pay-to-play” programs, meaning that if you have the money, you get to attend the program. But other colleges know that it’s “just a sign of wealth” and not really beneficial on your College Resume. To an extent, I agree with that sentiment. Many of these programs will just offer a short course and no real deliverables, meaning you’ll walk out with some notes and a handshake…and not much else. That’s not worth the money, in my mind.
So, I’m always looking to see what you really walk away with. Sure, these programs can be expensive. But, if you walk out with a written research paper, an established relationship with a grad student or professor, a fully built prototype for an engineering build…then I think it’s worth it. Pay the money (or fill out their scholarship applications!).
Furthermore, the very, very expensive summer programs often come with college credit. Always check for that! College credit can be a great addition to the College Resume, if you have the funds for it. But still, really look for the deliverables more than just the credits.
Brown Pre-College Programs
Age Range: Rising 9th through 12th graders
Location: Brown University
When: June-July. (1-6 weeks, depending on the program)
Cost: ~$2800-$6000
Deadline to Apply: Rolling Admissions open January 15 & close May 9.
As usual, Brown has many offerings. Start your search here. There are a lot of targeted programs for different fields of engineering, and there are options for in-person, hybrid, and online attendance.
Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs
Age Range: Rising Juniors & Seniors (with some possibility for rising Sophomores)
Location: Johns Hopkins University
When: June-August. (Most programs 4-5 weeks)
Cost: ~$9000-$9400 (residential). $3825 (commuter or fully online).
Deadline to Apply: February 14 (early deadline). May 28 (final deadline).
EI has great engineering-specific options and solid deliverables. It also offers college credit and online options. Start your search here.
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
Age Range: 16-18 by July 20
Location: Yale University
When: June-August. (Three 2-week sessions)
Cost: $6500
Deadline to Apply: October 20 (early deadline). January 10 (regular deadline).
YYGS is widely recognized as prestigious, making me feel it’s on the “worth it” side of pre-college summer programs. They have a course in technology and three other courses in other fields. They also have multiple sessions throughout the summer.
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Age Range: Grades 8-11
Location: Stanford University
When: June-July. (Two 2-week sessions)
Cost: $3050
Deadline to Apply: End of March
Stanford has some decent introductory courses for engineering, but they’re not as in depth. The cool thing is you can enroll in many of these courses at younger ages, so you can start building your resume early when it’s time for basics and intro classes, and then you’ll be a more attractive candidate when it’s time to apply to the more competitive summer programs in a few years!
Harvard Pre-College Programs
Age Range: 16+ by July 21
Location: Harvard University
When: June-August. (Three 2-week session options)
Cost: $5800
Deadline to Apply: January 8 (early deadline). February 12 (regular deadline). April 9 (late deadline).
Harvard has fewer engineering-specific courses in their pre-college programs, but they have plenty of math, computer science, and other sciences. Look around to see if anything supports your interests within engineering.
Location- or Gender-Restricted Programs
Some programs will have steeper restrictions, either focusing only on one gender or offering their programs exclusively to students in a particular geographical area. These programs are more restrictive, but if you fit their demographic restrictions, definitely apply! They’re great programs.
MSOE Women in Engineering
Age Range: 10th - 12th grade.
Location: Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wisconsin)
When: June. (1 week)
Cost: $950
Deadline to Apply: No application. You can simply register. But do so early!
The Women in Engineering program is only open to girls. You don’t have to apply, you can just register and pay. But, you should register for next year’s programs this summer! Try to get in by August so you can get the course you want. They do have several courses offered and a few options for dates. They offer programs in many fields within engineering.
MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
Age Range: 11th grade
Location: MIT: Massachusetts
When: Late June to July. (4 weeks)
Cost: Varies by family income. (Free or up to $15,000)
Deadline to Apply: January 15.
WTP is only for girls. It is focused on on engineering, but it is aimed at girls who don’t have a background in engineering (or very little experience with it). So, if you’re late to the college strategy game and you don’t have enough on your resume yet, that could help you get in here.
Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program
Age Range: 16+ by start of program. Must attend a New Jersey high school.
Location: Princeton University (New Jersey)
When: Varies, but mostly June-August. (Usually 5+ weeks)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: March 14
The LLP is location-specific, but it pairs you with real research. It functions more like an internship, and you get solid experience in the field, which is ideal for a summer program!
ARISE NYU
Age Range: 10th or 11th grade. Must reside in NYC.
Location: NYU Campus
When: June-August. (4 weeks remote work then 6 weeks of in person labs)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: March 6.
To attend this program, you must reside in one of the boroughs of NYC. At ARISE, you get to work in a lab and make meaningful contributions to their objectives. You’ll also learn a lot through workshops, talks, and remote seminars before the program officially starts.
Young Scholars Summer STEMM Worldwide Research Program
Age Range: Rising 10th - 12th graders. Must reside in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin.
Location: UIUC (Illinois)
When: June-August. (6 weeks)
Cost: Free.
Deadline to Apply: February
These STEMM Research Programs include a variety of options, topics, and and other UIUC offerings. You will conduct research in a small group from you school, but you’ll do it alongside much bigger groups researching cancer, AI, Quantum mechanics, and many other options.
Just Courses
World Scholars Academy Summer Engineering Programs
Age Range: 12-18 years
Location: Online
When: July (2 weeks)
Cost: $2795
Deadline to Apply: No need to apply. You can simply register!
World Scholars Academy offers several courses in engineering and many other topics. Start your search through these offerings here. They also offer internships in which you will coauthor an original research paper. Learn more about their internships here. The internships are only available for ages 15-18. You can also enroll in these internships without applying!