15 Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
High school can be the perfect time to explore your interests in engineering and pick up academic skills, and a summer program can help you do just that! Engineering programs help you dive into the field through design projects, problem-solving challenges, and exposure to real-world engineering applications. Whether you enjoy designing new things, solving problems, or exploring how things work, engineering programs can help you spark ideas and learn from peers and experts who share your interests.
Massachusetts is home to many universities, organizations, and research centers that offer high schoolers engineering-focused learning opportunities. These programs allow you to explore new subfields and career paths, from robotics and aerospace to sustainability and biomedical engineering. You’ll also experience the collaborative environment that makes Massachusetts a hub for innovation and discovery.
To help you with your search, here is a list of 15 engineering summer programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
1. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 22 – August 2 (tentative)
Application deadline: Typically, December/January
Eligibility: High school juniors who meet the RSI academic prerequisites
RSI is a STEM-based program that allows high school students to engage in scientific research at MIT. Hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education, RSI invites 80–100 students every year to engage in hands-on work on a research project under the guidance of MIT professors and scientists. You will begin the program with one week of seminars covering current research topics in engineering, other STEM fields, and the humanities. For the next five weeks, you will work on a research project, which can focus on an engineering topic. In the final week, you will deliver an oral and written presentation discussing your findings.
2. Veritas AI Programs
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program; need-based aid available
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts in a year, including in the summer
Application deadline: May/June for summer sessions
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants must have completed AI Scholars or have prior AI/Python experience
Veritas AI’s programs offer high school students the chance to explore artificial intelligence through hands-on, mentor-guided learning. The AI Scholars program can help you learn how AI can be applied to real-world engineering problems, combining core principles of machine learning and data analysis with problem-solving in areas such as design, systems, and technology. In the AI Fellowship program, you will work closely with mentors to develop your own research ideas, moving from foundational concepts to an independent project that reflects your specific interests. Many use this opportunity to dive deeper into engineering applications of AI, from modeling and simulation to optimization challenges.
3. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: Late June – early August (six weeks)
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; students from backgrounds underrepresented in science and engineering, underserved socioeconomic backgrounds, and minority/rural high schools are encouraged to apply
The MITES Summer program is a six-week residential program at MIT designed for high school juniors interested in exploring STEM. Here, you will engage in math, science, and humanities coursework and choose electives in topics like engineering design, machine learning, electronics, architecture, or genomics. You will also have access to workshops, social events, and college application counseling, gaining insights into college life and STEM careers. During the on-campus program, you will find opportunities to develop valuable skills and connections. Additionally, you will tour labs and local companies employing MITES alumni.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Engineering Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including in the summer
Application deadline: May/June for summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 GPA (no prior research experience required)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects high school students with Ph.D. mentors for an in-depth, one-on-one research experience. You can choose to investigate a topic within various engineering subfields. Over the course of 12 weeks, you will design and complete an independent project within your chosen engineering track. The program is designed to be flexible for beginners while still challenging advanced students. At the end of the program, you will produce a full research paper, gaining both academic writing skills and exposure to professional research standards.
5. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application deadline: March 2; applications open December 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current juniors) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and Massachusetts residents within commuting distance
The Young Scholars Program at Northeastern University is a free summer research opportunity designed for Massachusetts high school juniors entering their senior year. Here, you will spend six weeks working in university research labs across engineering, science, and health sciences fields. Beyond lab work, the program includes seminars led by faculty and graduate students, career counseling sessions, and site visits to industry and government organizations. You will also get exposure to college life through access to campus facilities and engagement with current students.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Women’s Technology Program (WTP): Mechanical Engineering
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free for students with a family income of less than $120,000; tiered pricing starts at $2,000 for others. Check details here.
Dates: June 27 – July 25
Application deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with strong math/science ability, little to no prior engineering experience; women and underrepresented students in STEM are encouraged to apply
The MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP): Mechanical Engineering track is a selective month-long summer course (accepts 20 students out of 300+ applications) designed for those with limited exposure to engineering. You will spend four weeks exploring mechanical engineering through labs, lectures, and collaborative projects, while living on campus at MIT. You will explore concepts like static torque, motors, energy and momentum, kinematics, materials and structures, and rotational motion. Program activities include building a crane, using CAD tools, building a simple circuit, and practicing computer programming. You will also have access to workshops on building a foam cutter, wire bending, woodworking, and building a portfolio.
7. Boston Leadership Institute’s Applied Physics & Engineering Program
Location: Olin College in Greater Wellesley, MA
Cost: $2,500 tuition + optional $2,097 residential fee
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 8th graders through incoming college freshmen; competitive admission
Boston Leadership Institute offers various programs for students interested in learning beyond the school curriculum. Its Applied Physics and Engineering track is a three-week program designed to help you build a foundation in aeronautics and aerospace engineering through both classroom learning and experimentation. You will learn about core principles of flight, gravity, and motion while applying them to real projects, such as designing and testing model airplanes. Sessions will explore how forces like thrust, lift, drag, and weight influence aircraft performance, along with how control surfaces (rudders, ailerons, elevators, and flaps) affect stability. Additional topics include acceleration, centripetal force, and g-force. The program offers a pre-college experience to prepare you for pursuing a major in engineering or computer science.
8. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Frontiers Program
Location: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Cost: $4,495/session (includes housing, meals, field trips, and activities)
Dates: Session I: July 6 – 18; Session II: July 20 – August 1
Application deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
Frontiers is a long-running residential program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute that allows high school students to explore a STEM major with a humanities, arts, or business minor. While course options can vary by year, you can typically choose from courses in aerospace, architectural, chemical, biomedical, civil, mechanical, and computer/electrical engineering. Each engineering course covers key concepts and allows you to practice what you learn through exercises, projects, challenges, and experiments. Beyond coursework, you will spend two weeks on the university campus, attend college workshops, and engage in social activities alongside peers from around the world.
9. Summer Engineering Institute @ UMass Amherst
Location: UMass. Amherst, MA
Cost: $3,907 (residential) | $2,262 (commuter); scholarships available
Dates: July 13 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-graders
The Summer Engineering Institute at UMass Amherst is a two-week program designed to provide high school students with a broad, practical introduction to the various branches of engineering. Through faculty-led presentations, guided projects, and hands-on design activities, you will explore fields such as biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering. The program emphasizes collaboration, offering opportunities like team-based labs as well as projects that culminate in a final presentation. Throughout the program, you will learn from and interact with practicing professionals and research engineers. In the process, you will develop skills in engineering design, leadership, communication, teamwork, and research.
10. Building & Construction Technology (BCT) BuildingLab @ UMass Amherst
Location: UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA
Cost: $3,907 (residential) | $2,262 (commuter); scholarships available
Dates: July 13–26
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
The Building & Construction Technology (BCT) BuildingLab at UMass Amherst is a two-week program focusing on construction, design, sustainability, and engineering. Here, you will learn through practical experiences ranging from building projects and lab experiments to working with emergent technologies like drones, VR, and 3D printing. The program also offers site visits, software-based design work, and opportunities to engage with industry professionals. You will earn two college credits that can be applied toward the BCT program at UMass or similar fields while also experiencing campus life through residential or commuter-based participation.
11. Engineering with Artificial Intelligence @ Tufts University
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: $5,750 (residential) | $4,225 (commuter) + $200 materials fee; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 18 | Session 2: July 20 – August 1
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders or recent high school graduates with some familiarity with programming concepts
This two-week pre-college program introduces students to artificial intelligence and machine learning, combining exposure to theoretical concepts with real-world applications. As a participant, you will explore the math and algorithms behind AI, learn how universities and industrial experts are developing machine learning systems, and examine the technology’s ethical and societal impacts. You will also engage in coding/programming to understand how to create AI tools. Hands-on engineering design projects will let you come up with your own AI-based solutions under the guidance of Tufts instructors and mentors.
12. Smith College’s Summer Science and Engineering Program
Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA
Cost: $4,864 (two weeks); $9,728 (four weeks)
Dates: Session 1: July 5 – 18 | Session 2: July 20 – August 2
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in science and engineering
The Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) allows high school students to explore lab-based courses in life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. Led by Smith faculty and supported by undergraduate interns, classes emphasize inquiry and experimentation. You will work in small groups, engaging in real experiments, choosing from topics such as robotics, microcontrollers, herbal medicine, bacteriophage discovery, biodiversity, and women’s health. Opportunities for field and lab work are available, with some tracks also offering field trips.
13. Brown Pre-College—Biomedical Engineering: The Smart Design of Medical Implants and Devices
Location: Online
Cost: $4,454
Dates: June 23 – July 11 | July 7 – 25
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, ages 14–18, who have completed Algebra I and Trigonometry
This Brown University course introduces high school students to biomedical engineering in the context of designing medical implants and devices. Through online sessions, you will explore how materials (both natural and synthetic) interact with the body, learning the science behind tissue replacement and the mechanics that make implants effective. Alongside experiments, the course also focuses on ethical questions around medical design, encouraging you to think critically about the broader impact of engineering solutions. The capstone of the course is a design challenge, in which you will develop a novel coronary artery bypass material, using biology, physiology, math, and engineering principles.
14. BlueStamp Engineering
Location: Online
Cost: $2,200 (includes tools, parts, instruction; extra shipping may apply for international students)
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – July 3 | Session 2: July 7 – 25 | Session 3: July 28 – August 15
Application deadline: Rolling admissions until filled
Eligibility: Rising 8th-12th-graders
BlueStamp’s remote program allows students worldwide to design and build engineering projects from start to finish, with all parts and tools shipped directly to them. You will select a project from the BlueStamp project book, meet with an instructor to finalize your choice, and spend the summer building, testing, and customizing your design. As a participant, you will get to create an engineering portfolio and receive close mentorship with classes following a 4:1 student–staff ratio. You will showcase your work at Demo Night. The experience can help you build something tangible from scratch while refining your technical and presentation skills.
15. Brown Pre-College—Materials Science and Engineering: Designing for Society’s Needs
Location: Online
Cost: $4,454
Dates: June 23 – July 11
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12, ages 14–18, who have completed Algebra I
This three-week Brown University course introduces students to the principles of materials science and engineering through a blend of classes covering theory and applied design exercises. You will begin by studying how atoms form different classes of materials—metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites—and how their properties shift depending on structure and imperfections. The program then turns toward practical applications, allowing you to analyze when and why certain materials are chosen for engineering projects. A key highlight is an engineering challenge, for which you will design and theoretically test a durable, cost-effective bridge component that balances strength and efficiency. The experience can help you build problem-solving skills and get a taste of how engineers approach societal needs through material innovation.
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