15 Robotics Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high schooler with an interest in robotics, consider participating in a robotics-focused pre-college program. As a participant in a robotics pre-college program, you will gain practical skills in problem-solving and critical thinking, and learn to collaborate effectively with others. You’ll also get to pick up on industry-relevant skills like programming, gain field experience, and develop valuable connections.
What are the benefits of a robotics pre-college program?
Robotics pre-college programs are often offered by prestigious universities around the country, including Harvard University, Brown University, MIT, Columbia University, and more. You’ll get to learn from industry experts and well-known faculty members and work on robotics projects under their guidance. Some of the projects you might get to work on include programming autonomous robots, controlling a robotic dog, building an aerial drone, and more. You will also explore relevant fields such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science, while gaining programming skills in Python.
With that, here are 15 robotics pre-college summer programs for high school students that are worth exploring.
If you’re looking for online STEM research programs, check out our blog here.
1. Stony Brook University’s Pre-College Summer Program: Robotics Engineering
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $2,375 (Residential); $1,000 – 1,250 (Commuter); Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 28 – July 3; July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: May 15; Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (ages 15-17) in good academic standing
Stony Brook University’s Pre-College Summer Program gives you the chance to experience life on a college campus, participate in hands-on learning, and connect with faculty members and peers from around the world. You can choose from several subject areas, including STEM, engineering, and more. For a more robotics-focused experience, you can try the Robotics Engineering course, which teaches you the fundamentals of robotics, including concepts like practical electronics, mechanical design, and microcontroller programming. You will spend a week developing skills in designing robot motions, prototyping, and integrating autonomous systems. Some topics you’ll explore include locomotion, sensing, actuation, reasoning, and remote control.
2. Harvard SSP: Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, and Artificial Intelligence
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (online)
Cost: Varies; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 7 (early), February 11 (regular), April 1 (late)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders (ages 16-19) familiar with Python, algebra, and geometry
Harvard SSP allows you to take part in college-level academics and explore a wide variety of subject areas, including computer science and engineering. For those with an interest in robotics, the Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, and Artificial Intelligence course gives you the chance to study the theory behind these technologies, as well as the tools used to facilitate them. Some topics you’ll explore include modern machine learning algorithms, mathematical modeling and abstraction, engineering design, AI and sensor technologies, and more.
3. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA (virtual options available)
Cost: Free (if family income is below $200,000); $2,400 (if family income is above $200,000)
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: March 2 – 30
Eligibility: U.S. 9th-11th graders
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous, prestigious STEM program that offers hands-on, project-based learning. Over four weeks, you’ll get to explore fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, computer engineering, and more. If you’re interested in robotics, you can check out courses like Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing or Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix. During the latter program, you will be introduced to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) and learn to build and debug code using robotics software. The Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix program will give you the chance to work with an MIT-designed RACECAR (Rapid Autonomous Complex Environment Competing Ackermann steeRing) robot and build, code, and test autonomous robots.
4. Columbia Engineering's Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $6,241 (Commuter); $11,492 (Residential); Need-based scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: July 6 – 24; July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: November 25 – December 22 (priority), March 2 (final)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders and recent high school graduates
Columbia University’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) is a pre-college program that provides you with the opportunity to explore STEM and robotics fields. As a participant, you’ll spend around three weeks attending a college-level, project-based course at Columbia University. Some of the more robotics-focused courses are Robotics and Autonomous Driving and Moving Forward: Walking Robots. In addition to the robotics course, you will be encouraged to select an elective course and participate in workshops led by Columbia Engineering faculty. The program also assists you in preparing for college and the admissions process, and provides support from Columbia students.
5. UT Austin Summer Academies: Academy for Robotics
Location: UT Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100; Scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: Opens February 1; Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
UT Austin’s Academy for Robotics allows you to experience hands-on robot building and simulation, through which you will learn about the fundamentals of mechanical design, programming, and control systems. You’ll be taught by UT professors and experts and will get to work on hands-on robotics projects that give you the chance to use tools often used in robotics research. You will also have the opportunity to explore future internship and career options, and you will receive guidance on admissions for applying to UT. The program also offers a residential experience, giving you the chance to live and learn on a college campus.
6. UConn Pre-College Summer Program: Robotics Engineering
Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Cost: Varies (additional fees apply); Discounts and scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – 27
Application Deadline: December – June 11
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders (ages 15-17) with basic programming skills; Robotics experience is useful but not required
UConn’s Pre-College Summer Program allows you access to several college-level courses, including ones focused on robotics, STEM, engineering, and more. The Robotics Engineering course introduces you to fundamental robotics concepts and allows you to gain experience with cutting-edge robotics technologies and their uses in various sectors like service, defense, manufacturing, and so on. The course offers interactive lectures on the history and overview of robotics engineering and gives you the chance to participate in hands-on robot programming activities. Along the way, you’ll develop practical skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and programming. You’ll also get to automate a robot to perform simple tasks.
7. Lawrence Technological University: High School Summer Programs
Location: Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI
Cost: $1,250 (Commuter); $1,400 (Residential); Scholarships offered
Cohort Size: 20 students
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Opens November 17; Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders (ages 14-18)
Lawrence Technological University’s High School Summer Program allows you to explore several college-level courses, including ones that cover robotics, engineering, and STEM. For a more robotics-focused experience, check out Robotics I, which offers a solid introduction to the field for interested high schoolers. During this program, you will learn the fundamentals of building and programming robots with Arduino microcontrollers, sensors, motors, and more. You’ll get to work in teams to design and build a robot that moves, reacts, and responds to real-world stimuli. For a more advanced experience, you can participate in Robotics II, during which you will work in LTU’s Rockwell Automation Lab and assemble robot platforms from scratch. This course will end with a robotics competition and project showcase, where you will present your robotics project. Aside from these courses, you can also participate in RoboDog Adventures: Robotics and Python Programming Camp, which teaches you Python and allows you to control your own programmable robotic dog.
8. Summer@Brown: Introduction to Mechatronics
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: Varies; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – July 2
Application Deadline: January 14 – May 8
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders (ages 14-18) with a basic understanding of algebra and physics
Summer@Brown allows you to experience college-level academics without the pressure of grades and credits. You can choose from a vast range of subject areas, all of which are taught by Brown faculty members. If you’re interested in robotics, the Introduction to Mechatronics course is a solid option that lets you explore the intersection of mechanical engineering, electronics, and programming. You will experience project-based and collaborative learning while focusing on design thinking, experimentation, and iteration. You’ll also get to design and build a basic electromechanical system that uses sensors and actuators. Some topics covered in this course include basic mechanics, programming basics, electronics fundamentals, prototyping and iterative design, and more. By the end of the course, you’ll be expected to have ready a written and oral presentation of your work so far.
9. Stony Brook University’s Pre-College Summer Program: Aerial Robotics
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $2,250 (Residential); $1,250 (Commuter); Financial aid offered.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 20 – 25
Application Deadline: May 15; Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders (ages 15-17) in good academic standing
Stony Brook University’s Pre-College Summer Program gives you the chance to experience life on a college campus, participate in hands-on learning, and connect with faculty members and peers from around the world. You can choose from several subject areas, including STEM, engineering, and more. For a more robotics-focused experience, you can try the Aerial Robotics course, which teaches you to build and program a drone. You will spend a week learning the ins and outs of autonomous systems and working with the hardware and software needed to build your robot and make it intelligent. Along the way, you’ll also develop your programming skills and learn basic drone flight mechanics, safe flight testing, and landing procedures.
10. Temple University’s Engineering Summer Youth Programs: Robotics Summer Institute
Location: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Varies by duration; Financial aid offered.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 2-week sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – May 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
Temple University’s Engineering Summer Youth Programs offers an opportunity to explore various fields within STEM and determine if these areas align with your interests and goals. Among these programs is the Robotics Summer Institute, during which you will be introduced to electrical and computer engineering and learn how to build and program a mobile robot. You’ll also get to learn from Temple professors and graduate and undergraduate students. Some topics you’ll explore include visual programming using MakeCode, Python programming, sensors, motors, microcontrollers, and other electrical components, and more. You’ll learn how to program a robot to perform obstacle avoidance, lane following, and so on.
11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Summer Programs
Location: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Cost: $795 (Launch); $4,495 (Frontiers); Financial assistance offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26 (Launch); July 5 – 17 (Frontiers I); July 19 – 31 (Frontiers II)
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 9th-11th graders (Launch); Rising 10th-12th graders (Frontiers)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers two main Summer Programs for high school students: Launch, a commuter program that teaches you how research and technology can be used to solve real-world problems, and Frontiers, an overnight program that lets you experience life on campus. During the Launch program, you will explore fields such as video game design, computer programming, engineering, robotics, and more. Frontiers, on the other hand, will have you participate in lab-based STEM classes and take up a minor and a major. Both programs offer robotics-focused courses, such as Robotics Engineering. During the Launch Robotics Engineering course, you will explore robotic design and operations as well as areas like mechanical and electrical engineering and computer science. You’ll learn through hands-on projects and develop Python programming skills. Frontier’s Robotics Engineering course provides an advanced learning experience, allowing you to design, build, and test your own robots using VEX software. The program will end with a tournament where you and your team will present your final creation.
12. Tufts Pre-College Programs: Engineering Design Lab
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost: $4,425 (Commuter); $5,950 (Residential); Limited scholarships offered.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 5 – 17; Session 2: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: December 1 – June 1; Rolling Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders or recent high school graduates
As a participant in the Tufts Pre-College Program, you’ll get to participate in hands-on learning and experience college-level academics. During the Engineering Design Lab course, you’ll get to explore areas like engineering, fabrication, robotics, and computation, and apply them to real-world problems. For two weeks, you will attend sessions where speakers from the university and the industry discuss the latest research and development in their labs. You will also engage in hands-on learning experiences using Tufts’ Nolop Makerspace, where you will have the opportunity to work with laser cutting and 3D printing tools, gain knowledge of Python programming, and operate robotics platforms such as Raspberry Pi and the GoPiGo3. The program will end with a Project Showcase, during which you will be expected to present your final team projects.
13. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA + Virtual/hybrid options
Cost: $1,299 + $25 application fee; Up to 100% financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 or older (remote) or 16 or older (in-person or hybrid)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program provides an opportunity to gain research experience and collaborate with researchers from George Mason University and other institutions. For those interested in robotics, the program offers opportunities to explore relevant areas such as bioengineering, machine learning, STEM, and more. You will also get to work with advanced technology and develop essential STEM skills. Aside from this, the program emphasizes scientific writing and communication, offering discussion forums and meetings that explore various STEM career pathways. By the conclusion of the program, you will have completed a research project and earned three college credits from George Mason University.
14. Student Preparation to Advance Robotics in College (SPARC) Certificate Program
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $5,000; Scholarships offered.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 24; Session 2: July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 15 (third-tier deadline); Rolling
Eligibility: Current 10th-12th graders
The Student Preparation to Advance Robotics in College (SPARC) Certificate Program offers high school students the chance to participate in a three-week, robotics-focused program. This program aims to introduce you to relevant topics in robotics and automation. This includes Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs), Machine Learning & AI, 3D Nanoprinting & Additive Manufacturing, Soft Bio-Inspired & Medical Robotics, and Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) & Drones. Each session is aligned with specific topics, so you can choose sessions based on your specific interests.
15. Stevens Pre-College Program – Exploring Career Options in Engineering and Science (ECOES)
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $4,950; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: March 16 (priority); June 1 (final)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors
Stevens Pre-College Program gives you the chance to explore life on a college campus, attend challenging academic courses, and learn from expert Stevens faculty members. You can choose from several subject areas, including robotics. The program offers the Exploring Career Options in Engineering and Science (ECOES) course, during which you will explore the possible careers available to you in the fields of engineering and science. You might get to participate in modules focused on robotics, mechanical engineering, physics, computer engineering, and more.
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