16 Free Engineering Programs for High School Students in NYC (New York City)
If you are a high school student in New York City interested in engineering, free summer programs can give you solid experience without any cost. Staying local means you get access to city-based labs, mentorship from faculty and engineers, and projects that reflect the industries and infrastructure shaping NYC.
New York is a hub for innovation, spanning civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering. Many of these programs connect you with top institutions, such as Columbia and NYU, as well as city agencies, allowing you to work on projects that improve urban life. You can learn CAD, build prototypes, explore robotics, or tackle challenges tied to health, sustainability, and public infrastructure.
To help you get started, here are 16 free engineering programs for high school students in New York City!
15 Free Engineering Programs for High School Students in NYC (New York City)
1. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at NYU
Location: NYU Campus, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; students receive a stipend of at least $750
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; recent cohorts accepted about 76–80 students
Dates: June 3 – August 9 (first 4 weeks remote after-school, next 6 weeks in-person on weekdays)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students living in NYC who will complete 10th or 11th grade in June
ARISE is a ten-week summer research program at NYU for high school students who want to explore fields like engineering, robotics, machine learning, and more. You start with online seminars covering ethics, lab safety, and data analysis, then move into hands-on lab work with NYU faculty and graduate mentors.
You’ll research real topics across disciplines—from chemical and bioengineering to computer science and even anthropology. The program also includes college prep workshops and ends with a formal presentation where you share your research with professors, peers, and industry professionals.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective, small cohorts
Program Dates: Multiple sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Multiple dates throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8–12; no prior experience required for Scholars, Python familiarity or Scholars completion required for Fellowship
Veritas AI offers two programs for high school students who want to learn and apply artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp where you learn Python and key AI and machine learning concepts through live classes and coding projects.
If you want to go deeper, the AI Fellowship gives you 12–15 weeks to work one-on-one with a PhD mentor on a personalized AI research project. Your project can be in areas like finance, medicine, gaming, or sports, and you’ll build something you can publish or present in a final showcase.
3. New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: New York City School Construction Authority, Long Island, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid; students earn $16/hour for 30 hours per week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective, varies by year and placement availability
Dates: 6 weeks between June and August (specific dates depend on placement)
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: NYC public high school students who are eligible to work in the U.S.; school GPA is considered
The SCA High School Summer Internship Program (SIP) is a six-week paid opportunity for students in New York City who want to explore careers in civil engineering, architecture, construction, or IT. You spend four days a week working directly with an SCA department or partner company to gain real-world experience. On the fifth day, you attend workshops, panel discussions, and a hands-on design challenge to learn more about how the industry works. You also get a mentor who helps you explore future career paths.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
5. HK Maker Lab Summer Engineering Design Program
Location: Columbia University, Morningside Campus, New York City
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: July 8 – August 13, with a mandatory orientation in late June
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: 10th–11th graders attending NYCDOE public or charter high schools who are interested in STEAM fields
The HK Maker Lab is a five-week summer program for high school students interested in engineering, biomedical science, and design. Run with Columbia University, you choose between biomedical engineering or innovation and design as your main track. You take courses taught by Columbia faculty and then work in teams to create digital tools like apps that tackle global health issues. You learn how to use design software, build prototypes, and pitch ideas. After the summer, you may also get placed in a paid internship in a research lab or healthcare setting.
6. Project SEED – American Chemical Society
Location: Varies by lab placement; opportunities include New York City
Cost/Stipend: Free; interns receive a $4,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Supports over 350 students nationwide each summer
Dates: 8–10 weeks, June to August
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (including recent graduates) who have completed at least one high school chemistry course; preference for students with family income ≤300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Project SEED is a paid summer research program for high school students interested in chemistry or chemical engineering. Over 8 to 10 weeks, you work full-time in a research lab at a university, government site like the USDA, or an industry partner. You run experiments, design your project, and get daily guidance from professional chemists. Many locations add campus visits, career panels, or field trips. Some students even present their work at the American Chemical Society’s National Meeting.
7. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Paid Internships
Location: Opportunities at NASA’s 10 field centers across the U.S
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend determined by academic level and internship length
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive, varies by center and project
Dates: Typically May – August (summer), but varies by posting
Application Deadline: Spring: August 23; Summer: February 28; Fall: May 16
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and will be at least 16 years old at the time of application
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school students who want hands-on experience in science and engineering. You work directly with NASA scientists and engineers on projects related to space exploration, robotics, satellite systems, and planetary science.
You receive mentorship and training that helps you build professional skills and prepare for a STEM career. Your placement could be at one of NASA’s field centers, such as Kennedy, Johnson, or Goddard. You might also have the chance to work remotely through programs like the CUNY partnership in New York.
8. Summer Engineering Awareness Program
Location: Manhattan College, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Main 10-day program: July 7–11 & July 14–18, Extension 1: June 25–28, June 30 & July 1, Extension 2: July 21–25 & July 28
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from the NYC metro area, with a focus on minority and female students who demonstrate strong skills in math and science
Manhattan College’s Summer Engineering Awareness Program is a free, 10-day experience for high school students interested in science and engineering. It’s especially designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds. You explore engineering fields like civil, chemical, electrical, computer, and mechanical, plus physics and environmental science.
You work on experiments in areas like robotics, water filtration, aerospace energy, and green building design, and use design tools like CAD software for structural projects. The program also includes guest speakers, a field trip to a design firm, and sessions on scholarships, financial aid, and Air Force ROTC options.
9. Chemical Engineering Summer Program
Location: Manhattan College, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; includes complimentary breakfast and lunch both days
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 30–31
Application Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with an interest in STEM disciplines
Manhattan College offers a two-day summer workshop for high school juniors and seniors who want to explore chemical engineering. You take part in hands-on activities and friendly competitions that show how chemical engineers work in industries like biotech, green energy, and food production. You hear from faculty and industry experts, join alumni panels, and tour labs to see real-world engineering up close.
You also learn about computer-based design in process industries, student organizations, and how to apply for college and financial aid. If you complete the program, you get a Certificate of Completion and a $75 application fee waiver to Manhattan College’s Chemical Engineering program.
10. Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; full scholarship provided by National Grid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: NYC residents, ages 15+, current 9th through graduating 12th graders
The ieSoSC program at NYU Tandon is a five-week summer experience for high school students who want to learn how to shape smart cities. You’ll gain hands-on skills in coding, circuits, sensors, and microcontrollers while building solutions for real urban problems. Alongside the tech training, you’ll also learn about entrepreneurship; how to manage a project, pitch your ideas, and understand product economics. You’ll explore how to protect inventions through patents and copyrights and strengthen your communication and business skills.
11. Engineering the Next Generation (ENG)
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; students earn $15/hour for approximately 25 hours/week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; small research-focused cohort
Dates: July 7 – August 14
Application Deadline: Opens in November
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current 11th graders) with an interest in engineering and research; must comply with Columbia’s vaccination requirements (MMR)
Columbia’s Engineering the Next Generation (ENG) program is a six-week experience where you research alongside Columbia Engineering faculty. You explore topics like biomedical engineering, environmental systems, and computer science through hands-on lab projects. You build advanced skills, get mentorship from researchers, and take part in workshops on college prep and science communication. The program also includes seminars, field trips, and events with other students. In past years, students worked on projects like object detection models to dramatic chemistry demos like elephant’s toothpaste.
12. Tech Flex Leaders
Location: Hybrid format in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles (Summer Internship takes place in New York)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $1,000 stipend is provided
Dates: 9 months starting in September
Application Deadline: Applications open in May and close in August
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in a New York City, Los Angeles, or Miami high school
The Tech Flex Leaders program is an ideal fit for students seeking to establish a career path in the technology sector. You’ll explore in-demand tracks such as UX Design, Data Science, and Web Development through a rigorous blend of theoretical instruction and hands-on projects. Throughout the nine-month experience, you’ll participate in workshops, hackathons, and technical training that challenge your problem-solving and programming skills. The program emphasizes both conceptual understanding and real-world applications, helping you build a portfolio and gain confidence in emerging tech fields. You’ll also network with industry professionals and gain exposure to potential career paths through mentorship and a summer internship in New York.
13. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Internships
Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Buffalo, New York
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $3,000 stipend upon successful completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 1–3 high school students accepted
Dates: Late May to August (9 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic background in environmental or natural sciences
SUNY Oneonta offers a competitive 9-week summer research internship focused on environmental engineering and natural sciences. You’ll assist faculty and staff at the Biological Field Station (BFS) with lab and field-based research or develop your own project. During the internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience through water sampling, fish dissections, plant and fisheries surveys, and data analysis. You'll also develop technical writing and poster presentation skills, culminating in a final research showcase.
14. The Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Fall (exact challenge dates vary)
Application Deadline: July 8
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 with strong English proficiency and a passion for STEM
The Junior Academy is a free, project-based virtual program that brings together global high school students to solve real-world STEM challenges in international teams. Through the Academy’s custom-built Launchpad platform, you’ll collaborate with peers and receive mentorship from STEM professionals as you develop innovative solutions to industry-sponsored problems. Challenges begin with a skills-building kick-off week focused on research, design thinking, and data analysis. Over the following weeks, you’ll work with your team under the guidance of mentors, present your solutions to expert judges, and compete for recognition.
15. The STEM Institute – The City College of New York
Location: The City College of New York (CCNY), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application Deadline: May 25
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grades 6–12)
The STEM Institute at CCNY is a free five-week summer program for high school students in New York City. You’ll take part in hands-on workshops every morning in areas like architecture, robotics, environmental science, or design. In the afternoons, you’ll work on research or group projects with guidance from instructors. The program includes all materials, meals, and activities at no cost. You’ll get a chance to build practical STEM skills, work on real problems, and learn alongside other students from across the city.
16. TryEngineering Summer Institute
Location: Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,595 (residential); $1,995 (commuter). 100% scholarship available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment (first-come, first-served)
Dates: July 13–25
Application Deadline: Rolling (until spots are filled)
Eligibility: Rising 8th–12th grade students
The TryEngineering Summer Institute in NYC is a two-week engineering summer camp developed by the IEEE to introduce high school students to various engineering disciplines through immersive, hands-on learning. You’ll explore mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and civil engineering through lab activities, design challenges, and field trips to tech hubs and engineering facilities. Hosted at Vaughn College, the program also integrates college readiness workshops and team-based competitions that foster innovation and problem-solving.
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