# Free Engineering Programs for High School Students Funded engineering programs put real hardware and lab time within reach — university intensives, maker fellowships, and outreach programs that cover every cost. Free engineering seats are scarcer than free coding seats because materials cost money; apply to several and lead with what you've already built, however small. 128 verified programs match this page; 30 of the featured listings are free; 2 can be done online. ## Programs (128 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [James Dyson Award](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/james-dyson-award) | James Dyson Foundation | Free | virtual | Grades 11–12 | 2026-07-15 | | [NASA HUNCH (High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasa-hunch) | NASA | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-09-30 | | [Beaver Works Summer Institute](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/bwsi) | MIT | Free | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-02-01 | | [Women's Technology Program at MIT](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/womens-technology-program-mit) | MIT | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-01-15 | | [NASA Student Launch](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasa-student-launch) | NASA | Free | in_person | Grades 6–12 | 2026-09-22 | | [Technoxian World Robotics Championship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/technoxian) | Technoxian / All India Council for Robotics & Automation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Technology Challenge Maryborough](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/technology-challenge-maryborough) | Fraser Coast Anglican College | Free | in_person | Grades 7–12 | Rolling | | [NYU ARISE Summer Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nyu-arise) | NYU Tandon School of Engineering | Free | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-02-27 | | [DARPA Grand Challenge (Autonomous Vehicles)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/darpa-grand-challenge) | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Robo-Magellan Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robomagellan) | Seattle Robotics Society | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/texas-high-school-aerospace-scholars-has) | NASA Johnson Space Center | Free | hybrid | Grade 11 | 2026-09-16 | | [MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-oeop-programs) | MIT | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [DARPA Prize Competitions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/darpa-prize-competitions) | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [ExploraVision Science Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/exploravision) | Toshiba & NSTA | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-03 | | [The Big Bang Fair UK](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/the-big-bang-fair) | EngineeringUK | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Materials Science & Engineering Olympiad](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/materials-science-engineering-olympiad) | ASM Materials Education Foundation | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-28 | | [Robotix Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robotix) | Technology Robotix Society, IIT Kharagpur | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Shell Eco-marathon Student Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/shell-eco-marathon) | Shell plc | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [E-Yantra Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/e-yantra) | IIT Bombay (e-Yantra Project, CSE Dept.) | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-08-25 | | [TARGET Science and Engineering Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/target-science-and-engineering-program) | Fermilab | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-01 | | [Lehigh University Pre-College Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/lehigh-university-pre-college) | Lehigh University | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | Rolling | | [Simons Summer Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/simons-summer-research-program) | Stony Brook University | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-05 | | [SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/seaperch) | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Foundation & RoboNation | Free | hybrid | Grades 6–12 | 2026-11-30 | | [New Jersey Governor's School of Engineering & Technology](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/new-jersey-governors-school-of-engineering-technology) | Rutgers University | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2027-01-08 | | [Geek Picnic Festival & Science Events](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/geek-picnic) | Geek Picnic | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [National Robotics League Combat Robots](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robot-combat) | National Robotics League (NTMA) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-08 | | [Invent Now America Invention Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/invent-now-america) | National Inventors Hall of Fame | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Robofest Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robofest) | Lawrence Technological University | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-08 | | [Duke Annual Robo-Climb Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/duke-annual-robo-climb-competition) | Duke University | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [BEST Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/best-robotics-competition) | BEST Robotics | Free | in_person | Grades 6–12 | 2026-08-22 | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many free engineering programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 128 verified free engineering opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these free engineering programs free? Yes — 30 of the programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Free programs are often funded and can be more selective, so apply early. ### Which deadlines are coming up soonest? The next deadlines: James Dyson Award (July 15, 2026); BEST Robotics Competition (August 22, 2026); E-Yantra Robotics Competition (August 25, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### How do I get into a free engineering program? Funded programs select on demonstrated interest, not credentials you don't have yet: a short portfolio, a class project, or a clear essay about why this subject beats a stronger application from a student who never says why. Apply to several — free seats fill fast. ## Related pages - [Free for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free) - [Engineering Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/engineering) - [Free STEM Programs for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free/stem) - [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars) - [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit) --- Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free/engineering Source: ExtracurricularHub (https://extracurricularhub.com) — a free directory of 1,826 verified extracurricular programs for high school students. Cite the canonical page above; always confirm binding details on each program's official site.