12 Robotics Programs for High School Students in New York State
If you are a high school student interested in robotics, a structured program is a great opportunity to learn more about the field and create a pathway to learn skills beyond the classroom. These programs combine coding, engineering, problem-solving, and design, giving you the chance to work with real technology and understand how machines interact with the world. Along with technical learning, they introduce you to industry practices, encourage teamwork, and help you develop critical thinking skills that are valuable no matter which career path you eventually pursue.
Across New York State, institutions like universities, STEM-focused nonprofits, and specialized tech groups offer robotics programs that you can take advantage of. These are great for New York-based students who want local opportunities as well as for out-of-state students who are curious about exploring the region’s strong academic and technology scene. You can access resources and mentorship without having to commit to an expensive long-term program.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 12 robotics programs for high school students in New York State, including a few virtual options for those who want flexibility while still accessing top-tier learning.
1. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: None; $1,000 stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who reside and attend school in New York
If you’re interested in robotics programs for high school students in New York State, NYU’s ARISE program gives you the chance to spend 10 weeks learning and working in advanced STEM fields, including robotics, computer science, and engineering. The first part of the program is online, where you’ll focus on lab safety, ethics, and research skills, while also getting advice on preparing for college. After that, you’ll move into a six-week in-person lab placement at NYU, where you’ll contribute to real projects alongside graduate student mentors. You won’t just be shadowing; your work can include tasks like collecting and analyzing data, helping test systems, or exploring solutions to engineering problems. The program also emphasizes communication, so you’ll build presentation skills while earning a stipend with support from theater professionals before sharing your final research with peers, faculty, and family.
2. Veritas AI – Robotics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including winter, fall, spring, and summer
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI is designed for high school students who want to explore how artificial intelligence connects with robotics and other real-world fields. The entry-level AI Scholars program introduces you to the basics of AI and machine learning through 10 online sessions, where you’ll also complete projects to see how AI can be applied to areas like healthcare and the environment. If you’re ready for a bigger challenge, the AI Fellowship pairs you with a university researcher for one-on-one mentorship on a project you design together. Past students have studied topics such as AI in sports, sustainability, or robotics, and you’ll also have the option to work toward publishing your paper with guidance from Veritas AI’s editorial team.
3. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: No program fees; stipend is offered at completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents; At least 16 years by the start of the program
At the Simons Summer Research Program, you’ll spend your summer working directly with Stony Brook University faculty and research teams in science, math, or engineering. If you’re placed in a lab that focuses on robotics or related technology, you’ll get to experience what it’s like to contribute to a real research project while learning the skills that scientists and engineers use every day. This is among the robotics programs for high school students in New York state that gives you the chance to attend weekly faculty lectures, participate in skill-building workshops, and take part in research discussions that broaden your academic perspective. By the end of your project, you’ll prepare both a research abstract and a poster that you present at a closing symposium, sharing your work with peers and mentors. You also receive a stipend for your work.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Robotics Track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies based on the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers an online option for students seeking a one-on-one research experience under the guidance of PhD-level mentors. Over 12 weeks, you’ll work closely with your mentor to identify a research question, learn the methods needed to study it, and write a formal research paper by the end of the program. The flexibility of Lumiere means you can choose from a range of fields, and if robotics interests you, you might explore areas like robot design, automation, or AI systems. Regular meetings keep you on track as you refine your project, collect data, and polish your analysis. You’ll also get support with academic writing, making your final paper similar to the work you’ll later do in college. The program concludes with the chance to present your work at a symposium, and also offers you the opportunity to pursue publication.
5. Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $2,500 (tuition and fees) + $100 materials fee + $100 events fee (housing and meal plans are optional)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: Session 1: June 17–June 28, Session 2: July 8–19, Session 3: July 29–August 9
Application deadline: May 1 or until full
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 who have completed Algebra 2 (or its equivalent), have some experience in any programming language, and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) are eligible to apply.
SPARC at NYU Tandon is a two-week summer program that focuses specifically on robotics, coding, and mechatronics. This is one of the robotics programs for high school students in New York state that offers hands-on experience from the start, with classes and workshops covering the basics of circuits, microcontrollers, and programming. By the end of the first week, you’ll be acquainted with the skills to begin assembling your own robots, including a car robot and a manipulator robot with an arm controlled by infrared signals. You’ll also practice coding logic like loops and conditionals to make your designs come to life. The program ends with a challenge where your robots are tested, giving you a chance to apply everything you’ve learned. Outside of class, you can take part in campus life at NYU, whether that means joining field trips, exploring New York City, or staying in the residence halls with other students.
6. Rochester Institute of Technology – Expert RoboCamp
Location: RIT campus, NY
Cost: Single camp: $400 | Multiple camps: $380/camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort
Dates: July 28–August 1
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 8th-10th graders
RoboCamp at RIT is a week-long day camp where you’ll design, build, and program robots while working in teams. Using tools like motors, sensors, and NXT-G programming, you’ll start with the basics of mobility and simple robot behaviors before moving on to more complex challenges. As one of the robotics programs for high school students in New York state, the program mixes short lessons with plenty of hands-on time, so you’ll spend most of your day experimenting, solving problems, and testing your designs. A big part of the experience is collaboration; each team works toward completing tasks that mirror real engineering challenges, giving you a taste of what teamwork looks like in robotics. The projects encourage you to push your creativity as you figure out how to make your robot perform efficiently in a final competition.
7. Stony Brook University Pre-College Summer Program: Robotics Engineering
Location: Stony Brook University, NY
Cost: $2,250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session One: July 6 – 11; Session Two: July 13 – 18
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students
The Pre-College Robotics Engineering program at Stony Brook packs a lot into one week, giving you a crash course in both mechanical and digital aspects of robotics. You’ll learn how to design circuits, integrate sensors, and program microcontrollers, all while working with tools like Arduino and Bluetooth for control. Among the many robotics programs for high school students in New York state, this curriculum is modeled after a freshman-level course at the university, so you get a taste of what studying engineering in college might feel like. Hands-on activities are at the core of the program, and you’ll spend your time building robots with locomotion, sensing, and actuation capabilities. You’ll also explore how to connect your robots to mobile devices for remote control, adding another layer of complexity to your projects.
8. Oxford Royale – Engineering: Software, Robotics & AI Summer School
Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, Manhattan, NY
Cost: £5,495 ($7,109)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 12 | July 13 – 26
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who are 16-18 years old
In this program, you’ll explore the connections between computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence through both classroom learning and practical projects. Topics include programming concepts such as algorithms and data structures, along with hands-on experience in building and coding robotic systems. You’ll also examine how AI is used in robotics, from machine learning applications to autonomous decision-making, and consider ethical questions related to emerging technologies. Classes are combined with workshops and masterclasses to give you time to apply new skills in real-world simulations. If you join, you’ll also live in a college-style setting, participate in discussions about the future of tech, and complete a personal project that reflects your interests in robotics and AI.
9. AI+Art Summer High School Program
Location: NYU's Brooklyn campus, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $3,045
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 28 – August 8
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students who will be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in the Fall
If you’re someone who enjoys both technology and creativity, this two-week robotics program for high school students in New York state combines art with robotics and AI. You’ll start by learning the basics of generative AI models and how they are used to create visual art, music, and interactive media. From there, you’ll use AI tools in your own creative projects, experimenting with coding simple algorithms or even designing robots that can be part of your artistic process. The program also includes discussions on the ethical and cultural implications of AI in creative spaces, encouraging you to think critically about how technology shapes art. By the end, you’ll showcase your work in a final exhibition, where projects range from AI-generated visuals to interactive robotic pieces. This program is designed for students who want to bridge STEM and the arts while gaining practical experience.
10. Columbia University - Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Residential fee: $10,705 | Commuter fee: $5,880
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Expected to be 450 (18 classes with 25 students)
Dates: Session 1: July 7 - 25 | Session 2: July 28 - August 15
Application deadline: March 3 (rolling)
Eligibility: Current high school students are eligible to apply. Applicants must be over the age of 16 for the residential program
At Columbia’s SHAPE program, you can spend three weeks experiencing engineering in a hands-on way while living and learning in New York City. If robotics is your interest, you might choose classes like Robotics and Autonomous Driving, where you’ll design and program a robotic car to navigate mazes, or Moving Forward: Walking Robots, where you’ll design and build a quadruped robot that can walk using motors and sensors. Both courses emphasize problem-solving and creativity, combining technical skills such as coding in Arduino and 3D modeling with practical lab work. In addition to your main course, you’ll also take electives, join workshops, and get mentorship from Columbia engineering students.
12. Northeastern University’s Modern Robotics Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free, might need to pay for certificate and complete access
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Approximately 4 months, with a suggested pace of 3 hours per week
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to everyone with basic programming skills and an understanding of linear algebra
If you’re looking for a flexible way to deepen your understanding of robotics, the Modern Robotics specialization from Northwestern University (via Coursera) could be a strong option. The sequence covers the math and engineering principles behind robot motion, dynamics, and control, using concepts like kinematics and screw theory to explain how robots move and interact with their environment. Through projects, you’ll write your own robotics software in the language of your choice and test it in a simulator designed to mimic industrial robotic arms and mobile robots. This setup means you can get authentic programming practice without needing access to expensive hardware. The specialization has six courses that build on each other, so you move from foundational skills to advanced problem-solving step by step.
13. Playto Labs Champion Robotics Summer Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $800 – $1,000 for live 1:1 classes over 7 – 8 months (includes a robotics kit)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Varies; arranged directly with the camp
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 14 – 16
This online camp is centered around hands-on projects, with each student receiving a robotics kit to assemble and program robots at home. Through live sessions with instructors, you’ll work on topics like sensors, controllers, coding logic, and mechanical design, all while building robots that can perform functional tasks. The curriculum is focused on project-based learning, so rather than only studying concepts, you’ll apply them to create working models. In addition to guided activities, you’ll have the chance to test your designs in global robotics competitions, which provide experience with problem-solving under real-world conditions. The program also introduces advanced topics like AI and the Internet of Things, showing how robotics connects with broader fields of technology. By the end, you’ll have completed multiple robotics projects and earned a certification.
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