15 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Los Angeles, California (LA)
Structured engineering programs can be an early opportunity for you to dive into the field and explore academic and career paths in engineering. As a participant, you will learn through projects, research experiences, and exposure to different engineering disciplines, building technical skills while gaining a clearer understanding of how engineers think and work. These programs also offer practical exposure to how math, science, design, and technology come together to solve engineering problems.
Why should you attend a program in Los Angeles, California?
Los Angeles, California, can be a great place to explore engineering programs, thanks to the city’s major research institutions, engineering schools, and science-focused organizations hosting such opportunities. As a student, you may work on technical projects, practice design and problem-solving methods, and learn how engineering ideas are developed, tested, and communicated across different fields. Whether you live in LA or are planning to spend some time here, joining a program in the city can offer you access to university labs, industry connections, and interdisciplinary learning environments.
In this blog, we have narrowed down 15 engineering programs for high school students in Los Angeles, California.
If you are looking for engineering internships in Los Angeles, check out our blog here.
1. USC Young Researchers Program
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: $300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds living in Los Angeles and attending public schools in the Los Angeles, Lynwood, Compton, or Inglewood Unified School Districts
USC’s Young Researchers Program places you in a university research environment where you work on a focused STEM project over the course of the summer. You will be paired with a graduate student mentor and contribute to a research topic aligned with their academic specialization, gaining experience with research methods and scientific inquiry. Alongside lab work, the program includes weekly seminars that address topics such as college preparation and pathways in science and engineering fields. You will also participate in structured academic field experiences that introduce applied science concepts outside the classroom. The program concludes with a poster presentation, where you will communicate your findings in a public symposium setting.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts each year; the AI Scholars runs for 10 weeks, and the AI Fellowship program runs for 12 to 15 weeks
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship typically accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Cal State LAunchPad
Location: Cal State LA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Cal State’s LAunchPad provides an overview of engineering, computer science, and technology fields through structured exploration and team-based projects. You will be grouped into small teams and guided by facilitators as you learn how different disciplines approach technical and societal challenges. The program introduces academic pathways and professional applications within fields such as civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, as well as computing and materials science. Guest speakers from academia and industry will share perspectives on engineering work and career trajectories. Your experience culminates in a collaborative final project that emphasizes idea development, planning, and presentation.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP): Engineering Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic background (>3.67/4.0 GPA); accepted students are usually 10th/11th graders.
The Horizon Academic Research Program allows high school students to conduct extended, mentor-guided research in engineering-related fields such as computer science, data science, and applied mathematics. You will work with a professor or Ph.D. scholar to design and execute a research project using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. The program is structured to help you produce a full-length research paper that reflects sustained inquiry and academic writing standards. Instruction includes small-group seminars, writing clinics, and individual feedback sessions. The experience is structured to mirror undergraduate research workflows, from topic development to final manuscript preparation.
5. USC MESA College Prep
Location: USC Viterbi, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who attend a MESA partner school
USC MESA College Prep supports high school students interested in engineering programs through sustained, hands-on engagement with STEM concepts. You will participate in project-based activities, competitions, and applied learning experiences that emphasize problem-solving and technical reasoning. The program integrates academic enrichment with structured exposure to college preparation and STEM career pathways. Field experiences and collaborative challenges allow you to apply classroom concepts in practical settings. Throughout the program, you will have access to mentorship and leadership development alongside technical skill-building.
6. USC Viterbi’s MASTERMIND
Location: University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – July 11
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school seniors affiliated with select CA-based programs
USC MASTERMIND is an on-campus summer program for high schoolers who want to strengthen their mathematical foundation for advanced engineering and STEM coursework. You will work through algebraic and precalculus concepts using a combination of personalized digital practice and hands-on problem-solving. Tools such as ALEKS and MATLAB are used to explore how mathematical ideas translate into real-world applications. Instruction emphasizes conceptual understanding rather than rote computation. The program is designed to help you connect mathematical theory to engineering and scientific contexts you may encounter in future studies.
7. California Science Center Community Teen Interns
Location: California Science Center, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: $17.87/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: Applications open in August
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a minimum 2.0 GPA who live within a three-mile radius of the California Science Center
The California Science Center Community Teen Intern program offers high schoolers exposure to public-facing science education and applied STEM communication. You will work directly with museum visitors, facilitating hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations on the exhibit floor. Intern responsibilities include guiding guests, supporting live science presentations, and helping deliver inquiry-based learning experiences. The program introduces you to applied science fields such as aviation and marine science through themed projects and exploration. Alongside exploring fields and careers in STEM, you will develop communication, leadership, and workplace skills through real-world responsibilities.
8. UCLA COSMOS
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $5,518 + application fee of $46; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20-28 students/cluster
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Students entering grades 8 – 11 in California
COSMOS is an in-person STEM-focused program conducted at various University of California campuses, including UCLA. The program structures its academic experience around focused clusters, each centered on a specific topic within engineering, mathematics, or science. Once assigned to a cluster, you will engage with a specialized curriculum designed by UCLA faculty that combines lectures, labs, and field-based learning covering various areas, including engineering. A key component of the program is a collaborative research project that emphasizes technical writing, data interpretation, and scientific communication. You will work in a small team to develop a project tied to your cluster’s subject matter and document your process through abstracts and posters. The program culminates in a formal poster presentation where you will explain your work and findings to a broader audience.
9. UCLA Engineering Design
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,002 with scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session A: June 22 – July 10 | Session B: July 13 – 31
Application deadline: Session A: June 12 | Session B: July 3
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11 who are at least 15 years old
UCLA Engineering Design is a three-week program designed to introducesyou to the engineering design process through team-based, hands-on projects that move from concept to testing. Depending on the track, you may work with mechanical systems, electronics, robotics, or aerospace components while using tools such as CAD software and microcontrollers. Each track emphasizes iterative problem-solving, requiring you to design, build, analyze, and refine a functional system. You will also complete written reports and formal presentations that document your technical decisions and results.
10. USC Pre-College Programs: Discover Engineering
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $11,570 (residential) | $8,130 (commuter) + $85 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 17
Application deadline: May 8
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders (domestic and international)
Part of USC’s pre-college offerings, the Discover Engineering track introduces you to multiple engineering disciplines through a structured combination of lectures, discussions, and applied projects. The curriculum is organized around weekly themes, allowing you to examine how different branches of engineering approach real-world problems. You will use the engineering design process to plan, prototype, test, and revise solutions while working in design teams. Assignments include technical writing and research-based analysis tied to engineering concepts explored during the course. Field-based learning and project presentations will help you connect classroom concepts to professional engineering practice.
11. UCLA Engineering Design: Internet of Things
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $2,734; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session A: June 22 – July 10 | Session B: July 13 – 31
Application deadline: Session A: June 12 | Session B: July 3
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old
UCLA Engineering Design: Internet of Things is a three-week program that focuses on how sensors, data, and machine learning are used to build connected engineering systems. You will work directly with an IoT platform to collect data, write code, and experiment with machine learning models that recognize patterns and system behavior. The curriculum covers core concepts related to microsensors, neural networks, and embedded systems through extended lab sessions and guided projects. Rather than following a fixed outcome, you will design an open-ended final project that applies IoT concepts to a use case of your choosing. The program concludes with the submission of a written report and a formal presentation explaining your system design and results.
12. LMU Exploring Engineering
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $65 application fee + $11,100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 17
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
LMU’s Exploring Engineering course introduces you to foundational concepts across mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering. Instruction emphasizes problem-solving and design, combining analytical thinking with creative approaches to engineering challenges. You will use engineering software, spreadsheets, and graphical tools to model systems and evaluate solutions. Coursework integrates team-based projects that require clear technical communication and collaborative decision-making. The curriculum also offers exposure to engineering work within broader societal and technological contexts, highlighting how engineering methods are applied to complex, real-world problems.
13. Caltech Summer Research Connection (SRC)
Location: Caltech, Pasadena, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Typically early spring
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in Pasadena Unified School District schools
Caltech’s Summer Research Connection is a six-week program that places you in an active research lab where you work as part of a small student–teacher team. You will contribute to ongoing scientific or engineering research under the guidance of experienced mentors, gaining exposure to how academic research is conducted. The program emphasizes collaboration, documentation, and the application of classroom concepts to open-ended research questions. Rather than following a preset curriculum, your learning will be shaped by the lab’s research focus and daily investigative work.
14. Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: 10th and 11th grade students in California with a minimum unweighted 3.5 cumulative GPA, and a household adjusted gross income (AGI) equal to or lower than the amount in your relevant category in the Family Income Eligibility Tables
The Bruin Ascent Summer Experience combines college-level coursework with structured academic and advising support. You will enroll in an online UCLA course, with options including courses relevant to future engineering paths, and learn how to manage college-style assignments, expectations, and study strategies. Additionally, you will participate in workshops focused on college planning, academic navigation, and financial literacy. One-on-one mentorship with UCLA students will offer you insight into undergraduate academic life and decision-making. The program emphasizes preparation for higher education through sustained academic engagement rather than short-term enrichment.
15. NSLC High School Summer Program in Engineering
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $4,395; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – July 1 | July 5 – 13
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 – 18 years old
NSLC’s Engineering program introduces you to multiple engineering disciplines through simulations, workshops, and collaborative design challenges. You will explore how engineers approach problems in areas such as infrastructure, energy systems, robotics, and emerging technologies. The program introduces you to the engineering design process, guiding you from concept development to testing and refinement. Interactive activities are paired with expert-led sessions that explain how engineering work functions in professional settings. Leadership workshops are integrated into the curriculum to support communication, teamwork, and decision-making alongside technical exploration.
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