Top 10 Engineering Internships for High School Students in 2025–2026

There are more than 66,000 engineering interns currently working across the United States, spanning from high school through postgraduate levels. Engineering internships for high school students, in particular, provide you with an early entry point into fields such as mechanics, aerodynamics, and even engineering-driven entrepreneurship. Not only that, these experiences add weight to your college application by demonstrating your initiative and willingness to explore academic interests outside of the classroom.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of the strongest engineering-focused internships and programs available right now—what they cost, where they’re located, how long they run, and most importantly, what you’ll get to experience, create, and learn once you’re there.

• What Are the Best Engineering Internships for High School Students?
• NASA Internships
• SEES Summer High School Intern Program by NASA and UT Austin
• SPARK Summer Internship Program
• HiSTEP – High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program
• AEOP High School Apprenticeships
• Boston University RISE Internship
• Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars Program
• SEAP (Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program)
• NYU ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering)
• Ladder Internships – Engineering Track
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Engineering Internships for High School Students?

Engineering internships for high school students give you the time and space to tinker, test, design, break things, and fix them again. You’ll pick up technical skills, learn how to work on a team, and get a clearer sense of which branch of engineering actually excites you. These show colleges that you’ve gone out of your way to dive into a field as hands-on and demanding as this. This can help boost your chances of getting into the top engineering schools, like MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley.

Below is a quick overview of the best engineering internships for high school students and programs —complete with locations and dates.

Let’s discuss each program.

1. NASA Internship Programs (OSTEM & Pathways Internships)

• Dates: Vary by session (fall, spring, and summer)
• Location: NASA centers across the U.S. (some hybrid/remote roles)
• Benefits: Paid internships

NASA’s internship tracks let you work alongside engineers, scientists, and mission teams. The OSTEM Internship Program is the entry point most high school seniors and college-bound students apply to. You can go full-time or part-time and jump into real projects in aerospace engineering, robotics, coding, Earth science, data work, and mission support.

Pathways is the deeper, multi-semester route that’s meant to pipeline you straight into a NASA career. You rotate through different departments, get long-term mentorship, and handle assignments tied to NASA’s future workforce needs.

Both programs have firm eligibility rules. For OSTEM, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16, enrolled full or part-time, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. For Pathways, you must also be a U.S. citizen, keep at least a 2.9 GPA, and be enrolled in a degree-seeking program with at least 15 completed credits.

We laid out the full NASA internships experience; take a look for more details.

2. SEES Summer High School Intern Program (NASA x UT Austin)

• Dates: 2026 dates pending final funding (2025 schedule ran June–July with on-site work July 6–19)
• Location: UT Austin Center for Space Research + virtual components
• Benefits: Free program with housing, meals, local transportation, and some travel scholarships

The SEES Internship offers a competitive, research-heavy STEM experience that mixes Earth science, space science, engineering, and real NASA data. You spend the early part of the summer working online through distance-learning modules, then shift into project-specific work guided by NASA-supported scientists and engineers. Once you get to UT Austin for the on-site portion, you dive into hands-on research in areas like remote sensing, satellite data analysis, or planetary science. Every project ends with you presenting your findings at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium.

To apply, you need to be a rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior and ready to handle a mix of independent online work and live mentorship. The cohort includes both virtual and on-site interns; on-site participants receive free housing, meals, and transportation, plus optional travel scholarships.

Applications for the 2026 session will open once funding is finalized. For reference, the 2025 application deadline was February 22, with notifications released around May 1. You can sign up for alerts to get notified as soon as the new cycle opens.

Check out our full overview of NASA internships to get the complete picture.

3. SPARK Summer Internship Program (SPARK SIP)

• Dates: Typically 8–10 weeks during summer (June–August)
• Location: Companies and small businesses — mostly in the U.S., coordinated through SPARK SIP (remote and local placements possible)
• Benefits: $500 stipend

SPARK SIP connects motivated high school students (grades 9–12) with industry professionals, startups, and small companies to work on projects like software development, hardware tinkering, data tasks, and product design or engineering. You get paired with a mentor and treated like a junior team member.

You’re expected to commit full-time (or close), and you’ll likely need to apply with a transcript, essays, and a recommendation.

The cohort is small enough that you get real feedback and mentorship, so the hands-on experience and real-world exposure can give you a leg up, especially if you’re thinking about STEM or tech in college or beyond.

4. HiSTEP – High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (NIH)

• Dates: Summer (annual session; exact dates vary)
• Location: NIH Main Campus, Bethesda, Maryland
• Benefits: Paid NIH internship (monthly stipend for eligible participants)

HiSTEP is for rising high school seniors who want a paid, science-focused summer experience without needing prior research background. The program brings you onto the NIH campus to explore biomedical research and healthcare careers through lab tours, lectures, small-group discussions, and hands-on group projects. You also learn college-prep essentials such as resume building, leadership skills, wellness strategies, and application guidance.

HiSTEP has specific eligibility rules. You must live in DC, Maryland, or Virginia within 40 miles of the NIH campus, be at least 17 by June 1, and come from a high school where at least 30% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. You’ll need a minimum 3.0 GPA, though NIH may consider a 2.75–2.99 if your grades show steady improvement.

If you continue into HiSTEP 2.0 afterwards, you receive a monthly stipend between $2,570 and $2,840.

5. AEOP High School Apprenticeships

• Dates: Vary by placement (most run full-time in summer; some part-time roles during the school year)
• Location: U.S. Army Research Labs + university partner labs nationwide
• Benefits: Paid internship with educational stipend

AEOP High School Apprenticeships place you inside real Army labs or top university research centers where you interact with professional scientists and engineers working on cybersecurity, materials science, biology, robotics, energetics, and other advanced fields.

Most internships are full-time and in person, and you need to live within commuting distance of your assigned lab since housing and meals aren’t provided. Each placement includes a stipend that varies based on the site and duration, and you get access to training, networking opportunities, and ongoing support through the AEOP alumni network.

To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and currently enrolled in high school or an undergraduate program (or have graduated within the last 60 months). Each position has its own requirements and deadlines, so you’ll need to check individual listings when applications open.

6. Boston University RISE Internship

• Dates: June 28 – August 7, 2026 (residential); June 29 – August 7, 2026 (commuter)
• Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
• Cost: 2026 tuition TBA (2025 cost: $6,185 commuter / $9,785 residential)

The BU RISE Internship track is a full-time research experience where you’re embedded in a real lab for six weeks. You work 40 hours a week under faculty, postdocs, or graduate student mentors, tackling research in fields like biomedical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, and more.

Alongside lab work, you join weekly workshops with the Practicum cohort that cover college-level skills, science communication, and professional development.

To apply, you must be entering your senior year in fall 2026 and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Admissions are competitive and based on your grades, course rigor, essays, and one recommendation letter (test scores are optional). The program offers both commuter and residential options, and updated 2026 pricing will be available in December.

We put together a breakdown of BU’s RISE programs; feel free to explore it.

7. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program

• Dates: Summer 2026 (exact session dates vary by AFRL site)
• Location: AFRL research sites across the U.S.
• Benefits: Paid internship; high school interns earn $501.60 per week (GS-1 Step 1)

The AFRL Scholars Program lets you to work directly with Air Force scientists and engineers. You will join real research teams working on projects in aerospace, cybersecurity, materials science, engineering design, AI, and other cutting-edge fields.

This is a full-time summer internship, so you’ll be working 40 hours a week and treated like a junior member of the team. You receive a weekly stipend and get hands-on experience that can boost your future college and career options.

To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 by the application deadline (18 for California sites), and enrolled in school at least half-time in the semester before the internship. A 3.0 GPA is recommended but not required.

8. SEAP – Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program

• Dates: 8-week summer program (with an option to extend up to 2 additional weeks)
• Location: 38+ Department of Navy labs across the U.S.
• Cost/Benefits: Paid ($4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants)

SEAP is for you if you want an apprenticeship inside a Navy laboratory. Over eight weeks, you work directly with naval scientists and engineers on active research projects involving engineering, cybersecurity, naval technology, materials science, robotics, ocean science, and other defense-focused STEM fields.

The program is competitive as there are roughly 300 placements nationwide, and selections are based on your grades, recommendation letters, personal statement, and your interest in STEM research. Many interns eventually continue into defense or engineering careers.

To be eligible, you must be a high school student who has completed at least 9th grade and is currently enrolled in high school (dual enrollment is fine). Graduating seniors can apply. Interns receive a stipend paid bi-weekly, and your rate depends on whether you’re a first-time or returning participant.

9. NYU ARISE – Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering

• Dates: June 1 – August 14, 2026 (10 weeks)
• Location: New York University, New York, NY
• Cost/Benefits: Free + $1,000 stipend

NYU ARISE starts with four weeks of training where you learn lab safety, strengthen your writing, build research skills, and get ready for the pace of college-level work. The remaining six weeks place you in one of more than 80 NYU research labs, where you assist faculty and researchers on real projects in different fields, including engineering.

You’ll rack up about 120 hours of hands-on research experience and present your work twice: once at an NYU colloquium and again at the American Museum of Natural History’s Poster Symposium. The program also includes 1-on-1 college application support and access to a strong alumni network that shares jobs, internships, and research openings.

To apply, you must be a current NYC high school student in 10th or 11th grade with a solid academic record and a clear interest in STEM. The program especially encourages students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM. Because ARISE is free and includes a $1,000 stipend, it’s one of the most accessible and rewarding research opportunities in NYC.

10. Ladders for Leaders – Engineering Internship Track

• Dates: June 15 – July 24, 2026 (6 weeks, with optional extension)
• Location: Austin, Texas and nearby areas
• Cost/Benefits: Paid internship (~$12/hour)

Ladders for Leaders is a good fit if you want a paid engineering-focused internship and a structured path into the workplace. Before you start, you complete “Ladders for Leaders University,” an 8-hour mix of webinars and in-person sessions.

Once the program starts, you’re matched with a local employer, which can include engineering firms, tech companies, robotics teams, manufacturing sites, or organizations doing applied engineering work. You work at least 20 hours a week, earn around $12/hour, and take on hands-on tasks such as assisting with prototypes and supporting design work.

To qualify, you must be 16–18, enrolled in high school, have a competitive GPA, and live in Austin or a nearby area. You’ll need to attend orientation, complete at least 80% of Ladders for Leaders University, participate in a fundraiser, and handle your own transportation. Graduating seniors can also apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are considered the most prestigious engineering internships for high school students?

Some of the most prestigious engineering internships include NASA internships, SEAP (Navy labs), AFRL Scholars, and NYU ARISE. They are widely viewed as the most competitive because they place you inside real research labs with federal scientists and university engineers.

2. Do these programs require previous engineering experience?

Usually no. Most high school engineering internships look for strong grades, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, not prior lab or engineering skills.

3. Are there virtual engineering internships available in 2025?

Yes. Programs like NASA OSTEM, SEES (NASA x UT Austin), and some university labs offer remote or hybrid roles depending on the project and mentor.

4. How competitive ar engineering internships for high school students?

Very competitive. Many programs accept fewer than 10–20% of applicants, especially federal research programs and university-based lab placements.

5. Can engineering internships help my college application?

Absolutely. Hands-on research, mentorship from engineers, and real project experience make your application stronger and show you can handle college-level work.

Takeaways

• Engineering-focused internships like NASA OSTEM, SEES, SEAP, AFRL Scholars, NYU ARISE, BU RISE, AEOP Apprenticeships, and Ladders for Leaders (engineering track) give you real, hands-on experience that shows you what engineering actually looks like in the field.
• Engineering internships offer different experiences, so choosing which one to apply to depends on your interests. If you’re looking for research-intensive programs, NASA OSTEM and BU RISE are great. If you want to work on military-related projects, you should consider SEAP and the AFRL Scholars Program.
• If you’re unsure which internships match your strengths or future major, working with an admissions advisor can help you pick engineering experiences that genuinely support your goals.