15 Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students in New Jersey
Engineering summer programs can give you a clearer sense of how engineering concepts are applied outside of a classroom setting. Through activities like design challenges, coding projects, robotics, and lab work, you can explore different engineering disciplines while developing technical and analytical skills. Many programs also introduce you to university labs, research environments, and collaborative problem-solving, helping you better understand what studying engineering in college can look like.
Why should you attend a program in New Jersey?
New Jersey has several universities and research-focused institutions that host engineering programs for high school students across fields such as biomedical engineering, AI, mechanical design, and environmental systems. Some programs focus on research and experimentation, while others emphasize prototyping, programming, or team-based design projects using industry-standard tools and technologies. These opportunities can appeal to both students in New Jersey seeking nearby academic experiences and out-of-state students interested in short-term residential or commuter programs.
We have carefully shortlisted 15 engineering summer programs for high school students in New Jersey.
If you’re looking for free programs in New Jersey, check out our blog here.
1. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: No cost; some labs may offer a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1–2 students/lab selected out of ~3,500 applications
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16, enrolled in a high school, U.S. citizens, and able to provide proof of local housing and transportation in New Jersey
LLP is a full-time, in-person summer experience, where you will work with Princeton University faculty and research staff on projects in the sciences and engineering. The project focus and tasks vary by placement, but typically involve data analysis, modeling, documentation, laboratory activities, and scientific writing. You will work under the supervision of faculty and research staff during regular working hours. You will follow the schedule set by the assigned lab, complete safety training before starting work, and follow university policies. At the end of LLP, you will write and submit a two-page research report summarizing your research work.
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: Spring (January), Summer (May), 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 the fundamentals of AI and data science and get a chance to 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 1:1 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 secure publications in high school research journals. You can check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Liberty Science Centre Partners in Science
Location: Liberty Science Centre, Jersey City, NJ + labs in NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 24 – August 22
Application deadline: January 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Partners in Science pairs high schoolers with STEM mentors for a lab-based summer experience. You will work closely with your mentor in their lab and contribute to ongoing research and independent projects in biomedical, electrical, or chemical engineering. The experience will introduce you to current scientific questions and methods. You will work on your assignment for 25 to 40 hours over seven to eight weeks, and present your work at the end of the program. You will also attend professional development sessions at the Liberty Science Center during the program.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Engineering Track
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities across a wide range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as engineering, data science, psychology, physics, chemistry, international relations, economics, computer science, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology (GSET) @ Rutgers University
Location: Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 62 – 90 students/year
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application deadline: January 8
Eligibility: High school juniors residing in New Jersey with primarily A grades in honors math and science classes and high scores on standardized achievement tests; students must be nominated by their schools.
GSET is a free summer program hosted at Rutgers University for high schoolers interested in science, engineering, and technology. As a participant, you will engage in engineering and technology coursework, attend lectures led by Rutgers faculty, and work on research projects focused on real-world challenges. You will take core courses and electives in STEM, and you will also attend sessions focused on building life skills, preparing for college, and connecting with peers. Guest speakers from academia or industry will share insights into developments in engineering and offer career advice. The experience includes visits to local organizations where you will see how engineering principles apply in professional settings. You will work within a small team to design and present a research project, which you will submit as a formal paper and presentation at a final symposium.
6. Pathways to Partners in Science @ Liberty Science Center
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free; $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Cohort 1: July 13 – 24 | Cohort 2: July 27 – August 7
Application deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Rising 10th-grade students
Pathways to Partners in Science is a two-week program at Liberty Science Center designed to provide you with a foundational introduction to scientific research through hands-on workshops and guided mini-projects. During the program, you will engage in scientific inquiry, data collection and analysis, science writing and presentation, collaboration, communication, and STEM career exploration. You will work on small research projects in areas like environmental science, materials science, and biology. The focus of the program is preparing you for full-fledged research and teaching research fundamentals, including writing, data collection, lab techniques, and teamwork.
7. Engineering Summer Academy @ Rutgers University
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $2,899
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 25 – 30 students
Dates: July 12 – 18 | July 19 – 25
Application deadline: May 24 (domestic); April 12 (international)
Eligibility: Students, ages 16 – 18, completing grades 10 and 11 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The Engineering Summer Academy at Rutgers University is a one-week residential program that introduces you to a wide range of engineering disciplines through project-based learning. You will spend the week exploring fields like aerospace, biomedical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering through collaborative projects and lab-based experiments. The program combines practical exposure with theoretical academic exploration through demonstrations and sessions led by faculty, researchers, and student mentors. You will also focus on applying concepts creatively while building and testing designs in team-based challenges. Alongside academics, you get a glimpse of college life on campus.
8. The College of New Jersey’s iSTEM Summer Academy
Location: The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Ewing, NJ
Cost: $625/week (includes lunch)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week 1: July 6 – 10 | Week 2: July 13 – 17
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 12
The iSTEM Summer Academy at TCNJ allows you to spend a week or two exploring engineering, robotics, and product design through hands-on experiences. In the MakerCraft track, you will learn how to work with CAD software to design a wearable product and use MATLAB and Simulink to program the device. This track introduces you to real-world applications and fundamentals of coding, electronics, 3D printing, and laser cutting. In the Automation and Robotics track, you will learn to program microcontroller devices that help a robot carry out a range of tasks. You will create prototypes with rapid prototyping tech, design automated circuits, and use MathWorks Simulink to control your robot.
9. TCNJ’s Artificial Intelligence & Wireless Communications Camp
Location: The College of New Jersey campus, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $2,200 + a non-refundable $40 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited space
Dates: July 5 – 10
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; payment due before May 30
Eligibility: High school students who have successfully completed at least one year of science and math coursework and rank in the top 30% of their class
The Artificial Intelligence & Wireless Communications Camp at TCNJ is a residential program that introduces you to how AI and wireless technologies intersect in real-world systems. Over the course of the week, you will explore core concepts through lectures and practical lab work, including developing handwriting recognition algorithms and learning to use tools such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Google Vision. The sessions on wireless sensing will offer insights to help you design your own temperature and humidity sensors or home automation systems using Arduino and wireless transceivers. You will tour the university’s engineering labs, connect with electrical and computer engineering professionals, and present your project work during the program. You will also receive an engineering experimentation kit to continue earning at home.
10. Rutgers University’s Design, Invent & Prototype Academy
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $2,899
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 25 – 30 students
Dates: July 26 – August 1
Application deadline: May 24 (domestic students); April 12 (international students)
Eligibility: Current high school students, ages 16 – 18, completing their sophomore or junior year with a minimum 3.0 GPA and English language proficiency
This is a week-long residential summer academy at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, where you will work through the full engineering design process, from coming up with an idea to building a working prototype. You will use tools like 3D printers and laser cutters in the Rutgers Makerspace to design and create a prototype within a team of peers. At the end of the week, you will present your prototype in a Shark Tank-style pitch to judges, explaining the problem you tackled and how your design addresses it. You'll also take part in daily evening activities and social events as part of the residential experience. Upon completing the program, you will receive a Rutgers Pre-College Digital Badge credential.
11. Engineering Bootcamp @ Stevens Institute of Technology
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,350; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 11 | July 12 – 18
Application deadline: March 16 (priority deadline); June 1 (final application deadline)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Engineering Bootcamp at Stevens Institute of Technology is a one-week residential program that provides a broad introduction to multiple engineering disciplines through hands-on, collaborative work. You will learn through modules covering civil, mechanical, chemical, and biomedical engineering while working with faculty and peers to build a small research-driven project. The program is designed to be exploratory, helping you assess your interests and learn about academic paths you can take following high school graduation. The non-credit program allows you to live on campus for the week, explore college resources and facilities, and connect with peers.
12. Rowan Introduction for Students to Engineering (RISE)
Location: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Cost: $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 30 students
Dates: August 4 – 6
Application deadline: June 10
Eligibility: Current high school students
The RISE program at Rowan University is a short, three-day, non-residential workshop that introduces you to core engineering concepts through hands-on labs and activities. You will explore topics like 3D printing, Arduino-based projects, polymers, and structural materials, developing a practical understanding of how different engineering fields operate. The sessions are designed to be interactive and exploratory, supported by guidance from faculty and current engineering students. Alongside the technical exposure, the program includes campus tours and opportunities to connect with peers who share similar interests. The program’s compact format makes it an accessible option if you are looking for a low-commitment option to experience engineering in a real college setting!
13. Montclair State University Pre-College Summer: AI and Engineering Summer Lab
Location: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $1,900
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 18
Application deadline: Rolling (payment due on June 15)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11
The AI and Engineering Summer Lab at Montclair State University is a one-week residential program focused on building intelligent systems using AI and embedded technologies. You will learn the basics of Python or C programming while working with tools like Raspberry Pi and microcontrollers to create devices that can sense and respond to their environment. The program introduces core ideas in machine learning and neural networks through practical application, rather than theory-heavy instruction. Over the course of the week, you will collaborate with peers to design and develop a functional prototype, which you’ll present at the end of the program. The program offers insights into how software and hardware come together in real-world engineering systems, especially within the context of AI.
14. Rutgers Honors Engineering eXperience (RHEx)
Location: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 28 – July 3
Application deadline: February 12 (early); April 1 (regular)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
RHEx at Rutgers University is a selective, one-week residential program designed to offer you insights into different engineering disciplines before you start preparing your college applications. The program combines workshops, lab sessions, and collaborative projects led by faculty, researchers, and student mentors, allowing you to engage with engineering concepts and fields like aerospace, chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Over the course of the week, you will work on activities and develop a project that you will present at a final symposium. The experience also includes a stay on campus, which can offer you exposure to the collegiate environment.
15. TCNJ’s Engineering in Health and Medicine Camp: Biomedical Engineering
Location: The College of New Jersey campus, Ewing, NJ
Cost: $2,000 + $39 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: July 19 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling; applications open on February 9.
Eligibility: High school students in the top 30% of their class who have completed one year of high school math and science
This weeklong residential camp at TCNJ is designed to introduce high schoolers to engineering applications in healthcare. You will work alongside professional biomedical engineers and college students in laboratories and design facilities on projects focused on topics like medical device design, medical imaging, biomaterials, and neural engineering. Beyond lab work, you will engage in design activities and network with professionals to learn about career paths in biomedical engineering. The program schedule also includes a student presentation, which allows you to learn how to communicate scientific work.