Top 15 Biomedical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students in 2025–2026

If you are thinking about majoring in biomedical engineering, the right summer can change your whole trajectory. The strongest biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students place you in labs, connect you with faculty mentors, and give you projects that look impressive on applications to top schools like MIT, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins.

These programs are selective, the details can be confusing, and families want to know which options are actually worth the time and cost. This guide breaks down the best biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students with concrete facts. You will see dates, costs, eligibility, and what each program really offers.

• What Are the Best Biomedical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students?
• Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
• Summer Science Program (SSP) – Biochemistry & Bacterial Genomics
• Johns Hopkins ISPEED in Biomedical Engineering
• Drexel BIOMED Summer Academy
• Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT
• Simons Summer Research Program
• Boston University RISE
• UCSB Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
• UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)
• Stanford SIMR – Bioengineering Team Design Track
• Cornell High School Catalyst Program
• NYU ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering)
• Tufts University’s Biomedical Engineering Research (TUBERS) Program
• Rowan University’s Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan (RISER) Program
• UConn’s Pre-College Summer for Biomedical Engineering
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Biomedical Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students?

Below is an overview of sixteen leading biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students.

Let’s look at each of the programs in detail.

1. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

• Dates: June 8 to July 30, 2026 (tentative)
• Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
• Cost: No tuition. $40 application fee (waivable). All participants receive at least a $500 stipend, with need-based stipends up to $1,500.

SIMR is one of the most prestigious biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students because it places you directly in Stanford labs. You spend eight weeks doing research in areas like bioengineering, cancer biology, neuroscience, and stem cell biology.

For students interested in biomedical engineering, the Bioengineering Team Internship is especially relevant. You work in a small team on a medical-device or biodesign problem, attend lectures on cutting-edge bioengineering, prototype solutions, and present your work at the end of the program.

From an admissions perspective, SIMR signals you can handle college-level research and thrive in a top-tier environment. It is one of the most competitive biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students, so you should highlight advanced coursework (AP/IB science and math), any prior research, and strong teacher recommendations in your application.

If SIMR is on your radar, read our guide on Stanford SIMR.

2. Summer Science Program (SSP) – Biochemistry & Bacterial Genomics

• Dates: 2026 dates TBA
• Location: Various campuses
• Cost: $9,800 (2025)

The Summer Science Program (SSP) is one of the longest-running residential STEM research experiences in the United States. Each campus delivers a single, rigorous research project, and students spend five weeks producing scientific output.

In the Biochemistry and Bacterial Genomics tracks, participants work in small teams to run a genuine investigation from start to finish. This involves designing experiments, performing wet-lab procedures, analyzing genomic or enzymatic data, and interpreting results using professional-grade computational tools.

For students comparing biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students, SSP stands out for its depth. It blends molecular biology, biochemistry, and quantitative analysis across more than 60 hours of weekly lab and research time.

If you’re interested in joining the program, check out our full SSP guide.

3. Johns Hopkins ISPEED in Biomedical Engineering

• Dates: TBA December 2025
• Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
• Cost: Fully funded. Program covers tuition, housing, meals, transportation to/from Baltimore, and campus facilities.

Immersive Summer Program for Education, Enrichment, and Distinction (ISPEED) in Biomedical Engineering is one of the only biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students that is both fully residential and fully funded.

The program is run by the top-ranked JHU Biomedical Engineering department and is built around project-based learning instead of lecture-heavy coursework. You earn three Johns Hopkins college credits while working in areas such as:

• Cell and tissue engineering
• Healthcare design in the BME Design Studio
• Computer programming, machine learning, and scientific computing for health applications

U.S. high school sophomores and juniors (10th–11th grade), ages 15–17, with strong academics and interest in BME are eligible to apply.

Interested in JHU’s other pre-college programs? Explore our complete guide on JHU’s pre-college programs.

4. Drexel BIOMED Summer Academy

• Dates: 2026 dates TBA
• Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• Cost: Early registration: $1,500; Late registration: $2,000

The Drexel BIOMED Summer Academy is a shorter but intensive option in the list of biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students. Rather than long research projects, you get broad exposure to BME topics such as:

• Medical imaging and instrumentation
• Biomaterials and tissue engineering
• Rehabilitation engineering

Students work on design challenges, lab demonstrations, and guided experiments. The program is well-suited if you are still deciding whether biomedical engineering is the right major and want a structured “survey” before committing to a longer research program the following summer.

5. Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT

• Dates: June 28 to August 8, 2026
• Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
• Cost: Free. Tuition, housing, and meals are covered.

Research Science Institute (RSI) is a joint collaboration of MIT and the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE). The program is not limited to biomedical engineering, but it remains one of the most coveted STEM research programs in the world. Students spend a week in intensive STEM coursework and five weeks conducting individual research projects under MIT or nearby researchers.

If you are placed in a lab focused on biomechanics, computational biology, bioinstrumentation, or medical devices, RSI effectively becomes one of the top biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students. It offers

• Individual research
• High expectations for written and oral presentations
• MIT branding

These make RSI a major differentiator when applying to Ivy League or top-10 engineering schools. If you want more info, review our complete guide to RSI and start preparing early.

6. Simons Summer Research Program

• Dates: June 29 to August 7, 2026
• Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
• Cost: Free. Participants receive a stipend at the closing poster symposium.

Simons Summer Research Program is one of the most selective STEM research opportunities available to rising seniors. Each summer, a small cohort of Fellows is paired with Stony Brook University faculty and integrated into active research groups. Projects span biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and several applied science fields.

Every Fellow produces a formal research abstract and a professional research poster presented at the program symposium. Mentors expect students to function as junior researchers, not as observers.

If you want to become a Fellow, read our complete guide to Simons Summer Research Program.

7. Boston University RISE

• Dates: June 28 to Aug 7, 2026
• Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
• Cost: Around $9,500 for residential and $6,200+ for commuter options, plus fees. Exact amounts vary by year.

BU RISE is one of the more widely known biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students. You can pursue either:

• Internship track. Full-time (40 hours/week) placement in a research lab.
• Practicum track. Structured coursework plus guided research, often in fields like neuroscience, data science, or computational biology.

Many RISE labs are in biomedical engineering–related departments such as biomedical engineering, medical physics, and translational neuroscience. The program is paid and not cheap, so you should weigh the cost against fully funded options like SIMR, ISPEED, and ARISE. However, RISE is a strong choice if you prefer a defined university environment, supervised housing, and a range of research topics.

Find out how you can excel in BU RISE with our complete guide.

8. UCSB Research Mentorship Program (RMP)

• Dates: June 15 – July 31, 2026
• Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
• Cost: Approximately $5,675 commuter; about $13,274 residential, including housing and meals.

UCSB Research Mentorship Program (RMP) is a highly competitive, six-week academic research experience that brings top high school students from around the world into active university labs.

Each participant is matched with a graduate student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty mentor and selects a project from an extensive list of UCSB research areas. These include engineering, molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, materials science, neuroscience, and several fields that overlap directly with biomedical engineering.

RMP also features its GRIT Talks series, where UCSB researchers present their findings in areas such as biomedical imaging, nanofabrication, tissue engineering, robotics, and computational biology.

For students comparing biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students, RMP stands out for:

• A long research timeline
• Strong emphasis on reading literature, writing reports, and presenting work
• Access to UC-level lab facilities

Want to be part of this exciting program? Check out our UCSB RMP guide to help you get started.

9. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)

• Dates: June 15, 2026
• Location: UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
• Cost: Academic program fee of $4,250 (includes $750 deposit), plus $68 application fee.

The UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP) places you in research projects across astronomy, biology, computer science, and engineering. For biomedical engineering, relevant placements include computational biology, bioinformatics, and biomedical instrumentation. Interns read journal articles, write code or run lab experiments, and present at a final symposium.

Among biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students, SIP is a solid choice. Check out our complete guide to the USCS SIP to know more about the program.

10. Stanford SIMR – Bioengineering Team Design Track

• Dates: June 8 to July 30, 2026 (tentative)
• Location: Stanford University
• Cost: No fee

Although part of the same SIMR umbrella, the Stanford Bioengineering Team Internship deserves its own mention for students specifically focused on BME design.

Instead of working in a single lab, you:

• Attend lectures on broad bioengineering topics
• Work 3 days per week on Al Biodesign project with a small team
• Learn design thinking, prototyping, and testing for a device or solution that addresses a medical need

If you want a design-heavy entry on your activities list, this track is one of the best biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students.

11. Cornell High School Catalyst Program

• Dates: July 14 to 20, 2026
• Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Cost: Program fee (often in the $1,700–2,000 range), with scholarships available; exact numbers vary by year.

The High School Catalyst Program is a selective six-week biomedical research experience offered through a partnership between the Weill Cornell Graduate School and the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Postdoctoral Association. The program is designed to expand access to scientific research for New York high school students whose backgrounds, lived experiences, or educational environments are underrepresented in STEM.

Participants are matched with a graduate student or postdoctoral mentor in a Weill Cornell Medicine or MSK laboratory. Each student works on a defined biomedical research project shaped by their mentor’s expertise.

Throughout the six weeks, students:

• Learn their lab’s research focus and attend group meetings.
• Assist with bench experiments, data collection, or computational analysis.
• Complete assigned readings and technical preparation guided by their mentor.
• Participate in journal clubs, research panels, and skill-building workshops introducing them to academic research and scientific careers.

For students comparing biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students, Catalyst offers direct immersion in active medical and biomedical research settings within two world-class institutions.

12. NYU ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering)

• Dates: June 1 to August 14, 2026
• Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
• Cost: Free. Students receive a $1,000 stipend

NYU ARISE is one of the most accessible biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students in NYC because it is free, offers a stipend, and takes place at a major engineering school. Research areas include:

• Bioengineering and molecular engineering
• Computer science and AI for health
• Chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering

You start with workshops in lab skills and ethics, then spend the majority of the summer in a lab with a graduate student or postdoc mentor. For local NYC students, ARISE is a strong alternative to more nationally competitive programs like Simons and RSI.

13. Tufts University’s Biomedical Engineering Research (TUBERS) Program

• Dates: TBA February 2026
• Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
• Cost: Free

Tufts University’s Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS) Program offers a six-week, laboratory-immersive research experience for high-achieving high school students interested in biomedical engineering.

TUBERS encourages students to take their summer projects further by submitting them to recognized science competitions—with principal investigator approval—such as the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair, the Regeneron Science Talent Search, or other research-based national contests.

14. Rowan University’s Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan (RISER) Program

• Dates: TBA
• Location: Rowan University (primarily Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering and related biomedical units), New Jersey
• Cost: Free

Rowan University’s Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Rowan (RISER) Program is a competitive, volunteer research experience for rising high school seniors from South Jersey. Students are placed in Rowan University labs in Biomedical Engineering or Biomedical Sciences, where they spend six weeks working at least 20 hours per week on an independently guided research project.

The program ends with a formal Symposium, where students present their findings to faculty, research teams, teachers, and family. Eligibility is limited to students who reside in or attend high school in designated South Jersey counties and who can commit to the full six-week, in-person schedule.

For students exploring biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students, RISER offers direct immersion in university research with a clear, portfolio-ready deliverable.

15. UConn’s Pre-College Summer for Biomedical Engineering

• Dates: July 20 to 26, 2026
• Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (with some online options)
• Cost: $50 Application fee; Starts at $2,350 per one-week course after April 1; discounts for earlier registration, with scaled pricing for multiple courses.

UConn’s Pre-College Summer is shorter than most of the research-heavy biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students. The course blends short lectures with consistent lab work, giving students direct experience in engineering design, rapid prototyping, data collection, and iteration.

It serves two valuable roles:

• Introductory exposure. The Biomedical Engineering course gives you a broad overview of the field, sub-disciplines, and real-world applications, helping you decide where you might want to specialize later.
• Technical skills. The AI in Biomedical Engineering course teaches machine learning concepts as they apply to biomedical instrumentation, health tracking, and emotion recognition.

By the end of the program, students can apply core BME concepts to solve a defined problem, build and test a working device, and communicate their findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students in 2026?

Top choices include Stanford SIMR, Johns Hopkins ISPEED, NYU ARISE, BU RISE, UCSB RMP, UC Santa Cruz SIP, RSI, and the Simons Program. These offer real lab work, structured mentorship, and research outputs strong enough to support competitive college applications.

2. Are there free biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students?

Yes. SIMR, ISPEED, ARISE, Simons, and RSI are fully funded and often provide stipends. These programs remove financial barriers and offer high-quality research experiences, though they are highly selective and require early, well-prepared applications.

3. What subjects do biomedical engineering summer programs typically cover?

Most programs blend biology and engineering, covering topics like biomaterials, biomechanics, device design, biochemistry, computational biology, and medical imaging. Students learn lab techniques, research methods, and data analysis depending on the program’s focus.

4. How can biomedical engineering summer programs help with college admissions?

They demonstrate academic ability, initiative, and a genuine interest in biomedical engineering. Strong programs offer mentorship, research outputs, and experiences that can shape compelling essays or support recommendation letters, which can strengthen STEM-focused applications.

5. When should I apply for biomedical engineering summer programs?

Most applications open in the fall and close between January and March. Programs like RSI, Simons, and SIMR have early deadlines, so students should prepare materials—including essays and recommendation requests—by late fall to stay competitive.

Takeaways

• Many of the best biomedical engineering summer programs for high school students are research-based, fully or partially funded, and highly selective
• Shorter programs like Drexel BIOMED, Cornell CATALYST, UConn Pre-College Summer, and Tufts TUBERS are helpful stepping-stones that help you confirm your interest in biomedical engineering before you commit to longer, research-heavy experiences.
• To make the most of these programs, focus on building relationships with mentors, documenting your work, and connecting each experience to your long-term academic and career story.
• If you want help building a competitive profile for these programs and for top biomedical engineering colleges, consider our Summer Program Applications Services, which offer one-on-one guidance on program selection, applications, essays, and long-term admissions strategy.