As a high-school student fascinated by how things work, engineering is likely on your radar, but the path from curious tinkerer to future engineer can seem daunting. You might wonder what the discipline involves beyond the math and science classes you take at school. After all, engineering is about innovation, design thinking, and practical application, not just theory. One of the best ways to explore the stream is by enrolling in an online engineering program.

Picture yourself mastering CAD software to model a 3D part, collaborating with peers on a sustainable energy project, or learning the logic behind complex circuits from your own desk. By spending your time studying engineering, you’ll develop technical literacy, sharpen your problem-solving skills, and get a head start on college-level concepts.

How do you choose the right online engineering programs for high school students?

It might be tough to distinguish between a high-quality course and a simple video series. Some options might be too easy, purely theoretical, or lack the interactive elements that make engineering come alive. That’s why guidance is crucial to help you sift through the noise and find a program that truly challenges you.

Various universities and tech platforms offer online engineering programs that are interactive, project-based, and intellectually stimulating. You’ll study robotics, civil infrastructure, software development, electrical systems, and more. You’ll learn through virtual labs, design challenges, coding exercises, and industry case studies. Programs range from intensive pre-college credit courses to flexible, skill-specific workshops.

Of course, despite the remote format, you’ll need discipline to keep up with the coursework. For now, though, we’ve simplified the process. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 Best Online Engineering Programs for High School Students. They’ve been selected for their curriculum quality, interactive components, and student engagement.

If you’re looking for in-person opportunities in engineering, you can check out engineering programs for high school students. For a broader focus, you can have a look at online STEM programs for high school students.

15 Online Engineering Programs for High School Students

1. MITES Semester

Location: Fully remote (with a capstone conference at MIT)
Cost: Free of charge (Travel aid is available for the conference)
Dates: June – December. 6-month program
Application Deadline: February 1st at 11:59 PM PST (recommendations due by Feb 15th)
Eligibility: High school juniors (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) who can commit 25-30 hours/week in the summer and 3–5 hours/week in the fall.

MITES Semester is a rigorous academic enrichment program that blends advanced STEM learning with college preparation. As one of the most competitive online engineering programs for high school students, it offers a hybrid experience where you engage in two intensive courses: a project-based elective like Machine Learning or Astrophysics, and a core course in Calculus, Physics, or Computer Science. Unlike a usual summer camp, this program extends into the fall to provide sustained mentorship and college admissions counseling as you navigate your senior year.

You will collaborate with peers on a final capstone project and present your findings at the MITES Semester Conference. This program is ideal for high-achieving students seeking to strengthen their technical skills while receiving expert guidance on the college application process. You can access the application form here.

Why it stands out: It combines the academic rigor of MIT coursework with long-term, personalized college application support, all entirely tuition-free.

2. Immerse Education’s Engineering Online Summer School

Location: Fully remote
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Dates: Multiple start dates throughout the year; typically short-term, intensive sessions (often  around 2 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment (course availability may change based on session demand). Apply at least 4-6 weeks before your preferred start date to ensure your spot is secured.
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 seeking university-level research experience. Open to students around the world. 

The Engineering Online Research Programme is a premium, personalized academic experience that connects you directly with expert tutors from world-leading universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and the Ivy League. In this 1:1 mentorship track, you explore advanced engineering concepts, from robotics and AI to sustainable infrastructure, tailored specifically to your interests. Unlike a standard course, this is a research-intensive fellowship where you receive individual guidance to produce a university-level academic paper or project.

You will develop critical technical writing and analytical skills, culminating in a final piece of work that can strengthen your university portfolio. This program is ideal for motivated students who want to go beyond the school curriculum and engage in deep, scholarly inquiry. You can access the application form here. You can find examples of papers Immerse students have worked on here. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: It offers rare 1:1 mentorship with elite academics, allowing you to produce a high-level research paper that serves as a tangible asset for college applications.

3. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships

Location: Remote options available
Cost: Free (Interns receive a stipend based on academic level)
Dates: Spring (15 weeks), Summer (10 weeks), Fall (15 weeks)
Application Deadline: Summer: Feb 27th; Fall: May 22nd
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years old with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0

NASA offers highly competitive internships that allow students to contribute to agency missions under the guidance of a NASA mentor. Among the most prestigious online engineering programs for high school students with virtual options, NASA lists specific remote opportunities where interns work on data analysis, software engineering, and mission planning.

You will engage in a rigorous technical project, attend virtual lecture series with agency leadership, and present your findings at the end of the session. This experience provides an unparalleled look into aerospace engineering and federal research operations. You can create a profile and apply here.

Why it stands out: It offers a rare opportunity to contribute to active NASA missions while receiving a federal stipend, serving as a direct pipeline for future employment at the agency.

4. BlueStamp Engineering Remote Program

Location: Fully remote (Project kits mailed to your home)
Cost: $2,400 (Tuition includes parts and tools)
Dates: Session 1: June 8th – June 26th; Session 2: June 29th – July 17th; Session 3: July 20th – August 7th
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12. Open to international students

BlueStamp Engineering offers a hands-on remote experience where you build a physical project, such as a robotic arm, a smart garden, or a solar-powered device. The program mails you a kit of parts and tools, and you join daily video calls with instructors to troubleshoot and refine your build.

The focus is on the “engineering design process,” encouraging you to overcome technical failures and document your progress. You will finish the program with a completed prototype and a personal webpage documenting your engineering journey. If interested, you may apply here.

Why it stands out: BlueStamp is one of the few remote programs that delivers true hardware engineering, not simulations, combining physical builds, daily mentorship, and professional-style documentation.

5. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College (Online)

Location: Fully remote (Online Synchronous)
Cost: Starts from $1290 Tuition and can go up to $4,259.67 (depending upon the chosen program) + Extra Application Fee applicable (Financial aid is available).
Dates: Vary
Application Deadline: Rolling basis admission. The early action deadline is January 30th.
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15-17) with Algebra II and a lab science (Physics/Chemistry) completed with As or Bs. Open to overseas students. 

Johns Hopkins offers a fully online version of its renowned “Explore Engineering Innovation” course, designed to simulate the intensity of a freshman college curriculum. As one of the few credit-bearing online engineering programs for high school students, you will cover topics in civil, electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering, solving problems and conducting experiments using a mailed lab kit.

Students who earn a grade of B or higher receive transferable Johns Hopkins University credit. It is an excellent way to prove to admissions officers that you can handle the demands of an elite engineering major. You can view the requirements and apply here.

Why it stands out: This is one of the few online programs offering real, transferable university engineering credit, directly demonstrating college-level readiness.

6. Cornell University Precollege Studies — Online

Location: Fully remote
Cost: Varies per credit
Dates: June – July (Sessions vary from 3 to 6 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 28th – June 2nd (depending on session)
Eligibility: Rising/Current high school juniors & seniors, ages 15 to 19. Open to international students. 

Cornell offers one of the most extensive catalogs of online credit-bearing courses for high school students. As one of the most academically rigorous online engineering programs for high school students, you can take genuine undergraduate classes in subjects like “Introduction to Engineering,” “Computer Science,” or “Data Science” alongside matriculated university students.

The courses are rigorous and require a significant time commitment, including exams, problem sets, and projects. Earning a high grade in these courses provides a concrete transcript to demonstrate your academic readiness for top-tier engineering programs. You can access the admissions portal here.

Why it stands out: Students earn Ivy League academic credit through genuine Cornell coursework, one of the strongest academic credentials a high school student can present.

7. Brown University Pre-College — Online

Location: Mostly asynchronous or blended sessions
Cost: Varies (based on program length)
Dates:  June and July (varies based on program length)
Application Deadline: Program-specific (rolling until filled)
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12, ages 14-18 by June 14th. Open to foreign students. 

Brown’s online pre-college program allows you to explore engineering topics like “Renewable Energy Engineering” or “Biomedical Engineering” mostly through asynchronous or blended sessions. Unlike the credit-bearing courses, these programs focus on the joy of learning and the deep exploration of a topic.

You will engage in design challenges, peer discussions, and instructor-led feedback sessions. It is a strong option for students who want to test drive a specific engineering major before committing to it in college. You can access the login portal here to start applying.

Why it stands out: It offers a stress-free Ivy League learning environment (Course Performance Reports instead of grades), allowing for risk-taking and pure intellectual exploration.

8. Case Western Reserve University Pre-College Online

Location: Fully remote
Cost: $1,595 (individual course fees), and financial aid is available.
Dates: Multiple 2-and 4-week sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and older. Open to overseas students. 

Case Western offers fully online courses specifically designed for high schoolers, featuring pre-recorded video lessons from university faculty and mentorship from industry experts. Their engineering course, “Engineering: From 2D Sketch to 3D Model,” teaches the fundamentals of design thinking and CAD software.

The program creates a low-stakes environment to learn the technical skills required for future mechanical or civil engineering studies. You will complete a final project that applies the concepts you’ve learned to a practical design problem & earn a “Certificate of Completion” from Case Western Reserve University. You can view the course catalog and apply here.

Why it stands out: It focuses specifically on technical skill acquisition (like CAD and design thinking) with a flexible, asynchronous structure that fits around a busy high school schedule.

9. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship

Location: Fully remote
Cost: $2400 (programme fee) and $45 application fee
Dates: The program runs for two weeks in June and July
Application Deadline: February 20th
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ interested in the intersection of healthcare and AI. Students must be in the U.S, no international students allowed.

The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) offers a two-week virtual internship for students interested in how engineering applies to healthcare. You will attend lectures from Stanford faculty and work on a group research project involving medical imaging data.

While short, the program is intense and provides a clear window into the rapidly growing field of medical AI. You will receive a certificate of completion and potentially have your work featured on the Stanford AIMI website. You can submit your application here.

Why it stands out: It provides exclusive access to Stanford’s medical AI research ecosystem, allowing students to work with real-world medical imaging data under the guidance of Stanford faculty.

10. George Mason University ASSIP

Location: Remote options available
Cost: $1299 (tuition fee) and $25 application fee
Dates: June 18th – August 12th
Application Deadline: The strict application deadline is February 15.
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years or older by June 18th; open to national and international applicants for remote options.

The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) matches high school students with faculty mentors for research projects. Many mentors, particularly in computational and data engineering fields, offer fully remote internships.

You will learn to use professional scientific tools, analyze real datasets, and write a scientific paper. The program emphasizes science communication, requiring you to present your findings at a symposium at the end of the summer. You can find the application form here.

Why it stands out: It is a serious research internship that offers 3 college credits and culminates in a formal symposium presentation, with a strong track record of students publishing their work.

11. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)

Location: Virtual options available
Cost: Free (Application required)
Dates: The summer program runs in July–August (Online prep courses start in February)
Application Deadline: The application for the Summer Institute closes on March 31st.
Eligibility: High school juniors (Grade 11) primarily, though some programs accept younger students. U.S. residency is often required.

MIT BWSI is a world-class program that requires students to complete extensive online preparatory courses during the summer session. While the main institute has an in-person component, they often offer virtual courses or purely online independent coursework options in autonomous Cognitive Assistance (CogWorks), Medlytics, Quantum Software, Remote Sensing for Disaster Response, etc.

The curriculum is project-based and extremely challenging, often requiring you to program autonomous cars or drones in simulation. Completion of this program is a strong signal of engineering competence to admissions committees. You can register and apply here.

Why it stands out: BWSI is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging high school engineering programs in the world, with a curriculum that closely mirrors upper-level undergraduate work.

12. Stanford SPINWIP — Physics Outreach Program

Location: Fully remote, online summer program
Cost: Free for all participants
Dates: 3 weeks in July
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in late spring (Results announced late May/early June)
Eligibility: Rising 9th-11th graders (current high school students). Open to international students and all genders, with a focus on underrepresented backgrounds in physics.

SPINWIP is a specialized outreach program hosted by the Stanford Physics Department and KIPAC (Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology) to engage high school students in cutting-edge physics research. In this intensive virtual workshop, you learn Python coding from scratch and apply it to real-world projects in quantum physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Unlike a standard lecture series, you work in small groups led by Stanford undergraduates and attend career development workshops. You will gain technical skills and direct mentorship from Stanford professors and researchers. This program is ideal for students with no prior coding or physics experience who want to explore the field in a supportive, high-level academic environment. You can access the application form here.

Why it stands out: It is a completely free, Stanford-led program that teaches Python coding through the lens of advanced physics (quantum/cosmology) with direct mentorship from university researchers.

13. Harvard-Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)

Location: Cambridge, MA (in-person and/or virtual mentorship at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian)
Cost: Free (Students receive a stipend)
Dates: Academic year – September through May
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May/June for the following academic year.
Eligibility: Strictly limited to high school juniors and seniors enrolled at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS).

The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) is a premier partnership between Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution that pairs local high school students with professional astrophysicists. In this academic-year cohort, you join a research team to investigate active topics in modern astronomy, such as exoplanet detection, black hole dynamics, or stellar evolution.

Unlike a standard internship, this is a guided research track where you meet weekly with your mentor to analyze real data and learn technical skills like Python coding and image processing. The experience culminates in a formal symposium where you present your findings to the Harvard scientific community. This program is ideal for local students who want a deep, sustained introduction to the life of a research scientist. You can access the application details here.

Why it stands out: It offers rare access to the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) faculty and resources, provides a paid stipend, and results in a formal research presentation.

14. Northwestern Pre-College Online — Engineering

Location: Fully remote (Asynchronous with mentor support)
Cost: $1,895 (Financial aid is available) 
Dates: Year-round (Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions available) 
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (students may apply until shortly before start dates)
Eligibility: Students ages 13+. Open to international students. 

Northwestern University offers a flexible, online engineering course specifically designed to introduce students to the human-centered side of the field. In “Solving Problems Through Design,” you move beyond raw calculation to explore how engineers identify needs and create solutions in civil, mechanical, and biomedical contexts. Unlike a traditional lecture, this course is built around dynamic video lessons and a capstone project where you apply the engineering design process to a real-world problem.

You will work under the guidance of a mentor who provides feedback on your assignments, helping you refine your critical thinking skills. This program is ideal for students who want a low-pressure, high-engagement introduction to engineering principles without the constraints of a rigid schedule. You can access the application form here.

Why it stands out: It offers a flexible, year-round schedule that accommodates busy high schoolers, providing a Certificate of Completion from a top-tier university without the stress of letter grades.

15. Veritas AI — AI Fellowship

Location: Fully remote
Cost: $5,900 for the Fellowship (Financial aid is available)
Dates: It’s a 15-week program with 1-4 months of publication submission.
Application Deadline: The upcoming Spring cohort deadline is February 20th
Eligibility: High school students with some prior Python or AI knowledge (or those who have completed the AI Scholars foundational program). Open to foreign students as well. 

Veritas AI creates a pathway for students to build complex AI projects under the mentorship of graduate students from top universities like Harvard. In the Fellowship program, you will spend 15 weeks building a novel AI model or application, such as a neural network for medical diagnosis or a natural language processing tool.

The program focuses on the engineering aspect of AI, coding, testing, and refining models, rather than just theory. You will emerge with a publication-ready paper or a functional software product to showcase in your portfolio. You can view the different programs and start your application here.

Why it stands out: Unlike introductory AI programs, Veritas emphasizes original research and engineering depth, with structured mentorship and explicit support for academic publication; a rare outcome for high school students.

Preparing for University Engineering Success

Choosing the right early experiences shapes how confidently you approach an engineering degree. Preparation goes beyond grades, building exposure, discipline, curiosity, and lasting technical fluency.

Online engineering programs for high school students help you explore advanced concepts, practise design processes, and develop independent study habits before university officially begins.

Through research projects, coding challenges, and virtual labs, you strengthen analytical thinking and creative problem-solving skills essential for competitive engineering pathways and future academic success.

Ready to advance further? Explore our Engineering Top Books Guide and discover essential reads ambitious future engineers rely on before university even begins.