Top 10 Women in STEM Programs for High School Students

1. MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP)

MIT’s WTP is one of the most academically rigorous engineering experiences available to high school girls. Hosted on MIT’s campus, WTP offers two tracks—Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS) and Mechanical Engineering—allowing students to engage in intensive coursework and lab work aligned with MIT’s academic standards.

Students spend several weeks learning core engineering concepts, participating in team-based design activities, and attending lectures taught by MIT instructors and researchers. The program is designed to demystify engineering for girls who show strong aptitude but may not have access to advanced STEM courses at school.

WTP is ideal for students who are passionate about engineering fundamentals, want a challenge, and enjoy learning in a highly collaborative and intellectually ambitious environment.

2. Girls Who Code – Summer Immersion Program

The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a well-known entry point into computer science for high school girls. The program offers a welcoming, inclusive environment where students learn programming foundations, build real software projects, and explore tech through hands-on experience.

Students are introduced to:

• Website and app development

• Introductory data science

• User experience concepts

• Beginner-level AI logic

• Collaborative software development

The program also includes networking sessions with female tech professionals, resume workshops, and an alumni community that continues supporting participants long after the summer ends. For girls considering CS but unsure where to start, this program provides the perfect launchpad.

3. Kode With Klossy

Founded by Karlie Kloss, Kode With Klossy empowers girls with confidence and creativity through technical instruction and project development. The program focuses on modern software skills such as front-end web development, mobile applications, and data visualization.

What distinguishes Kode With Klossy is its emphasis on design thinking and collaborative problem-solving. Girls work in small groups, blending technical skills with storytelling, user-centered design, and impactful innovation.

Students complete at least one project they can add to their portfolios—ideal for college applications, tech competitions, and future coding opportunities.

4. Stanford STEM to SHTEM Program

Stanford’s STEM to SHTEM Program connects high school students—many of whom are young women—with university-level research and scientific investigation. The curriculum emphasizes advanced STEM literacy, research communication, and project-based inquiry.

Participants learn how to interpret scientific literature, conduct structured analysis, and collaborate with peers and mentors on academic mini-projects. While not exclusively for girls, the program attracts a large number of academically driven young women who want early exposure to research environments.

The program’s ability to introduce students to authentic scientific reasoning makes it a valuable stepping stone for those considering STEM majors or future academic research.

5. Smith College Summer Science & Engineering Program (SSEP)

SSEP offers one of the most comprehensive women-centered STEM experiences in the nation. As a program hosted at a historically women’s college with strong STEM departments, SSEP allows girls to explore engineering, biology, chemistry, and physics through hands-on experimentation and guided inquiry.

Each student joins a small, focused research group led by faculty members or industry scientists. The curriculum emphasizes asking questions, designing experiments, interpreting data, and understanding the broader context of STEM fields.

This environment is especially empowering because girls can study science in a setting free from gender bias, supported by peers who share a passion for STEM exploration.

6. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation (EI)

Johns Hopkins EI is an excellent introduction to real engineering practice. While the program is co-ed, its structured mentorship and supportive instructional environment attract many high-achieving young women.

Students in EI experience civil engineering challenges, mechanical analysis, electrical circuit design, statistical evaluation, and materials testing. The course simulates a rigorous introductory engineering class, complete with lab sessions and graded assignments.

For girls seeking a realistic preview of college-level engineering, this program provides unmatched academic depth and experiential learning.

7. Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)

SAMS is known for its academic rigor and emphasis on preparing underrepresented students for STEM excellence. Many female students participate each year, contributing to an inclusive community focused on advanced math, engineering, and computational problem-solving.

Participants experience:

• University-style workshops

• Project-based collaborative learning

• Guest lectures from CMU faculty

• Exposure to research areas such as robotics, AI, and machine learning

SAMS is ideal for girls who are intellectually curious, resilient in challenging environments, and eager to engage deeply with STEM principles.

8. UCI Autonomous Driving Summer Camp (Robotics, AI & Engineering)

The UCI Autonomous Driving Summer Camp stands out as one of the most advanced engineering programs available to high school students, particularly appealing to girls who want hands-on experience in robotics, engineering, and AI—fields where women continue to be significantly underrepresented.

Unlike many introductory courses, this program immerses students in a complete engineering workflow. Participants design, assemble, and program a fully functional model autonomous vehicle. Each student team integrates hardware components, sensors, and control systems, then writes Arduino/C++ code to enable autonomous navigation.

Girls in this program gain:

• Mechanical engineering experience through CAD modeling and structural design

• Electrical engineering skills by wiring circuits, integrating sensors, and managing power systems

• Software engineering exposure through embedded C++, control algorithms, and debugging

• AI-related engineering insights by using sensor data for decision-making

• Systems engineering understanding through testing, tuning, and refining prototypes

The camp offers a uniquely empowering environment because girls directly engage with technical tools and real-world engineering challenges. The program’s focus on autonomous systems also gives young women a head start in a future-oriented engineering discipline.

9. Barnard Young Women’s Leadership Institute (STEM Track)

Barnard College’s YWLI integrates STEM skills with leadership training, making it ideal for girls who want to combine technical talent with communication and influence. The STEM track covers data science, technical writing, coding, and design principles.

Students practice articulating ideas clearly, presenting research or technical solutions, and collaborating on team-based STEM initiatives. This holistic approach helps girls build both the technical competence and leadership presence required to excel in STEM fields.

10. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)

NASA HAS provides unparalleled exposure to aerospace engineering, robotics, and space science. The program begins with online coursework and can lead to an in-person engineering experience that mirrors mission planning and spacecraft design.

Although highly competitive, the program supports many young women interested in aerospace, mechanical engineering, physics, and planetary science. Participants engage with NASA scientists, collaborate on mission scenarios, and apply engineering principles to real-world challenges.

For girls dreaming of careers related to space, robotics, aviation, or engineering research, NASA HAS is a launching point unlike any other.