15 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Oregon
Whether you are interested in robotics, biomedical devices, coding systems, cybersecurity, or infrastructure design, joining a structured engineering program in high school can help you understand how these concepts are applied in the real world. Engineering programs combine technical workshops with mentorship, lab exposure, and collaborative projects, offering you a more practical understanding of core engineering principles and problem-solving. You also get exposure to professional tools, programming environments, research methods, and engineering workflows that are not always covered in regular high school classes. Some programs focus heavily on research and scientific communication, while others lean more toward applied engineering and technical problem-solving.
Why should you attend an engineering program in Oregon?
Oregon has several universities, research institutes, and organizations that offer strong engineering and technology-focused opportunities for high school students. Through these programs, you can explore subjects like biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, AI, software development, robotics, environmental engineering, and computational research. Some programs place you inside university labs where you work with researchers, while others focus on coding projects, engineering design challenges, or industry-based internships. If you live in Oregon, these programs can help you build local academic and professional connections early on. At the same time, many options also make sense for out-of-state students who want to explore engineering-focused learning opportunities connected to Oregon institutions.
To make things easier, we have put together a list of 15 engineering programs for high school students in Oregon.
If you’re looking for programs in Oregon, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 programs span biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, AI, robotics, electrical and computer engineering, environmental systems, design and fabrication, and infrastructure engineering, so students with a wide range of engineering interests can find a relevant option in Oregon or online.
Several programs are free or paid, including OHSU CURE Program ($4,000 stipend plus TriMet pass), ASE Internship Program ($500 to $1,500 stipend), Chemeketa CTE Exploration Week (free), CCC CTE Summer Camps (free), OSU SMILE Program (free), and PSU CyberPDX (free), making engineering experiences accessible without significant financial barriers.
Many programs prioritize Oregon residents or students from specific communities, including PSU CyberPDX (Native and Indigenous students), Chemeketa CTE Exploration Week (Polk, Marion, and Yamhill counties), and Clackamas CTE Summer Camps (Clackamas County students), so local and underrepresented students should take note of these targeted opportunities.
Programs vary significantly in length and format, from four-day intensives, such as Drexel ECE Summer Institute and Chemeketa CTE Exploration Week, to 12-month professional internships, such as Port of Portland, so students can choose based on their availability and depth of interest.
Application deadlines for the most competitive programs fall early, including George Mason ASSIP (February 15) and ASE Internship Program (March 6), while programs, such as Oregon Tech STEM Camps, OSU STEM Academy, and George Fox Engineering, use rolling registration, so students should apply as soon as openings become available.
1. Port of Portland Internship Program
Location: Port of Portland, Portland, OR
Stipend: Hourly wages paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 12-month internships
Application deadline: Varies by opening
Eligibility: High school, college, and university students enrolled in accredited institutions with a minimum GPA of 2.5
Port of Portland’s internships give students direct exposure to disciplines like engineering, construction, information technology, public affairs, legal, business, finance, transportation, and land use planning. You will spend the year working alongside professionals on projects related to engineering design, information technology systems, transportation logistics, and operational planning. The program is designed to offer longer-term exposure to professional workflows and technical project development. Mentors will provide guidance through practical assignments and feedback sessions, helping you build communication and workplace problem-solving skills. You will also learn how engineering supports large public infrastructure systems like airports and transportation networks.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; deadlines vary by cohort: Summer (May), Spring (January), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can check details and apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholars participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers a range of online programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, you can choose the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will learn about data science and AI fundamentals and work on real-world projects. Another track for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. During this program, you will get a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A key feature of this program is that it offers you access to the in-house publication team to help you get your work published in high school research journals. You can check out examples of a few past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. ASE Internship Program
Location: Sites in the Portland Metro Area and Albany/Corvallis/Eugene, OR
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee; stipends of $500 – $1,500 depending on internship hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 400+ applications for ~75 slots/year
Dates: Mid-June to late August
Application deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th graders; applicants must live near internship locations or arrange local housing.
The ASE Internship Program places you inside professional STEM environments where you will work directly with scientists, engineers, and technical mentors on active projects. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to projects involving engineering design, programming, environmental systems, physics research, or applied mathematics. Over the course of the internship, you will learn how professional workflows are structured and how technical teams collaborate to solve problems. You will also attend professional development events like the Midsummer Conference and ASE Symposium, where you will interact with peers and present your work publicly. Mentors will provide feedback throughout the experience, helping you strengthen both technical and communication skills.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, spring, fall, and winter. Options range from 12 weeks to a year.
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school who demonstrate strong academic performance
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a wide range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program will pair you with Ph.D. mentors to work one-on-one on a research project. At the end, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose from areas such as computer science, engineering, chemistry, psychology, physics, data science, international relations, economics, and more. You can learn more about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s Ted R. Lilley CURE Program
Location: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute facilities in Oregon
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4,000 stipend + TriMet pass
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~10 interns in the past cohort
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application deadline: TBA in late fall
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 16 and up, with a GPA of 3.0+; applicants must have taken at least one lab-based science class.
This is a paid summer internship that places high schoolers in OHSU Knight Cancer Institute labs to work with mentors. During the internship, you will engage in lab work and learn how scientific research intersects with healthcare technologies. You can indicate your preference for a placement in biomedical engineering or a biotechnology-focused placement to explore engineering applications in biology. You will gain exposure to lab instrumentation, analytical workflows, and biomedical research methods while assisting professional researchers on ongoing projects. Seminars throughout the program will explain how engineering and technological innovation support cancer research and medical advancement. You will also develop technical communication skills while preparing a final research poster presentation.
6. Chemeketa Community College CTE Exploration Week
Location: Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~100 students
Dates: June 22 – 25
Application deadline: May 20 or until full
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 – 16, in Polk, Marion, and Yamhill counties
CTE Exploration Week at Chemeketa Community College is a free program that gives you short-format exposure to technical and engineering-related pathways through interactive workshops. During the program, you will explore areas like robotics, computer information systems, and technical troubleshooting through hands-on activities. Mentors will explain how these skills are applied in industry settings and technical careers. As the sessions rotate across different fields, you will get a broader understanding of possible career pathways and the opportunity to test different interests. You will also gain early exposure to technical education opportunities after high school.
7. OSU SMILE Program
Location: Rural Oregon schools
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~1,000 students/year
Dates: Academic year + summer events and activities
Application deadline: Not specified; participation facilitated via schools
Eligibility: Students in grades 4 – 12
The OSU SMILE Program is a free initiative that is designed to offer students long-term STEM engagement through structured technical projects and mentorship. Throughout the academic year and summer activities, you will participate in after-school coding challenges, engineering design activities, and collaborative technical exercises. Rather than focusing on a single intensive summer experience, the program builds skills gradually over time throughout the school year. Mentorship sessions will help you explore college pathways connected to STEM and engineering fields.
8. Portland State University’s CyberPDX
Location: Portland State University, Portland, OR
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 25 (tentative)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Native and Indigenous high school students who are rising 9th – 12th graders
CyberPDX is a free, five-day residential summer program conducted at Portland State University’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. During the camp, you will explore cybersecurity principles and careers through activities led by PSU faculty, local professionals, and Indigenous community leaders. The curriculum is interdisciplinary, blending STEAM topics with exposure to cybersecurity roles. You will also spend the week on campus and get a taste of life as a college student.
9. Clackamas Community College CTE Summer Camps
Location: Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: August 10 – 13
Application deadline: June 7
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12 who live in or attend school in Clackamas County
Clackamas Community College offers free four-day summer camps designed to help high school students enroll in short career and technical education classes and earn college credit. You can choose from six different camps based on your interests: makerspace, cybersecurity, organic farming and gardening, medical assisting, emergency management, or land navigation. The makerspace track can help you gain exposure to engineering design, digital design, and manufacturing, and experience in using modeling software, 3D printing, laser cutting, scanning tools, and CNC machining. You will learn through demonstrations, projects, and hands-on practice. The camp will help you build the workmanship skills required to pursue a career in engineering.
10. Oregon State University STEM Academy High School Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis, OR
Cost: ~$80 – $400, depending on the camp; scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one- to five-day camps offered between June and July
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students; exact grade-level requirements can vary by camp
OSU’s STEM Academy runs a range of camps for high school students interested in exploring STEM through hands-on learning. You can choose from one- to five-day camps across engineering, cybersecurity, design, veterinary science, digital technology, and applied sciences. You may examine cybersecurity threats, explore digital modeling tools, or examine product design and consumer behavior, depending on the camp you choose. All the camps let you learn through activities, group problem-solving, and project-based exercises designed to help you build technical skills and explore college majors and careers.
11. OSU-Cascades Summer Academy
Location: OSU-Cascades, Bend, OR
Cost: $1,000 (day option) | $1,500 (overnight option)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – 24 | July 26 – 31
Application deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10 to 12
OSU-Cascades Summer Academy is a week-long program that combines technical learning with outdoor activities within a camp-like setting. Depending on your chosen track, you may focus on computer science, digital media systems, or applied technology projects. Throughout the week, you work on structured assignments where you apply design principles, coding logic, or programming concepts to real problems. Faculty mentors will provide feedback during project development, helping you refine both technical execution and workflow organization. Industry sessions will expose you to how engineering and technology skills are used in professional environments. Outdoor recreation and on-campus social activities are also part of the experience.
12. Oregon State University’s SESEY (Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth)
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $500; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – 24
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students
SESEY is a week-long summer program designed to introduce high schoolers to science and engineering through structured lab activities and collaborative technical projects. During the residential program, you will explore multiple engineering disciplines and learn how concepts from physics, design, and systems thinking are applied to solve practical problems. Faculty mentors will guide you through engineering activities, helping you understand how ideas move from conceptual sketches to functional solutions. Hands-on project work, exposure to engineering majors and careers, field trips, and lab work are key parts of the experience. At the end of the program, you will present your project findings and explain the technical reasoning behind your work.
13. George Fox University’s Engineering: Designing and Making
Location: George Fox University, Newberg, OR
Cost: $1,950 (or $1,650 for partner school students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – 26
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
George Fox University’s Engineering: Designing and Making program is a week-long pre-college program, where you will explore engineering through design and fabrication projects. Over a week, you will learn about 3D printing, laser cutting, 3D modeling, circuits, and Arduino-based systems. You will work on a custom animated mechanical project, learning how to use engineering design principles and build modern prototypes. The program emphasizes creative problem-solving and applied learning, allowing you to move from design to the creation of functional products. You will also experience life as a college student and explore engineering pathways. Upon completion, you will become eligible to earn one college credit in engineering.
14. Drexel University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Summer Institute
Location: Virtual (synchronous via Zoom)
Cost: $500 (includes hardware)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 23
Application deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This four-day virtual summer camp teaches you the basics of programming embedded systems using the ESP32, a low-cost microcontroller with integrated Wi-Fi. You will learn how fundamental areas of electrical and computer engineering, such as signal processing, computer hardware and software, circuits, and algorithms, power the technology we use every day, from cell phones to autonomous vehicles. The curriculum is designed to help you build a foundation for pursuing computer or engineering majors. The program is delivered synchronously on Zoom, with hardware mailed to your home before the camp begins.
15. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual internships available
Cost: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition for three course credits; fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers remote research internships in various STEM disciplines, including engineering, and the opportunity to earn 3 college credits. You can choose a mentor who is looking for remote engineering research interns. Over eight weeks, you will engage in engineering research, assisting your mentor, reviewing data, and building scientific writing skills over remote sessions. During the program, you will connect with George Mason professors and STEM professionals, and explore STEM career paths. The experience culminates in a research symposium where you will share your work.
Frequently asked questions
1. What engineering programs are available for high school students in Oregon?
Options include professional internships, such as Port of Portland and ASE Internship Program, biomedical and cancer research programs, such as OHSU CURE Program, cybersecurity programs, such as PSU CyberPDX and OSU STEM Academy NW Cyber Camp, design and fabrication programs, such as George Fox Engineering and Clackamas CTE Makerspace Camp, AI and data science programs, such as Veritas AI and Lumiere, and university engineering camps, such as OSU SESEY and OSU-Cascades Summer Academy.
2. Are there free engineering programs for high school students in Oregon?
Yes, several programs are free, including OSU SMILE Program, PSU CyberPDX, Chemeketa CTE Exploration Week, and Clackamas CTE Summer Camps. OHSU CURE Program is also free to attend and provides a $4,000 stipend, and OSU STEM Academy offers scholarships to reduce costs for eligible students.
3. Which Oregon engineering programs are best for students interested in cybersecurity?
Students interested in cybersecurity might consider PSU CyberPDX for a free residential program focused on cybersecurity principles and careers, Clackamas CTE Summer Camps for a short hands-on cybersecurity track with transferable college credit, and OSU STEM Academy's NW Cyber Camp for a focused introduction to cybersecurity threats and digital forensics.
4. Do any engineering programs in Oregon offer college credit?
Yes, Clackamas CTE Summer Camps award one or two transferable college credits depending on the track, and George Fox University's Engineering: Designing and Making program offers one college credit upon completion. George Mason ASSIP awards three college credits through George Mason University, and the OSU High School Journalism Institute awards one college credit, though it focuses on media rather than engineering.
5. Which Oregon engineering programs are open to students outside the state?
Veritas AI and Lumiere Research Scholar Program are fully virtual and open to students anywhere in the world. George Mason ASSIP offers remote internship placements, Drexel ECE Summer Institute is fully virtual with hardware mailed directly to participants, and OSU SESEY and OSU-Cascades Summer Academy also accept out-of-state applicants.
6. When should I apply to engineering programs for high school students in Oregon?
The earliest deadlines include George Mason ASSIP (February 15) and ASE Internship Program (March 6). Chemeketa CTE Exploration Week closes May 20 or when full, OSU SESEY closes May 31, and Clackamas CTE Summer Camps close June 7. Programs, such as OSU STEM Academy, George Fox Engineering, and Veritas AI, use rolling registration, so students should monitor program websites from early spring and apply as soon as openings become available.