Best Robotics Summer Programs for High School Students: With Advice from a Former Admissions Officer

There are many summer programs for high school students interested in robotics. With so many programs available, it’s hard for students to narrow down their options.

Let Pioneer Academics help make your life easier. We used our high standards in education and research to hand-pick a list of the best summer robotics programs for high school students.

Advice from a Former Admissions Officer

Brett Fuller

Academic Development Manager | Pioneer Academics
Former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Wake Forest University
Former Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Important note: The “best” program is always going to be the program that best fits your needs, goals, and interests. Check out my thoughts on things to consider when selecting a summer program here: College Application: Tips on Selecting a Summer Program Meeting Admission Officers’ Standards.

Robotics programs are an excellent example of seeking out opportunities that are unlikely to be offered in a traditional high school curriculum. While you may have had exposure to robotics in your school, there are always ways to take the next step in your exploration. Students often think this means doing something “hands-on,” and it certainly can, but often it means access to mentorship and guidance that can propel your understanding in a new direction. Dive deeper into the questions you hope to answer or the problems you aim to solve through robotics. Fan the growing interest you have in the field and expose yourself to the possibilities by learning more about what is being done at the cutting edge.

💡Bonus tips for choosing the right academic programs:

Click here to read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer-winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed!

Pioneer Academics

Pioneer Academics is the world’s only fully accredited online research program available to rising high school juniors and seniors (and a few exceptional sophomores and freshmen). This program allows high-performing students to further explore their passion for learning and challenging themselves. Pioneer Academics’ programs use rigorous standards, policies, and procedures that challenge exceptional participants with professional-level research programs. Students also have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from and collaborate with outstanding professors in robotics and engineering. By the end of Pioneer Academics’ summer program, each student will create an undergraduate-level research paper using our teachings and research library.

Format	Online
Cost	6,650 US dollars
Program Dates	June-August (Some Students May Extend to September)
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 9, 2023

Format	Online
Cost	6,650 US dollars
Program Dates	June-August (Some Students May Extend to September)
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 9, 2023

AI Camp – Summer – Stanford University

Stanford University offers a summer camp dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), letting students choose courses about facial recognition models, machine learning, text generation, exploratory data analysis, natural language processing, computer vision, and linear regression. These three-week summer programs also involve hands-on experiences, including designing and developing websites. At the end of this program, each high school student will have successfully created their own AI product. While they’re not learning or taking part in hands-on projects, AI Camp also gives students a framework to choose a college experience mirroring their interests in robotics. Students will also learn to build academic, personal, and professional networks.

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,349
Program Dates	June Batch A: Jun 12 – 30 July Batch B: Jul 3 – Jul 21 Batch C: Jul 24 – Aug 11 August Batch D: Aug 14 – Sept 1
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: March 18, 10am PST / 1pm EST

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,349
Program Dates	June Batch A: Jun 12 – 30 July Batch B: Jul 3 – Jul 21 Batch C: Jul 24 – Aug 11 August Batch D: Aug 14 – Sept 1
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: March 18, 10am PST / 1pm EST

Inspirit AI

Inspirit AI’s AI Scholars Live Online is a summer program led by a team of college graduates from MIT, Stanford, and other prestigious universities. In this ten-week online program, students will learn about many AI-related concepts, including robotics and machine learning. Students also get to speak with experts in AI’s various fields, learning and getting to ask questions. This program ends with students creating an AI program based on their interests. Plus, a portion of this program also helps students navigate the college admissions process and prepare for their unique futures.

Format	Online
Cost	$1,100
Program Dates	June 5 – 16, June 19 – 30, July 3 – 14, July 17 – 28, July 31 – Aug 11
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 15, 2023

Format	Online
Cost	$1,100
Program Dates	June 5 – 16, June 19 – 30, July 3 – 14, July 17 – 28, July 31 – Aug 11
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 15, 2023

Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC) – New York University

New York University’s SPARC is a two-week pre-college summer program teaching students about programming, robotics, and mechatronics. This program is available to all high school students with strong academic backgrounds. Instructors teach students about electrical components, programming, coding, robotics, and other essential aspects of computer science. One incredible perk of this program is that each student gets a robotics kit. This kit contains robotic-related components for students to work with, including interface sensors, microcontrollers, and actuators. Participants must be at least 14 to attend these programs and 15 to qualify for on-campus housing.

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,500 tuition $225 materials fee (Includes fee for Take-Home Kit) $100 events fee $610 for optional housing and approximately $360 for meal plan packages
Program Dates	Session One – Orientation June 16; Program June 20 – June 30 Session Two – Orientation July 7; Program July 10 – July 21 Session Three – Orientation July 28; Program July 31 – August 11
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 20, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,500 tuition $225 materials fee (Includes fee for Take-Home Kit) $100 events fee $610 for optional housing and approximately $360 for meal plan packages
Program Dates	Session One – Orientation June 16; Program June 20 – June 30 Session Two – Orientation July 7; Program July 10 – July 21 Session Three – Orientation July 28; Program July 31 – August 11
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 20, 2023

Learn Robotics at MIT – National Geographic

The renowned National Geographic and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) come together each summer to offer courses teaching high school students about many aspects of engineering and robotics. These jam-packed 10-day pre-college programs provide courses on AI, remote space exploration, and microscopic robots. Many of these programs’ lessons also feature interactive experiments, including bringing student designs to life with 3D printers. Also, students get to meet with and learn from MIT’s researchers. These summer programs wrap up with a final project challenging students to use robotics and engineering to address real-world problems.

Format	In-person
Cost	$6,490 + airfare
Program Dates	July 7 – July 16, 2023 July 21 – July 30, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling application

Format	In-person
Cost	$6,490 + airfare
Program Dates	July 7 – July 16, 2023 July 21 – July 30, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: Rolling application

Frontiers STEM Summer Program – Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The Frontiers STEM Summer Program offers one week of STEM-based learning for excelling high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. This commuter program helps prepare students for a future in robotics as they learn about mechanisms, sensors, and motors. Students also explore coding as they learn the C programming language used in embedded computers powering self-driving automobiles. Instructors host a collection of demos, classroom activities, and peer discussions. When not learning in classrooms, students also use cutting-edge software, technology, and labs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Format	In-person
Cost	$795
Program Dates	June 26 – June 30, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 15, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$795
Program Dates	June 26 – June 30, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 15, 2023

Machine Learning (ML) – New York University

New York University offers an on-campus machine learning program for students interested in this aspect of robotics. Like many summer programs in this list, it’s available to all high school students over 14 who have also completed Algebra II. Some of the topics covered in this machine learning program include image recognition technology, self-driving vehicles, traffic control, medical diagnostics, and of course, robotics. This program’s instructors also utilize lesson plans teaching students how to apply engineering-related principles to solve many of society’s challenges. When not learning, the participants in this program have the chance to make new friends who share the same interests.

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,500 tuition $100 events fee $610 for optional housing and approximately $370 for meal plan packages
Program Dates	Session One – Orientation June 16; Program June 20 – June 30 Session Two – Orientation July 7: Program July 10 – July 21 Session Three – Orientation July 28; Program July 31 – August 11
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 20, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$2,500 tuition $100 events fee $610 for optional housing and approximately $370 for meal plan packages
Program Dates	Session One – Orientation June 16; Program June 20 – June 30 Session Two – Orientation July 7: Program July 10 – July 21 Session Three – Orientation July 28; Program July 31 – August 11
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 20, 2023

University of Rochester Pre-College Online Program – University of Rochester

Some of the world’s most significant robotics-related advancements come from the biomedical engineering field. These top summer programs are available in either two or four-week online courses. In these summer courses, students learn how implantable devices, cutting-edge diagnostic tools, and other technical advancements power the world of biomedical engineering. Instructors use recent real-world events to help students discover what engineers, biomedical engineers, and scientists are doing. Students discover how experts use body diagrams and explore a 3D human heart model. Participants will also use their data collection and analysis skills to learn and experiment with the relationship between muscle length and tension.

Format	In-person
Cost	$995
Program Dates	May 7 – June 4
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 30, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$995
Program Dates	May 7 – June 4
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: April 30, 2023

ImpactLab – Wentworth Institute of Technology

ImpactLab is a two-week resident program hosted by the Wentworth Institute of Technology. This pre-college program offers a balance of letting students work in labs completing science projects while also getting a closer look at college life. ImpactLab’s robotics engineering program covers the electrical engineering, computer programming, and mechanical engineering skills needed to succeed in this industry. Students will also discover the methods, tools, and equipment used to design and bring some of the world’s most advanced robots to life.

Format	In-person
Cost	$3,495 for one two-week session or a discounted rate of $6,495 for both two-week sessions
Program Dates	Session One: July 9 – July 21, 2023 Session Two: July 23 – August 4, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 15, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$3,495 for one two-week session or a discounted rate of $6,495 for both two-week sessions
Program Dates	Session One: July 9 – July 21, 2023 Session Two: July 23 – August 4, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 15, 2023

Robotics Summer Academy – Saint Louis Academy

The Robotics Summer Academy is a week-long day camp offered by Saint Louis University (SLU). This program gives high schoolers a head start on college life by letting them explore the SLU campus while also meeting this university’s esteemed students and faculty. High school students also learn about computer, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Then, students use the concepts they learned to design and build custom hardware powering robots. After completing this course, students get to take home the robots these young women and men create.

Format	In-person
Cost	$650
Program Dates	June 12 – 16, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 4, 2023

Format	In-person
Cost	$650
Program Dates	June 12 – 16, 2023
Application Deadline(s)	Regular Admission Deadline: May 4, 2023

💡Bonus tips for choosing the right academic programs:

Click here to read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer-winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed!

Learn More

If you’re a high school student interested in learning more about robotics research, we encourage you to attend a free online information session.