15 Robotics Summer Programs for High School Students in 2026

By Future Forward Labs | Updated June 2026

This guide covers 15 robotics summer programs for high school students in 2026, ranging from free university research internships at MIT and Johns Hopkins to hands-on robot-building camps at Penn, UT Austin, and WPI. Programs vary by format (residential, online, hybrid), cost (free to ~$10,000), and focus (research vs. hands-on engineering). Each entry includes eligibility requirements, application deadlines, program dates, and cost so you know exactly what to expect before you apply.

Application Deadline Calendar: At a Glance

Most competitive programs have deadlines between November and February. If you’re planning for summer 2027, start researching in the fall.

Quick-Reference: 15 Programs at a Glance

*BWSI is free for families earning under $200K/year; a fee applies above that threshold.

Why Robotics Summer Programs Matter for High School Students

Robotics summer programs teach technical skills including programming (Python, C++, Java), electronics and circuit design, sensor integration, CAD/mechanical design, and autonomous systems. Research-focused programs also develop scientific methodology, technical writing, and lab skills relevant to competitions like ISEF and Regeneron.

Selective programs strengthen college applications by demonstrating STEM initiative and the ability to complete a complex engineering challenge. Programs that produce a tangible output, a research paper, a working prototype, a competition result, carry the most weight with admissions officers.

How to Choose a Robotics Summer Program

Research vs. hands-on: Research internships (JHU ASPIRE, Navy SEAP, NIST SHIP, Future Forward Labs) involve open-ended problems with a mentor. Hands-on camps (iD Tech, UT Austin, WPI) follow a structured curriculum ending in a competition or build challenge.

Experience level: MIT BWSI requires a prerequisite course. JHU ASPIRE looks for academic strength and curiosity. UT Austin Academy, iD Tech, and LearnToBot are beginner-friendly.

Cost and financial aid: Free programs include MIT BWSI, JHU ASPIRE, Navy SEAP, NIST SHIP, and UW–Madison. Government internships (SEAP) pay a stipend. Private camps range from about $800 to $10,000; most offer financial aid.

Location constraints: NIST SHIP requires living within 50 miles of Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO. JHU ASPIRE requires commuting to Laurel, MD. Navy SEAP has 38+ lab locations nationwide. Online programs (Future Forward Labs) have no geographic restrictions.

Deadlines come earlier than you think: Navy SEAP opens August 1 for the following summer. NIST SHIP opens in October/November with a January deadline. Start researching in the fall, not spring.

The 15 Robotics Research Programs

1. Future Forward Labs — Robotics Research Program

Format: Online mentorship | Cost: available on request | Grades: 9–12 Eligibility: Open to all high school students in the U.S. | Application: Rolling, year-round Website:FutureForward.app

Future Forward Labs pairs high school students one-on-one with PhD mentors with research and faculty experience in institutions like Stanford and MIT to develop original robotics or AI research projects. Unlike camp-style programs with a fixed curriculum, students work on their own research question — with outcomes including publishable papers, science fair submissions, and working prototypes. The program runs year-round with summer as the most intensive period.

Key facts: 91% of FFL students earn regional STEM competition awards or above. Alumni have been admitted to Stanford, UPenn, U Chicago, CMU, Johns Hopkins, and other top-25 universities. Rolling admissions, no fixed deadline, apply when ready.

Best for: Students targeting science competitions (ISEF, Regeneron), students who want a research project for college applications, and students who need flexible scheduling.

👉 Apply at FutureForward.app

2. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)

Format: Residential + virtual at MIT | Cost: Free (for families under $200K income); fee for others Duration: 4 weeks, July 6 to August 2, 2026 Eligibility: U.S. high school students physically residing and attending school in the U.S.; rising seniors (entering 12th grade). Seniors already graduated and college students are NOT eligible. Application: Prerequisite online course opens December; enrollment decisions emailed May 1 Website:beaverworks.ll.mit.edu

MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a free, four-week STEM program jointly run by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT’s School of Engineering. The flagship robotics track, Autonomous RACECAR, has students program autonomous miniature cars using LiDAR, cameras, and ROS to compete in a race. Other robotics-adjacent tracks include Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing and Cognitive Assistive Technology.

How to apply: Students must first complete a free online prerequisite course (opens December, hosted on Edly.io). Completion of the prereq is the primary admission requirement — there is no separate application form. Families with income under $200K attend tuition-free; others pay a fee due by June 6, 2026. Students under 18 attending in-person must have a supervising adult.

Key facts: Highly selective. Free for most families. In-person courses held at MIT campus (housing not provided); some tracks are virtual. Final event: August 2, 2026.

Best for: Advanced students with prior coding or robotics experience who want the most prestigious free robotics summer program in the country.

3. JHU APL ASPIRE Internship

Format: In-person at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (Laurel, MD), hybrid/remote placements limited Cost: Unpaid internship (no stipend, no cost to participate) Duration: June 23–August 21, 2026 (mandatory onboarding June 23–25; capstone showcase August 20) Eligibility: U.S. citizens only (green card holders not eligible); must be a high school junior or senior during participation; must have reliable transportation to APL (not accessible by public transit); students in Calvert or Charles Counties are eligible for virtual placements only Application: Opens January 1; closes mid-February; notifications by May 15 Acceptance rate: ~7% Website:jhuapl.edu/aspire

JHU APL ASPIRE is a genuine, full-time research internship at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, not a camp, not a course. Students work 30–40 hours per week alongside APL engineers and scientists on active research projects in robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, and defense technology. ASPIRE is not competitive based on GPA or resume alone, mentors look for curiosity, honesty, and STEM engagement. Students complete a minimum of 190 hours and present at the capstone Student Showcase on August 20.

Application requirements: One essay (200–350 words) about a project you’re proud of; one optional short essay (250–300 words) about your favorite STEM experience; one teacher recommendation (submitted via the online system, due within 3 days of application close).

Key facts: Unpaid but free to participate. One application session per year, January only. Students cannot be enrolled in competing programs (other camps, SAT prep, etc.) during ASPIRE hours. Program can extend through the academic year with mentor agreement.

Best for: High-achieving juniors and seniors near Laurel, MD who want a rigorous, full-time federal research internship, and are willing to commit fully to it.

4. UPenn Engineering Summer Academy (ESAP) — Robotics Track

Format: Residential at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Cost: $9,250 (includes tuition, housing, meals; financial aid available for U.S. citizens/residents) Duration: July 12–31, 2026 (3 weeks) Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders entering those grades in September 2026; must have completed 9th grade; minimum 3.0 GPA; must be at least 15 by program start; rising seniors ARE eligible (note: differs from BWSI); some programming experience in C, C++, Java, or Python is useful but not required for the robotics track Application: Opens December 1, 2025; Priority deadline January 31, 2026; Final deadline February 28, 2026; decisions after March 7 (priority) and April 7 (final) Website:esap.seas.upenn.edu

UPenn’s Engineering Summer Academy puts rising high school students in Penn’s School of Engineering classrooms and labs. The Robotics track, taught by Penn faculty including robotics researchers from the GRASP Lab, covers microcontrollers, servos, sensors, laser cutters, 3D printers, and embedded programming. Students work in teams to build robotic musical instruments that perform in a combined robotic orchestra at the program’s end.

Application requirements: Online application; two-page essay on why you’re applying and what impact you want to make with engineering; official high school transcript sent via Parchment; TOEFL for international applicants (score of 80+ required).

Key facts: $9,250 all-inclusive (tuition, housing, meals). A non-refundable $1,500 deposit is due at enrollment. Need-based financial aid available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. 321 spots across 7 course offerings in 2026.

Best for: Students seriously considering engineering as a major who want three rigorous weeks at an Ivy League engineering school.

5. UT Austin Academy for Robotics

Format: In-person at University of Texas at Austin Cost: ~$2,000–$3,000 Duration: 2 weeks (summer; confirm dates on official site) Eligibility: Grades 9–12; no prior robotics experience required Application: Spring; check cs.utexas.edu for current cycle dates Website:cs.utexas.edu

Run by UT Austin’s Department of Computer Science, the Academy for Robotics has students assemble Bot’n Roll One A robots from scratch and compete in a race. Lab sessions cover Linux, C++, Arduino, and basic electronics, a full robotics stack introduction even if you’ve never touched a breadboard.

Key facts: Two-week format. Beginner-friendly. Covers hardware assembly and software programming. Ends in a robot race competition. Held at a major research university with access to UT CS facilities.

Best for: High school students (any grade) who are new to robotics and want a structured, affordable university introduction.

6. WPI Frontiers — Robotics Engineering Track

Format: Residential at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA Cost: $4,495 per session (includes tuition, housing, meals, field trips, and activities); financial aid available for families earning under $120,000/year if applied by March 15 Duration: Session I: July 5–17, 2026 | Session II: July 19–31, 2026 Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders; must attend full program duration; must arrange own transportation to/from WPI campus Application: Opens January 2026; deadline April 30, 2026; rolling admissions (apply early, financial aid is first-come, first-served) Application requirements: Online form with two short-response questions (why you want to attend; a personal growth experience or an engineering passion); transcript (official preferred, self-submitted accepted) Website:wpi.edu/precollege

WPI Frontiers is a two-week residential program with a dedicated Robotics Engineering track. Students work with sensors, pneumatics, and microcontrollers in a project-based format that mirrors WPI’s signature engineering curriculum, less lecture, more building. The program ends with a team robot competition.

Key facts: Free application. Two identical two-week sessions (you attend one). $4,495 all-inclusive. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; applying early improves financial aid chances. The 2026 application is now closed; Summer 2027 applications open in winter.

Best for: Rising 10th–12th graders who want a competitive, project-focused robotics experience at a nationally ranked engineering school and who apply early enough to access financial aid.

7. Embry-Riddle Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Camp

Format: Residential at ERAU (Daytona Beach, FL or Prescott, AZ) Cost: ~$1,500–$2,500 Duration: 1 week (summer; confirm dates at summercamps.erau.edu) Eligibility: Grades 9–12 Application: Rolling; check summercamps.erau.edu for current openings Website:summercamps.erau.edu

Embry-Riddle’s RAS Camp has students design, build, and program autonomous robots over one week, with a strong aerospace and aviation application angle. ERAU is one of the premier aviation and aerospace engineering universities in the world, giving the camp a unique focus on drones, autonomous vehicles, and defense-adjacent robotics.

Key facts: One-week format. Two campus locations (Florida and Arizona). Affordable relative to other residential university programs.

Best for: Students interested in the intersection of robotics and aerospace or aviation engineering.

8. iD Tech BattleBots Robotics Camp

Format: In-person at UC Berkeley and multiple university campuses nationwide Cost: ~$1,000–$2,000 per week Duration: 1 week Eligibility: Ages 13–17; no prior experience required Application: Rolling year-round; register at idtech.com Website:idtech.com

iD Tech’s BattleBots camp has teams build VEX robots and compete in a BattleBots-style championship. The one-week format combines hardware engineering, programming, and competitive strategy. The UC Berkeley location is the flagship; camps run at dozens of university campuses nationwide.

Key facts: One-week intensive. VEX robotics platform. Competitive tournament format. No experience required. Camps fill up in spring, register early.

Best for: Students who want a competitive, high-energy robotics experience and are motivated by tournament-style challenges.

9. UW–Madison Engineering Summer Program

Format: Residential at University of Wisconsin–Madison Cost: Free Duration: 2 weeks (summer; confirm dates at engineering.wisc.edu) Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders; check official site for GPA and application requirements Application: Spring; check engineering.wisc.edu for the current cycle Website:engineering.wisc.edu

UW–Madison’s Engineering Summer Program is a free two-week residential program that includes hands-on robotics design and programming modules led by faculty and graduate students. As a free Big Ten university program with limited spots, it is competitive apply as early as the application opens.

Key facts: Free. Two-week residential. Faculty and graduate student mentors. One of the best-value free university engineering experiences in the Midwest.

Best for: Midwest students who want university-level robotics exposure at no cost.

10. LearnToBot Robotics Camps (Texas)

Format: In-person at multiple Texas locations Cost: ~$800–$1,200 per week Duration: 1 week Eligibility: Middle and high school students; no prior experience required Application: Rolling year-round at learntobot.com Website:learntobot.com

LearnToBot’s signature feature: every student builds and takes home their own Arduino or Raspberry Pi robot. Small classes taught by working engineers cover hardware, programming, and basic electronics in a hands-on, low-pressure environment.

Key facts: Students keep their robot. Small class sizes. Affordable. Multiple Texas locations.

Best for: Beginners who want a tangible, take-home result from a structured, affordable camp.

11. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes — Engineering Track

Format: Residential at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA Cost: ~$8,000–$10,000 (need-based financial aid available) Duration: 3 weeks (summer) Eligibility: Grades 9–11; check spcs.stanford.edu for current GPA and application requirements Application: Opens winter; spring deadline; check spcs.stanford.edu for 2027 cycle Website:spcs.stanford.edu

Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes engineering track covers robotics and systems design within a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, taught by Stanford faculty and instructors. The peer environment, drawn from top students nationwide, is a significant part of the program’s value.

Key facts: Stanford campus. Faculty-led. Need-based financial aid available. Among the most academically rigorous pre-college engineering experiences available, and among the most expensive.

Best for: High-achieving students who prioritize academic rigor and want Stanford campus exposure.

12. NASA Robotics Alliance Project (RAP)

Format: Online resources + local team and competition participation Cost: Free Duration: Year-round Eligibility: Grades 9–12; U.S.-based; most accessible through a school robotics team (FRC, VEX) Application: No central application; access resources at robotics.nasa.gov Website:robotics.nasa.gov

NASA’s Robotics Alliance Project supports high school robotics education through curriculum resources, FIRST Robotics competition involvement, webinars with NASA engineers, and pathways to NASA internship programs. It functions less as a single summer program and more as a NASA-affiliated network of robotics opportunities.

Key facts: Free. No geographic restrictions. Best used in combination with a school FRC or VEX robotics team. Provides a visible pathway toward NASA college-level internships.

Best for: Students with active school robotics teams who want NASA-affiliated resources and a long-term pathway toward NASA internships.

13. Navy SEAP — Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Format: In-person at Department of Navy laboratories (38+ sites nationwide) Cost: Free + paid stipend (biweekly; amount scales with years of participation; up to ~$4,500 total) Duration: 8 weeks (June–August; students typically start in June) Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen (most labs); must have completed at least Grade 9; must be currently enrolled in high school (graduating seniors are eligible); must be 16 years old or older by the internship start date; some labs require a security clearance; students must arrange their own housing and transportation Application: Opens August 1 | Deadline: November 1 (for the following summer) Acceptance rate: Historically 3–13% depending on the year Website:navalsteminterns.us/seap

Navy SEAP places high school students in Department of Navy research laboratories for eight full-time weeks. Students work alongside active Navy scientists and engineers on real projects, including robotics, autonomous systems, materials science, and defense technology. Placement is at one of 38+ labs across the country, so many students can find a lab within commuting distance.

Key facts: Paid stipend. Eight weeks, full-time (40 hours/week). Applications open August 1 — this is earlier than almost any other program on this list. Notifications sent January–March. Stipend is paid biweekly via direct deposit. Students must arrange their own housing.

Best for: Students who want a paid, full-time federal research internship in robotics or engineering — and who know to apply in the fall, not the spring.

14. iRobotics Summer Camps (UIUC)

Format: In-person at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Cost: ~$500–$1,200 Duration: 1 week (summer; confirm at robotics.illinois.edu)

Eligibility: Grades 9–12; check robotics.illinois.edu for current requirements Application: Rolling; register at robotics.illinois.edu

Website:robotics.illinois.edu

iRobotics summer camps are run by UIUC’s student robotics organization, giving high school students access to university labs and graduate student mentors at one of the top-ranked engineering programs in the U.S. Curriculum covers both software and hardware robotics fundamentals.

Key facts: One of the most affordable university-lab robotics programs. Access to UIUC engineering facilities. Illinois is a top-5 U.S. engineering school nationally.

Best for: Midwest students who want genuine university robotics lab access at an accessible price.

15. NIST SHIP — Summer High School Internship Program

Format: In-person at NIST Gaithersburg, MD (primary) or NIST Boulder, CO Cost: Free (unpaid; students must provide their own housing and transportation) Duration: 7 weeks — June 22–August 7, 2026

Eligibility: U.S. citizens only; must be a high school junior or senior at time of application; minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; must have a permanent residence within 50 miles of NIST Gaithersburg or NIST Boulder; must commit to the full 7 weeks (no exceptions) Application: Opens ~October/November (2026 SHIP opened December 5, 2025); deadline late January (letters of recommendation due January 30, 2026 for the 2026 cycle); offers sent March 30–April 21 Website:nist.gov/ship

NIST SHIP is a seven-week research internship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, one of the nation’s premier federal science agencies. Students work one-on-one with NIST scientists and engineers on active research projects in robotics, AI, quantum physics, cybersecurity, or materials science. The program ends with a poster presentation (August 5) and closing ceremony (August 7, 2026).

Application requirements: Online application; personal statement (up to one page); two recommendations, one from a STEM teacher, one from a coach, advisor, or other professional reference (recommendations must be submitted via online link within 3 days of application close). Skills that help but aren’t required: Python, physics, electronics, Arduino, Java, CAD.

Key facts: Free but unpaid, students cover housing and transportation near the Gaithersburg or Boulder campus. Geographic restriction is firm (50-mile radius). Applications for 2027 SHIP expected to open mid-October 2026.

Best for: High-achieving juniors and seniors within commuting distance of NIST Gaithersburg, MD or NIST Boulder, CO who want a federally credentialed research internship in robotics or AI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free robotics summer programs for high school students? The best free robotics programs for high schoolers are MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI), JHU APL ASPIRE, Navy SEAP (which also includes a paid stipend), NIST SHIP, and UW–Madison Engineering Summer Program. These programs are free because they are university- or government-funded, but they are highly competitive. BWSI and ASPIRE have single-digit acceptance rates.

What do robotics summer programs teach high school students? Robotics summer programs teach programming (Python, C++, Java, Arduino), electronics and circuit design, sensor integration, CAD and mechanical design, autonomous systems, and teamwork. Research-focused programs also teach scientific methodology, literature review, and technical writing.

Are robotics summer programs good for college applications? Yes. Selective programs, particularly research internships that produce a paper, competition result, or working prototype, strengthen college applications. Programs like JHU ASPIRE, MIT BWSI, Navy SEAP, NIST SHIP, and Future Forward Labs carry significant weight with admissions officers at engineering-focused universities.

When should I apply to robotics summer programs? Earlier than you think. Navy SEAP opens applications August 1 for the following summer, with a November 1 deadline. NIST SHIP opens in October/November with a late-January deadline. MIT BWSI’s prerequisite course opens in December. JHU ASPIRE opens January 1 and closes mid-February. Most competitive programs require materials in January or February. Start researching in September or October of the school year before the summer you want to attend.

Do I need prior robotics experience to apply? It depends on the program. MIT BWSI requires completing a prerequisite online course. JHU ASPIRE looks for academic curiosity and STEM interest, not necessarily experience, GPA and resume are not the primary selection factors. Programs like UT Austin Academy, iD Tech BattleBots, and LearnToBot are explicitly designed for beginners.

Are there paid robotics internships for high school students? Yes. Navy SEAP is a paid internship with a biweekly stipend (up to ~$4,500 for the 8 weeks). JHU ASPIRE is unpaid but free to participate in. NIST SHIP is also unpaid. MIT BWSI is free (not a stipend). Future Forward Labs is a paid mentorship program (tuition-based with financial aid).

What is MIT BWSI and how does a student get in? MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a free, four-week STEM program at MIT for rising high school seniors entering 12th grade. To get in, students must complete a free online prerequisite course that opens in December and is hosted on Edly.io. There is no separate formal application, completing the prereq course is the entry requirement. Enrollment decisions are emailed May 1. Students under 18 attending in person must have a supervising adult. The 2026 program runs July 6–August 2.

Is JHU ASPIRE a paid internship? No, ASPIRE is unpaid. It is free to participate in, but students do not receive a stipend. It is one of the most selective high school research internships in the country (about 7% acceptance rate). Students work full-time hours (30–40 per week) alongside APL engineers and scientists, and the program runs June 23–August 21, 2026. Students must have their own transportation to APL in Laurel, MD.

Which robotics programs are best for students interested in AI? Future Forward Labs and MIT BWSI’s Cognitive Assistive Technology track are the strongest options for students interested in AI applications in robotics, covering machine learning, computer vision, autonomous decision-making, and sensor fusion. NIST SHIP also offers AI and robotics research placements within its federal lab setting.

How much do robotics summer programs cost? Costs range from free with a stipend (Navy SEAP) to free/unpaid (MIT BWSI, JHU ASPIRE, NIST SHIP, UW–Madison) to $800–$2,000 for private camps (LearnToBot, iD Tech) to $3,000–$10,000 for university pre-college programs (Penn ESAP at $9,250, Stanford at ~$8,000–$10,000). Future Forward Labs’ online mentorship program varies in cost depending on the number of sessions you choose. Many programs offer financial aid; cost should not be the first reason to rule out a program.

Apply to Future Forward Labs

Future Forward Labs offers personalized robotics and AI research mentorship with PhD mentors. Students develop original projects with real outcomes — science fair submissions, published papers, and portfolio work for college applications. The program is fully online, available year-round, and accepts students on a rolling basis — no fixed application deadline.

Over 91% of FFL students earn STEM competition awards at the regional level or above. Alumni have been admitted to Stanford, UPenn and other top-25 universities.

👉 Apply at FutureForward.app 👉 Contact our advisors