13 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Illinois
If you’re a high school student looking to learn more about the engineering field, consider participating in an engineering program. Whether it’s an academic program, an internship, or a camp, these engineering programs offer you the chance to gain experience in a complex field. Some programs offer you lab experiences, while others mix design challenges with teamwork and mentorship from industry professionals. It also gives you the chance to build your profile for future academic and professional opportunities.
The state of Illinois is home to some of the country’s top universities and research hubs, offering engineering programs throughout the year. From building bridges and robots to experimenting with clean energy and biomedical devices, the engineering programs in Illinois let you test out what being an engineer is really like. Both local and out-of-state students can participate in these programs and explore the state’s resources.
To help with your search, below is a list of 15 engineering programs for high school students in Illinois.
1. E-CADEMY
Location: Holy Angels Catholic School, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free (Chicago resident high school students receive a stipend via After School Matters)
Dates: Saturdays, October 4 - June 13
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (Chicago residents preferred)
Deadline: Not specified
E-CADEMY is a 32-week, in-person program in Chicago that gives middle and high school students exposure to engineering through the Project Lead The Way curriculum. You will work on design challenges, use industry-standard tools like CAD and 3D printing, and explore robotics, automation, and mobile app design. Beyond technical skills, the program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and portfolio building - helping you prepare for STEM degrees and future engineering careers. With field trips, mentorship from engineers, and stipend opportunities for Chicago high schoolers, it creates both learning and professional pathways.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Eligibility: High school students worldwide
Deadline: Varies by cohort; You can apply to the program here.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers structured programs designed to introduce high school students to artificial intelligence and engineering applications. Through the AI Scholars program, you will attend sessions covering AI fundamentals, machine learning, and data science, while completing projects that mirror real-world challenges. For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship pairs you with mentors from top universities to design and execute an independent AI project. Fellowship students also receive guidance from Veritas AI’s in-house publication team, with the chance to submit their work to high school research journals. It’s a great gateway to engineering and other STEM-related modules for motivated high school students.
3. Digital Scholars – Discovery Partners Institute
Location: 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 - August 1 (Weekdays, 9 AM - 1 PM)
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders and first-year college students (City Colleges of Chicago and Illinois institutions)
Deadline: Not specified
Digital Scholars is a no-cost, six-week summer program that helps high school juniors, seniors, and first-year college students build technical skills and explore careers in Chicago’s growing tech community. You can choose from tracks like data science, electrical and computer engineering, coding, iOS app design, or Swift programming. With daily classes and connections to industry mentors, the program is especially focused on supporting students historically underrepresented in STEM, including Black, Latine, female, gender-expansive, and first-generation students.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: 12-week sessions offered in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide
Deadline: Varies by session; check the official website for details
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an exceptional program that allows high school students to pursue in-depth research in engineering under the mentorship of PhD scholars from top universities. Students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering tracks design and execute independent research projects, gaining experience with engineering principles, computational modeling, and problem-solving. The program culminates in the submission of a research paper and provides exposure to professional research practices, preparing students for advanced studies in engineering.
5. Illinois Tech - Pre-Engineering Summer Programs
Location: Chicago, IL (Mies Campus & Rice Campus) or Online
Cost: Residential: $1,500-$3,000 (+ $100 application fee); Commuter: $500-$650 (+ $100 application fee); Virtual: $300-$375 (+ $100 application fee)
Dates: One, two, or four-week sessions; check the website for specific dates
Eligibility: Middle school: Rising 6th-8th graders (ages 11-13); High school: Rising 9th-12th graders (ages 14-17); Residential students must be at least 15 years old
Deadline: May 30
Illinois Tech’s Pre-Engineering Summer Programs give middle and high school students an introduction to engineering and STEM fields in a college environment. You will explore topics like coding, robotics, sustainability, and scientific research, while getting a taste of college life on Chicago’s tech-focused campus. Programs include classroom instruction, lab work, and team-based projects to spark curiosity and develop problem-solving skills, all guided by experienced instructors. Whether on campus or online, students gain a deeper understanding of engineering principles and STEM applications.
6. Engineering Bridge Program - City Colleges of Chicago
Location: City Colleges of Chicago, Wright College, IL
Cost: Free; students are paid for participation
Dates: Summer (exact dates not listed)
Eligibility: High school seniors (or equivalency completers) and current City Colleges students who have not taken college credit classes; GPA of at least 1.5; ALEKS score below 76
Deadline: May 1
The Engineering Bridge Program, launched in 2019 with NSF support, is designed specifically to help minority and underrepresented students transition smoothly into engineering and computer science pathways. It provides a math-intensive and chemistry-focused preparation that reduces the need for remedial coursework while supporting students from high school through community college to four-year universities. You will benefit from a paid summer bridge experience, cohort-based learning, and access to transfer pathways such as Engineering Pathways to UIUC and the IIT-Wright Engineering Program.
7. DePaul University – Introduction to Engineering Camp
Location: DePaul University, Loop Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $200 (5 scholarships available for top applicants)
Dates: June 23-27
Eligibility: Current high school students
Deadline: June 9
This weeklong camp at DePaul University’s Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media introduces high school students to the world of intelligent systems engineering. Through projects, you will get to work with sensors, motors, 3D printers, and laser cutters, while also programming robots to navigate obstacle courses. Led by DePaul’s faculty, the camp blends design principles with real applications, giving students a clear taste of what engineering looks like in practice.
8. SHARP Program - University of Illinois
Location: University of Illinois Chicago Medical Campus and Surgical Innovation Training Laboratory
Cost: $3,500 (scholarships available based on financial need)
Dates: Summer Research Lab (June-July); School year component (August-March); Community service component (November)
Eligibility: High school students must be 16 years old by program start and able to attend all activities
Deadline: Applications open December 1; due February 2
SHARP! is an exceptional 10-month program that introduces students to biomedical engineering and medical research through a mix of lab work, design challenges, and community engagement. In this program, you will spend six weeks in the summer conducting guided research in UIC labs, followed by a school-year project where you will lead teams in the Biomed Breakthrough Challenge. The experience concludes with outreach, as students teach biomedical concepts to younger learners. This layered structure allows you to explore research, practice leadership, and apply engineering to real-world medical problems.
9. Engineering, Math & Science Academy (EMSA) – Kishwaukee College
Location: Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL
Cost: $3,680 (Engineering track)
Dates: Academic year (Fall - Spring, with optional Summer)
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors with a “B” or better in chemistry and pre-calculus (or enrolled and pending final grades)
Deadline: Not specified
The EMSA program at Kishwaukee College lets high school juniors and seniors jump-start their college studies in science and engineering while still in high school. The Engineering track in this program is designed for students interested in math-intensive fields such as engineering, physics, chemistry, or computer science. You will get to take college-level physics and calculus courses across two semesters, with the option to continue into Differential Equations during the summer, earning up to 23 transferable credits before graduation.
10. UChicago Quantum Quickstart
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,500 (residential, housing required)
Dates: July 27 - August 1
Eligibility: Current 9th-10th graders, at least 14 years old, enrolled in a U.S. high school
Deadline: Information not available; check website for updates
The Quantum Quickstart program at the University of Chicago immerses high school students in the fast-evolving world of quantum science. Through faculty-led lectures, theoretical discussions, and tours of state-of-the-art labs, you will gain exposure to the physical foundations of quantum mechanics and its applications. Students will also see the inner workings of quantum computers, explore how quantum engineering is moving into the consumer market, and even play quantum-adapted board games to understand entanglement. Beyond the science, the program includes sessions on selective college admissions and STEM career preparation, making it academically rigorous.
11. PREP Program - Chicago State University
Location: Chicago State University, Harold Washington Hall, Chicago, IL
Dates: June 30 - August 8
Cost: Not specified. Please contact the university for more information
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Deadline: May 30
PREP is a six-week summer bridge program at Chicago State University designed to spark interest in engineering and science among high school students. Classes in math, science, and communication are available, with opportunities to work on design projects that bring these concepts to life. The program blends academics with exposure to applications: you will meet professional engineers, visit industry sites, and see the pathways their studies can open. The program also emphasizes building strong study habits, teamwork, and confidence, helping students prepare for the expectations of college-level STEM courses.
12. Illinois Aerospace Institute
Location: Residential at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign/ Online
Dates: Residential: June 22-28 & July 13-19; Virtual: July 20-26
Cost: Residential: $1,000 + $25 deposit; Virtual: $150 + $25 deposit
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
Deadline: Information not available; check website for updates
The Illinois Aerospace Institute (IAI) is a one-week summer program for high school students curious about aerospace engineering. Residential sessions offer model glider and rocket projects, field trips, guest lectures, and lab experiences, while the virtual option provides online instruction and at-home project builds. Both options provide equal amounts of learning and exposure. Through this program, you will learn key topics like aeronautics and astronautics, aircraft and rocket propulsion, orbits, satellite design, wind tunnel experiments, and computational design in Excel and Python. The camp emphasizes applied engineering, problem-solving, and experimentation, giving students a tangible taste of aerospace careers.
13. University of Illinois - Grainger Engineering Summer Camps
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost: $600 (commuter); $1,000 (residential); $550 (day camp)
Dates: June - August (week-long sessions vary by discipline)
Eligibility: Rising 7th-12th graders, depending on camp
Deadline: Applications open early in the year
The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois runs one of the most comprehensive summer engineering programs in the country. These camps are built around projects, lab tours, research demonstrations, and time with professors and college students. The flagship program, Exploring Your Options (EYO), introduces you to more than ten engineering disciplines in a single week. If you are ready to dig deeper, the 3-D (Deeper Dive into a Discipline) camps focus on areas like aerospace, bioengineering, mechanical science, nuclear engineering, and more, with dedicated courses. Students who are curious about designing cities, exploring AI and robotics, or working with cutting-edge materials would surely find a camp tailored to their interests. You can check the exact course offerings on their website.
Image Source - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Logo